Joyfully Serving Others throughout the Season of Giving

This year commit to do something fun yet really meaningful for those in your community who are are sad and lonely. Become involved in a project and possibly enlist the help of other families and friends. Jesus came to this earth to show us how to serve. What better way to show Christ's love, than by reaching out to those who are sad, very ill and may not yet know Jesus. In Mark 10:35-45, Jesus speaks to the twelve apostles about serving.

See Biblegateway.com

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask."
36 And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?"
37 They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory."
38 But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" 39 They said to Him, "We are able."
So Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared."
41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Last Sunday, I went to a nursing home to visit an elderly lady. As I walked through several hallways, I couldn't help but notice the amount of lonely senior citizens sitting in wheelchairs. I was saddened by the vapid expressions on their faces. Christmas can be such a lonely time for shut ins, and many of these people are so appreciative to know that others still care about them. Likewise, many children spend Christmas bedridden in a hospital. Prayerfully consider how you can make a difference in the lives of the very young and elderly.

First, call your local nursing home or children's hospital and explain that you would like to bring handmade gifts to the patients. Find out the do's and don'ts of acceptable gift giving. Then, get your team assembled and go to work. :-)

Visit the Family Cares website. Scroll down until you see Project Ideas. Decide whether you want to make a cooking, sewing or other type of craft project. One word of caution here. The first time we became involved in a community project, we got a little carried away by our enthusiasm and spent more than we wanted. Don't make the same mistake. Meet with your other community project partners and agree that you will set a spending limit. Almost everyone is watching their pennies these days, so sticking to budget is a must!! To make the project enjoyable for everyone, be sure to also consider the age, ability, interest, and attention span of the children/teens involved in making the gifts.

Visit some craft, yardage and stationery stores in your area, and ask to speak with the manager. Explain what your group is doing and ask to see the remant racks and bins. Inquire about possible discounts. You can also cut costs by purchasing baking items at many discount grocery chains. Peruse through your favorite Sunday newspaper for sales and coupons. Although many stores have greatly limited their inventory, with a little perseverance and a positive attitude, you will find what you need.

Although these projects are welcomed at any time of the year, Christmas is the ideal holiday to spread God's word. Make sure that the home baked cookies or home made gifts are accompanied by a religious bookmark, Christmas card or other Christian item.

See the following sites for some ideas:

Make Your Own Christian Bookmarks
Christian Christmas Crafts
Christmas Religious Kids Crafts

Below, are some additional sites and recipes to consider for additional projects.

Family Cares
Old Fashioned Sugar Cookie Cutouts
Scented Baskets

May you and those around you who participate in these Christian outreach projects be blessed in numerous ways throughout this special holiday season.

Merry Christmas! Jesus IS the reason for the season!

Placing God at the Heart of this Holiday Season

The holidays are filled with a mixture of joy and stress. Society tries to dictate what types of presents to buy and meals to prepare. We are inundated with television and newspaper ads telling us that we need to provide “the best” gifts and food to our loved ones so that they will know just how much we care.

Gone is the simplicity. We live in a technologial society in which we ooh and awe over the latest gadgets that are promised to provide us with a faster, more efficient way to get what we need and want. Although these gadgets make our life easier and allow us to become more independent, in the process, we may give up a little of our dependence on each other, and most importantly on God.

Many of us may have mixed feelings about the Duggar family, featured on the TLC television show, 18 Kids and Counting, but one thing I feel that we can all agree upon is the family unity and caring that is clearly demonstrated in each episode. I haven’t watched many episodes of this program, but from the ones I have viewed, much to my amazement, the family unit seems very much intact and functional. Like families of generations past, this family isn’t afraid to be frugal, creative and work together to create meaningful holiday celebrations.

Instead of making certain that everything is perfect, their focus is on Jesus. They strive to live according to God’s word, as they carry out their day to day activities. Planning a holiday meal isn’t really diferent from any other meal, because they are used to cooking for 21 people on a daily basis.



When I watch the show, what I see is a healthy dependence on God and each other with the focus on achieving designated goals that will benefit both the family unit, and, often, others as well. Yet, I also see that each child in this family is being presented with the knowledge and tools needed to becone a self-actualized person. The oldest child, who is now married and has a family of his own, I feel, is a testament to good Christian parenting. He and his wife are self-supporting, compassionate, God centered parents.

Each of us, too, strives to achieve and maintain that balance of dependence and independence in our relationships with people in our life. Accomplishing this balance can be so much easier when our focus is on God. When we come to Him in prayer and in thanksgiving, He reaches out His hand to direct us. However, when we are out of sync, our relationships, outlook on what is important in life, and the way we lead our lives becomes unbalanced.

