Christ is Risen - Easter Devotions

There isn't a better time to teach your children about God's love for them than Easter season.

God loved you so  much that He sent His own Son to pay the price for your sin. When we recognize our own sin, ask God to forgive us, and trust Jesus to lead us all the days of our life we will be saved and able to enter into Heaven when we die. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life! If you haven't asked Him to be your own personal Savior, I encourage you to spend time in prayer this Easter season about what it means to follow God and earnestly ask God to reveal Himself to you. You will find no great love than the love Jesus has for you!

Enjoy doing these devotions as you celebrate the Easter season.

Easter 1Easter 2

I have included a brief outline so you will know what Jesus' final days looked like.

Sunday - Jesus enteres Jerusalem riding on a donkey.
Monday - Jesus cleans the temple.
Tuesday - Jesus teaches about God and His ways in the temple.
Wednesday - Jesus is anointed in Bethany.
Thursday - Jesus celebrates His final Passover Meal with Disciples. He is arrested while He prays in the Garden of Gethsemane when Judas Iscariot betrays Him.
Friday - Jesus suffers and dies on the cross.
Saturday - Jesus' friends mourn Jesus' death.
Sunday - Jesus' friends find that Jesus' tomb is empty. Jesus is resurrected; He has conquered death!

The next 40 days, Jesus visits with His friends, explaining to Him that He is the Messiah they had been waiting for and showing how He had fulfilled many prophesies about Himself.  Many people saw Jesus during this time and believed in Him.  On the 4oth day, Jesus ascended into Heaven and is now seated at the right hand of His Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. We wait anxiously for His return.

Teaching Truth

I started this blog in the hopes that it would motivate me to share the truth about God and Jesus to my children. Although I never really thought many people would read it, I found that it motivated me to complete a devotion each day thinking that "someone, somewhere" might be reading it.  And a little over a year later, I had written 365 posts.

Although I don't have a huge following, I have noticed that the hits on blog from Pinterest have really increased--which is awesome!  I want all children to hear and learn about God's Word and His saving love for us.

That being said I pray all my readers, young and old, experience God's Truth.  First,  there is only one book, the Bible, that is the true Word of God.  There is no other book written by anyone else that contains God's truths.

Rev 22:18-19 says "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."  (KJV)

Proverbs 30:6 says "Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar."

The Bible is the final, authoritative Word from God.

Second, God created us and God has always existed. Time is a physical property, just like gravity, and our sovereign God is in control of both.  I am looking forward to being in God's glory for eternity because I believe that Jesus was the Son of God, born of a virgin. He came to earth to die for our sins because He loved us so much that He was willing to give His life for us. He came down to Heaven to teach us about Himself and prepare us to go to Heaven. 
John 14:10
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Third, there is only one God; there are no other gods.  No where in the Bible does it teach that we will become gods.  We are perfected in Christ, but we will still be humbled to be before our Lord and Savior.  Because we are fallen human beings, we sin: we think poorly of our neighbor, we yell at our children, and we sometimes mistreat our spouse.  Only because Jesus died on the cross and paid the cost for my sins will I be able to stand in front of a perfect, holy, good God, who has no tolerance for evil or sin.
Isaiah 45:21b
...there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

Last, but not least, God's grace is a free gift that can not be earned.  Grace by definition is something that is unmerited.  When is the last time that you offered to make a meal or babysit for someone who spoke poorly of you or hurt one of your children?  That is what grace is; doing those things for the person who least deserves it.  It is only because of God's love and His grace that we can overcome our sinful nature and be resurrected with Him in Heaven.
Ephesians 2:8
⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.  

I am a Christian.  Jesus is my rock and foundation of my life.  He loves me, He came down from Heaven to save me. He loves you and came here to save you too!  

