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Family Blueprint
by Julianne Bell
(Excuse notes help us learn with Moses that God gives grace in our weakness.)
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:
Exodus 2:11-25; 3-4
Story:
Moses Flees and Returns to Egypt
Application:
God gives grace in our weakness and does not accept our excuses.
Summary:
Moses took matters into his own hands when he killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. This resulted in Moses fleeing to the wilderness to a land called Midian. During this time he married Zipporah, the daughter of the high priest. Years later Moses witnesses God in a burning bush in which the flame does not consume the bush. God commands Moses to return to Egypt to free His people whose cries He has heard. Moses begins naming off "reasons" or his weaknesses as excuses for not going. God did not accept the excuses and instead proved His power, provided a way, and sent Moses to Egypt.
Focus:
We should respond to God with a willing heart instead of excuses.
Finding Christ:
Both Moses and Christ are Shepherds (Exodus 3:1; John 10:16). Moses spent 40 years preparing for ministry in Midian. Christ spent 40 days fasting to prepare for ministry.
Live the Lesson:
Have your family sit down in a circle. Bring up something that each person has not accomplished in the last week that should have been done. Ask them why it did not get done? See if they offer excuses, but don’t call them on it if they do. Move on to the next person. When you get to Dad, ask him if he picked out a family game to play tonight? Have dad offer up his excuse note with an elaborate excuse that will get some giggles. Then have Dad ask Mom if she made dessert for tonight. Have Mom do the same, offer up her very detailed excuse note for not having any dessert designed for laughs. Click here for examples. Afterward, explain how excuses accomplish nothing and just frustrate those who are depending on you to carry through. Ask the kids how disappointed they would feel if you truly had not prepared for tonight and they had to just clean their rooms instead? Now whip out that dessert and the game and enjoy your evening in the Lord!
Memory Verse:
"What does the Lord require of you?..." Micah 6:8
Prayer:
Dear Lord, please help me to walk in obedience to You. Help me to not make excuses to You, but to trust that You will give me the grace to accomplish anything You require of me.
Living the Life:
This week look for excuses and point them out to each other. Discuss what the excuse is accomplishing. Figure out the godly solution to each excuse.
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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