It’s important this holiday season to not lose sight of what is most precious. As educators and parents, we need to show children, by example, that our first prioirty is a healthy dependence on God. Parents can model this by reading the daily devotional each morning. Whenever possible, discuss these devotionals during meals shared or other opportunites that present themselves throughout the day.

Try to heal splintered relationships with loved ones. This doesn’t necessarily mean giving up boundaries. If you are caught between having to decide where to spend Thanksgiving because your have been inviited to two different family celebrations, spend some time praying. Let the Holy Spirit guide your decision. If some members of the family don’t understand your decision, just let go and let God. By depending upon God to help you
throughout the holiday season, you will feel a sense of peace in your heart.

Some Special Thanksgiving Lesson Planning

I hope that the following links will be a true blessing to you:

Read Thanksgiving Thoughts: Passing Along Some Positive Perspective with the Pumpkin Pie by Sara L. Ambarian for some invaluable insight.


To locate some good thanksgiving scriptural references point your browser to Topical References

Finally, visit Audrey’s Thanksgiving Page - Resources for Christian Teachers)

This site is absolutely awesome!!

May God richly bless you and your family throughout the holiday season!!




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First Things First

As Christians, we strive to prioritize our lives so that Jesus is at the center of our existence. We know what happens when we place emphasis on all of our earthly matters and veer away from spending time in the Word. The story of Mary and Martha serves as a powerful reminder of what being out of sync with Jesus looks like.

In Luke 10:38-42 www.biblegateway.com we see two sisters with different priorities. Picture, if you will, two women who are about to invite Jesus into their home. Martha attempted to honor her guest by preparing a special meal. Just envision her scurrying to and fro as she prepares the meal for her guest

In the meantime, imagine Mary sitting quietly at the feet of our Savior, as she intently listens to every word that he utters. Mary put first things first. She knew that without Jesus, nothing in her world would makes sense.

If Martha had stopped and joined her sister at the feet of Jesus, she would not have resented Mary. Instead, she would have valued the wisdom that Mary demonstrated.

While Martha was busy baking bread, Mary was learning about the true ‘bread of life’. Jesus’ rebuke of Martha was done to ensure that she was aware of the difference.

Below, are several sites where children and teens can learn more about the Story of Mary and Martha.


Preschool/Elementary/Hands On Activities


Preschool/Elementary/Hands On Activities


Devotions - Elementary Age

Mary Listens While Martha Labors
Key Verse/Questions/References

Demonstrating Faith through Work

This morning, as I glanced through the topics in my inbox, I saw a daily devotional from the Purpose Driven Life entitled Bring Pleasure to God. Rick Warren began his message by quoting "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men" (Colossians 3:23 NIV). My interest was immediately piqued because, for the past month, I have been studying Colossians with a friend and have attended lectures, covering this book of the Bible, presented by Rev. Dr. James Wilson and Dr. Creasy. I was heartened to see how Rick Warren underscored some of the points that had been presented by Dr. Creasy and Rev. Dr. James Wilson.

Each of these Bible scholars used the analogy of how walking with God is similar to being in love and how your love for that person is reflected by how that person transforms your life. However, as wonderful as being in love can be, our walk with God needs to be so much closer. In fact, our relationship with God needs to transcend any other relationship that we have here on earth. As our walk with God deepens in intensity, we yearn to serve Him with all of our being.

Everything we do during our daily life, including work, should be done for the glory of God. Every type of "work" that we do throughout the day is done to glorify Him. Work, then, takes on a new meaning. Menial tasks are no longer seen in a demeaning way. If we model to the children and teens in our life the manner in which all work should be performed, they, in turn, will begin to see their function as workers in a totally new light.

The following links will lead you to lessons designed to help children and teens understand the Biblical meaning of work and its relationship to their walk with Jesus.

Preschool Sunday School Lessons - Growing for Jesus - Lesson 1

Don't Be Lazy - Grade School

The Teaching of Proverbs on Work - Teens and Adults

Fall Forward in Faith

I can't believe that we will soon be embracing autumn. In my last blog entry, which was over a month ago, I mentioned that I had listened to a Bible lesson presented by Dr. Bill Creasy. At the time, I had intended to expound on his comments a bit. However, instead of revisiting that wonderful lesson, I have decided to take Abraham's journey of obedience, trust and faith in a slightly different direction.

Much has transpired in my personal life this past month. Life is certainly full of tests; however, how we handle these tests speaks volumes to others about our Christian character. Sometimes, it's easier to shrug off a mild disappoint. Then, there are the other, more difficult, tests that can't be casually dismissed. These other tests are more challenging and draining. When we experience multiple tests occurring almost simultaneously, we can be left feeling a bit overwhelmed. Yet, we know that we are never alone, because God is standing there right beside us.

