Today we learned about prophets. They shared God’s messages and got to show off God’s power!  
Parents, keep talking about this story at home by using some of these discussion starters:

*(ages 2-4) How do we hear from God? We read the Bible, we learn from parents and teachers and pastors. God is so powerful! God can do anything!

*(ages 5-9) Have you ever prayed for God to do something amazing, like a miracle? What happened?  

*(ages 10-12) God’s prophets had to share messages with people who didn’t always agree with them. Have you ever tried to share God’s message with others? How did it go?

One last thing! This week Hannah asked you to “Where have you seen God’s POWER at work?”. We would love to hear your ideas! Simply record a voice memo and send it in a text to 636-280-5433. You may even be featured in an upcoming episode. *By sending in a voice memo, you’re providing consent for your minor’s voice to be on the podcast*

Normal Goes A Long Way Website: https://www.normalgoesalongway.com/

Normal Goes A Long Way Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normalgoesalongway/

Normal Goes A Long Way Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeekTheStill/https://www.facebook.com/Normal-Goes-A-Long-Way-110089491250735

Normal Goes A Long Way is brought to you by Messiah St. Charles: https://messiahstcharles.org/

Normal Goes A Long Way is hosted on Zencastr. Create your podcast today! Get 20% off when you choose Zencastr for your podcasting needs: https://zencastr.com/?via=jill

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148: KIDS VERSION - God’s Messengers

"The Story" continues with the story of Elijah from 1 Kings 18. The prophet Elijah stood boldly against the prophets of Baal, demonstrating unwavering faith in God amidst overwhelming opposition.

The Dangers of Compromise: Pastor Jim reminded us of the dangers of compromising our values, drawing parallels between King Solomon's alliances and our modern-day temptations to forsake our principles for perceived gains.

The Role of Prophets: We learned about the crucial role of prophets in ancient Israel, who spoke truth to power and guided the people back to God, emphasizing that genuine faith requires courage and conviction.

Elijah's Bold Stand: The highlight was Elijah's challenge on Mount Carmel, where his faith in God was vindicated through a miraculous display, teaching us that true faith often requires us to stand firm even when the odds seem against us.

If you’d like to dig deeper, check out these discussion questions [https://messiahstcharles.org/the-story/]. You can complete them on your own, with your Community Group, or with family and friends.



Normal Goes A Long Way Website: https://www.normalgoesalongway.com/

Normal Goes A Long Way Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normalgoesalongway/

Normal Goes A Long Way Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeekTheStill/https://www.facebook.com/Normal-Goes-A-Long-Way-110089491250735

Normal Goes A Long Way is brought to you by Messiah St. Charles: https://messiahstcharles.org/

Normal Goes A Long Way is hosted on Zencastr. Create your podcast today! Get 20% off when you choose Zencastr for your podcasting needs: https://zencastr.com/?via=jill

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147: God’s Messengers

Listen in as we learn about a time when God's people got in a big fight and split in two. Parents, want to keep talking? Here are some ideas:

*This week's story was about good kings and bad kings. What did the bad kings do? (They didn't follow God and they didn't learn from their mistakes). What did the good kings do? (They learned from their mistakes and followed God). What mistakes have you made? What can you learn from them? (ages 2-4)

*The people of Judah started fighting against Israel and decided to start their own country. Have you ever had two of your friends fight and decide not to be friends anymore? What happened because of this fight? Was there a way your friends could have settled their differences better? (ages 5-9)

*Proverbs 13:20 says, "Anyone who walks with wise people grows wise. But a companion of foolish people suffers harm." Solomon wrote these words. Do you think Solomon's advice is true? In what way? (ages 10-12)

One last thing! This week April asked you to “How do you feel when you are FORGIVEN for a mistake?”. We would love to hear your ideas! Simply record a voice memo and send it in a text to 636-280-5433. You may even be featured in an upcoming episode. *By sending in a voice memo, you’re providing consent for your minor’s voice to be on the podcast*

Normal Goes A Long Way Website: https://www.normalgoesalongway.com/

Normal Goes A Long Way Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normalgoesalongway/

Normal Goes A Long Way Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeekTheStill/https://www.facebook.com/Normal-Goes-A-Long-Way-110089491250735

Normal Goes A Long Way is brought to you by Messiah St. Charles: https://messiahstcharles.org/

Normal Goes A Long Way is hosted on Zencastr. Create your podcast today! Get 20% off when you choose Zencastr for your podcasting needs: https://zencastr.com/?via=jill

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146: KIDS VERSION - A Kingdom Torn In Two

Wow, those Israelites sure know how to ruin a good thing! Their 100+ year streak of relative stability under the kings they asked for ends in (spoiler alert) a kingdom torn in two. How did things get so bad? Well, we learned last week about Solomon's gradual slide into idol worship. His reign as king that started out with so much promise ended in catastrophe for Israel when he turned on the one true God. It's the same trap we fall into today. No, we don't build literal temples to false gods, but we certainly prioritize our idols above our God and separate ourselves from Him. Pastor Chuck Schlie takes a look at the big mess Israel has made but also takes a look at the seeds of redemption among the destruction in this week’s episode.

