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Family Blueprint
by Julianne Bell
(What is in a name? This week find the meaning of your name and a verse to theme it as we learn to follow God’s lead with Jacob and Joseph.)
The Lord gave us the blueprint of His Word to architect our family on Jesus Christ.
Going through the Bible with your family…
Weekly Scripture:
Genesis 46-49
Story:
Israel in Egypt
Application:
God will lead us into His will if we will listen.
Summary:
Jacob is now blind in his old age and preparing to die. When Joseph brings his two sons to his father Jacob (Israel) to bless, Joseph was dismayed when his father insisted on blessing the youngest as if he was the oldest. Jacob was listening to God’s will for the children’s lives and their descendants. Joseph named his son Manasseh meaning "To Forget" because God had made him to forget all his trouble and his entire father’s household. He named his second son Ephraim which means "Very Fruitful" because God had made him fruitful in the land of his affliction.
Focus:
Things sometimes do not happen the way we expect, but God is in control. God shows even the meaning of our names is significant to Him.
Finding Christ:
We see how Jesus was crucified that our sins would be remembered no more and that we could be fruitful for Him even in the land of our affliction, just as Manasseh and Ephraim represented to Joseph.
Live the Lesson:
Have each child make up a plaque with their name, its meaning, and a verse on it. You can either use this example, www.familyblueprint.org/Name%20Meaning.doc, click on each word and then on edit text to change it to your child’s name, their name’s meaning and the verse you choose to represent their name and then print it out on cardstock or have them illustrate their own names on cardstock with the meaning and verse. For name meanings you can use www.babynames.com and for verses to represent the name I used www.studylight.org and put a word for the meaning of my name in the "Search the Bible" box at the top of the page. If this does not produce enough results or one to your liking, you could do a search in a thesaurus such as www.education.yahoo.com/reference/thesaurus/ to come up with synonyms to try in the Bible search for a verse. Put up your child’s plaque so they can see the blessing of their name for the future.
Memory Verse:
"A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches..." Proverbs 22:1
Prayer:
Dear Lord, please help me to understand that even my name is important to You. Help me to see and comprehend the plans You have for me and to walk in them.
Living the Life:
This week look into the meanings of other people’s names in your family, friends, at church, etc. See how their names meaning may be lived out in their life. Then praise the Lord how He works with every detail in our lives, even our names.
Family Blueprint has come to fruition as a complimentary service for those seeking creative ways to 'teach them (the words of the Lord) diligently to your children...' Deuteronomy 6:7
Julianne Bell is also a consultant for Once Upon A Family at www.familyblueprint.org/once_upon_a_family.htm This allows her to work from home while homeschooling her children and keeping her ministry website resources free.
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