tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41118095726843382882024-02-02T13:02:30.062-06:00A Children's Advent<b>Please use the booklet "WAKE UP TO JOY" for your own devotions. Below you'll find VERY SIMPLE devotions for use with young children. The themes come from the "WAKE UP TO JOY" booklet. Call the church office if you didn't receive one.</b>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-42717043147339332612008-12-25T00:01:00.000-06:002008-12-25T00:32:01.223-06:00News About A Child<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE</span> <a href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-25.pdf?attredirects=0"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HERE</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">This devotion is for use during your family Christmas celebration.</span><br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Some families do all their Christmas celebrating on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) instead of Christmas Day (Dec. 25). <span style="font-weight: bold;">If that's what you do, use this one Christmas Eve.<br /></span><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">If you celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25, use the <a href="http://equalsharingadvent.blogspot.com/2008/12/tender-mercy-of-forgiveness.html">Tender Mercy of Forgiveness</a> devotion below on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) and save this one for Christmas Day.</span></li></ul>FAMILY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Light ALL FOUR candles on the Advent Wreath and any other candles that you have!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">help us listen</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">to the good news</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">of your birth.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have an older adult read the Christmas story from Luke 2:1-20. Use this New Century Version or one you have at home. Read slowly and carefully. If the children have questions as you read, stop and answer them as best you can, saying "I'll need to find out" if you don't know...</span><br /><blockquote>At that time, Augustus Caesar sent an order that all people in the countries under Roman rule must list their names in a register.<br /><br />This was the first registration; it was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.<br /><br />And all went to their own towns to be registered.<br /><br />So Joseph left Nazareth, a town in Galilee, and went to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, known as the town of David.<br /><br />Joseph went there because he was from the family of David.<br /><br />Joseph registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged n and who was now pregnant.<br /><br />While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have the baby, and she gave birth to her first son.<br /><br />Because there were no rooms left in the inn, she wrapped the baby with pieces of cloth and laid him in a box where animals were fed.<br /><br />That night, some shepherds were in the fields nearby watching their sheep.<br /><br />Then an angel of the Lord stood before them.<br /><br />The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and they became very frightened.<br /><br />The angel said to them,<br /><br />"Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all the people.<br /><br />Today your Savior was born in the town of David.<br /><br />He is Christ, the Lord.<br /><br />This is how you will know him:<br /><br />You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.<br /><br />Then an army of angels from heaven joined the first angel, praising God and saying:<br /><br />"Give glory to God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace among the people who please God."<br /><br />When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to each other,<br /><br />“Let’s go to Bethlehem.<br /><br />Let’s see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about.”<br /><br />So the shepherds went quickly and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in a feeding trough.<br /><br />When they had seen him, they told what the angels had said about this child.<br /><br />Everyone was amazed at what the shepherds said to them.<br /><br />But Mary treasured these things and continued to think about them.<br /><br />Then the shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything they had seen and heard.<br /><br />It had been just as the angel had told them.</blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk about the story, about how God sent Jesus to show us his love and to save us from our sins. Remind the children that Jesus will grow and will die on the cross for us to save us. Invite your children and everyone else to pray and ask Jesus into their hearts.<br /><br />Then sing this song (it's a good one because children can sing the chorus). You can download the music here.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Angels we have heard on high<br />Sweetly singing o’er the plains,<br />And the mountains in reply<br />Echoing their joyous strains.<br /><br />Gloria, in excelsis Deo!<br />Gloria, in excelsis Deo!<br /><br />Shepherds, why this jubilee?<br />Why your joyous strains prolong?<br />What the gladsome tidings be<br />Which inspire your heavenly song<br /><br />Glo --- --- --- -- ria, in excelsis Deo!<br />Glo</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> --- --- --- -- </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">ria, in excelsis Deo!<br /><br />Come to Bethlehem and see<br />Christ Whose birth the angels sing;<br />Come, adore on bended knee,<br />Christ the Lord, the newborn King.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,<br />thank you for coming to earth<br />to live with us<br />and save us.<br />Come into my heart<br />come to help me love you<br />forever.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Then proceed with the rest of your Christmas celebration!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MERRY CHRISTMAS!</span></span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-10388103673376472392008-12-24T00:01:00.005-06:002008-12-24T12:11:06.069-06:00The Tender Mercy of Forgiveness<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-24.pdf?attredirects=0"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HERE</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Some families do all their Christmas celebrating on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) instead of Christmas Day (Dec. 25). If that's what you do, skip this devotional and move on to the <a href="http://equalsharingadvent.blogspot.com/2008/12/news-about-child.html">Good News About a Child</a> family Christmas devotion above.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Light ALL FOUR candles!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">thank you for caring about me</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">and forgiving me<br />all the time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Luke 1:77.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">God forgives</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">and loves me</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">all the time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This devotional assumes that you use "time outs" as a way of gently disciplining your son or daughter. If you use another method, such as the "removal of privileges" for the rest of the day or week, as suggested by the Smart Discipline program, revise the words in the brackets as you desire.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I love you all the time. Do you know that? Even when you do things that I have to</span> [give you a time out for], <span style="font-weight: bold;">I love you always! One of the ways I show you I love you is that after a few minutes, the</span> [time out] <span style="font-weight: bold;">is over!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When I</span> [give you a time out], <span style="font-weight: bold;">and then when I say it's</span> [been long enough], <span style="font-weight: bold;">I am showing you something about God. God loves us and God wants us to do good things. But sometimes we don't and sometimes when we do bad we feel bad or sad or mad!</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Maybe there is a simple example you can use about this from your own life or your own childhood.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">But feeling bad doesn't last forever! God wants to show us his love again! And so, after awhile, God helps us to know it's okay. That's called forgiveness. </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Tell them more about forgiveness and how it might have fit into the simple example you used above.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">God cares for us even when we aren't always good. When Jesus came to earth, he came to show us that he loves us all the time! That's what we learn at CHRISTMAS!</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Talk about how you give presents even when your child hasn't been good all the time!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">thank you for caring about me</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">and forgiving me<br />all the time.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Add your own thoughts and prayers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Luke 1:77.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">God forgives</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">and loves me</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">all the time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candles.</span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-28252264284930284662008-12-23T00:01:00.005-06:002008-12-23T00:01:06.932-06:00Cleaning Up for Christmas<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE</span> <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-23.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Light ALL FOUR candles!</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">we know you love us.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Help us listen to what you say.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Tell us what to do</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">and help us do good.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Malachi 3:2-3.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When God comes</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">he makes us do good.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk with your child about getting ready for Christmas... If you are going to someone else's house for Christmas, talk about what you have to do when special guests come to your house at another time. Or adjust as needed if you already celebrated Christmas (make past tense).</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who is coming for Christmas? Are we all ready? What did we do already? What do we still have to do? What still needs to be cleaned up? </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If there is some picking up you can do right now that won't take but a minute or two, go ahead and do it, making it part of this activity.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">We have to clean up our house, don't we? If we don't, what would happen?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have fun talking about two foot high stacks of dishes, piles of papers and toys everywhere, no place to sit or walk, dirt everywhere.</span><img style="font-style: italic;" src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Steve/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" /><span style="font-style: italic;"> Maybe even read the book "The Man Who Didn't Wash his Dishes" if you have it...</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/3068958682_46a7e92467.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 434px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/3068958682_46a7e92467.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Then say...</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I don't always like to clean things up. Sometimes it's hard work and takes a long time. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk honestly with your child about other things you'd rather do.