Grasshoppers

Guess what we are going to talk about today?!?  GRASSHOPPERS!!!

Does a grasshopper have a head?  Yes.  Do you have a head?  Yes.
Does a grasshopper have a leg?  Yes.  Do you have a leg?  Yes
Are you a grasshopper?  No!!!

Did you know that the Bible has a story about grasshoppers?

People of Israel had been captive for years.  God chose Moses to lead them to the promised land.  He also told Moses to send 12 people ahead...kinda like a scouting report...to the land of Canaan...

When they came back, they reported to Moses that the land was truly a wonderful land, but that the people there were very strong and powerful.  "There is no way we could take the land.  They are giants and we are like grasshoppers compared to them".

Two of the men, Joshua and Caleb, disagreed.  "It is a land flowing with milk and honey and if God is on our side, we can overcome the giants and take the land."

You know, ther eare times in your life that you will come up against some giants.  Other people might even tell you that you're too small to defeat those giants.  But remember this, no matter how big the giants are in your life, with God on your side, you can overcome the giants.  You are not a grasshopper!!

So, I never want to hear you say, "I can't do it."  All things are possible with God!!!!

Dear Father, help us to remember that with You on our side, we can overcome the giants in our life.  Amen.

Butterfly

Do any of you know how a butterfly starts out?  First, it's a caterpillar...then it takes shelter in a coccoon...then breaks free transformed into a butterfly!

The Butterfly is one of the significant symbols of Easter. Its whole life cycle is meant to symbolize the life of Jesus Christ. The first stage, is the caterpillar, which stands for His life on Earth. Second phase begins from the cocoon stage, portraying the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. The third and final stage is the butterfly, representing His raising from the dead in a glorified body and peace.

Jesus came to Earth as a man.  The soldiers killed him with nails on a cross.  Then, He did something that we all would have thought was impossible...kinda like the butterfly emerges from the coccoon...he came of the grave...ALIVE!!  ...and talked with His disciples...and went to live in heaven!

That's why we celebrate every day!  You may have things in your life that you think are impossible...but, Jesus really did what nobody else can ever do.  He took our sins with Him to the cross and left them there!  Through Jesus, all things are possible!!

Baseball

The Lord's team was playing Satan's team in a baseball game. The Lord's team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs.

They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate whose name was Love. Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because Love never fails.

The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love.

The next batter up was named Godly wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch. Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass: Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly wisdom never swings at what Satan throws. The bases were loaded.

The Lord then turned to Bob and told him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace. Bob said, "He sure doesn't look like much!" Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen.

But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; then it continued over the fence for a home run! The Lord's team won.

The Lord then asked Bob if he knew why Love, Faith, and Godly Wisdom could get on base but could not win the game. Bob answered that he did not know why.

The Lord explained, "If your love, faith and wisdom had won the game you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, faith and wisdom will get you on base, but only My Grace can get you home."

"...For the Lord is good.  His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations." -- Psalms 100:5

Horton, the Faithful

Have you read the story "Horton Hatches the Egg" by Dr. Seuss?   There's an elephant named Horton...and a lazy bird named Mayzie.

Mayzie was sitting on her egg and she basically got fed up.  She said, "I'd take a vacation, fly off for a rest if I could find someone to stay on my nest."

Then, Horton walked by and Mayzie asked Horton to stand in for her...saying, she wouldn't be gone long.  So, Horton agreed...and Mayzie flew off for a beach trip to Florida.

Well..........Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months.  Mayzie is kickin' back on a "va-cay", while Horton is still sitting on the egg.  Winter comes.  Snow and icicles form on Horton's ears.  But, good ol' Horton stuck to his job of egg sitting.

He said, "I'll stay on this egg and I won't let it freeze.  I meant what I said and I said what I meant, an elephant is faithful 100%!"

In the Bible, Galations 5:22-23 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is:  love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

So, faithfulness is one of the fruits of the Spirit!  In our story, Horton was certainly faithful, wasn't he?  He stuck to his word.  He said it.  He meant it.  He did what he said and kept his promise.

That's whta God wants in our lives too.  When we tell a freind or our parents something, then we should be faithful to do it.  More importantly, when we tell God that we'll do something (like read our Bible or memorize verses), the nwe need to remember Horton the elephant and do what we said. 

"I meant what I said and I said what I meant because we should be faithful 100%!"

(At the end of the children's sermon...I passed out Rice Krispie treats reminding the kids to "stick with their promises"...nothing is sticker than a good Rice Krispie treat!)

Lord, thank you for the children.  Help us all to "mean what we say" and "say what we mean".  Help us to be faithful to Your mission and not to our own agendas.  In Jesus name, Amean.