With a love for Children's Ministry and a skill in Marketing, Danika LaBrant has founded Designed Service, designing services for messages that matter in ministry and marketing. There is a blog spot on the website. Visit http://designedservice.com and click the "blog" tab. Danika LaBrant will be posting object lessons and other Children's Ministry news on DesignedService.com.
What happens to this blog? It is a curious thing. With the anticipated launch of Google+ the buzz is Blogger will be rebranded. Other than a name change, what other changes will occur? Google is not talking. For now, this blog will remain.
We hope you will find the information available on DesignedService.com beneficial. Ms. LaBrant is available as a guest speaker for AWANA nights, Disciple Now Weekends, special events, retreats, etc.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Acension Awe
In Children's and Preschool Ministry, my favorite lessons are Christmas and Easter. There are a ton of resources for Christmas, but not for Easter. The death and resurrection of Christ is a difficult lesson to teach to a four year old. Through the years I have stumbled across a couple of really good and fun object lessons that put AWE into Ascension. Here are a couple of fun ones....
1. Ping Pong Ball Ascension - Supplies: a ping pong ball, a hair dryer and a toilet tube role. What to do: turn on the hair dryer (cool air if possible) and point it to the ceiling. Place the ping pong ball in the airflow and watch it balance there. This is a good time to review Jesus was resurrection and appearances on the Road to Emmaus ( Luke 24:35-37) and the 40 days he appeared alive after his death (Acts 1:3). With practice you can even walk around balancing the ball in the air stream. But of course, we want to end with a HOORAY! Jesus is risen. So after you talk about the ascension (Luke 24:51 and Acts 1:9), place the toilet role over the ball. The channelled air will move faster and force the ball to pop out the top. Preschoolers love it. Children want to try it themselves.
2. Breaking Free Baking Soda - Supplies: empty water bottle, lemon juice, water, baking soda, one square of toilet paper, a cork, and an aluminum baking tray or craw fish plate to catch the fizz. Prep: fill about an 1" of lemon juice in the bottom of the water bottle and then add water until about 1/2 full. This is a good lesson to talk about the resurrection. The lemon juice is the oils used to treat the body of Christ. The baking soda is the body of Christ placed in the toilet square which is the linen cloth. They placed the body in the tomb (pour the baking soda into the bottle) and then rolled a great stone in front of the tomb (do it quickly after the pour, cork the top). Then three days later Jesus was resurrected (the pressure builds until the cork is forced to pop out. depending on how much baking soda you use and how tight the cork is in, determines how high the cork will fly.) If you can't find the right size cork, you can try to make one with play dough. It didn't work so well; never popped. But the fizz created did leak out and the discussion became how Jesus's love just keeps flowing. Jesus loved us so much He went to the grave, broke out of the grave, and pours His continued love and forgiveness on us even today.
3. Resurrection Explosion - this one is great fun and an outdoor experiment. It can be used on Easter Sunday as something special for an exciting day or you can use it on Ascension day as the climax to a multi-week study of Easter. All this is is the Mentos experiment which you may have seen on the Steve Spangler, the Science Guy website. Supplies: 2 liter bottle of cheap diet soda, a roll of mentos mint candy, and optionally a geyser tube which you can get on the Spangler website at http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/ or check the discovery section of some toy stores or Hobby Lobby sometimes carries them in their impulse buy section by the cash registers. You don't need the geyser tube but it sure makes it easier. Anyway, I recommend having multiple bottles and multiple rolls of Mentos. I keep the kids back since this makes a huge mess so I holler out, "Can death keep a good man down?" Student reply, "No!" I holler, "How many days was Jesus in the tomb?" Student reply, "Three!" I holler, "What happened on the third day?" Student reply, "He rose." I holler, "Let's count! One, two, three!" Then release the mentos into the soda. The explosion is quick so wear a poncho or have an umbrella for you. Kids will squeal with glee. Then I repeat the holler, student reply. Review is always important, and the kids are having so much fun, they don't realize they are learning.
I love the Ascension Lesson. The kids have fun, and we get to celebrate life. Best wishes for success in your Children's program.
1. Ping Pong Ball Ascension - Supplies: a ping pong ball, a hair dryer and a toilet tube role. What to do: turn on the hair dryer (cool air if possible) and point it to the ceiling. Place the ping pong ball in the airflow and watch it balance there. This is a good time to review Jesus was resurrection and appearances on the Road to Emmaus ( Luke 24:35-37) and the 40 days he appeared alive after his death (Acts 1:3). With practice you can even walk around balancing the ball in the air stream. But of course, we want to end with a HOORAY! Jesus is risen. So after you talk about the ascension (Luke 24:51 and Acts 1:9), place the toilet role over the ball. The channelled air will move faster and force the ball to pop out the top. Preschoolers love it. Children want to try it themselves.
2. Breaking Free Baking Soda - Supplies: empty water bottle, lemon juice, water, baking soda, one square of toilet paper, a cork, and an aluminum baking tray or craw fish plate to catch the fizz. Prep: fill about an 1" of lemon juice in the bottom of the water bottle and then add water until about 1/2 full. This is a good lesson to talk about the resurrection. The lemon juice is the oils used to treat the body of Christ. The baking soda is the body of Christ placed in the toilet square which is the linen cloth. They placed the body in the tomb (pour the baking soda into the bottle) and then rolled a great stone in front of the tomb (do it quickly after the pour, cork the top). Then three days later Jesus was resurrected (the pressure builds until the cork is forced to pop out. depending on how much baking soda you use and how tight the cork is in, determines how high the cork will fly.) If you can't find the right size cork, you can try to make one with play dough. It didn't work so well; never popped. But the fizz created did leak out and the discussion became how Jesus's love just keeps flowing. Jesus loved us so much He went to the grave, broke out of the grave, and pours His continued love and forgiveness on us even today.
3. Resurrection Explosion - this one is great fun and an outdoor experiment. It can be used on Easter Sunday as something special for an exciting day or you can use it on Ascension day as the climax to a multi-week study of Easter. All this is is the Mentos experiment which you may have seen on the Steve Spangler, the Science Guy website. Supplies: 2 liter bottle of cheap diet soda, a roll of mentos mint candy, and optionally a geyser tube which you can get on the Spangler website at http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/ or check the discovery section of some toy stores or Hobby Lobby sometimes carries them in their impulse buy section by the cash registers. You don't need the geyser tube but it sure makes it easier. Anyway, I recommend having multiple bottles and multiple rolls of Mentos. I keep the kids back since this makes a huge mess so I holler out, "Can death keep a good man down?" Student reply, "No!" I holler, "How many days was Jesus in the tomb?" Student reply, "Three!" I holler, "What happened on the third day?" Student reply, "He rose." I holler, "Let's count! One, two, three!" Then release the mentos into the soda. The explosion is quick so wear a poncho or have an umbrella for you. Kids will squeal with glee. Then I repeat the holler, student reply. Review is always important, and the kids are having so much fun, they don't realize they are learning.
I love the Ascension Lesson. The kids have fun, and we get to celebrate life. Best wishes for success in your Children's program.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Very Bad, No Good Day, but Still Loved
Reading the Old Testament, it is amazing how many times the Israelites disobeyed God. Unlike today where faith and prayer are the way to a personal relationship, they actually got to see God and hear God verbally. He spoke to them and appeared in clouds and fire. Today His miracles are usually subtle like a great parking spot or a lost job just in time to earn a great job, but back then His miracles were miraculous. Plagues that ravaged the land did not touch the Israelites. They walked on dry land through the middle of a sea. When they complained about that boring old manna everyday, God sent them quail to eat. To be that close to God and to just turn your head and disobey? I don't get it.
So what is the good news? The good news is that God's continued forgiveness, continued blessings for the Israelites offers a great picture of a loving father. The old testament demonstrates again and again the character of God as patient and loving.
How to express God's character to Preschoolers? This is hard for them to understand, but easily described through their relationship with their mom and dad. How many times has a preschooler spilled something on the floor? How many times have they "accidentally" broken a toy? How many times did they spill their dinner down their shirt? Mom and Dad may have gotten mad, but they didn't stay mad. They still love you.
Have you ever had a very bad, no good, day? When you woke up, you got caught in the sheets and tripped, falling out of bed. Since you were so tired and surprised, you had an accident and did not make it to the potty. Mommy was sad, but she still loves you. You didn't like what you got for breakfast and when you pushed the dish away, you pushed too hard. It fell to the floor and made a mess. Mommy was mad, but she still loves you. You watched cartoons nicely but became bored. You decided to be a helper and decorate the wall with your crayons. Mommy was mad you colored the wall, but she still loves you. Mommy sent you outside to play. You enjoyed following a lady bug, but soon the bug flew away. You decided to dig and see what other bugs you could find. How were you supposed to know that was her favorite kitchen spoon that you used for a shovel? Mommy was mad but she still loves you. After lunch you had a play date. You shared your toys but your friend would not share their toys. You had to bonk them on the head to get them to share. Mommy was mad, but she still loves you. Dinner went much like breakfast. Broccoli, yuck. Didn't shove them on the floor, but mommy did not like you pushing them off your plate and onto the new table cloth. Mommy was mad, but she still loves you. Bath time and we are out of bubbles. Ho hum. Bed time finally, Mommy reads a book, sings a song, says prayers and kisses you good night. Mommy loves you.
For every time we say Mommy, we could also say Daddy. Daddy sometimes gets mad, but Daddy always loves you. God is the same. He loves us no matter what happens.
A fun visual aid is a pet. If it is o.k. with your church, bring a child loving pet. Pets make mistakes. They don't make it to the potty. They chew things that are not food. They scratch furniture, floors and walls. Pets have very bad, no good days, but we love them anyway.
So what is the good news? The good news is that God's continued forgiveness, continued blessings for the Israelites offers a great picture of a loving father. The old testament demonstrates again and again the character of God as patient and loving.
How to express God's character to Preschoolers? This is hard for them to understand, but easily described through their relationship with their mom and dad. How many times has a preschooler spilled something on the floor? How many times have they "accidentally" broken a toy? How many times did they spill their dinner down their shirt? Mom and Dad may have gotten mad, but they didn't stay mad. They still love you.