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">But God helps me to do what is good! He sends Jesus to put love in my heart and he helps me do what is good to do. Sometimes I still need to ask God to help me, and I hope you will ask God to help you too!<br /><br />When we invite God to be in our life, he helps us do good things. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk about some of the good things you believe God calls you to do and about how your child might help in some small way.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">we know you love us.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Help us listen to what you say.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tell us what to do</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">and help us do good.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Add your own thoughts and prayers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Malachi 3:2-3.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When God comes</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">he makes us do good.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candles.</span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-28037108782520066462008-12-22T00:01:00.003-06:002008-12-22T00:01:00.321-06:00The Source of our Joy<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-22.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a></span><br /><span><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">In today's devotion we use the first and third verses of Away in a Manger. You can download the melody </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/mid/m/u/mueller.mid">here</a><span style="font-style: italic;">. I tend to avoid the second verse because I don't believe Jesus never cried as a child!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Light ALL FOUR candles!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">thank you for coming to earth.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thank you for giving us</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">just what what we need.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Second Corinthians 8:9.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In heaven, Jesus was rich.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">But then he came to be with us.<br />Someday he will make us rich too<br />in heaven.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lets sing a song. <span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Sing with your child or teach this verse.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Away in a manger,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">no crib for a bed,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">the little Lord Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">lay down his sweet head,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">the stars in the sky,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">looked down where he lay,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">the little Lord Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">asleep on the hay.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have a conversation with your child about hay and mangers and where Jesus was born.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is "hay"?</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hay is like really long grass. People feed it to animals.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why do you think baby Jesus was sleeping on hay?</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you sleep on hay?</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">It wouldn't be really bad... at least it would be kind of soft!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When Jesus came to earth, the Bible says he didn't have a lot of things.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In fact, the Bible says Jesus was poor. He had just enough to live.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When Jesus came to earth, he came to a family that didn't even have a house to sleep in. It wasn't cold where Jesus was born, so it wasn't freezing, but, still, it wasn't a rich kind of place.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you know what a manger is? A manger is a place where people put hay to feed animals. When Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph didn't have a nice bed to put him in, so when they wanted to lay him down, the softest thing they could find was the hay in the place where the animals eat. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When Jesus was born, he was more poor than rich. His family didn't have money to have a place to stay. But that was okay. He had enough! Jesus wanted to come to us and be poor so we know that he loves us even when we aren't rich... he wants us to have enough, he wants us to be warm enough and to be snug when we sleep, but we don't need to be really rich.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If you have been poor, talk about needing help and about how it's good to know you weren't alone. If you have been more rich than poor, talk about how we can get used to having too many things and not want to share. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I think Jesus always wants us to remember that even when other people have more than we do, it's okay. Jesus loves us always and won't ever stop. Someday, he'll bring us to be with him in heaven. Then he will be rich!.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Teach your child the third verse of Away in a Manger and sing it together.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Be near me, Lord Jesus, </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I ask you to stay</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Close by me forever, </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">and love me, I pray;</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bless all the dear children </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">in your tender care,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">And bring us to heaven </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">to live with you there.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">thank you for coming to earth.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thank you for giving us</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">just what what we need.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Add your own thoughts and prayers, perhaps to help us be happy with what we have.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Second Corinthians 8:9.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In heaven, Jesus was rich.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">But then he came to be with us.<br />Someday he will make us rich too<br />in heaven.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candles.</span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-40944116267608121372008-12-21T00:01:00.001-06:002008-12-21T00:01:01.840-06:00The Greatest Gift<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-21.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Today's devotional guide for families with small children is based on the <span style="font-weight: bold;">December 21</span> piece on <span style="font-weight: bold;">page 26</span> of the <a href="http://equalsharing.blogspot.com/2008/11/wake-up-to-joy.html">Wake Up to Joy</a> booklet. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Light ALL FOUR candles!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">it's exciting to know</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">you are near!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Help us trust you.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Give us FAITH!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Luke 1:45.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When we believe</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">what God says,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">we can be happy;</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">we can be blessed!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk to your child about being excited!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Are you excited for Christmas? What do you act like when you're excited? Can you show me? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here's a story about being excited about Jesus!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Tell your child this Bible story from Luke 1:39-45. If you used yesterday's story about Mary and the angel Gabriel, tell your child that this is what happened next.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mary was going to be the mother of Jesus! When she found out, she went to tell her family - especially her aunt Elizabeth. Elizabeth was going to have a baby too, and when Elizabeth heard Mary's voice, the baby inside Elizabeth tried to jump! Elizabeth's baby was excited!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Show me how you act when you're excited! Yes, that's what Elizabeth's baby wanted to do, but he was still inside Elizabeth, so all he could do was try to jump!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Elizabeth felt the baby jump inside her, and she said to Mary, "How wonderful! You are going to be the mother of Jesus!" She was excited too!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Elizabeth had already heard that an angel had visited Mary, and that Mary had said "yes" to being Jesus' mother. So Elizabeth said, "How good it is that you BELIEVED what the angel said! How good it is to TRUST what God says!"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Elizabeth and Mary didn't understand everything that was happening to them, but they believed God was doing good things in their lives! Even Elizabeth and her baby were excited! Jesus was going to be born!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk about how exciting it is that God came to earth to be with us and to save us. Talk about how exciting it is when people believe that God is near, that he will save them and help them. It's like being excited for Christmas!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When we believe God is near, do you know what it's called? It's called "faith!" We can't see God, but we know he is near. Let's pray that we will always believe it when God comes near to do good things! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">it's exciting to know</span><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">you are near!</span><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Help us trust you.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Give us FAITH!</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Add your own thoughts and prayers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Luke 1:45.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When we believe</span><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">what God says,</span><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">we can be happy;</span><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">we can be blessed!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candles.</span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-80382240701620948412008-12-20T00:01:00.001-06:002008-12-20T00:01:00.627-06:00The Wonder of It All<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-20.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Light three candles. (Tomorrow we'll light all four!)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You made me special.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you want me to do?</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When I find out</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I'll try to obey.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Luke 1:38.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mary said,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Here I am,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am God's servant.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I want to do</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">what God wants me to."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Tell your child this story from Luke 1:26-38. If you used yesterday's story about Zechariah, tell your child that this is what happened next.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">God had a important job for someone to do. He loved us so much that he wanted to come and be with us. How could God do that? It was amazing, but God decided to come to the earth as a baby; a baby who would grow to be a man.</span><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2e_KBNoTFJqiwji_gs7Qth_a0qLNw8bhV51xEzqk0OmhCRWGJLgAbRD0WS-O_CcNmFuZ4y-SeKLyoEPzr2fxEBit-CpTSDrzzPe0L0NMzN92Xq2c6ZAIvUy1AEx5Th-kTNYOVRClvPWIW/s1600-h/Angel_Gabriel_1-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2e_KBNoTFJqiwji_gs7Qth_a0qLNw8bhV51xEzqk0OmhCRWGJLgAbRD0WS-O_CcNmFuZ4y-SeKLyoEPzr2fxEBit-CpTSDrzzPe0L0NMzN92Xq2c6ZAIvUy1AEx5Th-kTNYOVRClvPWIW/s320/Angel_Gabriel_1-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281261530704363106" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">So, God sent one of his angels as a messenger. What is an angel? An angel is part of God's army! When people see real angels, they are afraid! And this messenger angel, a powerful angel named "Gabriel..." God sent this angel to a young woman named Mary.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How would you feel if you saw a powerful angel? Mary was worried! But the angel said, "Don't be afraid! God is coming to be with you. And you will have a baby, and that baby will be the Son of God!"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you know what Mary said? She didn't say no. She didn't say maybe. She said "</span><u style="font-weight: bold;">Yes!</u><span style="font-weight: bold;">"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">God wanted to do something very special in Mary's life. God wants to do something in our lives too.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk about a time when you believed God was telling you to do something special... maybe about being a mother or father!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you think God might be wanting YOU to do? </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk about growing up and what kinds of things your son or daughter might do...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Let's pray and ask God to help us obey when he gives us something to do.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You made me special.</span><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you want me to do?</span><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">When I find out</span><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">I'll try to obey.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Luke 1:38.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mary said,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Here I am,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am God's servant.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I want to do</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">what God wants me to."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candles.</span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-79595666066940030972008-12-19T00:01:00.004-06:002008-12-19T00:01:00.855-06:00God Strengthens Faith<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-19.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Today's devotional guide for families with small children is based the </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">December 19</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> piece on </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">page 24</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> of the </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://equalsharing.blogspot.com/2008/11/wake-up-to-joy.html">Wake Up to Joy</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> booklet. From now on the devotions are based on Bible stories that lead up to Jesus being born.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Light three candles.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thank you </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">for always hearing me </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">when I pray.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Help me to wait </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">for your answer.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Luke 1:14.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You <u>will</u> have joy!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You <u>will</u> be glad!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">You can trust God.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Tell your child this Bible story from Luke 1:5-25.</span><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-CaV7yeYlxMG7hQW_vCmO076Wl7s8T7h50X9PnwLTXEifo9pPMzAU7mYCN3ktJFGmB7dI5p790N1YQmhp3KDNdWN8wM_P-0PipUeJRfDmtO1Wr278z8JKmROIaohugPeHQ2ZStQLFIi8/s1600-h/zechariah-gabriel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-CaV7yeYlxMG7hQW_vCmO076Wl7s8T7h50X9PnwLTXEifo9pPMzAU7mYCN3ktJFGmB7dI5p790N1YQmhp3KDNdWN8wM_P-0PipUeJRfDmtO1Wr278z8JKmROIaohugPeHQ2ZStQLFIi8/s320/zechariah-gabriel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281199718530832354" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Zechariah was an old man. He worked in God's temple - a place that was kind </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">of like an old church. He and his wife Elizabeth had always wanted a child of their own, but they never had any babies.<br /><br />One day, when Zechariah was working in the temple, an angel came and said, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and everyone will be happy when he is born."<br /><br />But Zechariah couldn't believe it. He said, "How can I know if you are telling the truth? I can't believe what you are saying." The angel said: "I am the Angel Gabriel, and God has sent me to tell you this news. Since you can't believe what I say, you won't be able to say anything until all these things come true."<br /><br />And that's what happened! Zechariah went home and he couldn't say a word. But his wife did have a baby later on. And Zechariah, who couldn't say anything, finally believed God. He asked for something to write on and he wrote "His name is John!" Everything the angel said came true!<br /><br />God gives us wonderful promises, but sometimes it's hard to believe them. So God gives us stories like the one of Zechariah so we can believe and trust.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk to your child about other times it's hard to believe God. Maybe about a time when someone was sick and was waiting to get well and then finally did recover. <br /><br />Then say:<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">God promises to make everything wonderful in the end. Sometimes it takes a long time, but the time will come when everything is good. If it doesn't happen here on earth, it will happen in heaven.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jesus came to die for our sins so someday we can go there and see angels and be with everyone who trusts him. I can't wait!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Feel free to add other thoughts or stories.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thank you </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">for always hearing me </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">when I pray.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Help me to wait </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">for your answer.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Add your own thoughts and prayers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Luke 1:14.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You <u>will</u> have joy!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You <u>will</u> be glad!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You can trust God.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candles.</span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-89036587798710351232008-12-18T00:01:00.005-06:002008-12-18T00:01:01.254-06:00A Lifetime of Favor<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-18.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Light three candles.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">when we are bad,<br />or sad or mad,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">forgive us,<br />and give us your peace.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Psalm 30:4-5.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Praise the Lord!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Always give thanks to God!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When we are bad,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">God doesn't stay mad.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">God's love makes us glad!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Tell your child this story from the Old Testament book of Genesis, or use your own Bible story book. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Once there was a young man named Joseph.<br /><br />Joseph’s broth</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">ers d</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">id mean things to him. Once, they threw him into a deep, dark pit! Some of his brothers even wanted to leave him there! Instead his brothers decided to sell him.<br /><br />So Joseph was taken away to the land of Egypt, to be a slave.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />The Bible tells us a long story about Joseph after that. God helped him many times, and, after a long time, Joseph wasn't a slave anymore. He was rich and important!</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />A long time later Joseph’s brothers were in trouble. Those were the same brothers that had hurt him long ago. They needed his help.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFd_7Ua5H-3trZ5rxXqNTqSb0CNhby8jkwjJRWOHUFBzlNG6QsHI4_pk5DSxv-pI9BHHXv_b2Y9NeyyYwV7GfNMIJukQLbtx6BThoJMjCOrQH4zSXwaw-dbARe84KEBC4vUruLUoKLwGNc/s1600-h/joseph_brothers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFd_7Ua5H-3trZ5rxXqNTqSb0CNhby8jkwjJRWOHUFBzlNG6QsHI4_pk5DSxv-pI9BHHXv_b2Y9NeyyYwV7GfNMIJukQLbtx6BThoJMjCOrQH4zSXwaw-dbARe84KEBC4vUruLUoKLwGNc/s320/joseph_brothers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280957966412248130" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">So Joseph’s brothers went to Joseph and they begged him and s</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">a</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">id</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> "Please forgive us!"</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Do you know what it is to "forgive" someone? It's like when someone does something bad and you don't do something back to them. It's like being friends again.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anyway, Joseph's brothers begged him to forgive them and to help them. They didn't have any food and Joseph was rich and could help them.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">So they said “Joseph please forgive us.” </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">And Joseph told them “</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">D</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">on’t be afraid, I will take care of you and your children.<br /><br />And he spoke to them ki</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">n</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">dly, and made them feel better.”</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Joseph forgave his brothers!<br /><br />He didn't stay mad, did he?</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />That story in the Bible is there to show us how God forgives us too.<br /><br />He d</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">oesn't want us to do bad things, and he wants moms and dads to teach their children to do good, but he doesn't want us to stay made either. </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Because of Jesus, God forgives us. And we forgive each other too.