“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
The similarities between the world Jesus entered over 2,000 years ago and the world we live in now are rarely- if ever- seen to have any similarities. As very different as the time periods may be, one thing hasn’t changed. That is our need for a Savior…a Savior that brings peace. Regardless of one’s views on hot topics like gun control and refugees entering our country, we can all agree that peace is what we long for. Our Savior is the Prince of Peace. If we can somehow- even in the midst of conflict and fear-remember that, then we will experience the peace that is promised to us always and in ALL ways.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
This Week’s Announcements:
1. Christmas Services and Times:Christmas Eve- We will have one service on December 24th at 5pm. We will meet in the new performing arts building at Marietta High School. This is a family service so parents and kids of all ages will worship together. Christmas Day- We will celebrate the birth of our King on Christmas at 11am in our sanctuary. This is also a family service so parents and kids of all ages will worship together. *It’s okay for kids to come in their PJ’s if they are just not ready to get dressed yet!
2. Special Information for Sunday, December 27th: As we continue to celebrate the birth of Jesus- (we don’t stop celebrating on Dec. 25th), we will enjoy a fun “still celebrating” kind of day in PathFinders on Sunday, Dec. 27th. Please read below to find out what is happening in your child’s room/area.
For 3k and under: Children are welcome to come to church like it’s Christmas morning, complete with wearing their PJ’s to church!
For 4k&Kindergaten: Our morning will look a little different than other Sunday mornings because our small group leaders will be enjoying a much deserved rest. This doesn’t mean we are taking a break from reading God’s Word or worship! Along with reading the Christmas story, we will do games, crafts, and watch a classic Christmas movie. Also- to make it a more relaxed and fun day, 4k&K children are welcome to wear their PJ’s to church on Sunday. (That’s right…you don’t have to get them dressed before church! That’s our little after Christmas gift to you!)
For 1st-5th grade: Our morning will look a little different than other Sunday mornings because our small group leaders will be enjoying a much deserved rest. This doesn’t mean we are taking a break from reading God’s Word or worship! Our theme for the day will be “every good gift.” Every child loves to have “show and tell” about the good gifts they received for Christmas. So…to go along with our theme for the day, we’ll share our own good gifts. Your 1st-5th grader is welcome to bring ONE gift they received for Christmas. Please make sure you’ve approved what they are bringing AND that it is somehow labeled with their name.
**Two rules: 1.) Make sure it’s an appropriate toy to have in a group. No “weapon” related toys or anything bigger than what they can easily carry themselves. 2.) They are responsible for whatever they bring.
**Please note these two things for clarification:
- The PJ option is only open to children up through Kindergarten. (1st-5th should be dressed as normal)
- If your 4k/K child would like to bring a show-n-tell “gift” because an older sibling is doing so, please know that we trust your parental wisdom on this. Think about these things: Is your child okay with others touching their new toy? Are they responsible enough to not mix their toy up (and risk losing) with other toys in the room, etc.?
3. Attention Kindergarten – 2nd grade PathFinders: Grab your PJ's, your robe, your slippers, and your pillow....It's time for our annual PILLOW AND POP! PARTY. Friday, January 8, 6:30pm-8:30pm, in our 164 space. Registration is required and is only open until Monday, January 4th. Click the link to sign up: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0E45A8AE22A75-pillownpop
What God is Teaching Us:
For 4k-5th Grade: Click the link below to see this week’s Advent lessons.
This link is no longer available
As ARMED meets Advent, we will continue to learn a new memory verse each week. This week’s verse:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
FAMILY TIME:
If your family would like a guide to reading through Scripture during the Advent Season, we would love to share some great resources with you. Each week on the blog, I will list some suggested readings for the days between one blog and the next. *Also- I’ve included some links to other resources if you want a more in depth way of leading your family through the season. Enjoy this special time of year!
PATHFINDER ADVENT SCRIPTURE READINGS: (DEC. 21-25)
Dec. 21st- Matthew 2:7-8
Dec. 22nd- Matthew 2:9-12
Dec. 23rd- Matthew 2:19-23
Dec.24th- John 1:14
CHRISTMAS DAY- Luke 2: 1-20
Other resources for Advent:
Focus on the Family has LOTS of great Advent reading plans: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/holidays/making-meaningful-christmas-memories/celebrate-advent
This is one of my favorite ideas- learning the names of God through Advent! This one is also hands-on because you can make an ornament each day with the names.
http://kojo-designs.com/2011/12/advent-ornaments/
And…lastly, if you love the Jesus Storybook Bible like I do, then you’ll love this resource. This is a free printable guide to using this special Bible during Advent.
http://www.faithgateway.com/jesus-storybook-bible-advent-calendar-printable/
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Everlasting Father
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
I love a translation I read recently that used “Father forever” for Everlasting Father. What a great way to help kids understand that concept.
Hearing the children talk about things that seem to take (or last) forever, like waiting for mom to make dinner, shopping in Costco, waiting for dad to get home from work to play, and of course- Christmas morning, I got a real sense of their understanding of forever. Or I thought I did…
When I asked the follow up question- what REALLY lasts forever, even 4k/K kids had a great understanding that nothing does- except God. They understood that things expire, go bad, wear out, or even die. They also understood that God is forever. He has always been and will always be.
Think about that in terms of a Father. We never outgrow Him, we never get too old to be taken care of by Him, we are never so grownup that He says, “You’re on your own.” Jesus - what a great comfort to know that He is our Father forever.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.” 2 Corinthians 1:3
This Week’s Announcements:
1. Christmas Services and Times:
a. Christmas Eve- We will have one service on December 24th at 5pm. We will meet in the new performing arts building at Marietta High School. This is a family service so parents and kids of all ages will worship together.
b. Christmas Day- We will celebrate the birth of our King on Christmas at 11am in our sanctuary. This is also a family service so parents and kids of all ages will worship together. *It’s okay for kids to come in their PJ’s if they are just not ready to get dressed yet!
2. Attention Kindergarten – 2nd grade PathFinders: Grab your PJ's, your robe, your slippers, and your pillow....It's time for our annual PILLOW AND POP! PARTY. Friday, January 8, 6:30pm-8:30pm, in our 164 space. Registration is required and is only open until Monday, January 4th. Click the link to sign up: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0E45A8AE22A75-pillownpop
What God is Teaching Us:
For 4k-5th Grade: Click the link below to see this week’s Advent lessons.
This link is no longer available
As ARMED meets Advent, we will continue to learn a new memory verse each week. This week’s verse:“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.” 2 Corinthians 1:3
FAMILY TIME:
If your family would like a guide to reading through Scripture during the Advent Season, we would love to share some great resources with you. Each week on the blog, I will list some suggested readings for the days between one blog and the next. *Also- I’ve included some links to other resources if you want a more in depth way of leading your family through the season. Enjoy this special time of year!
PATHFINDER ADVENT SCRIPTURE READINGS: (DEC. 14-20)
Dec. 14th- Luke 2:1-7
Dec. 15th- Luke 2:8-12
Dec. 16th- Luke 2:13-14
Dec.17th- Luke 2:15-18
Dec. 18th- Luke 2:19-20
Dec.19th- Matthew 2:1-2
Dec.20th- Matthew 2:3-6
Other resources for Advent:
Focus on the Family has LOTS of great Advent reading plans: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/holidays/making-meaningful-christmas-memories/celebrate-advent
This is one of my favorite ideas- learning the names of God through Advent! This one is also hands-on because you can make an ornament each day with the names.
http://kojo-designs.com/2011/12/advent-ornaments/
And…lastly, if you love the Jesus Storybook Bible like I do, then you’ll love this resource. This is a free printable guide to using this special Bible during Advent.
http://www.faithgateway.com/jesus-storybook-bible-advent-calendar-printable/
I love a translation I read recently that used “Father forever” for Everlasting Father. What a great way to help kids understand that concept.
Hearing the children talk about things that seem to take (or last) forever, like waiting for mom to make dinner, shopping in Costco, waiting for dad to get home from work to play, and of course- Christmas morning, I got a real sense of their understanding of forever. Or I thought I did…
When I asked the follow up question- what REALLY lasts forever, even 4k/K kids had a great understanding that nothing does- except God. They understood that things expire, go bad, wear out, or even die. They also understood that God is forever. He has always been and will always be.
Think about that in terms of a Father. We never outgrow Him, we never get too old to be taken care of by Him, we are never so grownup that He says, “You’re on your own.” Jesus - what a great comfort to know that He is our Father forever.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.” 2 Corinthians 1:3
This Week’s Announcements:
1. Christmas Services and Times:
a. Christmas Eve- We will have one service on December 24th at 5pm. We will meet in the new performing arts building at Marietta High School. This is a family service so parents and kids of all ages will worship together.
b. Christmas Day- We will celebrate the birth of our King on Christmas at 11am in our sanctuary. This is also a family service so parents and kids of all ages will worship together. *It’s okay for kids to come in their PJ’s if they are just not ready to get dressed yet!
2. Attention Kindergarten – 2nd grade PathFinders: Grab your PJ's, your robe, your slippers, and your pillow....It's time for our annual PILLOW AND POP! PARTY. Friday, January 8, 6:30pm-8:30pm, in our 164 space. Registration is required and is only open until Monday, January 4th. Click the link to sign up: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0E45A8AE22A75-pillownpop
What God is Teaching Us:
For 4k-5th Grade: Click the link below to see this week’s Advent lessons.
This link is no longer available
As ARMED meets Advent, we will continue to learn a new memory verse each week. This week’s verse:“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.” 2 Corinthians 1:3
FAMILY TIME:
If your family would like a guide to reading through Scripture during the Advent Season, we would love to share some great resources with you. Each week on the blog, I will list some suggested readings for the days between one blog and the next. *Also- I’ve included some links to other resources if you want a more in depth way of leading your family through the season. Enjoy this special time of year!
PATHFINDER ADVENT SCRIPTURE READINGS: (DEC. 14-20)
Dec. 14th- Luke 2:1-7
Dec. 15th- Luke 2:8-12
Dec. 16th- Luke 2:13-14
Dec.17th- Luke 2:15-18
Dec. 18th- Luke 2:19-20
Dec.19th- Matthew 2:1-2
Dec.20th- Matthew 2:3-6
Other resources for Advent:
Focus on the Family has LOTS of great Advent reading plans: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/holidays/making-meaningful-christmas-memories/celebrate-advent
This is one of my favorite ideas- learning the names of God through Advent! This one is also hands-on because you can make an ornament each day with the names.
http://kojo-designs.com/2011/12/advent-ornaments/
And…lastly, if you love the Jesus Storybook Bible like I do, then you’ll love this resource. This is a free printable guide to using this special Bible during Advent.
http://www.faithgateway.com/jesus-storybook-bible-advent-calendar-printable/
Monday, December 7, 2015
Mighty God
“For to us a child is born,16 to us a son is given,17 and the government18 will be on his shoulders.19 And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,b20 Mighty God,21 Everlasting22 Father,23 Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Isn’t it remarkable that the Mighty God we serve chose to come to live among mankind as a human? He chose to humble Himself and become like us to live with us. Not only that, He chose to come as a baby.
In the midst of the hustle and bustle that is the Christmas season, we sometimes forget this fact, and even more than that, we don’t take time to explore the why of His decision. Think about the love and compassion that it takes to “walk in the shoes” of another. Think about the depth of your dedication to understanding when you choose to explore and experience how another lives or feels. Multiply that exponentially and you have a glimpse of what Jesus did for us.
As Gabriel told Mary when he informed her she had been chosen to carry and raise God’s Son, “nothing is impossible with God.” This Advent season, remember that God Himself has walked in your shoes. He knows every heartache and joy you experience. Because of that and even more because He is mighty, we can trust Him with everything. We can trust Him with the impossible.
This Week’s Announcements:
1. How To…Christmas- Our next “How To” session is Wednesday, December 9th. Be sure to sign up for dinner and register your children for childcare. Registration is REQUIRED to guarantee a spot for your children. Visit our website www.stonebridgemarietta.org and click on event registration.
2. Christmas Services and Times:
a. Christmas Eve- We will have one service on December 24th at 5pm. We will meet in the new performing arts building at Marietta High School. This is a family service so parents and kids of all ages will worship together.
b. Christmas Day- We will celebrate the birth of our King on Christmas at 11am in our sanctuary. This is also a family service so parents and kids of all ages will worship together. *It’s okay for kids to come in their PJ’s if they are just not ready to get dressed yet!
What God is Teaching Us:
For 4k-5th Grade: Click the link below to see this week’s Advent lessons.
This link is no longer available
As ARMED meets Advent, we will continue to learn a new memory verse each week. This week’s verse:
“For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37
FAMILY TIME:
If your family would like a guide to reading through Scripture during the Advent Season, we would love to share some great resources with you. Each week on the blog, I will list some suggested readings for the days between one blog and the next. *Also- I’ve included some links to other resources if you want a more in depth way of leading your family through the season. Enjoy this special time of year!
PATHFINDER ADVENT SCRIPTURE READINGS: (DEC. 7-13)
Dec. 7th- Luke 1:18-25
Dec. 8th- Luke 1:26-38
Dec. 9th- Matthew 1:18-21
Dec.10th- Matthew 1:22-25
Dec. 11th- Luke 1:39-45
Dec.12th- Luke 1:46-56
Dec.13th-Micah 5:2-5
Other resources for Advent:
Focus on the Family has LOTS of great Advent reading plans: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/holidays/making-meaningful-christmas-memories/celebrate-advent
This is one of my favorite ideas- learning the names of God through Advent! This one is also hands-on because you can make an ornament each day with the names.
http://kojo-designs.com/2011/12/advent-ornaments/
And…lastly, if you love the Jesus Storybook Bible like I do, then you’ll love this resource. This is a free printable guide to using this special Bible during Advent.
http://www.faithgateway.com/jesus-storybook-bible-advent-calendar-printable/
Isn’t it remarkable that the Mighty God we serve chose to come to live among mankind as a human? He chose to humble Himself and become like us to live with us. Not only that, He chose to come as a baby.
In the midst of the hustle and bustle that is the Christmas season, we sometimes forget this fact, and even more than that, we don’t take time to explore the why of His decision. Think about the love and compassion that it takes to “walk in the shoes” of another. Think about the depth of your dedication to understanding when you choose to explore and experience how another lives or feels. Multiply that exponentially and you have a glimpse of what Jesus did for us.
