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.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
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.
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