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Family Blueprint

    by Julianne Bell

Blueprint #40: The Sun Stands Still
Date Posted: July 4, 2006

(Eye droppers and blue food coloring show us along with Joshua that just as the sun stood still, so will God work on our behalf if we believe.)

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:
Joshua 10:1-15

Story:
"The Sun Stands Still"

Application:
The power of prayer. We see that God will make changes in our lives through diligent prayer.

Summary:
The five kings of the Amorites joined together and came against Joshua and his army. God told Joshua not to be afraid because He was going to fight the battle with Joshua. Joshua and his army killed many of the enemy. God then sent hailstones from heaven which killed more of the enemy, in fact more than the children of Israel killed with the sword died by the hailstones. When Joshua asked, God made the sun and moon stand still so that he could finish the battle without stopping for the night. The Lord fought the battle for Joshua and the people of Israel.

Focus:
To teach the children that when we are in the will of God and seek Him through prayer and place our trust in Him, He is willing and more than able to work on our behalf.

Finding Christ:
In Joshua 10 we have Joshua as a type of Christ. As Joshua prayed to God, the sun and the moon obeyed him, just as the elements such as the winds, the sea, all obey Christ.

Live the Lesson:
You will need to prepare this object lesson before the evening, as it is an illusion that will require two eye droppers. Try it at least once before hand to get your movements down smoothly.

Set up a small table with a tablecloth, so that your children cannot see what you have on the other side of it. Put a clear bowl or glass on the table top. Fill the bowl or glass with water. Have blue food coloring ready. Have the empty eye dropper on the table and the other eye dropper prepared by filling it half way with chlorine bleach. Put the eye dropper the bleach on a plastic bag behind the table where you can easily reach it, but your children cannot see it. Have an extra cup of water available on the table as well.

Now during family time ask your children what they think will happen if you put some blue food coloring in the bowl of water? Then proceed to add a few drops coloring the water a light blue.

Now ask them what do they think would happen if they needed that water to go clear to accomplish the will of God and they believed for it?

Take the eye dropper that is empty and fill it with water in front of the children. Ask them if squeezing the contents of the eye dropper into the blue water can make it go clear again? Proceed to try it and of course it will fail. Refill the eye dropper again with the water half way.

Now have your children close their eyes and believe for the water to turn clear. While their eyes are still closed, switch out the eye droppers.

Ask them if they are ready to try it again now that they have believed for it? Squeeze the eye droppers contents into the water and watch it turn clear and they will be shocked it worked this time.

Tell your children that while what you did was just an illusion to prove a point, they truly can trust God through prayer to work on their behalf to accomplish His will in their lives.

For more free family devotional resources visit www.familyblueprint.org

Memory Verse:
"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Prayer:
Dear Lord, please help us to abide in your will, to seek you through prayer, as we trust in You to work on our behalf.

Living the Life:
This week discuss with your children the ways you have seen the Lord work on your behalf when you prayed to Him.

"Inspiration For You" from Randy Mitchell

Seeing Another's Light

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Biography Information:
Julianne Bell is blessed with a husband who challenges her to fulfill her calling. Their quiver is overflowing with children ages 3-young adult, one of which has autism.

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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