Flannelboard lesson-Moses and the burning bush

 

We are learning about Moses. This is the flannel story board about Moses and the burning bush. Moses left Egypt and became a shepard and married before returning to Egypt.I read the story and the flannelboard artists arrange the scene as the story progresses. Isn't it beautiful! So colorful. The flannelboard is a great learning tool. Next week we find out what happens when Moses goes back to Egypt. It's epic...

Submitted by Squeak

A brother and sister had made their usual hurried, obligatory pre-
 Christmas visit to the little farm where dwelt their elderly
 parents with their small herd of horses. The farm was where they
 had grown up and had been named Lone Pine Farm because of the huge
 pine, which topped the hill behind the farm. Through the years the
 tree had become a talisman to the old man and his wife, and a
 landmark in the countryside. The young siblings had fond memories
 of their childhood here, but the city hustle and bustle added more
 excitement to their lives, and called them away to a different life.

 The old folks no longer showed their horses, for the years had
 taken their toll, and getting out to the barn on those frosty
 mornings was getting harder, but it gave them a reason to get up in
 the mornings and a reason to live. They sold a few foals each
 year, and the horses were their reason for joy in the morning and
 contentment at day's end.

 Angry, as they prepared to leave, the young couple confronted the
 old folks "Why do you not at least dispose of  The Old One." She
 is no longer of use to you. It's been years since you've had foals
 from her. You should cut corners and save so you can have more for
 yourselves. How can this old worn out horse bring you anything but
 expense and work? Why do you keep her anyway?"

 The old man looked down at his worn boots, holes in the toes,
 scuffed at the barn floor and replied, " Yes, I could use a pair of
 new boots. His arm slid defensively about the Old One's neck as he
 drew her near with gentle caressing he rubbed her softly behind her
 ears. He replied softly, "We keep her because of love. Nothing
 else, just love."

 Baffled and irritated, the young folks wished the old man and his
 wife a Merry Christmas and headed back toward the city as darkness
 stole through the valley. The old couple shook their heads in
 sorrow that it had not been a happy visit. A tear fell upon their
 cheeks. How is it that these young folks do not understand the
 peace of the love that filled their hearts?

 So it was, that because of the unhappy leave-taking, no one noticed
 the insulation smoldering on the frayed wires in the old barn.
 None saw the first spark fall. None but the "Old One".

 In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry
 flames were licking at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror
 and despair, the old man shouted to his wife to call for help as he
 raced to the barn to save their beloved horses. But the flames were
 roaring now, and the blazing heat drove him back. He sank sobbing
 to the ground, helpless before the fire's fury. His wife back from
 calling for help cradled him in her arms, clinging to each other,
 they wept at their loss.

 By the time the fire department arrived, only smoking, glowing
 ruins were left, and the old man and his wife, exhausted from their
 grief, huddled together before the barn. They were speechless as
 they rose from the cold snow covered ground. They nodded thanks to
 the firemen as there was nothing anyone could do now. The old man
 turned to his wife, resting her white head upon his shoulders as
 his shaking old hands clumsily dried her tears with a frayed red
 bandana. Brokenly he whispered, "We have lost much, but God has
 spared our home on this eve of Christmas. Let us gather strength
 and climb the hill to the old pine where we have sought comfort in
 times of despair. We will look down upon our home and give thanks
 to God that it has been spared and pray for our beloved most
 precious gifts that have been taken from us.

 And so, he took her by the hand and slowly helped her up the snowy
 hill as he brushed aside his own tears with the back of his old and
 withered hand.

 The journey up the hill was hard for their old bodies in the steep
 snow. As they stepped over the little knoll at the crest of the
 hill, they paused to rest, looking up to the top of the hill the
 old couple gasped and fell to their knees in amazement at the
 incredible beauty before them.

