Twirl Bible Study- April

Written by: Beth Jordahl

 It’s Spring! Easter has come and gone. There are flowers, and some warm weather. And since it’s Colorado, there is probably more snow coming!

 This is also the season when there is a lot happening. Recitals, rehearsals, school projects, parties, and all of the other end of year activities are right around the corner. Which means that this can be the time when everything piles up.

 It can be overwhelming for any of us. It can be especially overwhelming for young Twirl dancers! When little ones get stressed, it tends to cause them to act out. This can look like a lot of different things; throwing fits, refusing to listen, or just not being able to handle everything they need to do.

 In these moments, it can be helpful for them (and us) to remember to be gentle.

 This month, we are talking about GENTLENESS  through the verse Philippians 4:5: “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”

 The word gentleness in the Bible means a variety of things: equitable, fair, mild, gentle.

 It is to lay down our own needs and to respond to others with kindness. Gentleness is being loving, tender, calm, and humble in the things you say and do instead of being harsh or mean. It is a mildness (quiet, gentle) of spirit.

 All things we hope our little ones will be and do!

 All things that Jesus shows towards us.

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30

 This can be a hard attribute to teach and to share. It isn’t something that comes naturally! Rather it is something that we show, and display and talk about again and again. The more that kids see gentleness in action, the more they will learn how to respond that way.

 One of the best ways to help a kid understand is to give them opportunities to practice!

 Try out these activities with your family!

Act It Out!

For this, you could grab a mirror or even take photos. Ask your kiddos to think really hard about what a grumpy or mean face looks like. Then when they make that face, look at it together or take a pic. After that talk about what a nice and calm face might look like, then take a picture or look at that one. Next, you can discuss the differences. Ask them why someone might make a grumpy face instead of a happy face. Then you can chat about what that might look like in their own lives! Talk about how when we respond with GENTLENESS, we respond with love. We don’t respond in a grumpy way. Ask them if they have seen these responses in the people around them.

You could take this one step further and let them try acting out a scene. Ask them how they might respond to someone in a grumpy way and then in a gentle way. You could give them various scenarios; a sibling being annoying, a kid being mean, someone asking for help, so on. This gives them a chance to try out different responses in a safe place!

 Petting Zoo

This one takes a bit more planning on your part, but can be really worthwhile! Take the whole family to a petting zoo. Interacting with animals can be a unique experience and can help kids learn how their gentle responses helps animals feel safe. Take the chance to share that animals don’t like to be around people who are loud, aggressive, or mean. They prefer people who treat them kindly and quietly. This is also a good time to talk about Jesus as a shepherd in John 8:1-11. Jesus leads us with gentleness and understanding which in turn helps us to feel safe.

Tone & Expression

This is an easy game for driving in the car or while playing with your kids. Give them an example of both harsh and gentle tones. Then ask them to tell you if your tone is harsh or gentle. For example, say “Please stop doing that” in a variety of ways (high, low, harsh, gentle, silly, etc.) Let your kids give you feedback on whether or not they would like to be spoken to that way. You can then discuss tone of voice and how people like to be spoken to. You can give them a chance to try out their different tones as well!

 The next couple of months can be overwhelming and busy. It’s a great time to emphasize gentleness in the dance studio, at home, and everywhere we go. As we are gentle, it will be an example of Jesus in our lives. It will help our kids connect with His Grace.

April Devotional- Become

Can you believe there are only six weeks until recitals? With Spring Break behind us and Peek Weeks in full swing, this is definitely the time of year when things start to get real. Costumes have been passed out. Progress reports are coming, and so are end-of-the-year performances—not to mention finals, graduations, deadlines, auditions, summer decisions, etc. etc. etc. For some, this time of year is exciting. For others, it stirs up worry, or even frustration.

 How did April get here so fast?

 I’ve been working on this dance all year, why do I still struggle with certain parts?

 I’ve done my splits every day, why aren’t I all the way down?

