Nesting Thoughts

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Philippians 4:4-9

TO CHEW ON: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Philippians 4:8

You’ve probably heard the proverb, “You can’t stop a bird from landing on your head, but you can stop it from building a nest in your hair.”


Our thoughts are a lot like that bird. The first time a thought occurs to us is like the bird sitting on our head. We can’t help that it landed there but we can choose what happens after that. We can choose to invite the thought to stay by thinking about it more, or shoo it away by replacing it with a better thought.

For example, suppose you stop by your best friend Jessica’s house to walk her to school. Her Mom tells you that she’s already left with Danielle. Immediately you have the thought: “Danielle’s trying to steal my friend.”

Now you have a choice. Do you encourage that jealous thought by telling yourself things like:

• I never could trust Jessica.
  
• Next time I see Jessica and Danielle I'll give them a piece of my mind.

Or do you replace it by thinking things like:

• I don’t know everything about the situation (truth thoughts).
• I can have more than one good friend (right thoughts).
  
• I don’t own Jessica - she needs to be free to walk to school with anyone she likes (noble thoughts).

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to recognize thoughts that don’t please You. Then help me to replace them with thoughts that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. Amen.



MORE: Thought-provoking
We can do something about the thoughts that come to us. Which activities below may lead to good thoughts? Which do you believe would lead to bad thoughts?



1. Go on chat rooms where people post put-downs.

2. Memorize Bible advice about your thoughts.

3. Read Christian fiction and stories of famous people who loved God (biographies).

4. Watch every new movie that comes out.

5. Listen to music with God-honoring lyrics.

6. Hang around with kids who swear.

7. Play violent video games.

8. Spend time online at Christian web sites for kids your age.

9. Go to church, Sunday School and club.


You might want to memorize today's TO CHEW ON verse. It's a good way to remind yourself about the thoughts to encourage and the ones to shoo away.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

- Philippians 4:8

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Hang in there!

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Philippians 3:10-14

TO CHEW ON: But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13b, 14

Each member of your baseball team has to sell 20 boxes of chocolates as a fund-raiser. But after tramping the neighborhood for an hour and hearing “No thanks” at every door, do you feel like giving up?

When you keep going in spite of everything it’s called “perseverance.” We can learn a lot about perseverance from some Bible characters. Which person:


1. Begged Pharaoh many times to let his people leave Egypt? (a. Jacob, b. Joseph, c. Moses).

2. Prayed for years before God gave her a son? (a. Mary, b. Hannah, c. Eve)

3. Prayed, and then sent his servant to check six times before he saw a rain cloud? (a. Elijah, b. Nathan, c. Samuel).

Living for God also needs perseverance. Here are some reasons you may feel like giving up. Which is true about you?

- I’ve blown it in the past.
- None of my friends are Christians and I feel alone.
- Living for God is hard and I’m tired of trying.
- I’ve done enough and now I can stop trying.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please help me to forget about past failures and successes, and do my best for You each day. Amen.


MORE: Never Give Up!

- Bette Graham made the first “Mistake Out” in her blender. Soon all the secretaries in her office wanted some to fix their mistakes. But she made little money at it until one day she made a mistake that she couldn’t paint over. After she got fired she had lots of time to spend on her Liquid Paper® business.

- Thomas Adams did hundreds of experiments on chicle from the Mexican sapodilla tree. But every try at making toys, rainboots and bicycle tires failed. Then one day he put some in his mouth and found it was great to chew. He added some flavor and voila, Chiclets®!

- George de Mestral got an idea for a fastener when he examined a burr that had stuck to his pants. But after he made it in his lab, people laughed at his invention. He stuck with it, though and was soon selling over 60 million yards of Velcro® a year.

- Louis Braille became blind at the age of three after an accident with an awl (a tool with a pointed end). Even so, he learned to read, though books for the blind were heavy and the words hard to figure out. While he was still a student, he discovered the alphabet code used by the French army. On one of his school vacations he used that code to invent an alphabet with six dots using an awl to punch out words and sentences in the first Braille writing.

