Looking to God #1 Held in God's hands

Ed and Jam are back with four Psalms about looking to God when it's all going a bit wobbly. We start with Psalm 121 and go on a journey with Maisie. We also answer crucial questions about where Midwife Toads keep their eggs, and why foxes hide their dinner. AND we're back out on the high seas with Captain Fakebeard and the ship's First Mate! Plus music from Awesome Cutlery: Father You Are King of Heaven

Don't forget the new Faith in Parents podcast, to the Family Moment videos that are on this page, and to our webinar on "Helping every child's mental wellbeing". 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:10

Oh, hello. Thanks for joining us. We're gonna have a ball. I'm Ed, he's Jam.

SPEAKER_02 0:16

Well done for finding us. Hello, this is the Jam, as advertised, and this is the Faith in Families podcast for children and their families to listen to together.

SPEAKER_01 0:27

We're all about your family talking, listening, learning, singing together, and just bustling along. It's a new series, Ed. We're looking to God. Good plan, but why? Because sometimes, Jam, we do not have what it takes to do it alone.

SPEAKER_02 0:44

Oh, Ed, I do. Uh-oh. Really? Always? No, actually, no, that's ridiculous, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01 0:51

Phew. I thought it might be just me that can't get it together.

SPEAKER_02 0:55

Okay, people might find that quite easy to believe. This series is for you, Ed, and it's for me, it's for our families, it's for your families who are listening, because this is the recently renamed Faith in Families podcast. Let's get going with a whip around question. What is the biggest thing you can see right now that God has made? I'm looking out my window, Ed, and I can see a very big cloud that just sort of keeps going in every direction.

SPEAKER_01 1:26

Oh Jam, I would never have thought to look up. You're quite right, that's brilliant.

SPEAKER_02 1:30

It's it's nice, it's a nice cloud. It doesn't look like a brooding, nasty cloud, but it's very, very big and it seems to be all one cloud. What about you, Ed?

SPEAKER_01 1:38

Right now, I'm looking out my window jam at a great big tree trunk, but my eye is drawn to one particular leaf that is wrapping its way up the tree trunk, and it is beautiful.

SPEAKER_02 1:50

Can you get your arms around the tree trunk?

SPEAKER_01 1:53

Oh, I think I just about could jam, but it would me involve me pressing my cheek up against the wood.

SPEAKER_02 1:58

And also getting your jumper very dirty, and that would get you into trouble. What is the biggest thing you can see right now that God has made? Have a chat.

SPEAKER_01 2:47

Jam, I really am in a mood for fun facts, and I hope to goodness you've got some for me.

SPEAKER_02 2:53

Of course we do. We may have a new name, but we always have the fun facts. Here's a question, Ed. Do you like frogs?

SPEAKER_01 3:01

I just do, I think actually. They appear slimy, which initially makes you worried, but they are lovely.

SPEAKER_02 3:09

I can't get over the sliminess, I'm afraid. Not a fan. Most frogs and toads lay eggs in the water, but that leaves those eggs vulnerable. There is a special kind of toad called the male midwife toad that guards and protects the eggs by carrying the eggs around with him for up to six weeks. Ed, could you carry a box of eggs around with you permanently for six weeks? No, Jam.

SPEAKER_01 3:36

We both know it'd be a disaster. I would lose them probably before I broke them.

SPEAKER_02 3:41

Okay, Ed, extra complication. Could you carry them around with you for six weeks with your legs? Which sounds like a sort of game you might play in a group in an older youth group, doesn't it? That is where the midwife toad keeps his eggs, uh, because he's the one that looks after them, safely tucked away on his hind legs, and he'll hide away under logs and other dark places to keep his skin damp. Well, we've all done that. And taking the occasional dip to freshen up until they hatch, he takes the tadpoles into the water so they're prepared as possible for the next stage of life. But they are protected, and that's what these fun facts are about, Ed. About being protected. Jam.