As Gabriel told Mary when he informed her she had been chosen to carry and raise God’s Son, “nothing is impossible with God.” This Advent season, remember that God Himself has walked in your shoes. He knows every heartache and joy you experience. Because of that and even more because He is mighty, we can trust Him with everything. We can trust Him with the impossible.
This Week’s Announcements:
1. How To…Christmas- Our next “How To” session is Wednesday, December 9th. Be sure to sign up for dinner and register your children for childcare. Registration is REQUIRED to guarantee a spot for your children. Visit our website www.stonebridgemarietta.org and click on event registration.
2. Christmas Services and Times:
a. Christmas Eve- We will have one service on December 24th at 5pm. We will meet in the new performing arts building at Marietta High School. This is a family service so parents and kids of all ages will worship together.
b. Christmas Day- We will celebrate the birth of our King on Christmas at 11am in our sanctuary. This is also a family service so parents and kids of all ages will worship together. *It’s okay for kids to come in their PJ’s if they are just not ready to get dressed yet!
What God is Teaching Us:
For 4k-5th Grade: Click the link below to see this week’s Advent lessons.
This link is no longer available
As ARMED meets Advent, we will continue to learn a new memory verse each week. This week’s verse:
“For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37
FAMILY TIME:
If your family would like a guide to reading through Scripture during the Advent Season, we would love to share some great resources with you. Each week on the blog, I will list some suggested readings for the days between one blog and the next. *Also- I’ve included some links to other resources if you want a more in depth way of leading your family through the season. Enjoy this special time of year!
PATHFINDER ADVENT SCRIPTURE READINGS: (DEC. 7-13)
Dec. 7th- Luke 1:18-25
Dec. 8th- Luke 1:26-38
Dec. 9th- Matthew 1:18-21
Dec.10th- Matthew 1:22-25
Dec. 11th- Luke 1:39-45
Dec.12th- Luke 1:46-56
Dec.13th-Micah 5:2-5
Other resources for Advent:
Focus on the Family has LOTS of great Advent reading plans: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/holidays/making-meaningful-christmas-memories/celebrate-advent
This is one of my favorite ideas- learning the names of God through Advent! This one is also hands-on because you can make an ornament each day with the names.
http://kojo-designs.com/2011/12/advent-ornaments/
And…lastly, if you love the Jesus Storybook Bible like I do, then you’ll love this resource. This is a free printable guide to using this special Bible during Advent.
http://www.faithgateway.com/jesus-storybook-bible-advent-calendar-printable/
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Hope Comes While We Wait
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
If you’ve been in or around a church at all during an Advent season, you’ve most likely heard this verse from Isaiah more than once. It is the most often referenced prophecy verse about Jesus’ birth. Because we’ve heard it so many times, do we really stop to take in its message?
We as a church (and in PathFinders) are using this familiar Scripture as our anchor verse for Advent, but we certainly don’t want it to lose its powerful meaning because of that familiarity. If the saying “familiarity breeds contempt” is at all true, then we have to fight against even a smaller version of that- complacency.
This is where our “ARMED” series meets the Advent season. We will ride the wave of intentionality and excitement we saw in the kids over ARMED into our study of Advent and Jesus’ birth.
This week we started with how God prepared the hearts of His people for Jesus’ arrival and what it means to wait with hope. As we heard the story of Zechariah receiving the news that he and his wife would have a son who would prepare a way for the Lord, we can somewhat understand what it means to wait with hope. Zechariah, like all the people of God during that time, had heard the prophecies of a coming Messiah. They had hope that He would come, but since they had no idea when, they had to wait in that hope.
And…poor Zechariah…even after hearing the good news that it was going to happen soon, he was silenced and couldn’t tell anyone. Why did God choose to cut off Zechariah’s voice until his son John was born? The obvious answer is because he didn’t believe the news fully, but what if it was more? What if God wanted his people to continue to wait and more importantly wait with hope? If they knew the day was upon them would they continue to wait with hopeful expectancy?
Romans 8:24-25- “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
Do we hope for what we already have? If we circle the date (Dec. 25th) on the calendar and wait for it to come, but forget what it means to hope in our waiting…have we lost something really significant?
Advent is more than just a countdown to Christmas Day. Advent is more than reciting the verses in Isaiah or Luke. Advent is a time to wait…with hope.
This Week’s Announcements:
1. How To…Christmas- Our next “How To” session is Wednesday, December 9th. Be sure to sign up for dinner and register your children for childcare. Registration is REQUIRED to guarantee a spot for your children. Visit our website www.stonebridgemarietta.org and click on event registration.
2. Christmas Services and Times:
a. Christmas Eve- We will have one service on December 24th at 5pm. We will meet in the new performing arts building at Marietta High School. This is a family service so parents and kids of all ages will worship together.
b. Christmas Day- We will celebrate the birth of our King on Christmas at 11am in our sanctuary. This is also a family service so parents and kids of all ages will worship together. *It’s okay for kids to come in their PJ’s if they are just not ready to get dressed yet!
What God is Teaching Us:
For 4k-5th Grade: This week’s first Advent lesson was on (HOPE) Click the link to see lessons.
This link is no longer available
As ARMED meets Advent, we will continue to learn a new memory verse each week. This week’s verse:
“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.” Psalm 31:24
FAMILY TIME:
If your family would like a guide to reading through Scripture during the Advent Season, we would love to share some great resources with you. Each week on the blog, I will list some suggested readings for the days between one blog and the next. *Also- I’ve included some links to other resources if you want a more in depth way of leading your family through the season. Enjoy this special time of year!
PATHFINDER ADVENT SCRIPTURE READINGS: (DEC. 1-6)
Dec. 1st- John 1:1-5
Dec. 2nd- Isaiah 9:2-7
Dec. 3rd- Isaiah 11:1-10
Dec. 4th- Jeremiah 33:14-16
Dec. 5th- Luke 1:5-10
Dec. 6th- Luke 1:11-17
Other resources for Advent:
Focus on the Family has LOTS of great Advent reading plans: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/holidays/making-meaningful-christmas-memories/celebrate-advent
This is one of my favorite ideas- learning the names of God through Advent! This one is also hands-on because you can make an ornament each day with the names.
http://kojo-designs.com/2011/12/advent-ornaments/
And…lastly, if you love the Jesus Storybook Bible like I do, then you’ll love this resource. This is a free printable guide to using the this special Bible during Advent.
http://www.faithgateway.com/jesus-storybook-bible-advent-calendar-printable/
If you’ve been in or around a church at all during an Advent season, you’ve most likely heard this verse from Isaiah more than once. It is the most often referenced prophecy verse about Jesus’ birth. Because we’ve heard it so many times, do we really stop to take in its message?
We as a church (and in PathFinders) are using this familiar Scripture as our anchor verse for Advent, but we certainly don’t want it to lose its powerful meaning because of that familiarity. If the saying “familiarity breeds contempt” is at all true, then we have to fight against even a smaller version of that- complacency.
This is where our “ARMED” series meets the Advent season. We will ride the wave of intentionality and excitement we saw in the kids over ARMED into our study of Advent and Jesus’ birth.
This week we started with how God prepared the hearts of His people for Jesus’ arrival and what it means to wait with hope. As we heard the story of Zechariah receiving the news that he and his wife would have a son who would prepare a way for the Lord, we can somewhat understand what it means to wait with hope. Zechariah, like all the people of God during that time, had heard the prophecies of a coming Messiah. They had hope that He would come, but since they had no idea when, they had to wait in that hope.
And…poor Zechariah…even after hearing the good news that it was going to happen soon, he was silenced and couldn’t tell anyone. Why did God choose to cut off Zechariah’s voice until his son John was born? The obvious answer is because he didn’t believe the news fully, but what if it was more? What if God wanted his people to continue to wait and more importantly wait with hope? If they knew the day was upon them would they continue to wait with hopeful expectancy?
Romans 8:24-25- “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
Do we hope for what we already have? If we circle the date (Dec. 25th) on the calendar and wait for it to come, but forget what it means to hope in our waiting…have we lost something really significant?
Advent is more than just a countdown to Christmas Day. Advent is more than reciting the verses in Isaiah or Luke. Advent is a time to wait…with hope.
This Week’s Announcements:
1. How To…Christmas- Our next “How To” session is Wednesday, December 9th. Be sure to sign up for dinner and register your children for childcare. Registration is REQUIRED to guarantee a spot for your children. Visit our website www.stonebridgemarietta.org and click on event registration.
2. Christmas Services and Times:
a. Christmas Eve- We will have one service on December 24th at 5pm. We will meet in the new performing arts building at Marietta High School. This is a family service so parents and kids of all ages will worship together.
b. Christmas Day- We will celebrate the birth of our King on Christmas at 11am in our sanctuary. This is also a family service so parents and kids of all ages will worship together. *It’s okay for kids to come in their PJ’s if they are just not ready to get dressed yet!
What God is Teaching Us:
For 4k-5th Grade: This week’s first Advent lesson was on (HOPE) Click the link to see lessons.
This link is no longer available
As ARMED meets Advent, we will continue to learn a new memory verse each week. This week’s verse:
“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.” Psalm 31:24
FAMILY TIME:
If your family would like a guide to reading through Scripture during the Advent Season, we would love to share some great resources with you. Each week on the blog, I will list some suggested readings for the days between one blog and the next. *Also- I’ve included some links to other resources if you want a more in depth way of leading your family through the season. Enjoy this special time of year!
PATHFINDER ADVENT SCRIPTURE READINGS: (DEC. 1-6)
Dec. 1st- John 1:1-5
Dec. 2nd- Isaiah 9:2-7
Dec. 3rd- Isaiah 11:1-10
Dec. 4th- Jeremiah 33:14-16
Dec. 5th- Luke 1:5-10
Dec. 6th- Luke 1:11-17
Other resources for Advent:
Focus on the Family has LOTS of great Advent reading plans: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/holidays/making-meaningful-christmas-memories/celebrate-advent
This is one of my favorite ideas- learning the names of God through Advent! This one is also hands-on because you can make an ornament each day with the names.
http://kojo-designs.com/2011/12/advent-ornaments/
And…lastly, if you love the Jesus Storybook Bible like I do, then you’ll love this resource. This is a free printable guide to using the this special Bible during Advent.
http://www.faithgateway.com/jesus-storybook-bible-advent-calendar-printable/
Friday, November 27, 2015
We're All in this Together
That statement alone elicits visions of Zach Efron and a little Disney movie called “High School Musical.” Now that you’re humming the song…
As we spent 11 weeks this fall getting “ARMED and ready for Battle!” we’ve learned a lot about what it actually means to fight the enemy and his attacks. We’ve learned what it means to arm ourselves with the Truth of God’s Word, as well as the many important pieces of the Spiritual armor. As we wrapped up this series, emphasis was put on the fact that we never have to battle alone.
Our God is a God of relationship. He first wants us to have a relationship with Himself, and then He wants us to be in relationship with others. He instructs us throughout His Word to encourage and lift up other believers. He calls us to meet together for the purpose of those things. His desire for us to be linked together in the body of Christ extends to those times when we are in face to face combat with the enemy.
Ephesians 6:18 says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
God doesn’t intend for us to carry our burdens alone. Even in the times when an attack from the enemy is very personal, we can call on our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us fight. When we pray, we’re entering a battle on behalf of those for whom we pray. The power of prayer cannot be overstated, and our need for it cannot be stressed too strongly.
The enemy we face is a stubborn pest for sure. When he thinks we’re ‘handling’ one battle pretty well, he may see fit to come at us with more. This is when we need others to enter the battle and to carry for us what we’re too weary to carry on our own.
In the book of Exodus, Moses held up his arms as Joshua fought the enemy on the battlefield below. As long as Moses’ arms were up, Joshua and his men had victory. If his arms went down, their opponents gained ground. But…God is victorious, and He had a plan. Aaron and Hur held the arms of a weary Moses so that he in turn could continue his prayers for Joshua’s army. The battle was ultimately Joshua’s but God made a way for all of them to be connected and to support Joshua in battle. We all need people of faith like Moses, Aaron, and Hur to stand beside us in battle.
Our enemy is real and the battle is imminent, but we’re all in this together…
This Week’s Announcements:
How To…Christmas- Our next “How To” session is Wednesday, December 9th. Be sure to sign up for dinner and register your children for childcare. Registration is REQUIRED to guarantee a spot for your children. Visit our website www.stonebridgemarietta.org and click on event registration.
What God is Teaching Us:
For Toddlers-3k:
Even our youngest are getting ARMED as they explore what coming to church is all about. They are learning that Church is God’s house, and about the things we do together in His house. They are learning that we play, pray, praise, and learn about the Bible. This week our little ones continued learning about ways to praise God.
For 4k-5th Grade:
We continue to get “ARMED” and ready for battle! This week’s focus was prayer. Click the link to see lessons:
This link is no longer available
Amazing (and funny) Things Kids Do and Say…
While the 4k/K children were discussing prayer- ways we pray, things we pray about, and places we pray- some children expressed trepidation about praying out loud. Their small group leader emphasized that we don’t have to pray aloud for God to hear us; He can hear us even when we pray silently. She went on to explain that even Jesus went away by Himself to be quiet and pray to the Father. One little one exclaimed- “I remember that…He was in a garden!” The proud small group leader confirmed that answer and then asked if anyone knew the name of the garden. The same little one said, “Yes- olive…”- to which another child shouted, “Yep, that’s it- Olive Garden!” (Mount of Olives…Olive Garden…that’s the same thing, right?)
As we spent 11 weeks this fall getting “ARMED and ready for Battle!” we’ve learned a lot about what it actually means to fight the enemy and his attacks. We’ve learned what it means to arm ourselves with the Truth of God’s Word, as well as the many important pieces of the Spiritual armor. As we wrapped up this series, emphasis was put on the fact that we never have to battle alone.
Our God is a God of relationship. He first wants us to have a relationship with Himself, and then He wants us to be in relationship with others. He instructs us throughout His Word to encourage and lift up other believers. He calls us to meet together for the purpose of those things. His desire for us to be linked together in the body of Christ extends to those times when we are in face to face combat with the enemy.
Ephesians 6:18 says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
God doesn’t intend for us to carry our burdens alone. Even in the times when an attack from the enemy is very personal, we can call on our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us fight. When we pray, we’re entering a battle on behalf of those for whom we pray. The power of prayer cannot be overstated, and our need for it cannot be stressed too strongly.
