Elemental Faith

I’m thrilled to announce that my most recent publication is now available 🎉

If you’d like to learn more about “Hearing the Voice of God” I’d love for you to check out this resource 🙂 I created this during the lockdown in 2020 for families that wanted to dig into the Word together. The middle school teachers/students at Tree of Life School were my inspiration for getting it into a published form. I pray it’s a blessing for you personally, your family, small group, classroom!

Free digital copy of a seven week teaching guide is available here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tLvSn063aGIoT0cUi2dhQpcOMA2HMfWQ/view?usp=sharing

Print copy for purchase is available here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFWZXG7Z?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Videos that accompany this study are available here:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdPsZUUmiLXd7SKOk-cSWEDlfHDw-dg0u&feature=shared

Hearing the Voice of God Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

A few years ago I created a video teaching series on “Hearing the Voice of God”. Each video is an introduction to an in-depth Bible study that could be used by individuals or families. Here is the link to the video playlist and the Bible study for each topic can be found in the comments as a PDF 🙂

I hope this resource is helpful to you and your family!

Hearing the Voice of God Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

Gorgeous song by a friend of ours, enjoy!

Tevah תבה (by Rebecca Seubert)║Faith Hope Love House of Prayer Recording and Video for "I Hear Love" written by Rebecca Seubert. This song was captured and recorded in 2023 by Melody Hwang. (C) 2023 Faith Hope Love Hous...

Here’s my next recommendation of books for early elementary aged kids. My son and I read this as a devotional over several bedtimes, we read 5-7 Psalms per night. The Psalms are written in kid friendly language and illustrations are beautiful!

This is my next book recommendation for 4-7 year olds but really could be used for up through ages 9-10. I’ve been reading one page a day like a devotional with our almost 4 year old. It’s been a great launching pad for teaching him about prayer and different ways we can talk to God. Definitely a book we’ll re-read over and over through the years!

Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing some of my favorite Bible-based books for preschool and early elementary aged kids (4-7ish).

This was a recent purchase for our library and I just adored it. In a sing song way it tells the power of God’s word and how we can hide it in our heart. I read it to my son Aquila who is almost 4 years old and he definitely enjoyed it. It’ll be a great book to read over and over for years to come as we read, see, say and sing God’s word, hiding it in our hearts.

Next up on my Bible-based toddler book recommendations. “The Biggest Story ABC” does a beautiful job laying out the basic narrative of the Bible and how God redeems His people. A wonderful addition to any toddlers library!

Next up in my recommendations for Bible-based books for toddlers. The Big Theology for Little Hearts series helps toddlers learn some big concepts of the faith with simple illustrations. A great addition to any toddler library!

Bible-based book recommendation for toddlers #6 - this book is a great introduction to prayer for toddlers! We can talk to God about anything, anytime, anywhere 🙂

My next Bible-based recommendation for toddlers are the Sally Lloyd Jones board books. Author of “The Jesus Storybook Bible” has created these for the littlest ones to learn about God’s amazing love, salvation, and care. Each is filled with beautiful illustrations and simple but profound text.

Bible-based toddler book recommendation #4

The Baby Believer series from Catechesis Books has lovely illustrations paired with scripture. Each book focuses on a different topic and honestly has helped me memorize scripture as I’ve read them over and over to my toddlers.

A beautiful and impactful addition to any toddler’s library!

Here’s my next recommendation for Bible-based books for toddlers. This board book tells short simple stories about the life of Jesus in a way that’s easy for little ones to connect with. This is one of our more recent additions to our book collection and Aquila our 3.5 year old has really enjoyed reading it!

Bible-based books for toddlers:
Recommendation #2

The “Jesus Calling” board books for toddlers are just wonderful! Aquila and I have read these several times over the last couple years. Today Jemima who is 22 months asked for a new book about Jesus so we read “Jesus Calling for Little Ones” and she really enjoyed it! One page about prayer even inspired us to make up a little song about praying and talking to Jesus everyday 🙂

🎵 There’s no other way,
Pray, pray, pray,
Talk to Jesus, everyday! 🎵

Over the next week I’ll be sharing some of my favorite Bible-based books for toddlers, all of these we have and have been great resources for my son Aquila who is 3.5 years old.

This is one of our most recent finds, there aren’t many books for kids about the Holy Spirit but this one is both simple and excellent!

