Childrens Sunday School Lesson: Using music to praise God. DIY Harp.

Praising God,
With singing and with music.

Music is such a fun concept and past time for children; and, such an important part of praising God. We all have our favorite songs, teaching children to desire the right kind of music and using it to praise and glorify God can be allot of fun.

Psalm 92:1-5 kjv

92 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:

² To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,
³ Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.
⁴ For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.
⁵ O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.

Before starting a good conversation point (as I always like to prompt conversation with the kids in the beginning of class to give them a chance to talk before being quiet and a way to find fun in what we will be learning) is their favorite songs, instruments. Now, keep in mind that they might need coaxing and try to remind them of songs common in your church that they may know/like/sing.

Points to go over with children:

1-Music is good, something to be proud of and something to be used to glorify God. 
         -Singing in church, playing an instrument are wonderful ways to praise God. He wants us to praise Him with music!
2-Singing/Playing in church does not have to be perfect.
        -Something so hard for us to teach children is to not be afraid to get up on stage and sing or play an instrument, it's hard because often we are nervous or scared to do just that. Tell the kids that, that nerves bother adults too and that nerves are okay, not something to be ashamed of. Also, make sure they know that if they get up there to sing Jesus loves me and forget half the words that the EFFORT is what is important and what God asks us for. He never asks us to be perfect, He simply asks us to SERVE with a willing heart.
3-Everyone has different talents.
         -If a child doesn't seem to have a certain talent make sure they know that is okay and not something to be ashamed of. Each person, each child has a talent that they can explore and use to praise and glorify God.

CRAFT TIME:
Lets make a harp, one of the instruments mentioned in the scripture, a fun play "pretend" to remind the children of the lesson to use music and instrument to praise and give thanks to God.
  
What you need:
Card board (cake boards sold at walmart or craft store in cake section work great)
Large rubberbands (5 per harp)
Wooden dowel cut to about 5 inches
Hot glue gun

Cut board to shape of a harp, as seen in the photos (Not the best cut of card board but it works). After cutting the hole in the center place the wooden dowel at the top with hot glue gun (this serves to balance the rubber bands).  Pull rubber bands to fit around it and spread them out evenly. Let the kids strum and play pretend music. Using a sharpie write the Scripture on it as a reminder.

 

 

Mercy & Truth Sunday School Lesson *Proverbs 3:3-4*

Having the little 4-6 year old class is such fun, such a blessing. This is the latest lesson we did, I am still a few behind on sharing but I wanted to go ahead and share this one.

PROVERBS 3:3-4

"Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man."

Mercy: compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.

Truth: the quality or state of being true.

When I did this lesson it was fun talking to the kids about what they view as the truth and what mercy is. Above, I show you the definitions of the words that are good to talk to the kids about. With my age group I like to use stories to incorporate something to their understanding, like telling the truth for example; Ask them if they have ever lied to mommy or daddy, talk to them about maybe an instance of breaking something and then saying they didn't or so on, then explain the correlation/opposites of truth compared to lies, untruth. 

Mercy is harder to bring to their level, but is very important as it is something that we are instructed to live by, with. Talk to them about how they sometimes have to choice to get revenge or be mean to someone because they were mean to them, and how they can and should choose the opposite, kindness, forgiveness. God's mercy for us is by far unexplainable and unimagineable, it is AMAZING, for us as humans it is much harder to have such mercy. 

CRAFT TIME:

The scripture talks about mercy and truth and that you are to "...bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart..." So, I thought it would be fun to make a necklace, simple and fun! 

What you need:

Card stock paper in any color (we used brown) 

Hole punch

Scissors

Markers

Yarn

Cut out a heart for each necklace (write on this or have the child if they are able "Mercy and Truth" and the scripture) and cut out 2 rectangles or ovals, something to tie to either side of the heart. Punch holes in each side of heart and on each side of the heart. Cut 2 small lengths of yarn to tie between heart and rectangle on each side and then one long length of yarn to tie the length that will make the necklace. Let them color or decorate rectangles and heart if they want. DONE!

Enjoy!

 

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together..." Church craft and Sunday school lesson for children

Growing up I was raised in church and I am proud that my husband and I also have the priority of keeping our children in church. Going to church is not only an opportunity given to us, it is something that I believe is taught in the bible to be something that God wants of us. This is something that is about so much more tho than just going because we "should" it is about being surrounded by the people of God, about learning more from Sunday school teachers and the preacher and keeping studying and living or God at the front of our lives and not tucked away in the closet somewhere. Teaching our children this teaches them those things and also that things of God should always be first in our lives rather than the many things that can show up and take over our lives.

