(NAME), you are a child of God!

Session 2 Summary: Electricity
Have you ever seen the show The Amazing Race? Sure, it’s one of five billion other reality shows on television right now, but it’s definitely one of the best. Every week as teams literally race around the world, they are given unique tasks to complete in cities they know next to nothing about—usually including the language! At some point in every episode, the teams find themselves having to ask for help. Some ask for help quickly and run off on their own to try and figure it out while others ask for more than that—they ask for someone to guide them as they go. Isn’t this how many of us approach God? We go to Him for help with big moments—impossible tasks—and then move on quickly without Him. We don’t remember that He wants to do more than just help us. He wants to guide us. He wants to go with us. He wants us to remain with Him. Even Jesus’ own disciples struggled to grasp what it looked like to stay close to Him. And as we look at how He explained it to them, we get a clearer picture of what it means to remain in closeness with God and the impact that can have in our lives.
BOTTOM LINE:
If you want to get the most out of life, stay close to the Source of it.

God, thank you for being our source in life. You bring us strength, energy and most important hope! Be with us this week as we continue to grow closer to you, knowing we can never do it all and your grace helps us draw close to you. Amen.

Session 1 Summary: Confidence
Think back to elementary school. Who were you closest friends? Who did you hang out with all the time? Maybe you spent every single second with the same one or two friends for years, but then, as you got older, something changed. You can’t put your finger on why, but, for some reason, you just drifted apart. The same could be said for a lot of us when it comes to our relationship with God. At some point you used to be close to Him, but lately, you just aren’t. And even though you go to church and hear how much God wants a relationship with you, you feel like being close to Him is difficult, complicated, and nearly impossible at times. This week, we’re going to take a look at Abraham and the lengths God went to in order to pursue a close relationship with him. And as you see how much God wanted a relationship with him, maybe you’ll begin to understand the lengths He’s gone to be close to you, too. 
BOTTOM LINE: God is always drawing us in God's direction.

Genesis 12:2-3 New Living Translation (NLT)
​2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 15:6 New Living Translation (NLT)
6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.

God, thank you for our relationship with you. Thank you for pulling us toward you, even when we are unaware of your work in our lives. Help us to see where you are active, help us to reconnect with you on a daily basis. Amen.

Chances are there are some interests and hobbies your son or daughter enjoys that completely baffle you. This month, try to take an interest in what interests them.

Maybe for you that means:

• Asking what musical artist they’re into and why they like them.
• Going to a sporting, musical or theater event together.
• Watching a TV show together that they really like.
• Visiting a museum together that celebrates what they’re into and asking them to show you around.

No matter how different you are, you can always value their interests by asking questions and paying attention to the things they care about. In doing so, you’re modeling the way for them to take an interest in the interests of others as well.

Copyright 2015 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. XP3HS.com

By Tim Walker
As I stood at the entrance to the gym, I saw the coach walking with my teenage son, and heading straight for me. I took a deep breath and prepared for the words that would come next.

“Your son did awesome today in practice. He just needs to work on his shots. When you are at home shooting, make sure he works on how he’s positioning his hand.” I nodded in agreement, as my son and I gave each other a knowing glance.

We got in the car and on the drive home, I said, “that was funny. He actually thinks you and I are going to practice basketball together.”

“Yeah, I know,” my son replied.

It happens all the time. I have three sons and every single one of them is a good athlete—at least that’s what numerous coaches have said.

I’m not athletic. At one of my son’s baseball’s games, I threw a foul ball back on to the field. It hit the first baseman.

My sons are not mini versions of me—and that’s okay. As my children have grown, I have seen firsthand how God has uniquely created them to be individuals. So it’s an ongoing, ever changing challenge for me to find ways to connect with them.

Here are few things I’ve learned along the way:
Be realistic, not frustrated. Don’t let the frustrations of their differences trip you up. Your differences give them room to grow. At some point, being around someone different from you is always a little unnerving—even if it’s your own kid, but try not to let it frustrate you. Instead, think of understanding them like putting together a puzzle—one piece at a time. and if you feel adventurous, even try something new.

Be a student, not a poser. You don’t have to be good at something to be interested. Let your kids teach you about what they enjoy—whether it’s cooking, sports, filmmaking or repairing cars. Only occasionally will I actually make a shot in basketball. But there is a blissfulness in ignorance, as you can learn something from your son or daughter that is completely new to you. And they’re sure to appreciate you taking an interest, even if it isn’t traditionally “your thing”.

​Be resourceful, not guilty. Don’t feel like a failure if you can’t be everything for your kid. You were never meant to be—that’s God’s job. But even if you don’t understand how to build your own computer or can’t catch a football, you might know someone who does. An aunt or uncle, a small group leader, a grandparent, a neighbor. I had two neighbors who loved to throw a football to my boys, and my boys enjoyed it. And it was a great opportunity to widen the circle of influence for my own students.

I want to be connected with my sons. I want to have a relationship with them, but that doesn’t mean that we have to enjoy all the same things. Sometimes it means we just focus on what we do have in common—like a love of pizza. But other times, it means that I intentionally look opportunities to show them that I care about the things that matter to them.

Copyright 2015 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. XP3HS.com