 Why aren’t I moving up to the next level next year?

 Wherever the time went, the reality is that the 2020-21 dance year is coming to an end, and if any of the above questions or similar are putting a weight on your heart (the way my heart skipped a beat when I typed that recitals are in six weeks up there), take a deep breath. It’s not about us or any of those panic points. It’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. It’s time to trust your training. It’s time to let go and let God. It’s time to begin to be.

 This month’s devotional word encourages us to do just that: BECOME.

 “He must become greater; I must become less.”   — John 3:30

 As we get closer to the finish line, let’s work to replace the stressful questions that arise in our hearts and begin to be agents of praise. Let’s become who He intended us to be at the end of this season, and not succumb to the weight of our own expectations. After all, it’s His light we’re shining on stage, not our own. We pray that His will be done, not ours. We trust in His perfect timing, not what we think it should be.

 Last month we studied the word “behold,” (if you missed that devo, you can find it here), and I think William Blake said it best: “We become what we behold.” So what are you beholding? Is it your frustration or worry? Is it your own progress or excitement? We’re close to the end, but we’re not there yet. Now is the time to check in. Who or what are you worshiping with your time? Your thoughts? Your actions? Who or what are you serving with the same? Is it from you? Is it from your classmates? Societal pressure? Let go. Let God.

 “We all, with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”    — 2 Corinthians 3:18

 “He must become greater; I must become less.”

 Behold His works. Be transformed in Him. We are made in His likeness; become a reflection of Him.

 May HE shine in us as we reach toward the finish line. May our performances show HIS light. May HIS name be glorified in our hearts, our minds, our words and our movements.

 Amen!

Five Fun Facts about Pointe!

Written by: Mimi McKinnis

When students start to dream of being ballerinas, the vision in their heads is usually the same: Big platter tutu skirt, an elaborate beaded bodice, a bright spotlight as they twirl center stage in front of a big audience—and of course, those beautiful satin pointe shoes. It’s part of every little dancer’s dream, and why being put on pointe is such an exciting milestone in every ballet dancer’s journey. As a new round of Turning Pointe students anxiously prepares for their pointe evaluation next month, let’s take a look at this quintessential accessory in the ballet dancer’s arsenal:

1.   The first pair of pointe shoes was invented in 1795.
Known as “the flying machine,” the predecessor to today’s modern pointe shoes was created by French dancer-turned-choreographer Charles Didelot toward the end of the 17th century. His apparatus allowed dancers to rise to their toes, giving the illusion of taking flight on stage. Other choreographers took notice and engineers began developing models more similar to modern-day pointe shoes. Today there are more than 80 different brands of pointe shoes worldwide, including one patented by Bill Nye, the Science Guy.

2.   Italian ballerina Marie Taglioni is credited as the first person to dance a full-length production on pointe.
In 1832, Taglioni, a central figure in the Romantic era of ballet, danced on pointe as she premiered La Sylphide—a production choreographed by her father, Filippo Taglioni. While other dancers had gone atop their toes on stage as a “stunt,” Taglioni incorporated it into her dancing, using her toes to accentuate the performance. The use of her feet and shoes conveyed character and emotion rather than being seen merely as a trick, which inspired other Romantic-era performers to follow suit. Want to know more? Look up Fanny Elssler to learn about how pointe work developed in the years following Taglioni’s performance!

3.   Pointe shoes are composed of five elements.
Unlike simple ballet slippers, it takes a lot to get a dancer up on their toes. First there’s the vamp, which lays across the top of the toes. The size and shape of the vamp varies in each style of shoe, and is chosen depending on the dancer’s foot shape, toe length and technique through demi-pointe. Then there’s the wings, which extend the vamp around the sides of the toes, and the platform (situated between the toes and the floor when the foot is fully extended), which allows dancers to balance on their toes. The platform, wings and vamp are collectively known as the box (or block), and the shank travels up the bottom of the foot like the sole of a shoe.

