Week of 2/28

Day 1: God's Patience for Us
Read:  2 Peter 3:8-9
Talk:
-  Why is God patient with His people?
- There may be people that we minister to that have heard the gospel but have not believed yet.  Why is God being patient with them? 
Pray:
-  Thank God for His patience for all of us.
-  Pray that God will help people make a choice to trust in Him.

Day 2: Patience for One Another
Read: Proverbs 19:11
Talk: 
-  What does this verse say it is good for us to do?
-  Why do you think it is wise to be patient?
-  What kind of things might happen on our trip where we need to be patient and overlook others' offenses?


Pray:
-  Ask God to give us wisdom that brings patience during our trip.
-  Ask God to help us overlook with patience things others do. 
-  Ask God to help others overlook with patience things you do. 

Day 3: His Power for Patience
 Read: Colossians 1:9-14
Talk: 
-  Name some of the things that Paul says he is praying for his friends in these verses.
-  What does verse 11 say we need to have to have endurance and patience?
Pray:
-  Pray for God to fill our team with all power according to His glorious might.
-  Pray all of these verses for our team.

Day 4: God's Kindness
Read:  Titus 3:3-5
Talk: 
-  Verse 3 reminds us of what we were like before knowing Jesus or what we would have been like if we hadn't met Him.  What words would you use to describe what you would be like without Jesus?
-  What happened when the love and kindness of God appeared?
Pray:
- Thank God for His kindness and goodness in sending Jesus to save us from our sins.
-  Ask God to pour out His love and kindess on the people of Light of the Valley.

Day 5:  Kindness to each other
Read: Ephesians 4:29-32
Talk: 
- What does verse 32 say we should be toward one another?
-  How can you be kind and compassionate on this trip?  Why should you forgive each other?
-  What does verse 29 say about how we should talk to each other?

Pray:
-  Pray for each member of the team to be kind and compassionate.
- Pray for team members to forgive each other quickly.
-  Pray for us to only use words that build each other up.

Praying for Belize: Week of 2/21

Filled with the Fruit of the Spirit

Day 1:  Showing the Fruit of the Spirit   
Read:  Galatians 5:22-25
Talk: 
-  These verses share what people should see in us because of God's Spirit in us.  How many can you name without looking?
-  Talk about who in your family shows each "fruit" the most.
-  Which is the hardest fruit to show?  
Pray: 
-  Ask God to help our team show these "fruits" to everyone we come in contact with.



Day 2:  Praying for Joy and Strength

  Read:  Nehemiah 8:10
Talk:  
- What does this verse say will be our strength?
-  Being happy and having joy are very different.  What is the difference?
- How will you need strength during our trip?

Pray:
-  Pray for God to fill each member of our team with His joy.
-  Ask God for His joy to be our strength during the tiring parts of our trip.

Day 3  Joy in Heaven
Read:  Luke 15:3-7
Talk:
-  What happened in this story that Jesus told?
-  What did Jesus say brought joy or rejoicing in Heaven?
-  What does it mean for a sinner to repent?  
-  Talk with your family about when you realized you needed Jesus's forgiveness for your sins.  What do you think the party in Heaven was like?
Pray:
-  Ask God to prepare the hearts of kids and grown ups who have never asked for their sins to be forgiven.
-  Ask God to show us the kids and grown ups that we need to share His gospel with.
-  Thank God that He loves us so much that there's a party in Heaven when people repent of sin.  



Day 4: Praying for Peace
Read:  Philippians 4:6-8
Talk:
-  There could be lots of reasons to be anxious about taking a trip like this.  Let each one family member share something that makes them a little worried.
-  What do these verses tell us to do instead of worry?
-  When we talk to God about our anxieties, what will He give us to guard our hearts and minds?
-  What is the difference in having peace and being anxious?
Pray:
-  Thank God that He gives us peace that passes all understanding.
 -  Pray about each anxiety that was mentioned in your family.
 -  Ask God to guard each family member's heart and mind with His peace.

Day 5:  Praying for Peace Through Jesus
Read:  Romans 5:1-8
Talk: 
-  What does verse 1 say gives peace with God?
-  What are some other ways people try to find peace with God?
-  How did God show love for us and for the people of Belize according to verse 8?
Pray:
-   Thank God that He loved us even while we were still sinners. 
-  Ask God to prepare the people's hearts to learn how to have peace with God.
-  Ask God to help us share the truth of what Jesus has done for us.

Praying for Belize: Week of 2/14

Happy Valentine's Day!  As of today we are also less than a month away from boarding a plane!  How exciting! 

But we have LOTS of praying to do between now and then!  And since it is Valentine's week, let's pray for different ways we can show the love.

Day 1 - Showing God's Love

Read:  1 John 4:7-10

Talk:  

-  What does verse 10 say love is?  

-   What did Jesus do for us that shows how much He loves us?  

-   What would we want kids in Belize to know about these verses?  How can we show and tell them?

Pray:

-  Thank Jesus for showing us His great love.

-  Ask Him to use our group to show His love and to tell about how He died for our sins

Day 2:  Loving One Another

Read: 1 John 4:11-12

Talk:  

-  What do these verses say we should do because God loved us? 

-  Think about when your family has traveled together.  Was it always easy to share love? Can you remember a stressed out time memory?

-  With so many people traveling together, what could be some situations where it would be hard to show love?

-  What are some ways that we can show love while traveling together?

Pray:  

-  Pray for God to fill you up with His love so that you can show it while you are traveling.

-  Pray for each member of our group and ask God to help you love them.

Day 3: Love is Bigger than Fear

Read:  1 John 4:15-18 

Think:  

-  According to verse 13, when you believe that JEsus is the Son of God, where does God live?  

-  Verse 18 says there is no __________________ in love?

-  What are some things that might be scary about this trip?  What is scary about meeting new kids and families in Belize?

-  What does verse 18 say that perfect love does to fear?  

Pray:

-  Ask God to fill you up so much with His perfect love that it drives out fears about the trip.

-  Thank God that if you believe in Jesus, He lives in you and you live in Him.  You don't have to be afraid because He is with you.  

-  Ask God to give you love instead of fear for meeting new people.  

Day 4:  Loving People

Read:  1 John 4:19-21

Talk: 
- What do these verses tell us about love?
-  How can we love people we haven't met yet?
-  How can you show love to the people you meet in Belize?

Pray: 
-  Thank God that He first loved us.
-  Ask Him to give you a love for the people in Belize.
-  Ask Him to show you special people right away that He wants you to share His love with.

Day 5:  Describing Love

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Talk:  

-  Talk about what each word means that is used to describe love.

-  Which part of love will be easy to show on our trip?  Which ones will be hard?

-  Share which part you need the most help with. 

Pray:  

- Pray for each member of your family.  Pray that God would help each one live out His description of love.  

-  Pray that our team will show this kind of love to everyone we meet.