Family Devo: "Be Still" for Sunday, February 23

Gather:  Together the makings of a boat and ocean -- pillows, blocks, couch cushions and some blankets, chairs and even a squirt bottle of water -- like you would a fort. Make a boat and cover it with a blanket and then everyone gets in a boat.

read or tell:  a The story of Jesus calming the storm from Matthew 8:23-27: Jesus got into the boat, and his disciples followed him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat  was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" And he said to them, "Why are you afraid? Don't you have faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and sea obey him?

Do Together: Act out the story, rocking back and forth, waving the blankets -- Make

sure you show your fear. Explain that rebuke means telling the waves to stop in a firm or even sharp disapproving way. If you are brave, you can even add some water from the squirt bottle into your waves.

Discuss: While you are still in your boat, share together some things that make you afraid and what that feels like when you get scared. What do you think the disciples were thinking about on that water? Jesus teaches us that we should speak sharply to those fears and say, "Be still."  Jesus reminds the disciples and reminds us that God is with us even in the scariest moments. We need to remember to have faith that we will be OK. We need to remember to say "Be still" to our fears. Talk together about ways you can do that when you feel frightened.

pray together: Dear God, Thank you for always being with us, even when we are afraid. Help us to have faith that you will help us calm down and not be afraid. Help us to say, "Be still" to fears and be calm instead. Amen.