The Truth About You…My Lighthouse

“If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

Psalm 139:11-12

When I was little I loved watching a movie called Pete’s Dragon. It was wonderful. But my favourite part was a scene in the end when a big storm comes and a ship is going to be dashed to pieces on the rocks at the shore. But the lighthouse keeper couldn’t get the lamp in the lighthouse lit! I found it so nerve wracking! Would they save the ship in time? The dragon in the story ended up saving the day, lighting the lamp so it could shine through the storm, and warn the sailors about the rocks ahead. It was so good.

Have you ever felt like you’re in the dark and you can’t see what is coming up ahead or know what is going to happen? I bet you have. Talk about a time when you’ve felt lost or uncertain.

With this new series in Kidventure we’re talking about Jesus as being our lighthouse. He will always shine a light for us to be able to see. (And unlike in the movie I loved as a little girl, the lamp in God’s lighthouse doesn’t go out!)

In Psalm 139 it says that God knows us better than anyone. He’s the one who made us when we were babies still inside our moms. Not only did he make us, but he made us wonderfully. What are some things that are wonderful about you? (There are lots!)

The Psalm also goes on to say that God will never leave us. Why do you think he’ll always be with us? (Because he made us and he loves us!)

You and I are so precious to God. We are made with love and care, and God cherishes us deeply. Whenever you start to feel anxious, or worried, or like you’re in the dark, stop and ask God if he’s still there with you. I know what his answer will be. Your Lighthouse will be shining brightly to guide you to him.

Then listen to this song again and remember that we belong to God and he’ll never leave us.

 

The Truth About You…Christ in Your Neighbourhood

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

John 1: 9 and 14a

Christmas is almost here. There is so much celebrating this time of year; people decorate their homes, the songs on the radio change, gifts are wrapped and special desserts are made. But why? What are we celebrating?

That’s right, Jesus. And do you remember his other name? Immanuel. Which means God with us.

This is why we celebrate.

When we say that God is with us, we mean that He is with us, right now, right this second. He is in you and beside you, He is in front of you, near and far. He is everywhere.  Read Psalm 139:7-12.

Well, I think that is certainly something worth celebrating. And, think about who God is? He is stronger than the strong, bigger than the big. Knowing and remembering that He is beside us and that He is everywhere, helps us to not be afraid. Isaiah 41:10.

Jesus came to earth and said: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”. What does that mean?

Remember that God created physical light, so that our eyes could see, but Jesus is a different kind of light. His light isn’t for our eyes, it’s for our hearts. His light is truth, it is what helps us see right from wrong, it’s what helps us find a good solution to a problem, it’s a light that shows us the best way to go. Remember the example of trying to find our friends’ house using a fake map? Would we be able to find it? No, of course not. Lies and sins are like that fake map, they do not help us, they make things unclear, just like darkness. But the truth makes things clear, the truth is helpful, just like light.

Can you spread Jesus’ light? When you’re at the store or the playground, what could you do? How about when you’re at home? Or with your friends?

Stop and look around. Can you see others spreading light? What are they doing?

This week’s challenge

As a family decide on what you would like to do to spread some light in your neighbourhood. Maybe it’s volunteer at Siloam Mission, maybe it’s bake cookies for the nursing home down the street. Maybe it’s leaving a note for the mailman or shovelling the neighbours driveway. It doesn’t matter what you choose, what’s important is that you act. Choose to act, choose to spread the light, because remember that God is with you wherever you go.

 

 

Advent

Light in our Neighbourhood

“The people who walk in darkness
will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
a light will shine.”

Isaiah 9:2

This week in Kidventure we talked about Advent and getting ready to celebrate Christmas. Our whole morning was themed around candles – our crafts, our CBG, our talk…

Do you remember why we were talking about candles so much? Every Sunday of Advent we light a new candle to remember that Christmas is coming. It reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world and he brought his light to chase out the darkness.

We also talked about Jesus moving into our neighbourhood. God sent Jesus to live with us and to know us. We talked about one of Jesus’ names and that it means “God with us.” Wanting us to know him and be close to him must have been very important to God for him to name his own son “God with us.” Do you remember what that name is? (Immanuel)

What kinds of things do you thing Jesus did while he was here on earth. Did he eat and sleep? Did he run and jump and play? Did he shovel snow (probably not… there’s very rarely snow where Jesus lived!) He moved into our neighbourhood and lived a life just like us. God wanted to show us that we matter so much to him that he would send his own son, who was King of Heaven, to live among us and know us and teach us about God and his love for us. Isn’t that amazing? We matter that much to God. You matter that much to God!

Knowing that Jesus came to be a light in our world and that he brings light into our hearts, what are some things that we can do to share his light with other people? Write a note or a card to someone? Show kindness at school? Be a good encourager? What are some other ideas you can think of? Remember how lighting the candles and sharing the flame made the whole Kidventure room brighter? Imagine that when you live like Jesus and love like Jesus, the whole earth starts to glow with his light. Pretty amazing, huh?

Watch and listen to this song again. It’s a great song for Advent because it reminds us that God is everywhere with us and will never leave. And that’s the whole reason Jesus came, to tell us that God is with us!

The Truth About You…Creation

Day 7 – God rested

“Yes, I must find rest in God.