 Seemingly, every glorious, brilliant star in the heavens was caught
 up in the glittering, snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine,
 and it was aglow with heavenly candles. And poised on its top most
 bough, a crystal crescent moon glistened like spun glass. Never had
 a mere mortal created a Christmas tree such as this. They were
 breathless as the old man held his wife tighter in his arms.

 Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder and incredible joy.
 Amazed and mystified, he took his wife by the hand and pulled her
 forward. There, beneath the tree, in resplendent glory, a mist
 hovering over and glowing in the darkness was their Christmas
 gift. Shadows glistening in the night light.

 Bedded down about the "Old One" close to the trunk of the tree, was
 the entire herd, safe.

 At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed the door ajar with her
 muzzle and had led the horses through it. Slowly and with great
 dignity, never looking back, she had led them up the hill, stepping
 cautiously through the snow. The foals were frightened and dashed
 about. The skittish yearlings looked back at the crackling, hungry
 flames, and tucked their tails under them as they licked their lips
 and hopped like rabbits. The mares that were in foal with a new
 years crop of babies, pressed uneasily against the "Old One" as she
 moved calmly up the hill and to safety beneath the pine. And now,
 she lay among them and gazed at the faces of the old man and his
 wife. Those she loved she had not disappointed. Her body was
 brittle with years, tired from the climb, but the golden eyes were
 filled with devotion as she offered her gift---

 Because of love. Only Because of love.

 Tears flowed as the old couple shouted their praise and joy... And
 again the peace of love filled their hearts.

 

Prayer

I received a call last evening from Jeff VanWinkle telling me that Lisa Brock's father passed away yesterday morning. If you remember, Lisa sang with Jeff at his concert he put on at Hinkle. We have had Lisa's father on our prayer list in the past. We need to remember her as she goes through this tough time.

One Love, One Heart
Let's get together and feel all right
Hear the children crying (One Love)
Hear the children crying (One Heart)
Sayin' give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right
Sayin' let's get together and feel all right

Let them all pass all their dirty remarks (One Love)
There is one question I'd really like to ask (One Heart)
Is there a place for the hopeless sinner
Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own?
Believe me

One Love, One Heart
Let's get together and feel all right
As it was in the beginning (One Love)
So shall it be in the end (One Heart)
Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right
One more thing

Let's get together to fight this Holy Armageddon (One Love)
So when the Man comes there will be no no doom (One Song)
Have pity on those whose chances grove thinner
There ain't no hiding place from the Father of Creation

Sayin' One Love, One Heart
Let's get together and feel all right
I'm pleading to mankind (One Love)
Oh Lord (One Heart)

Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right
Let's get together and feel all right

I believe that sorrow leads to brokenness, which brings a humility before God that leads to surrender of our will. That surrender gives us the power to make the faith-filled decisions to free us from the sorrow and pain.

Favorite Band+Favorite Song=Awesome!

When DID Noah build the Ark?

 I was watching a movie last night with Robert Redford and Brad Pitt in it. Someone asked R.R a question and he answered their question with a question. They asked him why he was doing something, like "And, why are you doing this now?" and he stopped and said... "When did Noah build the ark? "...Before it rained, BEFORE it rained." And he walked off. I just thought it was such a great answer. And it's useful in so many situations.

There's also a great song called Walking in Jeruselum and that song starts out with the question,"Are you ready?" and a "I'm trying to get ready" "I'm trying to get my house in order, so I can walk in Jeruselum just like John" and then it says"You don't knock, ring, push or hold, the doors wide open waiting for your soul, you don't knock, you just walk on in."

And also in the Bible we read that there is a time for everything,
A time to plant and a time to reap. Ecclesiastes 3:1

And also the famous song People Get Ready by Curtis Mayfield which is considered by many to be one of the greatest songs ever written.

People get ready, there's a train a comin'
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord

People get ready for the train to Jordan
It's picking up passengers from coast to coast
Faith is the key, open the doors and board 'em
There's hope for all among those loved the most.