Each test, big or small, requires us to be both objective and introspective, as we mentally think through a logical sequence of problem solving techniques. God wants us to use our grey matter Ah, but aren't we taught to first seek His guidance? Do we always do that? We know what we are supposed to do; however, sometimes, it's easier to make a hasty decision.

When we discover that we just can't think of an effective way to solve the problem, then, we lean heavily on God. Let's face it, we all experience areas in our spiritual development that require special attention; each of us knows where our vulnerabilities lie. God knows that it is easier for us to just make a decision based on impulse or intuition rather than praying for His guidance. However, this isn't the response He so desires. He isn't looking for us to take the easy path. God wants to be the center of our attention. He wants us to seek Him throughout the day, not just when our problems seem insurmountable.

As Christians, when faced with difficulties, we can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that God is aware of all of our needs. We can take refuge and grow closer to Christ by spending more time reading the Word and prayerfully communicating with Him. When we do this, we feel as though a big weight has been lifted from our shoulders. We discover that it becomes so much easier to turn to Him first when the big challenges or tests occur.

For an in depth discussion of Abraham's faith and its applications for living, please visit:

A Character Study Abraham: Climbing the Foothills of
Mount Moriah (Part i)

and
The Picture of God's Love Through Abraham (Part 2)


This two part article contains an outline and discussion of the various tests that Abraham endured. Plan some interesting Bible based lessons for teens or adults, using the text as your guide. Discussion questions will readily come to mind as you read through the article.

First, scroll down until you see "it is essential to understand what the word "test" means". The author of the article mentions that the word tested is first used in Genesis 22. As you read the commentary, follow along and read Genesis 12 - 21. Keep in mind a pivotal point that this author presents. ""Test" (tested—"nagah") means to try, or prove, or to be approved. God, knowing what Abraham was made of, intended to prove and approve him as good." Then, review the outline of tests that Abraham successfully completed before he climbed the foothills of Mount Moriah and bravely faced the ultimate test.



In July 2007, I had an opportunity to listen to Diane Wood present the entire Bible in six or seven sessions. At the time, I learned that in Genesis 22, we see the word love first introduced. In The Picture of God's Love Through Abraham (Part 2), the author underscores this point.

We clearly see in the scripture how Abraham demonstrates his faith through each of the tests. Each test had a specific purpose and served to prepare him for a huge challenge. When he was faced with the biggest test of his life, did he shy away or follow God's commandment? We all know the answer to this question. He was ready for the ultimate test because God had prepared him for it.

Dr. Creasy, Diane Wood, and the author of this two part lesson show that Abraham loved Isaac, just as God loves Jesus. Both Abraham and God anguished over sacrificing a son. God allowed a sacrificial offering to be used in place of Isaac; yet, Jesus, was the ultimate sacrificial lamb offering.

God shows His love for us over and over in each difficult test that we face. We, too, are rewarded by our faith and trust in Him. His blessings to us are many; we learn more about ourselves and our relationship with God through each difficulty we face.

Below, are some additional Bible lesson planning links for PreK - Grade 6:
Listen to actual Lesson for Children About Abraham

Children's Bible Study Lessons and Bible Story(Scroll Down Until You See the Free mp3, Coloring Pages and Resources for Lessons About Abraham


Abraham's Promise Family Picture Frame Craft

Abraham - Father of Many Nations Coloring Bible Study Handout

During the season of fall, continue to go forward in faith.

Until next time, may God continue to richly bless you.

Holding on with Faith When You are Approaching the Edge

I just received a marvelous blessing today. About one month ago, a bombshell was dropped into my lap, but the way I reacted was surprising. Instead of struggling and wishing that circumstances would turn out the way I had hoped, I put this very serious situation in God's hands. I have trusted that God would make the situation right for all parties involved. It's very hard to let go and let God. However, when we do, we see the fruit from placing our trust in Him.

For an entire month, I had to wait to see just what the outcome would be. It has been a very difficult month. However, with God's help, we survived it.

During this month, our family went through two other family emergencies. Throughout both emergencies, God's grace was clearly evident. He placed some very compassionate people in our path who generously offered their prayers and help. And, I never took any of these people for granted. Their prayers, help and wisdom were very much appreciated.

However, it wasn't until today, that I received my answer about the situation that has prevailed for four long weeks. After finally speaking to the other party involved in this situation, I could clearly see God's handiwork. At last, I can finally really breathe a sigh of relief!!

God sometimes really takes us right up to the edge. Tonight, as I was composing this blog entry, I was reminded of how our faith is tested. Several weeks ago, Dr. Bill Creasy, presented a lesson about Abraham's faith. See Logos Bible Study for more information about this gifted Bible teacher.