He is the God who gives me hope.

It is surely true that He is my rock and the God who saves me.

He is like a fort to me, so I will always be secure.

I depend on God to save me and to honour me.

He is my mighty rock and my place of safety.

Trust in Him at all times, you people.

Tell Him all your troubles. 

God is our place of safety.”

Psalm 62:5-8

So, this week we conclude our days of creation series with Day 7. The day where God rested.

First of all, let’s explain that when the Bible says that God rested, what it’s really saying is that God stopped working. Not that God slept, because God does not need sleep. So, God worked for 6 days, then, on day 7, he stopped working.

Why did He stop working?

Well, He saw everything that He had created and declared it “very good” Genesis 1:31. There was nothing else that needed to be created.

Ok, so God rested, or stopped working on day 7. Why is that important?

Well, Day 7 is important because God blesses it. Genesis 2:2-3

Now, let’s think about God and who God is again. God can do anything. He has unimaginable power. I mean He created light and stars and birds and mountains by simply speaking. So, with that much power, couldn’t God have created everything in just one day? Of course He could have. So, why did He work for 6 days and why did He rest on Day 7?

Well, God is leading by example. He is showing us that we need to follow a pattern of work and rest.

Exodus 16:13-26

Exodus 34:21

Deuteronomy 5:14

Jesus tells us that the Sabbath day is for us. Mark 2:27

God created us, and so, knows exactly what we need. We need to rest. Sleep is one way our bodies rest. Sleeping helps keep our brains healthy so that we can learn and remember, it also keeps our hearts healthy and gives our bodies time to grow. But sleep isn’t the only kind of rest our bodies need.

Can you imagine going to school and sitting at a desk everyday, all day, day after day after day? What would happen to your body? What would happen to your mind?

I think I would become very weak, I would always be tired, I probably wouldn’t be able to remember the things I was learning anymore. We know that in order to keep our minds and bodies healthy we need to take breaks. It’s not good to do the same one thing all the time, even if that one thing is as fun as drawing or reading a book. We need breaks so that we can be refreshed.

Well, our spirit is like our body. Our spirit also needs to be refreshed. Day 7 is a day that God has set apart for us. It is a day where we are called to take a break from our normal routine to connect with God and worship God. Isaiah 58:13  What do you do to connect with God?

God wants us to go to Him. To find rest in Him. Matthew 11:28

What does resting in God look like? Psalm 62:5-8

When we rely on ourselves and our own abilities, we will not find rest. But, when we choose to depend on God, to trust God, to obey God we will enter His rest, our spirit will be refreshed.

This week’s challenge

Take time this week to connect with God.

-Go for a walk outside and take some time to appreciate all that God has created.

-Read your favourite Bible story, or read a story you’ve never read before.

-Gather your family and sing your favourite worship song together.

The Truth About You…Creation

Day 6 – God created man

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old is gone, the new is here!”

2 Corinthians 5:17

So, this week we continue with our study of Day 6. God creates human kind.

Do you remember what God used to create human kind? Genesis 2:7

God said “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness” What does that mean? What are the things/traits that God gave us that make us different than God’s other creations?

One of the things we have is the ability to make choices. We have the freedom to choose. We have the freedom to choose whether or not we want to follow or obey the rules. Do you choose to obey the rules? All the time? What did Adam and Eve choose?

When Adam and Eve chose to break the rule it separated them God, this made them very sad, it also made God very sad. But, God had a plan. Do you remember the Secret Rescue Plan?

God’s Secret Rescue Plan was to create another man, a different kind of man, this man would not be created from the earth. Read 1 Corinthians 15:47 Where was this man from? Read Philippians 2:5-11 What was His name? What did He do? Read Hebrews 2:14-15

Jesus died on the cross so that you and I could be connected to God again and the connection lasts forever. Read John 3:16 We call this the gift of Salvation. Have you been given the gift of salvation? Yes you have. We all have. It’s a gift. It is not something that we can earn or need to earn. The better question is, have you accepted God’s gift? Read Romans 10:9 and John 11:25

The Bible tells us that once we accept God’s gift of salvation we are made new. Re-read the verse at the top of this page. You can also read 1 Corinthians 15:42-45

This week’s challenge

Take time this week to pray. Remember to thank Jesus for giving you new life and remember to pray for your prayer pal.

And check out these songs, one is familiar the other is new.

The Truth About You…Creation

Day 6 – God created land animals

“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Zechariah 9:9

We have made it to the sixth day of creation. A lot happens on this day, so this week we are focusing on how God created animals to live on the land. This includes creating the donkey. What is your favourite land animal? Why?

On Sunday we heard the story of Palm Sunday, the day where Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Watch this video to review the story. Or read it in Matthew 21:1-11.

Now, is it really possible, that on the sixth day, God already knew he would send His son Jesus to save us? Did he really know that Jesus would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey?

Read Genesis 49:10-11 and Zechariah 9:9.

Who did Jesus send to get the donkeys?

How did the people greet Jesus when he arrived in Jerusalem?

What does Hosanna mean? (save us)

This story reminds us that God sent Jesus to save us. Read John 3:17

This week’s challenge

When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, the people lay coats and branches on the ground to show respect and honour, to worship Jesus. This week, what will you do to worship Jesus?