Bible Club started a little earlier today. We had 5 girls in total. Sewing was one of the other options offered and I think quite a few girls went there.
Every week, I will ask the girls to tell me their names. I do this because I do not remember all of their names. It does not take long to go through 5 girls names. After the names, I told the Bible story. Today's lesson was in 2 parts - the baptism of Jesus and the temptation of Jesus. The girls had a hard time with the temptation of Jesus. After finishing the Bible story & invitation, I realized I was running 5-10 minutes ahead of time. I decided that before praying, I would ask the girls if they had any prayer requests. The first little girl said she would like to pray that prayer. The 2nd little girl would also like to pray that prayer. The 3rd little girl said she too would like to pray that prayer. After getting different requests from the 4 & 5 girls, I decided to have prayer with all the girls and then take the others out in the hall one at a time and go over the plan of salvation with them. As I was getting ready to pray, the front desk volunteer called over the PA system that it was time for the first little girl to go home. I couldn't let her leave without talking to her. So John prayed with the rest of the girls & sang songs with them while I talked with each girl individually.
The first little girl accepted the Lord as her Savior. The 2nd little girl didn't understand that she is a sinner. I told her that when she realized that fact, she could pray this prayer. The 3rd little girl remembered praying that prayer before.
I'm thanking the Lord that we only had 5 girls.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Bible Club
Thursday is a day I view with mixed emotions. During the afternoon, we have a Bible club at a local after school childcare facility. I look forward to spending time with the girls. I love seeing how excited they get when they realize it is Bible Club day. I enjoy getting to know them a little more each week. I feel honored & privileged that the Lord is allowing me this opportunity to share His love with these girls - some of whom may not hear of Him every day.
Just as much as I love Thursdays, I also dread Thursdays. If anything can go wrong on Thursday it will. Today we stopped in the local salvage store to get some individually wrapped snack cakes to take to the girls for their treat. We were running late and wouldn't you know this would be the Thursday that all of Kingsport was shopping. We had trouble finding a parking spot. The line was all the way to the back of the store. We left and went to a local grocery store to purchase a treat for the girls. Finding our treat we headed for the front of the store to the one free cashier. Just as we were within reach, a family with a very full buggy stepped in front of us. We quickly found the do it yourself register and purchased our treats.
We got to the childcare facility just in time. They whisked us to our room. We scurried around to get the room set up. And then waited & waited & waited. It took them awhile to get the girls lined up. Then there were some "housekeeping" issues to get taken care of while the girls were on the line. Finally the girls arrived (25 minutes late). The room in which we have Bible club is located right next to the gymnasium. The door to the room has been removed so there is no way to close out the distractions coming from that area. Today I just felt like crying as soon as the girls arrived.
But then this most wonderful PEACE - which I know could only come from the Lord - came over me. This year I am going through the Life of Christ. Today's Bible story was on the birth of Jesus and the shepherds' visit. As I was telling the story, the girls were all listening. They loved hearing the Christmas story. At the end of the story, I usually hear how "my" story differs from how they hear it in Sunday School - i.e. it's not as long, my teacher said there were 3 shepherds, etc. Today as they were telling me how they heard the story in Sunday School, one little girl said that she used to go to Sunday School but the church had closed their doors. She could no longer go to Sunday School. That has haunted me all evening. As an adult, I would find another church to attend. But this little girl who has to rely on someone to take her to church does not have that same choice.
Oh Father, please guard the words of my mouth. Let them be pleasing to You. Please let this little girl see You in me. Grow her to be a lady who brings honor & glory to You.
Just as much as I love Thursdays, I also dread Thursdays. If anything can go wrong on Thursday it will. Today we stopped in the local salvage store to get some individually wrapped snack cakes to take to the girls for their treat. We were running late and wouldn't you know this would be the Thursday that all of Kingsport was shopping. We had trouble finding a parking spot. The line was all the way to the back of the store. We left and went to a local grocery store to purchase a treat for the girls. Finding our treat we headed for the front of the store to the one free cashier. Just as we were within reach, a family with a very full buggy stepped in front of us. We quickly found the do it yourself register and purchased our treats.
