Hey, Bridge Family, 
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Hello everyone, I hope you’re doing well. Can you believe it’s almost August? This week, we at the Bridge learned that “God is Wise,” and because of that, we are encouraged to make wise choices. The story illustrating this truth is from Daniel chapter 1. Take a moment to read it. Daniel and his friends face a difficult dilemma: they must either submit to their captors and break God’s Law or refuse. What’s especially interesting is how Daniel handled this situation. It wasn’t simply that he refused to eat what was offered because he knew it was wrong; rather, he approached the matter with the understanding that God’s way is right and humbly sought to demonstrate that to his captors. In the Bible, wisdom is depicted as the ability to live in accordance with God’s plan. It involves not only intelligent thought but also acting in a manner that is good and godly. That is what God’s word is teaching us in this passage. 
 
Soon, our children will return to school, gaining skills and expanding their knowledge each year to boost their intelligence, which is essential for adulthood. While focusing on growing our intelligence is admirable, emphasizing the development of wisdom is even more critical. Wisdom guides us through difficult decisions that can determine our success or failure in life. Shouldn’t we hope that our children are not just intelligent but also wise? After all, the Bible teaches us that, “Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do (Prov 4:7)!” Now, God would not make such a statement unless He was willing to give us the tools to gain wisdom. Therefore, how can we learn God’s wisdom to pass on to our children? Here’s a suggestion. 
 
The book of Proverbs: We should dedicate time to explore this book with our family. Extract its pearls of wisdom to teach our children. It may take some time, but by gently working through it and asking God to reveal His truth in each part, we begin the journey of raising a family of Daniels. Is that not our deepest desire? 
 
Remember, it’s never too late to engage. As long as your child is at home, you have an excellent opportunity to share the Bible and explore it together, making faith an exciting and meaningful adventure. God Bless, and hope to see your family on Sunday. 
 
Pastor Bob 
 

Hey, Bridge Family, 
 
I hope everyone had a great week! This Sunday, we talked about how God is our Creator, and because of that, we are called to fulfill our purpose. Take a moment to reflect on that. The key question is: What is God’s purpose for me right now, and how has He uniquely created me for that role? It’s a pretty deep question, isn’t it? Many of us wrestle with this, and your child probably does too! Still, as you disciple your family, it’s important to help your children understand the answer. The truth is, when we find our purpose, we feel more meaningful. Specifically, why do we matter to God’s Kingdom? Why were we created, and what is our purpose in life? 
 
The Bible teaches us that our purpose is to glorify God. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Matthew 5:14-16, and 1 Peter 4:11 are but a few verses that reveal this truth to us. But, how exactly do we glorify God?  
 
1. First, ask yourself this question: “What unique talents or character qualities did God give you?” 

2.  Then ask, “How can I use that uniqueness or character quality to glorify God?”   
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If this requires some brainstorming, that’s beneficial because it will help you guide your child through those same questions. If you’re having difficulty, pray to God for guidance and encourage your children to do the same as you explore these questions together. Nothing should be considered too insignificant if it is used to glorify our Lord. Remember, if your child, or you for that matter, becomes discouraged, Jesus promises, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones (Lk 16:10).”  
 
Remember, it’s never too late to engage. As long as your child is at home, you have an excellent opportunity to share the Bible and explore it together, making faith an exciting and meaningful adventure. God Bless, and hope to see your family on Sunday. 
 
Pastor Bob 
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Hey, Bridge Family, 
​Hope you’re doing well! Last week, we shared an exciting story with the kids about how God’s army protected Elisha and Israel, as told in 2 Kings chapter six. We emphasized that God is everywhere! It’s truly powerful to know we serve an omnipresent God who watches over us. As parents, let’s also remember to use God’s Word to encourage, rather than using it as a hammer to force proper behavior. Yes, God does see us in our sin, and that is a very sobering truth that we cannot hide from Him, but that is not an all-inclusive reflection of God’s ever-present nature. 
Parenting isn’t just about teaching right from wrong or encouraging good behavior; it’s also about loving, caring for, enjoying, and guiding our children. While correction plays a part, the bigger picture is creating a safe space for their growth and development. If we, as parents, strive to do all this, wouldn’t our heavenly Father do the same, but even more abundantly? God is much more than an enforcer waiting to catch us doing something wrong. 
Knowing that God is everywhere should motivate us to behave rightly, not out of fear of getting caught, but out of love for a loving God who gave His only Son so we could have life. As our Heavenly Father loves us, we should live in obedient love for Him. That is the truth we need to pass on to our children. 

Here are some thoughts I read about sharing God being everywhere with our kids, 

1. When you pray, thank Him for being present. 
   
2. In the car, say, “God is with us here and He’s already where we are going.” 
3. When your child is nervous, remind them, “God is right here and already there too.” 
4. After discipline, talk about how God is with us even when we sin, and still offers forgiveness through Jesus. 

 
Remember, it’s never too late to engage. As long as your child is at home, you have an excellent opportunity to share the Bible and explore it together, making faith an exciting and meaningful adventure. God Bless, and hope to see your family on Sunday. 
 
Pastor Bob 

Hey, Bridge Family,
Hope you’re doing well. I’ve been thinking about the thought-provoking question from the take-home: “What’s one question about God you’d love to know the answer to?” I hope you’ve had a chance to consider it. Years ago, there was a show called “Kids Say the Darndest Things.” Maybe you’ve seen one of its many remakes over the years. This show highlighted how a child’s view of life can differ greatly from that of an adult, encouraging us to see the world anew through their eyes. I mention this to suggest that your child might ask innocent yet thought-provoking questions such as, ‘What is God like?’, ‘How old is God?’, or even, ‘Will there be animals in Heaven?’ These are questions that, in our journey of faith, we may have moved past or never considered. It’s completely normal if you don’t have all the answers—don’t panic! Because, as we learned this week, “God is Mysterious.” Here are a couple of tips to help you out.

1) Read the Bible or a Bible storybook with your kids throughout the week. This will help you understand the Bible better and prepare you more effectively for the more challenging questions as your child grows older.

2) If you don’t know, just own it! Don’t hesitate to admit you don’t have the answer. Tell your child you’ll find out and follow up with them. Just don’t delay. It’s best to get back with an answer in a day or two. Use a study Bible, find a commentary you like, ask a fellow believer, or even give us a call; we’d love to help.

Remember, it’s never too late to engage. As long as your child is at home, you have an excellent opportunity to share the Bible and explore these questions together, making faith an exciting and meaningful adventure. God Bless, and hope to see your family on Sunday.
Pastor Bob