Focus Friday: Let's Focus on Roots

I taught the preschoolers at VBS this week. 

I already knew the Bible stories we talked about and acted out with the help of puppets, but teaching those kids always reminds me of the truths I base my life on.

Our theme this week was "Rooted."

On Monday I brought a plastic rose in a vase. Is this rooted? "Yes!" they all sang out. "No," I told them as I pulled it out of the vase and showed them it wasn't real and it wasn't rooted. That day we learned to be rooted in grace.

On Tuesday I brought a single rose in a vase. Is this rooted? "Yes!" they called out. "No," I explained as I pulled this rose out, too, and pointed out the lack of roots. That day we learned about being rooted in Christ.

On Wednesday I brought a little plastic container of pretty pink impatiens. Is this rooted? "Yes!" They were finally right, and I got my hands dirty as I pulled one out to show them the little roots. That day we learned to be rooted in Faith.

On Thursday I brought in a whole tree. Nah, just kidding. I had to settle for some pictures. I showed them what a rose can do when it has good roots and room to grow.

I showed them a tree on a hillside with roots you could see.

I showed them a huge tree that would be strong enough to hold a dozen treehouses.

That day we learned about being rooted in Truth. They had fun throwing "temptation socks" at me, and then I pulled out a sheet with "Word of God" written on it and used it as a shield against temptation.

The cut rose I brought on Tuesday is drooping and dying, but I'm going to keep it around for a few more days to remind me of how important it is to be rooted. If we're not rooted in grace, Christ, faith, and truth, we'll eventually die.

I hope those kids remember how important it is to be "rooted." 

I know I sure will.

"So then, continue to live...in [Jesus], rooted...in Him, and overflowing with thankfulness." (Colossians 2:6-7 NIV - preschool version. You can read the entire verse here)

Are you firmly rooted, or are you cut off from God? How can focusing on God help you to stay rooted and grow in Him?

Focus Friday: Let's Focus on VBS

Every year I say I'll help with Vacation Bible School.

Every year I regret that decision as VBS week gets closer. I start getting stressed out about getting ready (or not getting ready, since I'm a big procrastinator). I start thinking that the hassle is not worth it and I wish I would have let someone else do it instead of me.

Every year I'm so glad I helped with VBS after the week is over. This year was no exception. I've helped with Bible Stories for the preschool VBS for the last several years. This year I agreed to do the Puppets/Bible Story.

I hadn't done puppets before, but it was so much fun. The kids had a blast as they got to make the puppets talk and help tell the Bible story each day. We had stories about Creation, Angels telling the Good News to the shepherds, the Israelites being freed from captivity, and Jesus making a blind man see. 

The kids loved it, as you can see. What always surprises me about VBS is how much I learn. Oh, I've heard all of the stories before. I know them well. But when I have to tell them to preschoolers, it makes me understand and appreciate them so much more. God's love for us, Jesus' miracles, the way the Bible helps us live and love God...all of those things are reinforced in my own heart. I hope I can pass that along to the children, too.

One of my favorite parts of this year was talking about Jesus setting the captives free. I brought a big paper chain and spread it out in a circle in front of the kids. I explained that sin can sometimes hold us captive, just like the chain. I had the kids put their hands through the links in front of them and pretend they were being held captive.

The children listened carefully as I talked about how sin sometimes looks ugly, like some of the links in our chain. Sometimes it looks kind of good to us, and I pointed out some links made of pretty patterned papers from my stash at home. 

No matter how it starts out, sin always ends up holding us captive and getting us stuck.

After a while, we all said "Jesus sets us free!" and broke those chains. 

I hope it made sense to the kids, but it sure convicted me of some things I had been doing mindlessly and reminded me that Jesus can set me free from any sin that is holding me captive.

I also did the opening and closing times this year, and one of the special parts of the morning was having a few preschoolers come stand by me and help close in prayer. 

I keep praying that their week at VBS will stick with them and help them grow in their faith in God.

With faces like these, how could I not want to help with VBS every year? I'm pretty sure I'll be back again next summer...ready to learn right along with all of those preschoolers.

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."  (2 Timothy 3:14-15 NIV)

Do you dread teaching or leading a group at church or in the community? How can focusing on God help you to enjoy it as you learn just as much (or even more) than the people you are teaching?

Focus Friday: Let's Focus on Building

     I taught story time for the preschoolers at VBS this week. On Tuesday morning the last small group of children came to me for story time. First, I reminded them that we had talked about the foundation on Monday. I patted the floor and repeated that we needed a solid foundation to build on. "Jesus is powerful and we can trust Him. We need to build our lives on Jesus." I took a breath and got ready to move on to the next lesson, but one precious little girl suddenly asked, "How do we build our lives on Jesus?"
     Her question threw me for a few seconds. I looked at the helpers in the room with my eyes wide and we all kind of laughed. I regret that now. Her question was so honest, so sincere, I'd hate for her to think that it was a silly question. It wasn't silly at all. It needs to be something all of us are asking daily.
     I told her what a good question that was and then I tried to answer the best I could. "Well, we don't actually build on Him like if we tried to build something on Connor. (Connor laughed) It means we try to live like the Bible says and try to love Him and love others." My mind whirled as I tried to explain something that I understood but seldom tried to put into words.
     That little girl's question has haunted me ever since that day. I keep hearing her clear, soft little voice asking "How do we build our lives on Jesus?" I've asked myself why it was so hard to answer her. As a Christian, I've been building my life on Jesus my whole life. So, why did I laugh and struggle to put it into words?
     Why didn't I look back into her eyes, smile, and say, "Wow! What a great question! We build our lives on Jesus when we trust Him completely. We build our lives on Jesus when we read His word, the Bible, and try the best we can to obey it every day. We build our lives on Jesus when we talk to Him about every decision we make, every problem we have, and every good thing He gives us. We build our lives on Jesus when we say no to Satan and all of the lies he tries to tell us and we believe what God says in the Bible instead. We build our lives on Jesus when we love others like He loves them. We build our lives on Jesus when we love Him and believe that He loves us, too. That's how we build our lives on Jesus."     


So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone [Jesus] for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed." 
                                             (Isaiah 28:16 NIV)

Are you building your life on Jesus? How can focusing on God help to make sure you're on that strong, sure foundation?