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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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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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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Proverbs 20:7 The godly walk with integrity;
blessed are their children who follow them.

Integrity

–noun
1. adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.

Integrity is being honest, pure, and upright even when “no one is looking”. What comes to mind is those times when we try to get around the rules. I recall when my children were small. We lived in a large city and each ‘town’ had there own ball program for kids. They were are different as night and day. It was offered to me that I could use anothers address in order to get my son in the neighboring town ball program. What difference would it make? I believe that it’s possible that someone IS looking.

We lived only blocks from that town program and several miles from the program we should be involved in. Would it really make a difference in the long run? I think, maybe so. Is anyone really looking?

1) Your child is observing. He may not make the connection for years, but one day he may put two and two together. And then he would questions. How is it that I was able to play ball over there? Will you be ready with an acceptable answer? Or ready with excuses and justifications for the action?

2) The one who offered his address. They will see the integrity immediately .. If it is there. They will notice and may even think it strange that you do the right thing.

3) God is always watching. What anser will you give to Him on judgement day? Will your justifications seem inadequate then?

Look at other areas in your life. Are you justifying your actions or are you taking the high road?

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Well it’s been awhile since I gave any Bible quizzing tidbits of information. I’ve been wanting to share some places to find a good map of Israel so that you can show the children where Joshua and the Israelites are.

First of all, I hope that you bought the extra posters from the publishing house. We are finding them most helpful, especially the map. I got it laminated so that it will stay nice all year.

If you have access to a computer in your classroom, you may find these websites very useful. My daughter learned about this totally awesome map site in her home school Bible class. You type in the book and chapter you are reading and it shows a map of the area, highlighting all the places mentioned. Isn’t that way cool? www.biblemap.org

Another great Bible geography site is http://www.bible-history.com/maps/

Bible Gateway is an excellent place for looking up scriptures. With the click of the mouse you can choose literally any version or translation you like. I love this for Bible study or further understanding since you can see what it says in several translations instantly. Sometimes this can open up a new world to you. www.biblegateway.com

Well, that’s it for now. Hope this helps someone out there!

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Psalm 1

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
4 But not the wicked!
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.
6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

One really does not need any other verse than this one to aspire to being a Godly Grandmother. It certainly is a very good place to start… especially verse 2 “Delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.” If we do this than we shall be renewed like the eagles (Isaiah 40:31).

GiGi List (GiGi = Godly Grandmother)

1) Shine like a star – “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the Word of Life.” – Philippians 2:14-16

2) Yield Like a tree – “But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. Psalm 1:2&3

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“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the Word of Life.” – Philippians 2:14-16

I think I will start a “GiGi List” of favorite scriptures. I heard the idea a few years back, to use ‘GiGi’ as my “grandma” name. GiGi stands for Godly Grandmother. Don’t think I’m there yet. But should start working on it so that by the time I have a dozen grandkids I’ll be worthy of the name! This one seems like a good place to start!

My GiGi List

Philippians 2:14-16

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Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31

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