The Ten Commandments

God loves us and He wants us to live peaceful, joyful lives.  He gives us rules to live by, just like parents give rules to keep their children safe: look both ways before crossing the street, don't run with scissors, brush your teeth before bed.
God wants us to obey the 10 commandments because He knows how important these rules are to our well being.  He also knows that we will disobey because we are sinful people but when we do, He forgives us. Our God is a mighty and loving Father! He loves you and takes care of you! Our kids need to know that too!
The Ten Commandments

Christmas Devotionals

Jesus is the reason for the season!  We are sinful people and no amount of work, charitable donations, or loving kindness will get us into Heaven.  We only have a spot there because God sent His very own Son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sins.  Christmas is a great time to celebrate Jesus and teach your children the very important lessons about His birth and His special purpose on Earth. 
Christmas Devotions (Part 1)
Christmas Devotions (Part 2)

A Grateful Heart

Give thanks in all circumstances; this is what God commands us to do in the Bible.  It's important to raise your children to have grateful hearts, even when they are faced with difficult circumstances.   A praising heart is pleasing to the Lord.  (Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name. Hebrew 13:15)

 A Grateful Heart pdf 

God Made You

You are special.  God has a plan for You.  This is just as true for your child as it is for you.  We can all use a reminder sometime that we are special and made by God.   God Made You PDF

Watch Your Words

Our tongue is the most powerful muscle in the body. With it, we can praise God and we can curse God, but we shouldn't do both.  These devotionals are focused on teaching your child that their mouth should be used for praising God, uplifting others, and sharing the Gospel. Get the PDF here.

Genesis PDF

Genesis PDF

I've found it hard to get these posted. Sorry in the delay. I'm also hoping to get some more pictures added to this PDF but here it is for now. But later than never!

Creation PDF

I wrote these blogs as they came to me. Now I am organizing them so that they are more useful to you and your children.  Here is the first one full of devotionals dedicated to teaching your children about how God created the world. Download the Creation PDF here.

I did it (with God's strength!)

My girls and I have had so much fun creating these devotionals. I have learned so much along the way and I pray that anyone who takes the time to do some of these devotionals with their children will be blessed in the same way.  


God instructs us to teach our children. However you do that, remember that your childrens' faith is an eternal blessing!


Psalm 8:2
Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
    to silence the foe and the avenger.

God bless you and your families!


ps--I'd love to hear how you've used these devotionals and if you've had any favorites. Send me an email or post a comment!

Elijah - Part 1

Lesson Learned:  Elijah obeyed God and God protected him during a drought.

Materials Needed: black construction paper, additional piece of paper, pencil, scissors,  glue stick

Bible Verse:
1 Kings 16:33
³³ Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.

1Kings 17:1-6

17 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”

² Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: ³ “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. ⁴ You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”
⁵ So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. ⁶ The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.

James 5:17
¹⁷ Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.  

Talking Points:  Elijah was a prophet who loved God and listened to God's commands. Elijah lived in a time when mos of the people around him were ignoring God and disobeying him.  This made God angry, and God told Elijah to pray that it would not rain for the next few years.  When it does not rain for a long time, it is called a drought.  When there is no rain, food does not grow and it can be hard find  water.  Elijah prayed that it would not rain, but he trusted God that God would protect him and still give him food and water.  And God did.  God sent some birds, called ravens, to bring food to Elijah during the drought.  It is good to trust and obey God; when you don't it can make Him angry.

Questions:  What is a drought? Why was God angry at the people and send a drought? What kind of animal brought food to Elijah?  Would you be surprised if a bird brought you your dinner tonight?

Activity:
Handprint Raven
Have the child draw an oval and let them cut it out or help them do it.  Glue the oval in the center of another piece of paper.  Next trace both of the child's hands on the black piece of paper and cut them out.  Glue the hand prints on either side of the oval circle to create the raven.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please protect us like You protected Elijah.  Help us to obey You and listen to Your commands. We do not want to anger You.  We love You. Amen!

Elijah - Part 2

Lesson Learned: Elijah was taken up to Heaven suddenly.


