TEACHING THE GOSPEL TO A 3 YEAR OLD

Fun & Games today with the 3 year olds--literally---it is NON-STOP action the entire 2 hours we are together.   TODAY ALL 17 OF THEM!  We are using a curriculum that teaches the Bible chronologically---and we use the same material for 3 year olds-6th grade.  It can be a challenge to use the same material and activities to a 3 year old that a 6th grader likes.  We Adapt!

Today we talked about Achan-who stole forbidden treasure---and then lost of all his property and  his life and his family's lives.  HOW do you teach a 3 year old this concept?

We talked a LOT about what he stole---and that stealing means taking something that is not yours.  We colored sheets and did an activity sheet where you find the treasure.  We had a parade marching around the room and then sat in a circle for the story to be taught--via video and re-enforcing what it was about.

The basic idea we tried to convey---GOD HATES SIN---what is sin?--disobedience---talked about what disobeying meant--they get that.  Talked about when we sin--or disobey--there are consequences or we have to be disciplined---I KNOW our 3 year old gets the concept of discipline and assume these children do too. 

We then hunted for hidden treasure that they could take home in their "Treasure Sacks".  They always like to take something home and hopefully this leads to discussion at home about what we have talked about.   We all looked at our treasure we had found--I made sure everyone found some treasure--and talked about it was not ours--but a gift given to us---just like Jesus!  I ended the day telling them---God gave us Jesus who gets our discipline when we do wrong--if we just say we are sorry.

SWEET SWEET 3 year olds---I just tell them every week--it's NEVER wrong to answer JESUS to any question!

PAINTING & CO-ORDINATION!

A group of friends got together today to help one of our Small Group paint her duplex.  She is moving back into her duplex after a tough life event---we ALL love her and want to serve her.

The subject of this blog though---is how TALENTED I am----WHO else would come home with bruises all over their leg--and NOT have a clue how I got them?  The only thing I can figure out is going up and down that ladder all day---Miss Co-ordination here must have kept hitting my leg--since it is all on the same side.

SO--I came home to Ruston without my paint clothes--nor supplies.  Mrs. Helen had supplies for me---but alas no paint clothes---SO I solved that dilemma by turning my play clothes inside out---COLOR ME BRILLIANT---well actually you can color me the 3 different colors and 1 trim color of the 3 bedrooms we painted---only TRULY talented and inspired house painters can get it ALL over them by the end of the day!

The friend that does not paint--  COOKS---Caribbean Red Beans & Rice for dinner tonight---SCORE!


OH WAIT---Just turned up the lights and it's NOT bruises---IT'S PAINT!!!

ALL 872 OF YOU---

So I had a friend that does not do Facebook ask me today how many friends I had on Facebook---I asked how many do you think?---They replied 10-15.  I just laughed BUT then when I told them after a little coaxing I had over 800---THEY seemed to think that was over the top.  I TRIED to explain---old friends from High School, friends from my children's lives, current active duty friends---AND lots of acquaintances--more like a casual friend that we don't know the in-depth of each other's lives.  They thought this was OVER THE TOP!

WELL--I've never thought about it that way---I explained the only people I have ever de-friended were those that posted things I found offensive--including their language.  I don't check all of your pages-everyday--probably only occasionally--NOT a STALKER---but interested in a lot of people and care about all of you.

SO here's your out---don't want to be my friend, not interested in reading my blog--don't care to hear about what's going on--think Social Media is for the birds--but somehow ended up on Facebook --think I am a raving maniac--don't like the color of my hair--would rather eat poop that read another word I write---



DE-FRIEND ME---I will NOT be offended!  

CLOSE SESAME!

I am slightly frustrated---I could think it will be better when in Fort Worth and near all the boys---BUT  the 2 big boys are 3 hours away and the SIL--well he is not Mr. Handy--and he readily admits it.  OK---so my garage door will not close with the remote NOR from the button on the wall.  I had NO problem when I drove up to check the mail & put out the trash opening the door.  BUT neither of the garage door remotes will work nor will the wall mount now to close it.  I have tried all the tricks I know---I have googled the problem---can't find anything that I have not tried--well except the part that is written in technical gobbly gook!

SO ---Scarlett---since I am going to hear some contemporary bluegrass tonight---I WILL THINK ABOUT THIS TOMORROW!  I need to go get my toe tapping shoes on!