Have you ever had a very bad, no good, day? When you woke up, you got caught in the sheets and tripped, falling out of bed. Since you were so tired and surprised, you had an accident and did not make it to the potty. Mommy was sad, but she still loves you. You didn't like what you got for breakfast and when you pushed the dish away, you pushed too hard. It fell to the floor and made a mess. Mommy was mad, but she still loves you. You watched cartoons nicely but became bored. You decided to be a helper and decorate the wall with your crayons. Mommy was mad you colored the wall, but she still loves you. Mommy sent you outside to play. You enjoyed following a lady bug, but soon the bug flew away. You decided to dig and see what other bugs you could find. How were you supposed to know that was her favorite kitchen spoon that you used for a shovel? Mommy was mad but she still loves you. After lunch you had a play date. You shared your toys but your friend would not share their toys. You had to bonk them on the head to get them to share. Mommy was mad, but she still loves you. Dinner went much like breakfast. Broccoli, yuck. Didn't shove them on the floor, but mommy did not like you pushing them off your plate and onto the new table cloth. Mommy was mad, but she still loves you. Bath time and we are out of bubbles. Ho hum. Bed time finally, Mommy reads a book, sings a song, says prayers and kisses you good night. Mommy loves you.
For every time we say Mommy, we could also say Daddy. Daddy sometimes gets mad, but Daddy always loves you. God is the same. He loves us no matter what happens.
A fun visual aid is a pet. If it is o.k. with your church, bring a child loving pet. Pets make mistakes. They don't make it to the potty. They chew things that are not food. They scratch furniture, floors and walls. Pets have very bad, no good days, but we love them anyway.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Big or Small, God Uses Them All (Balls and a Cup)
Object lessons are a fun way to grab students attention and engage them in the story and/or life application. Last Sunday our Bible story was of the poor woman who gave a few coins unlike the many coins the rich people gave. Jesus pointed out that the poor woman gave more than the rich people because she gave all she had and the rich people only gave some. There are other life applications for this story but with our 4 and 5 year olds we focused on, "Big or Small, God can use them all." Here is the object lesson we had fun with to bring home the life application.
Supplies...3 or more small balls of different sizes and a one pint size, clear plastic cup
Presentation...Each person gave an offering to God. The rich people gave big offerings (hold up the big ball), regular people gave regular offerings (hold up the medium size ball), and the poor woman gave what little she had (hold up the small ball or a marble).
Each person gave an offering to God. The money we give the church does not actually go up to heaven to God. The church uses the money to show God’s love here on earth.
So this cup is kind of like the church. (drop the big ball in the cup) Can God use this big thing to share love on this earth? Will this ball make it up to God, grab some of his love and then share God's love down here on earth? (place the cup in the palm of your hand and make a circular motion until the ball starts to rise in the cup) This big offering is climbing, I think it is going to reach heaven, (spin until it flies out of the cup). Wow, there it goes into the world to share God’s love.
Could a regular old offering do the same? (pick up the medium ball) Could just an ordinary offering reach up to heaven and bring down to earth a piece of God’s love? (spin the glass) It looks like it is rising. I think it is going to make it. (spin until it flies out) Wow, an ordinary offering can share God’s love just like a big offering.
But this is such a small offering. (pick up small ball or marble) Surely, this tiny offering could not share God’s love. It is so small and God is so big and the world is so big. (start to spin the glass) But I see this tiny offering climbing. (spin it faster) This tiny offering is going to reach heaven? (spin until if flies out) Wow, that tiny offering made it to heaven and back to earth and shared God’s love.
It does not matter what size your offering is to God. Big or small, God can use them all. If you give an offering, no matter what size big or small, God can use your offering to share His love on this earth.
Supplies...3 or more small balls of different sizes and a one pint size, clear plastic cup
Presentation...Each person gave an offering to God. The rich people gave big offerings (hold up the big ball), regular people gave regular offerings (hold up the medium size ball), and the poor woman gave what little she had (hold up the small ball or a marble).
Each person gave an offering to God. The money we give the church does not actually go up to heaven to God. The church uses the money to show God’s love here on earth.
So this cup is kind of like the church. (drop the big ball in the cup) Can God use this big thing to share love on this earth? Will this ball make it up to God, grab some of his love and then share God's love down here on earth? (place the cup in the palm of your hand and make a circular motion until the ball starts to rise in the cup) This big offering is climbing, I think it is going to reach heaven, (spin until it flies out of the cup). Wow, there it goes into the world to share God’s love.
Could a regular old offering do the same? (pick up the medium ball) Could just an ordinary offering reach up to heaven and bring down to earth a piece of God’s love? (spin the glass) It looks like it is rising. I think it is going to make it. (spin until it flies out) Wow, an ordinary offering can share God’s love just like a big offering.
But this is such a small offering. (pick up small ball or marble) Surely, this tiny offering could not share God’s love. It is so small and God is so big and the world is so big. (start to spin the glass) But I see this tiny offering climbing. (spin it faster) This tiny offering is going to reach heaven? (spin until if flies out) Wow, that tiny offering made it to heaven and back to earth and shared God’s love.
It does not matter what size your offering is to God. Big or small, God can use them all. If you give an offering, no matter what size big or small, God can use your offering to share His love on this earth.
Monday, February 28, 2011
God Can Use Me
So, I have set a goal to read "The Bible in 90 Days." That is the name of the book and it is the Bible just with headers every 12 pages to mark the start and stop of the reading for the day. Don't think I will finish in 90 days, but I am determined to do the reading anyway.
So, I have finished Genesis and Exodus officially and searched for words to share. The story of Aaron keeps coming to mind. Aaron was Moses brother. When Moses whined about public speaking and being the leader of the Israelites out of Egypt. God empowered Aaron to help Moses. Aaron spoke to the masses, to Pharaoh and performed some miracles. When they were freed and wondering the wilderness, Aaron was still there doing the public speaking and serving God and Moses. When God and Moses had to have some quiet time to talk up on the mountain, Aaron was the one that watched over the people and served as leader.
God was so pleased with Aaron that he wrote on stone tablets that Aaron and his sons were to be priests. God gave great detailed instructions on how Aaron and his sons were to be readied for service, adorned in special garments and given a portion of the sacrifice. But even as God was giving these lengthy instructions on how well to treat Aaron, Aaron was sinning against God. The people had become restless and sinful and asked Aaron to create for them an idol to worship, and he did. When Moses came down from the mountain, he broke the tablets and asked Aaron how he could do such a thing. Aaron was weak and admitted it. He repented. After some punishment of the people and other events, Moses met with God again and again God detailed these elaborate instructions for the temple, for the priests including Aaron and the ten commandments. It took some time, but the people got on track and followed the instructions and built the temple, or at that time it was a tent, and honored Aaron and his sons as the first official priests.
I suspect that is my life story too. Even as God is saying what a good and faithful child I am, I am sinning. Instead of inheriting my reward right away, I have to pay for my sins; I have to repent. I want to be a minister for God, to share His word and share His light in this world. But I am weak. I want the masses to like me. I don't want to present false idols, but will they like me if I don't. In my heart, I know it does not matter if they like me. It matters if I serve God's will.
If Aaron, who saw God's miracles first hand, who survived great tragedy, who knew God personally, can falter and still get back up and serve God's plan. I suppose I can too. If God can forgive Aaron for such a grievance, God can forgive me. If God can forgive and still use Aaron in his plan, then God can still use me.
So, I have finished Genesis and Exodus officially and searched for words to share. The story of Aaron keeps coming to mind. Aaron was Moses brother. When Moses whined about public speaking and being the leader of the Israelites out of Egypt. God empowered Aaron to help Moses. Aaron spoke to the masses, to Pharaoh and performed some miracles. When they were freed and wondering the wilderness, Aaron was still there doing the public speaking and serving God and Moses. When God and Moses had to have some quiet time to talk up on the mountain, Aaron was the one that watched over the people and served as leader.
God was so pleased with Aaron that he wrote on stone tablets that Aaron and his sons were to be priests. God gave great detailed instructions on how Aaron and his sons were to be readied for service, adorned in special garments and given a portion of the sacrifice. But even as God was giving these lengthy instructions on how well to treat Aaron, Aaron was sinning against God. The people had become restless and sinful and asked Aaron to create for them an idol to worship, and he did. When Moses came down from the mountain, he broke the tablets and asked Aaron how he could do such a thing. Aaron was weak and admitted it. He repented. After some punishment of the people and other events, Moses met with God again and again God detailed these elaborate instructions for the temple, for the priests including Aaron and the ten commandments. It took some time, but the people got on track and followed the instructions and built the temple, or at that time it was a tent, and honored Aaron and his sons as the first official priests.
I suspect that is my life story too. Even as God is saying what a good and faithful child I am, I am sinning. Instead of inheriting my reward right away, I have to pay for my sins; I have to repent. I want to be a minister for God, to share His word and share His light in this world. But I am weak. I want the masses to like me. I don't want to present false idols, but will they like me if I don't. In my heart, I know it does not matter if they like me. It matters if I serve God's will.
If Aaron, who saw God's miracles first hand, who survived great tragedy, who knew God personally, can falter and still get back up and serve God's plan. I suppose I can too. If God can forgive Aaron for such a grievance, God can forgive me. If God can forgive and still use Aaron in his plan, then God can still use me.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Sexy Bible Characters
The Bible, the B-I-B-L-E, is a long book. I have heard the Bible. I have read many parts of the Bible, but I have never read the whole thing cover to cover. Since I recently lost my job and have some time on my hands, I have decided it is time. I am through Genesis and anticipate finishing Exodus tomorrow, but what keeps going through my mind is Indiana Jones.
Now Harrison Ford, the actor who plays Indiana Jones in the movies, is one of my all time favorites with his quiet charm, sexy good looks and adventerous spirit. Now Indiana Jones, some of the movies were awesome and at least one should have been left on the cutting room floor, but still the romantic notion of it all stirs excitement within me. So I am reading the Bible and I am getting the same feelings of quiet charm and sexy characters and fellings of adventure and wonder about the romance and excitement of the era.