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Dressed for War

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Ephesians 6:10-18

TO CHEW ON: "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." Ephesians 6:11


Why would anyone choose to wear a hot bullet-proof vest, a stiff camouflage uniform, a heavy helmet, weighty steel-toed boots, an uncomfortable gas mask and on top of all that carry a cumbersome weapon and ammunition? Only someone who needed a lot of protection - like a soldier in war.


Everything a soldier wears helps protect him from the enemy. His camouflage uniform makes it easy for him to hide. His helmet, vest and boots protect his head, chest and feet. His gas mask filters out poison or germs from the air. His weapon helps him defend himself or even take more land for his country.

Christians have to be just as prepared to fight against the devil. But what exactly are we fighting against? (Ephesians 6:12) We are not fighting against a]_____ but against the b]_____, against the c]_____ against the d]_____ and against the e]_____.

"The Armor of God" - Artist unknown, Lillie A. Faris, Standard Bible Story Readers, 1925-28

It sounds scary. But God gives us spiritual armor to use. What part of your armor have you put on by doing the following (Ephesians 6:14-17):
1. Do you live by truth not lies and deceit? _____
2. Are you careful to live in ways that are right? _____
3. Are you willing and eager to tell people about Jesus? _____
4. Are you trusting that God is with you and is helping you? _____
5. Have you asked Jesus into your life and accepted salvation? _____
6. Do you love and memorize God’s word? _____

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to put on Your armor and then live in alertness, always ready to ask for Your help. Amen.

MORE: Dress Protected
War isn’t the only time people need to wear clothing that protects them. Match the protective clothing with the people who would wear it.

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
1. Padding to protect much of the body, and a helmet. ____

2. A suit that covers every part of your body and face, and gloves. ____

3. A pressurized body suit which provides you with oxygen. ____

4. A net over your face and neck, a coverall and gloves. ____

5. A mask covering your mouth and nose, a gown and gloves. ____

PEOPLE NEEDING PROTECTION
A. Beekeeper
B. Doctor or Nurse
C. Astronaut
D. Scientist in a germ lab
E. Hockey or Football Player

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Your Best

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Ephesians 6:6-9

TO CHEW ON:"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does." Ephesians 6:7,9

“No TV until your room is clean,” Mom announces one Saturday morning.


Your room is a total mess. After you spend a few minutes trying to tidy it, you know it’s hopeless. So you take everything that’s cluttering up your floor and desk, and either slip it under the bed or pile it in the closet. Once you’ve closed the closet door and made your bed, your room looks great. Everyone is impressed - until Mom inspects it. In no time you’re back in your room and hard at work!

Though we may sometimes get away with doing a half-hearted job for people, we can never fool God. He sees our attitude and knows if we’ve really done our best.

When we do our best, we may not get compliments and thanks from people. But God sees and someday He’ll reward us for jobs well done. Knowing He is watching is the best reason to do our best in everything.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to do everything for Your praise and to hear Your “Thank you”. Amen.



MORE: Hidden Jobs
There are many jobs which aren’t public and which don’t get people’s public thanks or praise. Match behind-the-scenes workers with the people or group of people they will help.



WORKERS
1. Person stocking shelves ____
2. Air traffic controller ____
3. Janitor ____
4. Cook ____
5. Factory seamstress ____
6. 9-1-1 Dispatcher ____

WHO THEY HELP
a. people going out to eat at a restaurant or cafeteria
b. shoppers
c. ambulance and police drivers, people in an accident
d. school students, office workers, hospital patients
e. pilots and people who need to fly somewhere
f. people who buy clothes

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

BIG Love

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Ephesians 3:14-21

TO CHEW ON: "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ." Ephesians 3:17b,18

• The highest mountain on earth is 29,0781 feet above sea level. What is its name?

a) Mt. McKinley
b) Mt. Everest
c) Mt. K2

• The deepest ocean trench is over 36,0002 feet under the sea. What is its name?

a) Mariana Trench
b) Japan Trench
c) Aleutian Trench

• The largest ocean covers 64.23 million square miles. It is the

a) Atlantic Ocean
b) Arctic Ocean
c) Pacific Ocean

Does something in your life seem too big for you to handle? Remember, God cares about you and your problems. His love is bigger than any love you will ever know.