Materials Needed: 2 paper plates, drinking straw, tape, orange or yellow construction paper, scissors, pencil


Bible Verse:
2 Kings 2:2-11

2 When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. ² Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.”

But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.
³ The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”
“Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”
⁴ Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho. ”
And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.
⁵ The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”
“Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.”
⁶ Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.”
And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on.
⁷ Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. ⁸ Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
⁹ When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”
“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
¹⁰ “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”
¹¹ As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 



Talking Points: Elijah was a very important prophet of God.  A prophet is a person who can someone else God's plan before it happens.  Elijah performed many, many miracles and heard God's voice often.  One day, Elijah was walking with his friend, Elisha, when suddenly God took Elijah up to Heaven in a chariot of fire.  His friend, Elisha,was very surprised that Elijah had disappeared so suddenly.


Questions:  Do you know what a chariot is?  Who do you think was driving the chariot? Where do you think Elijah went?  Why do you think Elijah was taken up to Heaven this way?


Activity:
The Chariot of Fire
Step 1: Draw the outline of several flames on the yellow and orange construction paper and let the child cut them out.  

Step 2: While they cut out the flames, use the pencil to draw a circle in the middle of each of the paper plates with spokes coming out to the edge of the plate.  Then let the child trace over the pencil with a black marker to turn the paper plates into chariot wheels.

Step 3: Let the child tape the flames onto each wheel of the chariot.
Step 4: Bend about 1/4 - 1/2 inch of each end of the straw and tape each end to the inside of the paper plate (for the axle of the chariot). 
Step 5: Lift the chariot high above your head and fly it down to the child and pretend to take them on a ride.



Prayer:  Holy Father and Lord. You can do anything!  Open our hearts and minds to always remember that. Amen!

Paul

Lesson Learned:  God had a plan for Paul to share the gospel message.

Materials Needed: large box, small broom or similar object

Bible Verse:

Acts 26:4-23

⁴ “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. ⁵ They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. ⁶ And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. ⁷ This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. ⁸ Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
⁹ “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to opposethe name of Jesus of Nazareth. ¹⁰ And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. ¹¹ Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
¹² “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. ¹³ About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. ¹⁴ We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,^[a] ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
¹⁵ “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ¹⁶ ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. ¹⁷ I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them ¹⁸ to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
¹⁹ “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. ²⁰ First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repentand turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.²¹ That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. ²² But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen — ²³ that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”

Talking Points:  God has a plan for each and every one of His people, including you. Today we read about a very special person named, Paul.  Paul was actually called Saul before he believed in Jesus and before he believe in Jesus, Saul did not like anyone who did.  In fact, he tried to get people who believed in Jesus thrown in jail or killed.  One day, Saul was headed to a town called Damascus when a bright light appeared out of the sky and blinded Saul.  Saul could not hear anything but he heard a loud voice coming down from Heaven. The voice belonged to Jesus and Jesus told Saul, "I am real; believe in me and tell others about me!"  From that time one, Saul was called Pau.  Paul spent much of his time traveling all over the world--sometimes by boat, sometimes by walking--to tell everyone he met about the gospel message and that Jesus loved them.

Questions:  What was Paul's name before he was blinded by the light?  Who do you think was talking to Paul when he was blinded? What message did Paul receive from Jesus?

Activity:  

On a Misson

Take a large box and turn it upside down so that your child can sit in it. (You may have fun letting your child paint or color the boat before they use it). Let them "row" the boat with the small broom. When they reach their destination, sing a song or too about Jesus.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, You love us and You have a plan for each one of us. Lord, we want to share the Gospel of Your message with Your people, just like Paul did.  Lead us to share with someone today! Amen!

Solomon

Lesson Learned: Solomon asked God for wisdom and God gave it to him.

Materials Needed:  2 envelopes, chocolate chips

Bible Verse:
1 Kings 3:5-15
5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
⁶ Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
⁷ “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. ⁸ Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. ⁹ So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
¹⁰ The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. ¹¹ So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, ¹² I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. ¹³ Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor —so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. ¹⁴ And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” ¹⁵ Then Solomon awoke —and he realized it had been a dream.