Week 3 is now available! The link below contains all of the content from the first two weeks and now the additional third. I pray this resource is helpful for you and your family!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cQlSajHu-NpRfB9Llg6_vPXuo31eoztr/view?usp=sharing

For those that are using this resource I’m a little behind this week on the final week (week 3), it’ll be ready by tomorrow night and pray it’s still a blessing you even if it’s a day late 💙

Week 2 is now available! The link below contains all of the content from the first week and now the additional second. I pray this resource is helpful for you and your family!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cQlSajHu-NpRfB9Llg6_vPXuo31eoztr/view?usp=sharing

16 days until Pentecost! If you are looking for resources to teach your kids about the Biblical feasts and how Jesus fulfills them check out these ones I wrote 🙂

The Feast of Weeks focuses on the fulfillment of this Biblical feast with the sending of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

The Feast of Weeks: When the Holy Spirit Came https://a.co/d/d1BETYo

The Biblical Feasts teaching guide covers all 7 Biblical feasts from Leviticus 23 and connects to Jesus’ fulfillment of them.

The Biblical Feasts: And How Jesus Fulfills Them: A Teacher's Guide https://a.co/d/9ZSIyoM

How can I teach my kids to pray for Israel? Remembering God's word and promises is a great place to start!

This document contains the first 7 days of guided prayer for the 21 day - Isaiah 62 fast and is written for ages 3-12 years old, however you could use it with high school age kids as well.

I'll be sharing the next 7 days next week, I hope this resource is helpful to your family and connects you with more of Jesus' heart for Israel!

Click the link below to download the prayer guide:
https://drive.google.com/.../1p0e4rKAbfn9sgFzuOfF.../view...

Wondering how to pray for Israel and the Jewish people? Check out this article from "One for Israel":

https://www.oneforisrael.org/.../how-can-i-pray-for.../

If you are wanting the kid friendly prayer guide I am creating for the 21 day fast I am almost finished with the first week and will share it within the next day 🙂

25 ways to help you pray & learn about Israel and the Jewish people! - ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry Here we give you 25 insights into different aspects of Israel that will help you become better informed about the country, and how to pray.

Our family will be participating in the Isaiah 62 Fast, a time of prayer and fasting for Israel with millions of other believers all over the world from May 7 - May 28, 2023 - check out this video to learn more:

https://isaiah62fast.com/

My friend Tom Stolz wrote a 21-day prayer devotional for the fast that you can access as a PDF here:
https://www.bluedoorgeneration.com/.../cc962d... or purchase on Amazon.

If the topic of Israel is new to you or you are wanting to go deeper in Jesus plans to establish His eternal throne in Jerusalem at the end of the age I would highly recommend these resources friends and ministry leaders we know have written:

- When A Jew Rules The World - By: Joel Richardson

- One King: A Jesus Centered Answer to the Question of Zion and the People of God - By: Samuel Whitefield

- Flee to the Mountains: The Church’s Responsibility to Israel in the Final 7 Years of the Age - By: Christopher Mantei

Lastly, I’m working on a free kid friendly resource that I’ll share by May 5 if you are wondering how to teach your kids about Israel and have them join in on praying for Israel. As our family enters into this 21 days fast I have been praying and thinking about how to engage my toddlers in praying for Israel and Jesus plans for the Jewish people and His church at the end of the age. What I create and share will be helpful and relevant for kids ages 3-12 years.

Isaiah 62 Fast – A Global Solemn Assembly The Isaiah 62 Global 21-Days of Prayer and Fasting (May 7-28, 2023) ZhōngwénChinese Chinese-Simplified EspañolSpanish PortuguêsPortuguese PусскийRussian عربيArabic हिंदीHindi 한국어Korean עִבְרִית‎Hebrew 日本語Japanese українська моваUkrainian Fr...

Happy Feast of First Fruits!

"Jesus is our first fruit, He rose from the dead, the promise of eternal life, and resurrection He led. This Feast of First Fruits points to a great day, the resurrection of all who trust and obey."

Image by Ira Baykovska Illustration text from: "The Spring Feasts: And How Jesus Fulfilled Them"

Good Friday - Passover:

The time of the day in which the Passover lambs were sacrificed was perfectly fulfilled in Jesus' death on the cross. According to Exodus 12:6, Passover lambs were sacrificed at "twilight;" this word translated means middle of the evening. Jewish days were broken up by the daylight hours; morning (6am - noon) and evening (noon - 6pm). Historically the priest would ascend the altar at 3pm with the Passover lamb as sacrifices were a lengthy process and required to be completed by sundown. Once the lamb was fully prepared another priest would ascend the temple wall and with a blowing of the shofar the lamb's throat would be cut and the sacrifice complete, a shout of "it is finished" would be declared. Let's take a look at Luke 23:44-46 and how Jesus' death on the cross fulfills the Passover sacrifice:

"Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ”Having said this, He breathed His last."