The enemy we face is a stubborn pest for sure. When he thinks we’re ‘handling’ one battle pretty well, he may see fit to come at us with more. This is when we need others to enter the battle and to carry for us what we’re too weary to carry on our own.
In the book of Exodus, Moses held up his arms as Joshua fought the enemy on the battlefield below. As long as Moses’ arms were up, Joshua and his men had victory. If his arms went down, their opponents gained ground. But…God is victorious, and He had a plan. Aaron and Hur held the arms of a weary Moses so that he in turn could continue his prayers for Joshua’s army. The battle was ultimately Joshua’s but God made a way for all of them to be connected and to support Joshua in battle. We all need people of faith like Moses, Aaron, and Hur to stand beside us in battle.
Our enemy is real and the battle is imminent, but we’re all in this together…
This Week’s Announcements:
How To…Christmas- Our next “How To” session is Wednesday, December 9th. Be sure to sign up for dinner and register your children for childcare. Registration is REQUIRED to guarantee a spot for your children. Visit our website www.stonebridgemarietta.org and click on event registration.
What God is Teaching Us:
For Toddlers-3k:
Even our youngest are getting ARMED as they explore what coming to church is all about. They are learning that Church is God’s house, and about the things we do together in His house. They are learning that we play, pray, praise, and learn about the Bible. This week our little ones continued learning about ways to praise God.
For 4k-5th Grade:
We continue to get “ARMED” and ready for battle! This week’s focus was prayer. Click the link to see lessons:
This link is no longer available
Amazing (and funny) Things Kids Do and Say…
While the 4k/K children were discussing prayer- ways we pray, things we pray about, and places we pray- some children expressed trepidation about praying out loud. Their small group leader emphasized that we don’t have to pray aloud for God to hear us; He can hear us even when we pray silently. She went on to explain that even Jesus went away by Himself to be quiet and pray to the Father. One little one exclaimed- “I remember that…He was in a garden!” The proud small group leader confirmed that answer and then asked if anyone knew the name of the garden. The same little one said, “Yes- olive…”- to which another child shouted, “Yep, that’s it- Olive Garden!” (Mount of Olives…Olive Garden…that’s the same thing, right?)
Monday, November 9, 2015
Incredible Minds
Take a minute to think about what you think about. Confusing, right? We don’t think about what we’re thinking about unless we stop and focus. God gave us brains that are capable of great and wonderful processes, thoughts, creative ideas, and dreams. The world (the enemy) is great at putting images, distractions, and lies in our lives to crowd our minds, and ultimately push out what God wants to put in. Without the Helmet of Salvation, our minds could be filled with everything but the Truth and hope that come from knowing Jesus.
When we say ‘yes’ to the incredible free gift of grace that is our salvation, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit in us. As God changes us from the inside out, it is not just about our hearts, but also our minds. We are “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” Is it any wonder then that the enemy who ultimately wants to steal, kill, and destroy would also want to play mind games with us? The enemy can’t read our thoughts- he’s not that powerful- but he sure tries to sneak his agenda into our minds.
Our brains- much like a colander- have the capacity to take things in, but also to sift things out. What we allow ourselves to be exposed to is one way to keep the enemy at bay, but it’s also about wearing the Helmet of Salvation offered to us as part of God’s armor. This spiritual head piece protects our minds by reminding us of the Truth of our Salvation, as well as continuing the process of our transformation.
There are so many powerful verses that remind us of what God can and does do in our minds. Two that are well worth reading and talking about with your children:
Romans 12:2- Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Philippians 4:8- Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
This Week’s Announcements:
1. Family Dinner- Our next StoneBridge Family Dinner is Tuesday, November 17th. Please sign up to bring a dish to share AND don’t forget to register your children for childcare. We will provide childcare for birth-5th grade. Children in 4k-5th grade will also be fed dinner. Children under 4k should be fed before coming to church that night. *Please note, to maintain safety for your children we will “close” rooms once they are full. Registration is REQUIRED to guarantee a spot for your children. Visit our website and click on event registration.
2. BRING YOUR BIBLE! I’ve challenged the elementary (1st-5th grade) children to bring their own Bible each week. As we ARM ourselves with God’s Truth, one of the most important tools will be God’s Word. If you’re unsure if your child has the Bible that is appropriate for his or her age/maturity/reading level, I’m happy to be a resource for you. Contact me and I can give you suggestions about good options for your age child. Contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
What God is Teaching Us:For Toddlers-3k:
Even our youngest are getting ARMED as they explore what coming to church is all about. They are learning that Church is God’s house, and about the things we do together in His house. They are learning that we play, pray, praise, and learn about the Bible. This week they continued learning about the Bible- God’s True Story.
Click the link to see the nursery lessons:
This link is no longer available
For 4k-5th Grade:
We continue to get “ARMED” and ready for battle! This week’s focus was the helmet of salvation. Click the link to see lessons:
This link is no longer available
*Also- we are ARMING ourselves by learning a memory verse together each week.
This week’s Memory Verses:
For 2/3 year olds: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
For 3k preschool: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
For 4k/K and 1st-5th grade: “O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle.” Psalm 140:7 (NASV)
Amazing (and funny) Things Kids Do and Say…
A 4 year old child told his mom and dad that he wanted to “have a play date with Ms. Penny.” Being excited about such a proposition, I asked him if we could play Legos during our playdate. He replied, “Yes, we can but I have to show you my trains too. And then we need to talk about Bible study!” Sounds like my kind of play date.
When one 1st/2nd grade small group lea
der was talking to a group of boys about their hopes and dreams for the future, many of them started calling out things they would love to do when they grow up. Some wanted to be football players, others wanted to be builders, and then one very enthusiastically shouted out, “I want to work at Zaxby’s!” The other boys thought this was a great idea, considering all the great food he’d get.
When we say ‘yes’ to the incredible free gift of grace that is our salvation, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit in us. As God changes us from the inside out, it is not just about our hearts, but also our minds. We are “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” Is it any wonder then that the enemy who ultimately wants to steal, kill, and destroy would also want to play mind games with us? The enemy can’t read our thoughts- he’s not that powerful- but he sure tries to sneak his agenda into our minds.
Our brains- much like a colander- have the capacity to take things in, but also to sift things out. What we allow ourselves to be exposed to is one way to keep the enemy at bay, but it’s also about wearing the Helmet of Salvation offered to us as part of God’s armor. This spiritual head piece protects our minds by reminding us of the Truth of our Salvation, as well as continuing the process of our transformation.
There are so many powerful verses that remind us of what God can and does do in our minds. Two that are well worth reading and talking about with your children:
Romans 12:2- Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Philippians 4:8- Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
This Week’s Announcements:
1. Family Dinner- Our next StoneBridge Family Dinner is Tuesday, November 17th. Please sign up to bring a dish to share AND don’t forget to register your children for childcare. We will provide childcare for birth-5th grade. Children in 4k-5th grade will also be fed dinner. Children under 4k should be fed before coming to church that night. *Please note, to maintain safety for your children we will “close” rooms once they are full. Registration is REQUIRED to guarantee a spot for your children. Visit our website and click on event registration.
2. BRING YOUR BIBLE! I’ve challenged the elementary (1st-5th grade) children to bring their own Bible each week. As we ARM ourselves with God’s Truth, one of the most important tools will be God’s Word. If you’re unsure if your child has the Bible that is appropriate for his or her age/maturity/reading level, I’m happy to be a resource for you. Contact me and I can give you suggestions about good options for your age child. Contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
What God is Teaching Us:For Toddlers-3k:
Even our youngest are getting ARMED as they explore what coming to church is all about. They are learning that Church is God’s house, and about the things we do together in His house. They are learning that we play, pray, praise, and learn about the Bible. This week they continued learning about the Bible- God’s True Story.
Click the link to see the nursery lessons:
This link is no longer available
For 4k-5th Grade:
We continue to get “ARMED” and ready for battle! This week’s focus was the helmet of salvation. Click the link to see lessons:
This link is no longer available
*Also- we are ARMING ourselves by learning a memory verse together each week.
This week’s Memory Verses:
For 2/3 year olds: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
For 3k preschool: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
For 4k/K and 1st-5th grade: “O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle.” Psalm 140:7 (NASV)
Amazing (and funny) Things Kids Do and Say…
A 4 year old child told his mom and dad that he wanted to “have a play date with Ms. Penny.” Being excited about such a proposition, I asked him if we could play Legos during our playdate. He replied, “Yes, we can but I have to show you my trains too. And then we need to talk about Bible study!” Sounds like my kind of play date.
When one 1st/2nd grade small group lea
der was talking to a group of boys about their hopes and dreams for the future, many of them started calling out things they would love to do when they grow up. Some wanted to be football players, others wanted to be builders, and then one very enthusiastically shouted out, “I want to work at Zaxby’s!” The other boys thought this was a great idea, considering all the great food he’d get.
Monday, November 2, 2015
Why We Love Fruit
It’s immensely accurate that none of us know the heart of another person, and equally true that God does. The only real measure we as mere humans have to assert what is in another’s heart is to look at the fruit in their lives.
As a Children’s Pastor I’ve come to terms with the fact that I may never get to fully see the fruit in the lives of those I minister to. Kids are ever changing and growing so the Spiritual fruit sometimes grows after they’ve left my care. That’s why, when I do get a glimpse at the fruit getting ripe on the vine, I get super excited.
This past Sunday we took a little pause in our ARMED series to review what we’ve been learning. God has given us so much to digest…rich and deep things…that a little look-back seemed in order. Through fun review games (like human tic-tac-toe) we did just that. The kids were ‘quizzed’ on their knowledge of the truths we’ve been learning, the memory verses they’ve been challenged with, and the Bible stories we’ve read that help us understand some of these hard concepts. To say I was blown away would be an understatement! Memory verses were being quoted, kids were explaining deep Spiritual truths, and the recall of stories about David, Daniel, Paul, Silas, and Jesus (just to name a few) were being told. There was fruit…big bowls of it…everywhere!
Why does fruit matter…why do we love it so? Simply put, it means God is at work in the minds and hearts of our kids. Literal fruit is good for our bodies. Spiritual fruit is good for our souls…and a Children’s Pastor’s heart!
This Week’s Announcements:
1. BRING YOUR BIBLE! I’ve challenged the elementary (1st-5th grade) children to bring their own Bible each week. As we ARM ourselves with God’s Truth, one of the most important tools will be God’s Word. If you’re unsure if your child has the Bible that is appropriate for his or her age/maturity/reading level, I’m happy to be a resource for you. Contact me and I can give you suggestions about good options for your age child. Contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
What God is Teaching Us:
For Toddlers-3k:
Even our youngest are getting ARMED as they explore what coming to church is all about. They are learning that Church is God’s house, and about the things we do together in His house. They are learning that we play, pray, praise, and learn about the Bible. This week they began learning about the Bible- God’s True Story.
Click the link to see the nursery lessons: This link is no longer available
For 4k-5th Grade:
We continue to get “ARMED” and ready for battle! To see this week’s review, click on the link below.
This link is no longer available
*Also- we are ARMING ourselves by learning a memory verse together each week.
This week’s Memory Verses:
For 2/3 year olds: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 For 3k preschool: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 For 4k/K: “Put on all of God's armor. Then you can stand firm against the devil's evil plans.” Ephesians 6:11 (NIrV)For 1st-5th grade: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say…
One of my buddies turned six last week. “That’s a very big deal because-as you know, Ms. Penny- I have to use two hands to show you how old I am now!” After telling him he was exactly right, I asked if he’d had a good birthday so far and how many people had said “Happy Birthday!” He told me a number. I replied with, “Add one more…Happy Birthday!” He responded, “Thanks…hearing that never gets old!”
As a Children’s Pastor I’ve come to terms with the fact that I may never get to fully see the fruit in the lives of those I minister to. Kids are ever changing and growing so the Spiritual fruit sometimes grows after they’ve left my care. That’s why, when I do get a glimpse at the fruit getting ripe on the vine, I get super excited.
This past Sunday we took a little pause in our ARMED series to review what we’ve been learning. God has given us so much to digest…rich and deep things…that a little look-back seemed in order. Through fun review games (like human tic-tac-toe) we did just that. The kids were ‘quizzed’ on their knowledge of the truths we’ve been learning, the memory verses they’ve been challenged with, and the Bible stories we’ve read that help us understand some of these hard concepts. To say I was blown away would be an understatement! Memory verses were being quoted, kids were explaining deep Spiritual truths, and the recall of stories about David, Daniel, Paul, Silas, and Jesus (just to name a few) were being told. There was fruit…big bowls of it…everywhere!
Why does fruit matter…why do we love it so? Simply put, it means God is at work in the minds and hearts of our kids. Literal fruit is good for our bodies. Spiritual fruit is good for our souls…and a Children’s Pastor’s heart!
This Week’s Announcements:
1. BRING YOUR BIBLE! I’ve challenged the elementary (1st-5th grade) children to bring their own Bible each week. As we ARM ourselves with God’s Truth, one of the most important tools will be God’s Word. If you’re unsure if your child has the Bible that is appropriate for his or her age/maturity/reading level, I’m happy to be a resource for you. Contact me and I can give you suggestions about good options for your age child. Contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
What God is Teaching Us:
For Toddlers-3k:
Even our youngest are getting ARMED as they explore what coming to church is all about. They are learning that Church is God’s house, and about the things we do together in His house. They are learning that we play, pray, praise, and learn about the Bible. This week they began learning about the Bible- God’s True Story.
Click the link to see the nursery lessons: This link is no longer available
For 4k-5th Grade:
We continue to get “ARMED” and ready for battle! To see this week’s review, click on the link below.
This link is no longer available
*Also- we are ARMING ourselves by learning a memory verse together each week.
This week’s Memory Verses:
For 2/3 year olds: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 For 3k preschool: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 For 4k/K: “Put on all of God's armor. Then you can stand firm against the devil's evil plans.” Ephesians 6:11 (NIrV)For 1st-5th grade: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say…
One of my buddies turned six last week. “That’s a very big deal because-as you know, Ms. Penny- I have to use two hands to show you how old I am now!” After telling him he was exactly right, I asked if he’d had a good birthday so far and how many people had said “Happy Birthday!” He told me a number. I replied with, “Add one more…Happy Birthday!” He responded, “Thanks…hearing that never gets old!”
