Day 16 March 10

"In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me." Jonah 2:2

Read

Jonah 1-2

Discussion

Do you remember the story of Jonah? When Jonah was tossed into the sea, it looked like he might die. But God had other plans for him. A huge fish swallowed him up and while Jonah was in the belly of the fish he prayed to God. Then the fish spit him out and he went on the mission God had for him. Many people turned to God because Jonah went to Ninevah. Every time we look at this fish, lets remember that although it looked like Jonah was dead, he really wasn't. We can also remember when Jesus was in the tomb it seemed he would not be coming out. But He arose from the grave on Easter. Because of the Easter miracle we can come to know and love Him too. Think about how Jonah was in the depths of the ocean in that fish's belly. How do know when God wants us to do something? Sometimes God gives us BIG clues on what our missions should be, and other times we feel like we have no idea what God wants with our life. Discuss times when you knew God wanted you to do something. Did you? Did you not? What happened?

Hymn

He lifted me

Quick Prayer

Dear Lord, whenever I am scared, help me to remember the story of Jonah. Thank You for saving him and saving me, so that I can tell others about how much You love us! Amen.

Lenten Symbol for your Easter Tree

Jonah and the big fish

Activity Idea

*God has given us each 'gifts' to use. draw a picture of what gifts you have. is it the ability to listen to others? Is it to sing? Is it to write poetry? is it help those in need?

*make a picture of Jonah

Day 15 March 9

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16

Read

Hebrews 8:11-9:15

Discussion

Long ago, if a person wanted to say something to God or ask something from God, they had to tell it to the priest and the priest would go to the special room and offer the prayers on behalf of the person/family. The priest stood between God and the people. Jesus came to earth and died for us. But do you know where He is now? He rose from the grave, went to heaven and is sitting beside God right now talking to Him about us. He is now our "High Priest" In Hebrews it tells about how Jesus was the last sacrifice ever. He brought His blood shed on the cross. Now we can talk to God through Jesus and we don't need anyone else to do it for us. WE can pray and praise Him anytime. We can talk to God about everything, when something good happens or when we are hurting. God loves us so much. Talk to you children about how it feels to know God is listening.

Hymn

Jesus loves the little children

Quick Prayer

Dear lord, Thank you that we can come talk to you anytime we want. Thank you for letting us know you. Amen

Lenten Symbol for your Easter Tree

a picture of Jesus

Activity Idea

*Even though we don't necessarily use our pastor to give messages to God, we can share questions and ask for help praying. If you haven't met a local pastor maybe it's time to stop in and say hello.

*Have you ever had a prayer journal? It can be a very surprising book to keep tally of how God is working in your life. Maybe you could start one. Leave questions in it that God may answer for you one day. Leave praises in it of how your day was blessed. Leave concerns for those that are not well or maybe you're not well, see how God is working in other's lives.

*draw a prayer map, one before Jesus and then one after Jesus came. Let the kids see that Jesus' cross helped us reach God as He was the last sacrifice. I was taught something like this

Day 14 March 8

"My Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer, my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. " Psalm 18:2a

Read

Exodus 17:1-6, Matthew 7:27-28

Discussion

So as we've been learning about the children of Israel, they seem to easily grumble when things aren't going as well as they would like. In our lesson today, the children of God came to a place in the wilderness that had no water. They began to complain and sent Moses to ask God what to do. God provided water for them right out of a rock. Water is something all people need to survive, and God wanted them to see how to depend on Him like a rock-something that is always there, solid. Many of us have grown up singing the song of the wise man building his house on the rock. Did you know that song actually came from a lesson Jesus was teaching one day? Jesus came to be our example and He was perfect His whole life. You can think of Jesus as our rock we can build our lives on. When we trust in Jesus we are like the wiseman, when trouble comes in our lives we can feel secure in His solid embrace. However, those among us that are building their houses of the world, the sand, will surely be devastated when trouble comes to them. Jesus gives us courage and wisdom in the most difficult parts of our lives.

How has God given you strength through Jesus in a difficult time? This song brings up many question during Sunday school, ask your kids what they think of it.

Hymn

The wise man and the foolish man

Quick Prayer

Wonderful Jesus, Thank you for being our Rock! We know we can run to you and YOU will protect us. You are strong and will always be there for us. Help us to build our lives and our church on You. Amen.

Lenten Symbol for your Easter Tree

a rock

Activity Idea

* Find a park with sand and act out the story of the wise man and the foolish man.

*Collect a rock and place it in your home somewhere to remind you that Jesus is a good solid place, like a rock, that we can turn to in times of struggle.

Day 13 March 7

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and them with me." Revelation 3:20

Read

Exodus 25:1-9 Matthew 7:7-12

Discussion

Do you remember the tabernacle we talked about that Moses built for God to dwell in? Well, God wanted this place to be very special. God even told them how to build it and what people should put in it.After it was built, God came and visited the people in a cloud by day and a cloud of fire by night. The tabernacle was placed in the very center of Israel's camp, and the people lived around it. Everyday, they would bring sacrifices and gifts to be offered to Him. When Jesus came to take the place of all those sacrifices, the tabernacle was not needed. Instead God can speak to us in our hearts. Just like the tabernacle, we should keep our hearts in order. We should only keep the best things in our hearts too, like love, patience, kindness. Jesus can come live in your heart if you ask. When you open the door of your life to Him, He will come in and never leave you. Ask your family about the time they asked Jesus in their hearts.

