Hands-On Faith - Week of July 8, 2013

Excellence of Character

All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord.

Talking to God

Thank God that you can trust Him, even when things seem to be going wrong, because His goodness and His love for you never change.

Diving In

Take turns hiding behind a door. The person hiding can wear any expression he wants — silly, sad, angry. But when another family member opens the door, the hider must quickly put on a big smile. Then, see if other family members can guess what the person's expression looked like before it changed.

Going Deeper

You try to look and act your best in front of others, but what about when no one's watching? Your goodness is not determined by how you appear to others, but by who you really are on the inside. Psalm 44:21 says God knows the secrets of the heart. He knows what you think, do and say — even when you're alone. God is always with you, and He helps you stay strong and make good decisions.

Talking to Each Other

• What are some ways you try to put on your "best face" in front of others?

• How does knowing that God is always with you make you feel?

• How does this help you make good decisions when you are with others and when you are alone?

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