Dr. Creasy spoke about how God appeared to Abraham seven times. Finally, in Genesis 22:1 we see that Abraham's faith was tested.

See Genesis 22:12

12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

See http://www.biblegateway.com

God took Abraham right up to the edge, before releasing him from sacrificing Isaac. Naturally, Dr. Creasy delved deeper into the theological implications of Abraham's relationship with God. I will continue this thread, and Dr. Creasy's comments will be expounded more fully in my next blog entry. In the meantime, please visit Abraham Believes God
to download an integrated Bible story and art activity designed for young children.

Have a beautiful Sunday!

Summer Solstice - A New Season

Summer Solstice - A New Season

A Time for More Pruning?

The sun is playing peek-a-boo this morning. On this first day of summer, the sun can’t decide whether or not it wants to usher in the warmth of summer, or remain in the two week stretch of what we, in Southern California, refer to as June gloom. Seriously, though, as Christians, we need to make transitions as well. And, sometimes these changes are difficult to make. While we are at a crossroads, we sometimes find ourselves resisting the change. We become indecisive or simply unwilling to step out in faith. As a result, our spiritual growth and depth of understanding remain stunted.

From time to time, we may struggle with the discipline and pruning that interferes with our relationship with Christ. Deep inside, we hunger for a deeper relationship with Christ and to be used as fruit bearing Christians. At times, we may backslide and become somewhat visually impaired. For some reason, we are simply unable to see the full picture. Or, we may be unwilling to let go, and allow God to redirect us. Each of us takes a different path of disobedience, so, naturally, every journey is personal and unique to the circumstances surrounding it.

Recently, I read Secrets of the Vine by Bruce Wilkinson, the New York Times bestselling author. Wilkinson thoughtfully takes the reader on the journey of the four levels of "fruit bearing." After reading Wilkinson’s book, I understood how God was using different situations in my life to strengthen my walk with Jesus.

As Christians, we may have read John 15 many times and been moved by the contents. Yet, we may have not really seen some of the analogies or thoroughly understood how this passage directly relates to our spiritual growth.

We know as Christians that we were created to bear fruit. See John:15:2
http://www.biblegateway.com He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
http://www.biblegateway.com(Cross reference Matthew 21)

Throughout this book, Wilkinson uses examples to help us conceptualize and appreciate the language used in John 15. My favorite example is one which demonstrates how God’s discipline is similar to methods a loving parent might use. Wilkinson reminds us of how a parent’s disapproving look directed toward a child may be all that is needed for the child to cease misbehaving.

God, too, gently tries to use subtle means to help us see how we are creating distance in our walk with Him. If we are spiritually aware, we may stop in our tracks and see the mistakes that we are making. However, if we have distanced our relationship from Him by allowing worry and preoccupation with situations that we can’t currently change to become the focus of our thinking, we may fail to see the signs and continue down a path that will only bring sorrow, sickness and destruction.

Wilkinson uses Hebrews 12 to illustrate just some of the degrees of intervention that God uses. As I read Hebrews 12, I was reminded of some things in my life that require more attention. It’s so easy to focus on other things and be drawn away from the purpose for which Christ created us. However, we continually need to shift our attention back on Him.

Just as the vine needs the branches to bear fruit, we need to live consistently with God’s plan for us, in order to bear fruit for Christ.

On page 50, Wilkinson devotes a section to what stops Christians from cleaning up their act and then expounds on the joy Christians will feel when they make the changes and are once again living in sync with Christ.

Some people reading this book may reach page 50 and feel that God is not disciplining them; yet, they still feel alienated from God and can’t understand why. Don’t become discouraged. Just read the next chapter in this book, and you too, will be in for a real treat.

Enter pruning.....

Let’s revisit John 15: 2

Every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
See http://www.biblegateway.com

Again, Wilkinson uses an analogy to drive this point home. He compares the skills applied by an expert pruner with the pruning done by our Father. Just as the pruner removes dead or dying growth so that the sunlight can stream through to the fruit-bearing branches, our Heavenly Father seeks to remove the deleterious debris from our lives so that He can effectively use us to bear more fruit.

Is something missing from your walk with Jesus? Are you bearing any fruit? Do you wish to bear more fruit? If so, I encourage you to purchase a copy of Secrets of The Vine or borrow a copy from your library. I found page 66 to be particularly helpful in allowing me to discern whether I was in a season of disciplining or pruning. (Some of us can be undergoing disciplining and pruning concurrently.)

As a parent or teacher, you are in a position to help the children and teens in your life learn more about John 15. Bruce Wilkinson has also authored The Secrets of the The Vine for Kids. Although I haven't read it, the book has received excellent reviews and should be on your lists of books to borrow from the library.

