"Do not just hear the Word of God and think hearing is enough. DO what it says!" James 1:22

Friday, December 31, 2010

2011


Blessed New Year to all of our CBS students and their families!

Father God, Right and Good is Who You are.
You make all things new.
As we look foward to 2011,
we look with anticpation to the coming of Your Son.
Father I ask so many blessings be poured out upon
these young CBS students
and Your will to be made clear to them
for their lives and Your purpose within it.
Give us good health,
great friends,
safe travels,
direct focus,
Your joy
and Your peace.
Give us also the understanding of
Your knowing exactly what we need when we need it.
Forgive us when we purposely choose wrong against You.
Forgive us when we knowingly AND unknowingly hurt You.
Only YOU can give us the ability & desire to forgive others
when they knowingly and unknowingly hurt us.
Keep us from wanting what we want
more than what You want for us.
Protect us from the devil's tricks and evil ways.
Only YOU hold the power of Life
and all the blessings which lay within it.
Glory to the King of Kings!
Amen

Friday, December 10, 2010

Lesson 16 with Mrs. McKain

Our last CBS lesson of 2010 was offered by Mrs. McKain.  Let's see what God shared with our classes through her sweet words...

"Today's Lesson was titled: Let my lifesong sing to you.

WHO AM I?
1. He wrote the majority of songs in Psalms,

2. He watched his father's sheep and played music,

3. He was the second King of Israel"

David
Although David wrote so many praise songs to God, they weren't always happy songs. Yet even through the sad times, he chose to allow his life to sing a song of praise to God. While running for his life from King Saul and hiding in a cave. David wrote Psalm 57---In it David declares, "My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast, I will sing and make music. David's life was not easy, remember his fight with Goliath, Saul hated him, his first-born son (with bathsheba) died, Absalom (his son) tried to take over the kingdom, his only daughter was beaten, but yet he CHOSE to let his life sing a song of praise to God.


Who Am I?
1. Was threatened to be killed as a baby

2. Became an Egyptian Prince

3. Used by God to lead Israel out of slavery

Moses
Exodus 15 records a song of Moses. In verses 1-19 Moses sings a song to praise God and causes the Israelites to remember God's mighty deeds in leading them out of Egypt and slavery.


Who Am I?
1. Teenager

2. Angel spoke to her

3. Gave birth to Jesus

Mary
Mary's song of hope was recorded in Luke 1. There is no telling of how much Mary wouldve been made fun of and talked about for being pregnant, but Mary focused on teh hope of God's promises and chose for her life a song of trust to Him.


Who Am I?
1. Witnessed/Responsible for Stephen's death

2. Blind for 3 days

3. Imprisoned with Silas

Paul/Saul
Paul was imprisoned already 3 or 4 times in Acts. Not only was he imprisoned, but he was also stripped of his clothing and beaten. But he continued to sing praises to the Lord. Verse 25 says "Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them."


Before God's music and song can be written in our life, our life must first be made available to Him. God made a way for us to be forgiven, He made a way for us to know Him, He made a way for us to have the promises of Heaven. Christ made the way, the only way, by His death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave.


Jesus said himself, "I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me." John 14:6 So the first word that must be sung is YES YES to Jesus.


The music we listen to can help us or hurt us. If we listen to music that focuses our mind on good things, the things of God, it will renew our minds. Remember the kiddie song "Oh be careful little eyes what you see.... oh be careful little ears what you hear... the Father up above is looking down in love"


Have you all ever had a song stuck in your head? That is called EARWORMS!!! They are real things... Not an actual worm but brain worm. Scientists say music and songs can leave an earworm in your mind. What kind of earworms are in your head? Those drawing you closer to God or further away?


Just like David, Moses, Mary, and Paul we can choose to fill our hearts and minds with the things that glorify God and cause our lives to be a song of praise for Him. NO matter what is going on in our lives, good or bad, we can choose to allow God through His Holy Spirit to make our life a song of praise, a song of victory, a song of trust, or a song of hope. Our life song can be a song of faith."