Sexy Bible characters? A romantic and exciting era? Yes, I have had some trouble with that too. But put aside your culturally developed stereotypes and think about how many children these guys had. The twelve tribes of Isreal were fathered by one man and then the head of each tribe fathered a nation. That is a lot of kids. An angry ogre would not swoon the ladies. How exciting to see the birth of a civilization! But how dynamic these fathers had to be to bestow trust and loyalty among their budding nations.
Adventure, have you read the story of Moses? Wow! What a plot! Baby survives the river to be adopted by a princess. The baby grows into a man who upon the revelation of his roots is thrown into a course of events that include murder, natural disasters, a mass exodus of people, miracles and face time with God himself. He was a leader but a coward as well who had to utilize the talents of his brother to speak to the people. How cool is that! God was miffed with Moses for all his whining, but God still found a way for Moses to do his job through his brother Aaron. The moral of that story, you will fulfill your purpose in God's plan regardless of your fears and failings.
Aaron must have been just like Indiana Jones, charming, sexy and adventurous. Charming, he spoke with the masses and the masses believed and followed. Sexy, he had several sons, who like their father, were leaders and were eventually appointed priests by God himself. Adventerous, Aaron never complained or whined when Moses told him of Gods plans to send plagues instead of just leading them out of Egypt. He didn't complain when it was time to leave Egypt and walk through the dessert and the wilderness. But why are there not stories of Aaron like there are stories of Moses? Perhaps because Aaron got so caught up in pleasing the people he was suppposed to be leading; he sinned against God by creating a golden calf and letting the people get out of control. The moral to that story, keep your eyes on God. Do not fall to pleasing people.
It is an exciting book, the Bible. I am glad for this time to read it cover to cover. I hope you get time to enjoy the quiet charm of the characters and the sexy adventerous tales of their lives.
Now Harrison Ford, the actor who plays Indiana Jones in the movies, is one of my all time favorites with his quiet charm, sexy good looks and adventerous spirit. Now Indiana Jones, some of the movies were awesome and at least one should have been left on the cutting room floor, but still the romantic notion of it all stirs excitement within me. So I am reading the Bible and I am getting the same feelings of quiet charm and sexy characters and fellings of adventure and wonder about the romance and excitement of the era.
Sexy Bible characters? A romantic and exciting era? Yes, I have had some trouble with that too. But put aside your culturally developed stereotypes and think about how many children these guys had. The twelve tribes of Isreal were fathered by one man and then the head of each tribe fathered a nation. That is a lot of kids. An angry ogre would not swoon the ladies. How exciting to see the birth of a civilization! But how dynamic these fathers had to be to bestow trust and loyalty among their budding nations.
Adventure, have you read the story of Moses? Wow! What a plot! Baby survives the river to be adopted by a princess. The baby grows into a man who upon the revelation of his roots is thrown into a course of events that include murder, natural disasters, a mass exodus of people, miracles and face time with God himself. He was a leader but a coward as well who had to utilize the talents of his brother to speak to the people. How cool is that! God was miffed with Moses for all his whining, but God still found a way for Moses to do his job through his brother Aaron. The moral of that story, you will fulfill your purpose in God's plan regardless of your fears and failings.
Aaron must have been just like Indiana Jones, charming, sexy and adventurous. Charming, he spoke with the masses and the masses believed and followed. Sexy, he had several sons, who like their father, were leaders and were eventually appointed priests by God himself. Adventerous, Aaron never complained or whined when Moses told him of Gods plans to send plagues instead of just leading them out of Egypt. He didn't complain when it was time to leave Egypt and walk through the dessert and the wilderness. But why are there not stories of Aaron like there are stories of Moses? Perhaps because Aaron got so caught up in pleasing the people he was suppposed to be leading; he sinned against God by creating a golden calf and letting the people get out of control. The moral to that story, keep your eyes on God. Do not fall to pleasing people.
It is an exciting book, the Bible. I am glad for this time to read it cover to cover. I hope you get time to enjoy the quiet charm of the characters and the sexy adventerous tales of their lives.
Friday, February 18, 2011
The Birth of a Ministry
Reviewing my blog, I have noticed a trail of ups and downs including the death of my grandmother, the death of my stepfather, and ups in steps of faith, kitchen science experiments and more. I am befuddled by this path that I am on. I have felt an urge to enter ministry since I was a kid, but event after event has shown me I am not ready. I have prayed for years for God to reveal His plan for me and to make it simple for I am a simple person. I guess when my boss fired me last week; that was a pretty simple, "you are in the wrong place. get moving!"
So again I am faced with which path to take. Do I continue my pursuit to be a professional marketing person with expertise in copy writing and event planning? Do I pursue a career in ministry? Do I go back to school and get my teaching certificate? What is God's plan for me?
Since I have some time on my hands and really want to get this right this time, I have decided to commit to read the "The Bible in 90 days" a Zondervan Bibles publication. I have finished Genesis and the whole thing about circumcision has struck me. So God tells Abraham in Genesis 17 for every male to be circumcised, young and old alike to seal the covenant between God and Abraham. To seal a deal with God, a super good deal where they get a bunch of blessings, all the men say, "Sure." I am not a man, but ouch. But they did it and they were blessed.
Now later in Genesis 34, there is another story of circumcision that did not end well. Jacob, the father of nations, also had a daughter named Dina who was violated by a man from the city of Shechem in Canaan. Jacob was sad, but her brothers were furious. The brothers tricked the men of Shechem. They said if they all got circumcised then they would live peacefully among them and become one people sharing livestock and wealth. The men of the city said, "Sure," and were all circumsiced. Now the brother's new of the pain of circumcision and on the third day after the procedure, the brother's entered the city and killed all the men who were still in pain from the circumcision. I guess the moral of the story is if you desire to seal a deal with God, then no price is too high; but if you desire to seal a deal with man for wealth and privilege, check his motives.
So what does that have to do with the ups and downs of this blog? I desparately want to seal a deal with God, but I don't know what the deal is. I have decided I must pursue my desire for ministry but definately not for wealth and privilege though I wouldn't frown on it if it came my way. I just pray that my desire is given to me by God. I pray to fulfill His purpose for me.
So what's next? I plan to offer myself as a guest speaker. I have more than 10 years of experience in Children's and Preschool Ministry and feel strongly that I can provide age appropriate, fun and relevant faith messages to youth, parents, and women's organizations. I have been in development of the DesignD ministry for more than a year. I have friends that are willing to partner with me, and friends who will be supporting me. The time has come to seal the deal and step out on faith. Soon I will be providing more information on DesignD and how you too can book me as a guest speaker at your next engagement.
So again I am faced with which path to take. Do I continue my pursuit to be a professional marketing person with expertise in copy writing and event planning? Do I pursue a career in ministry? Do I go back to school and get my teaching certificate? What is God's plan for me?
Since I have some time on my hands and really want to get this right this time, I have decided to commit to read the "The Bible in 90 days" a Zondervan Bibles publication. I have finished Genesis and the whole thing about circumcision has struck me. So God tells Abraham in Genesis 17 for every male to be circumcised, young and old alike to seal the covenant between God and Abraham. To seal a deal with God, a super good deal where they get a bunch of blessings, all the men say, "Sure." I am not a man, but ouch. But they did it and they were blessed.
Now later in Genesis 34, there is another story of circumcision that did not end well. Jacob, the father of nations, also had a daughter named Dina who was violated by a man from the city of Shechem in Canaan. Jacob was sad, but her brothers were furious. The brothers tricked the men of Shechem. They said if they all got circumcised then they would live peacefully among them and become one people sharing livestock and wealth. The men of the city said, "Sure," and were all circumsiced. Now the brother's new of the pain of circumcision and on the third day after the procedure, the brother's entered the city and killed all the men who were still in pain from the circumcision. I guess the moral of the story is if you desire to seal a deal with God, then no price is too high; but if you desire to seal a deal with man for wealth and privilege, check his motives.
So what does that have to do with the ups and downs of this blog? I desparately want to seal a deal with God, but I don't know what the deal is. I have decided I must pursue my desire for ministry but definately not for wealth and privilege though I wouldn't frown on it if it came my way. I just pray that my desire is given to me by God. I pray to fulfill His purpose for me.
So what's next? I plan to offer myself as a guest speaker. I have more than 10 years of experience in Children's and Preschool Ministry and feel strongly that I can provide age appropriate, fun and relevant faith messages to youth, parents, and women's organizations. I have been in development of the DesignD ministry for more than a year. I have friends that are willing to partner with me, and friends who will be supporting me. The time has come to seal the deal and step out on faith. Soon I will be providing more information on DesignD and how you too can book me as a guest speaker at your next engagement.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Love Part of Me, Love All of Me
OMG, when was my last post?! Well, in honor of Valentine's Day, an object lesson about love. I am a Large Group leader of our Preschool worship and have tested this with our 4 and 5 year olds. LOVED IT! Definitely, solidified my love of teaching children.
I have several containers full of different things from my kitchen (supplies and preparation are at the end of this post). I will ask volunteers to come up and take a guess of what is inside. Some of the things are easy to guess: granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, chocolate chips. Some things are not so easy to guess: flour, baking soda, vanilla.
In addition to asking my volunteer what the item is. I also ask them, "Would you like to take a spoon and eat some of the (butter)?" Some items, the volunteer is very happy to take a spoon and eat. Some items, not so much. I do not actually have the volunteers taste the item.
So some of these things are very tastey by themselves, but some of them are not. BUT if you put all these things in a bowl and stir them up really well, then press the mixture out on a pan and put it in the heat of the oven; in time you will have a very wonderful chocolate chip cookie.
This is a lot like how God made me and how God made you. Inside you are some super great things like knowledge, love, kindness, generosity, and lots of other great things (not the verbiage I used in preschool but it works here). Inside you are some not so great things like impatience, jealousy, anger. God knows about all the good things and all the bad things. God knows that when you put all these parts together He gets all of you, a wonderful person.
God wants to mold you into something fantastic, and to make you that wonderful person, He will put you through the fire to assure you become one fabulous person.
