I love Spring!!!

I hope you are all enjoying the GLORIOUS weather that God has given us!  I know that we are.  :)

Here's another fun activity for you to do with your family, brought to you from D6 Splink!

Go to the grocery store and let each child pick out their favorite fruit. As you share it, talk about what that fruit needed to grow. (If you have older kids, you may ask them to find out something that others may not know about their fruit.)

For example: A pineapple plant starts from the pineapple itself (from the leafy top). Once the pineapple head takes root, it will take two to three years to bear fruit and it grows to be almost 4 feet high by 4 feet wide. Once it is matured, a large flower will grow in the middle of the plant and eventually be replaced by a pineapple itself. Once the pineapple is harvested, a new fruit will grow in its place the following year. That is a lot of work for one pineapple.

What does a plant need to grow fruit? (Good soil, water, sunlight, right temperature, etc.)

Growing fruit is a slow process (usually). When we plant the seed of God’s Word in our minds, it will produce fruit—not the kind we can eat, but good

qualities and actions.

Read Galatians 5:22-23 aloud.

What are some of the fruit the Holy Spirit will produce in us? (Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, meekness, and self-control)

The more we read and obey the Bible, the more we will see good things—fruit- in our life.

 

Happy Wednesday, Friends!

 

*Devotion and activity taken from D6 Splink! Conversation Starters.

Welcome Spring! A Family Activity: Planted in Good Soil

Planted in Good Soil

Items needed: Packet of seeds; Flowerpots or starter pots; Soil

Plant some seeds (that can later be transplanted into your garden or yard) as a way to talk about how the different kinds of soils (hearts) received the seed (the Word).

Some questions to ask:

Does it matter where the seed is planted?

What might happen to the seed if the ground is hard or rocky or filled with thorns?

Why is important for the seed to be planted in good soil?

Jesus said the Word of God is like a seed. Our hearts are the different types of soil. (If you want to refresh your memory about the different soils/hearts, read Mark 4:3-8; 14-20.)

How is the Bible like a seed? (The Bible has everything in it to make you grow into a strong Christian. 1 Peter 2:2)

The Bible is God’s truth and contains all we need to grow to be more like Jesus. It can help us learn how to get to heaven, to be a good friend, to forgive our enemies, and to grow in love and many other good qualities.

What things can keep God’s Word from helping us? (We don’t listen to it; we don’t do what it says; we don’t think about it; we are more concerned about other things; etc.)

Just as we must plant the seed in good soil, we must also pay attention to it. We must water it and give it sunlight. If we neglect the plant for too long, it will wither and die. We must pay attention to God’s Word. We must read it, think about it, do what it says…then it will produce good things in us.

 

Hi Friends!  I'm so excited that Spring has sprung!  I love when the time changes, our days are longer, the temperatures are perfect, the birds are singing, and we are spending time outside.  Here at RHCC, Spring is also a great time of renewal.  As we go through our Lent journey, I like to remind myself that we are constantly planting seeds.  In our kids, in our friends, in our homes.  There are many days where I don't feel adequate, or that I am "good enough" or that I am capable of growing my babies up right.  Then I remember...I am a seed planter.  There are always going to be days that it seems like I don't water my seeds enough, or they don't get enought Sonlight.  But as long as we are planting seeds, and tending to them as much as possible - they will take root and they will grow and flourish.  I pray that you know that too!

Many Smiles,

Elisabeth

 

*Devotional and Family Activity taken from D6 Splink Conversation Starters.

Guess How Much I Love You?!

So, as I write this blog each week, I like to do a couple of things to get inspiration.  Obviously, I always pray that God gives me the words and direction.  I also like to listen to music, and, my favorite thing: google image search!  A lot of times, I have an idea of what scripture to share, so I do a google image search for that particular search.  I find a lot of inspiration in that!

Right now, I'm pretty wrapped up in Love.  Loving my family, my friends, my neighbors, and loving our God.  An image popped up in a search this week, and it was the cover of one of my favorite children's books:  Guess How Much I Love You.

 

I have loved this book for a long time - so long, in fact, I gave my college boyfriend a copy of it for Valentine's Day one year.  Lucky for me, that boyfriend is now my husband and daddy to our precious boys.  :)  So yes...I love that book.

My kids have both heard it many times, and have a copy in each of their rooms.

If you haven't read the story, it's a daddy rabbit and his baby, and the baby tells him how much he loves him through a serious of wonderful descriptions - each getting bigger and bigger.  Each time, the daddy replies and "one ups" the baby bunny - basically saying, I love you more.

The daddy realizes that the baby is never going to stop, and so as baby bunny falls asleep, he and gives one more fantastic description of how much he loves daddy bunny, the daddy lets him rest.  Then, after the baby is sleeping, says (in other words), I love you more.

