Amelia KidZone - Amelia Church of Christ

All month long we’ve talked with the kids about generosity.  It’s been really cool to see how this month has really made them think.  Our assistants this week have been the Carwell family.  They got to share with the kids a little about their mission trip to Haiti, and compared it to our country and how truly blessed we are.  The kids didn’t just listen to the story, it really made them think.  The kids realized how truly rich and how truly blessed they are.  They have all been bringing in toys to donate to Grace and Mercy, which helps families in need.   It’s a really cool and proud moment to see your kids be so giving, to truly understand the meaning of Christmas.  This week they will learn about the best gift that was ever given, Jesus.  Our bottom line is week is:

God gave the greatest gift when He gave us Jesus.

Make sure your kids don’t miss this important lesson of sacrifice and generosity.

See you Sunday!

All month long we are talking about Generosity.  This week, the kids will hear a story about a rich man that wishes to follow Jesus.  He follows all the rules but yet he is to attached to his stuff.  Jesus even said in Luke 18:24:

“How hard is it for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

A lot of times when we think of rich people, we think of movie stars, famous musicians, or Bill Gates.  We think being rich means you own several expensive cars, a house that you can get lost in and a private jet that takes you to your favorite locations.  We often don’t consider ourselves rich at all.  But do we have running water? Do we pray that we will have food for our next meal?  Do we remember that most of us own more than one car? Or the fact that you’re reading this post on your own computer with your own internet access.  If any of those things apply to you, you are rich.

So can we relate to the story in the Bible? Do we hold unto our things and value them more than Jesus?   Jesus wasn’t after the rich man’s stuff and he doesn’t want yours.  He just wants your heart.

Our memory verse for this month says,

“Be rich in good deeds…be generous and willing to share.” 1 Timothy 6:18

So share with your kids how blessed we are and that we should share with others.  And to never let stuff get in the way of loving Jesus.

See you Sunday!

I grew up in big family, so during Christmas that meant lots of presents to buy and to wrap.   I remember one year I had a gift idea that I wanted to buy for my dad.  His wallet was falling apart, and I found a wallet for five dollars at the local dollar store.   I wanted to earn and pay for the wallet myself.  My dad always complained about his wallet, and it was it was completely falling apart.  So I was so excited that I found a wallet to give him.  Because buying for my dad was always hard, he typically got shaving cream, after shave or candy.

The week after Christmas, he got home from work and wasn’t using the new wallet.  I was confused.  I asked him, “Why aren’t you using your new wallet?” He said he wanted to use it for Sunday only because it was too nice.  Of course, this wasn’t the whole truth.  It was because I had bought him a total piece of junk, and it was worse than his falling apart wallet, but my dad wanted me to know that he appreciated it.

In James it says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights….” So even though I worked so hard buying that gift for my dad, it really wasn’t ultimately my gift alone. I didn’t have a job and I didn’t have an income.  So it was basically like  my dad paid five dollars for me to pick out a crummy wallet that he would get on Christmas Day.

When God asks us to give, we are giving his money, which he doesn’t even need.  It’s like we’re buying a crummy wallet and expecting to wow him.  He isn’t wowed by our money, but by our heart and our sacrifice.  This time of year, and always, let’s share with our kids how important it is to give.

See you Sunday!

This week, we are focusing on the story of Jesus and his disciples having the last supper together.  Like the disciples, we aren’t always sure or understand why we go through tough times.  We don’t understand and we want answers.  But we still need to celebrate what God has done for us.  I look back and celebrate the tough things I had to go through that helped me grow and mature spiritually.  It stinks when we are going through it but sometimes that is the only way we can understand God’s plan for us.  Check out our Bible story this week it comes from Luke 22:14-20.

This week we will celebrate what God has done.  That is our bottom line this week, ” Take time to celebrate what God has done.”

See you Sunday!