Below is a suggested prayer guide for how to pray for our students while they are on Trek this week.

Friday/Saturday (July 18-19) - Pray for safe travel. Pray that our students will develop deeper relationships as we travel together from Little Rock to Twin Lakes, CO.

Sunday (July 20) - We will rappel and hike to our first camping location. Please pray for our students to overcome fear and choose to live courageous lives that glorify God.

Monday (July 21) - We will hike from our first camp site to high camp somewhere on Mt. Elbert. It’s a strenuous day. Pray that our students will encourage and help one another. Pray that as they do, deeper, more genuine friendships are developed.

Tuesday (July 22) - We spend this day in silence and solitude while adjusting to the high altitude (above 10,000 ft). Pray that our students will develop a greater desire to know God more personally and develop disciplines and habits to seek him and draw closer to him.

Wednesday (July 23) - Summit day. We hike from high camp to the peak of Mt. Elbert. When we return to high camp, we will pack up camp and head back down. Like Monday, this will be a strenuous day. Please pray for safety. Pray also that our students will overcome obstacles and challenges. Pray that God will increase the faith of our teens to face whatever comes in life. Pray for their faith to grow through challenges.

Thursday (July 24) - We white-water raft on this day. Pray that our students are refreshed and rejuvenated both physically and spiritually on this day.

Friday (July 25) - We return home. Pray for safe travel. Pray for memories that last a lifetime from this experience together. Pray that God uses this week together to shape the hearts and lives of our teens into what he wants them to become.

I AM: Getting to Know God
Lesson 1: Listening to God
Date: July 13
Lesson Summary: Getting to know God requires that we learn to listen to him. We often wish God would speak to us in ways that we read about in the Bible. However, God does continue to speak and reveal himself to us today. One of the clearest ways he does this is through the Bible.

Questions to discuss:1. Share with one another the different experiences and ways you can see that God has spoken to you.
2. How do you think God speaks to us today?
3. Why is it often difficult to believe God’s word over what others say about who we are?

I AM Getting to Know God
Lesson 2: When Bad Things Happen
Date: July 20
Lesson Summary: Crises impact our relationship with God. These moments can be part of what God uses to transform our lives and bring us closer to him.

Questions to discuss:1. Discuss some things that you think are unfair in the world. (poverty, world hunger, oppressive governments, etc.)
2. Why do you think these things exist?
3. Why do you think God doesn’t just simply intervene and eliminate all the bad things in the world?
4. I once heard that faith isn’t faith until it’s tested. Discuss some ways difficult times have helped strengthen your faith.

I AM: Getting to Know God
Lesson 3: Identity
Date: July 27
Lesson Summary: Getting to know God helps us better understand who we are.

Questions to discuss:1. Genesis 2:7 reminds us that we are both physical and spiritual beings. God said that both are good. Why do you think we often emphasize spiritual over physical when it comes to God?
2. In the video the teens watched, Chris Tomlin talked about knowing where God was leading his life? Discuss with your children the ways you have seen God lead your life.
3. Discuss with your children how your relationship with God has better helped you understand who you are.

I didn’t really want to, but I did. Weeks ago I had committed to helping with HAFH devotionals on Sunday nights. After nearly two days in the sun, Show and Shine, Wednesday night at the Compassion Center and other activites I was driving over to Northwest Hills Apartments asking myself, “Why did I ever volunteer to do this?”

My life was changed an hour or so later. My eyes were opened and I now understand. I can’t tell you how many couches, beds and other furniture pieces I have moved up and down stairs. I’m not sure how many moves I’ve been a part of for HAFH, but it wasn’t until Sunday night, sitting in an apartment with three families, that I got it. We talked about illnesses, death, faith. There were some tears, but there was hope. Ultimately, I think my life was transformed more than theirs.

Our church family is doing a great thing with this HAFH ministry. We provide the closest thing to a home for those who spend a lot of time away from home. We provide home-cooked meals for those who come from hundreds of miles away for treatment that takes its toll on the body and is emotionally draining. We offer a time for people to come together and talk and pray — families who often feel alone because they are away from their church families and loved ones. So, the next time you have the chance to move furniture or cook a meal for HAFH I hope you’ll understand the difference you are making. I think it would be incredible for our families to find ways to offer encouragement and love for those we minister to who are hurting.

Additionally, we’re working hard to plan some ministry and family experiences. I can’t encourage you enough to take part in these as families. Our next ministry opportunity is Monday, July 14 with our Food Bank. Take the time and bring the entire family to support what we’re doing here. We’re going to try to play with kids, help serve dinner, hand out food boxes and maybe even take food to those for HAFH.

Lesson Summary: God will sustain us through hard times keeping his promises.

Key Verse: “But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the domestic animals that were with him in the ark.” – Genesis 8:1

Questions to discuss:

•Read Genesis 7:11-8:12.

•The flood has often been reduced to a children’s story. You can buy Little Tykes Noah’s Arks, decorate nurseries in the theme. However, the flood is nothing like a children’s story. Try to envision the absolute destruction created by the flood. Discuss some major storms you’re familiar with and try to compare them to what the flood might have been like.

•Discuss what life was like for Noah before the flood. Do you think he ever doubted that God would bring such destruction as he built the ark?

•In class we tried to envision what life must have been like for Noah and his family. For months during the storm, God must have seemed silent. How do you think Noah felt toward God during this time?

•Share a trying time in your life when you felt God was silent.

•Storms in our lives can come from 3 sources:
1) Situations that arise outside of our control such as tragedy, severe injury, etc.
2) Suffering caused by following Christ, by doing good.
3) Suffering brought on by the choices we make and we suffer the consequences.

How do you tend to respond to each of these? Is one easier to face than the others? Do you tend to blame God? Do you doubt him? Which is most difficult for you to deal with?

•How can we help one another in our family when each of us faces difficult times? What can we do to help you feel the support and encouragement you need in these times?

Plan of Action
Think of a family or someone who needs encouragement this week. As a family, come up with something you can do to encourage that person or other family and do it.

Summary: In a world filled with evil God is looking for men and women to take a small step to make a difference in this world.

Key Scripture: “Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” - Genesis 6:22

Questions to discuss:
1. Share stories of times where you can look back and see God asking you to do something that is part of his work in this world. What was he calling you to do and how did you respond? What blessings did you receive (if any) from this? Did you see it as something God was doing at the time?

2. Because our times are no different than Noah’s, we may stand out when we do what God calls us to do. Share some times when you felt a little out of place or uncomfortable because you were choosing to follow God.

3. So many times people think of Christianity as being about what we don’t do. Noah’s story teaches us that following God is about what we do rather than what we don’t do. God called Noah to take the first step in making a difference. Noah said yes. Think about your life… What is God calling you to do?

Action Plan:Make plans to work in the Food Bank on Monday, June 16. This is just one small way your family can take a step to make a difference.