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Right, Ready, and Resilient
We’ve been so busy getting ARMED and READY FOR BATTLE that we haven’t had many opportunities to keep you informed. So…let’s catch up a bit. Over the last three Sundays we’ve learned what it means to be right, ready, and resilient as we continue to fight our very real enemy. While learning those things, we’ve added three pieces to our armor arsenal- the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of readiness, and the shield of faith. Here’s what we’ve learned…
The breastplate of righteousness is a tricky one because we first have to understand what righteousness is. Simply put, righteousness is being right with God. It’s not about trying our best to do everything right all the time…or even part of the time. We are credited with righteousness because of what Jesus did for us and our relationship with Him. We can’t be righteous apart from Him anymore than we can have an egg for breakfast apart from a chicken first laying it. Once we’ve been credited with righteousness, God allows us to wear it like a breastplate to protect our hearts. We live out of our hearts so God’s concern for us guarding them from the enemy is pretty significant.
Next we put on the shoes of readiness (sometimes called the shoes of peace). As one who loves shoes, I grasp this concept pretty easily. To be ready to walk on the beach, I wear flip-flops. To be ready to walk up Kennesaw Mountain, I wear tennis shoes. To be ready to play in the snow, I wear boots. In many circumstances, my footwear can make or break me; I need to be ready with the right shoes for the situation. Our armor shoes are all about being ready to follow Jesus. We want to walk in peace because of the gospel we know and believe. Wearing the shoes of readiness- because of the gospel- means we can walk over and around the obstacles that Satan throws in our path without stumbling. If you’ve ever stepped on a Lego with bare feet, you know the REAL pain of not wearing shoes. Spiritually speaking, stepping on or stumbling over the landmines Satan throws out is equivalent to that…OUCH!!
This past Sunday we found out what it means to be resilient (strong) in our faith as we lift up the shield of faith. The shield is the only part of the armor we don’t wear, but instead have to hold. Soldiers that held these important- and large- shields in battle had work to do to get the shield ready for battle. Dipping the shield in water and/or rubbing oil on the shield kept it moist so the flaming arrows hurled at them would be extinguished. Think about the strength it took to hold up such a grand piece of armor during the battle. Just like those soldiers, we can’t wait until the battle ensues to get our shield ready. By that time, it’s too late. We have to be ready before it begins. We must “moisten” our faith by knowing and relying on the “living water,” we must flex and strengthen our faith muscles by studying God’s Word and spending time in His presence. Our eyes must continuously be on Jesus-the “author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
I’m so proud of how the kids are digging in to what God is teaching us about being ARMED and READY for battle. My encouragement to you as parents is to talk about these things as a family. You wouldn’t send your kids onto the football or soccer field unprepared or lacking the right equipment to protect them. The battle they face- that we all face- is much more substantial than any sport. Don’t send your kids into the battle without helping them get ARMED. In all this, don’t minimize our enemy, but instead maximize our God because He always wins!
Ephesians 6:14b-16: “Stand firm then…with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
This Week’s Announcements:
1. This Sunday (October 25th), kids in 4k-5th grade will be engaged in outreach projects. The projects are geared toward serving, encouraging, and blessing our long-term missionaries. The outreach planning team is still in need of volunteers to help with the projects at both the 9am and 11am service. If you’re interested in helping, please contact Jennifer Dew at jennifer.dew@gmail.com or Christina Busey at christina@stonebridgemarietta.org
2. BRING YOUR BIBLE! I’ve challenged the elementary (1st-5th grade) children to bring their own Bible each week. As we ARM ourselves with God’s Truth, one of the most important tools will be God’s Word. If you’re unsure if your child has the Bible that is appropriate for his or her age/maturity/reading level, I’m happy to be a resource for you. Contact me and I can give you suggestions about good options for your age child. Contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
What God is Teaching Us:For Toddlers-3k:
Even our youngest are getting ARMED as they explore what coming to church is all about. They are learning that Church is God’s house, and about the things we do together in His house. They are learning that we play, pray, praise, and learn about the Bible. This week they continued to learn what it means to praise God. They enjoyed singing and using instruments!
Click the link to see the nursery lessons:
This link is no longer available
For 4k-5th Grade:
We are continuing to get “ARMED” and ready for battle! This week’s lesson focused on the shield of faith. To see lessons for the last three weeks (breastplate of righteousness, shoes of readiness, and shield of faith) for 4k/K, 1st&2nd grade, and 3rd-5th grade small groups, click the appropriate link below.
This link is no longer available
*Also- we are ARMING ourselves by learning a memory verse together each week.
This week’s Memory Verses:
For 2/3 year olds: “I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14 For 3k preschool: “I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14 For 4k/K: “Every word of God is perfect. He is like a shield to those who trust in him. He keeps them safe.” Proverbs 30:5 (NIrV)For 1st-5th grade: “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Proverbs 30:5
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say…
While encouraging the 4k/K kids to remember what we’ve been learning, I prompted them this way… “We’re getting… (armed)…AND… (ready for battle)!” The kids filled in the blanks easily, so I asked them to tell me about the battle we’re facing- specifically who we are battling. One little boy raised his hand and said, “satin.” I said, “Satan.” He said… “yeah- satin.” After a few times back and forth, I couldn’t get him to hear the difference. Maybe he’s had a traumatizing experience with shiny material I couldn’t understand; although, I know he hasn’t been a bridesmaid so I’m not sure what that could be.
The breastplate of righteousness is a tricky one because we first have to understand what righteousness is. Simply put, righteousness is being right with God. It’s not about trying our best to do everything right all the time…or even part of the time. We are credited with righteousness because of what Jesus did for us and our relationship with Him. We can’t be righteous apart from Him anymore than we can have an egg for breakfast apart from a chicken first laying it. Once we’ve been credited with righteousness, God allows us to wear it like a breastplate to protect our hearts. We live out of our hearts so God’s concern for us guarding them from the enemy is pretty significant.
Next we put on the shoes of readiness (sometimes called the shoes of peace). As one who loves shoes, I grasp this concept pretty easily. To be ready to walk on the beach, I wear flip-flops. To be ready to walk up Kennesaw Mountain, I wear tennis shoes. To be ready to play in the snow, I wear boots. In many circumstances, my footwear can make or break me; I need to be ready with the right shoes for the situation. Our armor shoes are all about being ready to follow Jesus. We want to walk in peace because of the gospel we know and believe. Wearing the shoes of readiness- because of the gospel- means we can walk over and around the obstacles that Satan throws in our path without stumbling. If you’ve ever stepped on a Lego with bare feet, you know the REAL pain of not wearing shoes. Spiritually speaking, stepping on or stumbling over the landmines Satan throws out is equivalent to that…OUCH!!
This past Sunday we found out what it means to be resilient (strong) in our faith as we lift up the shield of faith. The shield is the only part of the armor we don’t wear, but instead have to hold. Soldiers that held these important- and large- shields in battle had work to do to get the shield ready for battle. Dipping the shield in water and/or rubbing oil on the shield kept it moist so the flaming arrows hurled at them would be extinguished. Think about the strength it took to hold up such a grand piece of armor during the battle. Just like those soldiers, we can’t wait until the battle ensues to get our shield ready. By that time, it’s too late. We have to be ready before it begins. We must “moisten” our faith by knowing and relying on the “living water,” we must flex and strengthen our faith muscles by studying God’s Word and spending time in His presence. Our eyes must continuously be on Jesus-the “author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
I’m so proud of how the kids are digging in to what God is teaching us about being ARMED and READY for battle. My encouragement to you as parents is to talk about these things as a family. You wouldn’t send your kids onto the football or soccer field unprepared or lacking the right equipment to protect them. The battle they face- that we all face- is much more substantial than any sport. Don’t send your kids into the battle without helping them get ARMED. In all this, don’t minimize our enemy, but instead maximize our God because He always wins!
Ephesians 6:14b-16: “Stand firm then…with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
This Week’s Announcements:
1. This Sunday (October 25th), kids in 4k-5th grade will be engaged in outreach projects. The projects are geared toward serving, encouraging, and blessing our long-term missionaries. The outreach planning team is still in need of volunteers to help with the projects at both the 9am and 11am service. If you’re interested in helping, please contact Jennifer Dew at jennifer.dew@gmail.com or Christina Busey at christina@stonebridgemarietta.org
2. BRING YOUR BIBLE! I’ve challenged the elementary (1st-5th grade) children to bring their own Bible each week. As we ARM ourselves with God’s Truth, one of the most important tools will be God’s Word. If you’re unsure if your child has the Bible that is appropriate for his or her age/maturity/reading level, I’m happy to be a resource for you. Contact me and I can give you suggestions about good options for your age child. Contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
What God is Teaching Us:For Toddlers-3k:
Even our youngest are getting ARMED as they explore what coming to church is all about. They are learning that Church is God’s house, and about the things we do together in His house. They are learning that we play, pray, praise, and learn about the Bible. This week they continued to learn what it means to praise God. They enjoyed singing and using instruments!
Click the link to see the nursery lessons:
This link is no longer available
For 4k-5th Grade:
We are continuing to get “ARMED” and ready for battle! This week’s lesson focused on the shield of faith. To see lessons for the last three weeks (breastplate of righteousness, shoes of readiness, and shield of faith) for 4k/K, 1st&2nd grade, and 3rd-5th grade small groups, click the appropriate link below.
This link is no longer available
*Also- we are ARMING ourselves by learning a memory verse together each week.
This week’s Memory Verses:
For 2/3 year olds: “I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14 For 3k preschool: “I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14 For 4k/K: “Every word of God is perfect. He is like a shield to those who trust in him. He keeps them safe.” Proverbs 30:5 (NIrV)For 1st-5th grade: “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Proverbs 30:5
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say…
While encouraging the 4k/K kids to remember what we’ve been learning, I prompted them this way… “We’re getting… (armed)…AND… (ready for battle)!” The kids filled in the blanks easily, so I asked them to tell me about the battle we’re facing- specifically who we are battling. One little boy raised his hand and said, “satin.” I said, “Satan.” He said… “yeah- satin.” After a few times back and forth, I couldn’t get him to hear the difference. Maybe he’s had a traumatizing experience with shiny material I couldn’t understand; although, I know he hasn’t been a bridesmaid so I’m not sure what that could be.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Wrapping Up Truth
As one leader put it on Sunday, kids are great at “wiggling out” of the truth sometimes. Kids generally will do just about anything to avoid getting in trouble. They will nip a little bit off the whole truth, they will remain silent to avoid the risk of self-incrimination, they will stretch the truth, and at times, they will outright lie. (Of course, all of this can be said about adults as well)
This week as we continued our ARMED series, we put on the first piece of God’s Armor- the belt of truth. Belts in our world are an accessory more than a necessity. The belt of truth is not an accessory we put on only when it suits us- or when it matches our current circumstance. The belt of truth is a necessity for fighting the battle we’re all facing. Like the Roman soldier that Paul used as a model/visual for the armor, we need to wear this belt to hold all other armor together.
In other words, without the Truth, none of the armor would fit, stay on, or even make sense. (This is an example of the remarkable consistency of God’s Word!) Jesus called Satan out as the father of lies, and said of Himself, “I am the truth…” Wrapping ourselves in truth is not just about putting on a belt. It’s about wrapping our lives with Truth. It’s about filling our minds and hearts with Truth. It’s about knowing and trusting Him who is Truth.
Kids (and adults) avoid, stretch, or hide the truth at times. We cannot be ARMED against the father of lies if we are taking off and putting on the belt of truth when it suits us. We have to make a conscience decision…our kids have to make a conscience decision…to put on the belt of truth.
Ephesians 6:14a- “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…”
This Week’s Announcements:
1. We still have a few ministry spots to fill. If you’d like to learn more about how you too can make an investment in the lives of kids, please contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org or Christina Busey at christina@stonebridgemarietta.org
2. BRING YOUR BIBLE! I’ve challenged the elementary (1st-5th grade) children to bring their own Bible each week. As we ARM ourselves with God’s Truth, one of the most important tools will be God’s Word. If you’re unsure if your child has the Bible that is appropriate for his or her age/maturity/reading level, I’m happy to be a resource for you. Contact me and I can give you suggestions about good options for your age child. Contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
3. Registration is now open for our annual PathFinders Camping Day! REMEMBER THAT REGISTRATION ENDS ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11TH SO DON’T DELAY! Click the link below to register your 1st-5th grade child. https://stonebridgemarietta.org/events/event/pathfinders-camping-day-2/
What God is Teaching Us:
For Toddlers-3k:
Even our youngest are getting ARMED as they explore what coming to church is all about. They are learning that Church is God’s house, and about the things we do together in His house. They are learning that we play, pray, praise, and learn about the Bible. As they continued to learn about prayer, the focus was listening when we pray.
Click the link to see the nursery lessons: This link is no longer available
For 4k-5th Grade:
We continued our new Fall Curriculum- “ARMED” on Sunday. This week’s lesson focused on the belt of truth and what it means to wrap our lives in Truth. Click on the link below to see the lessons for 4k/K, 1st&2nd grade, and 3rd-5th grade small groups.
This link is no longer available
*Also- we are ARMING ourselves by learning a memory verse together each week.
This week’s Memory Verses:
For 2/3 year olds: “Call to me and I will answer you.” Jeremiah 33:3a
For 3k preschool: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and wonderful things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
For 4k/K: “You will know the truth. The truth will set you free." John 8:32(NIrV)
For 1st-5th grade: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 (NIV)
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say…
The 4k/K class was on a roll this week with lots of funny things being said! Here are just a few:
During the 4k/K large group lesson, the kids were being asked to recall what was talked about last week. (STANDING FIRM against the enemy). When asked what we need to STAND, many kids answered things like “truth” or “God’s Word.” One little girl…slightly confused by everyone else’s answers- even looking at them like they were crazy- said, “Our two feet!”
Kids were asked to shout out what we’re learning. (The phrase is “We’re getting ARMED and ready for battle!”) One little girl shouted, “We’re getting ARMED and ready for battleship!”
All I could think about was the old commercial… “D6! Ahh…you sunk my battleship!”
One little boy was reciting last week’s Bible verse (James 4:7). When he got to the end, he said, “James 4:7…NIrV. I don’t think you have to say that last part- the NIrV-but I did just in case.”