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk together about times when you've had to lovingly discipline your children and then you have forgiven them, or about times when your child forgave someone who hurt them.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">when we are bad,<br />or sad or mad,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">forgive us,<br />and give us your peace.</span><br />Add your own thoughts and prayers, perhaps including a prayer for forgiveness or friendship or peace.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Psalm 30:4-5.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Praise the Lord!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Always give thanks to God!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When we are bad,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">God doesn't stay mad.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">God's love makes us glad!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candles.</span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-42707046700762229432008-12-17T00:01:00.005-06:002008-12-17T09:58:17.158-06:00Our God Comes to Save<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-17.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Light three candles.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thank you for coming</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">to save me and everyone else.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Help us let others know!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Isaiah 45:21-22.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase, perhaps in rhythm?</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Africa, China, America, Asia -</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">No matter where, </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">only one savior.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Is God's love big enough</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">for everyone everywhere?</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">YES! and He says</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Come to me everyone!"</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Come and be saved!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ask your child...</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What's your name?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">They'll probably tell you their first name or first and last names.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What's your<span style="font-style: italic;"> whole</span> name?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How many ___ ___ ___ </span><span style="font-style: italic;">(child's first middle last names)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">do you know?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If perchance they know more with that name, add something like "5 year old ___ ___ ___" or "blonde ___ ___ ___"... so they'll say "only one."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Do the same thing with your name...</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What's my name?</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What's my <span style="font-style: italic;">whole</span> name?</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How many ___ ___ ___</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">(your first middle last names)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">do you know?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Again, add something to it if you think they know more than one, like "moms" or "dads" who are named ___ ___ ___ ...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Is there anyone exactly like you?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">There are people who are kind of like us, but not completely.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What about God? How many Gods are there?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">There's only one God, isn't there. God made the world and the stars...</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(add your own list of other things God made…)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">And God came to earth ONE time as a baby...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What was his name?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Jesus</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In the world there are some other people who have the name "Jesus."</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If you want to, tell them about people like in Mexico who have that name...</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">but just like there is only YOU, there is only ONE Jesus who is the Savior, one Jesus who came at Christmas, one Jesus who died on the cross for EVERYONE.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk about how amazing it is that ONE Savior can save everyone! If you know about missionaries or churches in other countries you can tell them that they tell people about the same Jesus that your child is learning about... </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who do you think we might tell about Jesus...?</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">(or invite to church, or invite to Sunday school, or invite to your house for devotions tomorrow, or...)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">God wants everyone to know him as their savior, the one who loves not just me, not just you, but everyone! We can let them know!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thank you for coming</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">to save me and everyone else.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Help us let others know!</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Add your own thoughts and prayers, including for anyone who needs to know Jesus as their Savior.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Read this Bible thought from Isaiah 45:21-22.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase, </span><span style="font-style: italic;">perhaps in rhythm?</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Africa, China, America, Asia -</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">No matter where, </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">only one savior.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Is God's love big enough</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">for everyone everywhere?</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">YES! and He says</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Come to me everyone!"</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Come and be saved!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candles.</span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-18762275878575881032008-12-16T00:01:00.004-06:002008-12-16T00:01:02.088-06:00Truly Faithful<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-16.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Light <span style="font-weight: bold;">three</span> candles. See <a href="http://equalsharingadvent.blogspot.com/2008/12/power-to-rejoice.html">the devotion for Sunday, Dec. 14</a> about why three.</span> <br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">you can see everything.<br />Help us be honest with you.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Zephaniah 3:12-13.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When we pray<br />God will help us be humble and honest.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Being humble and honest is good.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Then talk with your child about "pretending."</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you like to pretend? What do you like to pretend?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Most children have fun pretending... talk to them about how this is fun.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Your child might remember the Christmas program when some children "pretended" to be Mary and Joseph or other characters.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />When you pretend, do really change into someone else?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk about this for a minute... </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pretending is fun, but we don't really change into someone else, do we? When you pretend, I really know you are still you! You are always you and I'm so glad!</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Let your child know you love them just like they are.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">God knows when we pretend. It's okay and it's fun. But he also knows who we are and loves us all the time. Even when we do something wrong. We don't need to pretend, we can be honest. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk to your child about what "being honest" means. Maybe add some things about when it's hard to be honest....</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When you do something wrong, just tell me! I will always love you. God is like that too. He loves us and forgives us when we do wrong. <br /><br />When we go to church, we can be honest too. God helps us be honest because he loves us all the time.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If it’s your personal experience that going to church helps you be honest, go ahead and share that. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">you can see everything.<br />Help us be honest with you.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Add your own thoughts and prayers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Zephaniah 3:12-13.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When we pray<br />God will help us be humble and honest.</span><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Being humble and honest is good.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candles.</span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-24198953523493771122008-12-15T00:01:00.005-06:002008-12-15T00:01:02.248-06:00Believing When Others Doubt<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-15.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Light three candles.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">you are true and good.<br />Help us always believe.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When we are right, make us strong.<br />When we are wrong, help us change.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Matthew 21:1-23 and Matthew 28.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Many people cheered<br />when Jesus rode a donkey into the city.<br />Some important people thought he was bad.<br />But, in the end, he rose from the dead.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Tell your child more of this story:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When Jesus was on earth, he did many good things... </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Go on to tell them that Jesus helped many people, healing them, making them feel sorry for bad things they had done, forgiving them...<br /><br />Then tell them about what happened in Jerusalem, using words like this. (I admit this is a very simplified version and misses a lot of the story... use your own version if you prefer).</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sometimes, to help people, he got mad... <br /><br />He got mad at the devil and at people who were hurting others. <br /><br />He never hurt them back, but he told the truth.<br /><br />After he rode the donkey into the city,<br />he went to a place that was a like a big church called the "temple." <br /><br />Some people there were trying to get rich by selling things. <br /><br />Jesus said NO and made them stop. <br /><br />Later those people got so angry that they had Jesus arrested and killed.<br /><br />But, in the end, he rose from the dead!<br /><br />One thing we can learn from this is that people don't always believe Jesus is good. <br /><br />Another thing is that sometimes we do things that aren't good. <br /><br />We might not always like to learn from Jesus, but, Jesus knows best!<br /><br />It's always good to listen to what he says. <br /><br />We learn that in the Bible.<br /><br />But not everyone is going to believe. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Thoughts come to mind about confession and forgiveness, or about disagreements and differences, feel free to share in a spirit of love and humility, leading up to the prayer.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Let's pray that God will help us be strong and to love others, even when we disagree.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">you are true and good.<br />Help us always believe.<br />When we are right, make us strong.<br />When we are wrong, help us change.<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Add especially prayers for those who are weak and need help.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Matthew 21:1-23 and Matthew 28.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Many people cheered<br />when Jesus rode a donkey into the city.<br />But some important people<br />thought he was bad.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">But, in the end, he rose from the dead.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candles.</span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-48421961846738820082008-12-14T00:01:00.002-06:002008-12-14T00:01:01.457-06:00The Power to Rejoice<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-14.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The third week of advent begins today. Last week we lit two candles. This week we light three. If possible, have four candles ready, arranged in a circle like wreath. This will help your children learn the goodness of waiting.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Light <span style="font-weight: bold;">three</span> candles.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">thank you for family.<br />Thank you for food.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Help us remember</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">all your good gifts.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from First Thessalonians 5:16-24.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rejoice all the time!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Never stop praying!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Always thank God!</span><br /><br />Ask your child:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When you're hungry, what do you want to eat?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Let them answer however they want to.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you know why we don't always eat __________ ?</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">(the food they said they would like if they were hungry). </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why do we sometimes eat __________?</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">(put a "healthy" food in the blank, one they don't like very much)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sometimes we need moms and dads to help us know what is good to eat. Moms and dads know about what is healthy. It's our job to help you be healthy, so we want you to eat good food. When we give you ___________</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">(a healthy food they don't like much)</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">it's because we want you to grow up strong.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you think you can remember that? It's good to say "thank you" for all our food, even when it's something that's not our favorite. It's good to say "thank you" for everything God gives us. When we say "thank you" it helps us not be so sad or mad.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Perhaps talk about how you have learned to like a particular food you didn't like as a child, or about something that seems hard to do (like work or house work) that makes things better for you and your family.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Let's thank God for lots of things.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">thank you for family.<br />Thank you for food.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Help us remember</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">all your good gifts.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Add other thoughts and prayers, making a long list together with your child, thanking God for things that are fun or tasty <span style="font-weight: bold;">and</span> things that aren't so much fun or favorite but that are good and healthy for us. Have fun with this prayer!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from First Thessalonians 5:16-24.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rejoice all the time!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Never stop praying!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Always thank God!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candles.</span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-57488079934677249372008-12-13T00:01:00.008-06:002008-12-13T13:41:12.768-06:00Where True Power Lives<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span></span></span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-13.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Before you begin, see if you can find a picture of yourself as a baby or a VERY little child--quite a bit smaller than your child is now. Have it ready to show. If you can't find that, just use any picture of VERY small child and adapt what follows to talk about growing up and growing strong.</span><br /><br />Light two candles.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">we need you<br />so our love<br />can be strong.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Psalm 80:1-2.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Listen, God!<br />We need help!<br />Lead us and protect us,<br />because you are very strong.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ask your child:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Are you strong?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Let them answer however they want to.</span><span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Show them the picture of yourself as a baby or a VERY little child but don't say who it is.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you think you're stronger than him/her?</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">(referring to the child in the photo)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hopefully they will say "yes!"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Then say:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you think you could ________</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">(Ask if your child thinks he/she could pick up the child in the picture, beat them "fun" wrestling, or something else where your child would think he or she is stronger than the child in the picture)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Then say:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Okay!</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Look straight at your child.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Go ahead. That baby is me!</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hopefully they will be surprised! Let them try to do what they thought they could do (like lift you up or whatever)...</span><br /><br />Then say:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jesus came as a baby. He looked weak.<br /><br />But really, he was very strong!<br /><br />When he grew up, he probably didn't look extra strong either.<br /><br />When he grew up, some strong and mean people hated him and hurt him and made him die.<br /><br />But that's when Jesus really showed how strong he is.<br /><br />On the third day, Jesus came alive again!<br /><br />He came alive again to show us how <u>strong</u> he is, and how strong <u>God</u> is!<br /><br />God can ALWAYS help us and save us!<br /><br />Because of Jesus, we know God is stronger every time!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Then ask:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you know anyone who was hurt by someone stronger than them?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If they don't know anyone, you can mention someone who has been "attacked" by a <u>sickness</u> or "attacked" by <u>sadness</u> if someone has died.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">God wants us to get help for them!<br /><br />When someone is hurt, we want to get help for them.<br /><br />We can be their friend.<br /><br />Make sure you tell someone like me if someone is hurt.<br /><br />And then we can find help for them and pray for them and ask God to help them too. And we can tell them about Jesus who loves them very much.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">we need you<br />so our love<br />can be strong.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Add other thoughts and prayers, especially prayers for those who are weak and need help.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Psalm 80:1-2.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Listen, God!<br />We need help!<br />Lead us and protect us,<br />because you are very strong.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candles.</span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-88599054599250044092008-12-12T00:01:00.004-06:002008-12-12T11:33:44.897-06:00Accepting the Lord<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span></span></span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-12.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">NOTE: This lesson was one of the harder ones to simplify. The scripture from Matthew 11:16-19 is about how some of the people were not satisfied with either the sternness of John the Baptist or the loving kindness of Jesus. The key at the end of the passage is that "wisdom is vindicated by her deeds," meaning that no matter <span style="font-weight: bold;">how the message is delivered</span>, the most important thing is the “deed” the message does, that is, <span style="font-weight: bold;">it transforms us</span> and our lives, leading us to <u>accept the Lord</u>.</span><br />--------------------------<br /><br />Light two candles.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">thank you for teachers.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Help us to learn about you.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Matthew 11:16-19.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Some teachers are fun.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Some teachers are strict.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">It really doesn't matter</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">as long as we learn.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ask your child:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What teachers do you know?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If they're not in school yet, they will have adults who teach them in Sunday school. See if they remember their names or anything about them. At our church there are "shepherds" who are with the children each week and other adults who actually teach the classes in the different rooms. Just talk about the teachers and adults who help or teach.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What does/do your teacher(s) teach you?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">For Sunday school, you might mention how they taught them the songs for the Sunday school program last week. Otherwise ask about what they are learning in kindergarten or pre-school or grade school.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I like to learn. Right now I am learning about...</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">say something about what you are learning right now, maybe you're a part of Alpha or a Bible study group. Or maybe there is something new you're learning in connection with your job.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">It's good to learn, but I hope you'll always learn about Jesus. And I hope you'll always listen to your teachers. </span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Maybe you could say something about a teacher that perhaps was a bit strict but who you learned a lot from.