SPEAKER_01 4:24

The midwife toad is a boy.

SPEAKER_02 4:26

There's a female one, there's a male one, but the species is called the midwife toad. They're mostly in uh Western Europe. There are some in the UK, there aren't really meant to be, but you will find some. Now there are fish that keep their eggs very safe in their mouths, and they don't eat for a month because otherwise they're going to eat the eggs. This is a type of fish called a mouth-brooding fish. There are incredible ways in which the young are protected by a parent. Also, in the water, for the first month of their life, the baby orcas, a baby orca or a killer whale to you and me doesn't sleep for the first month. And so mum, who wants to keep an eye on the baby, also doesn't sleep for a whole month. Can you imagine not sleeping for a month, Ed?

SPEAKER_01 5:20

Children, whatever you are doing, say to your mum, Mum, can you imagine not getting to sleep because of a baby? And see what they say next.

SPEAKER_02 5:31

That will be very revealing. I've got one last dad one to finish with. Let's talk about the red foxes. Scientific name, vulpers vulpers. Can you say that, Ed? It's just the same word twice.

SPEAKER_01 5:43

Vulpers vulpers.

SPEAKER_02 5:44

Which basically means wolf wolf, which is very confusing because it's a red fox. The dads play an important role in rearing their cubs mum stays in the den to feed them and keep them warm. Dad goes out hunting and brings back food. But after about three months, dad starts hiding food close to the den, encouraging the cubs to come out and learn how to scavenge and find food that they've hidden around the place. Did you try that with your kids, Ed? Did you leave food lying around to be discovered?

SPEAKER_01 6:15

I just think, wouldn't that be just a brilliant dad thing? Mum has made a meal, and you say, shh, no, and you just take it outside and hide it around the garden. Just imagine it, Jam. Yeah. So look, look, under the under the barbecue, there's some sausages.

SPEAKER_02 6:32

Oh, look, behind the hollyhocks, uh, there's a roast potato.

SPEAKER_01 6:36

Oh, under the bin, I found my beans.

SPEAKER_02 6:38

Now there they are. Uh, stuffing up in the tree near that lovely leaf you were talking about earlier. So there we go, Ed. Some fun facts about animals, parents carefully guarding, watching over, looking after their little ones.

SPEAKER_01 6:55

Jam, you've spelled it out beautifully as ever. Thank you so much. Because in this episode today, we are finding out that we also have something like a midwife toad, but better, who is always looking after us. And let me tell you, the shock God does not store us between his knees. He's got better ways of looking after us and protecting us.

SPEAKER_02 7:17

Shall we hear about that in Psalm 121? Let's go.

SPEAKER_03 7:22

Psalm 121. I look up to the hills, but where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord. He made heaven and earth. He will not let you be defeated. He who guards you never sleeps. He who guards Israel never rests or sleeps. The Lord guards you. The Lord protects you as the shade protects you from the sun. The sun cannot hurt you during the day, and the moon cannot hurt you at night. The Lord will guard you from all dangers. He will guard your life. The Lord will guard you as you come and go. Both now and forever.