As the children learned the new Bible verse (John 8:32) this week, they practiced saying it several times, along with the Scripture reference. One little guy couldn’t understand how 8:32 was not 832 (eight hundred thirty-two). An adult tried to explain it several times with no luck. The little boy, getting fed up, said... “Well, it’s 832 and that’s past my bedtime. I go to bed at 830 [eight hundred thirty]!”
This week as we continued our ARMED series, we put on the first piece of God’s Armor- the belt of truth. Belts in our world are an accessory more than a necessity. The belt of truth is not an accessory we put on only when it suits us- or when it matches our current circumstance. The belt of truth is a necessity for fighting the battle we’re all facing. Like the Roman soldier that Paul used as a model/visual for the armor, we need to wear this belt to hold all other armor together.
In other words, without the Truth, none of the armor would fit, stay on, or even make sense. (This is an example of the remarkable consistency of God’s Word!) Jesus called Satan out as the father of lies, and said of Himself, “I am the truth…” Wrapping ourselves in truth is not just about putting on a belt. It’s about wrapping our lives with Truth. It’s about filling our minds and hearts with Truth. It’s about knowing and trusting Him who is Truth.
Kids (and adults) avoid, stretch, or hide the truth at times. We cannot be ARMED against the father of lies if we are taking off and putting on the belt of truth when it suits us. We have to make a conscience decision…our kids have to make a conscience decision…to put on the belt of truth.
Ephesians 6:14a- “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…”
This Week’s Announcements:
1. We still have a few ministry spots to fill. If you’d like to learn more about how you too can make an investment in the lives of kids, please contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org or Christina Busey at christina@stonebridgemarietta.org
2. BRING YOUR BIBLE! I’ve challenged the elementary (1st-5th grade) children to bring their own Bible each week. As we ARM ourselves with God’s Truth, one of the most important tools will be God’s Word. If you’re unsure if your child has the Bible that is appropriate for his or her age/maturity/reading level, I’m happy to be a resource for you. Contact me and I can give you suggestions about good options for your age child. Contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
3. Registration is now open for our annual PathFinders Camping Day! REMEMBER THAT REGISTRATION ENDS ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11TH SO DON’T DELAY! Click the link below to register your 1st-5th grade child. https://stonebridgemarietta.org/events/event/pathfinders-camping-day-2/
What God is Teaching Us:
For Toddlers-3k:
Even our youngest are getting ARMED as they explore what coming to church is all about. They are learning that Church is God’s house, and about the things we do together in His house. They are learning that we play, pray, praise, and learn about the Bible. As they continued to learn about prayer, the focus was listening when we pray.
Click the link to see the nursery lessons: This link is no longer available
For 4k-5th Grade:
We continued our new Fall Curriculum- “ARMED” on Sunday. This week’s lesson focused on the belt of truth and what it means to wrap our lives in Truth. Click on the link below to see the lessons for 4k/K, 1st&2nd grade, and 3rd-5th grade small groups.
This link is no longer available
*Also- we are ARMING ourselves by learning a memory verse together each week.
This week’s Memory Verses:
For 2/3 year olds: “Call to me and I will answer you.” Jeremiah 33:3a
For 3k preschool: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and wonderful things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
For 4k/K: “You will know the truth. The truth will set you free." John 8:32(NIrV)
For 1st-5th grade: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 (NIV)
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say…
The 4k/K class was on a roll this week with lots of funny things being said! Here are just a few:
During the 4k/K large group lesson, the kids were being asked to recall what was talked about last week. (STANDING FIRM against the enemy). When asked what we need to STAND, many kids answered things like “truth” or “God’s Word.” One little girl…slightly confused by everyone else’s answers- even looking at them like they were crazy- said, “Our two feet!”
Kids were asked to shout out what we’re learning. (The phrase is “We’re getting ARMED and ready for battle!”) One little girl shouted, “We’re getting ARMED and ready for battleship!”
All I could think about was the old commercial… “D6! Ahh…you sunk my battleship!”
One little boy was reciting last week’s Bible verse (James 4:7). When he got to the end, he said, “James 4:7…NIrV. I don’t think you have to say that last part- the NIrV-but I did just in case.”
As the children learned the new Bible verse (John 8:32) this week, they practiced saying it several times, along with the Scripture reference. One little guy couldn’t understand how 8:32 was not 832 (eight hundred thirty-two). An adult tried to explain it several times with no luck. The little boy, getting fed up, said... “Well, it’s 832 and that’s past my bedtime. I go to bed at 830 [eight hundred thirty]!”
Monday, September 21, 2015
Stand Firm!
If our children have ever had the unfortunate experience of being a victim of bullying, our response as parents can range from sympathy to rage. We cry- sometimes not so secretly- for our kids. We are angry at the world our kids live in or at the offending child. Wherever we land on the continuum of sympathy to rage, we want to fix it for our children.
As adults we know that a bully’s hidden secret is they are in actuality cowards. Most bullies pick their victims for one reason- they seem like an easy target. Bullies by definition are insecure or hurting and they want to take it out on someone else. We know this and yet it doesn’t make it any easier to watch. As hard as it is to watch, it’s even harder to convince our kids that the bullying has nothing to do with them being less than, but all to do with someone else feeling that way.
This is one way Satan works. He uses lies to convince us that we are unworthy of love. He tries his best to bully his way into our lives, and just like any other bully, he is nothing but a coward. Think about it…he has to feel less than because, as we know, he is. He has to feel defeated, because indeed he has been. He has to find someone to blame and pick on, or to make miserable, because he himself is miserable.
So what do we do in the face of a bully? What should our kids do in the face of a bully? Think about the advice and counsel you’d give your child when faced with a bully in school. Maybe it would go something like this…
“You are not what they say you are…you are who God says you are!”
“You are loved, special, talented, and beautiful.”
“Ignore what he says.”
“Don’t give her any satisfaction by answering back. If you ignore her, she gets no satisfaction and will stop.”
In the face of the neighborhood bully- our enemy, Satan- couldn’t we say some similar kinds of things? Can we face this bully head on? Yes we can. Can we stand up to this coward? Yes we can. Can we defeat the bully? Yes we can. Because of Jesus and the armor provided us by God, we have the power to face, stand up to, and defeat this bully. Let’s stand up to him in prayer for our kids. Let's encourage our kids to stand up to him in prayer. Let’s ARM ourselves with TRUTH, knowing that part of being ARMED means standing firm!
This Week’s Announcements:
1. We still have a few ministry spots to fill. If you’d like to learn more about how you too can make an investment in the lives of kids, please contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org or Christina Busey at christina@stonebridgemarietta.org
2. BRING YOUR BIBLE! I’ve challenged the elementary (1st-5th grade) children to bring their own Bible each week. As we ARM ourselves with God’s Truth, one of the most important tools will be God’s Word. If you’re unsure if your child has the Bible that is appropriate for his or her age/maturity/reading level, I’m happy to be a resource for you. Contact me and I can give you suggestions about good options for your age child. Contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
3. Registration is now open for our annual PathFinders Camping Day! Click the link below to register your 1st-5th grade child. https://stonebridgemarietta.org/events/event/pathfinders-camping-day-2/
What God is Teaching Us:
For Toddlers-3k:
Even our youngest are getting ARMED as they explore what coming to church is all about. They are learning that Church is God’s house, and about the things we do together in His house. They are learning that we play, pray, praise, and learn about the Bible. This week’s focus was prayer and how God is happy when we talk to Him.
Click the link to see the nursery lessons: This link is no longer available
For 4k-5th Grade:
We continued our new Fall Curriculum- “ARMED” on Sunday. This week’s lesson focused on standing firm and what that means as we face our enemy. Click on the link below to see the lessons for 4k/K, 1st&2nd grade, and 3rd-5th grade small groups.
This link is no longer available
*Also- we are ARMING ourselves by learning a memory verse together each week.
This week’s Memory Verses:
For 2/3 year olds: “Call to me and I will answer you.” Jeremiah 33:3a
For 3k preschool: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and wonderful things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
For 4k/K and 1st/2nd: “So obey God. Stand up to the devil. He will run away from you.” James 4:7(NIrV)
For 3rd-5th grade: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”James 4:7 (NIV)

Amazing Things Kids Do and Say...
They pray! Check out the picture of one young man STANDING in prayer during his small group on Sunday.
As nasty germs begin to stir up, nasty little viruses are beginning to show up, and kids are getting sick. After fighting off a fever for several days, one little guy developed a rash. He very seriously looked at the rash. Then looking up at his mom, he said, “Mom, I know what I have. It’s in the Bible. I have leprosy!”
All I can say to that is…let’s hope not…I don’t think my Clorox wipes will kill those germs! :)
As adults we know that a bully’s hidden secret is they are in actuality cowards. Most bullies pick their victims for one reason- they seem like an easy target. Bullies by definition are insecure or hurting and they want to take it out on someone else. We know this and yet it doesn’t make it any easier to watch. As hard as it is to watch, it’s even harder to convince our kids that the bullying has nothing to do with them being less than, but all to do with someone else feeling that way.
This is one way Satan works. He uses lies to convince us that we are unworthy of love. He tries his best to bully his way into our lives, and just like any other bully, he is nothing but a coward. Think about it…he has to feel less than because, as we know, he is. He has to feel defeated, because indeed he has been. He has to find someone to blame and pick on, or to make miserable, because he himself is miserable.
So what do we do in the face of a bully? What should our kids do in the face of a bully? Think about the advice and counsel you’d give your child when faced with a bully in school. Maybe it would go something like this…
“You are not what they say you are…you are who God says you are!”
“You are loved, special, talented, and beautiful.”
“Ignore what he says.”
“Don’t give her any satisfaction by answering back. If you ignore her, she gets no satisfaction and will stop.”
In the face of the neighborhood bully- our enemy, Satan- couldn’t we say some similar kinds of things? Can we face this bully head on? Yes we can. Can we stand up to this coward? Yes we can. Can we defeat the bully? Yes we can. Because of Jesus and the armor provided us by God, we have the power to face, stand up to, and defeat this bully. Let’s stand up to him in prayer for our kids. Let's encourage our kids to stand up to him in prayer. Let’s ARM ourselves with TRUTH, knowing that part of being ARMED means standing firm!
This Week’s Announcements:
1. We still have a few ministry spots to fill. If you’d like to learn more about how you too can make an investment in the lives of kids, please contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org or Christina Busey at christina@stonebridgemarietta.org
2. BRING YOUR BIBLE! I’ve challenged the elementary (1st-5th grade) children to bring their own Bible each week. As we ARM ourselves with God’s Truth, one of the most important tools will be God’s Word. If you’re unsure if your child has the Bible that is appropriate for his or her age/maturity/reading level, I’m happy to be a resource for you. Contact me and I can give you suggestions about good options for your age child. Contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
3. Registration is now open for our annual PathFinders Camping Day! Click the link below to register your 1st-5th grade child. https://stonebridgemarietta.org/events/event/pathfinders-camping-day-2/
What God is Teaching Us:
For Toddlers-3k:
Even our youngest are getting ARMED as they explore what coming to church is all about. They are learning that Church is God’s house, and about the things we do together in His house. They are learning that we play, pray, praise, and learn about the Bible. This week’s focus was prayer and how God is happy when we talk to Him.
Click the link to see the nursery lessons: This link is no longer available
For 4k-5th Grade:
We continued our new Fall Curriculum- “ARMED” on Sunday. This week’s lesson focused on standing firm and what that means as we face our enemy. Click on the link below to see the lessons for 4k/K, 1st&2nd grade, and 3rd-5th grade small groups.
This link is no longer available
*Also- we are ARMING ourselves by learning a memory verse together each week.
This week’s Memory Verses:
For 2/3 year olds: “Call to me and I will answer you.” Jeremiah 33:3a
For 3k preschool: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and wonderful things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
For 4k/K and 1st/2nd: “So obey God. Stand up to the devil. He will run away from you.” James 4:7(NIrV)
For 3rd-5th grade: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”James 4:7 (NIV)
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say...
They pray! Check out the picture of one young man STANDING in prayer during his small group on Sunday.
As nasty germs begin to stir up, nasty little viruses are beginning to show up, and kids are getting sick. After fighting off a fever for several days, one little guy developed a rash. He very seriously looked at the rash. Then looking up at his mom, he said, “Mom, I know what I have. It’s in the Bible. I have leprosy!”
All I can say to that is…let’s hope not…I don’t think my Clorox wipes will kill those germs! :)
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
ARMED and ready for Battle!
With the popularity of the newly released movie “War Room” it’s evident God’s people are becoming more and more aware of the need to be ready for battle. This is the heart behind our new fall series for PathFinders… “ARMED.”
This week we reviewed what it means to be ARMED and then began learning a little about the enemy we’re actually fighting. In Scripture he is called many things and takes on many forms- tempter, liar, thief, enemy, Satan, accuser, adversary, angel of light, serpent, dragon, Antichrist…just to name a few. Our enemy is real. Ephesians 6:12 ~ “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Even knowing he is real, we can be assured we have no need to be afraid. Our God knows the battle plan, He equips us to be ready for battle, AND most importantly- He always wins!
The reality of this battle we face can be thought of simply as a battle we’re familiar with…like football. Any good football coach prepares his team to face an opponent by watching game film, practicing, getting stronger, and knowing the opponent’s strengths, weaknesses, and usual plan of attack. Why wouldn’t we prepare similarly to face the battle ahead of us? If we’re to face our opponent with both a good defensive and offensive plan, then we need to know something about that opponent. We don’t want to minimize our enemy, but instead maximize our God!
As I reminded the kids on Sunday, this enemy is not super creative. He’s had the same plan since his visit in the garden. He wants to trick, lie, and cheat his way into our lives for the purpose of pulling us away from God. But, again, we know two things for sure. Our God is bigger and our God always wins. Just saying the name “Jesus” will have him running for cover. (The kids found it quite funny to think of him running away like a “chicken.”)
The war was won on the cross, but our stubborn enemy doesn’t give up easily. The battle we face is real, but our God is also real! We live on the side of victory and our battle cry is “ARMED and ready!”
