“Love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:31
Lord, keep my heart warm. Guard me from the tendency to choose things over You.(Charles Swindoll)
**Good Morning! I have been rally having a hard time with this cooler weather. It seems that winter is not finished even though Spring has sprung in my heart. This past weekend we had fun at the VBS Showcase. I know that many of you made a choice of which program to do for the children in your community this past weekend. Whatever choice you made is the right choice. When you make a choice to serve your church and community families it’s the RIGHT Choice. If you need help in getting a program please let me know and I will help you. Know that we (the team and I) will be praying for you and your team.
The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can;
?and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next.
Amen.
Walking in Other People’s Shoes Object Lesson (Mark 12:31) May 13th by Mimi BullockMark 12:31 says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” That sounds easy enough but it gets tougher when you realize that “your neighbor” isn’t just the people you go to church with–or agree with–or look like. However, such differences do not excuse us from following the teaching of our Lord. We are to be empathetic.
The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 9 that, “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.”
That’s mighty powerful stuff.
In light of that, let’s teach kids to consider how it feels to walk in other people’s shoes. I recommend using this fun object lesson to illustrate how different we are but how it pleases God to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves.
When kids come to class, ask everyone to take off their shoes and add them to the pile of shoes you started. (You and your volunteers should participate.) Once everyone’s shoes have been added, ask a volunteer to sit next to the pile of shoes and hand them out as you call the kids forward. Kids should not get back their own shoes.
Read Mark 12:31 together and talk about what loving your neighbor as yourself might mean. For example, taking care of a neighbor when he’s sick, (just as you would take care of yourself) praying for him and showing him grace and kindness. Explain to kids that like the Apostle Paul, sometimes that means we have to try and understand how those people feel. That is a good way to learn how to have empathy for others. Now tell the kids to try and walk in their neighbor’s shoes. (Of course, don’t let anyone tear up shoes or hurt themselves.) Once the fun is over, have kids find the right shoe owners and return the borrowed shoes.
When the activity is complete talk about how it felt to wear someone else’s shoes. Weird? Strange? Uncomfortable? Lead the kids in a prayer request to God. Help them pray for empathy for their neighbors.
Calendar Update:
March 18 Creative Ministry /Children’s Day @ 1st SDA Church WPB
April 8 Bellview Community Outreach Program
April 20-23 English Camp Meeting @ Camp Kulaqua
May 6 Go Fish/Creative Ministry Workshop @ Palm Coast SDA Church
This weekend/Sabbath the 18th we will be in West Palm Beach SDA church if you are in the area come and see us. We will be doing Children’s Church form 11:15-1:00 and a Children’s Leaders/Family Ministry Lunch and Learn from 1:15-3:35PM. If you can’t make it Please keep the TEAM in your prayers for safe travel and for our presentations.
Have a great rest of the week. God is with you. GO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE’S LIFE.