SPEAKER_01 8:24

Imagine a young girl on a long journey. Maisie. She's a tired traveller facing a long and uphill journey. Her feet are hurting, her legs are sore, and her tummy is rumbling. She looks like she can't go on much further. Oh my goodness. No wonder she's carrying a heavy backpack. It's making it so much harder. Let's ask her to show us what is inside her bag. Okay, let's have a look. A book? Super heavy. What is it? Oh a book of worries. Filled with all the reasons why she thinks she can't do it. Not strong enough, not big enough, not clever enough, not enough friends. Ah, sorry, Maisie. What's next? Oh, let's have a look. A rock! Ah this is the rock of her fears. A big, heavy weight right in Maisie's middle that she carries everywhere, all knotted up. Fear of what might go wrong, who could hurt her, how she might fail, and who she'll let down. Oh, there's more. Oh, a water bottle! Ah, this is great. Maisie has got something to refresh her, to help her keep going. This is her bottle of faith. But I wonder who her faith is in. Finally, binoculars. Ah. She can use these to look for help. Even far away, she will see help coming. We can tell who she has faith in by who she is looking for for help. You might hear who your faith is in by listening for what you tell yourself when you are desperate. If you're trusting in yourself to get you out of every problem, you will say something like, I am brave, I am kind. But if you are just hoping it will be fine, you'll say, Don't worry, this will work out well in the end. Good! But what if sometimes you don't feel brave or kind? Is this just another thing you're gonna get wrong? But maybe this will be the time it won't work out because sometimes stuff just goes wrong. You might look around for help. Great! God has given you parents, friends, family to help you. But they can't be with you all the time. You have to say bye to mum and go into school without her. What if you need help at playtime? Let's look at today's psalm for help. Listen out for where and who we can look out for when we are desperate and all alone.

SPEAKER_04 11:38

I look up to the hills, but where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord. He made heaven and earth. He who guards you never sleeps.

SPEAKER_01 11:53

Look up to God and remember what he is like. Great, good, powerful, loving, the one who is bigger than everything he made. Know that we are in his hands, in his care. God who made everything in the whole universe, who is so big and so great, holds you in his hands. He never leaves you, he never sleeps. And listen for when we can look to him for help.

SPEAKER_04 12:27

The Lord will guard you from all dangers. He will guard your life. The Lord will guard you as you come and go, both now and forever.

SPEAKER_01 12:39

God has got you. You can depend on him for help now and forever. God is there in the big things, the scary moments, and God is there in the little things, the everyday boring stuff. Nothing too big, nothing too small. This week you can remember that God has you in his hands. As well as remembering that you can trust God, look up at the biggest thing God has made that you can see. A hill, a tree, a cloud, the sea, a river. God, who is bigger than everything he made, holds you in his hand and will never let you go. This is something you can do whenever you feel scared, worried, or alone. Look at what God has made. Remember he holds you, and pray to him. This is how we can find the help and confidence that we need. Let's pray together. Dear Father God, thank you that you are always there, bigger than the biggest mountain, closer than the closest friend, powerful and ready to help us. Thank you that you hold us safely in your hands always. Amen.

SPEAKER_02 14:03

Amen. As always, it's got questions.

SPEAKER_01 14:10

Under fives, who will always help us? Fives to sevens, how do you know that you are safe every day? Over eights, what makes you say, I can't do this? Over elevens? Think of a friend who is not a Christian. What do you think they do when they are alone feeling totally defeated?

SPEAKER_02 14:44

You can have a chat about that now, in which case press pause. But we're going to carry on. Do you recognise that music? It means we're heading out to sea with our favorite pirates. Here we go.

SPEAKER_05 15:01

Huh? Is it morning?

SPEAKER_04 15:03

Who said that? First mate? First mate! Hi aye, Cabin. Night Watch reporting.

SPEAKER_05 15:09

3 a.m. and all is well. Okay, firstly, nothing is well at three in the morning. That's the middle of the night. And well I feel a little silly pointing this out, but you have a bucket on your head.

SPEAKER_04 15:22

Ah, yes. That's my alarm system. In case I fall asleep, if I nod off and fall over, the clank will wake me up. And me! You're shaking! It's not cold. That'll be the coffee to keep me awake. I had the extra strong coffee that we also used to remove barnacles from the hull. So right now, you appear to be in slow motion, and I can hear colours. Wow. Okay. You sound fairly purple right now. That's because you woke me at 3 a.m. Why aren't the crew taking it in turns? They're fast asleep. I can't wake them. This evening we played a board game. And they got very bored and fell asleep? Actually, they got over excited. Lucky Luke won, obviously.

SPEAKER_05 16:10

Obviously. Still, at least Peter Bighead didn't win. We don't want him to have an even bigger head. Wouldn't fit in that bucket for a start.