Use the information found at the following links to also help you with your lesson planning:
John 15 Activity - PreK - Grade One
Final Preparations for the Disciples - Middle - High School
Living in this World Without Jesus Outline - Middle - High School
How to Draw a Grape - Elementary
Object Lesson - Sweet grapes or Sour grapes? - Elementary
I am the Vine Art Craft - Elementary
Botany Apples and Oranges Extension Exercise - (Growth Cycles) - PreK - High School
Again, I encourage to obtain a copy of The Secrets of The Vine. I hope that this book will be the blessing for you that it has been for me.

If you are wondering how this blog came to be, visit
Introduction

The Prodigal Son - Lessons Learned

Two Sundays ago, I heard a very inspirational message. I encourage you, when you have a moment, to listen to the final sermon on The Parable of the Lost Sons: - The Feast of Father

This is one POWERFUL message!!

Click on
The 5/31/09 Sermon

If you can't access it, visit GSPC Sermon Archives and click on the May 31st sermon by Dr. James R. Wilson

So that you can fully appreciate the message, point your browser Return of the Prodigal Son Picture and study Rembrandt's painting. Pay close attention to the pastor's frequent references to it.

Dr. Wilson has a unique gift of painting vivid pictures with words. As he reads Luke 15, we become immersed in the Word. Throughout the sermon, we are reminded of the expectation that the father felt, as he awaited the return of his beloved son. Dr. Wilson points out certain elements of Rembrandt's painting so that we can more fully appreciate the faith expressed by the father. And, as you will hear, the father took great pains to plan for an elaborate feast for his son. He trusted that, in time, his prodigal son would eventually return.

We need to be reminded that our Father has faith in us as well. Shortly, I will be posting more about the disciplining and pruning that God does in a Christian's life. God is always there, patiently waiting, as we learn from our mistakes and run back into His arms.

By listening to Dr. Wilson's message, you may be inspired to provide a series of lessons about The Prodigal Son to your children.

Below, you will find links to PreK-6 and secondary level lesson plans, crafts and other resources about The Prodigal Son.

Prodigal Son Craft

Parables: The Prodigal Son for Beginning Elementary

Lessons Learned from the Prodigal Son - Elementary Level

Free Sunday School Lesson for Children - Prodigal Son

The Rembrandt Teaching Project

http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0215473/van_rijn.htm

Grace in the Arts:Rembrandt Van Ryn:A Protestant Artist

Creative Lesson Planning - A Look at Renaissance Art


I hope that this is a blessing to you!!

Faith Forward

Throughout modern history, much discussion by theologians has centered on the Book of Hebrews. The author of Hebrews and the audience for whom it was intended remain unknown. This epistle may have been intended for a mixed audience. A segment of Bible scholars has surmised that perhaps some of the recipients, reading the epistle, were "on the fence" about their beliefs. Others believe that early Christians, possibly those living in Rome, received this letter. Undoubtedly, the information contained throughout this epistle provided early Christians with the solid foundation and reinforcement they would need to carry on their work for the kingdom. To read a variety of opinions on this matter, visit Google.com and type in keyword phrase "Book of Hebrews audience".

In this epistle, early Christians are admonished not to revert back to their former beliefs and lifestyle, reminded of their responsibility to live under the New Covenant and given examples of the persecution others before them had suffered for their faith, to name a few. In fact, faith is such an important topic, it is mentioned 27 times in Hebrews 11. See biblegateway.com

Faith in Christ is also clearly defined in this chapter.

Hebrews 11
1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. See biblegateway.com

As Christians, we shouldn't expect any evidence. In fact, our faith in Jesus is strengthened by exercising a continual walk with God in the absence of any concrete proof. Yet, at certain pivotal periods in our lives, when we least expect it, God can shower us with unexpected blessings.

As Christians, we need to be on guard for anything that can interfere with our walk with God. Sorrow, persecution and many other forms and expressions of negativity are placed in a Christian's path. In the book of Hebrews, we read exhortations of how to effectively deal with these obstacles.

See biblegateway.com
Hebrews 2:1 "So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it."

and

Hebrews 12:1-2: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

For me, this blog is proving to be a real blessing. I have enjoyed journaling, especially, using Beth Moore's books as a guide. However, writing new entries for this blog is adding a new dimension to my walk with God. Through this medium, I am learning more about the power of faith in my life. I can also more clearly see how God is using faith in the lives of those around me, and I am learning, too, from their experiences.

A series of lessons about some of the people mentioned in Hebrews Chapter 11 will work well for your summer lesson planning. Upper elementary, middle and high school students might enjoy a writing adventure involving two of the individuals mentioned in this chapter. For example, by comparing and contrasting how Jacob and Moses responded in faith to a series of difficult challenges, your son or daughter will delve more deeply in the Word for the information needed to write the paper.