If you’d like to dig deeper, check out these discussion questions [https://messiahstcharles.org/the-story/]. You can complete them on your own, with your Community Group, or with family and friends.

Normal Goes A Long Way Website: https://www.normalgoesalongway.com/

Normal Goes A Long Way Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normalgoesalongway/

Normal Goes A Long Way Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeekTheStill/https://www.facebook.com/Normal-Goes-A-Long-Way-110089491250735

Normal Goes A Long Way is brought to you by Messiah St. Charles: https://messiahstcharles.org/

Normal Goes A Long Way is hosted on Zencastr. Create your podcast today! Get 20% off when you choose Zencastr for your podcasting needs: https://zencastr.com/?via=jill

#madeonzencastr

145: A Kingdom Torn In Two 

Today we heard about King Solomon. He became the wisest king in history, because He asked God to bless him with wisdom! Keep talking about this story at home by using some of these discussion starters:

*(ages 2-4) What is a good choice? What is a poor choice? Who can help you make good choices? Pray: Dear God, please help me make good choices!

*(ages 5-9) Being wise means being able to tell right from wrong. Why is it a good thing to be wise? Read a proverb that corresponds to today’s date. (If it’s the 30th, read Proverbs 30) Try to memorize it together!

*(ages 10-12) What is an example of a situation where you could ask God to give you wisdom? One of the Proverbs says, “The fear (respect) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Would you agree with that? Would your friends and teachers agree with that?

One last thing! This week Hannah asked you to “If God offered to give you anything you wanted, what would you ASK Him for?”. We would love to hear your ideas! Simply record a voice memo and send it in a text to 636-280-5433. You may even be featured in an upcoming episode. *By sending in a voice memo, you’re providing consent for your minor’s voice to be on the podcast*

Normal Goes A Long Way Website: https://www.normalgoesalongway.com/

Normal Goes A Long Way Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normalgoesalongway/

Normal Goes A Long Way Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeekTheStill/https://www.facebook.com/Normal-Goes-A-Long-Way-110089491250735

Normal Goes A Long Way is brought to you by Messiah St. Charles: https://messiahstcharles.org/

Normal Goes A Long Way is hosted on Zencastr. Create your podcast today! Get 20% off when you choose Zencastr for your podcasting needs: https://zencastr.com/?via=jill

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144: KIDS VERSION - The King Who Had It All

How awesome would it be for God to grant you anything you wanted, and then give you EVEN MORE than what you asked for?  That's just the situation King Solomon finds himself in. King David has died and his son inherits the throne of a nation with the slogan "no worries" minted on their coins (figuratively speaking). It's good to be king...and good to be this king's subject. Their land is peaceful. Prosperity reigns and riches abound. Moreover, their ruler is renowned for his smarts and shares his wisdom in soundbites they can all understand. So why does the party end? In this case, the enemy is within, and it's one we're all too familiar with. Listen as Pastor Chuck Schlie explains in this week’s episode.

If you’d like to dig deeper, check out these discussion questions [https://messiahstcharles.org/the-story/]. You can complete them on your own, with your Community Group, or with family and friends.

Normal Goes A Long Way Website: https://www.normalgoesalongway.com/

Normal Goes A Long Way Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normalgoesalongway/

Normal Goes A Long Way Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeekTheStill/https://www.facebook.com/Normal-Goes-A-Long-Way-110089491250735

Normal Goes A Long Way is brought to you by Messiah St. Charles: https://messiahstcharles.org/

Normal Goes A Long Way is hosted on Zencastr. Create your podcast today! Get 20% off when you choose Zencastr for your podcasting needs: https://zencastr.com/?via=jill

#madeonzencastr

143: The King Who Had It All

Today we will learn about a time when David made a big mistake. God demonstrated extraordinary love to David and he shares that extraordinary love with us today. Parents, want to keep talking? Here are some ideas:

*When necessary this week, stop and pray with your child asking God to forgive your child when he or she has done something wrong. In appropriate ways, show your child that you also need to ask God to forgive you. (ages 2-4)

*King David was called a man after God's heart, but he made a huge mistake and tried to cover it up. Is hiding sins ever a good idea? Why? Talk about what it feels like when you are trying to hide something that you've done. What's the best thing to do when you mess up? (ages 5-9)

*God forgave David, but there were still consequences for his sin as David and Bathsheba's first son died. Can you think of any consequences you've faced after doing something wrong? Talk about some of David's greatest accomplishments and mess-ups. What can you learn from his life? (ages 10-12)

One last thing! This week April asked you to name some songs that you love to sing to God. We would love to hear your ideas! Simply record a voice memo and send it in a text to 636-280-5433. You may even be featured in an upcoming episode. *By sending in a voice memo, you’re providing consent for your minor’s voice to be on the podcast*

Normal Goes A Long Way Website: https://www.normalgoesalongway.com/

Normal Goes A Long Way Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normalgoesalongway/

Normal Goes A Long Way Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeekTheStill/https://www.facebook.com/Normal-Goes-A-Long-Way-110089491250735