• It is higher than the highest mountain (Mount Everest - 5½ miles high)
• It is deeper than the deepest ocean valley (Mariana Trench - 6½ miles deep)
• It is wider and longer than the largest ocean (Pacific Ocean - 64.2 million square miles).

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please help me to know and trust Your high, deep, wide and long love for me. Amen.


MORE: big, BIGGER, BIGGEST
How many more biggest things can you find?
1. The biggest land animal:

2. The biggest sea animal:

3. The biggest bird:

4. The biggest insect:

5. The highest waterfall:

6.

7.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Unique Invention

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Ephesians 2:1-10

TO CHEW ON: "For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

Think back through the last 24 hours. What things have you used in that time which someone once had to invent, design and make? For example did you ride a bike, wash with a bar of soap, use a computer, send a text message on a cell phone, load a dishwasher? Make a list.


Just think – not one of the things you listed came into being on its own. Someone had to think of, design and put together each of these things to do their special job..


The same is true about you. You are not only the physical child of your parents but also God’s unique invention. God thought of you, then designed and brought you into the world. You are here to do things no one else can do as well as you can.



Paul tells the Christians at Ephesus about this in his letter called Ephesians. He calls them “God’s workmanship.” He reminds them, and us, that after we invite Jesus into our lives, God has a special job for us. He will make us into the person who can do the good works God planned for us to do before we were ever born.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to do the good things I was created to do. Amen.


MORE: Inventions

1. Find out how some of these things came to be invented:

bicycle    skateboard     skates
computer       video games
compact disks (CDs)    television

2. Invent something of your own using your favorite kind of building toys (Lego™, Meccano™, K’NEX™ etc.).
- What can it do?

- How does it work?

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Fruit Salad

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Galatians 5:16-26

TO CHEW ON: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22,23a



What do you like about fruit - its sweetness? Its juiciness? The way it feels in your mouth? What is your favorite kind of fruit?

If you live in a place where fruit grows, you know only certain plants produce fruit. You don’t expect to pick apples from an oak tree or find blackberries on a cedar bush. Even fruit trees can only produce one kind of fruit. Plum trees will not grow peaches, neither will cherry trees grow pineapples.

We can think of people as plants. Their fruit is the things they do. But unlike plants, people’s lives can grow many kinds of fruit - a real fruit salad.

In the letter he wrote to the church in Galatia, Paul talks about the kinds of fruit a person who has given their life to Jesus should grow. It's Holy Spirit fruit. When we give Jesus our lives and let the Holy Spirit change us to be like Him, our lives will grow this kind of fruit too.

Today’s verse lists nine Spirit fruits. There’s a piece taken out of each those fruits, below. Complete each by filling in the missing piece from the fruit salad bowl.

1. g __ __ __ leness       5. l __ __ e

2. __ __ __ ience          6. __ __ __ dness

3. g __ __ __ ness         7. f__ __ __ hfulness

4. self-c__ __ __ rol      8. __ __ y

9. __ __ __ ce

PRAYER: Dear Holy Spirit, help me to let You grow Your good fruit from my life. Amen.

MORE: A Helping of Fruit Please
Which Spirit fruit do you think you would need in the following situations (you may need more than one)?

1. Your deaf grandmother comes for a visit.

2. You have to get up at 6:30 every morning to deliver papers.

3. You have to cancel your vacation trip because your dad has to work.

4. Your little sister keeps getting into your stuff.

5. Your best friend needs help with homework

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Thorn

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

TO CHEW ON: "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9


Do you or someone you know have any of the following:

- crooked teeth    
- epilepsy          
- poor hearing
- diabetes
- poor eyesight

These are what Paul might have called a “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7). You know that a thorn poking into you won’t kill you. But it hurts just the same. When there's a thorn in your shoe and you're trying to walk it's annoying, always there, and not easy to ignore.


What’s your thorn? Perhaps it’s something you were born with like an oddly shaped nose or ears that stick out. Maybe it has come as a result of treatments for a disease like cancer. Maybe for as long as you can remember, you’ve had diabetes or epilepsy. You can live with your problem, but it interferes with what you’d like to do and makes you feel like an oddball.