Below, are a few links where you will find lessons, lessons plans, handouts, crafts and other resources to help students from PreK - High School learn more about Jacob and Moses.

Crafts for the Study of Jacob

Crafts for the Study of Moses

Old Testament Crafts for Children

Bible stories, lessons and craffts for the study of Jacob

Bible stories, lessons and crafts for the study of Moses

Turning Points: Confession and Reconcillation: A Bible Study of Jacob

Turning Ponts:Moses, Failture and Ever After

Bible Stories for Secondary and Post Secondary - Jacob


Bible Stories for Secondary and Post Secondary - Moses


Bible.org - Jacob


Bible.org - Moses


As Christians, we don't know what tomorrow holds, but we do know who does. Therefore, we can go forward in faith.

Object Lessons in Faith

Faith is believing in something that we can't see. As Christian believers we have never seen the face of God, yet we know that he exists.

As we approach summer, many demands are placed upon our time. You may be in the midst of assembling your faith based lesson plans for your children and searching for some lessons that infuse faith with science, social stuies, math etc. I recently discovered some well organized, integrated Christian lesson planning blogs to assist you with your quest.

Visit the link below http://objectlessons.blogspot.com/
to access the following material:


1. Creation. http://www.ms-creation.blogspot.com/
2. Christmas. http://www.ms-christmas.blogspot.com/
3. Easter. http://www.ms-easter.blogspot.com/
4. The Bible. http://www.ms-bible.blogspot.com/
5. Prayer. http://www.ms-prayer.blogspot.com/
6. Hearing from God. http://www.ms-hearing.blogspot.com/
7. The Ten Commandments. http://www.ms-tencommandments.blogspot.com/
8. John 3.16. http://www.ms-john316.blogspot.com/
9. Teaching Memory verses. http://www.ms-memoryverses.blogspot.com/
10. Gospel Illusions. http://www.ms-gospelillusions.blogspot.com/
11. Object Lessons (using natural laws). http://www.ms-objectlessons.blogspot.com/

God's Presence Revealed through Nature

Birdwatching

As Christians, we understand how God shows us what we need to know when we need to know it. His timing is so perfect.

I am currently reading the all-in-one book and journal entitled Jesus authored by Beth Moore. Recently, I was able to set aside time to do some extra reading, writing and journaling


As I sat there reading Beth's book, the Holy Spirit pointed out a simplistic yet beautiful truth. I could hear some baby birds struggling to voice their needs. I was unable to pinpoint where the sound was coming from, as the area is lush with many trees. Suddenly, a brief memory of the summer of 2003 emerged, and I recalled that several families of birds had nested in my own backyard. I settled in and continued reading my book and was amazed at what I saw staring me in the face.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father."
Matthew 10:29


Beth, from time to time, looks outside her kitchen window and sees sparrows grace her backyard. Seeing the sparrows and remembering the scripture from Matthew 10:29, helps her put things into proper perspective.

Beth commented that the sparrows certainly aren't the most attractive birds she sees in her backyard. Yet, God takes care of them, and this Bible verse serves as a reminder that he will take care of her needs as well.

Sometimes, we need to be reminded of these basic truths. I feel that the Holy Spirit used the setting where I was reading, Beth's comments and the Bible verse to help me remember what transpired in my life back during the summer of 2003.

From May until August of that year our family went through a period of realizing that a member of our family may not survive a very serious surgery. At the time I didn't realize the full impact of what God was trying to show me.

We had four families of morning doves successively build nests in the backyard. We could actually see the nesting process from the kitchen window. Back then, I didn't realize that God was attempting to provide a lesson of reassurance. He was trying to show me just how precious these families were to Him. He wanted me to see that he was taking care of each of these little families and he wanted me to know that he was walking with my family as well. He wanted me to trust him.

Late in July of 2003, the last pair of mourning doves to nest returned to our backyard. They sat together beneath the tree where the empty nest was located. All of their babies had flown away about two weeks or so earlier. The pair stayed there perched on the rock for about an hour or so and actually allowed members of my family and I to walk very close to them. I remember returning to a room in our house, grabbing my digital camera and returning to take a picture of these morning doves. Although it may difficult to see, the actual mourning doves appear perched on the rock in the photo above. If you click on the picture above, the picture will enlarge, and you can more clearly see the mourning doves.


Our family felt that there was something spiritual about the occurrence, but we didn’t fully understand the message. Today, after reading Beth Moore’s commentary and listening to the birds in the trees, I now finally understand that if I had been more in the Word, I would have remembered Matthew 10:29, and our family would have been more comforted by this scripture.

