Crystal Bowman - Whits End Mealtime Devotions: The Second Helping

In todays busy world, its rare for families to sit down for a meal together. With school, sports, extracurricular activities, work, church, and so much more, when is everyone ever home at the same time for dinner? The more time that you spend as a family, however, the tighter the bonds and the stronger the foundation for your children. So start with a meal it doesnt have to be dinner and use this book to turn mealtimes into lively times for talk and teaching about faith. This book will make starting interesting family conversation as easy as pie.

After announcing the title of the devotion, read the Mealtime Prayer suggestion and then ask your children to pray it together. Then read the Appetizer to whet your appetite for more. Follow it with the Main Course. This contains the meat of the section. Once youve given your family something to chew on, its time for Table Talk. These questions will help your kids think about what theyve just learned and enable them to digest it for their daily lives. The questions are suitable for all ages; you can go deeper as your children grow. End with Vitamins and Minerals a Bible verse that relates to the days reading and discussion. To get the most out of this book, allow yourself to be flexible. You dont have to go through it from cover to cover. You might want to use the table of contents to find a topic that sounds good that day or relates to what youll be eating.

The point is to turn mealtimes into a fun and enjoyable time of learning about each other. Its about bringing God into every part of our lives. Be sensitive to how your children respond. Allow enough time for them to answer the questions, but dont force conversation if they dont seem interested. That usually isnt a problem with kids, Ive found. These readings have been time tested around a few tables and should stir up animated conversations about the things that really matter.

Lets eat!

Mealtime Prayer:

Give thanks to God that He is with us in all situations and will guide and direct our lives.

Appetizer:

Q: What is green and bumpy and red all over?

A: A pickle with a sunburn.

How many kinds of pickles can you name?

Main Course:

Ever gotten yourself into a pickle? Not a bumpy, green pickle, of course, but a difficult situation. What happened? The Bible gives examples of people who got themselves into pickles and how God helped them:

• Daniel ended up in a lions den because he prayed, but God kept the lions from hurting him (Daniel 6).
• Jonah disobeyed God and ended up inside the belly of a big fish (yuck!). He prayed to God, and the fish spit him out (Jonah 2).
• When Paul and Silas were in prison for preaching the gospel, they prayed and sang hymns of praise. God sent an earthquake, and their chains fell off (Acts 16).
• Who deserved their pickles, and who didnt? Why?

Table Talk:

• How do we sometimes end up in a pickle?
• What did the Bible characters above do to get out of trouble? What should we do?
• Will God help us get out of our pickles? Why or why not?

Vitamins and Minerals:

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. (James 5:13)

Mealtime Prayer:

As you thank God for your food today, thank Him that He is eternal and that His love is everlasting.

Appetizer:

Q: Which animal lives the longest?

A: The quahog clam. Some live for more than 400 years.

Who is the oldest person you know?

Main Course:

At the beginning of your meal, place a small scoop of ice cream in a bowl. What happens to the ice cream while you eat your dinner?

Ice cream doesnt last long, does it? Name some other things that dont last very long. Name some things that do last for a long time.

The Bible says that God is everlasting. What does that mean? What are some things about God that are everlasting?

Table Talk:

• How does God being everlasting make a difference in our lives?
• How do we know that God will always be alive?
• How are Christians everlasting?

Vitamins and Minerals:

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (Psalm 90:2)

Mealtime Prayer:

Ask God for opportunities to share your faith and bring others to Him.

Appetizer:

Name all the ways that it is possible to catch fish.

Main Course:

Have you ever gone fishing? If so, what bait did you use? How many fish did you catch? Imagine you caught 500 in an hour. How could it have happened? Read the story of an exciting fishing trip in Luke 5:57.