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Acts 15
This is exactly what our Wrap Up time looked like today!
Fun, huh?!
Yes, celebrating anyone's birthday is a blast.
But celebrating the birthday of a King...
well, that's something not everyone gets to enjoy.

God WANTS EVERYONE to enjoy celebrating the birth of His Son.
That was the point Peter made in Acts 15:7...
"After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them:
'Brothers, you know that some time ago
God made a choice among you
that the Gentiles might hear from my lips
the message of the gospel and believe.'"

God chose YOU.
He chose you to celebrate with Him.
He chose you to enjoy Salvation.
He chose to love you.
That's something He didn't have to do, but He did.

During our Warp Up time,
we finished decorating our room for Jesus's party.
We all blew up balloons,
hung up crepe paper,
and colored birthday signs for our King.

The students were each asked if any of the other students
in our classes attend the same church as they.
We didn't mention the names or practices of our churches...
only the students we attend with.
Other than siblings standing together,
most everyone stood alone to represent their church.
(This was fun to see just how vast our God's CBS really is!)

It was explained to the students
how some of the churches may kneel in church,
some may stand,
some may sing without instruments,
some may have complete bands,
some may raise their hands while in church,
some may sit the entire time.
Although we don't all worship the same exact way...
we do worship the exact same Jesus.
Although all churches may not agree on everything,
all Christian churches agree on God's one and only Son
and that is Jesus, Christ, the Lord.

Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and Judas Barsabas
encouraged the New Church to focus on their
likenesses in Christ, not the differences in their worship.
Sound familiar?

We are God's Church... this CBS class.
We, too, can focus on Jesus
and how He makes us a special people.
And we, too, can take His Good News out into the world.

Will you do that this Christmas?
Will you do something for someone
(even if you don't always agree with their ways)
to let them know
a King was born for them today?



"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:6

“Where is the one who has been born
king of the Jews?
We saw his star when it rose
and have come to worship him.”  Matthew 2:2

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king.
In fact, the reason I was born
and came into the world is to testify to the truth.
Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”  John 18:37

Merry Christmas, everyone!
Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!

Isn't thanksgiving great?!
The history and meaning behind it all is so interesting.
History is awesome in and of itself.
That's why studying "HIS-story" (God's Word)
is so great... it's history.  And we have so much to learn!

Revelation 3:3
"Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent."
 
Thanksgiving can be a time for us as Believers in Jesus Christ
to REMEMBER all that God has done for us,
REPENT or say we are sorry for things we've done against God,
and REALIZE the second coming of Jesus is soon.
Only after we have done these three things
can we be READY
to share at the Lord's table of Thanksgiving.
 
1 Corinthians 10:21
"You cannot drink the cup of the Lord
and the cup of demons too;
you cannot have a part in both
the Lord’s table and the table of demons."

and

Luke 13:29
"People will come from east and west
and north and south,
and will take their places
at the feast in the kingdom of God."

What a wonderful thing God has done for us!
To send His Son, Jesus, and wipe clean our sins!
Yes, even us.

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for
the Apostles and first Disciples.
And I am thankful to be studying their efforts
in sharing the Good News with the world.
I am thankful to be studying with each of YOU!
What a blessing!
May God bless each of the CBS students
and their families with a wondeful Thanksgiving!
We have so much to look forward to...

Matthew 26:64
“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you:
From now on you will see the Son of Man
sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One
and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Working Together to Share Jesus with Everyone

Acts 13
During our worship time today at CBS, the students were asked if someone... ANYONE walked up to them and asked "who is Jesus?" would they (the student) be able to share Jesus with that "someone?"



Nearly everyone said yes (so that is very very good!)

We sang a new song about Heaven and what it will be like.  I asked the students to "pose" as if Jesus stepped right in front of them at the very moment.  How would you react?  Most of the students looked either like the sweet little gal in the picture above or the guy in the picture below...
Too funny!

Our new song was titled "Alleluia" by Go Fish.
Within the song is a portion of fun music without words.
So I challenged the students on their willingness
to be bold in sharing Christ with others
by quickly jumping into the middle of our circle
during this fun music portion and "strike their pose" for Jesus.
If we think we can be brave enough
to talk to someone about Christ,
surely we can be brave enough to have some fun
and show Him how excited we'd be
if He chose to step right in front of us!
How FUN our loving Creator is!

