Category: Ages 11 & above

Posted in Ages 11 & above, The Negatives

Times of trouble

Posted on by christianliving4young

It would be really silly to ask anyone if they have ever gotten into trouble… Naughty or not, intentional or accidental, something or the other would have crossed our path. Few times we got lucky enough to slide out of it while in most cases we have struggled!!! There are also such problems where we do not have much control over them. They lead us into sleepless nights and leave us feeling helpless, not knowing what to do or where to find help… How to handle such times of desperation?

TROUBLE!!!

Let us look in the treasure book

OPENING THE TREASURE BOOK undefined

Clue 1: Where to look for Help?

I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

Psalms 121:1-2

God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.

Psalms 46:1

During times of trouble, where should we look for help? Our help comes from God – the maker of heaven and earth!!! God is an ever present help during times of trouble. He is always there!!! So we should take refuge in him. He is our DELIVERER!!!

Clue 2 : 1 Samuel 17 –
What to Do?

There was a war between Israel and Philistine during the time of King SAUL, the king of Israel. In the Philistine army, there was a champion named Goliath who was very tall (approx. 9 feet and 9 inches) and mighty!!! Goliath would stand in front of the camp and shout in loud voice to the Israelites.

“Choose a man and let him come to me. If he is able to fight me and kill me then we will be your servants, otherwise you will serve us”

Everyone in the Israelite army was greatly distressed and afraid of him. Even king Saul!!! No one dared to accept Goliath’s challenge! They all tried to HIDE from the trouble. This was a tough time for Israel, a time when even the King did not know what to do! The trouble that came their way was HUMONGOUS!!!

During this time, there was a young shepherd named David, who lived in Bethlehem with his father and brothers. Three of his elder brothers were soldiers in the Israeli army. When David came to meet his brothers at the army camp, he heard the shouts of Goliath and saw all people were terrified of Goliath.

David chose to FACE the problem!

He went to King Saul and told him. “I will fight this giant and kill him”. But King Saul said “How can you fight him? You are very young!!! Goliath is a mighty man”.

But David answered:

When I used to take care of my father’s sheep, if a lion or a bear came and took a lamb, I have caught it and killed it. The Lord who delivered me from the lion and the bear will deliver me from the hands of this giant also.

Saul agreed and clothed David with his own armor (Armor is a war outfit that protects our body from being injured). But David was not comfortable, so he removed the armor. He went to the nearby brook and took five smooth stones.

David believed God will deliver him!!!

Goliath wore an armor – helmet, breastplate, leg covering and he had a shield bearer carrying his shield; Also he had weapons – spear, javelin, sword!! He was well protected and equipped for a battle! David on the other hand, did not wear any armor. The stones he took from the brook and his sling were the only weapons he had.

David trusted in God and not in the weapons or the armor . He went against Goliath in the name of the Lord!!

When Goliath saw David, he cursed David and charged to kill him. Everyone expected David would be soon dead!!! He was in deep danger!!!

David took a stone from his pouch and slung it at Goliath. The stone struck Goliath on his forehead and he fell down and died. The GIANT, the CHAMPION, the MIGHTY Goliath died before he could even begin the fight!!!

David defeated the Philistine army and won the battle for Israel!! He accomplished what the rest of the trained army or even the king himself couldn’t do.

DAVID came out VICTORIOUS!!!

The SIZE of the enemy or his SHOUTS did not terrify David unlike others. He knew God is bigger and stronger than the enemy and is able to deliver him from all kinds of trouble. He was confident that the Lord who delivered him from the lion and bear will also deliver him from the hands of Goliath. He trusted God completely!!!

Treasures uncovered

During times of trouble,

God is our HELPER and our DELIVERER

God is Bigger than all troubles, so TRUST HIM completely, take REFUGE in HIM & FACE the trouble in the NAME of THE LORD

Prayer:

Father we thank you for revealing to us that you are our deliverer and you are able to deliver us from all trouble no matter how terrifying it looks. You are bigger and stronger than all our problems and troubles.. Help us to trust you completely and take refuge in you during times of trouble… In Jesus name Amen!!!

Posted in Ages 11 & above, God & Me

What does God notice in me?

Posted on by christianliving4young

We meet a lot of people in our day-to-day life. When we look at a person, each of us notices different things. Some of us notice their appearance or their style – their shoes, dress, hairstyle, watch, etc. And others their fluency in speaking or their expressions or their behavior, and so on!!!

Have you ever wondered what God would notice in us when he looks at us?

Let us open the treasure book for clues:

OPENING THE TREASURE BOOK undefined

Clue 1 : 1 Samuel 16

There was a man named Jesse, who lived in Bethlehem with his eight sons. God asked Samuel, the prophet, to anoint a son of Jesse but did not tell him which one. Samuel went to Jesse and the first son was presented to him.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

The first seven sons of Jesse were presented to prophet Samuel and God did not ask him to anoint any of them. Samuel asked Jesse if he had any more sons. David, the youngest was a shepherd boy and at this time he was taking care of his father’s sheep. He was called back home for Samuel to see him. When David arrived, the Lord said “this is the one, anoint him“. Then Samuel anointed him in the midst of his brothers.

Why did God choose David over his brothers ?

God was well pleased with David’s heart and chose him!!! The Lord does not look at our outward appearance, but at our HEART!!!

Clue 2 : Genesis 4: 3-5

I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.

