Kids of the King, Arise!

Isn’t that a neat idea? There are many elderly people in nusing homes that are lonely and some hardly every get visitors. I know as I work at a home for seniors part-time, and some of the people there have only had one or two visits in the 7 years I have been working there.

This is something YOU can do as well. Check out a seniors home close by, and see if you can volunteer to visit someone there on a regular basis. Some one that has been forgotten. When you do Jesus says it is just as if you are visiting Him. Read what He says about that in Mathew 25:34-40

An Adventure of Seeking the Heart of God

A series focusing on seeking God by practicing spiritual disciplines

Each lesson is broken into 5-10 minute segments. This met my needs as I presented it as a short devotion five times a week. You can adapt and do as many segments as you like at one time.(Stephanie Mc Intyre)

Day 11: STEP THREE – TALKING TO GOD (SUPPLICATION)

FOCUS:

1. Write letters “A-C-T-S” on the board and review the meaning of A-C-T.
2. Explain: The word for the “S” is ‘hidden’ in the verses that I will read. If you listen carefully, you’ll hear the word I’m talking about. Raise your hand when you think you know it.
3. Read: 1 Tim. 2:1 “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men.” AND Phil 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. ”
4. Ask: What was the “s-word” that both verses use? (supplication)
5. Write the word “supplication” after the S.

PROCEDURE:

1. Explain: “Supplication” is a word that we don’t use very often anymore, so I checked the dictionary to see what it means. The dictionary said it means to “plead humbly.” The picture I have in my mind is one where I go into the throne room of a king, King Jesus, and I bow down. I know that He doesn’t have to do what I ask, but I also know that He is good and loving and just and so I ask Him for what I need. I remember that Eph. 3:12 says that because of Christ I can enter God’s throne room with freedom and confidence. This is the part of prayer where we get face to face with God and ask him to meet our needs. Jesus included this in the Lord’s Prayer when he said, “Give us this day our daily bread…and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” We can ask God to help us and tell him about our needs. Have any of you prayed like this before?

2. Ask: Do any of you have things you would like to “plead humbly” to God for? (Allow students to share prayer requests).

3. Make a list of requests in a journal together. These can be returned to regularly when you meet. You can see how/when God answers prayer and then thank Him for it. It also helps to remain persistent in prayer.

CLOSURE:

1. Explain: Let’s use our imagination now to picture what is happening when we pray: We are entering the throne of a King. We bow down (have everyone kneel) and we ask King Jesus to supply what we need.
2. Have students speak their requests out loud or silently before God.
3. Remind students that the Bible never commands us to pray using this ACTS pattern. It’s just a helpful reminder for us to check to make sure that we’re not ALWAYS focusing on “gimme, gimme, gimme” or “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry” when we’re talking to God. In my life, I have a different emphasis in prayer depending on what happened that day or what mood I’m in. I just try to make sure that I include all four parts over time. It’s helped me to know how to begin to pray, and I hope it will help them, too.

Optional Extensions:

1. Have students make a list of other words they can think of that begin with “sup” - like supply, super, supper, etc. Connect the idea of “supplication” with God’s “supply” for our needs. Although He may not always answer like we expect, He promises to supply all of our needs.
2. Have students make a schedule showing their week and make a plan to set aside time for talking to God, reading the Bible, and meditating on His Word. They can make a chart for each of the days of the week and check off when they actually DO these things (take these steps) on their adventure with God. Underneath the checkmark, they can write more detail about what they did.

Tracking my Steps

An Adventure of Seeking the Heart of God

A series focusing on seeking God by practicing spiritual disciplines

Day 10: STEP THREE – TALKING TO GOD (THANKSGIVING)

FOCUS:

1. Write “ACTS” on the board.
2. Ask: Who can remember what “A” stands for. (“Adoration.”) What does adoration mean? (to love something, to honor it)
3. Ask: Who can remember what “C” stands for? (Confession) What does that mean? (to admit our sins to God, to ask forgiveness)
4. Ask: What do you think “T” might mean? (Play guessing game. Answer is “thanksgiving.”)
5. Explain: An important part of keeping any relationship healthy is remembering to appreciate what the other person has done for you. It’s important to say “thank you.” The same is true in prayer – we show our love for God sometimes by just remembering to tell God “thanks” for what He has done for us. We’ve been looking at Jesus as a model for how to pray. He gave us a model in the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father in heaven…), but there’s no place there when Jesus comes right out and says “Thank you for…” Still, we know that Jesus DID thank God for things in other prayers – like when he “gave thanks and then broke the loaves” (Matt. 14:19) before he performed a miracle that fed 5 000 men, plus women and children. We also know he gave thanks before breaking bread (a Hebrew tradition) at the Last Supper (the last meal he shared with his followers before he was crucified) (Matt. 26:27). When he prayed before raising a man named Lazarus from the dead, Jesus said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me” (John 11:41). Giving thanks was part of Jesus’ conversations with God. If we want to follow Jesus’ model of prayer, we’ll include it in our times of prayer, too.
6. Another reason for “thanksgiving” is that the Bible says to “Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4). This sets up a picture of God as a king. When you enter into his court (the throne room), you start with saying “thank you” to the king. Thanksgiving in prayer is recognizing that everything we have is a gift from our King.
7. Challenge: I’m sure we all have lots of things to thank God for. We’re going to have some fun while showing our King our thankfulness – a thankfulness competition. I will divide you into teams, and each group will make a list of as many things as they can think of to thank God for. The team with the most on their list will win the thankfulness competition.
8. Hand out paper and pencil to each team.
9. Begin thankfulness competition. (about 5 minutes)

CLOSURE:

1. Close with prayer. After you say the beginning, have students shout out their lists in thankfulness to God. “King Jesus, thank you for…”

Secret Agents for Jesus - Go Camp May 007

“We love Port Townsend” was the focus of the outreach for our King’s Kids camp on Memorial Weekend May 2007. Thirty kids gathered from as far away as Vancouver, WA to spend time growing in their faith and reaching out to Port Townsend. The theme of Secret Agents focused on listening to God’s voice, reading His word, and using the weapons of prayer and worship He has given to us. On Friday and Saturday we had lots of training and worship together. Then On Sunday we reached out and served Port Townsend by visiting the nursing home, hosting a free car wash, handing out free drinks, and picking up garbage. On Monday we did a prayer scavenger hunt. It involved talking with people to find the locations listed on the map and praying for specific things at different places all over town.

The most meaningful car we washed belonged to a single mom whose daughter had just turned 9. She had wanted to get her car clean and take her daughter out for her birthday but couldn’t afford it. Her car was the dirtiest of all the cars we washed, but the kids scrubbed and scrubbed. Not only did the kids enjoy seeing the transformation, but the woman was incredibly blessed. She, like all of the others, was completely amazed that it really was free and was truly grateful.

We spent time walking downtown giving out free water, juice and candy. One woman thought we must be advertising for something. When the kids told her they just wanted to love Port Townsend she was surprised and began to ask questions about their faith and why they would give up their weekend to do this. Her words to them were, “you are the first group I have ever met that would do something like this.”

When the kids were praying for outreach to the nursing home, before we went out, one of the boys, Jason saw a prayer picture of a woman. At the nursing home you can imagine his surprise when he met the woman that God had shown him, and was able to give her the card that he had made.

While in the nursing home the kids gave out cards that they had made. Many of the residents were blessed by the company and kindness. One of the groups visited a man named Bob who was wearing a Buddha shirt. His room was full of pictures that his mother had painted. He told them about his life and how he is looking forward to dying because he is tired of living in pain. When a staff member kindly asked if he had peace about where he would spend eternity when he died, he acknowledged that he was still uncertain. Then the staff member shared about his father who had been an alcoholic but gave his heart to Jesus the day before he died. Bob had been raised in a Danish/Lutheran home but had never made a commitment to Christ. On Sunday May 27th with the prayers of one man and three young boys Bob gave his life to Jesus!

