A New Place to Find Me!

I am linking up my devotionals at a new place on the web:



Come check out some really great ideas!

Sowing the Seeds of Love

Matthew 13:1-9,18-23

Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!"

"Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

Song: 31243, Hymns, We Are Sowing, no. 216


1. We are sowing, daily sowing

Countless seeds of good and ill,

Scattered on the level lowland,

Cast upon the windy hill;

Seeds that sink in rich, brown furrows,

Soft with heaven’s gracious rain;

Seeds that rest upon the surface

Of the dry, unyielding plain;

2. Seeds that fall amid the stillness

Of the lonely mountain glen;

Seeds cast out in crowded places,

Trodden under foot of men;

Seeds by idle hearts forgotten,

Flung at random on the air;

Seeds by faithful souls remembered,

Sown in tears and love and prayer;

3. Seeds that lie unchanged, unquickened,

Lifeless on the teeming mold;

Seeds that live and grow and flourish

When the sower’s hand is cold.

By a whisper sow we blessings;

By a breath we scatter strife.

In our words and thoughts and actions

Lie the seeds of death and life.

4. Thou who knowest all our weakness,

Leave us not to sow alone!

Bid thine angels guard the furrows

Where the precious grain is sown,

Till the fields are crown’d with glory,

Filled with mellow, ripened ears,

Filled with fruit of life eternal

From the seed we sowed in tears.

Activity: planting grass seed

Supplies needed:

Plastic cup

Dirt

Markers

Googly eyes

Grass seed (or flower seeds)

Decorate the front of the cup to look like a face (the grass will be its “hair”)

Fill the cup up with dirt

Plant the seeds

Water & watch grow

Game: matching game found here

Treat: basket cupcakes

1 box cake mix + supplies to make

Cupcake liners

Licorice

White frosting

Cake decorating stuff

Green food coloring

Small candies for “basket”

Bake cupcakes according to directions. Let cool. Tint white icing with green food coloring. Put in cake decorator. Use a swirly tip and frost the cupcakes. Bend the licorice stick to look like a basket handle. Add candies, eat.

God Bless America

Scripture: 2 Samuel 10:12


New International Version (NIV)

12 Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The LORD will do what is good in his sight.”

Craft: firecracker paintings

Needed:

Tempera paint

Black construction paper

Paint brushes

Be your own Jackson Pollack!

Drop paint from paint brush onto black paper.

Game: pass the firecracker

Played just like hot potato, but its pass the “firecracker” instead



Snack:

http://www.bettycrocker.com/

4th of July Brownies from Betty Crocker

1 box (1 lb 6.5 oz) Betty Crocker® Original Supreme brownie mix (with chocolate syrup pouch)

Water, vegetable oil (or bean puree, for a video of how to do this click HERE) and eggs (or powdered eggs)called for on brownie mix box

1 container (12 oz) Betty Crocker® Whipped fluffy white frosting

1 tube (0.68 oz) Betty Crocker® red decorating gel

1 tube (0.68 oz) Betty Crocker® blue decorating gel

1 tube (0.68 oz) Betty Crocker® white decorator icing

Betty Crocker® Decorating Decors stars

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line 13×9-inch pan with foil so foil extends about 2 inches over sides of pan. Spray foil with cooking spray. Make and bake brownies as directed on box for 13×9-inch pan, using water, oil (or bean puree, for a video of how to do this click HERE) and eggs (or powdered eggs). Cool completely, about 1 hour.

