​When the day of Pentecost came, the apostles were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest above each of their heads.  The apostles went outside to see if others were having the same experience.  It was the week of the Jewish Festival of Shavuot. All of foreigners and locals congregating in the city of Jerusalem for this festival were speaking in their home language but miraculously they could understand each other.  They all became filled with the Holy Spirit.
 
This was an amazing turning point for those apostles.  Up to this moment they were hiding and living in fear that they would be killed because they were followers of Jesus.  Now in one afternoon a scant flame was placed above their head and they knew this mystery was real.  Their hearts were filled and so was their need to share this story with the world.
 
Remember that afternoon a couple of months ago when they said we were to “shelter in place.”  No school. No work. No playground. No church.  BUT did we manage to recreate a new version of school, work, play and church?  Was a flame placed above us (maybe behind us)?  Has your home life and the church life emerged from the flames to the internet?  Were we ever meant to be in a building?  Have we learned to be creative?  Is this our encouragement and affirmation to take it to the chat boxes, Skype, Google Classroom and ZOOM?
 
To some, this internet maybe a new language but together we are managing to conquer it.  What a resilient people we are!  Bless you and your family for hanging in there.  Creating a new way to do home, work, school and church.  We’re proud of your accomplishments!  It’s amazing what a little flame can do!
 
Our Sunday School lesson this week is about Pentecost.  We have flaming experiments (literally), fiery snacks, videos that will ignite learning, and red-hot crafts for your family.  What a great way to experience the holy spirit with your children, grandchildren and the greater community!  We’re praying for you and we know you’ve got this!

​Did you know that the bible has seven prophetesses?  According to Jewish tradition, Deborah, was one of "seven prophetesses" in the scriptures, with Sarah, Miriam, Hannah, Abigail and Esther. Historians say that Deborah was a judge for 40 years.  She helped lead a victory over the Canaanites. Her story can be found in the Book of Judges. Deborah gave her judgements under a palm tree and Psalms 92:7 says that “good people will flourish like a palm tree. Not like grass, as the wicked, which is weak and tender, and soon cut down; but like palm trees, that are firm and strong.”  Deborah, too, was a strong leader.
 
Have you ever read about the “Deborah Anointing?”  It offers blessings for females that although they may have been trapped in tradition and locked into captivity by cultural and gender prejudices, God is there to support them in breaking the cycle! God’s desire is for them to break through these barriers.  In biblical times, and today, God calls women to a purpose greater than themselves.

What a special and amazing message and gift to our girls!
 
This week’s Sunday School lesson is about Deborah.  We have many crafts and activities for the children.  One of the crafts teaches you how to make palm trees from all of our COVID paper towel tubes!  Another is to make a succulent planter from a date palm pod! Check out our KIDS website for more videos, crafts, snacks (date smoothies/date bars/bacon wrapped dates) and activities.

Jeremiah was one of the younger prophets.  He was hesitant to preach to the public because he began his ministry at the age of 17.  He was known as the “weeping prophet” because he pleaded with the Babylonians to not worship false gods and to be proactive about social justice issues.  Historians say that he wrote Lamentations.  One of the verses from his writings begins with “For I know the plans I have for you…”  This is a wonderful verse for our graduates!  Knowing that God has an amazing plan for us is pretty exciting!  But as we graduate, wouldn’t we love to have the cliff-notes!  Who wouldn’t want to have a glimpse of how our own story is going to unfold ahead of time.  We do know that if we hold on to faith and walk by His word, things will work out.  But these “plans” do not guarantee that the road won’t have bumps.
 
In another verse, Jeremiah visits the potter and we are reminded of a verse from the book of Isaiah that talks about clay.  “He is the potter and we are the clay.”  I am not sure if being clay is a good thing.  Clay is pretty ridged.  It isn’t as malleable as say playdough.  It takes some strength and patience to reshape the clay.  Shaping it is a long and hard process.  Sometimes the clay doesn’t have enough water and changing its shape is almost impossible.  It’s as if the clay is saying, “Enough, I’m tired of this process of being reshaped and remolded!”

Do you ever feel like that?  Trials come to reshape us (like this pandemic).  We resist, shift and then little by little begin to take on a new shape, sometimes with a smile and other times with sigh.  Our faith gets stretched and tested. But in all the stretching, pulling and shaping we can let ourselves be changed into a vessel that can be used for His glory.  We know that our journey will lead us to some “Y’s” in the road but we also know that the path will be “hope-filled” if we walk it with Christ!

This week’s Sunday School lesson is about the prophet Jeremiah. We have videos, crafts, snacks and games for you to share with your family. Some of the lessons suggest that you use clay but we have salt dough alternatives (simple ingredients in your home and much easier to mold)!

​Mother’s Day offers us another vantage point of both our life and our children’s.    Our inaugural Mother's Day began as an amazing and unbelievable gift from God.  We were blessed with a brand new little being that we were to nurture, love, guide, protect and support on a two decade journey.

Pregnancy brought such happiness, anticipation and maybe some morning sickness.  We couldn't wait to meet these little bundles of joy, experience their personalities, and hold them in our arms. Although once they were born, there were fleeting moments when we wished that we didn't have to hold them 24/7.  We reflected on how easy it was when they were in our tummy and we were able to use both arms concurrently. Then we looked at those beautiful eyes and angelic smiles.  Those Gerber baby faces made us want to hold and love them all the more.

As they took up residence, there were bottles, burps, cuddles, coos, diapers, hugs, and MORE diapers. Then, even with advanced warning, we welcomed the toddler stage at that point they had the ability to dart in and out of crowds and now running after them was a prerequisite. Next their cooing subsided and their verbal skills begin to emerge. First it was that word, “NO.” Then they began talking sometimes so much that there were those reoccurring fleeting moments (okay, sometimes they were extended moments) when you wished for quiet time.  Yet as you tucked them in at night, when all was silent and peaceful, you couldn’t help but love them even more.

The school years just flew by.  Sports. Music.  Scouting. Church camps. Vacation Bible School.  Oh, and yes, there was school and family life. It was a wonderful and busy time. Then the conversation turned more to their friends and driving allowed them the freedom of more choices. They began to move a little further from the nest but our love for them continued to blossom.
As their teen years culminated, they possessed a wealth of accomplishments.  They had blossomed into happy, healthy and wonderful young adults.  Mother's Day looked different again, yet it was still wonderful from that peak. 

Throughout those decades most mothers did not anticipate all of the emotions that could arise during this roller coaster ride, let alone the great range of emotions our children were capable of sharing with us on that ride (LOL).   Combined we had good days and not such good ones. We met challenges and welcomed successes. We all grew in God's grace.   AMEN, for God's grace!

For Mother's Day 2020, we wish all mothers a little down time if you are encountering the toddler years. Those years are hectic and exhausting days.  We wish mothers extra energy if you are experiencing the school years. There are so many things for your children to absorb and it is a blast to experience it with them.  We wish you peace during the empty nesting time, as your young adults journey the road of adulting.

Mother's Day is a time to be grateful for one of God's greatest blessings, CHILDREN, regardless of their stage of life or ours!
 
Our Sunday School lesson this week is from the book of Ruth (1:16–17).  It’s the story about Ruth’s love and compassion for Naomi.  Ruth wasn’t even Naomi’s daughter but they shared mutual respect and love for each other.  So much so, that Ruth took care of Naomi until her death.  We are so grateful to the ladies that chose to be mentors and inspirational support to lift each other up!  The lesson includes crafts, snacks, games, cards and scavenger hunts!