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In the Bible, some people didn't like how Jesus or other teachers taught, but they were teaching very important things. I hope you'll always try to learn--especially learning about Jesus--no matter what. We don't want to not pay attention just because some days might be a little bit hard or not too exciting. </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Your kids might want to talk more about Sunday school or their other school experience. Listen, even if they complain, but come back to how important it is to try to learn even if they don't like their teachers real well. On the other hand, if there are real concerns, make sure you talk with the teacher or their principal, supervisor or superintendent.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">thank you for teachers.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Help us to learn about you.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Add other thoughts and prayers, especially prayers for teacher and learners.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Matthew 11:16-19.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Some teachers are fun.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Some teachers are strict.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">It really doesn't matter</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">as long as we learn.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candles.</span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-74928987481340305752008-12-11T00:01:00.003-06:002008-12-11T00:01:00.993-06:00A Word of Celebration<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-11.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Light <span style="font-weight: bold;"><u>two</u> candles</span>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">we're glad your birthday is near!<br />Help us celebrate!<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Psalm 145:11-12.<br />Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A suggestion is to read the first line quietly, and get louder as you go until you shout "Let's tell the world!"</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">+ No one can stay quiet</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">++ </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >about the excellent </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">+++ </span><span style="font-size:130%;">marvelous</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;">++++ </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">wonderful things God does!</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">+++++ </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Let's tell the world!</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Ask your child:</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When are you quiet?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Let them answer however they like.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When are you loud?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Let them answer however they like.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When do you get excited?<br /><br />I get excited when... </span><span style="font-style: italic;">tell your child about some good thing that you have been excited about that your child can understand... the birth of the child you're talking to, for example, or getting married, or times you can spend more time with your child... come up with your own story to tell...<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />I couldn't keep it quiet! I had to tell...</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">tell your child who you tell or told about the exciting thing and how you told people... did you have a party? Do you make plans to do something special? Whatever...</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Christmas is coming. At Christmas we ... </span><span style="font-style: italic;">talk about some of the things you do at home that show it's an exciting time... maybe mention the children's Christmas program at church, or, if your child sings in the choir, mention that...<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">At Christmas we celebrate when God came to earth! </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk about how God came as a little baby. If you have a story book about Jesus, Mary and Joseph, perhaps you could read a bit of it... don't go too long... unless they are interested!<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">We don't keep it quiet about that, do we? <br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">we're glad your birthday is near!<br />Help us celebrate!</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Add other thoughts and prayers, especially prayers for those who need help.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Psalm 145:11-12.<br />Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">+ No one can stay quiet</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">++ </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >about the excellent </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">+++ </span><span style="font-size:130%;">marvelous</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;">++++ </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">wonderful things God does!</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">+++++ </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Let's tell the world!</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candles.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-38643696140024052432008-12-10T00:01:00.007-06:002008-12-10T00:01:01.791-06:00Lifting a Burden<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-10.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Light <span style="font-weight: bold;"><u>two</u> candles</span>.</span> (To remember why we're lighting two, see the introduction to <a href="http://equalsharingadvent.blogspot.com/2008/12/waiting-in-joyful-hope.html">Sunday's devotion</a>.)<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">thank you for work and play.<br />When we are tired<br />help us to rest.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Matthew 11:28-30.<br />Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jesus said:<br />Come to me.<br />You don't need to work alone.<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Show your child the picture below - show them on the computer or print it out. If you click on it it will be bigger.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhpIk-3mWsGFHhBw9aiULviuk5uHgSkHTZI7JlT-ceFq2q8DONyjOMxkAvI09vwIuspRV2wjbXC-SEpw-Wii7T1kDwlq5vnHFS3V6LPYBJQFF8g_PwLKX76C_SbwNOvedZoHIIup8wc3Y/s1600-h/YokeOxen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhpIk-3mWsGFHhBw9aiULviuk5uHgSkHTZI7JlT-ceFq2q8DONyjOMxkAvI09vwIuspRV2wjbXC-SEpw-Wii7T1kDwlq5vnHFS3V6LPYBJQFF8g_PwLKX76C_SbwNOvedZoHIIup8wc3Y/s400/YokeOxen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277901963325770722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ask your child:</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNflkE_ZzkZ4YguWwISmoL1bXIVJ_PoQ-QM0dhIgJCQmhrZvXmkcRdSnmtrPg_9Gy-ygpFK7vS37YGVFZRyA33ofIMgU92TGXB0sGeDC0OfWt0XaShz8arestSd8era3tGNJ62uDUN4bv/s1600-h/Yoke.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNflkE_ZzkZ4YguWwISmoL1bXIVJ_PoQ-QM0dhIgJCQmhrZvXmkcRdSnmtrPg_9Gy-ygpFK7vS37YGVFZRyA33ofIMgU92TGXB0sGeDC0OfWt0XaShz8arestSd8era3tGNJ62uDUN4bv/s200/Yoke.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277902874249506834" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you see in this picture? </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Let them answer however they like.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you see the "yoke"? It looks like this:<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">A "yoke" is a way to make two animals work together.<br />What kind of work do you think animals could do?<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Let them answer however they like, or suggest pulling a heavy load, plowing a field.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />When animals work together, they can do more and don't get so tired.<br /><br />Jesus wants us to help each other too. When we help each other, we can do a lot more! How can you help get things done?<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Suggest small chores like setting the table, watering plants, shoveling snow, cleaning the barn, helping a neighbor or relative, whatever you think they can do.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />God says it's good to work. When we get tired from working, it's a good kind of tired. Then we can rest and sleep really good. <br /><br />Who do you think gets really tired? <br /><br />Let's pray and thank God for everyone who works, and ask God to help us rest.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">thank you for work and play.<br />When we are tired<br />help us to rest.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Add other thoughts and prayers, thanking God for those who work hard.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Matthew 11:28-30.<br />Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jesus said:<br />Come to me.<br />You don't need to work alone.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candles.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-31875994446598147702008-12-09T00:01:00.004-06:002008-12-09T00:01:00.263-06:00Our Saving God<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-09.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Light <span style="font-weight: bold;"><u>two</u> candles</span>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">thank you for wanting us<br />even when we disobey</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Matthew 18:12-14.<br />Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When we get lost,<br />God looks for us.<br />When we are found,<br />God is VERY happy!<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Ask your child:</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you like to play? What do you like to play?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Let them answer however they like.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you like "hide and seek"? What do you like/not like about it? Do you like to be the seeker or the hider? What is a good place to hide?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Some kids really like "hide and seek" but others don't. Just get them talking and thinking about that game.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Have you ever <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> been lost?</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">If they say "yes" ask them to tell you the story. If not tell them about a time you or someone you know was lost as a child.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />How did you get lost? </span> <span style="font-style: italic;">They might not know... you might suggest that they weren't paying attention to where you were going, or there was a big crowd, or they were with friends without an adult. If your child has never been lost, tell them <u>how</u> you or someone you know got lost. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Who found you and how did they find you? </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">As in the questions above, let them talk, or, if they've never been lost, talk about how you or someone you know got found. (Stick with an example of being lost physically rather than talking about being lost spiritually. Little children don't understand being "spiritually" lost.) </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">How did it feel to get found? </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">Sometimes we adults forget to be joyful when our kids are found and instead focus on disciplining them right away. Our children's experience of getting found might be good or bad for them. Just let them talk about how they felt without judging those feelings or judging yourself. If they've never been lost, say how it felt for you to get found, being honest about your feelings, or about how the other person felt...</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When we are lost, God wants us to be found! And when we are found, God is <span style="font-style: italic;">very glad</span>. In the Bible there is a story about a man who has lots of sheep. When one is lost, he goes and looks for that one. Every one is important. The man looks and looks and, when he finds, he is very happy! God is like that too.