2. Remove brownies from pan by lifting foil; peel foil from sides of brownies. Continue as desired with options below.

Flag Brownies: Frost brownies. Using red decorating gel, pipe stripes onto frosted brownie. Add decors in upper left corner of brownie. 24 brownies

Firecracker Brownies: Using 1-inch round cookie cutter, cut out brownie rounds. Stack 2 brownie rounds together, spreading frosting between rounds and on top. Garnish with decors. 48 brownies

Star Brownies: Using 2 1/2-inch star-shaped cookie cutter, cut brownies. Place frosting in resealable food-storage bag; cut off one bottom corner of bag. Pipe frosting on star-shaped brownies. Sprinkle with decors. 13 brownies

Walking to Jerusalem

Jesus said, "Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple-- truly I tell you, none of these will lose


Song: Go Where I Send Thee

Children, go where I send thee

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee one by one

One for the little bitty baby

Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children, go where I send thee

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee two by two

Two for Paul and Silas

One for the little bitty baby

Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children, go where I send thee

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee three by three

Three for the Hebrew children

Two for Paul and Silas

One for the little bitty baby

Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children, go where I send thee

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee four by four

Four for the four that stood at the door

Three for the Hebrew children

Two for Paul and Silas

One for the little bitty baby

Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children, go where I send thee

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee five by five

Five for the gospel preachers

Four for the four that stood at the door

Three for the Hebrew children

Two for Paul and Silas

One for the little bitty baby

Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children, go where I send thee

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee six by six

Six for the six that never got fixed

Five for the gospel preachers

Four for the four that stood at the door

Three for the Hebrew children

Two for Paul and Silas

One for the little bitty baby

Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children, go where I send thee

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee seven by seven

Seven for the seven that never got to heaven

Six for the six that never got fixed

Five for the gospel preachers

Four for the four that stood at the door

Three for the Hebrew children

Two for Paul and Silas

One for the little bitty baby

Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children, go where I send thee

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee eight by eight

Eight for the eight that stood at the gate

Seven for the seven that never got to heaven

Six for the six that never got fixed

Five for the gospel preachers

Four for the four that stood at the door

Three for the Hebrew children

Two for Paul and Silas

One for the little bitty baby

Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children, go where I send thee

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee nine by nine

Nine for the nine all dressed so fine

Eight for the eight that stood at the gate

Seven for the seven that never got to heaven

Six for the six that never got fixed

Five for the gospel preachers

Four for the four that stood at the door

Three for the Hebrew children

Two for Paul and Silas

One for the little bitty baby

Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children, go where I send thee

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee ten by ten

Ten for the ten commandments

Nine for the nine all dressed so fine

Eight for the eight that stood at the gate

Seven for the seven that never got to heaven

Six for the six that never got fixed

Five for the gospel preachers

Four for the four that stood at the door

Three for the Hebrew children

Two for Paul and Silas

One for the little bitty baby

Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children, go where I send thee

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee eleven by eleven

Eleven for the eleven deriders

Ten for the ten commandments

Nine for the nine all dressed so fine

Eight for the eight that stood at the gate

Seven for the seven that never got to heaven

Six for the six that never got fixed

Five for the gospel preachers

Four for the four that stood at the door

Three for the Hebrew children

Two for Paul and Silas

One for the little bitty baby

Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Children, go where I send thee

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee twelve by twelve

Twelve for the twelve Apostles

Eleven for the eleven deriders

Ten for the ten commandments

Nine for the nine all dressed so fine

Eight for the eight that stood at the gate

Seven for the seven that never got to heaven

Six for the six that never got fixed

Five for the gospel preachers

Four for the four that stood at the door

Three for the Hebrew children

Two for Paul and Silas

One for the little bitty baby

Born, born, born in Bethlehem.

Activity/snack/craft

Decorate treat bags

Paper lunch bags

Markers

Crayons



Decorate treat bags

Make power muffins

1 c oats

1 c bisquick

½ c sugar

2 c chopped apples

1 small box raisins
1 tbsp molasses

2 eggs beaten

Mix all ingredients together, spoon into greased muffin cups, bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Makes 36

Put muffins in decorated treat bags, and deliver to Mission.

Under my Thumb

This awesome logo is from here

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Eternal God Triune,

when will your servants learn?

We grow so out of tune,

sometimes we don't discern

on everything: Your fingerprint!

On everyone: Your fingerprint!



O Abba, what could seal

the love poured out from you

onto the potters wheel?