Saul (whom we now know as Paul) and Barnabas
were more than brave enough to venture to new areas
and share the salvation of Jesus with more Jewish people
as well as people very different than themselves...
Gentiles.
As a matter of fact,
the five men mentioned in our study
this week were very different from each other.
Simon came all they way from Africa
to help spread the Good News!

Paul and Barnabas... working together as partners
on this Project for the Lord...
We know from Acts 13:2 that God set up this partnership.
Verse 5 goes on to tell us they didn't travel alone.
But as far as the purpose of preaching was concerned,
Paul and Barnabas would proclaim the Good News
while John Mark "helped."

"I am only one, but I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
And I will not let what I cannot do
interfere with what I can do." ~Edward Everett Hale

What a difference it makes when we
WORK TOGETHER
without seeing our differences.

From Acts 13:6, we know that Elymas (the magician)
is a Jewish man in service to the Roman Governor.
The students were asked why they thought the Governor
would send for TWO Jewish men
when he had a Jewish man already consulting him.

“You can bend it and twist it...
You can misuse and abuse it...
But even God cannot change the Truth.” ~Unknown

And why would He want to change It?
God IS Truth!

Elymas was working alone... for his own self-purpose.
Paul and Barnabas were partners in sharing the Truth.
They worked TOGETHER... for God's Purpose.
From this, we can understand that God wants us to work
TOGETHER -all of us,
especially when it comes to the sharing of our faith with others.


The students were put into "teams"
to work together to solve a puzzle.
I, Mrs. Gettelfinger, put them in their teams.
Sometimes olders students have a difficult time wanting to
work alongside the younger students and vice versa.
Sometimes the whole gender thing plays an issue
of not wanting to work together.
And unfortunately, even at these young and sweet ages,
prejudices of many kind are already working
to keep us from willingly wanting to work together.

After stressing the Personal Challenge from our Lesson 13,
"Are there people you don't like to work with or play with
because they are different from you?
If so, will you ask God to take away your prejudice?"
and encouraging each team to WANT to solve the puzzle,
God gave Mrs. McKain and me the blessing
of seeing prejudices replaced with comfortable feelings
and enthusiastic teamwork.

"Coming together is the beginning.
Staying together is the progress.
Working together is success." ~Henry Ford  

Paul reminded the Jewish people of their history
because their history clearly told them
Jesus would come and forgive sin
-not just for the Jews but also for the Gentiles...
for EVERYONE.
Paul points out in Acts 13:47, quoting Isaiah 49:6,
"I have made You a Light for the Gentiles,
that You may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."

My prayer is that each of these young CBS hearts (as well as mine)
will allow the TRUTH of Isaiah 49:6
to settle deep into our souls so that the Power of the Holy Spirit
will break through the deception of prejudices and
encourage others to know Jesus through our efforts
in serving our True and Living God.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Introducing... Peter

Acts 11:19-12:25

Mrs. McKain put a fun twist on our Lesson 12 Wrap Up today.
She came to class dressed as... the Apostle Peter!
(Although she didn't look quite like the picture above,
she DID have a very realistic beard. wink)

Mrs. McKain took us way back into the life of Peter
and brought us up to the time of our study.
We learned about who he was and who he had become in Christ.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Luke 11:13

Lesson 12 Memory Work

"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"
Luke 11:13

Thursday, October 28, 2010

What will God do...

Acts 9:31-11:18
During our Wrap Up of Lesson 11 today,
I reminded my class or our very first day of CBS.
See this post here... First Day Activity

And to help Mrs. McKain's class better understand
what some of my class might have felt
with that first day activity,
everyone was lined up and then
"selected" to stand in two different groups.
Neither group was "labeled" as good or bad
but the students could tell by my bodily expressions
which group was the group you "wanted" to be in.
(It's amaizng how our body language
speaks sometimes so much louder than our actual words.)
I will explain this activity later in my post.