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11
This Week’s Announcements:
1. We still have a few ministry spots to fill. If you’d like to learn more about how you too can make an investment in the lives of kids, please contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org or Christina Busey at christina@stonebridgemarietta.org
2. BRING YOUR BIBLE! I’ve challenged the elementary (1st-5th grade) children to bring their own Bible each week. As we ARM ourselves with God’s Truth, one of the most important tools will be God’s Word. If you’re unsure if your child has the Bible that is appropriate for his or her age/maturity/reading level, I’m happy to be a resource for you. Contact me and I can give you suggestions about good options for your age child. Contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
3. Registration is now open for our annual PathFinders Camping Day! Click the link below to register your 1st-5th grade child. https://stonebridgemarietta.org/events/event/pathfinders-camping-day-2/
What God is Teaching Us:
For Toddlers-3k:
Even our youngest are getting ARMED as they explore what coming to church is all about. They are learning that church is God’s house and about the things we do together in His house. They are learning that we play, pray, praise, and learn about the Bible. This week’s focus was prayer.
Click the link below to see the nursery lessons.
This link is no longer available
For 4k-5th Grade:
We continued our new Fall Curriculum- “ARMED” on Sunday. This week’s lesson focused on the importance of knowing the enemy we’re fighting. Click on the link below to see the lessons for 4k/K, 1st&2nd grade, and 3rd-5th grade small groups.
This link is no longer available
*Also- we are ARMING ourselves by learning a memory verse together each week.
This week’s Memory Verses:
For 2/3 year olds: “Call to me and I will answer…” Jeremiah 33:3aFor 3k preschool: “Call to me and I will answer and tell you great and wonderful things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 For 4k/K and 1st/2nd: John 10:10 (NCV) ~ “The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I came to give life-life in its fullness."For 3rd-5th grade: John 10:10 (NIV) ~ “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Amazing or Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
One Kindergarten child who seems to be quite the “ladies man” was picked out by one little girl as the one she wanted to marry. After making her declaration of love to him, other kids began singing the (still popular after all these years) song “J and S, sitting in a tree…K-I-S-S-I-N-G…” The little boy, upon returning home, made this sign. (See picture) When his mom asked him about it, he explained- “I can’t kiss her until I know if she loves Jesus!” That’s a man with his priorities in order!
This week we reviewed what it means to be ARMED and then began learning a little about the enemy we’re actually fighting. In Scripture he is called many things and takes on many forms- tempter, liar, thief, enemy, Satan, accuser, adversary, angel of light, serpent, dragon, Antichrist…just to name a few. Our enemy is real. Ephesians 6:12 ~ “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Even knowing he is real, we can be assured we have no need to be afraid. Our God knows the battle plan, He equips us to be ready for battle, AND most importantly- He always wins!
The reality of this battle we face can be thought of simply as a battle we’re familiar with…like football. Any good football coach prepares his team to face an opponent by watching game film, practicing, getting stronger, and knowing the opponent’s strengths, weaknesses, and usual plan of attack. Why wouldn’t we prepare similarly to face the battle ahead of us? If we’re to face our opponent with both a good defensive and offensive plan, then we need to know something about that opponent. We don’t want to minimize our enemy, but instead maximize our God!
As I reminded the kids on Sunday, this enemy is not super creative. He’s had the same plan since his visit in the garden. He wants to trick, lie, and cheat his way into our lives for the purpose of pulling us away from God. But, again, we know two things for sure. Our God is bigger and our God always wins. Just saying the name “Jesus” will have him running for cover. (The kids found it quite funny to think of him running away like a “chicken.”)
The war was won on the cross, but our stubborn enemy doesn’t give up easily. The battle we face is real, but our God is also real! We live on the side of victory and our battle cry is “ARMED and ready!”
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11
This Week’s Announcements:
1. We still have a few ministry spots to fill. If you’d like to learn more about how you too can make an investment in the lives of kids, please contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org or Christina Busey at christina@stonebridgemarietta.org
2. BRING YOUR BIBLE! I’ve challenged the elementary (1st-5th grade) children to bring their own Bible each week. As we ARM ourselves with God’s Truth, one of the most important tools will be God’s Word. If you’re unsure if your child has the Bible that is appropriate for his or her age/maturity/reading level, I’m happy to be a resource for you. Contact me and I can give you suggestions about good options for your age child. Contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
3. Registration is now open for our annual PathFinders Camping Day! Click the link below to register your 1st-5th grade child. https://stonebridgemarietta.org/events/event/pathfinders-camping-day-2/
What God is Teaching Us:
For Toddlers-3k:
Even our youngest are getting ARMED as they explore what coming to church is all about. They are learning that church is God’s house and about the things we do together in His house. They are learning that we play, pray, praise, and learn about the Bible. This week’s focus was prayer.
Click the link below to see the nursery lessons.
This link is no longer available
For 4k-5th Grade:
We continued our new Fall Curriculum- “ARMED” on Sunday. This week’s lesson focused on the importance of knowing the enemy we’re fighting. Click on the link below to see the lessons for 4k/K, 1st&2nd grade, and 3rd-5th grade small groups.
This link is no longer available
*Also- we are ARMING ourselves by learning a memory verse together each week.
This week’s Memory Verses:
For 2/3 year olds: “Call to me and I will answer…” Jeremiah 33:3aFor 3k preschool: “Call to me and I will answer and tell you great and wonderful things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 For 4k/K and 1st/2nd: John 10:10 (NCV) ~ “The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I came to give life-life in its fullness."For 3rd-5th grade: John 10:10 (NIV) ~ “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Amazing or Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
One Kindergarten child who seems to be quite the “ladies man” was picked out by one little girl as the one she wanted to marry. After making her declaration of love to him, other kids began singing the (still popular after all these years) song “J and S, sitting in a tree…K-I-S-S-I-N-G…” The little boy, upon returning home, made this sign. (See picture) When his mom asked him about it, he explained- “I can’t kiss her until I know if she loves Jesus!” That’s a man with his priorities in order!
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Get Ready...Get Set...Get ARMED!
Every summer as we prepare for our PathFinders “year” to start in late August, I ask the Lord a very specific question. “Where do you want to take the kids this year?” I’m always excited to see what the Lord has to say in response to this question. He is faithful to answer, and His plan is always so much better than anything I could’ve thought of on my own.
This year was no different. After asking the Lord my question for a few weeks, He responded in His perfect timing- when my mind and spirit could fully focus on what He would share. So…on a morning in late July, I awoke with an overwhelming sense that something was coming…something big. I knew what was coming wasn’t good, but at the same time, I felt not an ounce of fear.
I realized this had something to do with where God wanted me to focus with our kids, so I asked Him for a word that would give me direction. The Lord made it clear…“ARMED.” My responsibility for our kids in whatever is “coming” was going to be “ARM them.”
We do that every week by teaching God’s Word, through worship, and through prayer. This, however, was something more specific. So, again, I asked and then I waited. God continued to speak the same word “ARMED” through other avenues. From hearing about a dream someone had, to talking to a friend about something she “sensed” from the Lord, to finding a slip of paper in the back of my journal with three words on it “Armed with Truth.” (I still don’t know when I wrote that or why) There was no question…God was saying we need to ARM our kids like never before.
Obviously, we listened! There will be a common thread for children of all ages this Fall- “ARMED!” This will look different at different ages of course, but the idea is the same…how are we ARMING our kids with the Truth of Who God is, the Truth of His Word, the Truth that we have a real enemy, and the Truth that our defensive and offensive response to that enemy lies in following Jesus.
God has some BIG things in store for our kids; however, the enemy would love to shut that down. We covet your prayers for the children, for their leaders, and for those of us on the Children’s Ministry staff.
Because of Who God is and the fact that He's already won, we know we can be ARMED and READY for BATTLE! Let’s do this!!
This Week’s Announcements:
1. We still have a few ministry spots to fill. If you’d like to learn more about how you too can make an investment in the lives of kids, please contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org or Christina Busey at christina@stonebridgemarietta.org
2. BRING YOUR BIBLE! I’ve challenged the elementary (1st-5th grade) children to bring their own Bible each week. As we ARM ourselves with God’s Truth, one of the most important tools will be God’s Word. If you’re unsure if your child has the Bible that is appropriate for his or her age/maturity/reading level, I’m happy to be a resource for you. Contact me and I can give you suggestions about good options for your age child. Contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
3. SAVE the DATE for our annual PathFinders Camping Day! Saturday, October 17th (9am-4pm) Mark your calendars now and look for registration information next week.
What God is Teaching Us:
We started our new Fall Curriculum- “ARMED” on Sunday. We want to be armed and ready for battle! This week’s lesson focused on the Word of God being our “go to” weapon for all things. Click on the link below to see the lessons for 4k/K, 1st&2nd grade, and 3rd-5th grade small groups.
This link is no longer available
*Also- we are ARMING ourselves by learning a memory verse together each week.
This week’s verses:
For 4k/K: 2Timothy 3:16 ~ “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”For 1st-5th grade: 2Timothy 3:16-17 ~ “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say...
After praying for the kids to be passionate and hungry for God’s Word, a 2nd grader came to me. She said, “Ms. Penny, your prayer worked! I am so hungry right now. I’ll be glad when it’s lunchtime.”
This year was no different. After asking the Lord my question for a few weeks, He responded in His perfect timing- when my mind and spirit could fully focus on what He would share. So…on a morning in late July, I awoke with an overwhelming sense that something was coming…something big. I knew what was coming wasn’t good, but at the same time, I felt not an ounce of fear.
I realized this had something to do with where God wanted me to focus with our kids, so I asked Him for a word that would give me direction. The Lord made it clear…“ARMED.” My responsibility for our kids in whatever is “coming” was going to be “ARM them.”
We do that every week by teaching God’s Word, through worship, and through prayer. This, however, was something more specific. So, again, I asked and then I waited. God continued to speak the same word “ARMED” through other avenues. From hearing about a dream someone had, to talking to a friend about something she “sensed” from the Lord, to finding a slip of paper in the back of my journal with three words on it “Armed with Truth.” (I still don’t know when I wrote that or why) There was no question…God was saying we need to ARM our kids like never before.
Obviously, we listened! There will be a common thread for children of all ages this Fall- “ARMED!” This will look different at different ages of course, but the idea is the same…how are we ARMING our kids with the Truth of Who God is, the Truth of His Word, the Truth that we have a real enemy, and the Truth that our defensive and offensive response to that enemy lies in following Jesus.
God has some BIG things in store for our kids; however, the enemy would love to shut that down. We covet your prayers for the children, for their leaders, and for those of us on the Children’s Ministry staff.
Because of Who God is and the fact that He's already won, we know we can be ARMED and READY for BATTLE! Let’s do this!!
This Week’s Announcements:
1. We still have a few ministry spots to fill. If you’d like to learn more about how you too can make an investment in the lives of kids, please contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org or Christina Busey at christina@stonebridgemarietta.org
2. BRING YOUR BIBLE! I’ve challenged the elementary (1st-5th grade) children to bring their own Bible each week. As we ARM ourselves with God’s Truth, one of the most important tools will be God’s Word. If you’re unsure if your child has the Bible that is appropriate for his or her age/maturity/reading level, I’m happy to be a resource for you. Contact me and I can give you suggestions about good options for your age child. Contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
3. SAVE the DATE for our annual PathFinders Camping Day! Saturday, October 17th (9am-4pm) Mark your calendars now and look for registration information next week.
What God is Teaching Us:
We started our new Fall Curriculum- “ARMED” on Sunday. We want to be armed and ready for battle! This week’s lesson focused on the Word of God being our “go to” weapon for all things. Click on the link below to see the lessons for 4k/K, 1st&2nd grade, and 3rd-5th grade small groups.
This link is no longer available
*Also- we are ARMING ourselves by learning a memory verse together each week.
This week’s verses:
For 4k/K: 2Timothy 3:16 ~ “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”For 1st-5th grade: 2Timothy 3:16-17 ~ “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say...
After praying for the kids to be passionate and hungry for God’s Word, a 2nd grader came to me. She said, “Ms. Penny, your prayer worked! I am so hungry right now. I’ll be glad when it’s lunchtime.”
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Small Groups are More than...well, small groups
When you have upwards of 65+ elementary kids at one service on a Sunday morning, breaking them into smaller groups seems a necessary step for sure. It’s the whole ‘eat the elephant in small pieces’ mentality. If crowd control were the only reason we divided kids into small groups, I don’t think anyone would see that as being anything but a smart management move. In fact, I’m sure most would say, “If for no other reason…do it for your sanity.”
I like a good management strategy as much as anyone, but that’s not why we do small groups. We put kids into small groups because that’s where real discipleship happens. Jesus knew it, and what better example is there than Jesus?! Jesus pulled twelve very different guys together for the purpose of making disciples. They spent time learning from Him, with the goal of leading not only them to salvation, but using them to further His Kingdom. Our Small Groups are more than just small groups of people when our focus is that same thing.
Matthew 18:20 (NIrV) - “Where two or three people meet together in my name, I am there with them."
When we gather for the purpose of learning about the Lord, learning from the Lord, and praising the Lord…we are gathered in His name, and He is with us. As I pointed out to the kids, we are not coming together to form a soccer team or do a cooking class. We are gathered to meet the Lord...together.
So, we’re in these groups. Now what? Scripture is full of examples of people meeting together to eat, to pray, and to encourage each other in their faith. To make it simple, we broke it down into three specific goals.
1. To love each other (John 13:34-35)
2. To carry each other’s burdens; pray for one another (Galatians 6:2)
3. To help, forgive, and teach each other wisely (Colossians 3:13, 16)
If we can continue meeting together in His name with these goals in mind, God will do amazing things in and through us. Small Groups are not just small groups…they are places where life change can happen.
This Week’s Announcements:
We still have a few ministry spots to fill. If you’d like to learn more about how you too can make an investment in the lives of kids, please contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
What God is Teaching Us:
This past Sunday, our small groups continued to build community, discuss why small groups are important, and practice some of the key things that will help each of them grow spiritually because of their involvement in a small group. Follow the link below to see how that was accomplished.
This link is no longer available
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say…
This Kindergarten child has learned that God’s Word is “true, true, true!” This is a video (see link below) his parents sent me of him teaching his little sister this important lesson. This is the kind of thing that makes a Children’s Pastor’s heart burst with joy!
https://vimeo.com/138034641
I like a good management strategy as much as anyone, but that’s not why we do small groups. We put kids into small groups because that’s where real discipleship happens. Jesus knew it, and what better example is there than Jesus?! Jesus pulled twelve very different guys together for the purpose of making disciples. They spent time learning from Him, with the goal of leading not only them to salvation, but using them to further His Kingdom. Our Small Groups are more than just small groups of people when our focus is that same thing.
Matthew 18:20 (NIrV) - “Where two or three people meet together in my name, I am there with them."