My son, Hudson, and I play this game regularly and have been for years.  He fills my heart so full, I get tears in my eyes just thinking about it.  The love that I have for him and so huge - and to have that reciprocated is just awesome. 

I started thinking about it this week - and the story of the daddy bunny and his baby, is such a great reflection of our relationship with God.  We can love Him, and love Him, but He will always love us more.  Even when we're feeling sad and lonely, we must always hold that in our heart - that we have an eternal Daddy who is always loving us more.

 

Happy Wednesday, friends.  Go out and love each other.

Many Smiles,

Elisabeth

February: It's All About Love

Don't you love God's perfect timing?  As we have been working our way through the Externally Focused Life series, this past Sunday, February 2nd, we focused on the theme: It's About Love.

In Sunday School, we chatted about The Good Samaritan, and continued to explore ways to help our neighbor - even those that we may not be friends with.  (More on The Good Samaritan later this week!)

The Memory Verse for the week was Luke 10:27 (Look it up!) - the Roots Troop kids are totally familiar with this verse, as it's one that I teach and talk about almost every single week.  I shared my favorite verse of all time - the one that I write on cards, sign letters with, and share with anyone who ever asks:  John 15:17.  I love it because it's so simple - but completely emcompasses the charge that Jesus has given to each of us: to love one another.

Our Heavenly Father showed us the greatest love - one that we cannot even begin to fathom: He sent is ONLY son to us...only to have him die, so that WE can be saved and have eternal life.  Even though we do not deserve it.  We deserve punishment when we break God's rules - Jesus did nothing wrong.  He showed love and compassion to everyone; He did not judge or condemn anyone.  Yet He took our punishment for us.  Wow.

At our house, we're going to focus not only on showing love to each other, and to others, but also on showing our love to God.  Not just through our actions and words EXTERNALLY, but also within our prayers and our conversations with kid. 

Pray a prayer of ADORATION to God.

I know that I give thanks in my prayers regularly, and I ask God for things all of the time - for patience, for wisdom and courage, to make me a better wife, mother, friend, and daughter.  This week - I want to focus on praising Him and really spending time adoring my Heavenly Father.  He is so awesome - and He has given us so much.  Help your kids, teens, spouse, and friends to do the same. 

Not sure what to say or where to start?  Pray the lyrics of an adoration song.  A great example is from our Kids Choir Musical - it's called "I Love You, Lord".

I love you Lord
and I lift my voice
To worship you
Oh my soul rejoice

Take joy my king
in what you hear
May it be a sweet sweet sound
in your ear 

 

Amen.

What is your favorite praise and worship song?  Tell me about in the comments, or on our facebook page - I'd love to share it on the blog!

It's About God!

Hi everyone!

First of all, thank you for sharing your children with us at Rolling Hills!  We are blessed to be a small part of their spiritual formation, and absolutely love to see their sweet faces each week.  Over the next several weeks, we will be lining up our Sunday School and Treehouse curriculum with Pastor Gary's sermon series based on the book by Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson, The Externally Focused Life from Group Publishing.  Each week while you are hearing the lessons taught during the Sermon, your kids will be hearing a similar message - participating in worship, Bible learning, crafts and activities that center around the fact that God gave us life to serve Him and others!

Image from www.group.com.

Yesterday, we learned that "it's about God" as we studied the life of Joseph - in Genesis.  Just as God had plans for Joseph, God has plans for each of us; and we need to allow ourselves to be a part of His story.  In order to do that, we need to be in a relationship with Him.  The kids decorated a blank canvas (with only the outline of a person), to reflect themselves.  We saw how we each look different - because God created us all to be unique and different.  How special!  We also colored pictures of Joseph and his AMAZING multi-colored coat.  The kids has fun doing this while hearing the story told. Be sure to ask your kids about the story - and what they remember about it.

This week, at home, here are some suggestions for you to engage your kiddo's in conversation:

Review the Bible Memory Verse for this week:  Ephesians 2:10

"God has made us what we are."

Ask these questions:

• Who made us and knows all about us?
• In what ways is each of us the same?
• In what ways is each of us different?
• What good things can we do for others?
• What good things can we do for each other?
• Make a list of some of the good things that you can do as a family to help others, and do them!

I challenged the kids, in class, to do at least one good thing each day - ask them what they've done today?  Or, maybe you've witnessed them doing something good - remind them of their actions, and encourage them to keep up the good work!

Image from http://www.jeremiandamyrichardson.com.

I hope you all have an AWESOME week - and stay warm!  It's cold out there. 

Check back on Wednesday & Friday for some fun 

family activities that will help reinforce these ideas!

Many Smiles,

Elisabeth

Study Questions and Devotional taken from Group Publishing, The Externally Focused Life - Children's Edition Study Guide - copyright 2009.  

LifeBridge Christian Church.  All Rights Reserved.