Through Peter, God healed Aeneas as we read in Acts 9:34.
God healed Aeneas because He loved Aeneas.
Through Peter, God raised Tabitha from the dead
because He loved Tabitha.

The students were asked if God decides NOT
to heal someone or just lets someone die,
does this mean He doesn't love them?
Absolutely not.
So why do we not see more of God's healing?

Was God trying to get Aeneas's attention?
(Many of the students thought "yes.")
Acts 9:35 says "All those who lived in Lydda
and Sharon saw him (Aeneas) and turned to the Lord."
Hmmm... think about that.
Consider whose attention God was trying to get.

What about Tabitha?
Did God bring her back to life just to get HER attention?
In Acts 9:42 we read how her resurrection became
"known all over Joppa, and many people
believed in the Lord."
Again, whose attention did God actually get?

I have no doubt God got the attentions of Aeneas and Tabitha
just as He certainly got the attention of Mr. Robert Mouser
who generously shared
his resurrection story with us this morning.
But think of the many people in Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa
(as well as New Albany, Indiana)
whose attentions were directed to the Lord
because of these amazing miracles. 

God's love for us is so strong, He will do
EXTREMELY POWERFUL THINGS
just to get our attention
so that we know how much He loves us.

In Acts 10:14, when the Lord told Peter
to kill and eat unclean animals,
Peter said, "Surely not, Lord!
I have never eaten anything not pure and not clean!"
Jews thought about talking to Gentiles
the same way Peter thought about eating something unclean...
"Surely NOT!"

God kept some things like certain animals,
certain people, and certain activities OUT of the
Jewish people so they would be different, set apart, clean and
PURE.
"He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth."  Isaiah 53:7

Jesus is referred to as "the Lamb of God."
In the Old Testament, a lamb from each family was given
to God as a way to say "I'm sorry for my sins."
Not just any lamb!  It had to be the BEST lamb.

"When anyone brings from the herd or flock
a fellowship offering to the LORD
to fulfill a special vow or as a freewill offering,
it must be without defect
or blemish to be acceptable."  Leviticus 22:21

Jesus decided to say "I'm sorry" for YOUR sins (and mine.)
He is the perfect, PURE Lamb
and the last Lamb to be given as a sacrifice.

"[ Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All ]
The law is only a shadow
of the good things that are coming
—not the realities themselves.
For this reason it can never,
by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year,
make perfect those who draw near to worship."
Hebrews 10:1-3

For Jesus to have come into our world (and our lives,)
He had to come from a clean and pure people.
With certain restrictions,
God kept the Jewish people a clean and pure people.
In Acts 10:9-16, God was explaining to Peter
these restrictions were "lifted"
("the sheet was immediately taken back to heaven" verse16)
or no longer necessary since Jesus had now come into the world.

At first, being with the Gentiles was very uncomfortable
for Peter, just like our activity earlier
was a bit uncomfortable for the students.
How blessed we are that God doesn't "pick and choose"
who to give the gift of Salvation!!!
God wants ALL people to know how much He loves them.
That is why He sent Peter to talk to the Gentiles.
And THAT is why He sent His one and only Son, Jesus.

God's love for us is so strong, He will do
EXTREMELY POWERFUL THINGS
just to get our attention
so that we know how much He loves us.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Lessons 9 and 10

Acts 8
Our Acts Lessons 9 and 10 Wrap Ups came from Mrs. McKain.  Here is God's message through her...

"Acts 8:
Does everyonek know what a seek and find puzzle is?
What do you try to do?


What are these (instructions-they tell you what to do), What is this box (that is where all the letters are for the words), What are the words at the bottom (that is where it tells you what you are looking for).


In the box of the letters all the information we need to find the words are there, we just have to be able to sort out what exactly we need. But to really make sure our answers are right we need to know what words we are searching for. Think if we were only given the square box, we would have no directions, and no words to find. We wouldn't know what we were looking for, or what really we were to do.


Imaging the bible as a seek and find. All the information is there but sometimes we need some guidance; maybe that is our pastor, your mom or dad, or Mrs G, or maybe someone else.


