Kidzport November 30 – Uncovering Wells

November 30, 2008

This week we took a look at Isaac, son of Abraham.  According to Genesis, after Abraham died, the Philistines took back the land that Abraham had occupied – land God had given him.   When he matured, Isaac began to inhabit these lands.  

One way that someone would claim land in those days was by digging a well.  You see, there was plenty of water under the ground, but one had to dig for it.  Having grown up in the area, Isaac knew where all the wells were.  But as he began to uncover his father’s wells, he ran into opposition from the Philistines.  Finally, he found a place that he could live without argument.

Sometimes life is like this.  God has a blessing for us (the water) but it is hard to get to.  We have to dig for it.  It helps if we know where to dig, as Isaac did.  But sometimes there are obstacles to what God has.  We can either give up, or keep looking for a new place to uncover a well, and get to the blessing. 

For Parents:

• Have your child read Genesis 26: 17-22 with you.  Why did Isaac have to dig so many wells?
• Ask your child why it is important to keep pressing on, and trying to uncover new wells.
• We talked about Isaac’s family – see if they remember who Isaac’s older brother is. (Ishmael)

Reminder: Reheasal for the Cantata is Saturday, 12/6 at 12:00 in the church,

Kidzport – November 23. – Asking God for Good Things

November 24, 2008

First, let me thank our three volunteers for helping out this week, freeing Jill and myself for some needed family time.  Marisol, Celia and Ashley – thank you! 

This week the topic was asking God for things.  The key verse was Psalm 4:6.

There are many who say, “Who will show us any good?”  LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.

Often, we turn to all kinds of people when we are asking for things, and we fail to turn to the Father of Blessings!   Imagine that!  The one person who has the ability to give all things, and we neglect to ask Him.   Marisol took the time to work through praying with the children, talking about how we can effectively pray to God, and why God is the one we should turn to.

For Parents:

• Pray with your children.  The most effective way to teach a child is to show them.  The bible says that if we train up a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not depart from it. (Prov 22:6)
• Ask your child if they remember Psalm 4:6, and help them to recall it and recite it. 
• Encourage your child to put their wants and needs before God.  This is especially important at this time of year.  Be sure they are asking God, not Santa Clause!

Kidzport November 16 – Raiders of the Lost Ark

November 17, 2008

Today we talked about the Ark of the Covenent.  Yes that Ark of the Covenent.   Now, dealing with seven-to-nine year olds, I had to come to grips with the fact that no one had ever even seen the original Indiana Jones films.  So we started from scratch, because I had a point to get to, but they had to understand what I was talking about. 

So we talked about the Ark, how it was built and what it was made of.  Special attention was paid to the fact that once the Law was placed into the Ark, no one was allowed to touch it. Which brings us to the point of the lesson.   David had decided to bring the Ark to Jerusalem.  Instead of having the Levites carry it – which was the way it should have been done – David had it placed on an oxcart.  At one point, the ox stumbled and the Ark nearly fell, Until it was steadied by Uzzah.  The Lord killed Uzzah on the spot for touching the Ark.

While it seems at first harsh and cruel – after all, Uzzah probably reacted instinctivly – it demonstrates an important point.  We are not to interprete God’s law for our own purposes.  After all, perhaps God planned for the Ark to fall.  David had made several mistakes – moving the Ark without consulting God, putting the Ark on a cart instead of carrying it.  Throughout his lifetime, people would die for David’s mistakes.  Often times, other people suffer for ours.

For parents:

• Read the passage in 2 Samuel 6 regarding the moving of the Ark and the death of Uzzah.  Have your child relate why Uzzah was killed for this simple act.
• Ask your child if they’ve ever had to suffer for something someone else did, and how they felt about it.
• Ask your child to describe the Ark.  Remind them by letting them read the description in Exodus 25.  

Kidzport November 9 – Patience

November 9, 2008

Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.

So says the Book of James, chapter 5.   Often, we anticipate things, and this anticipation can lead us to forget who we are, and to cause us to obsess.   Jesus promised that he would return.  The people that James was writing to were impatient for this to happen.  The kept asking “When is He going to return?  Why does he take so long?”

Imagine – they were being impatient for Jesus’ return within a generation of his death on the Cross.  And we’re still waiting two thousand years later!  But we must wait patiently.  Jesus promised a new revival before he came.  We might be in the early stages of that time now.  But whenever the date or hour, we must know God will send his son in his own perfect timing.

For Parents:

• Have your child think of a time when they were impatient for something, maybe a birthday or Christmas.  Ask them how they felt, and why they had to wait.
• Reinforce the biblical principle of patience.  The first characteristic of love in 1Cor 13 is “Love is patient…”  Patience is part of the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5. 
• Encourage your child to “wait on the Lord.”

Kidzport November 2 – Pray and Vote

November 3, 2008

With the upcoming election, I thought it would be a good time to talk about making important choices.  An American’s vote is an important thing.  It is, at times, a difficult descision, and one that should be made prayerfully and cautiously.    Our verse was Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

We simplified it, though:  “Do all things in the name of the Lord.”    And that includes making important descisions.   We talked about different kinds of choices – going to school, getting married, finding a job.  I asked the kids if God had a place in those descisions.  I was glad when they said yes.  We talked about making choices by filtering them through the lens of scripture, and seeing what comes out.

I asked the kids, if they could vote, who would they vote for.  Most of them said Barak Obama.  I asked them why.  I got a variety of answers, some silly, some wrong, some thoughtful.   I asked the kids, that in light of the verse, who would God have them vote for.  They all named whomever they had chosen, of course. 

So we did a little comparison test.  I said to forget the candidates names, and let’s just look at them as far as where they stand on some issues that might be important to God.  First I told them that Candidate A had a personal experience with God in his life, and has acknowledged that his faith has played an important role in who he is.  This candidate acknowledges Jesus in his life.  Candidate B says that there are many ways to seek God, and that none are wrong.  

Who would God vote for?  Unanamous – Candidate A. 

Next question – Candidate A wants to limit abortions, if not stop them altogether in most cases.  Candidate B wants to expand abortion rights, and make sure everyone who wants an abortion can have one.

Again – unanamous for Candidate A.

Finally, Candidate A says marriage is between a man and a woman only, and has supported a ban on same-sex marriage in his state.   Candidate B has said that he thinks a marriage is between a man and a woman, but doesn’t think same sex marriage should be banned.

That does it – all unanamous for Candidate A.  I then asked then which candidate was which.  They were very surprised at the answer.   We then talked about what happens when we make important descisions before consulting with God.  We need to seek out God’s will in all things, and be sure we are acting as He would want us to.

For parents:

• Talk to your kids about the choices they make.  Ask them if they pray before they make hard choices.  Encourage them to, and pray with them.
• Kids do as they see parents do?  Be sure you are being a good example in seeking God’s face when making choices.
• Whoever you vote for – vote prayerfully.