When we gather for the purpose of learning about the Lord, learning from the Lord, and praising the Lord…we are gathered in His name, and He is with us. As I pointed out to the kids, we are not coming together to form a soccer team or do a cooking class. We are gathered to meet the Lord...together.
So, we’re in these groups. Now what? Scripture is full of examples of people meeting together to eat, to pray, and to encourage each other in their faith. To make it simple, we broke it down into three specific goals.
1. To love each other (John 13:34-35)
2. To carry each other’s burdens; pray for one another (Galatians 6:2)
3. To help, forgive, and teach each other wisely (Colossians 3:13, 16)
If we can continue meeting together in His name with these goals in mind, God will do amazing things in and through us. Small Groups are not just small groups…they are places where life change can happen.
This Week’s Announcements:
We still have a few ministry spots to fill. If you’d like to learn more about how you too can make an investment in the lives of kids, please contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
What God is Teaching Us:
This past Sunday, our small groups continued to build community, discuss why small groups are important, and practice some of the key things that will help each of them grow spiritually because of their involvement in a small group. Follow the link below to see how that was accomplished.
This link is no longer available
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say…
This Kindergarten child has learned that God’s Word is “true, true, true!” This is a video (see link below) his parents sent me of him teaching his little sister this important lesson. This is the kind of thing that makes a Children’s Pastor’s heart burst with joy!
https://vimeo.com/138034641
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
These Things Matter
This past Sunday was the beginning of our new ministry season. It’s true that children promoted into their new rooms/areas earlier in the summer, but a new ministry season means a few other very important things happened. One, new leaders started their important role in children’s lives; two, small groups started meeting; and three, the focus of our year (or at least the fall) will begin emerging.
These ‘happenings’ matter in our ministry, and more importantly, in the lives of your kids. Over the next few blogs, as I emphasize these happenings, I hope you (as parents) will understand why you need to know these things…and why the matter.
Let’s start with an easy one. This past Sunday, our new year-long volunteers started their roles. These incredible people have a role to play… an important role in the lives of your kids. So…WHO are these people? WHO is caring for, ministering to, and pouring into your kids? WHO has taken on the important task of praying for your child during the week? WHO has committed to reading/studying a lesson each week to prepare themselves to share God’s Truth with your child? Seriously, as a parent, could anything be more important than knowing the people who will be doing the important work of helping your children know Jesus?
As I explained to our volunteers in training, you- the parents- are the first source for your child’s knowledge and love of the Lord. As parents, we all have the responsibility of “bringing a child up in the way he should go”; however, Children’s Ministry, and those who serve in it are partners in that training. We strive to be your allies for the Spiritual growth of your children. So, again, WHO has said yes to being your ally? WHO- for the next 9 months- will have influence in the lives of your children?
You need to know them, so please let me introduce you to this amazing team of volunteers. Open the link to see our complete list of volunteers.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7uXT5LcV43SLVdpZjNmNU5IRWc/view?usp=sharing
I encourage you to not only learn their names, but to interact with them in person on a Sunday morning. They want to engage with you, they want to encourage you, and they want to partner with you in the most important part of your child’s development- their Spiritual development. The role they play matters, and knowing them is important.
This Week’s Announcements:
We still have a few ministry spots to fill. If you’d like to learn more about how you too can make an investment in the lives of kids, please contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
What God is Teaching Us:
This past Sunday, the kids met their new leaders and started meeting in their new groups. Open the link to see what they did to get to know each other and begin the important steps in creating community.
This link is no longer available
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say…
They won my heart (even more!) by surprising and blessing me for my birthday! I had pictures, cards, and an awesome banner to help celebrate my day. Thank you PathFinders…I love you all!
These ‘happenings’ matter in our ministry, and more importantly, in the lives of your kids. Over the next few blogs, as I emphasize these happenings, I hope you (as parents) will understand why you need to know these things…and why the matter.
Let’s start with an easy one. This past Sunday, our new year-long volunteers started their roles. These incredible people have a role to play… an important role in the lives of your kids. So…WHO are these people? WHO is caring for, ministering to, and pouring into your kids? WHO has taken on the important task of praying for your child during the week? WHO has committed to reading/studying a lesson each week to prepare themselves to share God’s Truth with your child? Seriously, as a parent, could anything be more important than knowing the people who will be doing the important work of helping your children know Jesus?
As I explained to our volunteers in training, you- the parents- are the first source for your child’s knowledge and love of the Lord. As parents, we all have the responsibility of “bringing a child up in the way he should go”; however, Children’s Ministry, and those who serve in it are partners in that training. We strive to be your allies for the Spiritual growth of your children. So, again, WHO has said yes to being your ally? WHO- for the next 9 months- will have influence in the lives of your children?
You need to know them, so please let me introduce you to this amazing team of volunteers. Open the link to see our complete list of volunteers.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7uXT5LcV43SLVdpZjNmNU5IRWc/view?usp=sharing
I encourage you to not only learn their names, but to interact with them in person on a Sunday morning. They want to engage with you, they want to encourage you, and they want to partner with you in the most important part of your child’s development- their Spiritual development. The role they play matters, and knowing them is important.
This Week’s Announcements:
We still have a few ministry spots to fill. If you’d like to learn more about how you too can make an investment in the lives of kids, please contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
What God is Teaching Us:
This past Sunday, the kids met their new leaders and started meeting in their new groups. Open the link to see what they did to get to know each other and begin the important steps in creating community.
This link is no longer available
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say…
They won my heart (even more!) by surprising and blessing me for my birthday! I had pictures, cards, and an awesome banner to help celebrate my day. Thank you PathFinders…I love you all!
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
And just like that...
The month of May is a “finishing” month for many of us. It’s when school ends, graduations happen, and the “year” – at least if you work off the school calendar- comes to a close. The month of May is always bittersweet for me. Because I was a classroom teacher for so long my mind and internal clock still tick on an August through May rhythm.
I’m not in a classroom anymore so I’m not sending kids off for summer vacation knowing that come August they will be another teacher’s babies. I’m not packing up my dry erase markers, books, and plan book for a couple of months, but still it’s May just like that…
During this- the fifth month of the year- I feel that same nostalgia that I always felt as a classroom teacher. I look at the fifth graders and realize that in a few short weeks, they will move on to student ministry. I hope and pray that their time in PathFinders has been a foundational time in their walk with the Lord. I look at the younger kids who will soon be moving up to PathFinders from our nursery or preschool area, and think to myself- “How did they grow up so fast?!” These things illicit a deep sentimentality, but also the sweet realization that God continues to move and grow each of us.
Then there is the May heartache that I can’t fully explain in words. This heartache comes from the fact that many children in our community will go hungry all summer. Because my time in the public school system was spent in Title-One schools, where the free lunch program served 90% of our population, I’ve always been hyper aware of what happened when kids went home for the summer. These children – my babies from August to May, would run the risk of having no breakfast, lunch, or dinner every day…most days. I know this hasn’t changed in our community, and there are few things that break my heart more.
May comes between April and June every year. Just like that…
Summer will happen, and much of it will be great. Just like that…
The kids in PathFinders will grow and change, as it should be. Just like that…
Kids in our city- kids your kids know- will go hungry. Just like that…
We can’t change things, but God can- JUST LIKE THAT.
As we enter the summer months, please join me in praying a “just like that” kind of prayer for our kids and our community.
This Week’s Announcements:
Summer Volunteers: WE NEED YOU!
If you haven’t done so, please sign up for a volunteer slot (or two or three) during the summer. Our regular (school year) volunteers take a much deserved break in the summer.
You can sign up one of two ways:
First way…
Sign up for “PathFinders Summer” on Volunteer Spot. Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
1) Click this link to see our Sign-Up on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/E92UVq
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on VolunteerSpot.
**Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.
PROMOTION SUNDAY: JUNE 7th
Promotion Sunday affects MANY age groups, so please take note carefully.
- Children in room C that are already 2 years old will move up to room D (*Do not move children up UNTIL they turn two)
- Children in room D that are 3 years old OR will be 3 years old ON or BEFORE Sept. 1, 2015 will move to our 3k room
- Children in 3k room who are 4 years old OR will be 4 years old ON or BEFORE Sept. 1, 2015 will move upstairs to our 4k/K room
- Children in 4k/K room who will enter Kindergarten in the fall of 2015 will remain in that room. Children in 4k/K room who will enter 1st grade in the fall of 2015 will move out of that room and join the elementary PathFinders in the main big space upstairs
- Children entering 2nd-5th grade in the fall will remain in the same space they have been in this school year.
**Please note again- these changes happen on JUNE 7th- not before. Thanks!
Special promotion info for rising 6th graders…July 12th!
If your child is FINISHING 5th grade, and will be entering 6th grade this fall, he/she will continue coming to PathFinders on Sunday morning through June and until mid-July. They will join our STUDENT MINISTRY after summer youth camp (“OneCamp”) that happens the week of July 4th. This means they WILL NOT stay in the service and go to middle school small group on Sunday mornings NOR will they go to Sunday night youth until their first official day as part of Student Ministry- Sunday, July 12th. To help them with this transition, rising 6th graders will have a leadership role on Sunday mornings in PathFinders. They will have the opportunity to help lead games, help with technical jobs, and maybe even lead a discussion with younger children. During this transition time, they will have the opportunity to lead in an area they know well. You should hear from our youth pastor, David Scott as the date of transition for rising 6th graders gets closer.
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the links below to view May lessons.
This link is no longer available
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say…
While teaching the 3k kids and discussing the Truth about Heaven, the comment was made, “If you love Jesus, you go to heaven.” One child chimed in, “Well if you don’t love Jesus, you go somewhere else. I think it’s like the lion’s den- but it’s not the circus!”
I’m not in a classroom anymore so I’m not sending kids off for summer vacation knowing that come August they will be another teacher’s babies. I’m not packing up my dry erase markers, books, and plan book for a couple of months, but still it’s May just like that…
During this- the fifth month of the year- I feel that same nostalgia that I always felt as a classroom teacher. I look at the fifth graders and realize that in a few short weeks, they will move on to student ministry. I hope and pray that their time in PathFinders has been a foundational time in their walk with the Lord. I look at the younger kids who will soon be moving up to PathFinders from our nursery or preschool area, and think to myself- “How did they grow up so fast?!” These things illicit a deep sentimentality, but also the sweet realization that God continues to move and grow each of us.
Then there is the May heartache that I can’t fully explain in words. This heartache comes from the fact that many children in our community will go hungry all summer. Because my time in the public school system was spent in Title-One schools, where the free lunch program served 90% of our population, I’ve always been hyper aware of what happened when kids went home for the summer. These children – my babies from August to May, would run the risk of having no breakfast, lunch, or dinner every day…most days. I know this hasn’t changed in our community, and there are few things that break my heart more.
May comes between April and June every year. Just like that…
Summer will happen, and much of it will be great. Just like that…
The kids in PathFinders will grow and change, as it should be. Just like that…
Kids in our city- kids your kids know- will go hungry. Just like that…
We can’t change things, but God can- JUST LIKE THAT.
As we enter the summer months, please join me in praying a “just like that” kind of prayer for our kids and our community.
This Week’s Announcements:
Summer Volunteers: WE NEED YOU!
If you haven’t done so, please sign up for a volunteer slot (or two or three) during the summer. Our regular (school year) volunteers take a much deserved break in the summer.
You can sign up one of two ways:
First way…
Sign up for “PathFinders Summer” on Volunteer Spot. Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
1) Click this link to see our Sign-Up on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/E92UVq
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on VolunteerSpot.
**Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.
PROMOTION SUNDAY: JUNE 7th
Promotion Sunday affects MANY age groups, so please take note carefully.
- Children in room C that are already 2 years old will move up to room D (*Do not move children up UNTIL they turn two)
- Children in room D that are 3 years old OR will be 3 years old ON or BEFORE Sept. 1, 2015 will move to our 3k room
- Children in 3k room who are 4 years old OR will be 4 years old ON or BEFORE Sept. 1, 2015 will move upstairs to our 4k/K room
- Children in 4k/K room who will enter Kindergarten in the fall of 2015 will remain in that room. Children in 4k/K room who will enter 1st grade in the fall of 2015 will move out of that room and join the elementary PathFinders in the main big space upstairs
- Children entering 2nd-5th grade in the fall will remain in the same space they have been in this school year.
**Please note again- these changes happen on JUNE 7th- not before. Thanks!
Special promotion info for rising 6th graders…July 12th!
If your child is FINISHING 5th grade, and will be entering 6th grade this fall, he/she will continue coming to PathFinders on Sunday morning through June and until mid-July. They will join our STUDENT MINISTRY after summer youth camp (“OneCamp”) that happens the week of July 4th. This means they WILL NOT stay in the service and go to middle school small group on Sunday mornings NOR will they go to Sunday night youth until their first official day as part of Student Ministry- Sunday, July 12th. To help them with this transition, rising 6th graders will have a leadership role on Sunday mornings in PathFinders. They will have the opportunity to help lead games, help with technical jobs, and maybe even lead a discussion with younger children. During this transition time, they will have the opportunity to lead in an area they know well. You should hear from our youth pastor, David Scott as the date of transition for rising 6th graders gets closer.
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the links below to view May lessons.
This link is no longer available
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say…
While teaching the 3k kids and discussing the Truth about Heaven, the comment was made, “If you love Jesus, you go to heaven.” One child chimed in, “Well if you don’t love Jesus, you go somewhere else. I think it’s like the lion’s den- but it’s not the circus!”
Monday, March 30, 2015
Holy Week and Your Kids
The week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday is typically called Holy Week. It’s not uncommon to skim over the events after Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and His crucifixion on Friday. When we skim over those events, we lose some of the important information about what Jesus was going through, as well as the nuances of what His followers as well as His haters may have been struggling with and feeling.
For these reasons, it’s important to walk our children through the Scriptures that teach about these events. Below are a few ways to do that, as well as some other ways to make the foundation of our faith come to life for your kids.
