Pray & Ponder

Do you ever wonder about God's power that is both gentle and mighty? In today's story we'll hear about the ways in which God sees and listens and rescues as he keeps his promise to protect his special people. I wonder what you know about God's gentle and mighty power? I wonder where you have seen that kind of power? Join us today as we look at God's faithfulness to Moses and God's power at work in and through him. Follow along as we read portions of Exodus 1-14. Come! Let's pray and ponder. Together.

Head over to restorationarlington.org for more information on Restoration and Pray & Ponder. Remember to subscribe so that you never miss a new episode.

Do you ever wonder what it means to be a promise maker and a promise keeper? God, who is faithful and true, is the BEST promise maker and promise keeper! He promises things and he follows through on those promises -- no matter how much time there is between when he makes that promise and when he keeps it. He tells us in today's story that he has given a reminder of his promise to us. But I wonder if there are ways you see and know God's promise? I wonder how he reminds you of his love and faithfulness? Join us today as we remember together God's promises and how he not only reminds us but also shows us his love as the very best promise maker and promise keeper. Follow along as we read portions of Genesis 6-9. Come! Let's pray and ponder. Together.

Do you ever wonder about how God made us -- and what that tells us about how he feels about us? Do you ever wonder about that perfectly perfect relationship with the God who created us and how it was broken? Do you ever think about the whole story from God's perspective? Join us today as we wonder together about God's BIG love for us and what that love looks like. Follow along as we read from Genesis 1:26-2:25; 3:1-24. Come! Let's pray and ponder. Together.

Do you ever think about all the things that God made? I wonder if you have a favorite thing that he created? Join us as we wonder together about the ways God made the world and everything in it and what that tells us about WHO God is! Follow along with these scriptures as we read from Genesis 1:1-28, 31; Genesis 2:1-3 and begin at the beginning to tell God's BIG story of his BIG love for his people. Come! Let's pray and ponder. Together.

Head over to restorationarlington.org for more information on Restoration and Pray & Ponder. Remember to subscribe so that you never miss a new episode.

Do you ever wonder why we say the three most important things at the end of each episode of Pray & Ponder? Do you ever wonder what those words really mean? Join us today as we listen to God's Word that tells us that "God really does know you! He's crazy about you! And he goes with you everywhere!" Follow along with these scriptures.

Head over to restorationarlington.org for more information on Restoration and Pray & Ponder. Remember to subscribe so that you never miss a new episode.

Wild Wondering With God — Episode 10 — clouds

write about what you are thinking and seeing and experiencing:

• print these journal response pages as a booklet

do some creative or playful things:

• stretch out on a blanket and look up at the clouds in the sky
• try these experiments to make clouds at home
• learn how to paint a "happy little cloud" with Bob Ross

read with a buddy or by yourself:

• watch this read aloud of Little Cloud by Eric Carle
• read Clouds by Anne Rockwell
• read this National Geographic book Explore My World: Clouds by Marfe Delano
• read a biography of Luke Howard The Man Who Named the Clouds by Julie Hannah
• read Wayside School: Beneath the Cloud of Doom by Louis Sachar for some silly humor

share what you have learned with someone else:

• teach this to someone using this guide

Wild Wondering With God — Episode 9 — ROCKS

write about what you are thinking and seeing and experiencing:

• print these journal response pages as a booklet

do some creative or playful things:

• clean some rocks
• paint rocks
• stack some flat rocks to build a cairn

read with a buddy or by yourself:

• read A Rock Is Lively by Dianna Hutts Aston
• read Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
• read Banner In the Sky by James Ramsey Ullman — an adventure story read aloud for older elementary kids

share what you have learned with someone else:

• teach this to someone using this guide

Wild Wondering With God — Episode 8 — trees

write about what you are thinking and seeing and experiencing:

• print these journal response pages as a booklet

do some creative or playful things:

• climb a tree and see how the view changes
• make a neighborhood tree identification guide using this online tool for help if you need it
• do a bark rubbing
• play this game in an area with several trees: In pairs, have one person blindfolded and another person lead the blindfolded person through the wooded area to a tree. Have the blindfolded person touch and feel the tree. Then lead the blindfolded person back to the 'start'. Have the blindfolded person take off the blindfold and guess which tree they touched.
• head here for a TON of ideas to have fun outside

read with a buddy or by yourself:

• read The Things That I Love About Trees by Chris Butterworth
• study The Magic and Mystery of Trees by Jen Green, a non-fiction lovers book for sure
• travel to the Rain Forest by reading The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry
• read Mrs. Peanuckle's Tree Alphabet by Mrs. Peanuckle, a great concept book that introduces all types of trees
• gather around to read Little House In the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

share what you have learned with someone else:

• teach this to someone using this guide

Wild Wondering With God — Episode 7 — birdsong

write about what you are thinking and seeing and experiencing:

• print these journal response pages as a booklet

do some creative or playful things:

• scroll down to capture the instructions and inspiration for creating mixed-media bird nests
• grab a paper lunch bag, roll down the sides to make a nest, then gather and fill and "feather" your nest with found treasures
• be inspired to work like a bird to weave your own nest

read with a buddy or by yourself:

• read Magnificent Birds by Narisa Togo
• read A Nest Is Noisy by Dianna Hutts Aston
• read All Kinds of Nests by Eun-gyu Choi
• read A Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon by Jacqueline Davies which is a more text-rich picture book biography
• gather together for a read aloud of Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White

share what you have learned with someone else:

• teach this to someone using this guide

write about what you are thinking and seeing and experiencing:

• print these journal response pages as a booklet

do some creative or playful things:

• make a bee-utiful craft while also working on those fine motor skills
• make a dragonfly with a straw and some paper
• go on a bug hunt to see what kinds of insects you can find
• stay up late to watch or catch lightning bugs

read with a buddy or by yourself:

• The Strange Tale of Ben Beesley by Restoration's own Matt McNeil is a MUST READ. Full of the Gospel and hope in the midst of grief.
• read Some Bugs by Angela DiTerlizzi with those closest to the ground, able to notice and marvel at the tiniest things
• read A Butterfly is Patient by Dianna Hutts Aston

share what you have learned with someone else:

• teach this to someone using this guide