God knows all about the good, all about the bad, all about the pressure you are under, all about the fires you've been through, and He loves you, all of you. So no matter what it is that you do not like about yourself, know that God knows all about that and loves you anyway. No matter what hardship you are suffering, God knows and He still loves you. No matter what fire seems to be consuming you today, God knows all about it and He loves you. He will turn whatever this trial is into something fantastic and you will become a greater whole.
In Jesus Name, I pray for you a Happy Valentines Day!
Supplies: 9 or 10 small clear containers (baby food bottles or Tupperware), masking tape, marker, ingredients listed below, and at least one (1) chocolate chip cookie. Optional: chocolate chip cookies to share with the kids
Preparation: label and fill each container with one of the following: 2 ¼ flour, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. salt, 1 cup butter, ¾ cup granulated sugar, ¾ cup brown sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla, 2 eggs, 2 cups chocolate chips, and optionally, 1cup nuts. NOTE: exact measurements are not necessary unless you plan to make a batch of chocolate chip cookies.
I have several containers full of different things from my kitchen (supplies and preparation are at the end of this post). I will ask volunteers to come up and take a guess of what is inside. Some of the things are easy to guess: granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, chocolate chips. Some things are not so easy to guess: flour, baking soda, vanilla.
In addition to asking my volunteer what the item is. I also ask them, "Would you like to take a spoon and eat some of the (butter)?" Some items, the volunteer is very happy to take a spoon and eat. Some items, not so much. I do not actually have the volunteers taste the item.
So some of these things are very tastey by themselves, but some of them are not. BUT if you put all these things in a bowl and stir them up really well, then press the mixture out on a pan and put it in the heat of the oven; in time you will have a very wonderful chocolate chip cookie.
This is a lot like how God made me and how God made you. Inside you are some super great things like knowledge, love, kindness, generosity, and lots of other great things (not the verbiage I used in preschool but it works here). Inside you are some not so great things like impatience, jealousy, anger. God knows about all the good things and all the bad things. God knows that when you put all these parts together He gets all of you, a wonderful person.
God wants to mold you into something fantastic, and to make you that wonderful person, He will put you through the fire to assure you become one fabulous person.
God knows all about the good, all about the bad, all about the pressure you are under, all about the fires you've been through, and He loves you, all of you. So no matter what it is that you do not like about yourself, know that God knows all about that and loves you anyway. No matter what hardship you are suffering, God knows and He still loves you. No matter what fire seems to be consuming you today, God knows all about it and He loves you. He will turn whatever this trial is into something fantastic and you will become a greater whole.
In Jesus Name, I pray for you a Happy Valentines Day!
Supplies: 9 or 10 small clear containers (baby food bottles or Tupperware), masking tape, marker, ingredients listed below, and at least one (1) chocolate chip cookie. Optional: chocolate chip cookies to share with the kids
Preparation: label and fill each container with one of the following: 2 ¼ flour, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. salt, 1 cup butter, ¾ cup granulated sugar, ¾ cup brown sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla, 2 eggs, 2 cups chocolate chips, and optionally, 1cup nuts. NOTE: exact measurements are not necessary unless you plan to make a batch of chocolate chip cookies.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Roller Coaster Life
I have heard life referred to as a roller coaster. It is terrifying but exhilarating. It is many ups and downs and a few twists and turns to keep things interesting. But unlike a roller coaster that stops and lets you get off; life does not.
Life keeps going. It does not care that you are having a great time and want to stay where you are. It does not care that you are hurting and just need a time out to recover. It does not care that you are afraid and don't want to go into that next phase of life. Things happen and your stage of life changes.
I recently suffered a terrible loss, the death of my Dad. I definitely want a time out to mourn his passing, but life just keeps going. As I have cried and yelled and hurt, I have been surprised by the depth of my sorrow. I have a dear friend who helps me with my kids during emergencies, and she asked as delicately as she could, "How many deaths is this?" That really made me think.
In the past year and a half, my grandmother/my last living grandparent died. My uncle died suddenly on a business trip. He was young with four children, two still in college. It was natural causes but still too soon. My great aunt died and three days later her brother/my great uncle died. It is hard to explain the importance of all these people in my life in just a few words, but I can say growing up when love seemed just a theory and not a reality, each of these people demonstrated a tangible love and a hope for joy in this life.
Barely a month after the deaths of my aunt and uncle, my Dad died suddenly. He was 84, but up until 2 weeks prior to his death, he was independent. He is my step-father, but he has been my step-father for 31 years. My biological father is in my life and I do have a reconciled, healthy relationship with him. My step-father, however, is the one who was there for this roller coaster. He was the one that was there when things were up and down and even there for the twists and turns. My step-father is the one who taught me that love endures all things.
I am still riding the roller coaster. I want to get off, but I am holding on. This is just a down turn and this too will pass. I hold onto the hope that soon there will be an up or a twist and things will get better. Life, love and happiness are on this roller coaster and definitely make the ride worth riding. I still have tears, but I also have love. My husband is in the seat next to me. My kids are in the seat behind me. This down turn will not derail me. I am going to hold on and look up. An up turn has to be coming.
Life keeps going. It does not care that you are having a great time and want to stay where you are. It does not care that you are hurting and just need a time out to recover. It does not care that you are afraid and don't want to go into that next phase of life. Things happen and your stage of life changes.
I recently suffered a terrible loss, the death of my Dad. I definitely want a time out to mourn his passing, but life just keeps going. As I have cried and yelled and hurt, I have been surprised by the depth of my sorrow. I have a dear friend who helps me with my kids during emergencies, and she asked as delicately as she could, "How many deaths is this?" That really made me think.
In the past year and a half, my grandmother/my last living grandparent died. My uncle died suddenly on a business trip. He was young with four children, two still in college. It was natural causes but still too soon. My great aunt died and three days later her brother/my great uncle died. It is hard to explain the importance of all these people in my life in just a few words, but I can say growing up when love seemed just a theory and not a reality, each of these people demonstrated a tangible love and a hope for joy in this life.
Barely a month after the deaths of my aunt and uncle, my Dad died suddenly. He was 84, but up until 2 weeks prior to his death, he was independent. He is my step-father, but he has been my step-father for 31 years. My biological father is in my life and I do have a reconciled, healthy relationship with him. My step-father, however, is the one who was there for this roller coaster. He was the one that was there when things were up and down and even there for the twists and turns. My step-father is the one who taught me that love endures all things.
I am still riding the roller coaster. I want to get off, but I am holding on. This is just a down turn and this too will pass. I hold onto the hope that soon there will be an up or a twist and things will get better. Life, love and happiness are on this roller coaster and definitely make the ride worth riding. I still have tears, but I also have love. My husband is in the seat next to me. My kids are in the seat behind me. This down turn will not derail me. I am going to hold on and look up. An up turn has to be coming.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
God Protects (Water Surface Tension)
Kids often ask for proof that God exists. Well, many adults ask too. The fun of teaching children God's message is bringing in object lessons and fun experiments. In our current series, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" we discussed how God protects us. We used the Bible story "Jesus Calms the Storm" in Matthew 8:23-27 and Mark 4:35-41. We used two water surface tension experiments as visual aides for the "oohs and aahhs" and to amplify that Jesus only spoke a word and the wind and the WATER obeyed. The following are the two experiments....
Anti-Gravity Water
This experiment was taken from : “Anti-Gravity Water” Steve Spangler, http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/00000075 , Jan. 2010. Steve Spangler has photos and videos to demonstrate the experiment.
Supplies you need a tall water glass, a wet napkin, a pitcher of water and a cookie sheet with sides to catch water spills.
After a long day of teaching many, many people Jesus and the Disciples got into a boat to rest (place cup in the center of the cookie sheet). Jesus rested in the boat and fell asleep (place the wet napkin over the top of the glass, make sure there is a depression like a little bowl in the napkin in the glass). While Jesus slept, a storm suddenly overtook the boat and the wind and the waves were very tall and strong and scary. (pour water into the cup, do not pour more than 1/4 - 1/2 cup of water). The Disciples were scared and woke Jesus up saying, "Jesus, help us!" (stop pouring and slowly pull the napkin tight around the glass) Jesus woke, looked around and with only a word told the wind and the water to, "Stop." (turn the glass upside down and the water will not spill out.) The wind and the water obeyed.
At this point you could ask a volunteer to come up and witness that the water is still in the cup. You can talk about the storms in our lives and if we ask Jesus, pray to God, He will help us. Turn the glass back over, remove the napkin and then pour the water back into the pitcher.
Anti-Gravity Water Experiment #2
This experiment I have seen on-line, in my son's science class and at a Cub Scout meeting.
Supplies you need include a dessert size party plate, a clear plastic cup and a pitcher of water.
In our lives we have storms spring up on us. (Pour a water into cup about half full.) We forget our homework. We have to take a pop-quiz. Mom won't let me play the Teen Video Game that everybody else is playing. I catch the flu. Etc. (place plate on top of cup, top surface down). What do you do? (With one hand flat on the plate and one hand on the cup, flip the cup and plate over at the same time, the water will not spill) Pray to God, and he will answer you. Just like the Disciples cried to Jesus. (balance on bottom hand and remove top hand). And Jesus answered their cries with a simple word, God will give you peace and comfort. He may not bless you with a T-Video Game, but He will answer you. He may inspire your heart to study or read or get involved in a sports activity or community event or something else that will fill your time and your heart with joy. (place hand back on cup and remove hand from the bottom, water will not spill out). BIG OR SMALL, GOD ANSWERS THEM ALL. God will answer your prayers. God will protect you. God will heal you.
God protects. Ask and He will answer. Have a Blessed Day.
Anti-Gravity Water
This experiment was taken from : “Anti-Gravity Water” Steve Spangler, http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/00000075 , Jan. 2010. Steve Spangler has photos and videos to demonstrate the experiment.
Supplies you need a tall water glass, a wet napkin, a pitcher of water and a cookie sheet with sides to catch water spills.
