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The Back Page follows the Bible lessons that children and youth are studying and serves to help kids and adults continue the spiritual discussion at home and establish patterns of a devotional life.
Thought for the Week According to a recent study by the Working Mother Research Institute, 11 percent of working mothers travel for business on a regular basis. Planning and organization is critical for a situation like that to work with the least amount of impact on the family.
A friend of mine falls into this category, as her work requires her to be away from home about 10-12 days every month. With two school-age daughters, a husband, two dogs and a cat at home, preparing to leave can be busy, with last-minute juggling of schedules. Important information, such as doctors’ telephone numbers, is arranged into a binder that is labeled and organized. She leaves an itinerary of all the school activities, sports practices, music lessons, child-care hours, list of her daughters’ friends and parents and anything her husband might need while she is away.
Technology also helps once she is on the road, allowing her to communicate with her family via text, Facebook, email and even Instagram. When her daughters were younger, she stayed connected with them using Skype. It was fun to give them a tour of her hotel room. Now, she sends pictures of interesting things she encounters. She often sends text-message love notes to her husband to remind him of how special he is. Handwritten notes of encouragement attached to Hershey Kisses candy are hidden around the house for her daughters to find. As difficult as it is to leave her family, she resists the urge to micromanage her home life with detailed to-do lists and strict schedules. Instead, she chooses to trust that her husband and daughters will know what to do.
Before returning to heaven, Jesus gave instructions to His disciples, placing the continuation of all He had done on earth into their hands. He commissioned them, saying, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Use these passages to explore more biblical insights on telling others about Jesus.
As Christians, we have inherited this commission to reach our community for Christ today. We are the extension of Christ’s work on earth. And He has given us everything we need to do what He has asked us to do — the most important being His presence. “And I will be with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b).
Sometimes we spend too much time focused on how, when and where we are to reach the world for Christ — and not enough time just being with Christ. When our center is on Christ, the tasks required of us in fulfilling this commission will flow naturally. We don’t have to be afraid about what to say, where to go or how others will respond and react. We will know what to do because Jesus will be with us always.
SUNDAY
Acts 16:25
MONDAY
Luke 12:11-12
TUESDAY
1 Timothy 4:12-13
WEDNESDAY
Acts 4:18-20
THURSDAY
1 Peter 3:15
FRIDAY
Jeremiah 1:7-8
ADVENTIST SCHOOL TUITION DIFFERENTIAL Ann Roda Pastor for Families annroda@lookingforachurch.org
Weekly Challenge Make a list of all the people you know who don’t know Jesus Christ. Begin praying for them. Ask God to create an opportunity for you to tell your own story of Christ in your life. Listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit when He creates the opportunity for you to share your story. Speak, knowing that Jesus is with you always.!
For the Family
As a family, make a list of the friends and family members you know who do not know Jesus Christ. Pray for one person on your list every day. Ask God to create an opportunity for each family member to share a story about Jesus. Each time God creates that opportunity, put a check next to that family member’s name.
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Applications for the Adventist school tuition differential are available at the Ask-Me Desk and lookingforachurch.org. We're happy to help support parents in choosing an Adventist education; the weekly offering that our kids collect goes toward this as well.
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