4.   Most pointe shoes are handmade.
While they feel sturdy and stiff at first, just ask any pointe dancer (or take a look at their feet!), most pointe shoes are made by hand with simple materials like leather, satin, cardboard and glue. Once purchased, even more careful craftsmanship goes into each pair as dancers sew their own elastic and ribbons to meet their own unique needs. Want to see the process? Check out National Geographic’s look at the making of Freed of London.

5. Going on pointe is a really big deal!
It might seem like stating the obvious, but being put on pointe is a right of passage for any ballerina. It’s something worked for and earned, not just a shoe purchase. Students typically need to train in ballet for several years, then meet age and growth requirements before being considered. Most studios require complete pre-pointe training and an evaluation to ensure the student is ready for pointe in order to prevent injury and long-term damage to the feet.

 If you or your student is interested in progressing to pointe work, check out the requirements, process and expectations (and some FAQs) here. Can’t wait to get started? We offer pre-pointe during the summer sessions… registration opens April 15!

Spring Break Catch Up

Written by: Mimi McKinnis

Spring Break Catch Up!

 Even though our doors are closed for Spring Break this week, there’s plenty to be excited about as we finish the 2020-21 dance year strong! We’ll miss all of your smiling faces, but we encourage you to relax, recharge and regroup as we move forward into the busy months ahead. Check out the dates and videos below to prepare for spring auditions, summer dance, recitals and more!

Upcoming Opportunities:

 Summer Class/Camp Registration

●      April 15

●      More information: https://turningpointeschoolofdance.com/summer-mini-mester

Teaching Assistant/Intern Applications Available

●      May 16

●      More information: https://turningpointeschoolofdance.com/new-page-1

STARZ Performances of Mary Poppins

●      April 9-11

●      More information: www.starztheater.org/

 Looking for other ways to get connected at Turning Pointe? Check out all of the ways you can plug into the TP family: https://youtu.be/GEFIfELh4sI

Upcoming Auditions:

 Turning Pointe’s Training Division

●      April 12 or May 6, 4-5:15 p.m.

●      More information: training.turningpointe@gmail.com

Fidele Youth Dance Company

●      April 17 or June 5, 12:30-5:30 p.m.

●      More information: www.FideleYouthDanceCompany.com/Auditions

STARZ Theater Company

●      June 3-4, High School Musical Junior

●      More information: www.starztheater.org/high-school-musical-jr-audition-info

●      Prepare for your STARZ Theater Audition: https://youtu.be/ycpfvum7Kl4

Upcoming Recital Dates:

 Recitals!

●      May 22-25

 Twirl Red Carpet Recital/Picture Week with Amanda Lamb

●      May 24-29

 Feeling overwhelmed? Check out this video to help you prepare for recital: https://youtu.be/isWLOzz14BM

Five Fun Facts about Irish Dance!

Written by Beth Jordahl

“Irish dance doesn’t fit in a box. Irish dance is whatever it means to the person who is passionate about that activity. It grows and changes with everyone it touches.”

- The Gazette (Teelin Irish Dance Company)

There is something magical about Irish dance. Strong dancers working together to create rhythm, pattern, sounds, and pictures. The curly hair, the green or vibrant costumes, and the still arms all contribute to a dance form that is very unique.

Irish dance is definitely a key component of our studio. So as we celebrate this form of dance and St. Patrick’s day this week, here are some fun facts:

1. Irish dance may have started as early as 1600 B.C.
While there isn’t much documentary evidence of Irish culture prior to the 17th century, due to Viking invasion. It is believed that these early tribal dances were accompanied by the music of the Tuatha de Danaan, or "skilled workers." The dances would have been a part of spiritual rituals, work, war, courting, and social recreation.

The first documented evidence of dancing is an account of the Mayor of Waterford’s visit to Baltimore, County Cork in 1413, where they took to the floor to celebrate Christmas.

