Jesus - My Example

Kids look for people to follow. They look up to all different kinds of folks...
...football players,
...singers,
...music groups,
...baseball players,
...NASCAR drivers,
...television stars,
...grandparents,
...dads,
...moms,
...coaches,
...and more.

But, the greatest example you can follow is Jesus. Often, when people ask me what part of the Bible they should read, I tell them to start with the book of Mark. We can learn alot about Jesus life, attitudes, words and actions by reading the books called "the gospels." (Mark is one of them.)

Take some time today, and think about Jesus. What was he like? What should you change in your life and attitude to be more like him? If you pray about that, he will talk to you and help you know too.

God bless you this week!

Falling Down

Hey there!

Ever fall down and go "boom!"? Ouch! It hurts to fall.

Adam and Eve "fell down" when they chose to do what they wanted instead of obeying God. That's called "sin." And Romans 3:23 says that all of us have done that. We've sinned. We've had wrong attitudes, wrong thoughts, and wrong actions.

The bad news is -- When you or I sin, it causes us to be spiritually separated from God. Ouch! That hurts.

The good news is -- Jesus paid the price for our sin and disobedience so that we can be forgiven, and now have a new relationship with God. That's awesome!

When Jesus paid the price, it wasn't with money, or a checkbook, or a credit card. He used something FAR more valuable. He used His very own blood! People can live without money...but they cannot live without blood. Jesus used his own innocent, precious blood to pay the spiritual price for our sins. But, he did NOT stay dead. He came back to life. And now we can talk to him and ask for forgiveness, and he freely gives it to anyone who sincerely asks.

Romans 10:9,10 says, "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified (made right), and it is with you mouth that you confess and are saved (from the penalty of sin)."

If you have not done that yet, you can pray right there where you are! You don't need to wait until you are at church. God hears you when you pray it and mean it.

You may read more scriptures about Jesus paying for your sins right here:

Matthew 26:28
Romans 8:1,2
Colossians 2:13,14
Hebrews 7:27b
Hebrews 10:10

In My Beginning

God has ALWAYS had a great love and a great plan for your life!

Psalm 139:3,4 says, "You notice everything I do and everywhere I go. Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say..."

God loves you, created you and has a great plan for your life!

Do you remember Ephesians 3:18? Look it up and be encouraged!

And each time that you see a bird swooping down, remember Luke 12:6,7.

Have a great week with Jesus!

Sword of the Spirit

Hebrews 4:12 says, "The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit... It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

God's Word can cut deep into our thoughts and attitudes! Sometimes, when we are tempted to do what is wrong...thinking the wrong thoughts... God's Word can cut right through that temptation to the "heart of the matter."

That's why it's important that we learn what it says in the Bible, God's Word. Once we LEARN it...then we can USE it. But, how do we use it if we have never learned it?

It's like this. A young boy wants to ride his bike to Dairy Queen for ice cream. He's been told that he can have his favorite DQ treat for FREE, but he has to get there in the next 5 minutes. He pulls his bike out of the garage. The problem is this: He has never taken time to learn how to ride a bike!

Sounds silly, doesn't it? It would be silly if someone had a bicycle for years, but never learned to ride it.

Some people are the same way with their Bibles though. They OWN a Bible. But they have never really used it. ....that's sad.

This week, I encourage you to take time to read your Bible. Join Kid's Clubs this Fall. Join Junior BIBLE Quiz. Be a part of our church programs that help you learn the Bible, and take time to read the Bible at home too. It's important!

Here are some verses for you to read:

Psalm 1:1-3
Psalm 119:11
Psalm 119:105
Joshua 1:7,8
2 Timothy 2:15 & 3:14-17

God's Army: Overcoming Temptation

We are in a spiritual fight. And sometimes that fight is not outside of us, but INSIDE of us. We fight against temptation in our thoughts, our attitudes, our hearts, and our minds.

Liz taught us 1 Corinthians 10:13. It says, "...God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand..."

When you are tempted, the Holy Spirit will be right there with you, reminding you that He will help you to do what is right. Just remember to do what is right, even if you do not FEEL like it. "Do what is right, and the feelings will follow."

Jesus chose to do what was right, even when it was hard. You may read about how Jesus handled temptation in Matthew 4:1-11.

Other great verses to remember are Psalm 37:4 and James 1:14,15. Take some time to read them today!

------Have a great week!--------

See you on August 15 for B.G.M.C. Sunday!

Pirates: A Heroes Adventure - Heroes Do the Right Thing!

Do what is right and the feelings will follow.
Sometimes we don't feel like doing what is right, but when we do the right thing even when don't want to we soon feel happy and satisfied that we made the right choice. Right choices please God, so we need to know what He thinks and think how He thinks.

True heroes do the right thing, in Daniel chapter 3 we can read about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They had a choice to make, they could do the wrong thing and worship the statue of the king, or they could do the right thing and only worship God. They made the right choice, even though it meant being thrown in a fiery furnace! Maybe Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn't feel like making the right choice, but they did, making them true heroes. God blessed them for making the right choice, by protecting them and saving them from the fiery furnace. They we thrown in but they did not get bunered, and when they came out they didn't even smell like smoke. God protected them.

So, "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." Romans 12:2

Pirates: A Heroes Adventure!

Ohoy there! We have had four fantastic nights of Vacation Bible School with over 500 children attending! We learned about God's plan for each of us to be heroes and how He helps us to do that.

Don't miss Kids Church this next Sunday morning as we do our last lesson from "Pirates: A Heroes Adventure." See you there, mateys!