Ideas for Celebrating Holy Week and Easter:
1. Read through Scripture each day of Holy Week
Here is a list of the events by day and where they are found in Scripture:
Sunday - Triumphal Entry - Mark 11:1-10
Monday – Temple Clearing - Mark 11:15-18
Tuesday – Jesus Anointed- Mark 14:3-9
Wednesday - Judas Plots - Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11
Thursday - Last Supper - Mark 14:12-25
Thursday/Friday - Garden of Gethsemane (prayer and arrest) - Mark 14: 32-42; 43-50
Friday- Jesus is Accused and Denied- Mark 14:53-72
Friday continues: Mocked, Crucified, Dead, and Buried- Mark 15
2. Easter Cookies-
These are not bunny or egg shaped and frosted; these are cookies that help retell the resurrection story in a very hands-on way. (*Use the following link for the full recipe and instructions)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7uXT5LcV43SUW5CT2pVaVQ2X2M/view?usp=sharing
3. Easter Basket Blessings -
How can your Easter Basket tell the Resurrection Story? You might be surprised! Take a look at each of the things in the basket, and how they help tell the truth of why we celebrate Easter! (*See the following link for a full description)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7uXT5LcV43SaTVUV3NJRE4tVlk/view?usp=sharing
You may choose to use the ideas listed here, ideas of your own, or find something that works for your family on Pinterest. In any case, I pray that you will connect with each other and the Lord in new and exciting ways during this special week. I pray the revelation of what Jesus did on the cross, and the full meaning of why the resurrection matters will penetrate the heart of every member of your household this Easter.
He is risen indeed!
This Week’s Announcements:
Good Friday Service: There is childcare provided during our Good Friday Service this week. You must register for childcare by Wednesday. Go to our website: www.stonebridgemarietta.org and click on events to find the specifics and to register your children.
Easter Services: We will have three services on Easter Sunday- 7am, 9am, and 11am. Please note that there is no children’s ministry at the 7am service. We will serve all children birth-5th grade during the 9am and 11am services.
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to the previous Sunday’s lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the links below to view March lessons.
This link is no longer available
*Please note that there are no lessons listed for March 22nd as we participated in an outreach project for our Partners in Education- Park Street Elementary.
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say…
While putting their names on a completed craft one Sunday morning, two Kindergarten boys began comparing the length of their names. The boy with the least number of letters mentioned that his was very easy to write, but not in cursive. His small group leader, surprised that he knew cursive, asked, “Cursive?” His reply, “Yeah, Ms. Donna- cursive…that’s a whole new world!”
For these reasons, it’s important to walk our children through the Scriptures that teach about these events. Below are a few ways to do that, as well as some other ways to make the foundation of our faith come to life for your kids.
Ideas for Celebrating Holy Week and Easter:
1. Read through Scripture each day of Holy Week
Here is a list of the events by day and where they are found in Scripture:
Sunday - Triumphal Entry - Mark 11:1-10
Monday – Temple Clearing - Mark 11:15-18
Tuesday – Jesus Anointed- Mark 14:3-9
Wednesday - Judas Plots - Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11
Thursday - Last Supper - Mark 14:12-25
Thursday/Friday - Garden of Gethsemane (prayer and arrest) - Mark 14: 32-42; 43-50
Friday- Jesus is Accused and Denied- Mark 14:53-72
Friday continues: Mocked, Crucified, Dead, and Buried- Mark 15
2. Easter Cookies-
These are not bunny or egg shaped and frosted; these are cookies that help retell the resurrection story in a very hands-on way. (*Use the following link for the full recipe and instructions)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7uXT5LcV43SUW5CT2pVaVQ2X2M/view?usp=sharing
3. Easter Basket Blessings -
How can your Easter Basket tell the Resurrection Story? You might be surprised! Take a look at each of the things in the basket, and how they help tell the truth of why we celebrate Easter! (*See the following link for a full description)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7uXT5LcV43SaTVUV3NJRE4tVlk/view?usp=sharing
You may choose to use the ideas listed here, ideas of your own, or find something that works for your family on Pinterest. In any case, I pray that you will connect with each other and the Lord in new and exciting ways during this special week. I pray the revelation of what Jesus did on the cross, and the full meaning of why the resurrection matters will penetrate the heart of every member of your household this Easter.
He is risen indeed!
This Week’s Announcements:
Good Friday Service: There is childcare provided during our Good Friday Service this week. You must register for childcare by Wednesday. Go to our website: www.stonebridgemarietta.org and click on events to find the specifics and to register your children.
Easter Services: We will have three services on Easter Sunday- 7am, 9am, and 11am. Please note that there is no children’s ministry at the 7am service. We will serve all children birth-5th grade during the 9am and 11am services.
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to the previous Sunday’s lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the links below to view March lessons.
This link is no longer available
*Please note that there are no lessons listed for March 22nd as we participated in an outreach project for our Partners in Education- Park Street Elementary.
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say…
While putting their names on a completed craft one Sunday morning, two Kindergarten boys began comparing the length of their names. The boy with the least number of letters mentioned that his was very easy to write, but not in cursive. His small group leader, surprised that he knew cursive, asked, “Cursive?” His reply, “Yeah, Ms. Donna- cursive…that’s a whole new world!”
Monday, March 23, 2015
Easter Basket Turnover
I’ve loved Easter for as long as I can remember. Our traditional Easter Sunday involved several things. A new outfit for me- complete with white gloves, white patent Mary Janes, and a hat. There were lilies for my mom, new suits for the guys, and a BIG lunch at my grandmother’s house after church.
After eating our fill of the most delicious food ever assembled, we headed outside for the egg hunt. All the men were in charge of hiding the eggs- real, never plastic, along with some special treasures. The cousins, my brother, and I would grab our baskets and start the search.
“On your mark, get set, go!” Off we’d go alright- racing around trying to be the first to find one, to gather the most for bragging rights, and to find the biggest prize- the golden egg. My grandfather would hide one golden egg, the finder of which won a monetary prize of $1.
After corralling the younger cousins, repositioning the boys’ ties, and fluffing all the girls’ dresses, we’d sit on my grandparents’ front steps for the annual cousin photo. After several tries at having everyone facing the camera at the same time were found to be futile, our parents set us loose to enjoy our newly acquired treasures. Easter baskets were turned over and the trading began. Once the dust had settled, we went about the business of playing, laughing, and eating again.
Those Easter Sundays were something special for our family- for me. The memories of the activities we enjoyed are only heightened by the memory of sitting beside my family at church. Our baskets were full, but more than that – our hearts were full.
As you and your family continue through this season of Lent and prepare for Easter, I encourage you to think about your lives- your hearts- as Easter baskets. What has God placed in your basket this year? What treasures has God allowed you to find individually and as a family? If you turned over those baskets, what would fall out and bless you all over again?
This Week’s Announcements:
Easter Services: We will have three services on Easter Sunday- 7am, 9am, and 11am. Please note that there is no children’s ministry at the 7am service. We will serve all children birth-5th grade during the 9am and 11am services.
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to the previous Sunday’s lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the links below to view March lessons.
This link is no longer available
*Please note that there are no lessons listed for March 22nd as we participated in an outreach project for our Partners in Education- Park Street Elementary.
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say…
During this past Sunday’s outreach project, I asked the kids about what they considered to be hard about school. I then asked how they thought a teacher would answer the same question. There were some pretty clever answers. One of my favorites… “The hardest part for a teacher is making the crazy kids behave. My teacher puts her hands on her head, shakes it, and says, ‘Oh, my word!’” (The funniest part of this story…the child is homeschooled!)
After eating our fill of the most delicious food ever assembled, we headed outside for the egg hunt. All the men were in charge of hiding the eggs- real, never plastic, along with some special treasures. The cousins, my brother, and I would grab our baskets and start the search.
“On your mark, get set, go!” Off we’d go alright- racing around trying to be the first to find one, to gather the most for bragging rights, and to find the biggest prize- the golden egg. My grandfather would hide one golden egg, the finder of which won a monetary prize of $1.
After corralling the younger cousins, repositioning the boys’ ties, and fluffing all the girls’ dresses, we’d sit on my grandparents’ front steps for the annual cousin photo. After several tries at having everyone facing the camera at the same time were found to be futile, our parents set us loose to enjoy our newly acquired treasures. Easter baskets were turned over and the trading began. Once the dust had settled, we went about the business of playing, laughing, and eating again.
Those Easter Sundays were something special for our family- for me. The memories of the activities we enjoyed are only heightened by the memory of sitting beside my family at church. Our baskets were full, but more than that – our hearts were full.
As you and your family continue through this season of Lent and prepare for Easter, I encourage you to think about your lives- your hearts- as Easter baskets. What has God placed in your basket this year? What treasures has God allowed you to find individually and as a family? If you turned over those baskets, what would fall out and bless you all over again?
This Week’s Announcements:
Easter Services: We will have three services on Easter Sunday- 7am, 9am, and 11am. Please note that there is no children’s ministry at the 7am service. We will serve all children birth-5th grade during the 9am and 11am services.
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to the previous Sunday’s lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the links below to view March lessons.
This link is no longer available
*Please note that there are no lessons listed for March 22nd as we participated in an outreach project for our Partners in Education- Park Street Elementary.
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say…
During this past Sunday’s outreach project, I asked the kids about what they considered to be hard about school. I then asked how they thought a teacher would answer the same question. There were some pretty clever answers. One of my favorites… “The hardest part for a teacher is making the crazy kids behave. My teacher puts her hands on her head, shakes it, and says, ‘Oh, my word!’” (The funniest part of this story…the child is homeschooled!)
Monday, March 16, 2015
Spring Fever and Other Excuses
When I was a teacher we- meaning myself and my teammates- used to make “excuses” for every crazy day we had in our classrooms. There was a full moon last night, the kids had cookies at lunch, it was the day before or after Halloween, Christmas break is close, and my favorite - spring fever. At the time, these all seemed like valid excuses for our kids’ behavior being just a little out of whack.
I’m not sure whether or not they were valid, but I’m certain they were excuses. We didn’t allow them to get away with the misbehavior; there were still consequences. I’m not sure what we were really accomplishing with the excuses. Maybe it was more about making ourselves feel better. (It couldn’t be that we were off our game on control so there must be a reason for the craziness.)
Looking back now, I’m more aware of how we shouldn’t have made excuses- for them or for ourselves. Really, is there any good excuse for misbehavior? Making the choice to misbehave is just that- a choice. There are no excuses. It’s not someone else’s fault. It’s not because of a full moon or too much sugar. There may be scientific validity to how those things affect us physically, but we still have a choice in whether or not to exhibit self-control.
I am a strong believer in personal responsibility, and have had to work hard to teach that to my own children. Teaching our children to “own up” to their mistakes is one of the pillars of building character; character that lines up with Scripture.
2 Corinthians 5:10- “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
The first step we can take as parents in the direction of helping build character in our kids is to stop making excuses for their misbehavior or bad choices. If we don’t make excuses, they are much less likely to make them, and conversely more likely to take ownership of their choices.
This Week’s Announcements:
Mom/Son Game Night: Moms, this is your chance to let that hidden tom-boy come out - or at least show your competitive edge- as you enjoy a night of fun with your son. Come join us for this year’s Mom/Son Game Night- Friday, March 20th, 6:30-8:30pm. Registration is required for planning, and the cost is only $5 per family. Moms of all ages, and boys aged 4years old-5th grade may attend. Register by visiting www.signupgenius.com and searching under penny@stonebridgemarietta.org. *REGISTRATION CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT, TUESDAY, 3/17.
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to the previous Sunday’s lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the links below to view March lessons.
This link is no longer available
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say…
The BIG45 boys were discussing the gospel of Luke. During the conversation, we talked about how one thing Luke emphasized was the humanity of Jesus. Each boy shared his understanding of that concept by sharing something they read in Luke. One guy was describing Jesus in the temple at age 12. This led us into a discussion about what Jesus may have been like as a kid just a little older than all of them. The same boy posed a series of questions/observations which made us all laugh.
“Since Mary had other kids, Jesus had siblings- right?” (Yes)- “Okay…and Jesus was perfect…He never did anything wrong, right?” (Yes again) “Man, that would stink to have a brother who was perfect all the time! Like, you and your brother are fighting, and your mom walks in. You point and say, ‘Jesus did it!’ Then your mom says… ‘Yeah- no He didn’t- He’s perfect!’”
I’m not sure whether or not they were valid, but I’m certain they were excuses. We didn’t allow them to get away with the misbehavior; there were still consequences. I’m not sure what we were really accomplishing with the excuses. Maybe it was more about making ourselves feel better. (It couldn’t be that we were off our game on control so there must be a reason for the craziness.)
Looking back now, I’m more aware of how we shouldn’t have made excuses- for them or for ourselves. Really, is there any good excuse for misbehavior? Making the choice to misbehave is just that- a choice. There are no excuses. It’s not someone else’s fault. It’s not because of a full moon or too much sugar. There may be scientific validity to how those things affect us physically, but we still have a choice in whether or not to exhibit self-control.
I am a strong believer in personal responsibility, and have had to work hard to teach that to my own children. Teaching our children to “own up” to their mistakes is one of the pillars of building character; character that lines up with Scripture.
2 Corinthians 5:10- “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
The first step we can take as parents in the direction of helping build character in our kids is to stop making excuses for their misbehavior or bad choices. If we don’t make excuses, they are much less likely to make them, and conversely more likely to take ownership of their choices.
This Week’s Announcements:
Mom/Son Game Night: Moms, this is your chance to let that hidden tom-boy come out - or at least show your competitive edge- as you enjoy a night of fun with your son. Come join us for this year’s Mom/Son Game Night- Friday, March 20th, 6:30-8:30pm. Registration is required for planning, and the cost is only $5 per family. Moms of all ages, and boys aged 4years old-5th grade may attend. Register by visiting www.signupgenius.com and searching under penny@stonebridgemarietta.org. *REGISTRATION CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT, TUESDAY, 3/17.
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to the previous Sunday’s lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the links below to view March lessons.
This link is no longer available
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say…
The BIG45 boys were discussing the gospel of Luke. During the conversation, we talked about how one thing Luke emphasized was the humanity of Jesus. Each boy shared his understanding of that concept by sharing something they read in Luke. One guy was describing Jesus in the temple at age 12. This led us into a discussion about what Jesus may have been like as a kid just a little older than all of them. The same boy posed a series of questions/observations which made us all laugh.
“Since Mary had other kids, Jesus had siblings- right?” (Yes)- “Okay…and Jesus was perfect…He never did anything wrong, right?” (Yes again) “Man, that would stink to have a brother who was perfect all the time! Like, you and your brother are fighting, and your mom walks in. You point and say, ‘Jesus did it!’ Then your mom says… ‘Yeah- no He didn’t- He’s perfect!’”
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