When you were a kid, who looked out for you?

He is Father to the fatherless - Psalms 68:5 - Verse Image

Many people would probably answer that it was their parents. But if they weren’t around, hopefully a relative stepped in, or a neighbor, maybe even a teacher. But if no one was there for you… we’re so sorry. Children who need a family are near to God’s heart.

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans…

JAMES 1:27

Adoption is even addressed in the Bible. Moses was adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter. Esther was adopted by her uncle Mordecai after she was orphaned. And of course, Mary’s husband Joseph raised Jesus as his earthly father, even teaching him his trade. Learn more in this Plan:

God’s Got This: A Strategic Prayer Guide for Your Adoption Journey
Jacqui Jackson, 7 Days

Even if you don’t feel God calling you to adopt, there are still many ways you can help. The Plan below can help you decide whether your family might want to foster. Or you could provide clothes, food, or even money for an adoptive or foster family. You can offer respite care for families who need a break, or even just a date night. Many states have programs that invite volunteers to mentor kids, and some even ask for volunteers who can take children who are in state custody on educational activities.

Until Every Child Is Home: A 6-Day Devotional on Adoption and Foster Care
Todd Chipman, 6 Days

Everyone can do something. If you live in the U.S., you can start learning what you can do by visiting AdoptUSKids.org, or look up the Department of Human Services for your state. Also, if you follow Christ, don’t forget: you’re adopted, too!

Some people accepted him and put their faith in him. So he gave them the right to be the children of God.… God himself was the one who made them his children.

JOHN 1:12-13

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2019-11-192020-05-18

3 Ways You Can Build a Better World for Your Children

Family walking in a field

If you could return to your childhood, what would you change about it? What would you keep the same? If “grown-up-you” could travel back in time and give advice to the people who raised you, what would you tell them?

Asking yourself questions like these can help you envision the life you want to make for your family. Here are three things you can start doing today that will help you draw closer to one another, and toward God.

Define your family values together.

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

GALATIANS 5:22-23

Talk together about which character traits your family wants to be known for. Then, also together, brainstorm practical ways you could make that happen. For example, if you want to be known for “Joy,” you might print several pictures of your family’s happiest moments together and place them in strategic places around your house. Point them out to each other often, constantly reminding one another of pleasant memories. Commit together to regularly add new memories (and pictures!) to your collection.

Make “enjoying each other’s company” a habit.

Memorize his laws and tell them to your children over and over again. Talk about them all the time, whether you’re at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning.

DEUTERONOMY 6:6-7

Work, school, chores, activities: sometimes it feels like our schedules are in charge, rather than the other way around. There are certain things we have to do, so be intentional about making the time you have together both fun and meaningful. Taking the littles to school? Turn your drive into kids’ worship sing-along time. Sitting with one kid in the stands while another is at practice? Share a snack and ask about their day. Whatever you’re doing, offer to pray for your kids, then teach them how to ask God to guide your family — by being the example. Don’t over-spiritualize; just enjoy each precious minute you have together…as it’s happening.

Be intentional in how you use technology.

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

PROVERBS 22:6

Do you catch yourself checking Instagram and Facebook several times a day? What if instead you showed your kids how to use technology to draw closer to God? Install the Bible App for Kids, then watch the stories together, and talk about them, together… rather than just handing off your phone. Find reading plans and devotionals in the Bible App that your family could do together, then choose “With Friends” and invite your spouse and kids to join.

Kids are a gift from God.

We all want to give our children every opportunity to reach their full potential. Your kids may not always do everything you tell them to. But, they will absolutely learn from the example you set for them in your everyday lives together. Create moments together that they’ll always cherish.

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2019-11-182021-11-12

“Give thanks in all circumstances…”

Give Thanks - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 - Verse Image

What Are You Thankful For?

Studies have shown that people who practice gratitude report experiencing more joy, express more compassion and generosity, and are even less likely to get sick.¹ But how do you nurture a spirit of thankfulness when busy-ness distracts you from the joy around you?

