Read Time: 5 min 23 sec | Reading Level: 7th Grade

WEATHER

In Like a Lion

March’s weather understood the assignment (see what we mean), with roughly half of the U.S. under extreme conditions this week.

On the East Coast, thunderstorms struck from Florida to New Jersey. More than 94M people were under severe weather alerts, and around 34M were under tornado watches. Washington, D.C. was in the heart of the storm’s red zone, so federal workers got an early dismissal on Monday.

In the Midwest, a clipper (a fast-moving winter storm system that starts east of the Canadian Rocky Mountains) blew in on Friday. More than 70M people faced blustery winds, and hundreds of thousands were without power in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan. After the wind came the snow, making St. Paddy’s day parades more white than green. Over 11M Upper Midwesterners were buried in up to 3 feet of snow (see pics of the drifts). 

Meanwhile, a heatwave is blasting through the West. Western Nebraska is currently fighting the largest fire in the state’s history. Four wildfires have burned nearly 800,000 acres of land and killed one person. In Arizona and Nevada, Southwesterners are expecting record-breaking triple-digit temps into the weekend. 

There’s still time for March to go out like a lamb. Here’s what the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts for your area.

CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
When the weather seems like it’s glitching, that doesn’t mean God has lost control or isn’t good. Instead, it reminds us that all the world has been broken by sin. The wrongness is in us and our world, not in God. But when Jesus returns, He will make all things right. 

“For the creation was subjected to futility—​not willingly, but because of him who subjected it​—in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.”
Romans 8:20-21 (CSB) (read full passage)

What good news do my kids need to hear in light of today’s news?
Extreme, unpredictable weather highlights that we are rather small and finite. 

We could respond to that realization with fear and pride, striving to manipulate our circumstances for maximum security and control… but that frantic self-preservation will only leave us exhausted and disappointed. 

Instead, we can accept Jesus’s invitation to come to Him for rest: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly 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 CSB).

Circumstances like weather, health, or employment can take a turn in an instant. But the one who is yoked to Jesus will have peace, come what may. 

What response to this story do I want to model for my children?
Lending a hand. 

With half the country disrupted by harsh conditions, chances are you have neighbors in need. Look for opportunities to serve, whether it’s clearing a fallen branch, sharing groceries or a meal with someone who lost power, or offering a cold drink to those working out in the heat. 

Acts of kindness (especially this close to Easter!) often open doors for inviting our neighbors into Christian community, where they can encounter Jesus. That’s the whole point of good works, after all—that others would see believers’ kindness and be awed by God’s goodness (Matthew 5:16; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 2:12).

• Design (or review) your family’s emergency plan. Talk through details like how to use a fire extinguisher, where emergency supplies are kept, and where the family can meet if separated. As you discuss the plan, remember to share your faith that God will take care of your family even when hard things happen.
   

• Memorize Matthew 11:28-29, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (CSB)
   

• Pray with us: Father, King of Creation, call your rebellious elements back to order. Provide for those who are disrupted and endangered. Jesus, Stiller of Raging Storms, bring peace and freedom from fear. Grant the rest of faith to those who are exhausted by grasping for control. Spirit, Giver of Life, embolden Your people for courageous kindness among our needy neighbors. Shine Your light and make new again, Lord of Resurrection and Life. Amen.

Want to bring more hard headlines to God in prayer? Join Decaf’s writer, Steph, on Sundays in TPO’s new newsletter, Praying the News. Subscribe for free here.

CREAM AND SUGAR

Gen Z Word of the Week: Aunt Jo’s all-black fit has her looking like a baddie.

Family Fun: Head in the clouds? Test your family’s knowledge of cloud types with this quiz! (Need a warm-up? Study first here.)

Whipped Cream on Top: Making art with light and shadows…

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Using the NLT Kids GO Bible*

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The NLT GO Bible teaches kids about God’s plan for them and His power to change hearts, all in an easy-to-understand format. This full-color Bible is filled with 600+ kid-approved resources, a big font and colored text, a 365-day Bible reading plan, and a quick-answer index for your curious kiddos… all alongside the clear, readable New Living Translation. 

Whether you’re reading aloud to your kids or they’re reading alone, this Bible will show them that they can do mighty things. Get yours today!

What’s Helping Us Model Bold Faith For Our Kids
This book by Pastor Mike Tatlock*

Raising kids in today’s culture can feel like navigating a constant tug-of-war between fast-moving headlines and loud opinions. Gospel conversations are only getting more complicated.

That’s why we love A Compelling Faith in a Compromising Culture. Pastor Mike Tatlock challenges believers not to fight louder or hide quieter, but to go deeper. He offers a biblically grounded framework to help you live out your faith in a way that your kids can aspire to model and others can’t ignore: holy, steady, and unmistakably different. 

This nightstand must-have will give you a strong foundation for meaningful conversations, even when it’s hard. Get your copy today!

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