 2. Irish dancers actually did “Take the Cake”
The phrase “takes the cake” has been found to be used as far back as the 5th century, and became very popular in early 20th century as “cake walks.”

Before those traditions, Irish dancers actually held “cake dances”! The cake would be put in the middle of a field, and they would hold a dance competition for the opportunity to take the cake home.

 3. Irish dancers may have started holding their arms straight to fool the Brits.
Of course, not all Irish dances involve still arms. So why is it a common practice today? Riverdance definitely popularized the still arm style in the 90s, but even before that there may have been any number of reasons. Here are a few hypothesis:

-       Religious reasons, perhaps the church didn’t want boys and girls holding hands.

-       Proper manners, etiquette may have dictated that still arms were more proper.

-       Lack of space. pubs were tight spaces, so maybe they had to keep their arms still. They would also take doors off their hinges and lay them down to dance on top of and it would have left very little space for the dancers.

-       And lastly, the English had forbidden the Irish from singing or dancing or celebrating their culture, so parents started teaching their children to dance with their arms down. This way, if anyone looked in through a waist high window, it would appear as if the dancers were actually just meandering around.

What do you think? It could have been a combination of all of these reasons.

4. There are three types of Irish dance shoes.
There are two types of soft shoes, Ghillies and Reel Shoes. Ghillies fit similar to ballet slippers and are laced from toe to ankle. They are quiet and flexible shoes. They are worn by female dancers for reels, jigs, and group dances. Reel Shoes are a soft shoe worn by male dancers. They are similar to jazz shoes, and some of them have a fiberglass heel.

The hard shoes are sometimes called “heavies” or jig shoes. They tend to be bulkier and typically have fiberglass tips for a louder sound. Originally in the 17th and 18th century, the sound was created with wooden taps attached to the shoe with metal nails.

 5. Irish dance culture is now a global tradition.
Today Irish dance is taught all over the world. Championships are held in Dublin every Easter for competitors from around the globe. And some traditional dances, such as, the Feis (feast dances) and Ceilis (small group dances) are still held by Irish and Irish dance lovers alike. The rich tradition and history of Irish dance continues to run strong as it influences the ever-evolving performance and celebration aspect of this beautiful dance style.

 If you would like to try a Irish Dance class, email info@turningpointeschoolofdance.com to schedule a solo or small group lesson, in-studio or online!

Twirl Bible Study- March

Is your Twirl student afraid of anything? Maybe it’s the dark, big spiders or the sound the wind makes when it hits the tree outside their window just right. Maybe it’s the bad guy in a movie, going into class all by themselves or performing a recital dance in front of an audience for the very first time. No worries, tiny dancers. This month’s memory verse teaches us that we have nothing to worry about!

 The Lord bless you and keep you.   — Numbers 6:24

 This verse begins the Benediction Prayer, thought to be one of the oldest poems in the Bible. Also known as Aaron’s Blessing, this simple statement packs a punch so poignant, despite its age, it’s still used regularly in Roman Catholic, Christian and Jewish worship services. It closes sermons, blesses congregations, concludes baptisms and is even spoken over brides and grooms in wedding ceremonies. So how do we unpack such a mighty prayer with our Twirl students? Let’s break it down…

 The Lord bless you...

 God has entered a covenant with His people. He tells us in Exodus 6:7: “I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” He is our God, and only in a relationship with Him as our Father, are we truly blessed.

 ...and keep you,

 Psalm 17:8 tells us that He will keep us safe in the shadow of His wings. Just as He kept the children of Israel (to whom Aaron originally spoke this prayer), He is our Shepherd, and we will never be lost. He will never leave us. He will always protect us. No matter what.

 How do we know? It all comes back to this month’s Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness. God will always keep His promises. He will never stop loving us, and we can love and serve others faithfully because He has perfectly shown us how. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is a confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” No matter what we’re facing, He is there. Sometimes the steps seem too hard to learn and the dance seems too complicated to remember, but even when we feel all alone on a great big stage, He is there. Our Father, loving and protecting us... always.  As the full prayer (verses 24-26) says:

 The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

 As difficult moments come up with your Twirl student—when the movie gets scary, when recital seems like too much, or when they need a little extra courage on a stormy night—we encourage you to come back and speak these truths together: The Lord bless you and keep you.