What do you do about thorns? You may be tempted to feel sorry for yourself, whine and complain. Or you may avoid others and hide your problem so you won’t get teased and made fun of.

Paul did two things about his thorn. First he 1.______________________ (2 Corinthians 12:8). He knew that God had the power to take his thorn away.

"For this thing I besought the Lord," by Charles J. Staniland

When God answered ‘no,’ Paul determined to 2._______________________ (2 Corinthians 12:9,10) . He did this because he knew when he succeeded in spite of his problem, God would get the credit.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I bring my thorn to You. I pray You will take it away, or show Your power through me if Your answer is ‘no’. Amen.


MORE: Living With Thorns
1. If you or someone you know has a serious illness or condition (like cancer or epilepsy or diabetes), find out all you can about it.

2. If it’s your friend who is in this situation, put yourself in their place. What are some things you could do for them to make their thorn easier to live with.

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Yoked Together

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18


TO CHEW ON: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" 2 Corinthians 6:14

In Bible times, teams of oxen were used to do farm work, like pull a plow. A heavy wooden yoke was placed on the necks two oxen. The yoke was attached with leather straps to the plow.


Together the oxen pulled the plow, while the plowman walked behind them working the plow parts and breaking the ground. This yoke kept the oxen moving and pulling in the same direction.


But suppose one of the oxen refused to go forward or started pulling in a different direction? The obedient ox and the plowman would have a problem, and the work wouldn’t get done.

In the same way, it’s hard for people to work closely with others who want to go in a different direction than they do. If we want to obey and please God, it may be hard for us to work beside someone who is only wanting to be popular, rich, famous, or to have a good time. In fact, God warns us against such ties.

On the other hand, we love our family members and friends who don’t know Jesus. God does not ask us to separate outselves from them - but to keep on loving them. We may be the ones who someday introduce them to Jesus.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please help me to be wise in my friendships with people who don’t know and love You. Amen.


MORE: Many Yokes
People can be “yoked together” in many ways. What advice would you give to people in the situations below? Explain why you think as you do.

1. A Christian boy wants to marry his girlfriend who thinks God doesn’t exist.

2. A non-Christian woman has asked your Christian aunt to be her business partner.

3. Your friend is the only Christian on his baseball team.

4. Your brother’s best friend doesn’t believe in God or Jesus.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

A Clay Jar

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 2 Corinthians 4:6-12

TO CHEW ON: "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Corinthians 4:7

Perfume in a plastic spray bottle or crystal glass?

Which would you choose?
- a book with a torn paper cover or one with a mint-condition hard cover?
- chocolates in a plastic bag or packed in a fancy box?
- perfume in a plastic spray bottle or a crystal glass bottle?
- a gift wrapped in newspaper or one wrapped in tissue and a bag?

No one would be surprised if you chose the second thing in every case. Even in small things, we tend to look at containers and choose the prettiest and richest-looking.

In Paul’s time, clay jars were the plain everyday jars people used in their kitchens. There was nothing special to make people choose them. But they were important in the kitchen because of the water, juice or milk inside them.

God doesn't care whether we're plain or good-looking.

That’s how God looks at us. He doesn’t care whether we’re plain or good-looking, what talents we have, or what family we come from. Instead He puts the treasure of knowing God through Jesus inside us no matter what we look like or where we’ve come from. Then, when what is inside us spills out in glory and power, He gets all the credit.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to know Jesus and become like Him so His good things will flow from my life. Amen.

MORE: Pinch Pot Craft
You can make a simple clay pot of your own.

You will need:
- potter’s clay (can be bought at art stores - or use plasticine or play dough)
- paints and brushes.

What to do:
1. Cut or break off a piece of clay and roll into a 2 to 3-inch ball.

2. Push your thumb into the center of the ball.

3. Using your thumbs and fingers, pinch up the walls of your pot. Turn the pot as you pinch.

4. Pat the bottom of your pot on the table to give it a flat bottom.

5. Let it dry.

6. Paint it. (Unless it is glazed and fired, your finished pot will not be able to hold water).

For step-by-step instructions with pictures, go here.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Surprise - good or bad?

