What's Love Got to Do with It...?

Everything. 

Valentine’s Day has come and gone although the candy -or the effects of that candy- has not.  If you’re like me you still have piles of candy sitting around…staring at you to either eat it or throw it out. I personally will adhere to the latter of those choices.  (Not because, like many, I gave up sweets for Lent…I’d just rather spend my calories on other things)

Since candy…I mean, LOVE was naturally going to be on the minds of the kids, I decided it best to ride that wave.  That’s why yesterday’s focus was on being rooted in God’s love for us; specifically, His patient love for us.

There are so many verses in the Bible about the subject of love (more than a great deal of other topics) that narrowing down how to “tackle” love could have been a challenge; however, when we start with the basic Truth- “God is love”- it becomes a great deal easier.  God showed His love to us by sending His Son to die for our sins.  Take that in…SHOWED His love…not felt love…showed it.

God obviously feels love for us, but it’s His actionable love that makes it possible for us to know and accept the reality of that love.  This is why the parable of the prodigal son is used so often as a picture of God’s patient and forgiving love for us.  The father in the story sees the son and runs to meet him.  He doesn’t condemn him, he doesn’t make him beg for reconciliation, nor does he even speak of his son’s transgressions.  It is without many words a true picture of patient love; a love that is slow to anger and keeps no record of wrongs.  If we gain nothing else from this parable but the fact that once we move toward the Lord, He moves toward us, we’ve gained a great deal…a great, great deal.

This Week’s Announcements:
Help Needed: 
One of our very dedicated and wonderful small group leaders had to step down from his post on Sunday mornings because of a new work schedule.  If you’re the DAD of a 3rd-5th grade boy, we need YOU!  Please contact me to find out how you can help disciple this special group of boys. penny@stonebridgemarietta.org

Palm Sunday Singers:
As is tradition, some of our children will wave palms in the sanctuary on Palm Sunday.  Adding to that tradition this year, those children will also be helping lead one of the worship songs on this special day.    The qualifications to be a part of this group: regular attendee to PathFinders, 4k-5th grade, comfortable singing in front of a large group, able to attend two practices (date and time of practices TBD).  If you have a child who meets the requirements and would like to wave palms and sing one song on Sunday, March 20th, please sign up using one of the links below.  The number of children doing this will be limited because of space.  *Note the links are specific to one of the morning services.  (There will not be an official group singing at the 5pm service)

For the 9am service: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0E45A8AE22A75-palm
For the 11am service: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0E45A8AE22A75-palm2

Baptism Service:
On Sunday, March 13th we will offer believers Baptism during all of our Sunday services.  If your child has expressed interest in being baptized, please contact me. I will discuss this important decision with your child to determine if he/she is ready to participate in believer's Baptism. 

What God is Teaching Us:
For 4k-5th Grade: Click the link below to see ROOTED lessons.
This link is no longer available

This week’s memory verse: 1John 4:9 ~ “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.”

Funny Things Kids Say and Do…
To get the discussion about love going, the kids were asked to name one thing they love. I heard some great ones…everything from candy to the Clemson Tigers. The one that made me scratch my head… “I love licking my toes.” 

One child in 1st grade has questions about God. As she describes it, “LOTS of questions!”  After asking her small group leader a pretty deep theological question, to which the leader gave a great answer, the child was not fully satisfied.  So very seriously she asked, “Do you think Pastor David would have a better answer?”