Hands-on Faith for Families– Week of April 10, 2017
Theme: Let God Give You a Cheerful Heart
Defining Joy
Scripture: If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:10, 11)
Play: Gather two glasses — one tall and narrow and the other short and wide. Pour equal amounts into each glass. Then, introduce your family to two wonderful Christian “ladies.” Tell your family Miss A (the tall glass) won an Olympic gold medal in figure skating and lives in a mansion, while Miss B (the short glass), uses a cane to walk and lives in a little cottage. Tell them the water represents the joy the ladies have in their hearts, and ask your kids to guess which lady has more joy.
Now place two identical empty glasses in the center of the table. Pour the water from Miss A into one and the water from Miss B into the other. This will demonstrate for your children that the amount of joy is the same for each lady regardless of her circumstances.
Talk: Joy is different than happiness. While happiness is a feeling that comes and goes, joy is our contentment in God. Happiness is temporary (for the moment) and influenced by what happens to us. Joy is eternal (lasting forever) because it comes from a place of thankfulness to God. God doesn’t want us to get mixed up and think a happy face is all there is to joy. Through the Bible He directs us to desire and keep a joyful heart. “You make know to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” (Psalm 16:11)
Pray: Thank God for being your joy today.
— Kathleen Welty