TODAY’S SPECIAL: I Corinthians 15:51-58


TO CHEW ON: "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." I Corinthians 15:51-52

How do you feel about surprises? Most of us like surprises that are good – wrapped parcels at Christmas, a surprise party on our birthday, an unexpected visit from a friend.

Someday there will be a surprise bigger than any Christmas or birthday. Jesus will return! The dead will be raised. We will transform into our new bodies.

"The angels sound their trumpets" - Artist unknown

Did you know this could happen at any time? It could happen today while you’re still alive (“We will not all sleep” means not everyone will die). Or it could happen at a time after you have died. If you have trusted Jesus for eternal life, His coming will be the most wonderful surprise ever.

If you have not trusted Him - you still can (“Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” Psalm 95: 7,8). Then you too can look forward to the surprise of Jesus’ return.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, You have promised to come back. Please come soon. Amen.


MORE: Signs Jesus Will Come Soon
Though we don’t know when Jesus will come back, He told his disciples some things to watch for. They are things which tell us His coming is near.

Read what He said in Matthew 24:4-14.

Can you list at least six things Jesus told us to watch for?

Are any of these things happening in the world now?

ANSWERS

Changed!

TODAY’S SPECIAL: I Corinthians 15: 35-44

TO CHEW ON: "The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body." I Corinthians 15:42b-44

Marigold seeds

Have you ever planted a garden? If you have, you know the seeds you plant don’t look anything like the plants that grow from them. This, Paul says, is a picture of how different our new heavenly body will be from our earthly body.

Marigold flowers

Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, so we will also live again. But when we rise, we will have new bodies. What will our new bodies be like? Will people recognize us? Will we have powers we don’t have now?

We don’t know the answers to these questions. But the Bible tells us some things about our new body.

Unscramble the words from 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 that tell what our new body will be like.
1.It will be (amesliprihbe) _______________ (it won’t grow old, weak or sick).
It will be raised in 2. (orgyl) ________________ and 3.(orpwe) ______________.
It will be a 4. (slrtuapii) _______________ body.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You I can look forward to a new resurrected body which will never wear out, be sick or die. Amen.
 
MORE: Seed Quiz Game:
How well do you and your friends know what the seeds of some common plants look like? Play this game and find out:

You will need:

• packets of familiar vegetable or flower seeds
• clear disposable cups - one cup for each type of seed
• cello tape
• 1 large paper and small papers - 1 per person
  
• marker & pencil for each person
  

What to do:

1. Empty seeds from each packet into a cup (one cup for each type of seed).

2. Put 1 seed of each kind onto the sticky side of a piece of cello tape. Stick it onto the back of the emptied seed package from which it came.

3. Tape the tops of seed packets in rows onto the large piece of paper (picture side showing, seed not showing, so the packets can be flipped up to check answers later).

4. Number each packet (1, 2,3..) with the marker.

5. Scramble the see-through cups so they are not in the same order as the seed packets from which they came.

6. Number each cup with the marker.


Play the game:

1. Give each player a piece of paper and pencil. Have each player list the number and name of each plant e.g. 1. Carrot; 2. Cucumber etc.

2. Beside each plant name, put the number of the cup you think has seeds for that plant.

3. When everyone is done, flip over the seed packets, place the cup that has the matching seeds beside the packet, and check your answers.

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Death

TODAY’S SPECIAL: I Corinthians 15:12 -22

TO CHEW ON: "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." I Corinthians 12:22

Has death touched you? Perhaps you’ve had a pet that died. Maybe someone close to you has died. It could be you yourself have been near death.

Death was never God’s idea. His interest is in life. That’s why God sent Jesus. Though the penalty for our sin is death, Jesus paid that penalty.

"Christ on the Cross" by Eugene Delacroix, 1798-1863

When Jesus came back to life (we celebrate His resurrection at Easter), it proved God accepted this payment. Once Jesus paid the fine for sin, its penalty is canceled out.

When Jesus rose, He won the victory over death for everyone. Though those we love will someday die physically, death is not the end!