Normal Goes A Long Way is brought to you by Messiah St. Charles: https://messiahstcharles.org/

Normal Goes A Long Way is hosted on Zencastr. Create your podcast today! Get 20% off when you choose Zencastr for your podcasting needs: https://zencastr.com/?via=jill

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142: KIDS VERSION - The Trials of a King

When was the last time you committed adultery and arranged the killing of your mistress's spouse to conceal the affair?  I imagine the answer is "never." After reading David's story, you might be feeling pretty good about the severity of your sins. After all, you've never murdered a guy so he doesn't find out you're having a baby with his wife. Your sins are bad, but at least they're not that level of bad. Admit it...you've had this thought. We all have. There's a problem with this way of thinking that Pastor Chuck Schlie will explain in this week’s episode.

We have no reason to feel proud if our sins don't mirror David's. His sin is bold, but so is his contrition. David's story is both cautionary and instructive.

If you’d like to dig deeper, check out these discussion questions [https://messiahstcharles.org/the-story/]. You can complete them on your own, with your Community Group, or with family and friends.

Normal Goes A Long Way Website: https://www.normalgoesalongway.com/

Normal Goes A Long Way Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normalgoesalongway/

Normal Goes A Long Way Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeekTheStill/https://www.facebook.com/Normal-Goes-A-Long-Way-110089491250735

Normal Goes A Long Way is brought to you by Messiah St. Charles: https://messiahstcharles.org/

Normal Goes A Long Way is hosted on Zencastr. Create your podcast today! Get 20% off when you choose Zencastr for your podcasting needs: https://zencastr.com/?via=jill

#madeonzencastr

141: The Trials of a King

Today learned about a shepherd boy named David. God used him to do an amazing thing – defeat Goliath!

Parents, keep the conversation going this week with your family! Here are some ideas:

*(ages 2-4) Talk about Goliath’s enormous size! Find something that is 9 feet tall, or use a measuring tape to show how big he was. Ask, “Who was David?” “Who was Goliath?” “What did God do for David?”

*(ages 5-9) Talk about what David must have been feeling during the battle. Ask, “Would you have been afraid to face Goliath?” “How did David who faith in God?” “Are there any people that scare you? “What can we do about that together?”

*(ages 10-12) Talk about “David versus Goliath” moments in modern times – like in sports, for example. It’s a scenario when an underdog team faces a seemingly unbeatable opponent. We love to cheer for the underdog and see unlikely victories! Ask, “What does it take for a ‘David’ to beat a ‘Goliath’?” “Do you think your faith is a strong as David’s? Why or why not?”

One last thing! This week Hannah asked, "What could you do if you were as brave as David?". We would love to hear your ideas! Simply record a voice memo and send it in a text to 636-280-5433. You may even be featured in an upcoming episode. *By sending in a voice memo, you’re providing consent for your minor’s voice to be on the podcast*

Normal Goes A Long Way Website: https://www.normalgoesalongway.com/

Normal Goes A Long Way Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normalgoesalongway/

Normal Goes A Long Way Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeekTheStill/https://www.facebook.com/Normal-Goes-A-Long-Way-110089491250735

Normal Goes A Long Way is brought to you by Messiah St. Charles: https://messiahstcharles.org/

Normal Goes A Long Way is hosted on Zencastr. Create your podcast today! Get 20% off when you choose Zencastr for your podcasting needs: https://zencastr.com/?via=jill

#madeonzencastr

 140: KIDS VERSION - From Shepherd to King

It's like David vs. Goliath. You've likely heard this metaphor used any time an underdog goes up against something (or someone) they have little chance of defeating. It's an archetype of victory against all odds. It's also a story about trusting God to see you through your battles. That part gets left out of the cultural narrative, but we're going to explore it in this week’s episode when we meet the future King David. As a shepherd boy that nobody would choose as their sovereign, David proves that outward appearances don't matter to a God who looks at the heart. Take a listen as Pastor Jim Mueller explains more.

If you’d like to dig deeper, check out these discussion questions [https://messiahstcharles.org/the-story/]. You can complete them on your own, with your Community Group, or with family and friends.

Normal Goes A Long Way Website: https://www.normalgoesalongway.com/

Normal Goes A Long Way Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normalgoesalongway/

Normal Goes A Long Way Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeekTheStill/https://www.facebook.com/Normal-Goes-A-Long-Way-110089491250735

Normal Goes A Long Way is brought to you by Messiah St. Charles: https://messiahstcharles.org/

Normal Goes A Long Way is hosted on Zencastr. Create your podcast today! Get 20% off when you choose Zencastr for your podcasting needs: https://zencastr.com/?via=jill

#madeonzencastr

139: From Shepherd to King

Christianity has become known for judgy people, strange words, confusing rules, and a members-only mindset. This is why I stayed away from the church for so long, but it’s not supposed to be that way. I’m Jill Devine, a former radio music personality with three tattoos and a love for a good tequila. Join me on the Normal Goes A Long Way podcast where we seek answers to real questions with real people about how faith and life intersect.