If you live in the north west USA and are interested in being involved in this year’s Go-Camp contact:
becky@ywamdb.com or info@ywamdb.com

An Adventure of Seeking the Heart of God
A series focusing on seeking God by practicing spiritual disciplines
Each lesson is broken into 5-10 minute segments. This met my needs as I presented it as a short devotion five times a week. You can adapt and do as many segments as you like at one time. (Stephanie McIntyre)

Day 9: STEP THREE – TALKING TO GOD (CONFESSION)

FOCUS:

1. Write “ACTS” on the board.
   
2. Ask: Who can remember what “A” stands for. (“Adoration.”) What does adoration mean? (to love something, to honor it)
   
3. Ask: How did Jesus honor God? (by praising him for his holiness) How did David honor God? (by praising him for creation and His word.

1. Explain that we will begin today by listening to song that adores God for His creation. As we listen, students can write/draw something to adore God for.
   
2. Play “Indescribable” by Chris Tomlin

1. Explain: So far, we have focused on adoring God, but this is only one part of a prayer life.
   
2. Ask: What do you think the “C” stands for? (confession)
   
3. Explain: Confession is admitting that we have sinned and disobeyed God. It is asking for forgiveness. Jesus included this in the Lord’s Prayer when He taught His disciples to pray, too. “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” When we recognize how great God is, we are bound to realize that we are far less than perfect. We don’t deserve His love. When we compare ourselves to Him, we realize there are some sins in our life that we need to confess. We’re going to read a section from the New Testament where Paul, the writer, lists some specific sins to get rid of. As I read, I want you to write down the names of sins you know you need to confess.
   
4. Read Colossians 3:8-10 (NLT) “Now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.”
   
5. Read Psalm 51:1-3 (NLT) “Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.”

Saturday, the DPG kids (of which I am a part), went to the Bethlehem Aboriginal Church, to help with their muffin ministry. What we wanted to do, was to go outside in small groups with a bag or two of muffins. We would gave them to the people in the streets, without cost, and share with them words of encouragement, such as “Jesus loves you”
However before we went out, we sang worship songs and prayed that God would let us know who to speak to. Then we went outside to look for people. My group passed a few houses and we gave a muffin to a man in his yard. A few people said ‘no’ but they were kind about it. Finally we saw a car with a number of people in it, and gave them 12 muffins. They had just been at a funeral. The driver of the car knew the pastor of the church, and offered us $20. We tried to say. “no” but he insisted and told us to give it to the church. We saw a few kids and gave them each a muffin, and the last one we gave to one of the kids to give to his younger brother. We returned to the church to share and sing, and say our last prayers. After we went home. It was a great experience, one that I want to do again.

For the kids that speak French, Alana, who is in French immersion at school, wrote her entry also in French. (Please excuse the lack of accents, as my computer would not add them)

Samedi, les enfants de Daniel Prayer Group ( de ce que je suis partie) ont alle a L’eglise Bethlehem Aborigional pour travailler avec le ministere des muffins. Ce que’on voulais faire, c’etait a’aller dehors en petits groups avec une ou deux sacs de muffins. Nous avons donner a les personnes sur la rue sans charge, et dissent les mots encourager que Jesus nous aimons. Mais avant qu’on avait partier, nous avons chanter les chansons d’adoration, et nous avons dis une priere pour savoir quelles personnes avec qui parler. Alors nous avons aller dehors pour chercher les personnes. Ma groupe avait passer quelques maisons et nous ont donner une muffin a un home dans son cour. Quel’que personnes ont dissent “non”, mai isl etait vraiment gentils. Finalement, nous avont vu quelque personnes dans un auto a qui nous avons donner 12 muffins! Le conducteur d’auto a connais le Pasteur de l’eg;ise, et a nous offrir vingt dollars!~ Nous avons essaient de dire “non”, mais il a nous dire que c’etait pour l’eglise. Nous avons vu quelque enfants et lui donnes chacun une muffin et la dernier pour leur petit frere. Nous avons retournes a L’eglise pour chanter et pour dire les dernires priers, ensuite on a retourne a la maison. C’etait une experience excellent et amusent. Je vouudrais faisait encore!