There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner
Who would hurt all mankind just to save his own
Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner
For there's no hiding place against the Kingdom's throne

So people get ready, there's a train a comin'
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord


Noah lived by faith, yet he was obedient as well. That is a powerful combination. 

3: 1Ecclesiastes 3: 1

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Gifts of the Spirit - What Are They?
Gifts of the Spirit are special abilities provided by the Holy Spirit to Christians for the purpose of building up the body of Christ. The list of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 includes wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues. Similar lists appear in Ephesians 4:7-13 and Romans 12:3-8. The gifts of the Spirit are simply God enabling believers to do what He has called us to do. 2 Peter 1:3 says, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." The gifts of the Holy Spirit are part of the "everything we need" to fulfill His purposes for our lives.
Gifts of the Spirit - The Definitions
There is some controversy as to the precise nature of each of the gifts of the Spirit, but here is a list of spiritual gifts and their basic definitions.

• The gift of wisdom seems to be the ability to make decisions and give guidance that is according to God's will.
• The gift of knowledge is the ability to have an in-depth understanding of a spiritual issue or situation.
• The gift of faith is being able to trust God and encourage others to trust God, no matter the circumstances.
• The gift of healing is the miraculous ability to use God's healing power to restore a person who is sick, injured, or suffering.
• The gift of miracles is being able to perform signs and wonders that give authenticity to God's Word and the Gospel message.
• The gift of prophecy is being able to proclaim a message from God.
• The gift of discerning spirits is the ability to determine whether or not a message, person, or event is truly from God.
• The gift of tongues is the ability to speak in a foreign language that you do not have knowledge of, in order to communicate with someone who speaks that language.
• The gift of interpreting tongues is the ability to translate the tongues speaking and communicate it back to others in your own language.
• The gift of administration is being able to keep things organized and in accordance with God's principles.
• The gift of helps is always having the desire and ability to help others, to do whatever it takes to get a task accomplished.

Gifts of the Spirit - Which One(s) Do I Have?
The Holy Spirit distributes the gifts of the Spirit as He sees fit (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). God does not want us to be ignorant of how He wants us to serve Him. However, it is very easy for us to get caught up in what spiritual gift(s) we have and then only serve God in that area of ministry. That is not how it works. God calls us to obediently serve Him. He will equip us with whatever gifts of the Spirit we need to accomplish the task or tasks He has called us to. Yes, God calls some to be teachers and gives them the gift of teaching, but that does not excuse the person from serving God in other ways as well. Is it beneficial to know what spiritual gift(s) God has given you? Of course, it is. Is it wrong to focus so much on spiritual gifts that we miss other opportunities to serve God? Yes!

There is no magic formula or spiritual gift test that can tell you what gifts of the Spirit you possess. What we need to focus on is serving God. Do you see a need in your church? Do what you can to meet it. Is there a position in a ministry that is vacant? Pray as to whether God would have you fill it. If we seek God's will and obey His leading, He will always equip us with whatever gifts of the Spirit we need. Spiritual gift tests can be of some value in determining what areas God has especially gifted you. As always, though, place far more emphasis on God's Word and submitting to the Lord's leading than you do on the results of a spiritual gift test.
Gifts of the Spirit - What Are the Gifts Used For?
The Apostle Paul indicated that the gifts of the Spirit are equally valid, but not equally valuable. Their value is determined by their worth to the church. In dealing with this matter, he used the analogy of the human body. All members of the body have functions, Paul declared, but some are more important than others (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). The service of each Christian should be in proportion to the gifts which he possesses (1 Corinthians 12-14). All believers, as members of the body of Christ, must be serving together in order for the body to be fully-functional. That is why a church needs pastors, teachers, helpers, servants, administrators, those with great faith, etc. All of the gifts of the Holy Spirit working together are needed to produce the full potential of the church. Since the gifts of the Spirit are gifts of grace, their use must be controlled by the rule of love - the greatest of all the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 13).