Philip was sent by God to the eunoch to help him understand the meaning of what he was reading. Philip asked if he understood what he was reading and the eunoch replied, how can i without a teacher. We must have someone help us understand and we can help others understand. When God gives you the faith to believe and the knowledge to understand what He has done, He wants you to share what you have learned and know.

Philip was given an amazing gift, he knew the scriptures. Know that God wants you to use your gifts to help others as well. We need to lead people to Life's Instruction book- THE HOLY BIBLE. We should be like the words at the bottom of a seek and find, there to guide people to the one and only Jesus Christ.


Acts 9:1-30
Acts 9:Obey God Even When It Doesn't Make Sense


Divide kids into 4 groups. Give each a sheet of cardstock.
If they ask questions say only the directions the group was given.


Directions:
Group 1: Draw and color an oval, or like a round race track
Group 2: Draw 2 giant hills side by side
Group 3: Draw a long, straight road along the bottom of the board and draw a tall, skinny building at the beginning and end of the road, and a tall skinny building in the middle of the road
Group 4: Draw the body and 2 legs of a stick man


Thank you for following my directions. It may not make any sense to you but we will find out later how it will all fit.

We learned about a man named Ananias who got a special assignment from God to go to Saul. Ananias go the job because he was a disciple. Now Ananias was called to go to Saul and to heal him.

Do you guys remember who saul was?

-Christian killer, stoning and stephen, blind...


Ananias was a little scared to go see him and told God (v13-14). The Lord then reassured him saying (v15-16). Instead of Ananias continuing his questions and doubts, HE WENT. Not only did Ananias go, but approached Saul as BROTHER... much like we would say hey buddy whats up!


Ananias didnt have to go, he could have told God to find someone else, or completely have ignored God. But he didn't he went!


Ananias go directions that didn't make much sense to him, but he was given a choice either to do, or ignore what God asked him to do. Let's look at our posters together to understand a little better what Ananais did...


(representative from each group, in no order to come and describe their groups directions.)


What clues does this give us about what Ananias did?
-Went through cities, through mountains, tried to go fast, walked...


(move kids around to where posters say OBEY)


What does the posters tell you he did now?


OBEY OBEY OBEY


It is clear Ananais obeyed what God had told him to do, even though he had no idea why. He trusted God and went.


Are there teimes when it is hard for you to obey?
-mom and dad, school

What are some of the things God asks you to do?


What should we do when God asks?


Homework: TO LOOK UP JEREMIAH 42:6"

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Isaiah 53:5

Lesson 9 Memory Work

"He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him and by His wounds we are healed."
Isaiah53:5

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Bestest Pasta and More

This recipe was created when I was
looking to "change it up" with smoked sausage.
It was a HUGE hit with everyone in the family.
I asked what we should call it and
one of the children piped up and said,
"Momma's Bestest Pasta!"


Momma's Bestest Pasta
1/2 to 1 tsp basil leaves, crushed
1/4C parmesan cheese, grated
1 lb smoked sausage, sliced in coin size pieces
8oz cooked bowtie pasta
2C fancy shredded mozzerella cheese

In large skillet, combine all ingredients except noodles. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and simmer 20 minutes. Place cooked pasta in a 9x9 dish and pour liquid mixture over noodles. Top with mozzerella cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until mozzerella cheese is melted.

Note: Sometimes I will thicken the sauce with 1TBsp of corn starch and sauce before pouring over noodles.

Serve alongside salad with Veggie Veggie Dip (recipe follows) and ranch toast (recipe follows.)


Veggie Veggie Dip:
3 TBsp ranch powder
3/4C skim milk
1 carrot, peeled and finely chopped
1 celery stalk, finely chopped

To the ranch powder, wisk small amount of milk at a time. Once powder and milk are mixed well, add chopped veggies. Use to dip other veggies into or add small amount to desired salad. Makes 16oz.


Ranch Toast:
2 sticks margarine, room temperature
3 TBsp ranch dressing powder
bread slices

Mix ingredients well. Spread butter mixture generously over both sides of bread slices. Lightly broil both sides. Serve toasty warm.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Spelling Bee

Acts 6-7
Do we BELIEVE what we KNOW is TRUE?

