God on the Go: Car Quiz and Asking New Questions

This week we’re talking about the concept of embracing new experiences and situations. We have something a little different and that’s a Car Quiz to help us remember the previous episodes; the biblical stories, scientific facts, and practical advice for making friends, building habits, and setting goals. Most important though, lets remember to ask each other questions to encourage and support each other in dealing with new experiences. We can do this!

What’s New!

Monday Bible Story:

• To be able to encourage each other and help each other, we need to ask new questions.

Tuesday Key Verse:

• 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – “So continue encouraging each other and building each other up, just like you are doing already.”

Wednesday Prayer:

• Lord, help me encourage the people in my life. Help me understand the way they are feeling and the things they are going through. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Thursday Question:

• What is your favorite ‘new’ thing you’ve experienced over the past few weeks?

Friday Fun Fact:

• Q: How much of your body’s energy does your brain use?
• A: About 20%!

 Special thanks to George Fox University for sponsoring the God on the Go Podcast!

Show Notes:

To get this week’s episode and daily text prompts, text the word Go to 89419. If you are in Canada, text GodOntheGo to 866-729-1065

Transcription:

My family and I have taken a lot of road trips through the years. We’ve driven to the mountains of Colorado and Utah. We’ve traveled to the beaches of Texas. We’ve headed to one of our favorite places of all, which is a lake in Indiana where we love to spend some long summer days. And a lot of those car trips have been really long. They’ve taken a long time, a lot of hours. So, whenever we’re on road trips, there’s usually a lot of time when we have a round of what I call Car Quiz. When we see how many trivia questions we can ask and answer, or we tell little clues for everyone to try to figure out something that we’re thinking about and they have to try and guess. I’m Julie Lyles Carr, and this is God on the Go from the Purposely Podcast Network, where I’m here to help you make the minutes matter. And you and I, we’ve been on a road trip together over the last few weeks, as you’ve tuned in on your way to school or activities. So, today I thought we’d have our own version of car quiz. So let’s see how much you remember from the last few weeks as we’ve talked about all the NEW you’re experiencing; new situations, new people making new friends, getting used to new routines, setting new goals, dealing with new emotions. What do you notice in all of that? You’ve been dealing with a whole lot of new. Now, if you haven’t already listened to the previous episodes here on God on the Go, then take a few minutes to go back and listen, because I’ve got some questions for you that are going to come straight from those episodes, and from the texts that we send out. Which reminds me if you’re not yet on our texts, just text the word GO – That’s G-O to 89419, and we’ll send you lots of great extras to go with each episode. Okay? So are you ready to test your memory? Here we go.

Okay, here’s the first question. What is something that is usually small that took two guys to carry it when Joshua and Caleb went to look at a new land?Are you ready? Do you remember? If you said grapes, you are right! We talked about two guys in the Old Testament named Joshua and Caleb who were in a new situation exploring the land they had never seen before, and one of the things that really stood out to them was the size of the grapes in this new land. They were huge. Okay, how’d you do? Are you ready for the next question?

Alright, guess how many people scientists say you will meet in your lifetime? Do you remember the answer to this? How many people you’re going to meet in your lifetime… You ready for your answer? 80,000! How wild is that? You might feel like you’ve already met a whole bunch of new people this year, but it’s probably a pretty small number compared to who all you’ll meet over the next few years. 80,000 is a lot of people.

Okay, up next, what are two things you can do to start making friends? Do you remember this one? It’s really easy. Smile and share. Did you get it? And had you been trying it? How’s it going? Are you making some new friends by smiling and sharing? I sure hope so.

Okay, here’s another one. How long does it take to build a new habit? Or how long does it take you to get used to a new routine? Do you remember this? How many days does it take? Okay, here’s the answer… Scientists now say it takes about 66 days. So, be patient with yourself. If you feel like it’s still taking you a while to get into the swing of things with your new team or your new teacher or your new classes, that’s okay! It takes a couple of months for new things to start to feel a little more familiar.

Okay, last one. You ready? What’s one of the best ways to help you get to a new goal? If you said, Write it down, you’re right! When we write down our goals, science shows that it helps us get to reach those goals, which is a pretty awesome thing. So, write down those goals that you have.

Okay, so how’d you do? How’d had everybody in the car do? Now you might be dealing with all the new things in your life pretty well, and you might like new experiences, but if you’ve got a sister or a brother or a friend, have you asked them how they’re doing with all of the new? For some of us new things are exciting and fun, and for others of us, all that new can bring some stress.

Here is a fun fact for you. Listen up. Your brain uses 20% of your body’s energy to think and learn and experience things. Isn’t that amazing? As much energy as your body needs to run and play and do your chores and all that kind of stuff, your brain still needs to use about 20% of your body’s energy, and your brain works even harder when you’re learning something new. So, if you feel like all the new in your life takes a little more energy and gives you a lot more feelings, you are right. It does. That’s why today we want to talk about asking new questions. 1 Thessalonians five:11 says,

So continue encouraging each other and building each other up just like you were already doing.

For us to be able to encourage each other, for us to be able to share how we’re feeling so far this year, what we’re thinking about, what we’re thinking about our classes and friends and activities… we’ve got to ask each other about it. Here are some new questions that you can ask each other today.

1. How are we doing as a family?
2. What things are making you feel anxious?
3. What do you need support on?
4. What is something you’re excited about?
5. Is there a way I can help you or encourage you?

When we take the time to ask each other some new questions, we can be more encouraging to each other. We can be more helpful. So, take some time right now as you’re headed to school or practice, to ask each other some new questions. Make up your own version of Car Quiz and ask each other how you’re doing right now with all of the new.

God on the Go is sponsored by George Fox University, where each student will be known personally, academically, and spiritually. I’ll see you next week.