The following poem is quoted from “Audrey Hepburn” by Barry Paris © 1996 Putnam. Ms. Hepburn would read this poem to children for inspiration.
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone...
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed and redeemed ...
Never throw out anybody.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.
As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands. One for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Four Kind Men - Mark 2:1-12
Talk about the importance of friendship with your children. Start by asking, do you have a good friend? Maybe you have several good friends. It is nice to have friends and there are times we all are in need of a good friend. The following Bible Story is about a man who had four kind friends.
Word of Jesus’ ability to heal was spreading quickly. He healed a man of an evil spirit and that same day He healed Peter’s mother-in-law. By the time evening rolled around there were crowds of sick people wanting Jesus to heal them. In the morning, Jesus tried to go to a quiet place, but was unsuccessful as many sick people followed. Jesus went on a tour of Galilee with Peter, Andrew, James and John. He taught in the synagogues, preached the gospel of the Kingdom and healed many wherever He went. When He returned to His home in Capernaum, people crowded into a house to hear Him preach.
Among those that came to see Christ were four men. They were carrying a man who was paralyzed. The man could not walk. They must have felt some disappointment when they saw the house was filled and spilling out with people. There seemed to be no way to get their friend to Jesus. While the situation looked bleak, they did not give up. If someone really loves and wants to help a friend in need, he will not give up. One will do whatever it takes to help a friend. Jesus said, “This is My commandment that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). God can use you to help another even when it seems impossible. These four men did not give up.
The four men carried their sick friend to the roof of the house where Jesus was preaching. Bible-time homes were not like our homes today. They were usually flat and the roofs were probably made up of mud mixed with straw. Once on the roof, the four friends began to take the roof apart. When the
hole was large enough, they lowered their friend through the hole.
When Jesus saw the faith of these four friends, He said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” This statement from Jesus did not please some who thought only God could forgive someone of his sins. Was Jesus claiming to be God? Yes. During Jesus’ day it was believed that sickness and disease were the result of sin. There are different factors that can bring about physical sickness. Illness may be the result of violating the principles of health, or the direct result of a person’s sin (Matthew 9:1-7; John 5:14). There are also times that sickness is inherited (John 9:2) or the result of an injury or accident (Luke 13:1-5. Jesus confirms in John 9:1-3 that physical ailments are not necessarily caused by sin. In this paralyzed man’s position, he may have been disabled since birth or his sin may have brought about his illness.
Jesus’ ability to heal was a clear demonstration of God’s power in Christ. Healings performed by Jesus
represented to the world His absolute power over the world, which was given to Him by God. When Jesus told the paralyzed man his sins were forgiven, Jesus was informing the religious leaders He had the ability to forgive sin. Talk such as this was considered blasphemous, an affront to God’s authority and power (Isaiah 43:25) and was punishable by death.
While those who questioned Jesus’ authority did not speak out, Jesus knew what they were thinking. Jesus said, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier to say to the paralytic, ’Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins, He said ‘Arise, take up your bed and go to your house.’”
To the delight of his friends, the paralyzed man immediately got up from the bed and stood. All the people were amazed. There was happiness and joy as the people glorified God and said, “We never saw anything like this!”
Imagine how happy the four friends must have been. They must have been glad they made the effort and did not give up. They had helped in making a difference in someone’s life. When you have a friend that needs Jesus’ kind of love, be sure to give it (I Corinthians 13:4,7).
Word of Jesus’ ability to heal was spreading quickly. He healed a man of an evil spirit and that same day He healed Peter’s mother-in-law. By the time evening rolled around there were crowds of sick people wanting Jesus to heal them. In the morning, Jesus tried to go to a quiet place, but was unsuccessful as many sick people followed. Jesus went on a tour of Galilee with Peter, Andrew, James and John. He taught in the synagogues, preached the gospel of the Kingdom and healed many wherever He went. When He returned to His home in Capernaum, people crowded into a house to hear Him preach.
Among those that came to see Christ were four men. They were carrying a man who was paralyzed. The man could not walk. They must have felt some disappointment when they saw the house was filled and spilling out with people. There seemed to be no way to get their friend to Jesus. While the situation looked bleak, they did not give up. If someone really loves and wants to help a friend in need, he will not give up. One will do whatever it takes to help a friend. Jesus said, “This is My commandment that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). God can use you to help another even when it seems impossible. These four men did not give up.
The four men carried their sick friend to the roof of the house where Jesus was preaching. Bible-time homes were not like our homes today. They were usually flat and the roofs were probably made up of mud mixed with straw. Once on the roof, the four friends began to take the roof apart. When the
hole was large enough, they lowered their friend through the hole.