Jeremiah 17:10 

The Lord searches people’s heart and test their mind to see what their intentions are. And then rewards them based on their conduct and according to what their deeds deserve.

This character of God is clearly seen in the story of Cain & Abel. God RESPECTED Abel and his offering, but did not respect Cain and his offering.

And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

Genesis 4: 3-5

WHY did God respect Abel but not Cain? He searched both their hearts & its intentions and respected the heart with good intentions – the reward for Abel’s conduct. How do we know Cain’s heart’s intentions were not good? Later on we see that Cain called his brother Abel to the field and murdered him. So his heart was evil and not right in the eyes of GOD, the reason why God did not respect him or his offering !!!

Treasures uncovered

When GOD looks at us, HE notices our HEART and its INTENTS.

GOD respects a person with Good heart and intentions.

When God looks at us, he notices our heart and its intents – not our appearance, our abilities, our education or our culture!!! God searches our heart and sees what we are made of…. GOOD or EVIL!!! He will see the intentions behind all our actions – do you intent to cheat, hurt or do you actually care!!! Are your feelings for others, genuine or fake?

Be genuine to God and to everyone around you. Let us fill our hearts with love, God’s word, & goodness. Let us ask Jesus to help us change our hearts, to make it pleasing in the eyes of God.

Prayer:

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalms 139: 23-24

Father we thank you for letting us know that our heart and its intents matters to you more than our appearance or our intellect… Help us to have a clean and pure heart that is pleasing to you!!! In Jesus name Amen!!!

Posted in Ages 11 & above, The Trinity

Word Of God

Posted on by christianliving4young

The Word of God is every word spoken by God. Bible is the written word of GOD. We will look through few scriptures and find out more about “the Word”!!!

What is “the word of God”?

What does “the Word” do?

How does “the Word” help me?

What is “the word of God”?

Jesus himself is the Word of God

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

John 1:1-3

………For You have magnified Your word above all Your name

Psalms 138:2

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What does “the Word” do?

It accomplishes the mission for which it is sent & prospers it

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:11

It equips us for every good work

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete,  thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

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How does “the Word” help me?

It discerns my thoughts & intents of my heart and helps me not to SIN

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

Psalms 119:11

It gives Life, Peace & Health

The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 

John 6:63

My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.

Proverbs 4: 20-22

My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life, And peace they will add to you.

Proverbs 3: 1-2

It is my weapon to fight “the enemy”

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:17

It shows me direction

Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path.

Psalms 119:105

Blessings, Prosperity & Success follows

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Joshua 1:8

Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who delights greatly in His commandments.

Psalms 112:1

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Posted in Ages 11 & above, Life Skills

Facing Dilemma?

Posted on by christianliving4young

Life is NOT always an easy ride! There will be twists and turns, ups & downs during the course of our journey!! Sometimes it surprises us and sometimes it puts us in dilemma!!

DILEMMA is “a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives”

How do we make the right choice? What do we weigh our decision on?

Society?

Friends?

Well-wishers?

Our own Intuition?

Let us open the treasure book and find out clues to uncover the treasure!!

OPENING THE TREASURE BOOK undefined

CLUE

Exodus 1:15-21

To read this bible portion please click the video given below

Egypt was a powerful kingdom during this time and Pharaoh, the king, was the MOST POWERFUL person in that kingdom!!

The Children of Jacob (Hebrews / Israelites) were also living there and were slaves to Pharaoh. But God was with them and they were multiplying in number!!  Pharaoh and his people were alarmed at the rising Hebrew population and wanted to kill all their male children.

During those times, pregnant women used to give birth at their homes with the help of midwives (nurses). So Pharaoh summoned the Hebrew midwives Shiphrah & Puah and gave them order to kill all the little boy babies at birth!!!

It was an order – a command from the king himself!!! And it is a crime to not follow the command!!! You can even be put to death!!! Pharaoh had the power to do anything to them if they disobeyed him.

On the other hand they also knew, “KILLING” babies or “MURDERING” them is a SIN in the eyes of GOD…

That was a tough call on the midwives!!!

Their Dilemma:-

Obey the king and save your life by committing a SIN!!

Or….

Disobey the king and put your life at stake rather than committing a SIN!!

How did the midwives handle this situation?

It is written – the midwives FEARED GOD.

They feared GOD more than they feared Pharaoh!!!

They knew God was the “SUPREME POWER” and has the “SUPREME AUTHORITY“. So they decided not to SIN.

However, they knew that “not obeying Pharaoh” will have consequences. Their life will be at stake.. But still they chose GOD’s way!

So what happened to the midwives? Did pharaoh kill them for not obeying him?

When Pharaoh found they did not obey him, they were summoned again. God gave them the wisdom to answer him. And Pharaoh let them go…. Just like that!!! That is definitely GOD’s doing!!!

Because the midwives feared God and did not murder the little boys, God dealt with them well and gave them families of their own!!

So by choosing God’s way, they did the right thing and were also BLESSED!!!

What will we do if we were in their shoes?

Do we fear God more than the people around us – our society, our friends?

Treasures uncovered

When faced with Dilemma,

Weigh your decisions on God’s word and not on what society marks right!!!

Doing God’s way is the RIGHT way and BEST way even if your life is at stake!!!

When we choose God’s way, he takes the responsibility… And blessings are a surety that follows!!!

Prayer:

Father, thank you for this revelation. Help us to weigh all our decisions on your word. Help us to always choose the right way in alignment with your will.. In Jesus name Amen!