"The resurrection of Christ" by Carl Heinrich Bloch

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank You for winning over death. Help me to make choices that lead to life with You which lasts forever. Amen


MORE: Death - A Sad Time
Even though we know death is not final, it is a sad part of life on earth. It’s a good thing to admit and express our sadness when someone we love dies.

What do you know about death? Fill in the missing words. (Use your own ideas, or use the suggested answers in the Word Bank, below.)

1. What do we call a service for someone who has died?
___________________________ or __________ ___________.

2. What do we call the box or case in which a person’s body is placed? ____________________

3. What do we call the process of burning the dead person’s physical remains? ______________

4. What do we call a speech or reading that tells about the person who has died? _____________

5. What do we call the notice in the paper that announces the person’s death and tells about their life and the loved people they’ve left behind? _______________

Word bank:
**************
Cremation   Memorial service
Casket    Eulogy
Funeral    Obituary
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ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Love

TODAY’S SPECIAL: I Corinthians 13:1-13


TO CHEW ON: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13:13



As you can see, we use the word “love” for how we feel about a lot of things. But the love the Bible talks about in I Corinthians 13 goes far beyond describing the feelings we have about food or things we like to do. This is love that expresses itself in actions.

Using your Bible (I Corinthians 13:4-8) finish each statement about love. Then unscramble the bracketed letters to tell one final amazing thing about love on the blanks below.

Love is 1.___ ___ ___ ___ ( ) ___ ___,
love is 2.__ ( )__ __.
It does not 3.__ __ ( )__,
it does not 4.___ ___ ( )___ ___,
it is not 5.___ ___ ( ) ___ ___ .
It is not 6. ___ ___ ___ ( ),
it is not 7.___ ___ ( ) ( )- ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___,
it is not easily 8.___ ( ) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___,
it keeps no record of 9.__ __ ___ ___ ___ ___ .

Love does not delight in 10.___ ___ ___ ( )
but rejoices with 11.___ ___ ___ ___ ___ .
It always 12.___ ( ) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
always 13.___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ( ),
always 14.___ ___ ___ ( ) ___,
always 15.___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ( ) ___ ___ ___ ___

16. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ (3 words)

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to love You and others with this kind of love. Amen

MORE: Love In Action
Below are some situations in which you might find yourself. Review the statements about love (above) and then write the loving thing to do or attitude to have.

1. You made the highest mark on the test.

2. The kid next door gets a new bike every year.

3. The meanest kid in school is in trouble.

4. A bully is threatening to beat up your friend.

5. You’ve heard your best friend is telling lies about you.

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

A Way Out

TODAY’S SPECIAL: I Corinthians 10:6-13

TO CHEW ON: "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." I Corinthians 10:13


Temptations come in a variety of ways and at different times.

If you’re writing a test at school, are you tempted to sneak a peak at someone else’s answers. If you’re in the store, are you tempted to slip something from the shelf into your pocket? If you’re hanging out with friends, are you tempted to go along with the crowd, even if what they’re doing is wrong? What tempts you? ______________


Paul wrote two letters to the church in Corinth. In the first one (1 Corinthians), he talked about temptation. He explained how, when we’re tempted, sometimes it seems impossible to resist. But God has promised to give us something – what is it? (I Corinthians 10:13)
__________________________

Dealing with temptation involves at least two things:
1. Realizing that what you face is a temptation.
2. Remembering that you don’t have to give in to temptation. With God’s help you can find a way out.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me be alert to temptation and the way out of temptation. Amen.


MORE: Temptation Exits
What things below might be “a way out” of temptation for you?

- Close your eyes or look the other way.
- Leave.
- Just say "no."
- Change your activity to get your mind off the tempting thing.
- Remind yourself, Jesus sees everything you do.
- Pray.
- Be quiet and say nothing.
- Speak up, even if it takes a lot of courage.
- Say a Bible verse you’ve memorized.

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Seen or Unseen?

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Romans 12:1-8


TO CHEW ON: "Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." Romans 12:4,5

Think of all the parts of your body needed for you to do common things like seeing, hearing, smelling, walking, talking. Take smelling for example.

• To smell something you need your heart and lungs to be working and your blood to be pumping so you can breathe.

• When the air enters your nose you need the smell sensors deep inside to pick up the smell molecules from the air.