When Jesus saw the faith of these four friends, He said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” This statement from Jesus did not please some who thought only God could forgive someone of his sins. Was Jesus claiming to be God? Yes. During Jesus’ day it was believed that sickness and disease were the result of sin. There are different factors that can bring about physical sickness. Illness may be the result of violating the principles of health, or the direct result of a person’s sin (Matthew 9:1-7; John 5:14). There are also times that sickness is inherited (John 9:2) or the result of an injury or accident (Luke 13:1-5. Jesus confirms in John 9:1-3 that physical ailments are not necessarily caused by sin. In this paralyzed man’s position, he may have been disabled since birth or his sin may have brought about his illness.
Jesus’ ability to heal was a clear demonstration of God’s power in Christ. Healings performed by Jesus
represented to the world His absolute power over the world, which was given to Him by God. When Jesus told the paralyzed man his sins were forgiven, Jesus was informing the religious leaders He had the ability to forgive sin. Talk such as this was considered blasphemous, an affront to God’s authority and power (Isaiah 43:25) and was punishable by death.
While those who questioned Jesus’ authority did not speak out, Jesus knew what they were thinking. Jesus said, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier to say to the paralytic, ’Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins, He said ‘Arise, take up your bed and go to your house.’”
To the delight of his friends, the paralyzed man immediately got up from the bed and stood. All the people were amazed. There was happiness and joy as the people glorified God and said, “We never saw anything like this!”
Imagine how happy the four friends must have been. They must have been glad they made the effort and did not give up. They had helped in making a difference in someone’s life. When you have a friend that needs Jesus’ kind of love, be sure to give it (I Corinthians 13:4,7).
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Kindness Rules
Since we want to teach out children how to model what Christ did, share the following with your child to begin a discussion about how one can show kindness to others.
Jesus! What an awesome man (and God)! There were some really great things about the way Jesus acted while He was on earth. One of those things is how kind He was to others. Kindness poured out of Jesus. You could even say Jesus is the definition of kindness.
Like Jesus, you can show kindness in lots of different ways. You can be helpful, show compassion, have good manners, be tender, say polite words, or show concern for the elderly, handicapped, or sick. Jesus showed kindness in many ways. He ate dinner with a mean guy named Zachaeus who had no friends. He fed 5,000 hungry people on a hillside. Jesus prayed with His disciples, raised men from the dead, and forgave the “very sinful woman.”
In Ephesians 4:32 it says, “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (NKJV). You are commanded to be kind to others, just like Jesus was.
You see people everyday who need someone to show them kindness. You see neighbors, friends, family, teachers, and many others you don’t know. Ask God to help you think of ways to be kind to everyone you see.
Kindness is giving yourself! It’s not being selfish, but it’s seeing how much you can give of your time to others. Be kind today! Give of yourself ~ even if you just give someone a smile.
Jesus! What an awesome man (and God)! There were some really great things about the way Jesus acted while He was on earth. One of those things is how kind He was to others. Kindness poured out of Jesus. You could even say Jesus is the definition of kindness.
Like Jesus, you can show kindness in lots of different ways. You can be helpful, show compassion, have good manners, be tender, say polite words, or show concern for the elderly, handicapped, or sick. Jesus showed kindness in many ways. He ate dinner with a mean guy named Zachaeus who had no friends. He fed 5,000 hungry people on a hillside. Jesus prayed with His disciples, raised men from the dead, and forgave the “very sinful woman.”
In Ephesians 4:32 it says, “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (NKJV). You are commanded to be kind to others, just like Jesus was.
You see people everyday who need someone to show them kindness. You see neighbors, friends, family, teachers, and many others you don’t know. Ask God to help you think of ways to be kind to everyone you see.
Kindness is giving yourself! It’s not being selfish, but it’s seeing how much you can give of your time to others. Be kind today! Give of yourself ~ even if you just give someone a smile.
Ways to Introduce Your Child to God
Kathie Reimer, in her book “1001 Ways to Introduce Your Child to God,” has some great ideas for raising an obedient and loving child!
“1001 Ways to Introduce Your Child to God” by Kathie Reimer
- Let genuine praise abound!
- As often as possible take the positive approach.
- Be careful not to humiliate your child in public.
- Let your words convince your child that they are an obedient and pleasing individual.
- Make sure your child understand their limits and the meaning of your instructions.
“1001 Ways to Introduce Your Child to God” by Kathie Reimer
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Moses is Called By God - Exodus 2: 15-3:18
In the story below, your children can learn that the God that appeared to Moses and instructed Moses about who He is, is the same God who can live in us today. God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). We love Him because we can trust in Him.
