I have decided each month I am going to make one song visual. Kids learn the songs so much faster when we have a visual. Here is the one I made for this month:

This is for the second & third stanzas which obviously I have not written out yet. The first pumpkin is at church, so I was not able to take a picture of it. The song I am using is about giving thanks.

Thanksgiving Craft

This is a picture I found on the internet not from my class.

On Sunday for Children's Church I had the kids make paper chains. We used fall colors and on each link they wrote something they were thankful for. I wasn't sure how this craft was going to go over, but they all really enjoyed it and some had fun seeing how long they could make their chains.

"Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me."

-Jim Elliot

From my bookshelf...

I am almost finished reading Counsel for Christian Workers by Charles Spurgeon. This is the first book of Spurgeon's sermons that I have read. I was surprised by how down to earth and practical he is. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is involved in Christian service. Here are a couple of quotes from the book:

"Spend and be spent in your Master's service."

"The danger of every Christian worker is that of falling into routine and self-sufficiency."

I borrowed this book from the college library but am definitely planning to purchase a copy of it for myself.

"You cannot go forth yourself to your class and do your work vigorously if you have lost inward vigor. You cannot minister before the Lord with the unction of the Holy Spirit if that unction is not upon you. If you are not living near to God and in the power of God, then the power of God will not go forth through you to the children of your care." - C. H. Spurgeon

Scripture Memory: Part 2 - Review Games

Here are several games from "Children's Church Ministry" website:

Bible Verse Burst -- Write your entire memory verse onto balloons and pin or tape them to the board. After teaching the entire verse using the IPEAR method, pop one of the balloons with a push pin and have the kids repeat the verse, including the missing word (you repeat it with them, but shush on the blank). Continue to pop one balloon at a time until they can recite the entire verse.

Guess Who -- We select a volunteer who must go stand by a teacher with his back to the group and the memory verse visual. Whoever is teaching the verse quietly points to a word in the verse and instructs the group to read the verse inserting a *clap* for the appointed word. The volunteer then has to guess what the missing word was.

Crazy Voices -- Put several different types of voices on index cards for the kids to draw: British accent, frog croak, mouse squeak, cheerleader yell, Southern accent, football player voice, underwater, etc.

Quote the verse if you... ate breakfast this morning, took a bath last night, have brown eyes, like broccoli, made your bed today, have a sister, are wearing red, etc.

I have tried some of these games or variations of them except for the first one. I think that would be a fun one to try. You can also find more ideas by visiting their website. Here are some ideas of my own, most of which are not original:

Chalkboard: This is always a tried and true method. Write the verse on the board and then let the kids erase a word or a phrase at a time. You can also have races by seeing who can write the verse out first on the board. For a larger group you can turn this into a relay game, each person writing one word at a time and passing the chalk to the next person on the team.

Pass the ball: Pass a ball around and have each person say one word. To make it more challenging, time them to see how fast they can do it. For variation have the students toss the ball to whoever they want and he/she has to say the next word.

Hot potato: Play hot potato and when the music stops whoever has the "potato" must quote the verse.

Word scramble: Write each word/phrase on a piece of paper and have them put it in the correct order.

Puzzle: Write verse out on a poster board and cut into shapes to create a puzzle.

"Your aim as a teacher is to set each pupil on fire to translate what he has learned into an ardent Christian life." ~ Guy Levitt, from Teach with Success

WHAT IS IN THINE HAND?

by Dr. Paul Chappell

Exodus 4:1-5, "And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me,
nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto
thee. And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A
rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it
became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the LORD said unto
Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his
hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: That they may believe
that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and
the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee."


God doesn't measure our usability by our talents but by our willingness to
be used.

Have you ever heard the name of Bertoldo di Giovanni? If you are a fan of
art, you might be surprised to not recognize him. Giovanni was the pupil of
Donatello, arguably the most gifted sculptor of his time. Giovanni possessed
unimaginable talent and skill, yet he is not remembered for any sculptings,
paintings, or art pieces. He is remembered as the teacher of Michaelangelo.
At age 14, Michaelangelo approached Giovanni and requested his help in
training his artistic abilities. Realizing Michaelangelo was gifted beyond
his age, Giovanni agreed.

Giovanni was different than many teachers of his day in that he didn't allow
talented students to simply coast through classes. He was known as a strict
instructor who pushed his students no matter their ability level. One day as
he entered class, he noticed Michaelangelo working on a sculpture that was
below his abilities. Giovanni marched over to Michaelangelo's station,
grabbed the piece of pottery, and smashed it into a thousand pieces. He then
made a statement that Michaelangelo never forgot: "Michaelangelo, talent is
cheap; dedication is costly!"

Our world seems to value talent. Kids are scouted at young ages for sporting
talent, people are elevated for their talent in different arenas, and those
with the most talent seem to climb the corporate ladder the fastest. Talent
has become something that parents hope to see in their children. But just as
Giovanni stated, talent is cheap but dedication is costly.

In Christianity, talent is sometimes too highly regarded. People are praised
for their fine singing voice, musical talent, ability to teach, or witnessing
finesse. Yet God doesn't desire to simply use talented people; He wants to
use every one of His children.

Our verses show us another one of Moses' apprehensions and excuses for not
being able to face Pharaoh. "They will not believe me, nor hearken unto my
voice" (vs. 1). God then asked Moses what he held in his hand. In essence,
God wanted to prove to Moses that it wasn't his ability, talents, or finesse
that God was interested in, but his willingness to be used.

God didn't ask Moses to acquire some object so that God could use it; God
used what Moses already possessed-his rod. Likewise, God doesn't require that
we become skilled or talented in some area so that He may use us. He wants to
use what we already have-what He has already given us.

Have you ever seen the talent of others and felt God couldn't use you? God
doesn't measure our usability by our talents but by our willingness to be
used. Do you want to be used by God? Then don't worry about mastering a skill
or becoming better at something; simply submit to God's plan and allow Him to
use you how He wants to.

What is in your hand today? How can God use you? Don't compare yourself with
other people, but allow God to use you according to His perfect plan.