Here’s an easy way to remember to give thanks: Start a Plan on gratefulness from our special collection of devotionals. Plans feed you a little Scripture every day, giving you time to reflect, recharge, and hear from God.

See More Plans on Thankfulness

¹ Article: “Why Gratitude is Good,” from Greater Good Magazine.

Helpful Links:
Thank God for His Word
God is always doing great things. Let’s thank Him!
Why Gratitude is Great for You
We have many reasons to give God thanks
Bible Plans for Thanksgiving

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18

2019-11-142019-11-13

What Bible verse changed your life?

Bible For Everyone

Think of the ways God’s Word has transformed your life. Imagine how different your life would look if the Bible never existed in your language.

In 1st century Jerusalem, a small group of disciples made the radical decision to live out Jesus’ words:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…

MATTHEW 28:19-20

Their obedience and profound love for people groups they had never met has resulted in our transformation 2,000 years later.

And yet…

There are still over a billion people who haven’t experienced God’s Word in their own heart language. People like the 1.3 million men, women, and children in Mahafaly [MA-HAH-FAH’-LEE] language communities in Madagascar who have never had any Scripture.^*

Translation teams in the island country of Madagascar want to break the bondage of legalistic fear the Mahafaly people experience by cultivating an understanding of God’s love, power, and redemption through Christ.

By giving to this #BibleForEveryone project, you’ll be helping the Mahafaly people receive the life-changing power of Scripture for the very first time: starting with the Gospel of Luke.

Imagine what life change could occur if we met this need together.

Give Now

If not us, then who?

For nearly 3 years, YouVersion has been working alongside Bible translators to actively identify high-impact Bible translation projects that could rapidly be completed with the proper funding.^*

Our goal is to see the entire New Testament translated into most of the world’s languages by 2033. We can make that happen by saying “yes” today.

So…

…are you in?

I’m In

Being part of the solution doesn’t have to stop here. If you’re passionate about the purpose of this project, consider sharing the vision with your friends and family:

Share the Vision

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Notes

^* For more information, visit illumiNations’ website.

^* All contributions received through the #BibleForEveryone campaign will be used exclusively for the purpose of Bible translation. Life.Church is contributing $1 million over the four-year period from 2017-2020. During each calendar year, Life.Church is contributing $250,000, spread across different, high-impact translation projects. As each project is completed, any remaining funds are then applied toward the next translation project, as selected by YouVersion and its partners. (See original blog post for full details.)

2019-11-102019-10-31

Hope and healing for your day:

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spriit. - Psalms 34:18 - Verse Image

What’s an area of your life where you’re asking for hope or praying for healing? Whatever you’re facing, God promises that He will never leave you.

Bible Plans help you remind yourself of God’s truths every day, especially during life’s storms. Let God’s Spirit speak to your heart through His Word, with one of these Plans:

	Hope In The Dark Craig Groeschel, 12 Days
	God Understands American Bible Society, 8 Days
	Hope Heals In The Midst Of Suffering Katherine and Jay Wolf, 7 Days
	Unshakable Hope: Building Our Lives On The Promises Of God Max Lucado, 10 Days
	Life Abundantly: 5 Days Of Healing Devotionals Christ for the Nations, 5 Days

See More Plans

See how God’s Word brought healing to this veteran:

Discover how a simple practice led to spiritual, physical, and emotional healing for a veteran and his family, as he journeyed through Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury.

	Flourish In Gratitude Passion Conferences, 5 Days
	A Week Of Thanksgiving Boyd Bailey, 7 Days
	Practicing Gratitude Theology Of Work, 5 Days
	The Power Of Being Thankful Joyce Meyer, 14 Days
	Daily Thanksgiving Devotional Paul Tripp, 12 Days
	12 Days Of Thanksgiving Shanon Roberts, 12 Days
	A Thankful Heart Angus Buchan, 5 Days
	Thankfulness Influencers Global Ministries, 5 Days