Hymn

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place

Behold behold, I stand at the door and knock

Quick Prayer

Dear Jesus, I need you in my life. Forgive my mistakes and help me to clean up my heart. You are the way I may be happy with God. Thank you for your sacrifice. Amen

Lenten Symbol for your Easter Tree

A heart

Activity Idea

*look at some pictures of Jesus knocking at the door, notice that there is no door knob. The door may only be opened from inside.

*Our bodies are the church for God. Take some time thinking of the ways you are good to your body and ways you should take better care of your body.

*Find a family activity that encourages good exercise, hiking in parks, walking on the beach, bike riding, neighborhood walks to pick up litter.

Day 12 March 6

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth , nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38

Read

Exodus 26:31-34, Matthew 27:50-51 Hebrews 10:19-20

Discussion

A long time ago, God told the children of Israel to build a special place for Him. This special place was called a tabernacle. It looked like a big tent, and they carried it with them wherever they went, just like the ark. There was a special room inside the tabernacle where God would come to visit. But a great curtain was hung in front of the room, so no one could see inside. Only a special priest called the High Priest could enter the room through the curtain, and he could only go in one time a year. The people would give prayers and offerings to the Priest and then the priest would take them into the room to God.

During Jesus time, the tabernacle had been replaced with a beautiful temple to worship God. There was still a curtain and the people were still separate from God. But something happened on the day Jesus died. The curtain was torn apart from top to bottom. Now, anyone could come talk to God. Whenever we want to say something to God, we can stop wherever we are and talk to Him. There is no curtain that stops us from being with God.

Hymn

Nothing between

Quick Prayer

Dear God, Thank you for giving us the opportunity to pray whenever and where ever we need. In Jesus name Amen!

Lenten Symbol for your Easter Tree

Veil or curtain

Activity Idea

* There are many ways to pray and countless reason to pray. Talk to your kids about different reasons to pray (thanking God, asking for help, asking for healing, sing praises, saying grace).

*Write a new grace poem to say as your family prayer.

Day 11 March 5

"When I am lifted up (on the cross), I will draw everyone to me." John 12:32

Read

Numbers 21:4-9, John 3:14-17

Discussion

Remember how Moses took the children of God out into the wilderness? Well, first there was no water, then there was no food. The people were complaining again one day. They were tired of eating the same thing. They were began to start to grumble about Moses and about God. Then some poisonous snakes were in the desert and began to bite them. Many of the people were very sick. So the people went to Moses and told him they were sorry they had been bad. They asked him to pray to God to take the bad snakes away. Even though the people had been bad to Mose, he forgave them and began to pray for them. God told Moses to build a pole with bronze snake on it. All the people had to do to get well was to look at the bronze snake.

Have you ever pouted about something? Doing something wrong can make us feel very bad. It almost makes us feel sick inside like we've been bitten by a snake in our heart.What should we do when we do something wrong? (Say we're sorry)We need to tell God we're sorry too. Jesus can help our hearts feel better when we say we're sorry. Jesus died on the cross so we could be well again.

Hymn

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Quick Prayer

Dear Jesus, We are sorry when we complain or pout about our lives. Please forgive us and help us to look to You to help our troubled hearts. Thank you for loving us!Amen!

Lenten Symbol for your Easter Tree

bronze snake on a pole

Activity Idea

*Take some time to talk about those we have hurt by our attitudes or words. Maybe write an apology note or call them up and say your sorry.

*Pray for those you know who are ill. If possible go visit them or send them a card to let them know you are thinking of them

Day 10 March 3

I am the bread of Life. Those who come to me will never go hungry. John 6:35

Read

Exodus 16, John 6:43-51

Discussion

God told the children of Israel to trust Him, but while they were in the wilderness they were hungry. They began to grumble that they should have been left in Egypt, at least they would have food there. God provided them with manna, little flakes of white food. The people said, "Are we supposed to eat this? What is it?" God provided just enough for each person. They were able to survive by trusting that God would give them what they needed.

When Jesus was talking to His followers they had some of the same questions. "What does Jesus mean He's the bread of life?" "Are we suppose to eat Him?" Of course, that's not what Jesus meant. But by spending time with Jesus everyday and enjoying the warmth of the Holy Spirit we can be filled in our hearts, just as we are fed in our stomachs with food bread. When Jesus taught us the Lord's prayer, He reminds us to thank God EVERY TIME we eat, and to remember Jesus. As US citizens we sometimes take for granted how much or how often we eat, have you been praying all the times you eat?

Hymn

Seek Ye first the Kingdom of God

Quick Prayer

Dear Jesus, help us to hunger to know you more. Forgive us as we grumble and are not grateful. Thank you for giving us all we need. Amen

Lenten Symbol for your Easter Tree

a Jar of Manna

Activity Idea

* Practice the Prayer Jesus taught us. Our Father who art in Heaven

*Volunteer to serve food at a shelter or church 

* Bake some homemade bread, if you don't have time to whip up some from scratch, stop in the frozen section and buy a loaf to bake. We make bread from scratch once a month or so, we even grind the wheat into flour. Have you considered trying to eat more whole foods? The processed food we have so readily in our markets is a nice convenience but sometimes it is just fluff and the nutrients has been processed out of the food. Research ways to include more 'whole' food into your life. The closer your diet has been to the earth, the closer your connection can become to God who has provided us with fruits and vegetables and grains.