Hebrews 12:22-28 As I’ve worked with a variety of elementary school students over the last couple of years, it has been fascinating to notice manners. The child that says “thank you” unprompted is always a pleasant surprise, and unfortunately, doesn’t happen often enough. It always catches me a bit unaware…
Romans 3:9-18 It has been said that comparison is the “killer of joy.” We may look at another person and think, “I’m smarter, better looking, and wealthier than him.” When we place our lives in comparison to another, we can forget about our own faults in light of the faults…
Acts 17:24-31 Have you heard the saying, “The proof of the pudding is in eating it”? We can assess the value or quality of something when we judge it based on direct experience with it or its results. When you eat the pudding, you can determine the quality (or lack…
John 4:19-26 In passing conversation, someone said: “Red rover, red rover, send Nicholas right over.” The conversation partner wondered at the phrase. She had never heard it. She was then informed that it was an “old game,” and that seemed to satisfy her curiosity. Do you remember that game? Two…
Revelation 5:8-14 Have you ever tried to hide candy from your children? Some parents have been known to hide sweet treats in a bag from frozen veggies, taking the chance that their offspring won’t go looking amongst the frozen peas for something to eat. When you read through Revelation 5…
Revelation 5:1-7 When my oldest was in preschool, he loved a film featuring a pig won at a county fair by a farmer who, despite his wife’s plans for Christmas dinner, trained the pig to herd sheep. The husband routinely entered his herding animals into a contest of agility, intelligence…
Psalm 150:1-6 Praise the LORD. Our God is so good, just do it. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Remember that wherever you find yourself, God is there. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. The God who made…
Revelation 1:12-18 Schoolchildren learn that every good story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. They learn all the fancy terms for the main characters (both good and not-so-good). They learn how to bring those characters to life through the use of vivid, detailed descriptions. They learn about how…
Luke 12:35-40 I’m currently watching some workers assemble large grass umbrellas on a white sand beach. It all starts with a large, six-sided wooden frame supported by a sturdy wooden pole and a large, flat base. Then a couple of the workers climb a ladder and carefully place the sections…
Psalm 63:1-11 I’ve never been into jigsaw puzzles, but I’ve known people who were. They put together beautiful puzzles and sometimes they even go so far as to display them in their homes. After they’ve slid the last piece into place, they carefully spread the glue over each and every…