Celebration in Heaven

One of the things we teach our kids is when someone chooses to trust Jesus there’s a celebration in heaven.

 

So we made party hats.  It’s just a simple strip of poster board, but it was fun to decorate.

Afterwards we had a party!

David, a man after God’s own heart

After reading the story of David’s anointing, we drew a map to our own hearts.

 

Bible Craft: Jesus heals

Our church  Kids Clubs a few weeks ago.  One of the days of clubs was the story of Jesus and all of the amazing things he did.

 

With the pre-schoolers we talked about how Jesus could heal the people without using medicine or band-aids, just by talking Jesus was able to heal them.  He healed a man who couldn’t walk by saying “Get up you are healed.”  He even told a dead man to come out of his grave!

 

But, we can’t do that, we need band-aids, so we “healed” our friends, with band-aids.

There were a lot of “owies.”

 

After we played a game.  One person laid down at the end and was hurt.  The first person in line would run over, hug them and heal them, then lay down and pretend to be sick.

 

This was wildly popular, but rather crazy, so no pictures of the game.

Putting this site on hold for now

God’s been telling me not to spend my time here, and as much as I want to keep doing these, I don’t feel I should be trying to post regularly here.

 

I will probably put up stories as I get them acted out and pictures taken, but God has been quite clear that it is not supposed to be something I do on a weekly basis or feel like there is an obligation.

 

So, until further notice, I’m not gonna be putting a new post up here.  Hopefully whatever I’m supposed to be working through will get worked out, but if not, it’s all in God’s hands.

Lessons from Samson

Samson was a strong guy.  We all know that, we’ve read the stories.  We act out knocking down things, but at the same time he was incredibly weak. 

 

Samson had a weakness for women, and he didn’t run from it.

 

When you read the story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife comes at him, he runs.  As fast and as far as he can.  This doesn’t keep him from getting in trouble, but it does keep him from getting in trouble.

 

Samson didn’t run, or at least not away.

 

And ultimately that’s why he fell, because he didn’t trust God, he trusted his strength.  He thought he could fight his way out of anything.

 

But can we?  If God is on our side, we certainly can.  We see that over and over again in Judges.

 

But, Samson was the most gifted Judge, he had strength, he had the right upbringing, but ultimately God couldn’t use him as mightily as he did many of the other Judges.

 

What is the difference?

 

To me, it’s attitude and heart.  Samson only called on God when he HAD to.  “God I’m dying of thirst, give me water.”  “God, I want revenge for my eyes, help me knock this down.”  Even those prayers are about Samson.

 

Gideon, on the other hand talked to God constantly at first, and look at what he did.  He destroyed an entire kingdom.  What did Samson do?  He killed a few thousand people.  It says in Judges 16:30, “he killed more when he died, than while he lived.”  What a sad epitaph.

 

I hope to be remembered like Gideon or Deborah, or Othneil.  God used them mightily even if they had great weakness.  I want to be mightily used by God.

 

So, what’s your choice, which Judge do you want to be?

PS: I’ll get Gideon up soon, I went out of town and discovered I didn’t have the pictures I wanted for the story.  Soon to follow after is Ruth.

Samson

Once there was a couple who had been married a very long time.  They wanted kids very much, but weren’t able to have them.  One day an angel appeared to them and said they were going to have a baby who was going to someday judge Israel.

They asked the angel, “How should we raise him?”

“He will be a Narazarite from birth.  He must not cut his hair, drink wine, or touch anything dead.”  After they offered a meal to God, the angel disappeared.

 

Their baby was born, a fine baby boy, and they named him Samson.  Samson grew up to be a strong and handsome boy, but he had a weakness.  He liked to kiss Philistine girls, and God had said only to kiss and marry Israelite women.

 

One day Samson came home and told his parents he was going to marry a Philistine girl, they weren’t happy, but they arranged the marriage.

 

As Samson walked to the wedding he saw a dead lion with a beehive in it and gathered some honey.

 

He shared the honey with everyone at the wedding and said, “I have a riddle for you, if you can’t guess it you’ll give me 30 outfits.”

 

“We agree,” they said.

 

“Out of the eater came something to eat.  Out of the strong came something sweet.”  The guests looked at each other and had no idea what to say.

 

The guests came to Samson’s bride and said, “Get us the answer or we’ll kill your family.”

 

So she went to Samson and cried and cried and said, “You don’t love me, you won’t tell me the answer.”

 

Finally he did, and she told them the answer.

 

They told him the answer and Samson got so mad.  “Very well, I’ll get your clothes.”  So he went out and killed 30 Philistines and took their clothes.

 

Some time passed and Samson wanted to go with his wife, but he found out she was now married to someone else.  So he got mad and took 300 foxes and tied their tails together and set them loose with torches.  He burned up their fields and their towns.

 

Time passed and Samson thought he was in love again.  This woman was named Delilah.  The men in the city came to Delilah  and said, “Find out what his weakness is and we’ll pay you.”

 

So she started pestering Samson to tell her what was his weakness.

 

She bothered him so much and for so long that finally he said, “If you tie me up with new ropes I will be as weak as anyone else.”  So, she tied him up and said “Samson the guards are coming!”  He got up and tore the ropes out.

 

She sobbed and sobbed at Samson, “You don’t really love me or you’d tell me the truth.”

 

Finally he couldn’t take it anymore, “The secret of my strength is my hair.”  So, she lulled him to sleep and shaved his head.  This time when the soldiers came they poked his eyes out.

 

They set Samson to grinding grain and making him work like he was a donkey.