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">thank you for wanting us<br />even when we disobey</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Add other thoughts and prayers, especially prayers for those who need help.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Matthew 18:12-14</span><span style="font-style: italic;">.<br />Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When we get lost,<br />God looks for us.<br />When we are found,<br />God is VERY happy!</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candles.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-26030477553471675682008-12-08T00:01:00.005-06:002008-12-08T00:01:01.692-06:00The Heart of Courage<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-08.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Before you begin... </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Find something that is <span style="font-weight: bold;">way too heavy</span> for your child to lift... perhaps a big sack of flour or a big chair. Put the item in front of a door in a room other than the one where you are having your devotions, where the child will discover it as you go through the devotion below.</span></span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Have something they like on the other side of the door (a favorite toy, a treat, whatever...).</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Light <span style="font-weight: bold;"><u>two</u> candles</span>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">we need your strong love.<br />When we know you love us,<br />we can be strong too</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Isaiah 35:3-6.<br />Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When we feel weak,<br />God is strong.<br />Never fear!<br />God will save!</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Then say:</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Let's pretend we're going __________</span><br />(into that closet, room, outside... through the door that is blocked)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Let your child lead the way.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">When they get to the door that is blocked, say:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Let's pretend you need to go through that door.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Cheer them on as they try to move the object. Make sure it's big enough that they can't move it.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How can you get through?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">They might ask for help right away, if so, that's great, help them get through and continue. If they don't ask for help, encourage them or give them hints that they might ask you to help them. When they get through, say "good job" and let them have the toy or treat that was on the other side.<br /><br />Go back to the room where you were having devotions, bringing the toy or treat along. Ask:<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">How did you get through?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You asked for help, didn't you?<br />It</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">'s good to get help!<br />When we get for help we are stronger than when we do things all alone.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What other times do people need help?</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Perhaps mention specific handicaps or illnesses. Then say something like this: </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">It's good to try our best, but when it's hard, don't forget to ask for help! </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You can ask me to help you when you need help. Who else can you ask?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk with your child about who they can trust. Then say:<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">God wants us to ask him for help too. Let's do that now.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,<br />more than anything,<br />we need your strong love.<br />When we know you love us,<br />we can be strong too</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Add other thoughts and prayers, especially prayers for those who need help.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Isaiah 35:3-6.<br />Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When we feel weak,<br />God is strong.<br />Never fear!<br />God will save!</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candles.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-84109598776462914332008-12-07T00:01:00.007-06:002008-12-07T00:05:24.541-06:00Waiting in Joyful Hope<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-07.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">The second week of advent begins today. Last week we lit one candle. This week we light two. If possible, have four candles ready, arranged in a circle like wreath. This will help your children learn about waiting.<br /><br />Light <span style="font-weight: bold;"><u>two</u> candles</span>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase <u><br />with a pause in the middle</u>.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,<br />it's hard to wait.<br /></span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">Pause a few seconds before continuing.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Help me be patient.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Second Peter 3:8-9,14.<br />Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">God is not slow.<br />God is not fast.<br />God is right on time.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk with your child about waiting for good things:<br /></span></span><ul style="font-weight: bold;"><li><span>When I'm hungry, I'm waiting for _______.</span></li><li><span>When I'm sick, I'm waiting to __________.</span></li></ul><span style="font-style: italic;">Think of other examples,<br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">for younger children</span>, talk with them anything they are waiting to do like go to school, ride a two wheel bike, learn to swim, learn to ski, do whatever by themselves...</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">for kids who are bit older</span>, think about things like this:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">When I'm in school, I'm waiting for ______.<span style="font-size:78%;"> (recess)</span><br />When I'm doing homework, I'm waiting _____. </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:78%;">(to be done0</span></span><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">When I'm in church, I'm waiting for ______.<span style="font-size:78%;"> (treats or "church to be over!")</span><br />When I'm in a car, I'm waiting to _______. <span style="font-size:78%;">(get there, be able to drive)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;">When it's winter, I'm waiting for ______. <span style="font-size:78%;">(spring, lots of snow, playing in the snow)</span></span></span><br /></span></span></li></ul><span style="font-style: italic;">After you have them talking and thinking about waiting for something good to happen, say something like this: </span><span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In Advent we practice waiting.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This week we light two candles. Next week we light three. Then... four... and then...</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Christmas!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When we wait, it's good, because something GOOD is coming! Waiting is really good!</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase <u><br />with a pause in the middle</u>.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,<br />it's hard to wait.<br /></span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">Pause a few seconds before continuing.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Help me be patient.<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Add your own thoughts and prayers.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Second Peter 3:8-9,14.<br />Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">God is not slow.<br />God is not fast.<br />God is right on time.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candles.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-63501353781882779542008-12-06T00:01:00.005-06:002008-12-06T07:05:05.799-06:00Following Directions<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-06.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Light one candle.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,<br />we need you</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />to show us the way.<br />Help us follow.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Isaiah 30:19-21. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When you cry, God will hear.<br />God will always help.<br />God will always show the way.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Play a game, NOT Simon says, but <u>like that with <span style="font-weight: bold;">no tricks</span></u>. Just give your child directions, "Stand up," "Two Steps Forward," etc. Have them turn around, go in different directions... have them sort of wondering where they're going... <span style="font-weight: bold;">Then, at the end</span>, have them end up right in front of you so you can give them <span style="font-weight: bold;">a big hug</span>.<br /><br />Then sit down and talk to him or her...</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Did you like that little game?</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Were you confused at all?</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">How did it end?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Let your child answer how they want to.<br /><br />Then continue by saying.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sometimes we get confused and don't know which way to go. Sometimes we get worried. But, just like in this game, God promises to love us at the end.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Maybe there is someone in your family or among your friends and loved ones who is ill or who is having a hard time. This would be a time to reassure your child that God will show his love and make it alright in the end. Include the person in "your own thoughts and prayers" below.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,<br />we need you</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />to show us the way.<br />Help us follow.<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Add your own thoughts and prayers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Isaiah 30:19-21. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When you cry, God will hear.<br />God will always help.<br />God will always show the way.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candle.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-6589858684683737892008-12-05T00:01:00.000-06:002008-12-05T00:01:01.058-06:00The Light of the World<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-05.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Light one candle.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">thank you for day,<br />thank you for night,<br />thank you for light</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Psalm 17:1. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Don't be afraid!<br />God is strong!<br />God is here!<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Say something like this and then ask some questions, letting your child say whatever they want to.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Let's look outside. Is it dark or light?<br />When it's dark, can you see lights?<br />Do you see Christmas lights?<br />Do you like them?</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Let's try closing our eyes. Do you think the light is still there?<br /><br />Let's try going in a closet. Do you think the light is still there?<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Even when we can't see the lights, they are there!<br /><br />Lights are strong! God is strong too. Even when we can't see him, he is very hear. We can talk to him anytime!