Roark, Kendra 7

Scripture: Genesis 2:15 (NLT) – “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.”

Message: In the beginning human beings were planted by God in his perfect garden. In the creation story it is evident that God is the original gardener. He created the many types of fruit trees and seed bearing plants. From the beginning, God intended His first garden to produce food for all of us, creatures and humankind alike, year after year.

I love this time of year; a time of new beginnings. As I ready our planter boxes, prepare our family’s favorite vegetable and flower seeds for planting, and continue to rotate the compost bin, I am reminded that the Bible tells us that God planted people in His first garden “to tend and watch over it.” It reminds me that we are from God, created in His image to be like Him, and we are also from the ground. Cultivating the gifts of God for the glory of God is what we are meant for. I always feel closer to God in the garden and every year I learn something new to improve on in the next season.

Gardening involves planting, watering, pruning, protecting, harvesting, and much more; even prayer. It is no coincidence that we delight in the cultivation and growing of our own food and providing for the beneficial insects to help our garden succeed. We are designed to care for the earth, other creatures, and each other. God provided us with strong roots and the perfect garden from which to model our gardens.

Family Activity: Making a palm leaf to wave and praise Jesus. Supplies: green construction paper and a wooden barbecue skewer. Draw round your hand 3 or 4 times on the paper and cut out. Write your praises and thanksgivings on the hand palm images. Stick the hand palm to the skewer to make a palm leaf to wave and sing your praises to Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for providing the Garden of Eden, Your perfect garden example, and for Your daily guidance from which we can learn to work and care for our gardens WITH You. May we seek You to cultivate Your love to and for those around us. Amen.

Kendra Roark

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Scripture: Isaiah 30:15a, b, c (NIRV) - "The Lord and King is the Holy One of Israel. He says, 'You will find peace and rest when you turn away from your sins and depend on me. You will receive the strength you need when you stay calm and trust in me.'"

Message: What is Lent? Lent is a time to be quiet and thoughtful. It is a time of prayer. But what should I pray about for six whole weeks!? Some days it's easy to be thoughtful and talk to God; some days we get stuck in a rut. God loves us so much. is our loving parent and teacher. He wants to hear from us and is always ready to listen. This gives me such a feeling of warmth and love and, at the same time, it can also feel like pressure instead of peace. What should I pray about? What does God want to hear? What am I going to say? While Lent is a time to be thoughtful in our prayer, God really just wants us to grow closer to Him. He knows we're not going to pray the perfect words ... He always knows what we're trying to say. Yes, even before we say it, or pray it.

Here is something I am going to try this Lenten season:

If I could ask God anything ...Ask God a question and ... listen. Sit quietly and feel your heart beating. Give time to let your question grow in His warmth and love. Listen with your whole heart. Feel your lungs grow as you breathe in. Relax in the peaceful moment. Gently exhale any negative feelings. Keep listening. Tell God you love Him. Do you feel God's warm embrace? Do you feel God's love?

Prayer: Father God, I trust You and desire to grow closer to You. I pray that I may find the words to tell You what's on my heart and know that You'll provide. Thank You for loving me and sending Your Son, Jesus, to teach me Your loving ways. Amen.

Kendra Roark

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Scripture: Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV) – “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Message: Have you ever done a juice cleanse, or an elimination diet? Some years ago, under the care of my acupuncturist (educated in Eastern and Western medicine), I began a 21-day dietary journey hoping to rid my body of inflammation and getting a fresh start. A new beginning. It was exciting looking to be free from inflammation and discomfort; challenging to be faced with change. Three weeks in unknown territory. Daunting indeed. It was a tough regimen, eating from a very limited list of foods, while completely avoiding other foods. Every few days, a single new food was added. The separation between adding new foods gave my body time to react and to discern if there was a food that didn't agree with me. I was learning so much in such a short period. I wanted to share my culinary experience with loved ones, but it was an overwhelming challenge to create meals that excluded some of their favorite foods. I encountered plenty of push back. It wasn't easy. Finding balance was key and lots of prayer was essential. God's guiding presence helped us find a peaceful balance.

Looking back on that time years later, it was merely a blip of discomfort. And the journey didn't end on Day 22. It continues still today. I strive to keep learning about good health and sharing that knowledge at appropriate moments. I finally found peace when I realized that good health is a process and that I didn't need to have it all figured out by the end of that 21‑day regimen. I'm reminded of God's grace when my daughter verbalizes a food choice as she has learned that some foods make her feel poorly later. We have learnt together to make good food choices. I am a work in progress and I thank God for the gift. Remember to give yourself grace, God does.

Prayer: God, You are Awesome. Thank You for Your gift of life and the opportunity to improve myself so that I may help others. Thank You, God, for all things new and the hope they bring. Amen.

Kendra Roark

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Scripture: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 (NIV) - "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."