One day Moses was in the desert, tending sheep that belonged to his father-in-law. He led the flock to the back of the desert and came to the mountain of God, called Horeb. Suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a flame of fire from the middle of a bush. Moses looked and saw that the bush burned with fire but it was not destroyed.
When the Lord saw Moses turn aside to look closer at the bush, God called to him from the middle of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And Moses answered, “Here I am.” God said, “Do not come near. Take your shoes off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” God continued, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Moses hid his face for he was afraid to look upon God.”
God spoke again, “I have seen the misery of my people who are in Egypt and I have heard their
cries because of these taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them out of that land into a land of good and large, into a land flowing with milk and honey.” God was going to take them to the land of Canaan, which He had promised their forefathers.
God said to Moses, “Come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh so you may lead my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to the Lord, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?” God said, “I will certainly be with
you, and this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
Then Moses said to the Lord: “When I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you’ and they say to me, ‘ What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said, “This you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘I AM WHO I AM. This you must say to the children of Israel. I AM has sent me to you.’” Moses was to tell the people that “I AM” had sent him. This was the name by which God chose to reveal himself to Israel. The
name was to become a memorial throughout their generations.
Do you ever think you don’t have the strength, courage or wisdom to do what God asks of you? The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 3:5, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.” This means that by ourselves we are not powerful, but the all-powerful God is and He can do anything. The key is to trust in Him. God desired that Moses would know He is the all-powerful God who would help him deliver the children of Israel out of bondage. God wanted Moses to trust Him. God wants you to trust Him as well.
God wants you to know who He is too. He is your strength, courage and wisdom. God’s Word says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). His name is “I AM” and He is here to give you all the strength and courage you could ever need.
Go to God in prayer and ask Him to help you trust in His power.
One day Moses was in the desert, tending sheep that belonged to his father-in-law. He led the flock to the back of the desert and came to the mountain of God, called Horeb. Suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a flame of fire from the middle of a bush. Moses looked and saw that the bush burned with fire but it was not destroyed.
When the Lord saw Moses turn aside to look closer at the bush, God called to him from the middle of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And Moses answered, “Here I am.” God said, “Do not come near. Take your shoes off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” God continued, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Moses hid his face for he was afraid to look upon God.”
God spoke again, “I have seen the misery of my people who are in Egypt and I have heard their
cries because of these taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them out of that land into a land of good and large, into a land flowing with milk and honey.” God was going to take them to the land of Canaan, which He had promised their forefathers.
God said to Moses, “Come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh so you may lead my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to the Lord, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?” God said, “I will certainly be with
you, and this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
Then Moses said to the Lord: “When I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you’ and they say to me, ‘ What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said, “This you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘I AM WHO I AM. This you must say to the children of Israel. I AM has sent me to you.’” Moses was to tell the people that “I AM” had sent him. This was the name by which God chose to reveal himself to Israel. The
name was to become a memorial throughout their generations.
Do you ever think you don’t have the strength, courage or wisdom to do what God asks of you? The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 3:5, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.” This means that by ourselves we are not powerful, but the all-powerful God is and He can do anything. The key is to trust in Him. God desired that Moses would know He is the all-powerful God who would help him deliver the children of Israel out of bondage. God wanted Moses to trust Him. God wants you to trust Him as well.
God wants you to know who He is too. He is your strength, courage and wisdom. God’s Word says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). His name is “I AM” and He is here to give you all the strength and courage you could ever need.
Go to God in prayer and ask Him to help you trust in His power.
Do You Know Who God Is?
The most fundamental need facing each of us as a parent today is to recognize the existence of God, understand His character and personality and pass this on to our children. Teaching our children about God begins by involving them in our religion and by example.
The scripture to begin teaching about God is Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” In our world today, knowledge abounds but true wisdom is scarce. The first step to teach your children is that wisdom is not just about knowing a lot, but rather one’s attitude will affect everything in one’s life.
Teach your children to have the attitude of fear for the Lord because this attitude is the beginning of wisdom. To fear God means to honor, respect, trust and be in awe of His power.
Next, involve your children in your religion.
Teaching them to pray, read and memorize scripture, sing hymns and attend church does this. God and Jesus Christ need to be a part of your family’s everyday life. God should not be reserved only for meal and bedtime prayers. Your faith should be a part of your everyday life. This can be done through your conversations and your thankfulness for all God has provided you and your family.
