Give Thanks to the LORD Week 2: In Everything

We can teach our children to be thankful all year long, in every situation. The reason is that we have a good God. Here are Bible verses, songs and teaching ideas to teach your child leading up to Thanksgiving and all year long. The leaf craft can be used to decorate your house, that you have what my 4 year old daughter calls "having a Bible house"!

Theme Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:18a "In everything give thanks"

Related Activities:

Parent Preparation: Here are verses for you to read and consider: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Colossians 2:6-7, Colossians 3:15-17, Colossians 4:2, Luke 17:11-19

Songs: 

• "Thank Him" a verse from "Praise Him" listen to the melody here, 
• "In Everything Give Thanks" by Cindy Bernardini, 
• "Always Giving Thanks" by George Hackett on "Always Giving Thanks" CD

Thank Him, Thank Him
Thank Him in the morning, 
Thank Him in the evening,
Thank Him when the sun goes down.

Pray: Before praying with your child talk about how we don't want to just feel thankful, but we want to then give our thanks to God.

Daily Life: During situations throughout your day pause and take a moment to talk about what you are thankful for.  If you are in a difficult situation, remind your child that we can thank God for promises in His Word, and be thankful for Who God is.

Leaf Craft: Print out this leaf.  Cut it out. Have your child decorate the leaf. Options include: coloring, painting with watercolor, finger paint, Do-A-Dots, marble painting. Hang up the leaf in your home (on the window, on a string across the window or mantle). Print out a blank leaf and write other Bible verses or write down things you are thankful for. (Check out Part 1 and Part 3 for additional leaves)

Thankful List: Take a piece of paper for each person in your family. Draw pictures of what you are thankful for and write next to it. For younger children, have them tell you what they are thankful for. Then you can write it down and draw a simple picture next to it.  When you are done, pray together and give thanks to God for each of these things.

Read: Read with your child the record in Luke 17:11-19 of the 10 lepers being healed and one coming back to thank Jesus.

Act It Out: Use puppets, dolls, figurines, or stuffed animals. With your child have the 2 characters go to different places (the store, school, the playground, ride in the car) and have the 2 characters talk about what they are thankful for.

Coloring Page: Color this page from Ministry-to-children.com

Related Links:
Give Thanks to the LORD Week 1: Because He is Good
Give Thanks to the LORD Week 3: With All My Heart

©Brigette Hill, 2014