After a long day of teaching many, many people Jesus and the Disciples got into a boat to rest (place cup in the center of the cookie sheet). Jesus rested in the boat and fell asleep (place the wet napkin over the top of the glass, make sure there is a depression like a little bowl in the napkin in the glass). While Jesus slept, a storm suddenly overtook the boat and the wind and the waves were very tall and strong and scary. (pour water into the cup, do not pour more than 1/4 - 1/2 cup of water). The Disciples were scared and woke Jesus up saying, "Jesus, help us!" (stop pouring and slowly pull the napkin tight around the glass) Jesus woke, looked around and with only a word told the wind and the water to, "Stop." (turn the glass upside down and the water will not spill out.) The wind and the water obeyed.
At this point you could ask a volunteer to come up and witness that the water is still in the cup. You can talk about the storms in our lives and if we ask Jesus, pray to God, He will help us. Turn the glass back over, remove the napkin and then pour the water back into the pitcher.
Anti-Gravity Water Experiment #2
This experiment I have seen on-line, in my son's science class and at a Cub Scout meeting.
Supplies you need include a dessert size party plate, a clear plastic cup and a pitcher of water.
In our lives we have storms spring up on us. (Pour a water into cup about half full.) We forget our homework. We have to take a pop-quiz. Mom won't let me play the Teen Video Game that everybody else is playing. I catch the flu. Etc. (place plate on top of cup, top surface down). What do you do? (With one hand flat on the plate and one hand on the cup, flip the cup and plate over at the same time, the water will not spill) Pray to God, and he will answer you. Just like the Disciples cried to Jesus. (balance on bottom hand and remove top hand). And Jesus answered their cries with a simple word, God will give you peace and comfort. He may not bless you with a T-Video Game, but He will answer you. He may inspire your heart to study or read or get involved in a sports activity or community event or something else that will fill your time and your heart with joy. (place hand back on cup and remove hand from the bottom, water will not spill out). BIG OR SMALL, GOD ANSWERS THEM ALL. God will answer your prayers. God will protect you. God will heal you.
God protects. Ask and He will answer. Have a Blessed Day.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Don't Worry, Be Happy (Ball Bucket)
Our family is under a lot of stress. I love to be a stay-at-home mom. But the reality of life is the expense of living is going up and salaries are not increasing proportionately. So am I worried? I am human, of course, I am a little worried. BUT I know God is good all the time. So Don't Worry, Be Happy.
The following is a sermonette called "Don't Worry. Be Happy." offered to a Children's group.
Before Class: You are going to need a bucket of balls, a paper cross and some tape and then ask for a volunteer.
Presentation: Ask your volunteer to jump up and down. Comment on what a great job they did. Now ask them if they have anything they are worried about. You may need to start the list by saying, "Are you worried about getting your homework done in time to see your favorite t.v. show?" Hand the volunteer a ball and ask them to hold it. Explain that the ball represents worry. Continue to say worries and pile a bunch of balls in the volunteers hands. Allow the audience to voice some of their concerns while adding balls to your volunteers ball. If the volunteer starts to drop balls, pick them up and give them back. This is probably the time to ask the volunteer to try and jump holding onto all those balls without dropping any balls. The volunteer may be a little frustrated, so ask them, "Do you want to hold onto all these balls, all these worries? No?" Pull out the paper cross and tape it to the bucket. The Bible says in Psalm 57:22 "Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you." Now you can jump up and down and not drop one single ball. When you give your worries to Jesus, to God, everything becomes easier.
At this time you can go into Bible time and discuss Matthew 6: 26-34. Jesus told the disciples to look at the birds who never work a day, but still have plenty of food and shelter. You are more precious than the birds. Jesus told the disciples to look at the Lillie's in the field. The Lillie's do not sew on their leaves though they are dressed in the most beautiful colors. You are more precious than the Lillie's. God already knows your needs, and He will provide. Jesus said, "Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will bring its own troubles. Today's trouble is enough for today."
A fun visual aide is a growing paper tree. This idea came from Steve Spangler Science, http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/how-to-make-a-newspaper-tree , Jan. 2010. Supplies: newspaper, tape and scissors. Tape 5-10 sheets of paper together end to end and then roll them up. At one end cut about 4 cuts to about half way down. Lay the pieces down so it looks like you are holding a flower. Reach into the center of the "flower" and demonstrate how God amply blesses. When you pull, your flower will grow and grow until it looks like a tree. Depending on the number of sheets you use, it may be taller than you.
So Don't Worry. Be Happy. God's got this one.
The following is a sermonette called "Don't Worry. Be Happy." offered to a Children's group.
Before Class: You are going to need a bucket of balls, a paper cross and some tape and then ask for a volunteer.
Presentation: Ask your volunteer to jump up and down. Comment on what a great job they did. Now ask them if they have anything they are worried about. You may need to start the list by saying, "Are you worried about getting your homework done in time to see your favorite t.v. show?" Hand the volunteer a ball and ask them to hold it. Explain that the ball represents worry. Continue to say worries and pile a bunch of balls in the volunteers hands. Allow the audience to voice some of their concerns while adding balls to your volunteers ball. If the volunteer starts to drop balls, pick them up and give them back. This is probably the time to ask the volunteer to try and jump holding onto all those balls without dropping any balls. The volunteer may be a little frustrated, so ask them, "Do you want to hold onto all these balls, all these worries? No?" Pull out the paper cross and tape it to the bucket. The Bible says in Psalm 57:22 "Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you." Now you can jump up and down and not drop one single ball. When you give your worries to Jesus, to God, everything becomes easier.
At this time you can go into Bible time and discuss Matthew 6: 26-34. Jesus told the disciples to look at the birds who never work a day, but still have plenty of food and shelter. You are more precious than the birds. Jesus told the disciples to look at the Lillie's in the field. The Lillie's do not sew on their leaves though they are dressed in the most beautiful colors. You are more precious than the Lillie's. God already knows your needs, and He will provide. Jesus said, "Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will bring its own troubles. Today's trouble is enough for today."
A fun visual aide is a growing paper tree. This idea came from Steve Spangler Science, http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/how-to-make-a-newspaper-tree , Jan. 2010. Supplies: newspaper, tape and scissors. Tape 5-10 sheets of paper together end to end and then roll them up. At one end cut about 4 cuts to about half way down. Lay the pieces down so it looks like you are holding a flower. Reach into the center of the "flower" and demonstrate how God amply blesses. When you pull, your flower will grow and grow until it looks like a tree. Depending on the number of sheets you use, it may be taller than you.
So Don't Worry. Be Happy. God's got this one.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Wise Men / Happy New Year (Maze)
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Happy New Year! A fun time of year that certainly means more to me as an adult than to my 4 year old Sunday school students. My students do understand fun, so when I found this object lesson on http://www.kidzmatter.com/ (submitted by Ryan Frank), I knew this would be a perfect way to wrap up the Christmas story, bring in the new year and have fun.
The Kidzmatter version says to give each student a maze and a pencil. Mr. Frank then says, "We are entering a new year. You may have some difficult days ahead and may not know what direction you should go. When you don't know what to do or where to go, all you have to do is ask God. Pray to God. God is always there to help us if we will just ask Him to guide us. In Isaiah 30:21, God said, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.' God wants to help us, we just need to listen!"
As is customary in many denominations, we review the wise men story after the birth of Christ. The belief is that it took the wise men several day (perhaps 12) to follow the star and find the Baby Jesus. Along the way, the wise men became confused and asked where the new born king could be found, thus creating a tie-in to the maze analogy.
To take the analogy one step farther, I used masking tape to create a round maze on the floor. In the center of the maze was a mini manger with a Baby Jesus. As I told the wise men story, I started to navigate a path through the maze suggesting that the wise men had to walk around houses and trees (turns on the path) to find Jesus. I placed a mini crown at a fork in the maze. The crown represented King Herod and I stopped a moment to discuss that portion of the story. Then I moved to the manger and discussed the wise men's reactions and gifts, but of course, God warned the wise men not to return the way they came. On the other side of the manger was another path offering a quick exit from the maze.
To offer life application for our students, I returned to the beginning and navigated the path again discussing the new year and the challenges ahead of us (someone cuts in line to the slide, your brother breaks your toy, Mom won't let you eat candy for breakfast, etc.). In the center of the maze I reviewed Isaiah 30:21 and offered a simple prayer. The quick exit was aligned with God's guidance. We then had some fun letting the kids navigate the maze themselves.
A tip, let the kids pull the tape up. They love to help and for a reason I don't know, they love pulling up the tape. Some kids made tape balls, and we had an impromptu game of catch. Catch is a good way to review the lesson. The student who catches the ball has to answer a review question. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Angels Appeared (Visual Aid)
This is a visual aid to help talk about the angels as you tell the Christmas story.
Supplies: blacklight, Tonic Water with Quinine in the ingredients, and a paper plate angel (see how to make below)
Preparation: place tonic water in a clear bottle if it is not already in one. Remove the label. Make Paper Plate Angel and then set it on top of the bottle.
As you tell the Christmas story, every time an “angel” appears bring out or point to your Tonic Water Angel. You may want to draw the students into the angel by asking them if they believe in angels? Do they believe angels appear to regular people like Mary, Joseph and the Shepherds? Then add, “I believe in angels, and I believe that they can appear to regular people just like Mary and just like you and me.” Then turn the black light on behind the angle. The quinine in the tonic water will glow a blue-ish glow. If you decorated the angel with fluorescent yellow highlighter, then the highlighter will really glow a bright yellow.
Paper Plate Angel Craft
Adapted from: "Paper Plate Angel," Big Book of Bible Crafts, Gospel Light, © 2000
Supplies: a paper plate, scissors, stapler or clear tape and things to decorate with such as glitter, yarn, stickers, pipe cleaners (for halo) and markers.
Supplies: blacklight, Tonic Water with Quinine in the ingredients, and a paper plate angel (see how to make below)
Preparation: place tonic water in a clear bottle if it is not already in one. Remove the label. Make Paper Plate Angel and then set it on top of the bottle.
As you tell the Christmas story, every time an “angel” appears bring out or point to your Tonic Water Angel. You may want to draw the students into the angel by asking them if they believe in angels? Do they believe angels appear to regular people like Mary, Joseph and the Shepherds? Then add, “I believe in angels, and I believe that they can appear to regular people just like Mary and just like you and me.” Then turn the black light on behind the angle. The quinine in the tonic water will glow a blue-ish glow. If you decorated the angel with fluorescent yellow highlighter, then the highlighter will really glow a bright yellow.
