Importance of Family Dinner Time: Interesting Statistics

Found the following mind-blowing statistics today. If you work with children or are a parent, take notice.

• Family dinners have declined by one-third, based on the number of families who report that their whole family usually eats dinner together. But the rebound may have begun. A poll that tracked adolescents from 1998-2004 found a 28 percent increase in families having dinner together five or more times per week.
Dr. Doherty has written the book Putting Family First: Successful Strategies for Reclaiming Famiy Life in A Hurry Up World. Doherty, W.J. (2002)

Doherty stated: “For young children, meal time at home is a stronger predictor of academic achievement and psychological adjustment than time spent in any of the following activities: school, studying, sports, church/religious activities, or art activities. For teens, having regular dinners with parents is a strong predictor of academic success, psychological adjustment, and lower rates of alcohol use, drug use, early sexual behavior, eating disorders, and risk for suicide.”

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Orange Conference

I am very excited! I registered yesterday for the Orange Conference that will be upcoming this Spring. Okay, big secret……I have never been to a real church/children’s ministry conference! I did go to Unleash last year and will again this year, but we’re talking about a multi-day, leave the family, be professional (if I can ) stay in a hotel conference. So my Spring line-up is Unleash in March then Orange in April. I should be on a ministry high a bit after that!

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cravings

Why when one is not at a mountaintop experience in their Christian walk is it referred to as a valley? I was thinking about this earlier this evening. I think of a valley as green, growing vegetation, plush, pretty. Not pretty like the view from the top of a mountain, but pretty enough. When I get busy with the mundane or the stressful (keyword being “busy”) I know I am not at the top of a mountain in regards to my relationship with my precious Savior. I am barren, dry, empty. I crave the Spirit much like craving a glass of ice cold water. But my proirities get out of whack, I continue on day after day living with my priorities all wrong. I end each day wishing I would have spent more time in the Word or more time praying. I berate myself as being lukewarm, if even that. I desire to be better the next day, yet once again I continue on as I did the day before.

I am getting ready to lead a Bible study that I pray will change my life like nothing else right now.  I was praying for a study on prayer to lead to a group of about 6 women, but felt called to do this one: Seeking Him: Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival. In order for revival to occur in our church, as we faithfully pray it does, it must first begin in the lives of the people in the churches – in us.

I want to change. I want to reprioritize and give into my cravings of being near to the one who beckons me. I have always heard it said that when we don’t feel close to God, it isn’t Him who has moved - He is always where He has been – it’s been us that have moved.  

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