This month, eKidz will learn about loving like Jesus, how doing that is a big deal and makes a difference around us, and how God’s unconditional forgiveness helps us forgive others. No matter how long we’ve been walking in faith, when it comes to following Jesus, there’s always more to learn! Let’s enter March with a new appreciation for the love and care our God continually shows us.
MARCH eKIDZ UPDATE
MARCH VOLUNTEER DEVOTIONAL
Hey, eKidz volunteers!
March is here — anyone out there whose favorite season is spring? 🙋🏽
Spring is the ultimate season of renewal; a fresh opportunity for new growth each year. And for eKidz, this March will be all about growing in both our love for others and our capacity to forgive them.
We hope this devotional will not only prepare our hearts and minds for serving in eKidz this month, but also enable us to help kids grow closer to God. We can’t wait to see what He has in store for us this March!
This month, eKidz will learn what love and forgiveness really look like for Christians. Safari will focus on how we can love others like Jesus, Quest will go a bit deeper by learning how loving others impacts them and the world around us, and Motion will talk about how God’s loving, limitless forgiveness can enable us to forgive others as well. We’ll be studying these ideas throughout this devotional, then taking time to pray and reflect on them as well.
MARCH MADNESS: EKIDZ EDITION
College basketball fans aren’t the only ones who get to have some fun in March… eKidz volunteers do, too! Download the March Madness Bingo board and try to complete five squares in a row!
BOX BREATHING
Inhale deeply through your nose for a count of four. Now hold for a count of four. Exhale through your nose for a count of four. Hold your breath for a count of four. And now repeat. (Seriously. Do it.)
Congratulations — you’ve just completed a Navy SEALs training exercise! Combat breathing, commonly known as box breathing, is a technique to relieve stress and promote mental clarity in crisis situations.
In the book of John, Jesus assures us we will have trouble in this world. Ephesians 6 reminds us to put on the full armor of God to take our stand — and the weapon with which we arm ourselves? The Sword of the Spirit — the Word of God! As believers, we fight battles every day and are meant to live victoriously.
Long before Navy SEALs were holding their breath and counting to four, the ancient practice of combining breath and scripture, now commonly called breath prayer, became a tool for believers to face the trials of their day. Aligning the physical act of breathing to the spiritual act of reciting scripture produces incredible benefits.
Let’s not wait until the enemy has us up against the wall to wish we had trained ourselves to steady our hearts and minds.
Give breath prayers a try, and then practice daily. Find scriptures that calm your mind and encourage your heart. Find a rhythmic breathing pattern that works for you… And the next time you find yourself headed into battle, you’ll stand strong!
Here are a few favorite breath prayer passages. Inhale and exhale while reciting the scripture to yourself, holding your breath for a pause between breaths.
Instructional Video Links
Each week prior to serving, spend 10-15 minutes and use the weekly eKidz instructional videos to prepare to serve kids and families with excellence. Videos for the upcoming Sunday are available each Wednesday at noon.
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