Paper Plate Angel Craft
Adapted from: "Paper Plate Angel," Big Book of Bible Crafts, Gospel Light, © 2000
Supplies: a paper plate, scissors, stapler or clear tape and things to decorate with such as glitter, yarn, stickers, pipe cleaners (for halo) and markers.
Optional Supplies: a hole punch and 6”-8” yarn strips (to make angel a hanging ornament) and yellow fluorescent Highlighter (really glows bright yellow when put under a black light)
Instructions:
- Cut out angel – Fold paper in half. Draw a line straight across. At the center of the line draw a circle to be the head. Cut along the straight line to about ¼” from the head on both sides. Cut out the head. (DO NOT CUT paper plate in half by cutting all the way to the head.)
- Fold arms and wings – on the bottom half (the part without the circle for the head). Fold the outer tips forward until they touch together and staple or tape together. Fold the top half down behind the angel to become the wings and secure with tape or a staple.
- Decorate – decorate as desired.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Christmas Traditions Today and Yesterday
Christmas is coming! As we wear ourselves out getting ready, we may wonder why we bother. Why? Why because, it is the biggest birthday party of the year. It is one of the biggest celebrations to give thanks for the greatest gift ever given, God's only Son, the Savior of the World.
When you feel yourself ready to throw in the towel and give up, take a deep breath and remember the Christmas story, the true meaning of Christmas. All of this started with the birth of a baby in a manger in Bethlehem some 2000 years ago.
When you wonder why? Consider the presentation below. I did this for my Sunday School class of 4-5 year olds. They loved it.
Supplies: poster sizes paper (either cut out or draw on it the outline of a Christmas tree), coffee filters, scissors, yellow fluorescent highlighter, black light.
Prep: cut coffee filters into the shape of ornaments, draw on them with the highlighter things that represent Christmas: 1) candy cane/shepherd’s staff, 2) manger, 3) star, 4) camel, 5) sheep, 6) angel, 7) cross)
Presentation:
(tape Christmas tree up where everybody can see it) About now everybody is getting ready for Christmas.
1. We are decorating the tree (tape a coffee filter to the tree)
2. We may be decorating the house with lights and wreaths. (tape another ornament),
3. We may be baking cookies (tape another ornament)
4. We may be shopping for gifts (tape another ornament)
5. We may be going to parties (tape another ornament)
6. We may be going to see Christmas movies or Christmas plays (Tape another ornament)
7. We may even go caroling and sing Christmas songs (tape another ornament)
But is that what Christmas is all about? Is that why we celebrate Christmas? No (get black light ready)
1. We celebrate Christmas to honor the Son of God (turn black light on and point to the cross. The yellow will shine bright.)
2. We celebrate Christmas to remember the story of the King of Kings as just a babe born in a manger (point to manger)
3. We go to watch Christmas movies like the shepherds had to go watch their flocks at night (point to sheep)
4. We sing Christmas songs like the angels did when they told the shepherds the good news (point to angel)
5. We go to parties like the shepherds did when they went to the manger and then told everybody they could find to come and see and celebrate the new born king (point to candy cane/shepherds staff)
6. We buy gifts like the wise men did (point to camel)
7. We decorate our homes like the star above Bethlehem did so many years ago. (point to star)
Christmas is not about toys and food and decorations. It is about God’s love for you and for me. It is the about the greatest gift ever given, God’s only son. It is about Jesus Christ’s birthday. Jesus Christ, the savior of all the world, has given us a gift, a chance for everlasting life.
Enjoy your Christmas and all it’s traditions, but don’t forget where it all started in a manger in Bethlehem. Don’t forget why it started, to celebrate the birth of God’s only Son, Jesus Christ.
When you feel yourself ready to throw in the towel and give up, take a deep breath and remember the Christmas story, the true meaning of Christmas. All of this started with the birth of a baby in a manger in Bethlehem some 2000 years ago.
When you wonder why? Consider the presentation below. I did this for my Sunday School class of 4-5 year olds. They loved it.
Supplies: poster sizes paper (either cut out or draw on it the outline of a Christmas tree), coffee filters, scissors, yellow fluorescent highlighter, black light.
Prep: cut coffee filters into the shape of ornaments, draw on them with the highlighter things that represent Christmas: 1) candy cane/shepherd’s staff, 2) manger, 3) star, 4) camel, 5) sheep, 6) angel, 7) cross)
Presentation:
(tape Christmas tree up where everybody can see it) About now everybody is getting ready for Christmas.
1. We are decorating the tree (tape a coffee filter to the tree)
2. We may be decorating the house with lights and wreaths. (tape another ornament),
3. We may be baking cookies (tape another ornament)
4. We may be shopping for gifts (tape another ornament)
5. We may be going to parties (tape another ornament)
6. We may be going to see Christmas movies or Christmas plays (Tape another ornament)
7. We may even go caroling and sing Christmas songs (tape another ornament)
But is that what Christmas is all about? Is that why we celebrate Christmas? No (get black light ready)
1. We celebrate Christmas to honor the Son of God (turn black light on and point to the cross. The yellow will shine bright.)
2. We celebrate Christmas to remember the story of the King of Kings as just a babe born in a manger (point to manger)
3. We go to watch Christmas movies like the shepherds had to go watch their flocks at night (point to sheep)
4. We sing Christmas songs like the angels did when they told the shepherds the good news (point to angel)
5. We go to parties like the shepherds did when they went to the manger and then told everybody they could find to come and see and celebrate the new born king (point to candy cane/shepherds staff)
6. We buy gifts like the wise men did (point to camel)
7. We decorate our homes like the star above Bethlehem did so many years ago. (point to star)
Christmas is not about toys and food and decorations. It is about God’s love for you and for me. It is the about the greatest gift ever given, God’s only son. It is about Jesus Christ’s birthday. Jesus Christ, the savior of all the world, has given us a gift, a chance for everlasting life.
Enjoy your Christmas and all it’s traditions, but don’t forget where it all started in a manger in Bethlehem. Don’t forget why it started, to celebrate the birth of God’s only Son, Jesus Christ.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Friends Help Us Reach High Heights (Ball Bounce)
Source: unknown, I have seen several variations of this demonstration on-line including one on “Mad About Jesus Laboratories” using a toy called “astroblasters” which is the same concept as the demonstration below.
Bible Story: Jonathan and David, 1 Samuel 18: 1-4
Supplies: one basketball and one tennis ball
Discussion:
Friends, who needs them? We all need them. Friends are fun to play with and fun to talk to. Friends are fun to sing with. Friends share stories and toys. Friends make us feel better when we are sad and make us laugh when we want to be mad. Friends help us to do better and be better.
Here I have a basketball and a tennis ball. Do you think they could be friends? Of course, they can. We do not have to look alike to be friends.
- (bounce the basketball) This is a nice basketball. It can do all sorts of neat tricks bouncing up and down and between my legs and more.
- (bounce the tennis ball) This is a nice tennis ball. It too can do all sorts of things including bouncing up and down.
- (demonstration) Both of these balls are pretty good, but can either of these balls bounce as high as where they started from? Let’s try the basketball first (place on hand on top of the ball and one hand on the bottom. Hold the ball out at arms length. DO not move the hand on top. Remove the bottom hand and let the ball drop. It will not make it back to your hand.) Let’s try the tennis ball (repeat using the tennis ball. It will not be able to reach your hand either).
- (Reach High Heights) The basketball is a good ball but it cannot bounce as high as my hand by itself. The tennis ball is a good ball but it cannot bounce as high as my hand by itself. What if the basketball and tennis ball were friends and worked together? (place the tennis ball on top of the basketball. Place one hand on top of the tennis ball and one hand under the basketball and press the balls together like a sandwich. Stretch your arms out and keep the top hand at shoulder level. Remove your lower hand. The basketball will not bounce at all but the energy will shoot the tennis ball really high. Make sure you have some room since the tennis ball may shoot in any direction depending on how center or not center it is on top of the basketball.)
Wow! Together these balls can accomplish some great things. By themselves they are pretty good, but together they are better. Friends can make a big difference.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
God Changes Pumpkins, Part 3 (Salvation, Carved Pumpkin)
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Halloween is coming with all it's creepy crawlies. What's a loving Christian to do? Carve a special jack-o-lantern to express how God changes you.
This is a great object lesson for children. There are four parts to this 1) the Poem, 2) Action: Carve part of the pumpkin, 3) the Bible verses that inspired the poem and 4) Talking points to fill the time while you do the actual carving. You will probably want to carve and clean the pumpkin prior to the presentation, but leave some of the ooey guts inside and the pieces still in the pumpkin to create the illusion of carving.
This is a great object lesson for children. There are four parts to this 1) the Poem, 2) Action: Carve part of the pumpkin, 3) the Bible verses that inspired the poem and 4) Talking points to fill the time while you do the actual carving. You will probably want to carve and clean the pumpkin prior to the presentation, but leave some of the ooey guts inside and the pieces still in the pumpkin to create the illusion of carving.
Fun Tip: "Jesus" is just long enough to carve in the shape of a face. "J" and last "S" carve large like ears. "E" and "U" carve small like eyes. Middle "s" long like a nose.
Poem: God Changes Pumpkins by Danika LaBrant, copyright 2009
Bible Verses: "Life Application Bible, New International Version." Tyndayl House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois and Group Publishing, Inc., Loveland, Colorado. Copyright 2004
My big round pumpkin shows me
Where I want to be
From faceless, full of mess-ups
God changes me
- Action: Present Pumpkin
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
- Talking Points: This pumpkin is a lot like me. On the outside it looks nice, a good shape, just like a pumpkin should. It has a few bumps and imperfections, just like me, but on the outside it looks pretty good. On the inside, however ooey's and gooey's and all sorts of yucky stuff. I need God to change me.
The first thing I must do
Ask God to make me new
Please God open my mind
Your truth I want to find
- Action: Cut top of pumpkin
- Ephesians 1:17 "I keep asking God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better."
The first thing I must do
Ask God to make me new
Please God open my mind
Your truth I want to find
- Action: Cut top of pumpkin
- Ephesians 1:17 "I keep asking God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better."