 

One day they were throwing a big party and they wanted Samson to amuse them.  They brought him over, and he danced for them.  Finally he told a young boy he was tired and went over to the pillars.  He said one last prayer to God, “Please let me get revenge for my eyes.”  He pushed as hard as he could.

 

When the dust cleared, the temple had fallen and Samson with his last act had killed more Philistines than he had in his whole life.

Resurrection Eggs printable

I know everyone has a Resurrection Eggs printable or their own version, but last year we printed this off onto Shrinky Dink paper and made our own that we then shrunk down and wore as a necklace or a bracelet.  It was a lot of fun.

 

Donkey- Triumphal Entry

Bread- last supper (also looks like rock, so it could be rock rolled in front of tomb)

Praying Hands- Garden of Gethsemane

Coins- for the 30 coins Judas received

whip-for the whipping Jesus received

soap/washing hands- Pilate washed his hands of the matter

thorns- for the crown of thorns

feather-for the rooster that crowed when Peter said he betrayed him

dice- the soldiers cast lots for Jesus clothes

nails- for the nails used to nail Jesus to the cross

spear-that was put in Jesus side to verify He was dead.

empty egg-for the empty tomb

 

I took some of the ideas from Smithsroom Resurrection Eggs, and some from other versions.  I wanted to make it slightly different than what my kids had come to expect.  I’m actually think of making a new version with more of the symbols incorporated.

 

I have a large collection of Easter Activities on my Easter pinterest board.

Holy Week devotionals

As we were preparing for Sunday school for Palm Sunday, my husband and I decided we wanted something for the kids to take home and teach to their families for the whole week.  We also wanted to make sure there was a gospel component to what they took home, so here’s our best shot at it.

The days are vaguely split according to the Wordless book colors.  I first learned how to share the gospel in high school using the Wordless book, so I always default to that as my explanation.

Palm Sunday


Jesus taught by telling stories.  Stories are powerful.  This week we are going to be teaching a bigger lesson using stories of Jesus’ life, but first let’s take some time to read a story Jesus taught about a boy who ran away.


Monday

Jesus calms the storm.  Jesus is powerful.  He created the world, and when He was on earth He had power over storms (instructions on making it can be found at Raising Little Disciples).  He can keep you safe in the scariest times.  (Gold)

Tuesday

Jesus feeds the 5000.  Jesus is personal, He cares about our needs and wants.  He took care of the people who were hungry because He loved them. (Gold)

Wednesday

Jesus and the Woman at the Well.  Everyone sins, and we think we can hide that sin from Jesus, but Jesus knows that we have sinned.  (Black)

Thursday

Jesus meets Zacchaeus.  Zacchaeus stole money from people, one day he met Jesus and learned what he was doing was wrong.  He changed and followed Jesus. (Black, transition to Red)

Friday

Good Samaritan.  The Good Samaritan paid the price of other people’s sins.  He helped the man to the inn, and he paid for the injuries caused by someone else.  (Red and White)

Saturday


Crucifixion and Resurrection.  Jesus came and paid the price of our sins.  We can now all go to Heaven because of what God has done, but we must choose do we want that new life, or do we want to stay in this old life? (Thanks to Marci over at Overcoming Busy for giving me the suggestion)  (White)

Easter

Pentecost and the Coming of the Holy Spirit.  After the disciples believed Jesus had risen they waited just like they were told.  Then the Holy Spirit came and they went and did just like Jesus had told them.  They taught others about Jesus and grew in Him (Flames popsicle stick vaguely inspired by All Play on Sunday). (Green)

The few printables used along with a quick recap of all of this along with what hands on ideas were used can be found here.

linked up to: ABC&123, Explore and Express/Wonderful in an Easter Kind of Way.

Deborah

Ehud died and the people forgot the GREAT GOD who had saved them.  They worshipped other gods and to discipline them God let them be conquered.  Eventually they remembered the God who Saves.

 

So God called Deborah to lead the people.  She sat at the palm tree and told them what God had said.  One day she called and told him God wanted him to conquer General Sisera.

 

“I will only do this if you come with me.”  he replied

 

“Very well,” she answered, “But because you did this God will give Sisera over to a woman.”

 

Barak gathered his army and they waited up on top of the mountain ready to fight the Canaanites.

 

The Canaanites had chariots made of iron.  They were strong and no one had been able to defeat them.

 

Barak was in a good position to fight them up on the hill. The chariots couldn’t drive up there.  God had different plans.  He told Barak to go down the mountain to the Canaanites.

 

As the Israelites came down the mountain, God sent a rain.  The rain caused the chariots to get stuck and the men panicked and ran.

 

The Israelites came down and defeated the Canaanites, but General Sisera had disappeared.

 

General Sisera ran to the tent of Jael and demanded she hide him.  She let him lay down and gave him some warm milk to drink.

 

While he was asleep she went in and killed him.

 

Barak came and wanted to know where General Sisera was.  Jael told him he was in her tent dead.

 

Deborah and Barak sang a song of praise to God for his goodness in defeating the Canaanites.

Cycle of Apostasy printable

After talking about the cycle of Apostasy for a while and letting the kids put the steps in order.  The kids made their own version to be able to keep.


It was a simple color, cut, and glue activity, but they enjoyed it, click on the picture to go the link.

Finally we followed it up with a lesson on the dangers of sin.


Look at this marble as it goes down the cone.  At first it is going slow (this works even better with the coin slides at grocery stores), but as it goes down it starts to circle faster and faster.  Eventually it will fall down into that hole and nothing can get it out.

That is the danger of sin.  At first it doesn’t seem so bad.  But, the more more you are exposed to it the more quickly you fall into the trap.


That is unless someone interferes.  In this case it’s our dog, but a friend can, or God, and that can stop the cycle.