We got to the childcare facility just in time. They whisked us to our room. We scurried around to get the room set up. And then waited & waited & waited. It took them awhile to get the girls lined up. Then there were some "housekeeping" issues to get taken care of while the girls were on the line. Finally the girls arrived (25 minutes late). The room in which we have Bible club is located right next to the gymnasium. The door to the room has been removed so there is no way to close out the distractions coming from that area. Today I just felt like crying as soon as the girls arrived.
But then this most wonderful PEACE - which I know could only come from the Lord - came over me. This year I am going through the Life of Christ. Today's Bible story was on the birth of Jesus and the shepherds' visit. As I was telling the story, the girls were all listening. They loved hearing the Christmas story. At the end of the story, I usually hear how "my" story differs from how they hear it in Sunday School - i.e. it's not as long, my teacher said there were 3 shepherds, etc. Today as they were telling me how they heard the story in Sunday School, one little girl said that she used to go to Sunday School but the church had closed their doors. She could no longer go to Sunday School. That has haunted me all evening. As an adult, I would find another church to attend. But this little girl who has to rely on someone to take her to church does not have that same choice.
Oh Father, please guard the words of my mouth. Let them be pleasing to You. Please let this little girl see You in me. Grow her to be a lady who brings honor & glory to You.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Summer Camp
Camp has ended for the summer. This year our board of directors changed things around a little bit. Even though I was apprehensive of the changes (I do not like change), I feel the summer went very well. In short, instead of having 1 week of day camp and 5 weeks of overnight camps, we had 3 overnight weeks and 8 daycamp weeks. There was a great bond developed between the campers who came every week.
Instead of having different speakers this summer. We had the same speaker each week. During the first week of day camp, he started with basics. Who created God? How did God's Word come to be? How many men did God use to write down His word? How many years did it take? From there, he talked about creation and continued on ending the last week of camp with the story of Noah. Several of the children left wondering what happens after Noah. Hopefully they will keep that wondering throughout this school year and come to camp next year.
Having grown up (and still living) in the Bible Belt, I do not have the chance to meet many people who have no knowledge of Jesus. Most people I meet know a little. This summer we had several children who had never heard the Bible stories I grew up hearing. They had never sat through a Sunday School class and watched the teacher put up the flannelgraph pictures. They had never been to a Vacation Bible School and made crafts using macaroni, cardboard, glitter, etc. My heart aches for these children. Have we prepared them enough for what they will encounter this school year? Have we been enough of an example of Jesus Christ to them that when they come up against the world, they will be able to remember what they have seen, experienced? Even though at the beginning of the summer 11 weeks seemed like a long time, I now wonder have we done enough? I know all I can now do is leave these precious children in the hands of their Creator who loves them much more than I. He will take care of them.
Instead of having different speakers this summer. We had the same speaker each week. During the first week of day camp, he started with basics. Who created God? How did God's Word come to be? How many men did God use to write down His word? How many years did it take? From there, he talked about creation and continued on ending the last week of camp with the story of Noah. Several of the children left wondering what happens after Noah. Hopefully they will keep that wondering throughout this school year and come to camp next year.
Having grown up (and still living) in the Bible Belt, I do not have the chance to meet many people who have no knowledge of Jesus. Most people I meet know a little. This summer we had several children who had never heard the Bible stories I grew up hearing. They had never sat through a Sunday School class and watched the teacher put up the flannelgraph pictures. They had never been to a Vacation Bible School and made crafts using macaroni, cardboard, glitter, etc. My heart aches for these children. Have we prepared them enough for what they will encounter this school year? Have we been enough of an example of Jesus Christ to them that when they come up against the world, they will be able to remember what they have seen, experienced? Even though at the beginning of the summer 11 weeks seemed like a long time, I now wonder have we done enough? I know all I can now do is leave these precious children in the hands of their Creator who loves them much more than I. He will take care of them.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
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