<br /><br />When you see a light, and when you close your eyes, or when the door closes tight, the light is still there, and so is God! We never need to be afraid!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">thank you for day,<br />thank you for night,<br />thank you for light</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Add your own thoughts and prayers.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Psalm 17:1. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Don't be afraid!<br />God is strong!<br />God is here!</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candle.</span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-17909695413698394402008-12-04T02:01:00.000-06:002008-12-04T02:01:01.676-06:00Trust in the Lord<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-04.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Light one candle.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">help us trust you<br />all the time</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Isaiah 26:3-4. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">We have peace<br />when we trust God.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">When my kids were small, they enjoyed doing things with me that were a little bit scary but where they had a lot of fun and would laugh and laugh. Have something in mind to do with your kids like wrestling with them, tossing them gently and catching them, doing something "gymnastic" like holding them while they stand on their hands. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Make sure it's something that you have done before with them and something that you know they like!</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">You want this to be an experience where you can talk about <u>trust</u>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Say something like this... </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Again, make sure that what you are using as an example is something that you </span><u style="font-style: italic;">know</u><span style="font-style: italic;"> they like to do.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you like it when I </span>(wrestle with you, catch you, hold you up... whatever you plan to do...)<span style="font-weight: bold;">?<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Your child will say <span style="font-weight: bold;">yes!</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Surprise them by doing whatever you have planned for a couple of minutes.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Then stop, catch your breath, and say:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Did I surprise you? We had fun, didn't we? Why is it fun for you?<br /></span></span></span>Let your child say whatever they want.<br /><br />Then continue by saying something like this:<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">When we have fun, we are "trusting" the one we're having fun with. That's why we can have fun even when it's a little scary.<br /><br />Just like you trust me, I trust God. I hope you will learn to trust God too!</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">help us trust you<br />all the time</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Add your own thoughts and prayers.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Isaiah 26:3-4. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">We have peace<br />when we trust God.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candle.</span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-15969857807874944292008-12-03T02:01:00.000-06:002008-12-03T02:01:01.097-06:00Giving What We've Been Given<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-03.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Note: This Sunday there will be a big event at our church. You can read about it on the front page of the <a href="http://www.herald-journal.com/archives/2008/stories/hands-against-hunger.html">Enterprise-Dispatch</a> newspaper this week or on my blog for After this Sunday's children's Christmas program we will all line up, children, adults and youth, to pass food in a big line from the church to the food shelf. This will be a great way to teach your children about sharing. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Light one candle.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">you are full of kindness,<br />help us be kind too</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Matthew 15:37. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When Jesus fed the people,<br />everyone had enough</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Read this Bible story - based on Matthew 15:29-37</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Many people came to see Jesus because he was making sick people feel better. They stayed with Jesus for three days. Jesus saw that they were hungry. He asked his helpers to share their food. They said they didn't have enough to share. But Jesus didn't want the crowd to go hungry. So he prayed and thanked God for the little bit of food that his helpers had. Then he divided it up and his helpers gave the food to the crowd. And all of the crowd, thousands of people, had enough to eat. There were even seven baskets of food left over.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Talk for awhile about the story.<br />It's amazing what Jesus does when the people shared!<br /><br />Tell them we're going to do something like this on Sunday -- tell them about the food shelf.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">It would be great if you could go to the store with your children and get a sack of food to bring to church that day. Maybe you could plan a time to do that with your child. You can learn more and get a list about what is needed at the Cokato Food Shelf by clicking </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://equalsharing.blogspot.com/2008/10/hands-against-hunger.html">here</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Finally, talk about the Christmas program on Sunday and what your son or daughter will be doing. Help them if they have lines to memorize or a song to practice.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">you are full of kindness,<br />help us be kind too</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Add your own thoughts and prayers.<br /><br />Read this Bible thought from Matthew 15:37. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When Jesus fed the people,<br />everyone had enough</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candle.</span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-27492944319907323572008-12-02T02:01:00.000-06:002008-12-02T10:36:23.897-06:00Thanking God for Jesus<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-02.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Light one candle.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">you show God's love.<br />Help us love you</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Luke 10:21-23-24. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jesus says:<br />Little children<br />can understand<br />and know my love</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk to your child.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Look around. What do you see?<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Let them answer however they want to.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Hold a Bible or a Bible story book in your hand.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />What is this?<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Who is in this book?<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Help them remember names.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />In this book we learn about Jesus.<br />What do you know about Jesus?<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Help them remember stories where Jesus shows his love (healing, feeding, teaching).</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jesus always loves us, even when we aren't good.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Help them sing this song. You can find the melody by clicking <a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/e/jesuslme.htm">here</a>.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so.<br />Little ones to him belong. They are weak but he is strong.<br /><br />Yes, Jesus loves me (repeat 3 times)<br />The Bible tells me so.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Jesus loves me when I'm good. When I do the things I should.<br />Jesus loves me when I'm bad, even though it makes him sad.<br /><br />Yes, Jesus loves me (repeat 3 times)<br />The Bible tells me so.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">you show God's love.<br />Help us love you</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Add your own thoughts and prayers.<br /><br /></span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Luke 10:21-23-24.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jesus says:<br />Little children<br />can understand<br />and know my love</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candle.</span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111809572684338288.post-90829830228207451972008-12-01T02:01:00.000-06:002008-12-01T13:21:59.076-06:00Choosing the Path of Light<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PRINTER FRIENDLY AVAILABLE </span><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/equalsharing/Home/misc-resources/ChildrenAdvent2008-12-01.pdf?attredirects=0">HERE</a></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Light one candle.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">when things are bad<br />help them get better.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Use us to help.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Isaiah 2:4-5. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Bible says:<br />Someday God<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> will </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">make everything good.<br />Let's be good now.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk to your child or read this to them about what is good and not good.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you really like to do?<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Let them answer however they want to.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />What makes that good?<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Help them find an answer.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />What "not good" things do you know about?<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Maybe talk about sickness or pain that they or a loved one have suffered.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />How can people make things better?<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk about bandages or medicine or kindness...</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />God wants things to be good, and someday everything bad will be gone!<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Imagine with your child what that might be like!</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Jesus came because he loves us.<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk about some of the ways Jesus helped people.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span>When Jesus comes back, everything will be good!<br />We can get ready by helping and being good too.<br />What can we do to help someone who is hurt?<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk about praying for someone or visiting or helping someone.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">when things are bad<br />help them get better.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Use us to help.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Add your own thoughts and prayers.<br /><br /></span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Read this Bible thought from Isaiah 2:4-5. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Bible says:<br />Someday God<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> will </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">make everything good.<br />Let's be good now.<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Put out the candle.</span>Steve Thorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17378015932917535496noreply@blogger.com0