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 


Talking Points:  Solomon is often considered the wisest man that ever lived.  He has written many of the Proverbs--or wise sayings--in the Bible.  When Solomon was a young man, he became king of Israel.  God visits Solomon in a dream and tells him that He will give Solomon anything he asks for.  Solomon was such a young king that he felt he didn't know how to rule the country well so he asks God to give him wisdom and the ability to make good choices.  God was glad that Solomon had not been selfish and asked for a bigger house or more money or more friends, and He gives Solomon what He asks for.  When you ask God for help with something you need, God will help you too.

Questions: What did Solomon ask God for? If you could ask God for anything, what would you ask Him for? Why?

Activity:
Place chocolate chips in both envelopes, putting more chocolate chips in one envelope than the other.  Hold up the envelopes, tell the child that there are chocolate chips in both of them but one has more than the other.  The child has to choose which envelope they want.
After they are done deciding, explain to them that sometimes it is hard to make a decision.  King Solomon had to make many difficult decisions and that is why he asked God to help him.  He knew he couldn't do it by himself.




Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You for helping us when we need it. Help me to make good choices and have wisdom like Solomon. Amen!



 

Samson

Lesson Learned:  Samson was a very strong man in the Bible.


Materials Needed:  pillow case, stool or small chair, comb


Bible Verse: 
Judges 13:1-5, 24 & 16:4-6, 15-30

Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.

² A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah,from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth.³ The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. ⁴ Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. ⁵ You will become pregnant and have a sonwhose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite,dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

Judges 13:24

²⁴ The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the Lord blessed him,


Judges 16:4-6

⁴ Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. ⁵ The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “See if you can lurehim into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels^[a] of silver.”
⁶ So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”


Judges 16:17
¹⁷ So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.”



Talking Points:  God makes each and every one of us special. In this story, we read about a special man named Samson that God made very, very strong.  Samson never, ever cut his hair because it was his hair that made him so strong.  God made you special too: maybe you are good at drawing or you are a fast runner or you are good singing. God made you special, just like He made Samson very, very strong.


Questions:  Has God given you any special gifts? What are they? What was Samson's special gift? What made him so strong?


Activity:
Playing Hair Cut
Set up a hair cutting station.  Let the child sit on the chair and wrap the pillow case around their shoulders like they are going to a salon.  Comb their hair and pretend to cut it with finger scissors. Then, switch with  the child and let them cut your hair.


Prayer:  Dear God, thank You for making each of us so special.  Thank You for giving me (insert something special about the child).  You are an amazing God. Amen!

David and Goliath

Lesson Learned:  With God's strength, David defeats the giant, Goliath.

Materials Needed: 5 small sheets of gray construction paper, grocery sack, large piece of construction paper, pencil, scissors, piece of string, tape

Bible Verse:
1 Samuel 17:2-11, 16, 40, 45-50
2 Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. 3 The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.
 4 A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; 6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him.
 8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” 11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

16 For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.

40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
 48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
 50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

Talking Points:  David was just a small boy when he went to fight a great, big giant named Goliath.  Goliath did not love God and was very mean.  Everyone else was scared to fight Goliath because he was so big and so mean, but David knew that with God's help, he could defeat Goliath.  David took 5 small stones with him and a sling and when he saw Goliath, he took one stone out of his bag, put it in his sling, and he defeated Goliath.  He only had to use one stone to defeat Goliath because David loved God and God was on his side. With God's strength, David defeated the giant, Goliath.  When we are on God's side, we will win too.

Questions:  Why were the people scared of Goliath? Was David scared? Why not? Who helped David defeat Goliath? Have you ever felt scared or uncomfortable around someone? What did you do?

Activity:
Trace the outline of a person onto the construction paper with the pencil and cut it out.  This will be Goliath. Cut a piece of string about 2-3 feet long and tape it to the back of the outline of Goliath.  Tape the other end of the string to the top of a door frame so Goliath is hanging from it.

Crumple up the 5 pieces of gray construction paper until they form small balls. Put them into the grocery sack.

Now, the child is going to try to throw the "balls" at Goliath in the doorway. 

Prayer: Holy Father, we can do anything with You!  We know we have nothing to fear when You are on our side.  We want to be with You always! Amen!

