Memorizing Ephesians 5:15-20

(NOTE: Those kids looking for this month’s challenge to receive a token, scroll down two posts.)

Our verse for Self-Control is Ephesians 5:15-20. We broke it down into bite size pieces & put some hand motions to it to make it easier to remember…

“See then” – Since Self-Control starts with a “see” or “c” & control starts with c, form the letter c with your hand to help remember how the verse starts.

“that you walk circumspectly” – let your fingers do the walking to remind you to walk…

“not as fools” – Point to your left.

“but as wise” – Point to your right (opposite direction of left/foolish).

“redeeming the time” – point to your imaginary watch.

“because the days are evil.” – We clap our hands at evil; no reason, just fun.

“Therefore” – hold up four fingers to remember four, & the transition to the next section of the verse. Note: two “un” words are coming up: unwise & understand.

“do not be unwise” – Wag your finger, no-no.

“but understand what the will of the Lord is.” – Point to your temple to remember to understand.

“And do not be drunk with wine” – Pretend like you’re drinking something & shake your head no.

“in which is dissipation” – That means foolishness. Put your finger in the air, like “ah-hah”.

“but be filled” – sweep your hands downward over your whole body to symbolize all of you.

“with the Spirit” – Point to the sky, the Lord.

Now this next verse has a song which is not well known, but I learned as a child. A few of the words have to be changed, but most is word for word Scripture…

Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves (just remember when quoting, not singing, it’s to one another, not yourselves.)
In Psalms and hymns
And spiritual so-o-o-ongs
Singing and making melody
In your hearts to the Lord.

Now it’s just one little last verse left. To remember what comes next, cup your hands & be ready to give something, like a fistful of Hershey kisses to your friend. “Giving”

“thanks” – Put both hands in the air & shake them in thanks to God.

“to God” – Point up with both hands.

“for all things” – make a circle with those two fingers that were just pointing up. Start at your heart & go out & around.

“to God the Father” – Point up again with both of those two fingers.

“in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” – Make a cross with those same two fingers in front of you.

DONE!! You got it! Now review often to lock that verse in your heart & mind so the Spirit can bring it to mind when He wants Easy, huh? That’s six more verses written on your heart. :]

Joseph

I love Joseph!! This month, for Self-Control, we’re talking about him as an example. He and Daniel both exhibit self-control & faithfulness so well, I had a hard time choosing which to use for each fruit.

Joseph could’ve given in to his natural desire to get bitter, angry, hateful, vengeful, etc. but he didn’t. He trusted & forgave! God was able to use him to save Israel during a famine & put him in the highest place of honor, save the Pharaoh himself, because of his wise choices to do the right thing no matter how he felt. This song brings tears to my eyes no matter how many times I hear it – beautiful!…

May each one of us also trust God as Joseph did, reject our own desires, & do what’s right knowing He is watching even if no one else is.

May Challenge

Sorry about making all you faithful web lookers wait for this assignment. Time just got away from me this month. Anyway, this month, I’d like you to find the five “I will”s, write them out & bring them in for a token.

Here’s where to find them…
Go to the second link under “Teacher Helps” ( look over there on the left, go down a ways, see it?) & click “Character Studies”. When you get to that site, use the search window at the bottom of the page to find “Self Control” & press go. That will take you to the page on Self-Control where you will find five “I will”s. The first one is “I will not act impulsively.” Can you write that out as well as the other four?

Take a look around that page & see what else you can learn about Self-Control. You’ll find clues to building SC, examples from the Bible, verses to help you apply SC at different times, etc. Great stuff! And when you’re done looking, don’t forget to write out those five “I will”s & bring them in for that token!

This week in Club, we’ll find out why the hibernating bear teaches us about Self-Control & helps us remember. See you then!