 Want to take these lessons further? Reinforce His promises with a hands-on activity (maybe over Spring Break, March 22-27)!

 Faithfulness Art/Necklaces

 Proverbs 3:3 says, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”

 Together with your Twirl student, braid some string, string some beads or use whatever you have handy (OR use this as an excellent excuse for a Target or craft store run) to make a tangible reminder of His faithfulness. Feeling scared or unsure? Grab your necklace, say this month’s verse, and remember He is there.

 If your Twirl student is still a little young for accessorizing, focus on the second half of the verse. Have your student write or draw pictures to remind them of His faithfulness. Hang their creations on the fridge or in their room, put them in their dance bag or display it wherever you could use a reminder of His protection.

March Devotional- Behold

Written by Beth Jordahl

 Imagine you are hiking with your favorite people. You woke up extra early and hopped into the car to get here. You are still feeling a bit groggy as you follow along. The sky is still kind of dark, but you can hear birds starting to sing. The air is cold on your face and you can’t feel your fingers anymore. There can’t possibly be further to go, but still you trudge on.

 But then… you get to the top of a hill, everyone spreads out and stares.

 You start to say something, but words fail you. Everyone is silent as you watch the beautiful pink tendrils of the sunrise start to peek out. You watch as the sky fades from black to blue. Light touches the clouds and the day begins. Wow, is the only thing you can think as you hike back down. It was worth waking up early, it was worth the aching muscles, it was worth the numb fingers and flushed cheeks. Seeing that beautiful, breath-taking moment filled you with awe and wonder about this amazing world that you live in.

 In that moment, when words failed you and everyone collectively held their breaths, that moment was a BEHOLD moment.

Behold means "to witness, view attentively, contemplate," and in earlier Greek usage, it meant the sense of wondering regard. This idea was gradually lost. It signifies a more earnest contemplation than the ordinary verbs for "to see," it means, "a careful and deliberate vision which interprets its object."

You didn’t just look at or see the sunrise. You beheld it! You witnessed it happening, you watched attentively to see what would happen, and you contemplated it’s beauty as you walked away. It was a moment in time that you can now look back on and ponder.

This month, as a studio, we are studying the word BEHOLD alongside of this verse:

 "We all, with unveiled faces, BEHOLDing the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18

Sometimes, as we continue along with our lives, we can get sidetracked. We get busy with all of our different classes, our homework, our friends, our families, our plans. We spend our days rushing to and from each good thing. And that’s what they are, they are good things! It is good to fill your days with your friends and family. School and homework are very important. Dance class is super fun! So please don’t stop doing any of it.

Yet, as life goes on and things get even busier, don’t forget to stop.

Stop the busyness for a moment, and just BEHOLD God. Look at how He is at work in your life. Wonder at how He has provided and blessed you. Contemplate all of His promises.

 It is in these moments, where we stop and behold Him, that we are able to give Him the space to speak to us, to help us grow. In the Message version of this verse, it uses some beautiful language to describe this process.

“Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.”

-        2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (MSG)

If you are looking for some ways to stop and draw closer to God, here are some helpful tips. 

●      MEMORIZE

Choose a verse (or go for the verse of the month) and recite it to yourself every morning and night. As you repeat it, think of all the ways God has shown Himself to you.

●      STUDY THE BIBLE

Use your concordance or the internet and look for several verses that talk about God’s goodness. Write them out and ask yourself these questions.

-       What do I learn about God from these verses?

-       What words stand out?

-       What don’t I understand?

-       Then pray and ask God what He is teaching you.

●      PRAY

It can be hard to get into a rhythm of prayer. So try setting alarms on your phone for every couple of hours. When the alarm goes off, take a couple of moments and just talk to God.