• Those sensors send the message down nerve pathways from your nose to your brain.

• When the smell message gets to your brain , your brain has to figure out what you’re smelling.

• Then you need more nerve pathways to send messages to your legs and arms, to tell them if you should run away because your house is on fire, or to come for dinner because you’re smelling food cooking.

It’s a good thing the hidden-away parts of our bodies, like our hearts and lungs, don’t get jealous of our public parts, like our nose and feet, and decide to quit working because nobody is noticing them.


Each person who is a Christian is part of Jesus’ body on earth, the church. Our bodies need many parts working together to get a job done, and so does the church. If you are doing a small, hidden job for Jesus, don’t feel you’re unimportant. You are as necessary as someone who sings solos or has the main part in the play.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to be willing to serve You in hidden or public ways. Amen.



MORE: Gifts
In Romans 12:6-8 Paul tells us God gives people different abilities and strengths, called "gifts," to help them serve in Christ’s body.

Can you find the seven gifts Paul mentions?

1. _______________   2. ______________
3. _______________   4. ________________
5. _______________   6. ______________
7. _______________

What do you think your gift is?

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Who's At the Controls?

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Romans 8:5-11

TO CHEW ON: The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6

Most vehicles, machines and toys have controls. Can you match the object with its controls?

1. Car ____      4. Bike ____

2. Computer ____ 5. Video Game ____

3. Canoe ____

The controls on most things are small. But the results of how those things are controlled are big. It’s the same way with our lives.

We determine who and what controls our lives in small ways. It's in the choices we make every day. We can make selfish choices and try to control our own lives. Or we can choose to let God the Holy Spirit control our lives. The consequences of both are huge.

If we choose to live by our “sinful minds” - our own ideas, plans and desires - the result is ________________. If we let the Holy Spirit control our minds and our lives, the result is _________________ and _______________. (Romans 8:6)

PRAYER: Dear Holy Spirit, help me to live my life under Your control. Please show me how You want me to live today. Amen.



MORE: What’s Your Choice:
God never forces us to live for Him. He lets us choose.

Which of the activities below would help you live a Holy Spirit-controlled life. Can you add one more to the list?

1. Watch popular music videos on TV.

2. Read story books written by Christian authors.

3. Buy and read secular magazines about teen movie stars, fashions and dating.

4. Watch any videos that sound interesting, in spite of ratings and language warnings.

5. Collect and listen to Christian music CDs.

6. Read the Bible and memorize parts of it.

7. _________________________________________________

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The War Inside Me

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Romans 7: 14-25

TO CHEW ON: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." Romans 7:15

What happens when someone says, “Close your eyes and don’t peek”? Do you have a big urge to open your eyes and DO exactly what you’ve been told NOT TO DO?



That seems to be what happens when you concentrate on the things God tells you not to do. You know that disobeying our parents, stealing, lying and being jealous are things God tells you not to do. But have you ever found that the more you concentrate on those ‘don’ts’ the more you find yourself doing them?

In his letter to the Romans, Paul talked about the way people tend to act and feel this way. It is what makes it more natural for us to disobey God than obey Him. Later we feel sorry that we did what God said we shouldn't.

How do we escape from this circle of knowing we shouldn’t do something but doing it anyway? Paul gives us the answer.



Write the last words from Romans 7:25 in the blanks below:

“Thanks be to God – through ____________ __________ ____________ ____________.”

Some things that will help you escape the cycle of sinning:

A. Admit your sin to yourself and to God.
B. Ask God to forgive you.
C. Ask the Holy Spirit to alert you to when you take the first steps toward sin.
D. Ask Jesus to change you from the inside.

PRAYER: Dear God, Your power to change me helps me break habits of sinning. Thank you! Amen.



MORE: What If You Sin?
What things should you do when you sin? What things shouldn’t you do?

1. Get down on yourself and be discouraged for a few days.

2. Admit and confess your sin to God.



3. Memorize Bible verses that remind you of what pleases God.

4. Give up, because living for God is too hard.

5. Apologize to people you’ve hurt or wronged.

6. Accept God’s forgiveness and love.


ANSWERS




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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.