The existence of God has been a debate for mankind throughout the millennial. No one can make
another person believe in God. However, God’s existence is powerfully demonstrated by His creation. The reality of the material universe, the existence of life and the interdependence and sustenance of the laws governing His creation require a Creator, a Life-Giver and a Sustainer.
David said, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). Paul records in Romans 1:19, 20 “That which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shown it unto them. For the invisible things of him [God] from [looking up at] the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead so that they are without excuse.” So there is no excuse for not believing in God. God can be known because of the creation all around us.
Teach your children the nature of God
The scripture to begin teaching about God is Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” In our world today, knowledge abounds but true wisdom is scarce. The first step to teach your children is that wisdom is not just about knowing a lot, but rather one’s attitude will affect everything in one’s life.
Teach your children to have the attitude of fear for the Lord because this attitude is the beginning of wisdom. To fear God means to honor, respect, trust and be in awe of His power.
Next, involve your children in your religion.
Teaching them to pray, read and memorize scripture, sing hymns and attend church does this. God and Jesus Christ need to be a part of your family’s everyday life. God should not be reserved only for meal and bedtime prayers. Your faith should be a part of your everyday life. This can be done through your conversations and your thankfulness for all God has provided you and your family.
The existence of God has been a debate for mankind throughout the millennial. No one can make
another person believe in God. However, God’s existence is powerfully demonstrated by His creation. The reality of the material universe, the existence of life and the interdependence and sustenance of the laws governing His creation require a Creator, a Life-Giver and a Sustainer.
David said, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). Paul records in Romans 1:19, 20 “That which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shown it unto them. For the invisible things of him [God] from [looking up at] the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead so that they are without excuse.” So there is no excuse for not believing in God. God can be known because of the creation all around us.
Teach your children the nature of God
- God is Spirit (John 4:24).
- God is invisible (Colossians 1:15).
- God is a person who hears, sees, feels, blesses and shows emotion through wrath and love(Nahum 1:2; John 3:16).
- God is the one and only God (Deut. 6:4, 5).
- God is love. This one quality is so much a part of God’s makeup that He is it (I John 4:8).
- God is eternal. He has always been (Genesis 21:33).
- God is omniscient. God knows everything past, present and future and He knows all about you (Job 37:16; Ps. 139:1-4).
- God is omnipotent. God can do anything He wants to do (Job 42:2;Rev. 19:6).
- God is omnipresent.
- God is everywhere. He sees and hears all that we do and say (Ps 139:7-12).
- God is holy (Isa. 43:15).
- God is truth. You never need to doubt God (Ps. 117:2; Titus 1:2).
- God is just (Deut. 32:4).
- God is majestic (Ps 29:2).
- God is good (Ps 34:8).
- God is faithful. You can trust His Word (I Cor. 10:13; I Thess. 5:24).
- God is sovereign. God is Ruler over all (Ps. 22:28; 47:2; Is. 44:6, Daniel 4:34, 35).
I AM’S of God
Teach your children the "I AMS of God
1. I AM
2. I AM THAT I AM
3. I am the Lord
4. I am Almighty God
5. I am the God of Abraham
6. I am the Lord God of Abraham
7. I am God, the God of thy father
8. I am the God of Bethel
9. I am the God of thy father
10. I am the Lord your God
11. I the Lord your God am holy
12. I the Lord am holy
13. I the Lord thy God am a jealous God
14. I am He
15. I am God
16. I am the Lord thy God
17. I am the God of Israel
18. I am thy God
19. I am the first
20. I am the last
21. I am thy part of thine inheritance
22. I am the Lord thy Savior
23. I am the Lord, the God of all flesh
24. I am a witness
25. I am a father to Israel
26. I am the Lord God
27. I am the Lord their God
28. I am your God
29. I am a great King
30. I am the God of thy fathers
From The Dake Annotated
Reference Bible, Page 71
1. I AM
2. I AM THAT I AM
3. I am the Lord
4. I am Almighty God
5. I am the God of Abraham
6. I am the Lord God of Abraham
7. I am God, the God of thy father
8. I am the God of Bethel
9. I am the God of thy father
10. I am the Lord your God
11. I the Lord your God am holy
12. I the Lord am holy
13. I the Lord thy God am a jealous God
14. I am He
15. I am God
16. I am the Lord thy God
17. I am the God of Israel
18. I am thy God
19. I am the first
20. I am the last
21. I am thy part of thine inheritance
22. I am the Lord thy Savior
23. I am the Lord, the God of all flesh
24. I am a witness
25. I am a father to Israel
26. I am the Lord God
27. I am the Lord their God
28. I am your God
29. I am a great King
30. I am the God of thy fathers
From The Dake Annotated
Reference Bible, Page 71
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