- Talking Point: Nothing can happen until I ASK God. I must pray. I need to "A" accept I am a sinner, "B" Believe in Jesus Christ and "C" Confess my sins. And then God can start his work in me.
The gooey slime inside
Confess my sins and do not hide
God forgives my ooey heart
He offers me a brand new start
- Action: Clean out pumpkin
- Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
- Romans 6:18 "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves of righteousness."
The gooey slime inside
Confess my sins and do not hide
God forgives my ooey heart
He offers me a brand new start
- Action: Clean out pumpkin
- Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
- Romans 6:18 "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves of righteousness."
- Talking Points: Everybody is a sinner, me, you, your Mom and Dad, your best friend, everybody. But we don't have to suffer for all eternity for the wrongs we do. We can ask forgiveness and start new. God will forgive, but FIRST you must pray and ask, then God can work in you.
My clouded eyes I pray
The Lord will wipe away
So I may see the sight
What Jesus has made right
- Action: Cut eyes
- Ephesians 1: 18 "I pray also that eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."
My clouded eyes I pray
The Lord will wipe away
So I may see the sight
What Jesus has made right
- Action: Cut eyes
- Ephesians 1: 18 "I pray also that eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."
- Talking Point: No matter how dark and creepy or lonely things get there is a light in your heart. You have to ask the light to come in. You have to pray to God, and then the Holy Spirit will live in you. You will always have someone you can turn to, someone you can talk to. When you ask Jesus into your heart, God will start to open your eyes to see hope and to see the many blessings that surround you.
Open my ears to Your word
I want to be altered
The lessons Jesus taught
In practice, I want to rock
- Action: Cut ears
- Matthew 7:24 (Jesus said) "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."
Open my ears to Your word
I want to be altered
The lessons Jesus taught
In practice, I want to rock
- Action: Cut ears
- Matthew 7:24 (Jesus said) "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."
- Talking Points: So it is not enough to hear God's word, you need to live God's word. You need to do God's word. It is important to memorize the 10 Commandments, but you need to actually do them too. Don't lie, don't steal and KEEP GOD FIRST.
To breath is to live
A life that God gives
To choose to believe
A greater gift I receive
- Action: cut nose
- Genesis 2:7 "The Lord formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."
- John 20:22 "And with that (Jesus) breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."
To breath is to live
A life that God gives
To choose to believe
A greater gift I receive
- Action: cut nose
- Genesis 2:7 "The Lord formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."
- John 20:22 "And with that (Jesus) breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."
- Talking Points: No one asked you if you wanted to be born. Your life is a free gift, no strings attached. The gift of Jesus is a choice. God asks you if you want Jesus in your life. If you say yes, then the light of Jesus enters your heart and lives in you for the rest of your life.
Praise and Thanksgiving
From my mouth are coming
To others I will share
For them Jesus cares
- Action: Cut mouth
- Romans 10:9-10 "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
Praise and Thanksgiving
From my mouth are coming
To others I will share
For them Jesus cares
- Action: Cut mouth
- Romans 10:9-10 "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
- Talking Points - With your heart you believe, but it is with your mouth that you are saved. You need to "A" accept you are a sinner, "B" believe in Jesus Christ and "C" confess with your mouth. With our mouth's we can also Praise, give Thanks and share the Bible with others.
My big round pumpkin shows me
Where I want to be
In me, through me, for all to see
God's love for all eternity
- Action: add candle
- Ephesians 5:8-9 "For you were once darkness, but now you are light of in the Lord. Live as children of light. (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth.)"
My big round pumpkin shows me
Where I want to be
In me, through me, for all to see
God's love for all eternity
- Action: add candle
- Ephesians 5:8-9 "For you were once darkness, but now you are light of in the Lord. Live as children of light. (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth.)"
- Talking Points: When God enters your heart, the light of Jesus will change you little by little, but the light within you will shine. The more you change to be more like Jesus the brighter your light will be. (turn pumpkin so kids can see the carving) Whose light do I want to shine through me? JESUS!
And that's it. A fun poem, inspiring Bible verses and a cool pumkin that shines the light of Jesus. Have a Happy DAY!
Friday, October 30, 2009
God Changes Pumpkins, Part 2 (Salvation, Carved Pumpkin)
Halloween is coming with all it's creepy crawlies. What's a loving Christian to do? Carve a special jack-o-lantern to express how God changes us.
NOTE: Yesterday, Part 1: The Poem; Today, Part 2: the Bible verses that inspired the poem; and Tomorrow, Part 3: Talking Points and tips on presenting this object lesson.
Poem: God Changes Pumpkins by Danika LaBrant, copyright 2009
Bible Verses: "Life Application Bible, New International Version." Tyndayl House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois and Group Publishing, Inc., Loveland, Colorado. Copyright 2004
My big round pumpkin shows me
Where I want to be
From faceless, full of mess-ups
God changes me
- Action: Present Pumpkin
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
The first thing I must do
Ask God to make me new
Please God open my mind
Your truth I want to find
- Action: Cut top of pumpkin
- Ephesians 1:17 "I keep asking God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better."
The gooey slime inside
Confess my sins and do not hide
God forgives my ooey heart
He offers me a brand new start
- Action: Clean out pumpkin
- Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
- Romans 6:18 "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves of righteousness."
My clouded eyes I pray
The Lord will wipe away
So I may see the sight
What Jesus has made right
- Action: Cut eyes
- Ephesians 1: 18 "I pray also that eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."
Open my ears to Your word
I want to be altered
The lessons Jesus taught
In practice, I want to rock
- Action: Cut ears
- Matthew 7:24 (Jesus said) "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."
To breath is to live
A life that God gives
To choose to believe
A greater gift I receive
- Action: cut nose
- Genesis 2:7 "The Lord formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."
- John 20:22 "And with that (Jesus) breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."
Praise and Thanksgiving
From my mouth are coming
To others I will share
For them Jesus cares
- Action: Cut mouth
- Romans 10:9-10 "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
My big round pumpkin shows me
Where I want to be
In me, through me, for all to see
God's love for all eternity
- Action: add candle
- Ephesians 5:8-9 "For you were once darkness, but now you are light of in the Lord. Live as children of light. (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth.)"
NOTE: Yesterday, Part 1: The Poem; Today, Part 2: the Bible verses that inspired the poem; and Tomorrow, Part 3: Talking Points and tips on presenting this object lesson.
Poem: God Changes Pumpkins by Danika LaBrant, copyright 2009
Bible Verses: "Life Application Bible, New International Version." Tyndayl House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois and Group Publishing, Inc., Loveland, Colorado. Copyright 2004
My big round pumpkin shows me
Where I want to be
From faceless, full of mess-ups
God changes me
- Action: Present Pumpkin
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
The first thing I must do
Ask God to make me new
Please God open my mind
Your truth I want to find
- Action: Cut top of pumpkin
- Ephesians 1:17 "I keep asking God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better."
The gooey slime inside
Confess my sins and do not hide
God forgives my ooey heart
He offers me a brand new start
- Action: Clean out pumpkin
- Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
- Romans 6:18 "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves of righteousness."
My clouded eyes I pray
The Lord will wipe away
So I may see the sight
What Jesus has made right
- Action: Cut eyes
- Ephesians 1: 18 "I pray also that eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."
Open my ears to Your word
I want to be altered
The lessons Jesus taught
In practice, I want to rock
- Action: Cut ears
- Matthew 7:24 (Jesus said) "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."
To breath is to live
A life that God gives
To choose to believe
A greater gift I receive
- Action: cut nose
- Genesis 2:7 "The Lord formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."
- John 20:22 "And with that (Jesus) breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."
Praise and Thanksgiving
From my mouth are coming
To others I will share
For them Jesus cares
- Action: Cut mouth
- Romans 10:9-10 "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
My big round pumpkin shows me
Where I want to be
In me, through me, for all to see
God's love for all eternity
- Action: add candle
- Ephesians 5:8-9 "For you were once darkness, but now you are light of in the Lord. Live as children of light. (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth.)"
Thursday, October 29, 2009
God Changes Pumpkins, Part 1 (Salvation, Carved Pumpkin)
Halloween is coming with all it's creepy crawlies. What's a loving Christian to do? Bring a little light into the darkness, carve a Jack-o-Lantern, but not just an ordinary jack-o-lantern. I very special pumpkin that expresses God's love for us.
NOTE: This is Part 1, the poem. Tomorrow, the Bible verses that inspired the poem.
Poem: God Changes Pumpkins by Danika LaBrant, copyright 2009
My big round pumpkin shows me
Where I want to be
From faceless, full of mess-ups
God changes me
(Action: Present Pumpkin)
The first thing I must do
Ask God to make me new
Please God open my mind
Your truth I want to find
(Action: Carve off top lid)
The gooey slime inside
Confess my sins and do not hide
God forgives my ooey heart
He offers me a brand new start
(Action: Clean out pumpkin)
My clouded eyes I pray
The Lord will wipe away
So I may see the sight
What Jesus has made right
(Action: Carve eyes)
Open my ears to Your word
I want to be altered
The lessons Jesus taught
In practice, I want to rock
(Action: Carve ears)
To breath is to live
A life that God gives
To choose to believe
A greater gift I receive
(Action: Carve Nose)
Praise and Thanksgiving
From my mouth are coming
To others I will share
For them Jesus cares
(Action: Carve mouth)
My big round pumpkin shows me
Where Iwant to be
In me, through me, for all to see
God's love for all eternity
(Action: Add candle and present pumpkin)
NOTE: This is Part 1, the poem. Tomorrow, the Bible verses that inspired the poem.