Hebrews 10:25

²⁵ Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

That one simple verse said it all for what we needed to talk about in class. 

Ask the kids why we come to church?

Here are some talking points, use these to encourage conversation of what each would mean in a "christian" aspect and how we should do these things.

 

-learn

-be together with other believers

-rejoice

-worship

-stay close to God

Also make sure to emphasize the  the "exhorting one another" part, exhorting has a definition of "strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something" this is important because one major part of being a good child of God is encouraging others, making them be better in their own lives by keeping your own faith and supporting theirs. This is such a blessing which comes from being in a close-knit church family, you can count on one another for encouragement in life trials, from medical problems and death or loss all the way to something as simple as having a bad day at work. Also, we can encourage one another to witness, pray, believe, worship, learn and so on. 

Now, craft time!

This turned into one of the classes favorite crafts, it was fun and something they could continue to play with after class too! This craft does take a little more time than the others I have shared for SS Class so plan accordingly.

What you need:

-2 sheets of brown card stock paper

-small piece of tissue paper (any color)

-contact paper cut into 2 even 1.5inch approx. rectangles

-markers

-yellow construction paper

Prep:

Since this would all take a while in the class and I have younger kids I decided to prep some ahead of time.

Fold the brown paper in half width ways and cut a slit in the fold on the bottom going up approx. 1 inch folding the piece that is now freed up on the front and the one on the inside as well (this will serve as the holder for the person). Now, cut the steeple by cutting in around an inch on both sides toward the top (about 2.5 inches down) and then cut to a point at top. Next you will need to cut the doors, this is a little tricky and can be omitted but I think it is a great touch to see the "people" thru the doors. In order to do them you will need to fold in half length ways and cut 2 even slits an inch or a little more apart, then cold width ways and cut the length of the doors between the 2 slits, ta-da! They should be able to open now. Now cut 6 even rectangles out of the brown card stock paper about an inch wide (to be the pews) and cut one small rectangle and a small square (to be the pulpit). Cut the contact paper into the 2 squares and tear off a piece of tissue paper. Now cut a person out of the yellow paper. Put all small pieces into a little snack ziplock to keep it together, do this for each child you plan to have in the class (always do an extra for visitors). 

In class:

Give each child the church template and the bag of small pieces. First, do the windows, tear tiny pieces of tissue to make the "stained glass" and place in the center of the contact paper leaving a little room on edges to stick then place evenly on each side of doors. Glue on the sides only of each flap on the bottom (one on the front and one on the inside too). Write (or let them if they can) "let us go" on the front and "into the house of the Lord" on the inside! Glue the pews into place and the pulpit. Color them black or a darker brown for contrast. Outline the doors and color door knobs, draw a cross on the top of the steeple. And show them the person (to represent themselves) outside the church by placing in the fold of the flap and then inside the church in that fold, opening doors so they can see thru the doors too!

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Shepherd lesson

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Psalm 23

This has always been one of my favorite chapters in the bible so this was fun to do with my little class. Along with this lesson we did a little craft because with little ones that helps so much with driving in the lesson and point, it is fun and it is important too!

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

 We started by talking about a shepherd and what a shepherd did, what a flock was and the relation of these two things to Christ (the shepherd) and the church (the flock). 
       -After talking and letting them participate to understand what you are trying to understand talk to the kids about how God can lead us. Prayer, bible study, going to church, giving us peace, blessings. 
       -"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:" Talk to them about how God, and goodness (blessings) will be with us always!

A short sentiment to talk to the children about listening to God in their own lives and learning to pray for his will and guidance in their trials and good times. 

Now for the craft, all you need is:
1 piece brown card stock (can use regular construction paper if needed)
1 piece green construction paper
1 piece blue construction paper
2 other colors construction paper
Markers


Cut out the staff, and little rectangles for each little part of the verse (we did not put the entire scripture on for the sake of saving space but we wanted to get the highlights) The green paper cut the top to look like grass and the blue cut to look like waves and make sure those get the corresponding parts of the scripture. 

Write the portions on the papers or let the children if they are able and let them glue the pieces together.

