For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
-Hebrews 4:12
Welcome to Family Faith and Fun Fridays! As the week winds down and I anticipate more family time over the weekend, I often ask God for one good idea that will enable me to bring the Word to life and bring our family together. Usually, the activity overflows out of something the Lord has been teaching me through His Word during the week. I’d like to invite you to join me and my family in the adventure. Sometimes I’ll post things we’ve tried; other times I’ll post an idea in the works. If you’ve got thoughts to add or suggestions on how to adapt or improve the activity, please don’t hesitate to comment. Enjoy!
After sharing last week's "Terrific Tuesday" tip about choosing a theme verse for the new year, I decided to challenge Lizzy and her friends to do the same. 
This afternoon when we gathered for Bible study, I showed the girls my old gray box filled with theme verses and we read through some Psalms that reminded us of the Word's power to direct our steps. Then, the girls worked through this simple little "brainstorming" activity that I'd compiled in order to get them thinking about what kind of verse might speak to their needs for the year to come.
After the verses had been chosen, the girls all wrote their scripture in artistic ways and slid their themes for 2012 into a small plastic frame. Hopefully, those words will sit near their bedsides as daily reminders of God's specific Word for the new year. (The one pictured is mine. It sits right next to my "quiet time chair" where I see it each morning when I begin my day with the Lord).Why not take some time to help your children choose their own theme verses for the year to come?
If you've got older school-agers, you may wish to walk them through this brainstorming activity and see where it leads. You may all be delighted with what the Lord reveals when you seek a specific word from Him.
Think about the year ahead....
*What are you excited about?
*What are some challenges you might face this year?
*If I could ask God to do anything for me this year, I’d ask Him to....
Consider your concerns...
*Right now, I worry most about....
*Right now, I pray most about...
Think about who you are and who you want to become...
*One thing I love about who I am....
*One thing I’d like to change about who I am....
Consider your habits...
If it matters, you take the time. If it doesn’t, you make excuses. -Anne Voskamp
We are what we repeatedly do.-Aristotle
Do you have any excuses for not putting God first each day?
What is one habit you’d like to work on this year?
Analyze...
Look back at your answers. Do you notice any key words or repetitive ideas? List those here...
Use the key word search on Bible Gateway or in a concordance to look up some verses dealing with your main concerns or the topic that you want to focus on this year. Read through the verses you discover and ask God which one is His specific word for you this year. Choose one and commit it to memory!
Announcing....____________’s Theme Verse for 2012...
**If your kids are too young to work through the process, you may want to choose a short simple verse for them. A scripture that speaks about God's love or invites your children to trust Jesus is a great place to start for preschoolers.
Here are a few of our favorites:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart." Proverbs 3:5
"God cares for you." I Peter 5:7
"Nothing can separate us from God's love." Romans 8:39
The Overflow: The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. Psalm 19:7-9, The Message