I am hoping that God is blessing you and your family in some special way this spring and summer.

Why not take a moment to visit the following website that I recently discovered.

Lee’s Birdwatching Adventures Plus -
Doves and Pigeons
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. (Psa 55:6)

I feel that whether you are homeschooling or a parent looking for some supplemental summer lesson planning involving the study of birds, you will be truly blessed by the wealth of information found on the Birds of the Bible website.

The Metamorphosis of the Butterfly

The Metamorphosis of the Butterfly - Our New Life in Christ

I was a guest at another church this past December, and was intently listening as the minister spoke about Mary, the mother of Jesus. He reminded the congregation of the sense of wonder Mary must have felt, when she received a visit from Gabriel and was told that she would be the mother of the Son of God. The minister then recounted how he has often seen that same sense of amazement expressed by his grandchildren. He recalled that recently, on one particular evening, he was holding his small grandchild, and she was gazing up toward the sky, her eyes filled with wonder.

Spring and summer provide an opportunity to really look at the beauty of nature. God’s world, once again, is brimming with color, aroma and the feeling of new beginnings. Children are full of curiosity, and through them, we can revisit the majesty of each season. By listening and learning with them, we can reestablish our own sense of wonder. Below, is just an example of a lesson idea that you may want to consider using.

The metamorphosis of the caterpillar into a butterfly is applicable to one who accepts Jesus as his or her Savior. Before making that important decision to follow Jesus, we, too, are similar to caterpillars. We are incomplete.

Before the caterpillar becomes a butterfly, it must go through a series of life stages. You can read about these changes by visiting Butterflybushes.com The most dramatic stages of the metamorphism occur and culminate in the chrysalis. As you read about all of the life stages of a butterfly, by clicking on the link above, think back to your own Christian journey. As you have discovered, we, too, made many transformations before we decided to follow Christ.

Eventually, what emerges from the chrysalis is a beautiful butterfly that spreads its wings and begins a new life. As Christians, we, too, are encouraged to spread our wings and live a new life in Christ by glorifying God with all of our being.

Once the caterpillar is transformed into a butterfly, its transformation ends. Conversely, a Christian’s transformation continues to deepen and expand, as we study the Word, fellowship with other Christians and generously use our spiritual gifts for the benefit of the body of Christ.

The metamorphosis of a butterfly is a particularly engaging topic for children. A butterfly unit study, in conjunction with Biblical lessons about being born again, can serve as a powerful witness to just what God can do. By visiting Butterflies you will locate some aids to help you as you prepare your lesson.


Visit the links listed below, for more butterfly related lesson planning:


Bible Butterfly Crafts


Butterfly Activities


Butterfly Vocabulary


Butterfly Activities for PreK – Grade 2


Butterfly Activities for Grades 3 – 6


Butterfly Fun Facts


Butterfly Pictures and Activities for Matching Card Exercises


Create Your Own Butterfly or Other Nature Related Reading Books
and

Create Your Own Butterfly or Other Nature Related Reading Books


Periodically, Sharon Jeffus provides art related workshops for children and teens. One of workshops includes lessons from Animals in the Garden. Lessons Five - Artsy Animals in the Garden .

“Children learn about insects like butterflies and bees that you could find in a garden. We look at master artists Monet, Hagemeister, and Renoir. We make a garden picture and learn about radial lines, patterns, and symmetry.”

Visit the Visual Manna website for more information.

The following Bible memory verse for children, pictured with a colorful picture of butterflies, is from Bible Memory Verses

Therefore if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature:
old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.
~II Corinthians 5:17

Some Biblical Expressions of Faith

Faith

References to “faith” in the New Testament of the Bible come from the Greek word pistis. Some "faith” references in the Old Testament include the Hebrew words Aman, Mibtah, Hasah, Galal, Mahseh and Batah. These words for “faith” are used interchangeably with “trust”.


Let’s look at Mary, the mother of Jesus, for a moment. Mary's life, up until Gabriel's visit, exemplified her trust and submission to God. However, imagine how Mary must have felt when she heard the news that she would be the mother of the Son of God. She must have felt overwhelmed to say the least. Yet, we see in the first chapter of Luke that Mary clearly expressed her faith and belief that she was part of God's plan. Although Mary may have felt confused, she set her feelings aside and continued to trust God.

Take a minute or two to read Luke 1:26-56. If you don’t have a Bible handy, visit Biblegateway.com and read the Bible text online. At the end of this text we see Mary’s final response.

“I am the servant of God,” said Mary. “Let everything happen just as you have said.”

This statement alone, from Luke 1:26, truly demonstrates the degree of faith that Mary possessed.