Poem: God Changes Pumpkins by Danika LaBrant, copyright 2009
My big round pumpkin shows me
Where I want to be
From faceless, full of mess-ups
God changes me
(Action: Present Pumpkin)
The first thing I must do
Ask God to make me new
Please God open my mind
Your truth I want to find
(Action: Carve off top lid)
The gooey slime inside
Confess my sins and do not hide
God forgives my ooey heart
He offers me a brand new start
(Action: Clean out pumpkin)
My clouded eyes I pray
The Lord will wipe away
So I may see the sight
What Jesus has made right
(Action: Carve eyes)
Open my ears to Your word
I want to be altered
The lessons Jesus taught
In practice, I want to rock
(Action: Carve ears)
To breath is to live
A life that God gives
To choose to believe
A greater gift I receive
(Action: Carve Nose)
Praise and Thanksgiving
From my mouth are coming
To others I will share
For them Jesus cares
(Action: Carve mouth)
My big round pumpkin shows me
Where Iwant to be
In me, through me, for all to see
God's love for all eternity
(Action: Add candle and present pumpkin)
Friday, September 25, 2009
Why Bad Things Happen to Good People? (Pudding Parfait/Sunday)
Why do bad things happen to good people? In the story of Joseph in Genesis 37, 39-50, 50:19-20, Joseph may have been a little proud, but he certainly didn't do anything to deserve to be thrown in a well, sold into slavery or put in jail. BUT in the end, thanks to all those unfortunate events, Joseph was in the right place at the right time to help save the people from a famine and to help his family. How does this relate to us today? Here is a little experiment to demonstrate.
Supplies: instant chocolate pudding mix, cold milk, mixing bowl, spoon, tall glass vase or dessert glass, whipped cream, sprinkles, cherries and other things to make a fun dessert
Presentation
Supplies: instant chocolate pudding mix, cold milk, mixing bowl, spoon, tall glass vase or dessert glass, whipped cream, sprinkles, cherries and other things to make a fun dessert
Presentation
- Each and every one of us is like Joseph. Every one of us is like this chocolate pudding powder. By ourselves, we are good people (taste pudding powder). Not bad but God has a greater plan for you, a greater plan for this pudding.
- To make you better and ready to fulfill God’s plan, the Bible says in John 16:33 “We will have troubles.” There will be times when you feel like you are drowning (pour the milk). Sometimes you may feel like you are drowning in homework and chores.
- To make you better, you may not understand why you are getting beaten up (start whipping the milk and pudding). Why are your friends not your friends anymore? Why is the school bully picking on you? Once you have survived school, you look pretty good and you think, “o.k., now I can fulfill God’s plan for me. I have persevered.”
- But wait, your parents tell you are moving. Moving away from your friends, your school and everything you love (use spoon to slap some pudding into the tall clear glass).
- You survived the move and start making new friends (add some whipped cream) but then your parents tell you have to join a sports team that has games on Saturdays and you are no longer going to be able to watch Saturday morning cartoons (slap some more chocolate on top of the whipped cream)
- You survived sports and decided you liked it (add some whipped cream) but then the season is over (if you have more chocolate, add it. Continue to alternate pudding and whipped cream until done.) Life goes on pretty good and you get accustomed to times with sports and no cartoons and times with cartoons and no sports.
- You think things are pretty good but then your parents tell you that times are tough and they can no longer afford to pay for sports and worse yet, they are turning off the cable so no more Cartoon Network, no more Disney Channel. You feel like you are being crushed (smash some graham crackers and pour on top)
- Well, time goes by and you think you are doing pretty good. You have friends, you are doing well in school. You have collected quarters representing every State and are expanding your coin collection (add whipped cream)
- Then a hurricane comes. (start pelting with sprinkles) It rains. The wind is fierce.
Things get worse. (starting adding cherries) You feel like someone punched you in the stomach when you realized the water from the hurricane ruined your clothes, ruined your toys, ruined your video games and then the worst of all, in all the confusion of trying to clean up, you lost your coin collection. - You survive. Your parents rebuild. You rebuild and once again you have a nice home and new toys and your friends are so nice that they all collect some coins and give them to you to replace your lost coins. (finish decorating the dessert)
- You are a better person for all your trouble. Now you are ready to be a light for God. When a new kid starts in school, you know just how they feel and are a friend to them. One of your friends no longer gets Cartoon Network and you know just what to do to have fun without watching t.v. The next hurricane you know just what to do to help others rebuild and feel better. You are an example of God’s love.
- John 16:33 says you will have troubles but these troubles only make you stronger, make you smarter, makes you better. Just like this dessert. The powder was good but it sure is better with milk. Pudding was good but it sure is better with whipped cream. The pudding and whipped cream are good but they sure are better with toppings. Trouble will come your way but you will survive and you will be a better person for it.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Mismanage a Meanie (Fizzing Liquid)
Everybody has been challenged by a "Meanie" at some time in their life. How should we respond to a Meanie? Should we be mean right back at them or should we turn the other cheek and be nice to that Meanie? Here is a little experiment to demonstrate what happens when you throw mean words or when you throw nice words.
Supplies: 1 tablespoon of citric acid, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, a small/snack size baggie, granulated white sugar, 1 packet of kool-aide, a mixing spoon, ¼ cup measuring cup, a bottle with 1 quart of water, 2 large clear pitchers/jar/vases, two jars with lids (lids good for transport), one sticker with a smiley face, one sticker with a mean face, one 1 inch deep pie pan (disposable is fine), Towels (back-up for clean-up)
Adapted Experiment by Danika LaBrant. Original experiment called “Foaming Sugar” from the “Make Your Own Disgusting Gags and Pranks” kit from the Scientific Explorer Line, Educational Make-It-Yourself Kit by Elmer’s Products, Inc. Company ©2007 Seattle, WA (Item No. A220)
NOTE Regarding Citrict Acid
Citric Acid came in a kit from the toy store called “Make Your Own Disgusting Gags and Pranks”, to buy Citric Acid by itself is much harder. Citric Acid is said to be a natural food preservative and is used in making soda drinks, cheese and candy. A search on the web found a couple of spots; suggestions included a wholesale foods supply, wholesale candy supply, the local grocery co-op, a restaurant or caterer, a health/natural foods store, or ask for a “reagent citric acid” from a science supply store. Another use is in making bath fizzies and bath bombs. Online, I found it at the San Francisco Bath Salt Company website: http://www.sfbsc.com/ and at Soap Suppliers: http://www.soapsuppliers.com/. Their description of citric acid is, “Citric Acid is a white, odorless, fine granular crystalline powder. Aside from using it in many foods, soft drinks, and seltzers it is commonly used in making bath fizzies and bath bombs.”
Supplies: 1 tablespoon of citric acid, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, a small/snack size baggie, granulated white sugar, 1 packet of kool-aide, a mixing spoon, ¼ cup measuring cup, a bottle with 1 quart of water, 2 large clear pitchers/jar/vases, two jars with lids (lids good for transport), one sticker with a smiley face, one sticker with a mean face, one 1 inch deep pie pan (disposable is fine), Towels (back-up for clean-up)
BEFORE CLASS:
- In both jars put in an equal amount of sugar. On one jar place the sticker of a happy face. On the other jar place the sticker of the mean face.
- In a small/snack baggie put 1 tablespoon of citric acid and 1 tablespoon baking soda. Seal and shake well until thoroughly mixed.
- Pour at least half, if not all, the citric acid mixture on top of the sugar with the meanie face. Do not mix. Amount depends on how much water you are using and how big your containers are.
Presentation:
- (Pull out pan and place two clear Vases in it) So today you are having a good day. (pour half the water in one vase and half in the other vase). The sun is shining and you think you can do just about anything. You are super.
- But then comes along a Meanie. (open the kool-aid mix. Pour half in one vase and half in the other while talking.) A meanie cuts in front of you in line, a meanie pushes you off the swings at recess, a meanie keeps kicking your seat on the bus….
- What are you going to do? You have two choices. (Pick up jar with smiley face) You can be kind to the Meanie and forgive them, try to be their friend or just walk away. (Pick up the jar with the meanie face) You could be mean back and push them, call them names, etc. But what happens when you are nice? What happens when you are mean?
- (Open the jar with the smiley face and pour into the ¼ measuring cup. Pour into one vase and stir.) If you try to be nice to the meanie, if you try to be their friend, find a game you can play together, ask them to sit with you at lunch, give them a special pencil, you might just create a new friend. (take a sip of the kool-aid) Good stuff.
- (Open the jar with the meanie face and pour into the ¼ measuring cup. Be sure to get the citric acid mixture (maybe use a spoon). Pour into the other vase and stir. The mixture should start to fizz and fizz over the top of the vase, spilling into the pan.) BUT if you are mean back, if you push them, call them names, tell others how mean he/she is, someone who could have become your friend is going to grow more angry and more mean and you may never be friends. (DO NOT DRINK!)
- There is a saying, “You catch more bees with honey than with vinegar.” Honey is sweet. Vinegar is not. People/bees are attracted to sweet, not sour.
Bible Story, Genesis 26:12-22
Isaac had planted crops in Gerar where Abimelech was King of the Philistines. Isaac was very successful with many crops and many herds and this angered Abimelech. He decided to have his men fill up Isaac's water wells with dirt and Abimelech told Isaac to move. Three times Isaac dug wells and was told to move. Isaac did not react with angry or mean words. He just moved to another spot. God blessed Isaac for his good choices.
ResourcesAdapted Experiment by Danika LaBrant. Original experiment called “Foaming Sugar” from the “Make Your Own Disgusting Gags and Pranks” kit from the Scientific Explorer Line, Educational Make-It-Yourself Kit by Elmer’s Products, Inc. Company ©2007 Seattle, WA (Item No. A220)
NOTE Regarding Citrict Acid
Citric Acid came in a kit from the toy store called “Make Your Own Disgusting Gags and Pranks”, to buy Citric Acid by itself is much harder. Citric Acid is said to be a natural food preservative and is used in making soda drinks, cheese and candy. A search on the web found a couple of spots; suggestions included a wholesale foods supply, wholesale candy supply, the local grocery co-op, a restaurant or caterer, a health/natural foods store, or ask for a “reagent citric acid” from a science supply store. Another use is in making bath fizzies and bath bombs. Online, I found it at the San Francisco Bath Salt Company website: http://www.sfbsc.com/ and at Soap Suppliers: http://www.soapsuppliers.com/. Their description of citric acid is, “Citric Acid is a white, odorless, fine granular crystalline powder. Aside from using it in many foods, soft drinks, and seltzers it is commonly used in making bath fizzies and bath bombs.”
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