The Day the Sun Stood Still

Lesson Learned:  God stopped the sun and the moon from moving for one day.

Materials Needed:  yellow marker, paper

Bible Verse:
^{Joshua 10:12-14
12} On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:

“Sun, stand still over Gibeon,
    and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon. ”
¹³ So the sun stood still,
    and the moon stopped,
    till the nation avenged itself on its enemies,

as it is written in the Book of Jashar.

The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. ¹⁴ There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!

Talking Points:  Joshua was the leader of God's army and Joshua loved and followed God's directions in everything, including battle.  Joshua and his army were facing a very difficult battle, but God was on their side. Joshua prayed for God's help, and God made the sun and moon stand still for an entire day so that Joshua's men would not have to fight in darkness. Only God could do that!

Questions:  Who stopped the sun and moon? For how long?  What kinds of things do you do when the sun is up? What kinds of things do you do when the moon comes up?

Activity:  Have fun drawing a sun on a piece of paper. Then, have the child stand with both hands holding the sun.  Have them make a big circle with their arms, while holding the sun, and when you say stop, they have to stop moving the sun.  When you say go, they continue making the circle.  Repeat this activity a few times.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, only You could stop the sun and moon for an entire day.  We are so in awe of Your power and so thankful that You love us.  Amen!

Humbled

Lesson Learned: God calls us to be humble.

Materials Needed: newspaper, paint, paper plate, string, scissors, plastic cup, tape

Bible Verse:
James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Phillipians 2:3-5
³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. ⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 


Talking Points:
God is more important than anything else. God wants us to think about other people before we think of ourselves. We wants us to thank Him for everything we have and can do.  This is called being humble.  God calls us to be humble, and when we think of others before ourselves, God will lift us up and take care of us. 

Questions:  Are you being humble when you take other people's toys from them? Are you being humble when you talk back to your parents? Are you being humble when you share your toys or let someone go ahead of you on the slide?  Does God want you to be humble?

Activity:
Making a Hot Air Balloon
Spread out newspaper on the table to prevent any spills.  Paint the child's hands and make hand prints on the paper plate.  As the paper plate dries, cut 2 pieces of string about 6-8 inches long. Tape each piece of the string to each side of the paper plate.  Tape the other end of the string to the plastic cup.  The child will enjoy making their very own hot air balloon. Explain that a hot air balloon lifts people up off the ground just like God lifts us up when we are humble.

Prayer:  Holy Father, thank You for all Your words in the Bible. Help me to be humble and always recognize that You in all I do. Amen!

Written in the Clouds

Lesson Learned:  God knows your name.

Materials Needed: glue, cotton balls, piece of blue paper, marker

Bible Verse:
Luke 10:20
²⁰ However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Phillippians 4:3
³ Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.  

Talking Points:
God knows everything about you.  He knows what time you get up in the morning and what time you go to bed.  He knows if you went to the park or if you shared your toys with your friends.  Most importantly, He knows if you love Him or not, and when you tell God you love Him and that you want to live your life for Jesus, He will write your name in the book of life, in Heaven, along with other believers.


Questions:  What is your first/middle/last name? Do you know how to spell your name? Does God know your name?


Activity:
In bubble letters, draw your child's name with the marker on the blue sheet of paper.  Then, let the child dip the cotton balls in glue and place them in the letters.


Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I am so glad that You know all about me and love me so much.  I pray that my name will be in the Book of Life next to all the other people who love You and believe in You. Amen!
  

Parental Guidance Required

Lesson Learned:  God wants you to listen and remember your parents' instructions.


Materials Needed: string, scissors, noodles


Bible Verse:
Proverbs 1:8-9
⁸ Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
   and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
⁹ They are a garland to grace your head
   and a chain to adorn your neck.


Ephesians 6:1-3
 ¹ Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.² “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— ³ “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”


Talking Points:  God tells us that it is important to listen to our parents.   Your parents love you and want what is best for you.  God has given your parents wisdom for raising you and it is important to listen to what they say.  When we listen to our parents and do what they tell us to, we are really obeying God.  When we do not listen to our parents, we are disobeying God and that is why our parents punish us when we disobey.  It is very important to obey God and your parents want you to learn that.


