Living Room Camping

Family Night Activities: God is Faithful

November 11, 2011

Kids love to set up tents or forts inside. If you havent ever camped in the living room this might become your new favorite family activity! You can camp for an hour or camp overnightwhatever works best for you! Make a tent with blankets or set up a camping tent inside. It will create a fun place to have a family devotion on Gods faithfulness. Preparation: Gather blankets or sheets for creating a tent or pull out a camping tent you can set up inside. Print the story and questions below. Have the calendar handy as well. Prepare camping snacks. If you have a fireplace you can do smores. Even without a fireplace you can use candles (being extra careful with the kids) to roast the marshmallows. We have one devotion activity for you below. If you want to plan more activities and make a night of camping fun go to: www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activities/rainy-day-or-indoor- games.page-1.html for great indoor camping game ideas.

Lets get started

Everyone help set up the camp site (tent, pillows, stuffed animalswhatever they want in their tent) When the tent is ready, gather in the tent. Read the story below and talk about it using the questions provided. This is an amazing story about a boy named Raul and his sister, Maria.

Raul lived in a small town. He loved to build things, play ball, explore the mountain on the other side of town, and to tease his little sister, Maria. Although she could be very annoying at times, everyone knew that if they were mean to Maria, they would have to face Raul. He would defend her fiercely, and no one wanted to be on Raul's bad side! Every morning as Raul and Maria walked out the door for school, his mom called after them, "Take care of your sister, Raul!" "I will!" he would call back, "I promise!" One day that promise was put to the test.

Raul's Faithful Promise

The sky was dark with clouds. Raul was sitting in class when he heard what sounded like a train coming right at the school. TORNADO! the teacher yelled. The students dove under their desks and prayed. The fragile walls of the old school building cracked and groaned with the pressure of the winds. Somehow, Raul and his classmates were able to escape harm, but when the dust settled, he saw that where his sister's class had been there was nothing but rubble. Raul ran to the pile looking for Maria. Not one of her classmates could be found. He clawed at the rocks, pulling away stone after stone. Others joined him, but soon gave up hope. No sound could be heard from under the broken walls. "There's no way they could have survived, young man," the people told him, "It's no use." Raul didnt stop. He kept pulling stones off the pile until his muscles quivered with exhaustion. He was so tired he didn't know how he could keep going. Rescue work continued around him, but no one wanted to waste effort on a lost causeno one except Raul. "Please God," he prayed, "Give me strength to find my sister. Somehow keep her safe until I get there." Raul looked at a large stone and knew he didn't have the strength to move it. He pushed with all his might, but the rock only shifted a few inches. Fighting back tears, he sat down beside the crack in the rubble he had made. "What do I do now, Lord?" he asked. A quiet voice whispered to his heart, "Listen." Putting his ear to the crack, Raul held his breath and listened. Then he heard it--a sound from the other side of the crack, a faint cry for help. "Over here!" Raul yelled, "Someone is alive in there!" Suddenly, people appeared from everywhere. Two men helped Raul move the big stone, and through a much larger crack, they saw a hand waving at them! When the crack was big enough, all of Maria's classmates were rescued. Last to come out was Maria. She was bruised and dirty, but otherwise fine. Running into her brother's arms, she cried, "I told them not to be afraid. I knew you would take care of me, and God would give you the strength!"

Talk about it

What promise did Raul make regarding his sister? (He promised he would take care of her.) How was he faithful to that promise? (He kept looking for her even when everyone else gave up). What made it hard for him to be faithful to his promise? (The tornado, and the fact that everyone else had given up hope, he wasnt strong enough to move the big rock.) How was God faithful in this story? (He gave Raul the strength to keep going. He spoke to Raul's heart and told him to listen.)

Raul did his best to be faithful to his promise, but sometimes it's impossible to do what we say we'll do. Have you ever made a promise you couldn't keep? What happened? Why couldn't you keep it?

The difference between you and me and God is that He ALWAYS keeps His promises! NOTHING can stop Him from being faithful to His word. Listen to what 1 Corinthians 1:9 has to say. God will do this, for He is faithful to do what He says, and He has invited you into partnership with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (NLT). It doesn't say: "He might do this," or "He'll try to be faithful to what He says." The Bible is clear. God will do this; He is faithful to do what He says. Psalm 89:8 says: O Lord God of Heaven's Armies! Where is anyone as mighty as You, O Lord? You are entirely faithful. (NLT). Is God only faithful some of the time? (NO! - God is ALWAYS faithful to do what He says He will do.) Nothing can stop Him from being faithful. Think of some of God's other attributes. How do they help Him be totally faithful to His promises? (Pull out the calendar and let them look through past months to remind them of other attributes All Powerful (Nothing can stop Him from being faithful.) Everywhere (He's always there so He never misses the opportunity to be faithful.) Totally Truthful (He can't make promises He won't keep because He can't lie.) God has all of His other perfect attributes working together to make sure that He is ALWAYS faithful to do what He says He'll do!

Bringing it to a close
Let God know how thankful you are that He is faithful to all of His promises and that you can count on Him no matter what.