FORGIVE ME LORD, IT NEEDED DOING!

Before I post---back in R---have missed my hometown!  BUT---I have been awake since 4 AM after tossing and turning until 11 PM---bad sleeping habits seem to come with the territory---Don't get that!  Went to a wonderful Life Choices Banquet after arriving home---a story of redemption from pain---WONDERFUL evening!

SO--I have asked for God's forgiveness---but I decided before leaving that I needed to help raise "Whipper Snapper" right--even in his older age.  SO what might you ask did I do----I went dumpster diving--well more like garbage can diving.  THANKFULLY all the trash here has to be put in sacks---SO I decided I am ONLY going to put MY garbage cans out--until he gets the message----I looked in my regular trash can and his sack that he had put on top---I MOVED IT over to his can.  I then proceeded to put ONLY my 2 cans out for Wednesday pickup.  He and his Buddy had left early Monday to go hunting---or fishing---couldn't tell which and was slightly annoyed at all the noise they made AND the fact that he drove THROUGH the mud in the YARD and made a huge mess.  BUT when ever he gets home---He will find the little old lady upstairs did NOT put out his trash!  SHOCKER--MAYBE THE LITTLE OLD LADY IS NOT SO NICE!!! Forgive me, Lord---but HE needs a few lessons in manners! (Did I tell you he is NOT from the South?)

WHIPPER SNAPPER!

Being the wonderful and giving person that I am (AND MODEST!), I decided last week that I would roll out my downstairs neighbor's garbage while rolling mine out.  Thought--"OH he will see this as a sweet gesture and reciprocate by pulling all the cans back tomorrow.  We will be such good friends.  I'll cook him supper some night."  WELL--the cans stayed at the street until I rolled them back the next day.  I'm a little disappointed---but hey  GRACE!

I then meet the young man---he lives alone---and drives a BMW & BIG truck--my back yard is full of vehicles and his HUNTING toys.  I don't mind hunting--JUST PLEASE PUT YOUR TOYS AWAY!  He is cute---and he knows he is cute---COCKY would be a good description.

So I relay this garbage tale to Camille and she tells her friend that used to have my apartment---she laughs and said--we took the garbage out EVERY week AND rolled the cans back.  I think---NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!  SO I decide this week--I will roll only my cans out--I KNOW NOT VERY CHRISTIAN--but someone has to raise this guy right!  I look in the cans and guess what---He CLEVERLY has put HIS garbage in ALL the cans--mine/his---all of them---SO I'm giving this some thought----got to BREAK this foal.  Do they make locks for plastic garbage cans?

LESSONS FROM CHURCH

I visited one of Fort Worth's fine churches this morning---Christ Chapel---an independent Bible church.  It is a VERY large church with 4000 members.  When they started talking about the 11 services they would have for Easter--due to the 600+ above capacity they had at each service last Easter--I was a little overwhelmed.  The music was a wonderful mixture of old favorite hymns and contemporary Christian---I left KNOWING I had worshiped.  The message taught by one of their "Life Stages" pastor---was based on Hebrews---a good over-view of the truth from scripture---and a practical application for today.  What more could you want!

As many other Sundays---Satan seems to show up to spoil the experience for me--even keep me from going.  I had it in my head that the service started 15 minutes later than it actually did--something told me (YOU KNOW WHAT THAT SOMETHING WAS) to go check the schedule--and I had to get in high gear--BUT I made it.  THEN I left thinking I would get there in plenty of time--only to miss the exit--have to turn around after 3 slow red lights and go back.  NOT TO WORRY--made it.  It is a well oiled machine and a slick operation with 8 of Fort Worth's finest directing traffic and a parking lot full of parking assistance.  Greeters stationed at every door--a well thought out and organized Sunday service.

It did make me very aware of how important it is to talk to those around us at church--be bold--strike up a conversation.  It took a LOT of courage to walk in that church by myself---how much easier it would have been had someone said anything beyond the greeter's "Good Morning".  I do not lay blame---I know we all are intimidated when out of our comfort zones--but I find it interesting that the only conversation I had was one that I struck up with the sweet family behind me.  A gentle reminder from God that we are "His face and mouth" here on this Earth---it is a HUGE responsibility---I will be more intentional of making that first comment from now on. 

SO I had a great worship experience, heard powerful truths and was reminded of a practical lesson for a Believer.  A wonderful Sabbath experience!