Questions:  What are some ways you can obey your parents? (If the child needs prompting, you can offer some examples:  you can pick up your toys right away when your parents ask you instead of doing it later; listen to your parents and don't talk back to them;  be nice to your parents.)


Activity:  
Cut a piece of string about 12 to 18 inches long.  Thread the string with noodles and make a macaroni necklace to wear as "a chain to adorn your neck" as a reminder to obey your parents and obey God's words today.

Prayer:  We thank and praise You Lord for the family You have given us. Help us to obey our parents today and listen to all their instructions. Amen!

Please Forgive Me

Lesson Learned:  God forgives us our sins when we confess them and ask for forgiveness.

Materials Needed: large sheet of brown construction paper, scissors, tape, marker or pen

Bible Verse:
1 John 1:9
⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  

1 Peter 2:24
²⁴ “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”   

Talking Points:  God is a kind and caring God and He forgives you when you do something wrong.  He knows that sometimes we will do bad things, things we don't want to do, things called sins.  Sometimes we are mean to our friends, we don't share our toys, and we disobey our moms or dads.  He knows that we need to tell Him we are sorry when we do these things.  That is why He sent Jesus down to earth to die on the cross. When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the price for all the sins that people confess.  God forgives us our sins when we confess them and ask for forgiveness.

Questions:  How do you feel after you are mean to your brother, sister, or friend? How do you feel after you fail to share your toy or get sent to time out? When you do something wrong, what should you do?  Isn't it great that God will forgive us for those things when we tell Him we are sorry and ask for forgiveness?

Activity:
Draw a large, simple cross and cut it out. Hang the cross on the wall.  Throughout the day, encourage the child to ask God for forgiveness whenever they sin.  When they hit their sister, write it on the cross and have them ask God for forgiveness. When they fail to obey, write it on the cross and have them ask God for forgiveness. Explain to the child each time they bow down before the cross that God forgives them their sins.  Jesus came and died on a cross and God forgets our sins we we confess them and ask for forgiveness.

Prayer:  Holy and Heavenly Father, we need Your help to not sin. Please help me to (fill in blank for things child might need help with, e.g., listening to mom and dad, not lying, being kind, etc).  We can't do these things on our own and we need Your help. Amen!

David: The Chosen King

Lesson Learned:  David the shepherd boy is chosen as Israel's king.

Materials Needed: none

Bible Verse:
1 Samuel 16:1-12
¹ The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”
 ² But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”
   The LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ ³ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”
 ⁴ Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”
 ⁵ Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
 ⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.”
 ⁷ But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
 ⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” ⁹ Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the LORD chosen this one.” ¹⁰ Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.” ¹¹ So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
   “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”
   Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
 ¹² So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.
   Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

Talking Points:  A long time ago before Jesus was even born, there was a man named Jesse who had eight sons.  God told His servant, Samuel, to go find Jesse and to tell Jesse that one of his sons had been chosen as Israel's next king.  God told Samuel not to consider how the sons looked or how tall they were before choosing the king.  Samuel, guided by God, then chose the youngest son, David, to be the next king.  David was only a small boy when Samuel told him that he would be the next king of Israel.

Questions:  Who did Samuel choose as king?  How did Samuel choose him?  Was David young or old? Do you think you would want to be a king or queen right now?

Activity: 
This game is played like duck, duck, goose except you say shepherd, shepherd, king.
In this game, kids sit down in a circle facing each other (if you only have one child, you can use stuffed animals as the other participants.) One person is "it" and walks around the circle. As they walk around, they tap people's heads and say whether they are a "shepherd" or a "king". Once someone is the "king" they get up and try to chase the person who is "it" around the circle.

 The goal is to tap that person before they are able sit down in the "king's" spot. If the king is not able to do this, they become "it" for the next round and play continues. If they do tap the "it" person, that person has to "it" again.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You so much for choosing all of us for a special task. We can't wait to see what job You have for us to do. Amen!