●      DO SOMETHING

Grab your family and go experience God’s glorious creation! Try taking a walk, going for a hike, heading to a park, playing in your backyard, or going on a picnic. Whatever works best for you!

Now go ahead and keep BEHOLDing our Wonderful, Amazing God!

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

    and his courts with praise;

    give thanks to him and praise his name.

 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

-       Psalm 100:4-5

Five Fun Facts about Worship

Written by Beth Jordahl

Let them praise his name with dancing - Psalm 149:3

Worship dance (sometimes called liturgical dance) is one way to express your faith! It can be something you do at home with some good music, at church as a part of the worship experience, or (like at our studio) as a part of a class. It is simply a way of letting your body participate in an outpouring of praise for what God has done for you.

“The most valuable thing the Psalms do for me is to express the same delight in God that made David dance.” -C.S. Lewis

We love worship dance! So as we celebrate this form of dance here are some fun facts:

1. Worship dance dates back to Biblical times.
We can see in the Psalms how dancing is listed with singing and making music as one way of expressing our praise and admiration of what God has done. In 2 Samuel 6, we see how David dances so passionately that his wife looked on him with disgust. He emphasized how important it was that he pour out his praise.

 And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns. - 2 Samuel 6:14-15

 2. Worship dance is fairly new in the West.
While worship dance is an important part of faith in the Bible, it was phased out of the church experience during the 16th century Protestant Reformation and did not become common or popular in American Christian worship until the 20th century. Now there are many studios across the US that offer worship dance classes. There are even many professional dance companies that operate from a place of Christian worship.

 3. Worship dance can be choreographed or can be spontaneous and improvised.
This can be seen clearly in dance classes and companies. In your dance class, you will learn a piece that the class performs together. You may also have many opportunities to improvise to worship music.

*Try it at home! Take some time to choose your favorite worship song. Turn it on and dance! Use your movement to tell a story or express the way you feel or just follow the music.

4. Worship dance can be a combination of lots of types of dance.
Worship dance takes its cues from the music! This means that it can be a combination of lots of different types of dance. Such as, ballet, jazz, hiphop, and lyrical. This means that there are very little rules or expectations! The main goal of worship is to bring glory to God. And that can be done through any style of dance.

 5. Worship dance can be used in mission trips!
A great example of this is the past mission trips Turning Pointe has taken. Using choreographed pieces, dancers tell the stories of faith, God’s love, and even the story of Christ. It can be a powerful tool of evangelism as dances connect with the audiences’ emotions and draw them into story. Dance is a powerful art form and can be a beautiful way to display God’s love to others!

If you are interested in what professional Worship Dance looks like, check out these dance companies.

●       Ballet Magnificat!, an arts organization dedicated to presenting the good news of Jesus Christ to the whole world, was founded in 1986 by Keith and Kathy Thibodeaux.

●      Ballet 5:8  is a professional dance company in Chicago and is a place where artists create, thrive, and exchange ideas informed by Christian faith.

●      Paradosi Ballet is a Christian ballet company that was founded in 2007 with the goal of sharing the love of Jesus through dance, drama, and personal witness.

 If you would like to try a Worship Dance class, email TurningPointeOffice@gmail.com to schedule a solo or small group lesson, in-studio or online!

Twirl Bible Study- February

Written by Beth Jordahl

 Everything in February is hearts and flowers! The grocery store is stocked with lots of pink, red, and white candies. And walk into any craft store and you will be assaulted with any number of bright colored supplies for making Valentines.

 The time has come, all these things declare, to tell the people around you how much you love them!

 While Valentine’s day may be a bit cheesy and overdone, the idea of sharing how much you love others should be at the heart of what we do all year round.

 This month, all of our Twirl classes are talking about LOVE with the verse: Deuteronomy 6:5:

 "Love the Lord with all your heart."