April’s Challenge

For this month’s challenge assignment, I want you to go to the G.C. Kidz Club site & write down the names of the four characters found there. There are two boys and two girls. HInt: The G.C. Kidz Club site can be found in the sixth link down under “Great Sites For Families”. Spend some time there & have some fun. It’s a great site if you haven’t looked around there yet. You might want to consider joining the Club. It’s free (passport, stickers, poster, etc.) and is a great way to learn more about missions!

Walk By Faith

“For we walk by faith and not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7

This month, during LAB time, we are experimenting with some cool optical illusions to prove our eyes aren’t always trust worthy. Check some out here and here.

Even though we can’t trust our own eyes, we can ALWAYS trust God and His Word. He is faithful and true.

JellyTelly

The Veggie Tale guys have created another fun way to get the Bible to your children. Have you seen JellyTelly yet? Go here to find out more about it. Looks like a lot of fun & a “great idea”. Check out Dr. Schniffenhousen, the science character complete with his own game. They even got Rhett & Link involved. Way to go, guys! Check them out as they sing through the books of the Bible here. I previewed 2 Chronicles & just know it’s gonna be a hit with my crew. I can hear them listing the 20 kings of Judah now. Awesome!

Goodness

This month, we’re talking about goodness. Now, there’s several directions you could take so many of these fruit, but with goodness, I decided to focus on our “doing the right thing, even when no one is looking”. Being good all the time, no matter what. We can only do that in the power of the Holy Spirit – make right choices. Here are a few verses that come to mind…

Galatians 6:7-10
Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

1 Samuel 16:7
The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Colossians 3:23
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men

James 4:17
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

For our experiment this month, your children brought home a petri dish. We collected germs & are practicing patience in watching to see what happens here. You may wish to help your child find a warm, dark spot to keep their dishes, checking daily. We put a drop of sanitizer on to see what will happen. The connection to goodness is this: we may look like we are good, but in time ( & God knows) what we plant in our hearts & minds & what we do will grow either lots of gross stuff, or with God’s power, be clean. Sometimes consequences don’t show up right away & you may think you’re getting away with something, but God sees all & He is not mocked. We need to aim for goodness all the time because that’s where God can bless us. If we are doing right only when it’s “a show”, we are headed for a mess of bad stuff in our lives.

Our animal this month was off the beaten path, but one of my favorites. The oyster shows us goodness in that the pearl made is either genuine or “cultured” (made when a glass bead is injected). The real thing is worth a whole lot more than the cheap ones made quickly & only coated with pearl. We want to be genuine clear through, not just have surface goodness. It’s not easy for the oyster to make that pearl, but the end result is beautiful & fit to give a King. There are no short cuts or pretending with God.

Goodness Challenge

Find the Hymns This Year section over on the left. Click on the hymn for one fruit we’ve studied so far this year (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, or goodness) and sing along with that hymn. Make sure your parents hear you & then they can sign for me on the bottom of your Awards page. They can just put their initials after they hear you & maybe even sing along with you! Maybe try a few different hymns. See which ones you like best – Organ? Piano? Bells? Which hymn is your favorite so far?

Have fun!!

Hymns of the Month

Yeah! I found a new way for the kids to learn their hymns at home. Now don’t get me wrong, I still don’t like MIDIs, but if they can help the kids get the tunes down & are connected to a page with the lyrics, well… I had dreams of making a CD for each family to have with someone playing the hymn on piano & perhaps singing it too so they could sing along with it at home. MIDIs covers that a whole lot easier! Someday we may get a more professional rendition, but this ain’t too bad for now!! Look to the left there, second category down, & click any of the hymns for the month. Enjoy!

Kindness Challenge

For this month’s website challenge, to earn one token, you must write down the Adventures in Odyssey episode found on line for January 29th, 2009. Tell me the title & I’ll sign your notebook. Please do not pass the title on to others in Club. Let them find it for themselves! I want everyone to see all the great stuff you can hear for free on line. : )

Hint: look under “Great Sites for Families” written in green on the left hand side. For even more fun, listen for free!