We are taking on the challenge of teaching the children in our department how to use their Bibles this summer. I’ve been very disturbed in recent years to watch kids at camp and other places take up to 5 minutes to find a scripture verse in their Bible. WHen I was a child, we would have Sword Drills. Some of my friends could find scriptures in a metter of seconds. Children today go to the Table of Contents to find the page number of the book. They don’t have any idea where a particular book of the Bible is located … not even whether it’s in the New or Old Testament. So we are trying to change this, at least with our small group of children. Here’s a fun idea I came up with for our children. A Bible Treasure Hunt! The clues were all found in scripture verses. I told the children they could not use the Table of Contents.

Make index cards with scripture verses that have the next clue. Place the next clue on the front of the next index card and the following scripture reference on the back.

Index card #1 (to be given to the children) – Luke 12:34

Index card #2 (found in a treasure chest)

[front] “where Your treasure is” [back] Judges 5:3

Index card #3 (found on the keyboard or piano)

[front] “make music” [back] Exodus 40:14

Index card #4 (found in the costume closet/box)

[front] “dress in tunics” [back] Matthew 6:19

Index card #5 (found in the storage closet)

[front] “store up” [back] 2 Corinthians 4:7

INdex card #6 (found in a clay pot)

[front] “jars of clay” [back] Psalm 90:12

Index card #7 (found on the calendar)

[front] “number our days” [back] Proverbs 16:9

Index card #8 (found near the stairs)

[front] “steps” [back] Genesis 2:9

Index Card #9 (found in a ficus tree)

[front] ‘tree’ [back] Revelations 3:20

Index Card #10 (found on a door)

[front] “stand at the door” [back] Psalm 23:5

Index Card # 11 (found on a table. I placed a cooler of ice cream on the table)

[front] ‘prepare a table before me’ [back] Psalm 35:8

Index Card #12 (found in the cooler)

[front] ‘o, taste and see’

Treat Time!

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I found another verse for my GiGi list!

Jeremiah 6:16

This is what the Lord says; “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and wolk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Does this verse say “slow down and do things like they used to do it” to you?

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Here’s a family favorite. I post it in memory of Joann Farmer, (Daniel and Brian’s mother). They tell me she would spend days making tins of these for all the family members at Christmas. Everyone looked forward to their tin of cheese straws every year.

Cheese Straws

2 c. sharp cheddar cheese, grated

1 1/2 c. plain flour

1 tsp. salt

1/2 cayenne pepper

1/2 c. margarine, softened

Sift dry ingredients into the grated cheese. Add Margarine. Mix until a dough forms. Roll out a little at a time. Very thin. Cut into bite size strips. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees approximately 15 minutes.

Here’s my ‘adjusted’ recipe (a little health conscious)

2 lbs Vermont Sharp Cheddar, grated

1/2 c. soy flour

2 1/2 c. all purpose four

2 tsp salt

2 TBS milled flaxseed

1 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1 1/4 c. unsalted butter

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I had to share today’s devotion with you. What a challenge for us all. This definitely needs to be on my GiGi list.

 

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Daniel
Scripture Reference: Daniel 6:10

Daniel 6:10

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

Practiced Prayer

During the Revolutionary War, a soldier who had crawled into the brush was caught and accused of communicating with the enemy. His plea was that he had only gone in there to pray. The gruff commanding officer said, “Soldier, are you in the habit of spending hours in private prayer?” “Yes, sir,” the private replied. “Then get down on your knees and pray now!” thundered the officer. Expecting soon to meet his Savior, the soldier prayed a simple yet inspired prayer. When he finished, however, the officer said, “You may go. I believe your story. If you had not been often at drill, you couldn’t have done so well at review!”

Daniel was facing a similar crisis. His enemies had convinced King Darius to sign a decree making it a crime to pray to anyone but him for a period of 30 days. But Daniel also was no beginner at prayer. Long before he found himself in this major predicament, he had been in the habit of praying three times a day with his windows open toward Jerusalem. When this decree put his life in danger, it was only natural he would turn to prayer. Prayer got him into trouble, but prayer also would get him out.

For many people, prayer is something to do only during a critical situation. If you’re in trouble, you pray; otherwise you leave God alone. But this is foolish. Only the person who has developed an aptitude for prayer during the mundane times of life is able to pray effectively in a crisis. It takes a lot of practice to perform well under pressure, even in prayer.

Don’t wait until trouble comes before you pray. Make it a daily habit. Let your voice be so familiar to God that He won’t have to ask, “Who’s there?”

Prayer is for every day, not just for special occasions.

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I’ve had this whole chapter before me for a while to add to my GiGi list. Romans 12 has many things that we should keep before us when we want to live godly lives. I tried to decide which verse was most important to me .. I couldn’t decide.  So what do you think? Which verse is the best place to start?

Romans 12

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

As God’s messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you.

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.

God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you.

If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Don’t just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.

Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.

When God’s children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.

If people persecute you because you are a Christian, don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.

When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow.

Live in harmony with each other. Don’t try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.

Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.

Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, “I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it,” says the Lord.

Instead, do what the Scriptures say: “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you.”

Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Romans 12 (NLT)

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It’s been a while since I added a scripture to my GiGi list. Here’s a good one for all of us.

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. This kind of talk spreads like cancer.

II TImothy 2:15-17

*My GiGi list is a list of verses I want to commit to memory and apply to my life in order to be worthy of the name GiGi (which stands for Godly Grandmother)

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Here’s a favorite of the Dawson boys. (my dad, brothers, nephews)

Caramel Icing for a chocolate cake.

1 stick of butter
1 c. brown sugar
1 teas vanilla

Bring to a boil in a 4 qt glass bowl. (Microwave is fine)

Add 1/3 c. milk

Boil again 1 minute.

Cool slightly.

Beat in confectioner’s sugar until nice to spread. Spread quickly. The frosting gets firm as it cools. If too stiff. Add drops of hot water.

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