If you’ve worked around a garden you know that healthy plants have roots that burrow down deep. The roots link the plant to its sources of life, which are fertile soil, water and sunlight. Then, the stems, leaves and fruits grow and provide nourishment for our well-being.
It is the same with our spiritual development as well. Paul tells us in Ephesians that, most importantly, we are to be rooted in Christ’s abundant love for spiritual nourishment, growing and walking in His power. In addition, we enrich and cultivate faith in the lives of others.
When we examine roots closely, we see that they are the anchors of the plant that holds firmly and supports growth. They keep growing with nourishment from the soil, water and the sun. The same is for us. We get our spiritual ability to grow and live in Christ with the foundational love and strength that He provides for our hearts. Paul prayed for believers to be srengthened by the love and the power of the Holy Spirit that came to us as our Helper at Pentecost.
Today we can learn from Paul’s prayer that we can be rooted in our faith and connected to Jesus for growing seasons throughout the rest of our lives. But, the question is, how do we, as busy families become rooted and keep connected with our life power-source, Jesus in the every day routines, busy schedules and rhythms of our lives? We can start by asking God for help and “never stop praying” and keep growing in close relationship with Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Here are a few suggestions.
Read: Ephesians 3:14-21 New Living Translation and 1 Thessalonians 5:16 New Living Translation
Cultivate Faith Talk-The wondering questions enables all ages to see opportunities for new understandings and appreciation of the scriptures with it’s amazing messages instead of reading for information only (Preschool-Early Elementary)
- I wonder if you have seen “roots” in the dirt of a plant? What do they look like? (string, spaghetti, etc.)
- I wonder how roots keep a plant strong?
- I wonder if you can use your arms to show me “deep”…”wide”… and “high” (or tall)?
- I wonder if you can show me how big God’s love is for you with your arms? Give someone and yourself a big hug.
- I wonder when you feel “full with God’s love”? (When you hug your mom, dad or grandparents?).
Cultivate Faith Talk (Elementary and Older)
- I wonder what is most important to you in this prayer?
- I wonder how roots keep a plant strong? I wonder how roots in God’s love keeps us strong?
- I wonder what part of the prayer we could add to our prayers at night or for a blessing?
- I wonder how our family can invite Christ to make a home in our hearts?
- I wonder how I could explain this prayer to younger children? Would you use a real plant or draw a picture?
- I wonder, what is our “soil, water and sun” for being rooted and growing in love?
- I wonder how I can be planted in God’s love?
Ideas for Faith-On-The-Go This Week-Let’s Notice and Experience (All Ages)
- On a walk in your yard, dig up a small area to plant a flower seed. Look for roots of plant growth while digging. Bring in some roots, plant parts and create a “Rooted in Christ-Growing in His Love” collage.
- If you have a vegetable garden or a flower garden, count the number of sprouts or measure the growth of the plant/flower each day.
- Check the bottom of some flower pots to see if the roots are growing through the holes. I wonder what you should do? Growing roots may need more space? I wonder how our “roots” can reach out and touch other’s lives in more spaces?
- In the Car, play the youtube song, “My God is So Big and So Strong and so Mighty”(with motions-easy to learn)
- When we feel joyful and when we feel sad: Remember God is so big and so great and so awesome, “there’s nothing my God cannot do”.
- This is easy to create-“Rooted in Christ, Growing in His Love”: You can use construction paper or a piece of cardboard cut from a box, plants,stems/roots and/or pipecleaners, yarn, string, marker or crayons and glue to create a reminder of being rooted in Christ. Here is my family’s creation.
Blessings & Prayers (All Ages). Place your hand on your child’s shoulder or hold hands when giving the blessing. They may also repeat this short blessing for you as they place their hand on your shoulder.“You, Lord are my Shepherd, I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). Amen (Amen means “firm” in Hebrew or “so be it”.
Prayer: Dear God, May You, the God of hope fill all of us with all joy and peace as we trust in you so that we will overflow with hope by the power of your Holy Spirit.” Amen. (Adapted from Romans 15:13)
Morning Blessings: “Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3, The Message)
“I pray the eyes of your heart will have light to see what is the hope of God’s call
Music for The Message:
Deep and Wide Youtube Song for Kids with Motions
“My God is So Big and So Great and So Mighty” song on Youtube with motions
