Christmas Characters - The Shepherds

Shepherds lived out in the fields to watch over their flocks near Bethlehem. They provided for their sheep and protected them.

According to an Israeli history expert, the flocks near Bethlehem were special. This is where the sheep were raised that would be used for sacrifices at the temple in Jerusalem (Bethlehem was only about five miles from Jerusalem.)

These shepherds knew that their sheep would be used as sacrifices for the sins of the people. So, when the angel announced to them that Jesus would be born, they were able to go and see the "lamb of God"...the one sacrifice for sin that would pay the price for all mankind.

Jesus was born so that EVERYONE could have their sins forgiven and become part of God's family.

Read these verses: 2 Peter 3:9 and Acts 10:34

God even loved the smelly shepherds enough to send angels to make this announcement to them! He loves you too! Read Luke 2:4-20.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Characters: Joseph

God the Father looked for someone that would be an earthly father for God's son, Jesus. God knew that Joseph loved him and did things right. Because Joseph trusted God, God also trusted Joseph to raise his son.

Read about Joseph in Matthew 1:18-25.

After Jesus was born, something happened that changed Joseph's life again. God expected Joseph, the step-dad of Jesus, to protect his son too. Read about that in Matthew 2:13&14 and 2:19-23. It was important that Joseph listened and obeyed!

He raised Jesus to know God the Father, too. Joseph taught him about God and brought him to the temple in Jerusalem to worship God his Father.

In Matthew 2:51 it says Jesus "...went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them." He obeyed his mother and his step-father.

Many people who study the Bible think that Joseph probably died sometime while Jesus was a teenager. They think that because we read in the Bible about Joseph being with the family when Jesus was 12, but then we do not hear about him any more after that. Also, Jesus waited until he was thirty to start his ministry. Maybe that's because Jesus was staying home and helping Mary his mother (as a carpenter). We don't know for sure, but that's what many people think.

Joseph was a man that God trusted as a dad to his own special son.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Characters - Mary the Mother of Jesus

Read Luke 1:26-38. This tells about how Mary was willing to do whatever God wanted her to do. Do you have the same attitude as Mary? Are you willing to do whatever God wants you to do?

A Time of Thanks

When is the right time to give thanks?

Often we would think that the time to give thanks is when someone has been really nice to you. Right? Or when someone has given you a gift.

If we think of it that way, we should always be able to give thanks to God. James 1:17 tells us that God is always blessing us. Take a moment to read that.

The apostle Paul talk about how we should respond, whether things are going good or not. Read Philippians 4:4 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

Paul chose to rejoice and thank God, even though sometimes things were hard! In 2 Corinthians 11:24-29 Paul lists a bunch of bad things that happened to him. Yet, he is the guy that tells us that we should still always be giving thanks.

During this week - I encourage you to write down the letters of your name. Can you come up with at least one thing that you can be thankful for using those letters. Here is an example for me:

R - ravioli
A - Assemblies of God
N - nature
D - Dad
Y - yellow

What's yours?

Don't forget 1 Chronicles 16:34 - "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good. His love endures forever." No matter what is happening, don't forget that the Lord is good and He loves you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Law of Lift

On Sunday, Mr. Vic shared with us about "the law of lift." We have heard of the "law of gravity" in which things are pulled toward the earth.

But, sometimes the "law of lift" can fight and win against the law of gravity. The law of lift means that sometimes things can go UP instead of go down. A helium balloon goes up. An airplane may go up. These are examples of the "law of lift."

We know that things in life sometimes want to drag us down. Satan himself wants to "steal, kill and destroy." But, God gives us somethings to help lift us up spiritually!

One of the things is listed in Psalm 1:1-3. Take time to read that!

Another of the things is listed in Mark 14:38 and Luke 6:12.

When we take time to read God's Word and pray, it will give us the spiritual lift that we need.

Here are some other verses you may read during the week. You can believe them, and know they are true! This is what God says to you:

Psalm 139:1-3 and 14-16
Matthew 10:29,30
Jeremiah 29:11
Psalm 34:18
2 Corinthians 5:18,19
Romans 8:38,39

Have an awesome week, and stay LIFTED UP!

God's Word is Inspired!

God's Word is "inspired." Do you remember what the word "inspired" means? (see the bottom).

Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

God gives us His Word to help us learn and grow and understand. Since the time a person is a little kid that person should be learning what God says in the Bible! God wants you to be "thoroughly equipped for every good work." That only happens when you KNOW what God wants you to do. So, keep reading your Bible!

If you don't know where to start, I recommend starting in the book of Mark. If you read a chapter a day, you will be through that entire book in just a couple weeks.

God bless you, and stay full of God's Word!

(Oh, by the way...the word "inspired" means "God-breathed.")

2 Timothy Series - Fear?

When you remember that God is with you, you do not need to be afraid.

Psalm 27:1,2 and 2 Timothy 1:7 are great scriptures to remember. Take time to review those right now.

Also, 2 Corinthians 10:5 says that you should "take captive every thought making it obedient to Christ." That means that you CAN take control of your thoughts, even when you are afraid. Choose to think on the good things!