VBS .... busy busy busy

Wow last week was extremely busy with VBS - and this week I have been recouperating... LOL  I was in charge of the 4-5 year olds...  we were one of the biggest classes - 23-25 kids each night....  just imagine that many very energetic kids running around..... LOL

We did have a wonderful week - it was a lot of fun teaching them the marvelous truths found in God's Word!!!  We studied... Abraham and Isaac; King Josiah; Mary and birth of Jesus; Peter; Good Samaritan...  and we went thru the plan of salvation every day as well as play games and do crafts.  Our theme this year was Polar Extreme....  it was fun seeing all those people running around in hats / scarves / winter coats etc in the middle of summer.....

I would like to share with you a simple plan of salvation - it is 5 point so you can use your fingers (we learned this a long time ago from one of our pastors).

1 (thumb pointing down)  We all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God - Romans 3:23

2 (index finger sweep away) We are separated from God. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life - Romans 6:23

3 (middle finger in front of index - Jesus taking our place) substitution - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life - John 3:16

4 (raise ring finger ) resurrection - Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.  1 Cor 16:3-4

5 (raise pinky) Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.  Acts 16:31

This is a fun way to share the gospel - plus it is easy enough that children can easily learn it.  It is something that can reinforce and teach the truth to all.....

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Does Your Life Have Meaning?

I just love today's verse of the day....

“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21: 2-4)

Do you know if you will be there at this wonderful occurance? What is the condition of your heart? (These are my notes from the last 2 weeks sermons at church. I just wanted to share these with you.)

John 2:23-25 (English Standard Version)

Jesus Knows What Is in Man

²³Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. ²⁴But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people ²⁵and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Jesus knew what was in their hearts. He knows what is in your heart. Do you truly believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins?

Here are some things to think about...

Do you have a living heart? Are you living for God? Are you sensitive and responsive to God?

Do you have a listening heart? Do you listen and obey the Word of God?

Do you have a transparent heart? Are you hiding from God because of sin? Or are you confessing your sins to God - keeping current?

Do you have a commited heart? Are you hanging in there - even when things get tough?

What does Jesus SEE in your heart?

This message made me want to examine my heart - make sure that I am being a bold witness to Christ and all that He has done and is doing in my life! We need to make sure that we don't fall into the trap of getting "puffed up" with head knowledge - but to apply what we learn and make it heart knowledge - a part of our lives....

If you don't know Jesus as your Saviour, do you know what is in store for you???

Luke 16:19-31 (English Standard Version)

The Rich Man and Lazarus

¹⁹"There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. ²⁰And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, ²¹who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. ²²The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, ²³and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. ²⁴And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.' ²⁵But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that
you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like
manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. ²⁶And
besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in
order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and
none may cross from there to us.' ²⁷And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— ²⁸for I have five brother -so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' ²⁹But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' ³⁰And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' ³¹He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"

We find out from this passage - that hell is a place of constant torment and anguish. There is no hope of escape or relief.... There will be constant agony in suffering. There will be total awareness of what is going on - bodily and emotionally - it will not be total oblivion. Hell is TRUTH (you will KNOW that who God is) discovered too late. You will die in your sins - you will take them with you forever - and pay the penalty of sin.... Hell is the place where GOD is NOT. It is not a place you want to go....

But YOU have the CHOICE - you CHOOSE where you will spend eternity..... God has given you a way out - "For God so loved the world (you) that He gave His only begotten Son (Jesus) that whoever (you) believes in Him, will not perish, but will have everlasting life." (John 3:16) God is NOT willing that anyone should perish - that means YOU - He wants YOU as a part of His Kingdom.

Will you choose to follow God's way - believe in His Son today - before it is too late....

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