An Adventure of Seeking the Heart of God

Day 8: STEP THREE – TALKING TO GOD (ADORATION)

Focus:

1. Explain: We are going to begin with an activity that tests our reflexes. I’m going to say a phrase like “I love…pizza!” If this is something you love, stand up. Try to be the first person to stand up for things you really love, but NOT to stand up if it’s something you don’t love.
2. Say: I love…pizza! I love…my parents! I love…chocolate! I love…McDonald’s! I love…the color red! I love…sports! I love…my sister! I love…God!

Procedure:

1. Discuss: What does “love” mean in these different situations? Does it always mean the same thing?
2. Explain: Because the word “love” is used in so many situations, it’s helpful to have other words that mean something similar so we can use that for things we really DO love. The word “adore” is like that. To “adore” something means “to think of something with the highest esteem, respect, honor, and love.” It also means “to pay divine honor to; to worship”; or “to admire very much.” When Jesus started to teach His disciples to pray, he started with giving God a high honor, and telling him that he thought of him with LOTS of respect, honor, and love. The Lord’s Prayer begins with “Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name.” To “hallow” something is “to honor it as holy.” When Jesus showed His disciples a pattern for prayer, he started by honoring his Father for being holy. He started with adoration.
3. Write the letter “A” and the word “adoration” on the board. Explain that this is the first letter in the word ACTS. This week, we’ll be using this word to remind us of 4 things. Each of these things are important parts of prayer. We’ll be learning about what each letter of ACTS means and how that can help us have a balanced prayer life – that is, following Jesus’ example for prayer, talking and listening to God, and not always focusing on what we need or want.
4. Explain: Adoration is “love” for God and means to express our praise to God, or to tell Him how awesome/amazing He is. We’ve already talked about how Jesus adored God by honoring His holiness. David, the writer of Psalms, adored God for His amazing creation. (read Psalm 19:1-6). He also adored Him for giving us His Word (Psalm 19: 7-11).

CLOSURE:

1. Challenge students to make a list of things they “love” about God. You can write the list on the board as a brainstorming session or have each one turn it into a short, sentence prayer of: “God, I love you because…”

“I love watching children find Jesus. I love to see them come alive to what they were created for. I love to see their little faces the first time they ever hear Jesus speak to them. I love to have the holy privilege of feeding, clothing, and caring for the poorest of the poor. I love watching Jesus rebuild broken lives. I think I have the best job in the world.” (Jennifer Toledo)

AJ interviews Jennier Toledo

AJ: Could you tell us about some of the miracles you are experiencing ministering to the children.

JENNIFER: We have been working in Bungoma, Kenya for four years now and we have seen God demonstrate some of the most amazing miracles through the children time and time again. When I first arrived in Bungoma, in so many of the churches, children were a forgotten group. The churches didn’t have much value for the spiritual capacity of children. It was while I was there that God commissioned me to work with children. He asked me to teach the next generation the ‘undiluted gospel’. Quite honestly I laughed at first, because coming from the West, I knew I didn’t know an ‘undiluted gospel’. But there began my quest to relearn all that I knew and to begin to teach children this undiluted gospel.

The majority of the kids I originally worked with were all orphans and street kids. But God began to totally transform them with the gospel of the Kingdom, and it wasn’t long before everyone everywhere noticed that God was truly with these children. There were multiple occasions where the children would go into large hospitals and pray for the sick, and we would see entire hospital wards get cleared out. People dying of AIDS, malaria, typhoid, etc were completely healed, got up out of their beds and went home! Of course all the doctors and nurses got saved witnessing this.

One time, the children felt like God wanted them to go to the hospital to pray every day during their lunch break. So out of obedience they went, and sure enough every single day people got miraculously healed. The doctors phoned us a few weeks later and thanked us for sending the children, but told us that we would have to start praying for them because if this kept up they would be without a job. We thought they were surely joking. But, over the next several weeks as the children saw healings daily, the hospital was forced to shut down as it could no longer stay in business. People were healed from their diseases before they could be treated by the hospital! We’ve seen so many miracles!

‘This interview was used with permission from AJ Butel’s website - www.ajbutel.com.’