Message: Since our kids were very young, each year our family Advent tradition is the day-by-day installation of The Jessie Tree. After Thanksgiving, I use sticky hooks to hang a faux evergreen garland in zig-zag fashion (to resemble a Christmas tree) on a wall in our Family Room. Each evening of the Advent Season, our bedtime routine begins by gathering together and reading that day's scripture verse and hanging the corresponding ornament on our Jessie Tree. Each ornament is a wooden disc depicting a colorful Advent image that relates to its scripture verse. After debating who gets the odd days and who gets the even ones, the kids take turns reading verses and hanging the ornaments. We delight in watching the tree fill up as Christmas Day approaches and anticipation builds. My husband and I enjoy reflecting on how our kids have grown and pray each year that the even / odd debate becomes less of an "I want" and more of "what days would you like?"

This year, I plan to add another family activity of reflection during Advent by introducing an Advent Wreath to light before dinner. As the kids light the candles. we will discuss the symbolism and ways we can see these in our daily lives.

Family Activity: See below.

Prayer: Father in Heaven, please continue to guide us, as parents, to be vessels of love anal understanding for our children. Help us to teach them Your ways though our example. Forgive us when we stumble. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, the most precious gift. We eagerly anticipate the celebration of Christ's birth. Amen.

Kendra Roark

Family Activity: Create an Advent Wreath to light before dinner every evening through Advent. As the kids light the candles, discuss the symbolism and ways we can see these symbols in our daily lives.

· The evergreen branches symbolize God’s faithfulness. They remain green all year.

· The wreath circle symbolizes God’s unending love.

· The first purple candle symbolizes expectation, prophesy and hope. Purple is a royal color and signifies anticipation of the King’s birth. Light this candle during the first week of Advent and continue through Christmas Day. Scripture: Romans 15:12.

· The second purple candle symbolizes preparation. The Jewish people expectantly prepared their hearts for the Savior, and we prepare our hearts for His birth. Light this candle during the second week of Advent and continue through Christmas Day. Scripture: Luke 3:4-6.

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Scripture: Luke 2:10 (NIV) - "But the angel said to them [the shepherds], 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people."

Message: Have you ever been on a scavenger hunt? A friend told me that about 5 years ago their grandchildren were with them for Christmas, and on Christmas morning the grandchildren found a note under the Christmas tree. The clue on this note led them to two more clues, and finally to the front door. The clues were really vague, but the last clue on the front door instructed them to open the door for some good news on the other side. They were excited and a little scared. But, when they opened the door, they found a puppy anxiously waiting for them. Their joy was obvious to everyone.

Just imagine the joy of the shepherds as they followed the clue from the Angels, to go to Bethlehem and to find to find the Messiah, their Savior, as a baby lying in a manger (a cow's feeding trough). This clue led them to the most unlikely location, an open animal shelter behind an inn, where they found the baby Jesus lying in a manger. Each day we should open the door of our hearts to see what joy we find. Joy is always waiting to be found, we just have to follow the clues.

As a family, read Luke, Chapter 2, which explains how the shepherds, while watching their flocks, heard the news that the Messiah had been born, and follow the clues to Baby Jesus and celebrate with the shepherds!

Family Activity: Using a container of your choice (a bowl, a dish, a jar, a baggie anything can work), ask each family member to write down their discovery of JOY for the day and store them. Have each person share their joy aloud as a discussion, or use them as things to be thankful for in bedtime prayers. Do this each day until Christmas (or keep going!). On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, pull out the "Joy Jar" and reflect, as a family, on the joys as a way to celebrate the joy of Jesus' birth.

Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank You for the gift of Your Son; for the gift of Joy. Open our eyes to Your clues so that we can find the joy in our lives today and every day, and fill our hearts with gratitude. It is with great joy that we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Kendra Roark

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Scriptures: Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV) - "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Matthew 10:1-15 (ESV) – “And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, ‘Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.’”

Message: This is an important Bible story to help teach children about Lent.

In Matthew 10:1-15, Jesus chooses and sends out his twelve apostles to continue to share the good news of God’s love and power. The word “apostle” comes from the Greek word that originally meant “messenger.” These twelve men were Jesus’ disciples, or followers, during his ministry. Jesus trusted them, as His messengers, to go and teach others about Him and spread the Good News. He also wanted them to heal the sick and help the hurting in His name. Later, He gave them what we call the Great Commission (first Scripture above), which shows all His followers what He wants for our lives.

Use this story to tell your children or grandchildren that Jesus asks us to do the same today. We are His messengers when we share His love with others. God has great plans for each one of us to be His messenger, just as He did with His twelve Disciples.

Prayer: Father in heaven, help us to grow in friendship with You, so we will begin to better understand Your plans for us. Amen.

Kendra Roark

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Scripture: Isaiah 64:4 (NRSV) – “For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!”

Message: Have patience. Running ahead of Him and trying to fix things on our own, or manipulating circumstances most certainly leads us to disappointment. However, if we wait on the Lord, then our sovereign, divine, omnipotent God will act on our behalf. It’s our choice.

Prayer: This is a new day. I seek Your help today to yield to Your calmness and contentment so that I may avoid frustration and irritation. I will thank You, Lord, for leading me toward patience, peace, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May I become the patient person that You are leading me to be. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Kendra Roark
(first published in 2015)

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