Children's Moment: Christian Like a Gardener

^{Proverbs 3:5-6} Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

As I was working in the garden yesterday pulling weeds, watering plants, planting new seeds, and harvesting vegetables, I started to think about how my garden is very similar to my Christian walk.  I always thought I knew how to garden because I had heard about gardening, helped others in their gardens and even had my own small little garden plots growing-up.  After Ladd and I got married in Washington we decided to plant our own garden.  We did alright our first year, having enough to eat on and my neighbors enjoyed the fact that I had planted three rows of lettuce to feed our small family of three because they got to eat tons of salad that year.  After our first year, we did lots of reading on how to mend the soil, nourish the plants and when to plant seeds.  Our 2^nd year turned out even better, with the exception of raccoons eating down every stock of corn we planted and squirrels burying acorns under every squash plant.  After our 3^rd year we moved to Arkansas and it was like discovering gardens all over again.  We had never dealt with bugs, extreme heat and soil which could be mistaken as rock.  I think our first year here we harvested half-eaten squash, baked potatoes and sun-dried tomatoes right out of the garden!  We went back to the drawing board and did more research and reading and talking with others in the area.  Our garden is thriving now, but every year we are surprised by something.  Even with all the planning, something always turns out differently than anticipated.

Just like Christians.  When we accept Christ into our hearts we often think we know what life will be like and how things will turn-out because we have watched other Christians.  Guess what happens next?  Life happens, things are always changing.  Someone disappoints us, we fall and hurt ourselves, a friend moves away or someone we know passes away.  Each time, we have to go back to the sources which teach us.  We read the Bible which provides us instruction, we talk to the Lord which gives us guidance and we surround ourselves with other Christians which provides us encouragement.  Just like our scripture reads today

^{Proverbs 3:5-6} Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Children's Moment: What Does God Say About School?

Well, tomorrow starts another school year!  Is anyone excited?  I know I am excited for my children.  School is such a great opportunity to gain more knowledge, learn new ways of doing things and to make new friendships. 

I started wondering what God had to say about school or becoming educated.  I wondered if God even cared whether you get smarter or not?  Did you know he has a lot to say about learning?

Ecclesiastes 7:12 For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

Proverbs 4:13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.

Proverbs 16:16 How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

Proverbs 18:15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

You see, God not only tells us that wisdom is better than gold or money . . . it is your life!  If God thinks gaining knowledge is important, we should too.  Take school seriously, learn all you can, gain all the information you can gain.  In Colossians 3:23 it says Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.  Just remember, God has given you the opportunity to be in school and gain an education.  Work hard in school.  Learn.  Become a smarter you. 

Also know, you have this whole church praying for you as you start back to school tomorrow.  We are praying that you get along with your new teacher and classmates, that you gain the knowledge you need, that you are able to focus on school and work hard and that God protects you along your journey.  We wish you the best school year yet!

Summer Week #1 - Water Safety

We spend MANY hours of our summer dipping our feet into the river, swimming at the pool and walking along the creek.  I find it fitting that our first lesson of the summer is a refresher course on water safety.

This week's box contents:
* Sunscreen (protecting yourself from the sun)
* Swimming Goggles (always keeping your eyes open & aware of your surroundings)
* Measuring Tape (measure kids & help them understand water depth / diving safety)
* Water guns (how to care for pool equipment)
* Coloring Pages / Colors (covers all the other tips)
* Mom's Water Rules

This week's adventure:
* Coloring pages
* Trip to the Buffalo River
* Day trip to the pool

Click here for Water Safety Tips for the Pool Coloring Page

Water Safety Tips for Rivers, Lakes and Dams Coloring Page

Online Water Safety Games for Kids

Children's Moment: Love through Obedience

I have a love-dislike relationship with the month of May.  You see, I absolutely LOVE to garden.  As soon as we get a day or two of warm weather, I am outside digging in the dirt.  I get really excited and want to plant all of my seeds and starter plants so I can harvest delicious vegetables as soon as possible.  You know the problem though?  The weather in May is fickle, which means that it changes a lot.  One day it might be sunny and 80 degrees and the next day there could be snow on the ground.  One week it could be beautiful and the next week we have tornadoes and torrential rain and wind.  I have had to learn LOTS of patience over the years when planting my garden.  I have had to set-up a few simple rules for planting, and it is tough to stick by my rules, especially when the weather looks beautiful.

The rules I have made for planting help to make sure I don’t waste seed or time and also help to ensure my plants are healthy and survive the fickle May weather.  It’s hard to hold off planting things sometimes, but after years of experience, I know it is better to wait and have beautiful crops, then to work twice as hard and end up with a very small harvest or none at all.  In other words, my love for gardening has been teaching me patience.