May 12th, 2013 (Mothers Day & Wedding Anniversary)

May 12th, 2013

As I sit here writing this today I cannot help but think how blessed I am. Today (well in 5 minutes or so) is not only my 6th wedding anniversary with my husband but it is also Mothers Day. Having so much to say on both topics I figure I might need to write it tonight as tomorrow will be quite busy!

 

First, lets start with mothers day (since she is a main reason I have anything at all to talk about)... My mother has always been there for me, thru the hard and the good. See, we moved allot and our family was very close knit because of that, my mom and I became best friends growing up. Now I wont say we didn't have differences ever but we have and still do have an amazing relationship. She and my dad raised us in church, she prayed with and for us and always stands by us. She is an amazing woman and I am blessed to know her and to have her as MY momma. That being said, she also taught me how to be a mother, and being a mother is the most amazing experience and blessing in this world. Motherhood is a true miracle and I pray for those I know who are struggling with a desire to begin this journey and for whatever reason cannot. Around about 3 years ago I experienced the most unbelievable pain, we lost our first child due to miscarriage. Never would I wish this pain on anyone, it hurts in a way I cannot describe. We were so excited to have a baby, and then we didn't, it broke our hearts in ways we still cannot completely repair, nor will we. And speaking of mothers day, that first one after losing a baby by miscarriage is painful, akward and more difficult than I could say. It is hard for those around you not knowing what to say and hard for you missing your child. Afterwards it took some time to heal (what parts could heal that is) and with Gods help we began trying again, after 3 months we found out we were expecting yet again. Our daughter, Annabelle, came that November bringing another heaping amount of emotion and love that is growing still today. She has the absolute sweetest personality and at 2.5 years old she will talk, ask you how you are, say "I miss you, love you" without being directed to and even today she sang Happy Birthday to "aunt Kayla" on the phone. Being her mother makes me so proud, she is my little helper I tell people all the time, she will try her best to help people with whatever they are doing, she cleans her room without being asked and loves to do any craft or project for anyone she can. She is our daughter and is absolutely amazing. Next came our son, only a little over 12 months after our daughter we were blessed yet again with a tiny miracle. And yes, I mean tiny... He was 4lb 13oz and 2months premature, after a long 12 weeks of bed rest and countless trips to l&d for premature labor and shots, magnesium, the whole 9 yards to stop it he finally showed up early anyways. With that I must add that I started premature labor at 19 weeks and he was only 2 months preemie when he was born so if that does it tell you what a miracle he is I don't know what would. After he was born I experienced something I never thought I would... I didn't WANT to leave the hospital, I knew when I did he wasn't coming home with me, at least for some time. Leaving your child hooked up to monitors everywhere you can see them and in the care of people (tho highly trained) you have never met before, that is a whole other kind of hard. After walking out of the hospital my husband went to get the truck, I sat on the bench just bawling, how could I leave? He needed me, after all, I am his mom! It took some getting used to and more tears than I know shed over leaving him there but he had to stay, to grow & strengthen, and that he did. Even through Christmas which is my favorite holiday and that made it even harder, we wanted our family together and my daughter was not allowed in the NICU and didn't even meet him until a few weeks old. After a month tho he was doing amazing and was released. The next day, I began life full throttle as a mom of 2 little ones, and I would never change a thing. Our son, Cayden, is a bright eyed little toddler now who is getting so big they he will probably pass his sister soon on size (and she is considered average) and he has more strength than we ever could have imagined and more personality than ever. Also a little helper and such a sweet spirited little boy. My children are miracles, and if you have one either on earth or in heaven, yours are too! Being a mother is and always will be an amazing blessing and responsibility that God has given me and I am forever grateful! No one promised motherhood (or the journey to it) would be easy at all times but it is most definitely the most blessed, meaningful, miracle of a road you will ever travel. Happy Mothers Day to all the mom's out there!

 

And next, I cannot forget today as my anniversary. May 12th marks 6 years I have been married to the most amazing, christian, loving man! And on May 15th it will mark 9 years since we started dating. Today I not only get the honor of seeing him as MY husband but I also get to see him as a father to our 2 wonderful children. Seeing him laugh and play, pray and read and just be 'dad' to them makes me even more proud to be his wife. Loving him comes natural to me, and being his is an amazing blessing and honor. I Love You Charles 'Wally'!