Likewise, David, with an armor of faith, confronted Goliath in a way that stunned onlookers. As you will recall, David challenged Goliath, the powerful Philistine giant. Because Goliath was confidant that he couldn’t be defeated, he issued an invitation to the ranks of Israel. He asserted that if any of these men could defeat him, the Philistines would be servants to the Israelites. However, if Goliath were the victor, the Israelites would submit themselves and be servants of the Philistines. The standoff ensued for a time. Finally, David, the young shepherd, left his flock to bring food to his brothers who were serving in the army.

David was there to observe the unfolding events; however, it wasn't long before he became proactive. David was rebuked by his oldest brother and warned by Saul that he should not confront Goliath. However, David was livid with the manner in which this giant was treating the soldiers of the living God.

Indeed, David's lips overflowed with faith as he spoke to Goliath, and as we know, he hit Goliath in the head with a stone from his sling, and Goliath was ultimately killed. Read
1 Samuel 17 (New International Version) Again, you can easily view the text online by visiting http://www.biblegateway.com


An army of men, trembling with fear, couldn’t do what this young, inexperienced boy did. By reading this chapter in its entirety, we see David’s faith in action.

Children and teens respond to these Biblical faith based models. In subsequent posts, I hope to spend more time discussing faith that was demonstrated by specific men and women of the Bible.

Below, are some websites you may want to visit for David and Goliath lesson plans. Tuck these links away for future reference. Some of the information may be applicable for independent study, VBS, Sunday School, etc.


David and Goliath
Lessons for Kids
and
Lessons for Teens and Adults


Discussion Questions About Mary
(Save this link and use next year with lesson plans involving Mother’s Day)


Children’s Sunday School - (Gabriel Visits Mary)
Excellent Discussion Questions

Introduction

The idea of writing a Christian blog first occurred to me about a year ago when a fellow Christian gave me one of the most precious birthday gifts that I had ever received. I was given a copy of the book, David. This all-in-one book and journal, written by Christian author Beth Moore, chronicles the struggles and triumphs of King David. By using Beth Moore’s book and studying 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel, I clearly learned how God often used discipline and pruning in an effort to help David literally see the Light. By studying the life of David, I was forced to revisit some of my own difficult struggles.

I found the journaling to be very cathartic, as I reviewed what spiritual progress I had made since December 2006. Each day as I wrote down my entry into the journal, I became increasingly aware of some areas in my life that needed more attention. Each day, I could feel myself growing, again, as a Christian.

A family member experienced a stroke occurring just days after my own serious accident. The surgeon informed me that my right hand would not ever look normal if I declined a complex surgical procedure. Furthermore, he believed that I would lose a great deal of movement and function in the affected hand if I elected not to have professionals to perform the healing.

Because of some serious medical conditions, I was advised by a cardiologist not to have the surgery. I was told that there was a chance that I could suffer ill effects or even death. Since I was not dealing with a life threatening injury, I was allowed the time to pray for a few days about the situation. Ultimately, I trusted God that he would see me through and I would accept the outcome. I fully realized that I could be left with a deformed, partially functioning hand. However, I was willing to accept the outcome.

Miraculously, with the help of a caring, brilliant orthopedic surgeon and an equally gifted, compassionate rehabilitation hand therapist, the affected hand, today, is extremely functional without any marked deformity. The hand therapist told me at one point that I must have had angels watching over me, as she had never seen such a miraculous healing occur, given the severity of the injury.

I knew, at the time, that my family and friends were praying for me. Indeed, I was blessed to have some special friends, and a caring pastor, who helped me through that period. I also know that God placed each of the special health professionals in my path. God was and is the master healer, and he used the prayers and selected professionals to perform the healing. As we know, after everything is said and done, God is always in control.

Up until 2006, my walk with Jesus was good, but not great. I had been a Christian years before 2006. However the series of events that occurred from early December 2006 through January 2007 literally transformed my spiritual relationship with God. Christ’s presence in my life became all encompassing.

In March 2007, I knew that I could no longer sit on the sidelines. The time had come for me to truly reach out and use whatever spiritual gifts God had given to me for the benefit of God’s kingdom. I was overwhelmed with the healing that God had performed in my life and the healing that was taking place with a member of my family.

I knew that I had to recommit myself to Christ. My next step was to take a spiritual inventory to learn what gifts I could give. In the Spring of 2007 after taking these steps, I began to reach out and be used in different ways. Mainly, God has used me behind the scenes in teaching settings. At times I have been used as a catalyst. I have also been given opportunities to share my faith, but God has chosen the time and the people.

My hope is that the information provided here will be helpful to parents and teachers who are searching for ways to inject their Christian faith into the reading, social studies, science, literature, art music and other curriculum for children.