Life is like this too though.  As you grow-up, your parents will set-up rules to help you along the way.  Those rules are meant to protect you, keep you safe.  You will sometimes feel like disobeying your parent’s rules because something looks fun or you just want to try it, but remember, your parents really do know best. They were kids once and teenagers and young adults, they have had to learn the same lessons you are learning now.

In Corinthians 13:4-5, it says “Love is patient and kind: love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;”

Always remember this, your parents love you above and beyond all else.  Don’t get impatient with growing-up and having rules.  Love your parents back by listening and obeying their rules, even when you don’t really want to obey.  Just like the bountiful harvests which I get to reap because of my patience and following simple rules, you will get to experience great things in your life by following the rules and path your parents set-up for you.   Be patient and love your parents through obedience.

Let us pray:

Dear Jesus, thank you for allowing us to come into your house of worship on such a beautiful morning.  Thank you for blessing these children with adults who love and care for them and who set-up healthy boundaries.  I pray that each one of these children are able to see the love which is given to them.  Guide them along their path.  We love you and praise you, in Jesus name, Amen.

Children's Moment: A Hunting We Shall Go

Mr. Ladd took me morel hunting yesterday and while we hunted, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the many walks my Grandma Allen used to take me on when I was a young girl.  She used to let me lead the way on many of our walking adventures.  I would go under trees, through the woods, dip in and out of the creek, trail around the ponds, and try to find the biggest rocks for Grandma and I to sit on and eat the sandwiches she would pack.  While we walked, I picked about every flower I would see and she would tell me the name of the flower and anything she knew about it.  She would tell me how some were used in medicine and how some were poisonous to eat or even to touch and how some were delicious to munch on. 

Can anyone tell me what the name of this plant is?  These are wild impatiens.  My Grandma told me I was like these little flowers.  These wild impatiens pop-up early in the spring and grow until the first frost of winter.  Their seed is spread by the wind, so they grow in just about every corner of the field and forest and they can hardly wait till spring to just show-up everywhere. 

These impatiens remind me of being a Christian.  We should go everywhere the wind blows, spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.

In Mark 16:15 Jesus says “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

We have talked about this many times in Sunday school.  How can we tell and show others about Christ in our everyday lives?

§        listening to a friend

§        hugging someone who is lonely

§        helping someone in need

§        telling others about God’s love

I hope you can be like impatiens, go everywhere and share God’s love with those you meet.

Let us pray:

Dear Jesus, thank you for allowing us to come into your house of worship on such a beautiful morning.  Thank you for the beauty in everyday things such as these impatiens and the wonderful reminders of your beauty and love.  I thank you for bringing each one of these children here this morning to hear your word.  Help us to share your love to all those we encounter.  We love you and praise you.  In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Children's Moment: The Empty Easter Egg

I love Easter!  I love everything about Easter!  I love watching the kids hunt for eggs, I love the surprise on their face when they find their candy-filled Easter baskets, I love having family over for our traditional Easter dinner, I love all the bright colors, but most of all I really love these little eggs.  Every time I open one up, the candy reminds me of Jesus’ sweet sacrifice he made on the cross for my sins.  His grace, forgiveness and love for us.  When the candy is gone I am left with a bright colored, yet empty egg.  What a wonderful reminder of the empty tomb!  How lucky we are to serve a God that cannot be bound by death.  In Corinthians 15 it reads “O Death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?  Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Though we must always remember the horrible death which Jesus suffered for our sins, we must also celebrate his resurrection.  Today I pray that you and your family will celebrate and each time you open an egg you will remember sweet Jesus and an empty tomb.

Children's Moment: Two are Better Than One

So yesterday was a wonderful day.  I enjoyed coffee with Mr. Ladd, the weather was beautiful, I had my family working with me in the garden, and then came the best part . . . BOWLING!!!  Yep, I had so much fun bowling with all the kiddos of First Christian Church.  I got to see some really interesting forms of bowling such as drop kick, slam dunk, drop and roll, swing to the left, throw to the right, sit and spin, gutter lunges, toe breakers, wipe outs, and granny lunges.    For most everyone, yesterday was the FIRST time ever to go bowling.  I think we had great fun!

I saw kids and parents helping each other out with carrying balls and teaching each other how to roll the ball.  I saw friendships forming.  I also saw you cheer each other on, high five, give each other bumps, hug each other and pat each other on the back.  You know what God’s word says about friends?

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?  And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

I think you were doing exactly as God’s word says . . . you were lifting each other up!!  My prayer for you today is that you always be surrounded by people who care about you and want good things for you.  I also pray that you surround others with positive thoughts and care.  So, when you see someone in need of a friend, take a minute to be a friend.

Let us pray:

Dear Jesus, thank you for allowing us to come into your house of worship this morning.  Thank you for these wonderful rain showers which will help water the earth and provide bountiful crops.  I thank you for bringing each one of these children here this morning to hear your word.  Help us to be a friend to someone today.  We love you and praise you.  In Jesus name we pray, Amen.