Today in class, we had a
Spelling Bee.
This was no ordinary Spelling Bee!
The students had to spell words such as dog, cat, and me!
And believe it or not... some of them failed... big time.
Hmmm... do we BELIEVE what we KNOW is TRUE?
But I'll tell you more about that later in the post.

After the Spelling Bee,
the students watched a little play put on by
2LD (Little Lego Dude) and the people of Barbieville.
2LD was crazy about spelling.
He just LOVED words and he really enjoyed spelling them.
But the people of Barbieville didn't believe in spelling words.
So... they bombarded 2LD with marshmallows.
Sad, I know.  he he he
But 2LD... he just kept right on spelling...
until...he was so covered in marshmallow goo that he disappeared.

Sound like a familiar story?  A bit like Stephen's story?
I asked the classes if anyone had every seen the movie
Akeelah and the Bee.  Excellent movie!!!
Akeelah spelled much bigger and more complicated
words than dog, cat, and me.
She was goooood.
She won the state competition with the word
P-U-L-C-H-R-I-T-U-D-E.
She knew everything about words...
how to spell them, where they originated (or came from,)
and even how to use them in a sentence!
I asked the students how they thought
Akeelah knew how to spell so many large words.
Someone said because she had the Holy Spirit within her
but we don't know that for sure.
God can do many great things through people
who don't even know who His Son is.
Then someone said... because she STUDIED.
Yes!  Akeelah studied ALOT.  
You can say she treated words like they were her FRIENDS.
And she SPENT TIME WITH HER FRIENDS.

How did Stephen know so much about
all those people from the Bible?
Those stories were at least 400 years old!
He studied.  And he did even more than that...
He spent time with HIS FRIEND, JESUS.
But the Jewish leaders studied God's Word also.
What was different?
The Jewish leaders did not SPEND TIME WITH JESUS.
They did not KNOW Jesus as their FRIEND.

Stephen KNEW HE WAS RIGHT because he KNEW Jesus.

Earlier, I shared with you a bit about our Spelling Bee.
Each time a student spelled a word correctly,
I threw a marshmallow at them, told them the answer was wrong,
and told them to sit down.
It only took two or three students having to sit down
before the other students tried to spell their words
incorrectly or backward or just plain goofy.

Do we BELIEVE what we KNOW to be TRUE?

I was somewhat surprised at how the students
began to think they had to "guess" at the spelling
 or spell it to "please" me.
They couldn't figure out why I would say
the correct spellings were wrong.
So they tried to change the spellings.

Stephen didn't change.
I'm sure he was frustrated with the Jewish leaders
for not believing the Truth of Jesus Chist
when HISTORY pointed directly to Jesus.
But he never changed his story
(like the students were changing their spellings.)
Stephen KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
And he was willing to die for it.

At the end of the movie, "Akeelah and the Bee,"
Akeelah says, "You know that feeling where everything feels right;
where you don't have to worry about yesterday or tomorrow;
where you feel safe and you know you're doing the best you can?
There's a word for that feeling.
That word is LOVE.  L-O-V-E.

I know that word.  I know that feeling.
I know and believe in LOVE because I know Jesus
as my Savior, my King, and my FRIEND.
And I know Jesus loves me.
Stepen knew and believed in Jesus' love.
Stephen wanted the Jewish people to know that same Love.

What do YOU believe to be TRUE?
Do you KNOW what you BELIEVE is TRUE?
Do you KNOW Jesus and His love?
Have you trusted Him as your Savior today?

It is my prayer that each and every person who reads
this blog as well as every CBS student
will spend time getting to know Jesus better
so that they can be blessed to know and trust Him
or know and trust Him more.
"To me, living is Christ and
to die is gaining even more life with Him."
Phillipians 1:21

Monday, October 4, 2010

Phillipians 1:21

Lesson 8 Memory Work

"For to me, to live is Chirst and to die is gain."
Phillipians 1:21

We've got Spirit! How 'bout YOU?!