For we have not been true:

So smudged on us: Your fingerprint!

So faint on us: Your fingerprint!



Son of God, Living Word,

you gave us free by grace

what we could not afford.

In you we found God's face.

On you we saw: God's fingerprint!

Clearly we saw: God's fingerprint!



God's Spirit, make us one.

Collect your broken shards,

we're useless on our own!

Create then your collage;

Rebuild again: Your fingerprint!

Make clear on us: Your fingerprint!



Now make us bold to go

for you into the world,

and eagerly make known

the holy Triune Lord.

Good News we share: Your fingerprint!

Good deeds we do: Your fingerprint!

Craft: finger print people

Supplies:

Ink pad

paper

Fingers

Markers

Googly eyes

Stickers

Ink a finger tip and stamp a fingerprint on the paper. Decorate the finger print to look like a person

Snack: thumbprint cookies
I love the Betty Crocker thumbprint cookie recipe. Its super easy and super yummy!

Game: where in the world is the disciple?



How to play:

World map

Facts about different countries on index cards

One person to be the host



The host asks questions about the particular country

(For example: Australia-it’s a giant island and a continent; the great barrier reef is there; its where you find koalas and kangaroos)

Everyone else takes turns guessing the country. When someone guesses it right, the country gets circled on the map and that person becomes the host.

Blowing in the wind

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.


5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

14But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o”clock in the morning. 16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. 18Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. 19And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 20The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. 21Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Song:




Mighty Wind, blowing within us,


Burning Fire, giving us life,


Word of God, calling us outward,


Cleansing Water, bringing us home.




I will pour out my spirit on all living flesh,


The young, the old, the slave, the free - none will be forgot.


I will show you my face and show you your own,


And you will know that you belong to me.


You will go out, make kindred of the stranger,


You will speak words that you don't understand,


You will go out, and carry my great blessing,


The same blessing which will bring you back to me.

Activity: Dramatic Play

Cast: Peter

The Wind

Narrator

Crowd

Prophet Joel

Narrator: When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.



The Wind: 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.



Narrator: 5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked



Crowd: “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Narrator: 14But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them,



Peter: “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o”clock in the morning. 16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:



Prophet Joel: ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. 18Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. 19And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 20The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. 21Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Game: blowing in the wind

Have some small items (bottle caps, pennies, feathers) and line up on a table.

Take turns trying to blow the items across the table. Which ones blow easily? Harder to move? Did any not move at all?

Craft: making pinwheels

Supplies needed:

Paper

Crayons/markers

Scissors

http://www.pinwheelsforpeace.com/pinwheeltemplate.htmlstraws

thumb tacks



Print out pinwheel, cut out

Decorate with markers or crayons

Follow folding directions on template.

Attach to straw with thumb tack

Blow and watch it spin

Snack: Fiery Red Velvet Cupcakes

1 box white cake mix + supplies to make cake
1 bottle red food coloring



White frosting

Yellow & orange decorating sugar

Mix cake mix & supplies together. Add the WHOLE bottle of food coloring to batter. Bake cupcakes according to directions.

Let cool.

Frost cupcakes and sprinkle decorating sugar over tops.

weekly family devotional

Acts 1:1-11 6/5


1:1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning



1:2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.



1:3 After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.



1:4 While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me;



1:5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."



1:6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?"



1:7 He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.



1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."



1:9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.



1:10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them.



1:11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."



Theme: ascension

Act out the story with stuffed animals

Activity: bubble blowing

Snack: white cupcakes

Recipe:

White cake mix & ingredients to make cake

White frosting

Cake sugar

Cake decorating supplies

Cupcake liners

Bake cupcakes according to mix directions. Let cool. Add frosting to cake decorator, swirl around top of cupcake & shake sugar over it.

Craft: cloud picture

Supplies needed:

blue construction paper

cotton balls

glue

Easter grass



Glue cotton balls to top of construction paper.

Glue grass to bottom of paper

Decorate with pictures of trees, etc.