SPEAKER_04 16:19

His head is really not that big. Anyway, they're all asleep. Someone needs to watch over the ship at night in case anything terrible happens. Or was about to happen. Or had happened and no one had seen. And I realized it had to be me. But you didn't have to do that. You mean I should have asked you to do it?

SPEAKER_05 16:41

No. I'm the captain of a pirate ship. I don't do night shifts. What I meant was, isn't there someone who can watch over us at night?

SPEAKER_04 16:53

Ah yes, I'd forgotten. Psalm 121. What? My help comes from the Lord. He who guards you never sleeps. Oh yes! That.

SPEAKER_05 17:07

The Lord.

SPEAKER_04 17:08

Hmm.

SPEAKER_05 17:09

Who are you thinking of? Well, I I was thinking of my parrot, but your answer is much better. Actually, your parrot is asleep.

SPEAKER_04 17:19

Oh, traitor. But thank you for reminding me about Psalm 121. That makes all the difference. Knowing the Lord is watching over me means I can sleep at night. If you hadn't drunk triple strength coffee and was being kept awake by the sound of Sammy Smile snoring. And the yellow of the moonlight. So loud.

SPEAKER_05 17:42

Oh well, lesson learned. And you know what? You try and get some sleep. I'll take the night watch. Really?

SPEAKER_04 17:50

Captain? That would be so kind. But I'm awake now, so we could spend the rest of the night telling stories. And she's fallen asleep. Ah, never mind. I'll just use the time to think about Psalm 121. My help comes from the Lord. He who guards you never sleeps. Never sleeps.

SPEAKER_02 18:33

And that music is the sound of awesome cutlery.

SPEAKER_00 18:38

Father, you are King of Hell and greater than a soul. Everything is in your hands, from huge right down to small. Sometimes I forget that I can't do things on my own. Please now help me pray to you. And trusting you alone. Like a trying to swear. Like a mountain trying to brush it. When we don't believe When we pray, we trust up. That's what Jesus said. So I'll stop trusting myself.

SPEAKER_02 19:28

There'll be a link to that song in the show notes so you can sing along. Ed, we've had emails and from people not called Kezia, would you believe?

SPEAKER_01 19:40

Amazing! We love Kezia and Kaziah. Alicia and Xavier have been in touch from Ealing in West London.

SPEAKER_02 19:48

Yes, their dad emailed us they love the series on the Book of James and the back to school one with the I Will Be With You Fist.

SPEAKER_01 19:57

And there's another one here from Samson and Malachi. Not Kezia. No, their mum Abby says they've been listening in the kitchen while dinner is cooking. They love the whip around question and the fun facts and they love hearing about Jesus in a fun way. And so does their dad, who's known as Loz.

SPEAKER_02 20:14

Thanks, Loz. Great to hear from you. Everyone, anyone, send us an email at podcast at faithinkids.org. Thank you, Ed. And tell us where can people get resources for this series about the psalms.

SPEAKER_01 20:32

Oh my goodness, Jam. If we had any more resources, we wouldn't even be able to get through the front door. This one comes with Sunday school lessons to download. But for families, get the videos at home as well as the family moments. There is so much to do, and can I just say, you might be the only one in the church who listens to this podcast why? But you could get people started on these family moment videos. They only last about four minutes. Get them going on them, and then one day they'll find their way to the podcast.

SPEAKER_02 21:05

Click a link in the show notes, and you will find so many resources, the phone on which you click the link might explode. But uh hopefully it won't. And this is the first of four podcasts. And I think we're done on this one, and we'll speak to you next time. Thanks, Ed. Bye bye! Thanks for listening. Cheerio.

SPEAKER_01 21:27

Under fives, who will always help us? Fives to sevens? How do you know that you are safe every day? Over eights, what makes you say, I can't do this? Over elevens? Think of a friend who is not a Christian. What do you think they do when they are alone feeling totally defeated?

unknown 22:00

The map on the activity. Okay, let's take that one.