Acts 5
Mrs. McKain sent me a copy of her
Weekly Wrap Up
for Lesson 7 of last week's CBS.
Because I had to miss our gathering,
I regrettably had to miss God's fantastic message
through Mrs. McKain.
Here's what she had to say to the students...


"Some people get excited about things I don't understand at all,
like watching pro baseball on TV or golf.
But there are some things
that I get excited about that other's don't,
such as UK Wildcats and when there is tennis on tv.
We do not all get excited about the same things,
but we should all be excited about being Christians.
Life is filled with good and bad things.
What would everyone see about us
(as Christians) that would be exciting?
Wwe know we are going to heaven.
We are kind to one another, etc.

Why do you think the apostles' lives were exciting?
They got to tell people about Jesus.
They healed people, etc.

The apostles were not the only people excited,
but the people were too.
They brought all their sick and scared people out onto the streets
so they could see the apostles and be healed.

The joy they experienced is like no other
becuase it comes from only One Source.
That Source is GOD!!
The apostles got to witness people coming to Christ,
and performed miracles.
God's power is amazing.
That power that he gave the apostles
has not only helped the people in the Bible, but it helps us too.
Think about all the people in heaven...
that is because the apostles got excited after Jesus' death and
decided they were going to do what they were told to do.
We are all here studying because of them.

Luke descibes the apostles as rejoicing because
they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
Day after day in the temple courts and from house to house
they never stopped teaching and proclaiming
the Good News that Jesus is Christ (acts 5:41-42)

The apostles were so excited
to be preaching the Word of Jesus Christ
that they risked their lives.
Just earlier they had been arrested
and told never to speak in the Name of Jesus again,
but they returned to the same spot and
continued to spread the Word.
Nehemiah says the joy of the Lord is our strength.
We can be excited that we have the joy becuase God
 has given us the power to do so.

Are those around us seeing that joy for the Lord?

If the apostles could be rejoicing at such a scary time,
don't you think we could rejoice now?
Try this week to show people that you are excited
to be a Christian and you want everyone else
to experience the Joy of the Lord."   -Jessica McKain

Jessica also added,
"Everyone should be able to see
the excitement that we have (as Believers.)
We wear the sports teams shirts
and colors we like to let people know.
We should show that we are Christians as well."



It is my prayer that people around us and in our lives will see
-without a doubt-
exactly what "team" we are on
and that our "team Spirit" will shout our
enthusiasm for the Lord!

"At that, Jesus rejoiced in Spirit and said,
'I praise You Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because You have hidden these things from the
well educated "know-it-alls" and
revealed them instead to young Believers.
Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.'"
Luke 10:21 

Friday, September 24, 2010

And they'll know we are Christians by our...

Acts 4

I scratch at the ground with my feet & peck with my beak.
What am I?
I bark at squirrels and chase cars.
What am I?
I wear big shoes, juggle, and make people laugh.
What am I?

If you answeered a chicken, a dog, and a DAD, you're right!
JK.  Although some dad's might feel like they live
with the circus, you know the last answer is a "clown."

In class this week, we played Charades.
It was fun and funny to see the students act out
particular animal actions.
For the most part, it was very easy
to guess what each student was.

As Believers of Jesus Christ,
people should be able to easily guess Who we believe in
because of how we ACT or how we BEHAVE.
Many many times, our actions speak louder than our words.
As we know from Acts 2:42-47
(quick!  Grab your Bible & reread it!)
the New Church was set apart from all others
because of their ACTIONS.

Remember how we talked a couple of weeks ago
about TAKING ACTION with our faith?

The Early Church set the perfect example of
taking action with their faith.
Acts 4:32b says,
"They shared everything they had."
God doesn't expect everyone
to give away everything they own.
(Although He might ask SOME people to do this.)
As Believers, God does expect us to
give cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7) when asked to give.
And most of the time,
He expects us to give without being asked.

*
We know God loves us. (John 3:16)
Do others know we love them?


The students were challenged this week
to cheerfully give of themselves.
Since we're not being asked
to give everything we have,
we can certainly give from every portion of our heart.


