February 8 Home Communicator – Do you remember when you started spending time with God on your own? Maybe you grew up in a family where this was a natural part of every day and so you’ve always done it. Maybe you didn’t start a daily quiet time with God until you were older. And maybe spending time with God is something that you haven’t really experienced on a regular basis. I imagine there are many different answers to this question within our community.
I was about ten years old when I started a devotional time apart from our family’s Bible reading and prayer after dinner. I had just performed my heart out in the Sunday School Christmas program at church and, after the service, my Sunday School teacher presented me with a gift. I can still remember her smiling and handing me a small package just outside of the fellowship hall downstairs. The package contained the traditional orange and a box of Cracker Jack, but it also held a brand new devotional book called Counting Stars by William Coleman. I ran up the steps to meet my parents and excitedly showed them the gift. I started reading it that night and that’s how I began taking time each day with God. I wish I could say that I’ve done this perfectly and consistently since I was ten years old, but I haven’t. Sometimes I let things get in the way of my daily devotional time, but I am always trying because it keeps me connected to my Father.
Recently, the 5th grade students were given a Daily Devotional Challenge to help them start forming these habits from a young age. Yesterday I sat down with 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Hoogeboom, and a few of her students to talk about the challenge and how it’s going so far. We recorded our conversation as a podcast, which you can listen to by following the link below. It is a real joy to be able to share a glimpse of how Hudsonville Christian School is nurturing the faith of these young people!
5th Grade Devotional Challenge Podcast
Blessings, Tricia Kiepert – Elementary Principal
