Eleanor
turned the key over and over in her hand, as she stared off absently into the
distance. Her bag was packed. A note lay on her desk addressed to her parents.
Eleanor had painstakingly copied the map by hand and had her route highlighted
for the journey. She was resolute in taking this journey. While Grandma Beaulah
prayed that Eleanor would be the one, she laid no expectations or pressure on her.
The moment
Grandma began to tell her story was the moment a stirring began in her heart.
She KNEW what she had to do.
Grandma led
Eleanor to accept the free gift of Yeshua and His sacrifice for her
forgiveness. She made a decision to not only follow the Moshiach but to make a
personal relationship with Him, as her Lord and Savior. Grandma baptized her in
their bathtub and prayed for her to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It all
happened in such a short time. She felt like her life had been filled with
light and color since. She felt alive in ways she had never known before. She
had never known the new joy and peace that filled her heart.
And now …she
was about to set off on the adventure of a lifetime. An adventure which she had
to keep to herself. She didn’t need anyone to tell her it was forbidden. This
quest went against everything Azrael had set out to do. He forbade knowledge,
claiming its danger and recklessness. He had locked it all away in a hidden
vault, to protect the people.
Eleanor hung
the key around her neck and tucked it under her blouse. Excitement.
Trepidation. She felt a sudden sweat engulf her body. She turned to Grandma
with heaviness in her chest, tears flowing down her cheeks and reached out with
trembling hands. She grasped Grandma’s hands fiercely. Grandma prayed. Her
prayers filled Eleanor with boldness, courage, resoluteness and deep
expectancy.
Grandma and
Eleanor lingered with their arms wrapped around one other. When Eleanor stepped
back, she couldn’t speak. She was afraid that if she tried, she would burst
into tears afresh. Grandma and she had rehearsed the plans at length. There was
nothing left to say. The hope was to be reunited at some point, but there was
no promise of tomorrow. There was no telling what Azrael would do to Grandma if
he found out.
Eleanor put
on her backpack and blew a kiss to her grandmother as she left the apartment.
With tears pouring down her face, she ran down the stairs.
She wiped
her face before she reached the street, took a deep breath and then calmly, but
quickly, walked the eight blocks to the edge of the woods. She glanced around
to make sure no one was looking and then plunged into the tangled shadows.
Family Connection
Have you
ever felt a deep conviction about certain decisions you have made individually
or as a family? Eleanor KNEW deep in her heart, that this was the path for her
to take. Share your own stories with your kids. Invite them into the stories of
your family. At Firebrand Academy, we remind them to be “collectors of
stories”. Your family stories should become part of their repertoire.
This week,
we looked at the armor of God. If your kids are not already familiar with the
armor of God, please spend some reviewing it, so they are familiar with all the
pieces. (Ephesians 6:10-17)
What is
faith? Read Romans 10:17 and Hebrews 11:1. Discuss as a family.
We also
looked specifically at the shield of faith. Hebrews 11 is called “The Hall of
Faith” and is an excellent passage to talk through different men and women who
walked in FAITH. Read it in the Message translation for a highly accessible
version.
Verses to memorize: Ephesians 6:11, Hebrews 11:1, memorize the different parts of
the armor of God (helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, belt of
truth, feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace, shield of faith
and sword of the spirit)
Journal Ideas:
Draw and label the armor of God in your journal. Have a
parent print out the passage from Ephesians 6 and glue alongside your pic.
Highlight the pieces of armor in the passage.
Think through (and journal) about one of the people from the
Hall of Faith. Maybe print out a pic and think through their life. As you
meditate on their life (and maybe read a little more of their story), ask the
Lord what He wants YOU to know about FAITH in your life. What does He want you
to know? Journal what you sense the Lord showing you.
Be a reporter and write down a story your parents told you
about faith in your family. OR (not a journal, but you can tell us you did it),
interview them and record you asking them the questions and hearing the story.
Make your own Hall of Faith with the people in your life. Spend a few
weeks interviewing friends and family about their own stories of faith. Remember,
we are collectors of stories!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Full Armor of God | Kids Worship Music | Compass Bible Church (youtube.com),
Armor of God Music Video – The Superbook Show (youtube.com),
Armor of God!!! | Kids’ Club (Older) – YouTube,
Spiritual Warfare: How to Put on the Armor of God (youtube.com) (for older kids, gives a lot of extra detail),
God’s whole armor (Animated
Bible Study) (youtube.com) (does a great break down of the armor)