And John 19:30b adds "He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit."

Consider the Passover story and how Jesus is the perfect fulfillment as the final Passover lamb:

"In the nation of Egypt, a long time ago,
there was a ruler who would not let God's people go.
Trapped in slavery, the people weren't free,
But God told Pharaoh, 'You must listen to me.'

God sent plagues to change Pharaoh's mind,
but each time his heart was hard and unkind.
In the final plague God had a secret plan,
to shelter His people and break the pride of this man.

The blood of a lamb on each Hebrew doorpost,
saved God's people from the death that struck most.
Finally, oh finally, God's people were free,
and He led them to safety across the Red Sea.

This special, remarkable story points to Jesus,
God's only Son who came to save each of us.
To free us from sin, that traps us like slaves,
and lead us to walk in new life He displayed.
He's the Passover lamb, blood shed for you and me,
He died and rose again so we could fully be free."

Image by Ira Baykovska Illustration and text from "The Biblical Feasts: And How Jesus Fulfills Them" & "The Spring Feasts: And How Jesus Fulfilled Them."

Happy Palm Sunday!

Did you know that Passover lambs were born and bred right outside of Jerusalem in Bethlehem and they were brought into Jerusalem through the sheep gate the same gate Jesus entered through on Palm Sunday? When the Passover lambs were brought into Jerusalem there was great rejoicing as the sacrifice came into the city.

Likewise recall the great rejoicing that occurred on Palm Sunday as Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem:

"The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!”" John 12:12-13

This moment points towards Jesus final return when He will walk through the Eastern Gate of the Temple Mount on Yom Kippur and forgive the nation of Israel's sin in a day. He and take His rightful place as King.

“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. And the land shall mourn, every family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of Shimei by itself, and their wives by themselves; all the families that remain, every family by itself, and their wives by themselves.” Zechariah 12:10-14

This passage in Zechariah tells of the future redemption of Israel that will happen in a day. We know Jesus has made atonement for our sins to be clean, pure and one with God again through his death, burial and resurrection. Zechariah prophesies that there will be a nationwide realization in Israel of the one that they pierced and there will be mourning and grieving. On the final Yom Kippur when Jesus returns He will remove the sin and iniquity of Israel, they will look on the one they have pierced, mourn and lament and cry out to Him and He, Jesus will redeem Israel.

As we yearn and wait for Jesus to return and fully redeem Israel we can pray that the eyes of Jewish people to be opened to Jesus Messiah.

Image by Ira Baykovska and text from "The Fall Feasts: And How Jesus Fulfills Them"

Jon Thurlow is a favorite in our household, this is a clip from the last prayer set he led during his time at IHOP, we listen to it often. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

https://youtu.be/dUDIQFxtbhU

Fill Me Up + Spontaneous // Jon Thurlow // Prayer Room Worship with the Word Join in with Jon Thurlow and team during this moment in the Global Prayer Room in Kansas City.---------------------------------------------------------------...

Worship Watch Wednesday

Jireh, You are enough
Jireh, You are enough (so I will be)
I will be content in every circumstance
Jireh, You are enough (He is always enough)

https://youtu.be/mC-zw0zCCtg

Jireh | Elevation Worship & Maverick City The official video of "Jireh" from the album, Old Church Basement, by Elevation Worship and Maverick City, feat. Chandler Moore & Naomi Raine. Available ever...

Worship Watch Wednesday

I haven’t done this in a long time but I’ll start sharing a song each Wednesday 🙂

We sang this last Friday during a worship night at our House of Prayer, it’s simple but beautiful truth of scripture sung out.

https://youtu.be/0od4yqA2FNo

Make Way (The King is Coming) | GREENHOUSE MOMENT Ethan Mizell singing "Make Way" at Greenhouse on January 12, 2022.COME JOIN US THIS SUMMER!Are you a musician, worship leader or prayer leader passionate abo...

What if there was an Advent devotional that not only remembered the first coming of Jesus but also pointed you towards His second coming?

As of last year there is, because I wrote one! “Advent: Prophecy Fulfilled” A Christmas Devotional is available for purchase on Amazon 🎉

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LGW616T

“Join me this Advent season as we look forward to and anticipate the celebration of our Savior born into the world as a baby and coming again as conquering King. Over the 25 days of Advent we will be taking a look at 25 prophecies fulfilled in the the first advent of Jesus and stir our hearts up with longing for His second coming, His second advent. Maranatha, come Lord Jesus.”