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Family Blueprint
by Julianne Bell
(A dehydrated dinner and some Manna Cake give us insight to the wanderings of the Israelites.)
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 16; 17:1-7
Story:
"Manna and Water From the Rock"
Application:
Don’t be a complainer. When we complain we are truly blaming God and whining that He has not provided as we desire.
Summary:
After a month of wandering, the Israelites began to complain because of lack of food. They did not trust the Lord to provide. However, the Lord gave them "bread from heaven" and told them how to gather it and how long to keep it. Later they had no water to drink and again they complained instead of trusting the Lord for provision. Moses obeyed the Lord and struck the rock in Horeb and water came forth to refresh them.
Focus:
We should always have a grateful heart towards God and trust His provision in all things.
Finding Christ:
The manna was bread from heaven and Jesus is our bread from heaven. The water from the rock represents Jesus who is our Rock and provides us with Living Water.
Live the Lesson:
Before hand prepare a meal for your family. It needs to be inexpensive products that require water. Such as macaroni and cheese, rice, instant soup, dry powdered milk, kool aid or Gatorade mix. In my experience, DO NOT use ramen noodles. Kids love those uncooked, it won’t work! Also tear up angel food cake into small pieces as described in this recipe for use later tonight: http://www.familyblueprint.org/manna_cake_recipe.htm These angel food cake pieces will be your manna.
If you really want this to work well, have you or your spouse turn off the water coming into the house before this begins. Call the family to dinner and serve each person uncooked macaroni with the cheese powder sprinkled over it. Serve them a glass of powdered milk with no water added. Tell them sorry, but this is the best you can do with the lack of water tonight. After you get some reactions explain to them how much we use and need water.
You can pull out a real dinner now and let them eat with the gratefulness of how water makes everything so much better.
After dinner have the children pretend to sleep. Lay out some clean sheets or towels and sprinkle them with the angel food bread pieces. Have the children "wake up", collect the manna, and make the delicious dessert referenced above. While collecting the manna be sure to make jokes about what they will make with it such as "mannacotti" or "manana bread."
Memory Verse:
"My God shall supply all your need." Philippians 4:19
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for Your provisions. Help me to have a grateful heart toward You and others.
Living the Life:
This week catch yourselves during moments of complaining and discuss how you do not trust the Lord in this situation. Brainstorm together how you could rectify this issue by placing your trust in God.
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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