When they are asked to help with an unpleasant task,
they have been challenged to react
as the Early Church reacted;
OUTRAGEOUSLY pleasant and happy to help.
Only good attitudes.


AND...


the BIG CHALLENGE...

Anytime you pick up a remote
or turn on any kind of entertainment divise,
(such as a video game, MP3 player, telephone, etc.)
think "MOM"
REMOTE = "MOM"
ON BUTTON = "MOM"
REMOTE = "MOM"

Put down the remote and go ask your mom,
"Is there anything I can do for you right now?"
Do it EVERYTIME!
Not just once... everytime.

The Early Church was outragious with their giving
because Jesus had given outrageously to them.
He gave his life.
"Greater love has no one than this,
that He lay down His life for His friends."  John 15:13
They were given SALVATION; new life!

That's OUTRAGEOUS!

Are we "outrageous" with our giving?
Do others know our God is an outrageous Giver
because of our ACTIONS?

Will you give your faith ACTION
and give to others the gifts Jesus has given to you?
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness."  Gal. 5:22

It is my prayer that each and every student
know the Saving Gift of Jesus Christ
and can share the fruits of the Spirit
with others as well as their families. 

Monday, September 20, 2010

Apples and Grilled Cheese


Now that it's FALL, apple season is upon us!
(Be sure to check out Mrs McKain's
Wrap Up using an apple, if you haven't already.)
*
When I was a kid and just started cooking
all on my own, I liked to experiment.
(Students, you can ONLY experiment when you
your parents know in advance what you are planning!)
*
I LOOOOVED making grilled cheese.
And I loved apples.
So I got the bright idea to ADD my apples
to my grilled cheese as it was cooking.
I wasn't crazy about it at first but
as I've gotten older, I've learned to perfect it.
*
Slice (and peel if you choose) your apple REALLY thin.
Layer sliced apple and cheese between
two pieces of buttered bread (butter goes on the outside.)
Grill in a skillet over low to medium heat
until lightly toasty brown.  Yuuuuummmm!
*
I still like a regular grilled cheese from time to time
with my apples on the side.
There's just something about "them warm apples!"

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Walking and leaping and praising God...

Acts 3
Today's Wrap Up was a bit different than our usual Wrap Ups.
Today, we were able to watch our
Angel Wings Friends
begin Colleen's talk about Lesson 5.
What a joy it was to be able to take a little trip
into the centrum and see the moms
(and hug the moms)
while watching such a sweet presentation!
*
Because of our little trip, however,
we were out of time for any of Mrs. McKain's Wrap Up.
By the time we returned upstairs,
it was time to pray and we SO enjoy our prayer time
with the Lord Jesus!
*

Hopefully, moms and students will be tuning into
our class blog to "dig deeper" into this week's lesson.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit
("why do you look at us as though this was done
by our own power?" Acts 3:12)  
and "in Jesus' name through faith made this man strong." Acts2:17
Peter didn't give the crippled man money, silver, gold, or food.
Peter gave him
JESUS.
*

Have you been given such precious Gift?
Have you been bold enough to give It away? 
No wonder the man "leaped up, walked... and praised God!"
Acts 3:8
The Holy Spirit allows us to give the Gift of Jesus
to many people on many occasions and
sometimes more than once.
And I praise God
He has given this Gift to me on many occasions and
sometimes more than once.
Jesus healed this man and Jesus heals us.

Sin CRIPPLES all of us.
Because of it, we are weak and unable to do God's will.
Shame keeps us from looking UP
just as Peter told the crippled man to
"Look at us!"
Jesus asks us to LOOK TO HIM
through repenting of our sins.
(Remember, repenting is more than just saying "I'm sorry."
There MUST be CHANGE with our apology.)
Only then does God, our fine Gentleman, heal us.

Jesus healed the crippled man.
And Jesus can heal us.
"He brought them out of darkness
and the deepest gloom
and broke away their chains."  Psalm 107:14


My prayer is that each of us will realize exactly
what kinds of "chains" our sins are disquised as
so that we may want to repent and be healed by Jesus.
Then we too may
"walk and leap and praise God." Acts 3:8b