 This is not always an easy concept for little dancers. Mommies, daddies, grandmas, and grandpas are always saying “I love you.” And sometimes the dancers may even say it back!

 They may have started to learn to love through action. Sharing with siblings, or giving hugs. Or saying sorry for something that has gone wrong. They may love to create art to give to their favorite people. Or seek to spend time with those they love the most.

 But how do we help them understand how to love someone they can’t see, touch or hear?

 This is the question for many parents, Sunday School teachers and families. How do we love the Lord with all our hearts? And, how do we help our kids do that as well?

 One of the best ways to help your littles grow in their faith is to create experiences with them to share your own faith. These opportunities will help you show what it means to LOVE God with all of your heart.

 Here are a few things you can do with your family:

Worship
Whether you are at church or at home, worship music is a great way to help kids connect with God. You can help them learn the words to the song. Or just let everyone dance what they are feeling! Then you can talk about what they liked about the music and why worship is important to you.

Serve
You can love God by loving others! This is a tangible way to talk about loving God. Choose a way to serve others and then do it as a family. You can make cookies to share with your neighbors. You could serve at church, or find out if your church has a community service program.

 *For this week, you can also bring in new, fun, fuzzy, silly socks to the studio any time before Feb. 14th that will be donated to Children’s Hospital. Maybe even take your kids with you to let them pick out the socks. This is a great opportunity to bring some love and comfort to the kids in our community!

Art
Ask your kids what they think love is. Then create art using your favorite supplies and put up your masterpieces as a reminder of what love looks like!

Read

Here are a few wonderful books written for kids that share the beauty of God’s love:

-       The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones A beautiful kids Bible that focuses on how all the stories are pointing to God’s rescue plan, Jesus.

-       God’s Very Good Idea by Trillia Newbell A book about how God created all of us to be different and how He has a plan for His church.

-       You Are Special by Max Lucado This creative book tells the story of a very special puppet and his Creator.

-       The Theolaby Book Set by Jennie Allen This a five book series where each book tells part of God’s great plan, the first book is out and is called I am Creator. 

Share Verses
Do you have some favorite verses about God’s love and faithfulness or our call to love Him? This is a great time to share them with your kids. Here are a few to get you started: John 3:16-17, 1 John 4:8, Mark 12:29-31, 1 John 3:18, and Zephaniah 3:17.

 As you celebrate Valentine’s day this year, take some time to talk about how much God loves your kids and give them ways to show Him love in return.

February Devotional: Beside

Written by: Mimi McKinnis

“Why does February feel like one big Tuesday?”

Author/Pastor Todd Stocker has a point. January is over, and our initial 2021 optimism might be starting to fade. Did you know that 80 percent of new year gym memberships drop off by the second week of February? It’s like author JD Robb said:

“Even though February was the shortest month of the year, sometimes it seemed like the longest.”

 While the honeymoon phase of a new beginning might be over, in the midst of this winter, there is hope. No matter the season, God is with us. Which brings us to this month’s focus: Beside.

Here’s the thing… on it’s own, the word “beside” is incomplete. It’s not a standalone sentiment, but rather it’s defined as being next to or at the side of something else. Kind of like us! We aren’t standalone humans. Apart from God, we can do nothing (John 15:5). But be encouraged, Turning Pointe family! We’ve been given an amazing gift. Jesus is beside us, never leaving, even in the longest of winters.

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” —  Psalm 23:4

This month’s verse reminds us of so many promises. He is before us, leading us through the valley. He is behind us, protecting us every moment. He is beneath our feet, supporting our steps, and beside us with comfort and grace. Before, behind, beneath, beside. And no amount of peaks or valleys can change that.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”   — Romans 8:38-39

Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Joshua 1 echoes the same: “...Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Whether this month finds you starting to thrive or just trying to survive, take heart. Do not be afraid. Jesus walked beside Mary when Lazarus died. He walked beside Peter on the water. He walked beside the disciples on the road to Emmaus. How is He walking beside you?