Scripture verse:

All of them ate and were satisfied. The disciples picked up 12 baskets of leftover pieces.
                                                                                     Matthew 14:20 (NIrV)

Scripture reading:                   
                                                                                                    John 6:1-13

Wherever Jesus went, large crowds followed. He had to climb a hill to get away from the crowds, but even then they followed him. Would Jesus turn them away? No, He taught them and healed the sick among them and spent the rest of the day with them.

When it began to get late, the disciples were worried about food. There were no grocery stores, restaurants or cafes nearby. What could so many people eat? Jesus asked what they had. One very small boy, with only five pieces of bread and two small fish, was willing to give his lunch to Jesus.  What a caring child he was. He gave his whole lunch away. He did this without expecting anything in return. But when we give to Jesus, we get blessings multiplied to us.

Jesus asked all the people to sit in the grass. The disciples counted 5,000 men besides all the women and children. I'm sure they wondered how this small lunch could feed all these people. Jesus took the bread, said the blessing, and began to break it up and pass it to the disciples, who then passed it to the people sitting in the grass. Then Jesus did the same thing with the fish.  When everyone had eaten their fill, Jesus instructed that nothing should be wasted. He asked the disciples to gather up the scraps of food.  They collected twelve baskets full of leftovers.

What a picnic this must have been. No one went away hungry. Everyone was well fed—even the little boy who had given his lunch away. There was plenty of food left over to feed a few more thousand people. When Jesus blesses anything, it multiplies. Can you imagine how wonderful that food must have tasted. Can you imagine the wonder in the eyes of the little boy as his lunch was broken and multiplied.  What a miracle.

Jesus loves to bless his people. We can never out give him. The more we give away, the more he multiplies the blessings to us. When we give to those in need, all of our needs are supplied with some left over. What a wonderful provider he is.

 

PRAYER

Dear Lord, your miracles are special even today. We are blessed by just reading what you did for others. You are a miracle-working God, but even more than this, you care for the little ones, too. Thank you for using kids in your ministry. Thank you for caring about the feelings of little ones. Thank you for caring for us today. We want to give to others….not to see what we will get in return, but because we love you and love doing for others.

ACTIVITY

Ask mom to help you bake cookies shaped like fish and loaves of bread.  Fill baskets with your goodies and you can pretend Jesus gave you all the leftovers of that great day.

SUGAR COOKIES

1 cup butter or margarine

2 cups sugar

3 1/2 cups plain flour

2 eggs

4 teaspoons baking powder

pinch of salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix all ingredients together and chill the dough overnight. Roll out the dough and cut it into cookie shapes as illustrated below. The fish are circles and triangles put together with a raisin or mini M & M eye. Make an indentation for the mouth. The bread is simply rectangles. After the rectangles are cut, round the corners to form bread. These will then be baked at 350 degrees until very lightly browned.

Scripture verse:
             No one who lies and cheats will live in my house. No one who tells lies will serve me.                                 Psalm 101:7 (NIrV)

             Grandmother's trunk is filled with unusual clothes—scarves, hats and shoes.

             Dressing up in them then,

            We've the chance to pretend

            We're anyone else we may choose.

             We can be a fine lady in high heels and dress,

             Or a gentleman in top hat and cane,

             Or be dressed all in brown,

             Or a clown upside down,

             Or look prissy, conceited and vain.

             But I know when we’re through,

             make believing and all,

             I'll become once again only me.

             Put on all that is mine,

             ('Cause I like me just fine),

             And be what God intended I be.

             It is so wrong when we see other folks make believe

             They are something they really are not.

             They pretend now and then.

             Cover over their sin.

             They are fooling themselves quite a lot.

             Do they think we don’t know this is only a show.

             They are tricking no one but themselves.

             We can see who they are.

             They’d be better by far

             To put this attitude on the shelves.

             But as for me, I’m content and carefree

             To be who God wants me to be.

             I give him the control

             Of my body and soul.

             What he’s planned I will just wait and see.

                             PRAYER

Dear Lord, please help us to be ourselves.  It is fun to pretend when we play, but help us to never play when it comes to our relationship with you.  Help us get my eyes off how others see us and only on how you see us.  Let us to see ourselves through your eyes and may we feel good about what we see.  May we be truthful and honest no matter what.

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BAND-AIDS



Scripture verse:               
"Give praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the Father who gives tender love. All comfort comes from him."
 II Corinthians 1:3 (NIrV)
               
When you skin your knee or cut your finger,         
The sight of blood brings fear.
You run to your mom,
(She's always so calm),
As she wipes away every tear.
 
She cleans off the dirt, the grime and blood
She sprays it, and blows off the sting.
She kisses some more,
And covers the sore
With a band-aid—what a comforting thing.

When the pain is no more—and it’s no longer sore,
I’ll want a band-aid all the same.
It's a comfort for sure
It helps me feel secure
When I'm skating or playing a game.

When my friends are all gone and I find I'm alone,
There is someone who lives inside me.
The Holy Spirit is here
Calming my every fear
Like a band-aid. He fills me with glee.

His peace will sustain as He covers my pain,
And fills me with wonderful joy.
You can have this joy, too.
He will do this for you.
His comfort you, too, can enjoy.

Then when other kids see the joy that you feel
They will want that joy, too.
You can lead them to Him
He’ll fill them to the brim.
They will be ever grateful to you.


PRAYER
(Tune of "Jesus loves the little children")

Thank you, Thank you Holy Spirit.
You're a comfort to my soul.
Fill me up to overflow
With your precious, holy glow.
Make my life shine bright so other kids will know.


 

  TEDDY BEAR SECRETS

Scripture verse:

              He says, "Be still, and know that I am God.”

Psalm 46:10a (NIrV)

              I love to sleep with my teddy bear, Sparkle.  I tell all my secrets to this special friend.  Sparkle listens without interrupting.  He smiles the whole time I am talking to him.  This makes me think he enjoys my company.  What a special friend he is.  I never have to worry.  He will never tell someone my secrets.  Sometimes I like to put my ear to Sparkle’s mouth and pretend I am listening to his secrets, too. Sparkle is my special friend.

You and I have another special friend who wants to tell us his secrets.  He wants to share his thoughts with us.  God wants us to listen sometimes without interrupting.  What pleasure it must give him when we stop and listen to him. 

Too many times we spend time telling him all our problems, or asking him to do something for us.  He wants us sometimes just to be still, and listen, and to know he is our God.  He is our friend.  He is our Savior.  He is in control of our life.  He will direct us.  He will tell us what He wants us to know.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, today  we ask you for nothing.  We will not even share our problems with you today.  We just want to listen for what you have to say . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .