Dawn Renee Stephens's Blog, page 5

Thanksgiving Real Story? Truth, bias, and one old nursery rhyme.

This week if you’re an American, you will probably sit down for a big meal with family and friends. You will be celebrating a holiday known as Thanksgiving. Each of us has an idea about the Thanksgiving real story. However, is what we’ve been taught the real story? Whenever we are presented with a story from history, we hear details and register their meaning with other things we’ve been taught. Therefore, there is some debate over the real story behind Thanksgiving. Let’s look at this holiday’s history and discover what it has in common with a Nursery Rhyme.

Thanksgiving story short (and informative)Many history books and storybooks tell a short version of the first Thanksgiving.

After working in both Christian and public schools, I found it interesting how different history books addressed this holiday. Granted, they were writing a short story for young children. However, some Christian texts taught that the pilgrims resembled evangelical Christians and were the heroes of this holiday. In this teaching, the pilgrims endured a harsh winter but were still thankful to God. They wanted to celebrate thanks and invited their new friends, the native Americans, to join them. This was a very short description that leaves a lot of details out. Likewise, those details change the story quite a bit.

Thanksgiving story preschoolWhen teaching preschoolers about thanksgiving, we need to be both brief and factual.

In some public preschools, it is taught that the Native Americans were the heroes, saving the pilgrims and teaching them to plant corn and squash. The pilgrims wanted to thank their new friends. Therefore, they held a feast with them. It is a common practice to divide students into two groups who will wear paper pilgrim hats and feather bands for a feast.

What is the real Thanksgiving story?There is a lot to understand if we want to know Thanksgiving’s real story.

I know you can see that the basis of what we believe can get put into our view of history. You may have thought about Thanksgiving as a religious holiday where we are to give thanks to God. In addition, you may have grown up celebrating a “Friendsgiving” where the focus was to thank friends and family. Regardless, it is important to know as much as you can about this holiday, keeping in mind that each historical resource has a biased of some kind.

Thanksgiving Story on Youtube

Let’s start with a Thanksgiving story on youtube. After all, where else do we go to gain important information? I watched several youtube videos on Thanksgiving and its history, and here is one that does a pretty good job of explaining things.

As I researched more, I also came across this post from the History channel. It was by reading this article that I realized a connection between Thanksgiving and a Nursery Rhyme.

What Thanksgiving and a Nursery Rhyme have in commonSarah Hale, the Mother of Thanksgiving, wrote Mary Had a Little Lamb.

As we already know, our history lesson leaves out influential people in minority groups. That may be why you’ve never heard of Sarah Josepha Hale. If you have heard of her, it is probably because she wrote Mary had a Little Lamb. We don’t mind giving her credit for writing a nursery rhyme. However, she was so much more than a nursery rhyme author.

After writing the novel: Northwood: A Tale of New England. where she shares about an annual Thanksgiving celebration, she lobbies state and federal officials to make Thanksgiving a national day. She believed that the holiday would unite the North and the South amid the Civil War. By 1854, more than 30 states and territories had a Thanksgiving celebration on the books. Then in September of 1863, she wrote a letter to President Abraham Lincoln himself. This letter, along with the lives lost and the victory claimed in the Battle of Gettysburg, prompted President Lincoln to make the proclamation. Thanksgiving would become a REAL holiday celebrated by all Americans.

Mother of Thanksgiving, Mother Goose, and Mother Nature

If you follow this page, you know that we have a thing for nursery rhymes. We believe that you can learn a lot from them. We love that the “” has something in common with Mother Goose and Mother Nature. In our collection of Nursery Rhymes, Mother Goose meets Mother Nature and rewrites the lyrics. These new nursery rhyme lyrics teach children about science and nature. For example, our version of Mary Had a Little Lamb teaches children about the body coverings of animals. Children learn to count and identify mammals, reptiles, and birds. They grow spiritually, socially, and academically through the lessons and activities inside the Teacher’s guide. You can learn more about this resource here.

The Mother of Thanksgiving, Mother Nature Goose, and Mother Nature all have something to teach us.

In conclusion, Thanksgiving and its real story mean many different things to different people. However, it’s fair to say that Thanksgiving should unite us. Whether we are uniting native Americans and pilgrims, or the northern and southern states during a war, We may have different beliefs and experiences surrounding this holiday. However, let’s join together to be thankful.

Thankfulness and the Fruit of the Spirit

The story of The Little Pot is about a potter growing fruit through the vessel he made. Our creator wants to grow the fruit of His Spirit through us too. Producing love, joy, peace, and patience is a big part of showing thankfulness. Likewise, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control are cultivated. (Galatians 5:22-23).

If you want to learn more about growing the fruit of the Spirit and discover how Little Pot becomes a fruit-bearing vessel, sign up below. In addition, you will be added to our email list, and each Friday, you will receive a short, fruitful email. I hope you will join me.

Learn how the potter grows the fruit of the Spirit through you.

The Little Pot, The Tea Pot, The Oil Lamp, and The Little Pot Rhyme Boardbook are also available on Amazon.

Disclosure: The links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

If you prefer to buy the entire set as a signed copy, go here. If you want to schedule Dawn for a speaking engagement or author visit, go here.

The post Thanksgiving Real Story? Truth, bias, and one old nursery rhyme. appeared first on Inspirational Children’s Books & Creative Teacher Resources.

The Best Nursery Rhyme Ever Written

A nursery rhyme with lyrics that teach something good would be great. You see, nursery rhymes have been around for centuries. In addition, their history can be a fascinating study. We worry today about putting our children in front of violent movies and video games. However, some nursery rhyme lyrics might be just as unhealthy. Check out this post on the Horrible Meanings Behind Nursery Rhymes for a few examples.

Nursery Rhyme with Lyrics that teach Science

Consequently, the meaning behind many nursery rhymes is not the positive message we typically want to put in front of our children. Therefore, by changing a few lyrics of traditional nursery rhymes, we’ve been able to recreate them. We call the new nursery rhymes the Mother Goose Meets Mother Nature Collection. Each one teaches us something about science and the world God created. You can read more about six of these rhymes here. Each rhyme is available in a beautifully illustrated book that you can download and print. There is also a teacher guides for each rhyme. These include lesson plans, worksheets, and activities for spiritual, social, and academic growth. You can add a new book each month of the year.

The Mother Goose meets Mother Nature collection

While we believe this rendition of nursery rhymes are the best ever written, there is still another rhyme that is even better. The Little Pot is a classic picture book. It is one of the best children’s book ever written. Therefore, we have taken the story of The Little Pot and made it into a nursery rhyme itself. It is called The Little Pot Rhyme. Here are the reasons why it is the BEST nursery rhyme ever!

The Best Nursery Rhyme Lyrics follow the AABCCB Rhyme Scheme

Most nursery rhymes have words at the end of each phrase that rhyme. However, the rhyme scheme of AABCCB means the first and third lines contain internal rhymes. Similarly, the third line has an external rhyme with the sixth line. Poems with this scheme are more complex. Jack and Jill is a nursery rhyme with this scheme. Likewise, Little Miss Muffet follows the AABCCB pattern.

The Little Pot Rhyme has lyrics of AABCCB too. Therefore, the text is easy to read and fun for young children to listen to. The rhyme lyrics begin as follows:

On a mountain top, was a potter’s shop

Where he molded things from wet clay.

So he made a pot, that he loved a lot,

Because this was a special day.

-The Little Pot Rhyme by Dawn Stephens

The Little Pot RhymeA nursery rhyme with lyrics that follow the elements of story

The elements of a good story are needed in every book and movie. These elements are explained in detail here. Many times poems do not include all the elements. Similarly, traditional Mother Goose Rhymes have no storyline what-so-ever. The Little Pot Rhyme is a nursery rhyme with lyrics that also includes the elements of story. Within the text you can identify the setting, the main character with a hidden and an obvious need. In addition you’ll find an inciting incident followed by three events. The rhyme then reaches a climax. Finally the end brings a solution with a lesson the reader can apply to their own life.

The Little Pot RhymeNursery Rhyme with Lyrics that repeat

Having a repetitive verse in the rhyme helps children to recite the text with you. Each time the potter removes an item from the little pot, the rhyming phrase repeats itself. This provides an opportunity for the child to recite the verse along with you.

The Little Pot RhymeA rhyme about the Fruit of the Spirit

In this nursery rhyme, Little Pot grows fruit. Our potter wants to grow His fruit through us too. The fruit of the Spirit grows through us when we produce love, joy, peace, and patience. In addition, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control are cultivated. (Galatians 5:22-23).

In conclusion, if you want to learn more about growing the fruit of the Spirit and discover how Little Pot becomes a fruit-bearing vessel, sign up below. In addition, you will be added to our email list and each Friday you will receive a short, fruitful email. I hope you will join me.

Learn how the potter grows the fruit of the Spirit through you.

The Little Pot, The Tea Pot, and The Oil Lamp are also available on Amazon.

Disclosure: The links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

If you prefer to buy the entire set as a signed copy, go here. If you would like to schedule Dawn for a speaking engagement or author visit, go here.

The post The Best Nursery Rhyme Ever Written appeared first on Inspirational Children’s Books & Creative Teacher Resources.

5 Things to be Thankful for this Thanksgiving

Many people want to know what you are thankful for this time of year. After all, it’s almost Thanksgiving. You know the Holiday that gets lost between Halloween and Christmas. Unfortunately, our thanksgivings can get lost too. That is why Little Pot has 5 things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

5 Things to be Thankful for – #1Take a look in the mirror at the amazing person God created.

The first thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving is exactly how the potter made you. As He made the little pot, He made you just the right size and shape. He created you inside your mother’s womb. So take a look in the mirror, a good look. What you see is God’s creation! Therefore, you shouldn’t wish it was different in any way. That body was created with a specific purpose in mind. God has plans for you, vessel. Do not question why He gave you certain features, gifts, likes, or dislikes. He doesn’t make mistakes. You were created to be you!

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139:13-16

Before I made you in your mother’s womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work.

Jeremiah 1:5

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

… “Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands’? Woe to the one who says to a father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to a mother, ‘What have you brought to birth?’ “This is what the Lord says … concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands?

Isaiah 45:9-11

What to be thankful for this Thanksgiving – #2

The second thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving is all the things the potter allows you to hold. Little Pot is given papers, coins, and flowers. These items allowed it to feel smart, rich, and beautiful. Take a look at your surroundings. What has the potter given you to hold during this season? A car, a home, shoes, clothes, furniture, or a job? Chances are you are reading this blog on your computer, iPad, or cell phone. Maybe you are holding a warm cup of coffee. Is your bank account holding money? We fill our lives with a lot of things and each of them brings us some form of contentment and happiness. They are all given to us by God. Therefore, we should be thankful to Him for every item we hold.

God has filled your life with a lot of stuff. Thank Him for it all.Who are you thankful for? – #3

In addition, you have a lot of people that are a part of your life. We cannot carry things without the help of friends and family. In the steps to be a fruit pot, Little Pot grows leaves. The leaves turn light into food for the plant. This is known as photosynthesis. Similarly, the leaves represent our relationships. Godly friends bring the light of Christ into our lives to feed our souls. Consequently, we should take time to thank the potter for the people that help you to know Christ better. If you are searching for more of these people in your life, join a local church family and attend a Bible study.

Who are you thankful for?

Encourage one another and build each other up.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Do not be misled. Bad company corrupts bood character

1 Corinthians 15:33

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17

#4 when we are emptied

The next item in the 5 things to be thankful for is a lot harder. Up until now, we’ve mentioned things that God has given us. The fourth item on the list is actually what He takes away. In the story of the Little Pot, the potter empties the vessel. I know He has taken things away and emptied you as well. Feeling empty is hard. Just as loosing things like friends, family memebrs, positions, and jobs is hard. We do not understand why God chooses to take things from us. Likewise, it hurts. Therefore, it is hard to be thankful when we are in pain. However, God tells us that we are to rejoice in our sufferings because it builds patience in us. The emptiness will also make room for new things.

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:3-5

Being thankful when God takes things from us is hard.5 things to be thankful – #5

Lastly, Little Pot is thankful that the potter grows His fruit through it. Our potter wants to grow His fruit through us too. The fruit of the Spirit grows through us as we learn to be thankful. It cycles too. Likewise, when we produce love, joy, peace, and patience, we become more thankful. In addition, the kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control that grows through us makes it possible to be thankful in everything. (Galatians 5:22-23).

Be thankful for the fruit of the Spirit

In conclusion, if you want to learn more about growing the fruit of the Spirit and discover how Little Pot becomes a fruit-bearing vessel, sign up below. The potter wants to grow the fruit of the Spirit through you too. In addition, you will be added to our email list and each Friday you will receive a short, fruitful email. I hope you will join me.

Learn how the potter grows the fruit of the Spirit through you.

The Little Pot, The Tea Pot, and The Oil Lamp are also available on Amazon.

Disclosure: The links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

If you prefer to buy the entire set as a signed copy, go here. If you would like to schedule Dawn for a speaking engagement or author visit, go here.

The post 5 Things to be Thankful for this Thanksgiving appeared first on Inspirational Children’s Books & Creative Teacher Resources.

Is Candy Chocolate? Ways to do a Favorite Candy Sort

Is candy chocolate? What proof can you give for your answer? Questions, graphing, and sorting activities are fun this time of year. Kids are likely collecting a lot of candy around October 31st. Therefore, why not use candy as an educational tool? Begin your lessons by reading The Little Pot, and then use clay flower pots to sort the candy in different ways. As you choose categories, discuss your opinions.

Is candy chocolate, or is chocolate candy?

Most likely, your pile of treats will include some chocolate. It may even be a favorite type of candy. The question if candy is chocolate can make for a great debate because people are very passionate about their love for both candy and chocolate. Therefore, form a discussion and give your answers.

Is chocolate candy or is candy chocolate?Candy type names

If you want to prove candy is or is not chocolate, you might want to give some examples. After all, people in America love chocolate. The United States receives ten billion dollars annually in sales. Likewise, the average person eats about 23 pounds of chocolate a year. But what is the most popular? You can read about the top 10 chocolate candies consumed in the U.S. here. Most likely, you can think of other examples too.

Chocolate candy

M&MsHershey barsSnickersMilky WayHershey KissesButterfingerReese’sKitKat bars

Non-chocolate treats is usually fruity. It can be sweet or sour. Here is a list.

SkittlesGummy BearsAirheadsJolly RanchersNerdsSwedish FishLife SaversSour Patch KidsThere are many types of candy. How many can you name?When chocolate is not candy

The argument that chocolate is not candy can be made from the many ways we consume it in non-candy products. What foods do you enjoy with chocolate flavoring? Cake, coffee, bread, frosting, pancakes, and ice cream are examples of food with chocolate flavoring. Therefore, it can be argued that chocolate is simply a flavor of candy and not candy itself.

What is chocolate?

Did you know that chocolate grows on trees? The cacao pod is a fruit that grows from a cacao tree. Inside this fruit, you’ll find cacao beans. Learn more here.

Chocolate is made from roasted and ground cacao beans. Cacao is bitter. The beans are fermented, dried, cleaned, and roasted. After the shell is removed, the chocolate is liquefied by heat. The liquid is called chocolate liquor. Then the liquor is cooled to a solid or buttery substance. However, It is still very bitter until sugar is added. Therefore, the chocolate we love is usually a combination of cocoa solids or cocoa butter and sugar. Milk chocolate contains milk and sugar. If it is cocoa butter, sugar, and milk, but no cocoa solids it is white chocolate.

Foods involving chocolate are typically served as desserts. Likewise, candy is often filled or coated with sweetened chocolate making it a snack. Chocolate is also used in cold and hot beverages.

Chocolate comes from the cacao fruit tree.Candy Sort

After a healthy debate, sorting the candy can make a fun educational activity. Using several little pots determine the categories of each container. What characteristics do the treats need? You might sort by flavors, texture, size, color, and taste. Then, create a bar graph to determine which type of candy has the greatest amount. In addition, you can create a Venn diagram to illustrate that some candies fit into several categories. Create math problems around the graphs to further extend the learning.

Do a candy sort with Little Pot

In conclusion, you may enjoy chocolate candy, fruity candy, or both. Little Pot loves growing fruit and has a great way of illustrating how the potter grows the fruit of the Spirit through each of us. Discover how this vessel becomes a fruit pot in the book The Little Pot. Then you can meet other vessels that learn to serve and shine. See The Tea Pot and The Oil Lamp. Likewise, you can sign up below for the FREE seven steps to becoming a fruit-bearing vessel. In addition, you’ll receive a short, fruitful email each Friday to encourage you on this fruit-bearing journey. I hope you will join me.

Learn how the potter grows the fruit of the Spirit through you.

The Little Pot, The Tea Pot, and The Oil Lamp are also available on Amazon.

Disclosure: The links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

If you prefer to buy the entire set as a signed copy, go here. If you would like to schedule Dawn for a speaking engagement or author visit, go here.

The post Is Candy Chocolate? Ways to do a Favorite Candy Sort appeared first on Inspirational Children’s Books & Creative Teacher Resources.

Your life story. Do you trust the almighty author?

Your life story is full of good and bad events. As the main character, you are growing and changing throughout the story. The story’s author creates the setting, beginning, plot, climax, and ending. All stories contain key elements, and your life story is not any different. However, as the main character, you have little control over those elements. You did not get to choose the time and place you were born. Likewise, you did not get to choose your family or the people around you. As we grew, we got to make some choices. However, we also see many more situations happen that we have had no control over whatsoever. Eventually, we understand that an almighty author is at work.

The almighty author has a purpose for every event in your story.

If you’re like me, you question why the author writes certain events into your life. You probably prefer you could skip a few scenes or chapters. You may even wonder if you are the villain of your own story. While the author promises that all things will work for good (Romans 8:28), you question how the events you living through can be good.

The almighty author writes all the events in your life story.

I recently listened to a podcast on recent scandals at my alma mater. Gangster Capitalism Season 3 shares information they collected on Liberty University and Jerry Falwell Jr. The more I listened, the more I wondered why God would allow such awful events to continue. It is hard to imagine that God could use horrific situations for good. However, as I wondered how these events affected my life story and even more the life stories of those directly involved, I listened to a sermon on Acts 8-9. As I listened, God revealed a few important ideas in this scripture that can be applied to our life stories.

Your life story includes injustices.

In Acts 8:1-4, we read that a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem. Saul was going from house to house dragging men and women to prison. It is hard to imagine being put into prison for your faith. In addition, it was Saul’s goal to destroy the church. Yet, God used these events to scatter the church and allow the gospel to be preached in other areas. Did God cause Saul to persecute Christians? No. However, He allowed it and used it for His glory. Likewise, God can use people and their sins to fulfill His will. What appears to us as injustice can be God working for His greater good.

Your life story will include pain and injustice.Your life story includes pain.

Secondly, God had the plan to transform Saul too. In Acts 9, as Saul continued murderous threats against the disciples, He set out to capture Christians in Damascus. En route, he encountered Jesus and then spent the next three days blind without drinking or eating (verses 8-9).

I recently sat beside my father-in-law the few days before he died. He knew he was at the end of his life and spent three days without drinking or eating. Therefore, when I read about Saul, I imagined that he also must have believed his life was ending. During these days, God sends Ananias to Saul. Then, Saul is given back his sight and is filled with the Holy Spirit. In addition, he is baptized, eats, and begins preaching that Jesus is the son of God (verses 18-20). Does God cause pain? No. However, He never wastes the pain that we experience.

Trusting the almighty authorTrust the author of your story.

Ephesians 2:4-10 sums up these ideas well. We can trust the author of our stories because He loves us and is rich in mercy. His grace saves us. We are his handiwork, created to do good works that God authored in advance for us. We may not understand why we have to experience injustices and pain in our life stories. However, we can trust that the author is using all the events of our lives for good.

Your life story will produce fruit

While we cannot trust the almighty author to write happy and sweet events, we know His Spirit will grow love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control through our stories. Our life stories can be fruitful. (Galatians 5:22-23).

Your life story will produce the fruit of the Spirit.

In conclusion, if you want to learn more about growing the fruit of the Spirit and discover how Little Pot becomes a fruit-bearing vessel, sign up below. “The Author and Potter” wants to grow the fruit of the Spirit through you too. In addition, you will be added to our email list and each Friday you will receive a short, fruitful email. I hope you will join me.

Learn how the potter grows the fruit of the Spirit through you.

The Little Pot, The Tea Pot, and The Oil Lamp are also available on Amazon.

Disclosure: The links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

If you prefer to buy the entire set as a signed copy, go here. If you would like to schedule Dawn for a speaking engagement or author visit, go here.

The post Your life story. Do you trust the almighty author? appeared first on Inspirational Children’s Books & Creative Teacher Resources.

3 Ideas Jesus followed for Success in Ministry

Success in ministry might be hard to define. However, observing three ideas from Mark 1 will give us practical steps to follow.

As Jesus began His ministry on earth, he followed three methods that I think are important for us to do too. Teaching, running preschools, leading Bible Studies, blogging, podcasting, or just sharing on social media are all ways we minister to others. Our ministries may look different. However, they each require three basic principles that Jesus knew and demonstrated in Mark 1.

Get Prepared for Success in MinistryThe first thing Jesus did to guarantee success in ministry was to prepare.

The first eight verses of this chapter are all about how John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus. Therefore, God thought it was important for preparations to be in place before arriving on the scene. In the same way, Jesus is at work in the world and is preparing things for us. He even works to prepare our hearts and minds for what is ahead. How are you preparing for the ministry God has called you to? I can look back over my life and see ways that God prepared me for the next assignment.

In the same way, we can see how God prepared biblical characters for specific roles. Joseph prepared through dreams, slavery, and responsibilities. Moses prepared as he grew up in Pharoah’s palace. David prepared to defeat Goliath as a shepherd boy fighting off lions and bears (1 Samuel 17:34-37). That victory helped prepare him to be king also.

In Mark 1:12-13, Jesus is led into the wilderness and tempted by Satan. A part of our preparation comes through testing too. Significantly, this testing takes place right after Jesus’ baptism. Likewise, when we take that first step and leap of faith into our calling and ministry, we will face testing and temptations. Knowing how to overcome temptations is important to having success in ministry. Read more about avoiding temptations here.

In the story of The Little Pot, the potter says, “Little Pot, I am preparing you to be a very special pot.” It is all a part of the potter’s plan to empty and fill the vessel. We must remember that God’s preparations exist in the good and bad events we face.

Get People that will follow you.The second thing Jesus did was call his disciples.

In the story of The Tea Pot, we meet a vessel who thinks of itself before others. It should go without saying that the purpose of ministry is to minister to others. However, we often equate success as a personal achievement and subconsciously forget it takes a village. Therefore, to be successful in ministry, you need the right people beside you. In a school, this will be teachers and parents. If you minister online, you will need to build an email list and gain a supportive following.

We see Jesus do this as the second idea in Mark 1:16-20. He calls His first disciples. Simon, Andrew, James, and John immediately say yes to Jesus and follow Him. There is something so captivating that they leave everything behind. Jesus’ invitation, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” was all they needed to hear. Likewise, we must give a gripping message relative to our audience. Once people have joined you, the real work begins.

Success in Ministry – Get Productive The third idea Jesus follows is to begin the work.

Thirdly, Jesus got busy doing. After the disciples joined him, Jesus began teaching. Throughout the text, we read the word: immediately. Jesus did not hesitate. In addition, He was decisive and went to work right away. People were in awe of his authority. As he taught, he was interrupted by a man filled with an unclean spirit. Jesus cast out the spirit and continued. Likewise, we need to get to work immediately and not allow ourselves to be distracted.

Care for others

We also see that he cared for people as he taught. He healed Simon’s mother-in-law and many others who came to Simon’s home that evening. He did not see caring for people as an interruption. Therefore, make sure you care for others too.

Care for yourself

Jesus did not only care for others, however. He also made sure that he took time to recharge and pray. In verse 35, Jesus got up very early while it was still dark. He went off by himself so he could refocus and talk to His heavenly father. Then, once again, when the disciples found him and said “Everyone is looking for you”, he told them they were to go to other towns and preach. He explains that is the reason he came out. Jesus knew what He was supposed to do and stayed focused.

In the story of The Oil Lamp, a tiny vessel is asked to shine. Unfortunately, it is too shy and scared. The other vessels help it to understand that spending time with the potter will give it the courage it needs.

Success in Ministry is seen through fruitfulness

After following these three ideas, your ministry will be set up for success. I’ve found the best way to measure success is through bearing the fruit of the Spirit. I understand that financial gain is probably important to your ministry. However, I believe that God provides what we need and is more concerned with us each being vessels that He can live and work through. The fruit of the Spirit is the evidence (Galatians 5:22-23). Therefore, I want to continue to help you be the fruit-bearing vessel God wants you to be

If you want to learn more about growing the fruit of the Spirit and discover how Little Pot becomes a fruit-bearing vessel by signing up below. “The Potter” wants to grow the fruit of the Spirit through you too. In addition, you will be added to our email list and each Friday you will receive a short, fruitful email. I hope you will join me.

Learn how the potter grows the fruit of the Spirit through you.

The Little Pot, The Tea Pot, and The Oil Lamp are also available on Amazon.

Disclosure: The links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

If you prefer to buy the entire set as a signed copy, go here. If you would like to schedule Dawn for a speaking engagement or author visit, go here.

The post 3 Ideas Jesus followed for Success in Ministry appeared first on Inspirational Children’s Books & Creative Teacher Resources.

How the fruit of the Spirit ripens beyond the vessel

The fruit of the Spirit ripens after harvest. Bananas go from green to yellow as they sit in the grocery store. Avocados are not ready to eat until they have darkened too. Likewise, strawberries grow sweeter after picking. These thoughts resonated with me this week as I thought about the fruit of the Spirit that still ripens after we die. 

Last week I flew to Arizona to sit with my father-in-law. He was in the hospital. I just learned he had metastatic cancer that was rapidly spreading through his body. He stopped eating and drinking and had only days to live. A ninety-five-year-old vessel that I never knew to be sick a day of his life. Even in his old age, he lived alone, drove a car, worked in his yard, helped the neighbors, and fully comprehended his surroundings. This was a man that spent his life carrying for his family. In addition, he was the primary caregiver for his wife who died from Alzheimer’s. He was, as Little Pot knows, a fruit-bearing vessel with many branches and much fruit. 

A vessel returns to dust while the fruit of the spirit ripens

A vessel returns to dust and can no longer produce fruit. Or can it?

My father-in-law died Monday. Throughout the last few days, as I helped make burial arrangements and began to go through his life in pictures and documentation, I’ve thought about the legacy he leaves behind. The fruit that he leaves will continue to ripen even though he is not here.

Choosing adoption

This man adopted a baby boy and a baby girl over fifty years ago. Consequently, he and his bride chose to raise two children from unplanned pregnancies. Providing them with a Christ-centered home meant I would one day meet a godly man, marry him, and benefit from the fruit of the Spirit they produced. As we often do, reflecting on someone else’s life can cause us to evaluate our own. 

Over the past several years, I’ve considered how God produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control through us. God grows that fruit through the earthly vessels we occupy. After all, this website, inspirational children’s books, and creative teaching resources are created with that purpose in mind. However, this past week, I realized the fruit of the Spirit still ripens even when the vessel no longer exists.

The fruit of the Spirit ripens after it is pickedThe fruit of the spirit produced through you will continue to ripen after you’re gone.

Therefore, I am thankful for the love my father-in-law grew and the joy he felt knowing he would soon be with Jesus. At one point these past few days he looked up at me and said, “1 Peter 3:10.” When I asked him what that verse said, he quoted the first phrase “The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night”. He then said, “The Lord is coming for me tonight”. I know he also was wanting everyone around him to know that their time would come someday and they needed to be ready too.

He had already had a tombstone engraved for himself when his wife passed. He had 2 Corinthians 5:7 etched into the marker. As I read that verse and all the surrounding verses it became apparent this was a man that confidently knew he was leaving an earthly vessel to receive a new heavenly body.

2 Corinthians 5 – Leaving this vessel behind

Verses eight and nine speak of preferring to be away from the body and present with the Lord. They explain that our goal in both circumstances must be to please him. The groaning and longing for Christ in this life (vs. 4) fashions us for God’s purpose of fruit-bearing. Likewise, God’s gift of the Holy Spirit guarantees us what is to come after death (vs. 5).

The question then remains for each of us, have we received this gift of the Holy Spirit? Do we know as confidently as my father-in-law did that God’s spirit is what is producing love, joy, peace, etc. through us? It is available to us if we choose to accept it. When we believe that Christ died in our place and forgave us for our sins, we are reconciled to Him and will live lives for Him. (vs. 14-17). It is that simple.

When our earthly vessels die, the fruit we grew continues to ripen.Explaining death to children

Explaining death to children, however, is not so simple. We want them to know that while this person is no longer with us, parts of them continue to live on in our memories. Knowing that God can produce the fruit of the Spirit through us as we live can give substance to the goodness we leave behind. Children are able to observe fruit can be replanted and grow through different vessels. The following books can help you explain death to children.

Being the fruit-bearing vessel God wants you to be

If you want to learn more about growing the fruit of the Spirit and discover how Little Pot becomes a fruit-bearing vessel by signing up below. “The Potter” wants to grow the fruit of the Spirit through you too. In addition, you will be added to our email list and each Friday you will receive a short, fruitful email. I hope you will join me.

Learn how the potter grows the fruit of the Spirit through you.

The Little Pot, The Tea Pot, and The Oil Lamp are also available on Amazon.

Disclosure: The links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

If you prefer to buy the entire set as a signed copy, go here. If you would like to schedule Dawn for a speaking engagement or author visit, go here.

The post How the fruit of the Spirit ripens beyond the vessel appeared first on Inspirational Children’s Books & Creative Teacher Resources.

3 easy ways to grow the fruit of the Spirit with Peter the pumpkin eater

Peter the pumpkin eater grows pumpkins and the fruit of the Spirit! After all, pumpkins are fruit! Likewise, it’s October and pumpkins are everywhere. Therefore, I thought it would be a good time to discuss the decay and growth of a pumpkin while also growing the fruit of the Spirit.

If you know Little Pot’s fruit-bearing steps, you know that God uses our physical, spiritual, social, and academic growth to produce His fruit. All three of these holistic areas are included in our Mother Goose meets Mother Nature resources. These resources use traditional nursery rhyme characters to introduce a part of God’s creation. In our version of Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater lyrics, Peter is a squirrel who puts his wife inside a pumpkin because he loves to eat pumpkins. However, the pumpkin decays. Consequently, Peter discovers the pumpkin life-cycle.

These resources can be found in our Peter-Peter learns about Pumpkins rhyming book and our Teach About Decay and Growth with Peter Peter Teacher’s Guide. Both are available at a discount in the Learn and Teach About Decay and Growth Bundle. Lesson plans, worksheets, and activities are all included.

Peter the Pumpkin Eater – Spiritual GrowthSpiritual growth happens when we plant God’s Word (the seed) in humility (humus soil).

The potter plants a seed in Little Pot’s humus soil. That is to say, the seed represents God’s Word and the humus represents our humility. Therefore, discovering what the Bible says about growing, planting, and seasons is a good place to start.

There is a right time for everything. Everything on earth has its special season. there is a time to be born and a time to die. There is a time to plant and a time to pull up plants.

Ecclesiates 3:1-2

Understanding God’s creation changes over time are an important lesson for young children. They begin to understand how they are growing and changing. In addition, applying the idea that all living things grow and change is an important scientific concept we must teach. Likewise, it is good for them to see that God’s Word describes it too.

Social Growth with Pumpkin ActivitiesSocial growth is when we have a strong integrity and healthy relationships.

In addition, the plant inside Little Pot will grow a stem and leaves. The stem represents our integrity because it is straight and upright. Likewise, a man of integrity is straight and upright too (proverbs 11:3). The leaves represent healthy relationships. Photosynthesis is when a leaf nourishes a plant with light. In the same way, our relationships should nourish us with the light of Christ.

To be a person of integrity and develop healthy relationships, we must grow socially. In the nursery rhyme lyrics of Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater, Peter and his wife learn and discover the life cycle of the pumpkin together. This is a great opportunity for children to discuss how they can learn and discover new things when they work together too. Pumpkin activities are much more fun when they are done with friends and family.

Peter the Pumpkin Eater’s Academic GrowthAcademic growth is blooming knowledge (flowers).

After Little Pot grows a stem and leaves, a flower blooms. The flower represents new knowledge blooming. Learning about the decay and growth of pumpkins can be a lot of fun. October is a great time to get a pumpkin and learn with a hands-on experiment. Pumpkin activities can teach students science, writing, and math. They can observe how pumpkins grow and decay while writing about their observations. They can also count pumpkin seeds and match sets to numerical digits. In addition, here are a few books and a video to help you learn more about the pumpkin life cycle.

Read more about the Mother Goose Meets Mother Nature Series here.

Spiritual, Social, and Academic Growth are Necessary for Fruit-BearingWith spiritual, social, and academic growth, God grows the fruit of the Spirit through us.

In conclusion, The Learn and Teach About Decay and Growth is a resource that includes activities for spiritual, social, and academic growth. All three areas are necessary to grow the fruit of the Spirit. You can learn more about how Little Pot becomes a fruit-bearing vessel by signing up below. You will discover how “the Potter” grows the fruit of the Spirit through you too. In addition, you will be added to our email list and each Friday you will receive a short, fruitful email. I hope you will join me.

Learn how the potter grows the fruit of the Spirit through you.

The Little Pot, The Tea Pot, and The Oil Lamp are also available on Amazon.

Disclosure: The links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

If you prefer to buy the entire set as a signed copy, go here. If you would like to schedule Dawn for a speaking engagement or author visit, go here.

The post 3 easy ways to grow the fruit of the Spirit with Peter the pumpkin eater appeared first on Inspirational Children’s Books & Creative Teacher Resources.

Avoiding temptation. 3 temptations of satan that fruit-bearers must avoid

Avoiding temptation is not easy. We all face temptation. Jesus was tempted too (Mark 1:12-13, Matthew 4:1). Therefore, the temptation itself is unavoidable. However, giving into it is what we must never do. Likewise, Little Pot (a vessel created by the potter to grow fruit) faces temptations. Let’s take a look at the three temptations of Satan that can keep us from growing the fruit of the Spirit. Then, we will see a practical way that Little Pot “worms” itself free as well.

temptation bible verses

Matthew 4:1-11 describe three unique temptations that are universal in nature. We will look at each one and consider ways that we can avoid them just as Christ did.

3 temptations in the bible

The three temptations Jesus faced were to turn stone into bread, be saved by angels, and gain the splendor of the world. My favorite study on these temptations is Anonymous by Alicia Britt Chole. In this book, Dr. Chole describes the three temptations as a temptation of appetite, applause, and authority. Christ was hungry and the temptation to turn the stone into bread appealed to his appetite. Temptations that appeal to our physical needs and desires fall into this category. This is being hungry and can also apply to being thirsty or even a sexual desire.

the three temptations of the bible are appetite, applause, and authority. Read these books for further study

The second temptation appeals to our need to be appreciated, loved, and rescued by others. The temple was an important place to Jesus even as a young boy. It was a place where God was to be honored. By throwing himself off of the highest point of the temple, he would be rescued by angels. Therefore, this temptation appealed to his desire to gain applause and be worshipped.

The third temptation was gaining riches of the world. This temptation appealed to the desire for authority. Who doesn’t want to gain more riches and authority in this life? Consequently, every temptation we face can fit into one of these three categories.

The book explains in greater detail the four components of Satan’s temptation strategy. Satan first entices a lure by offering something attractive. Next, he appeals to a natural desire. Then, he shows us the means to get it. Finally, he gives an invitation by mixing lies and truth. He followed these four steps each time he tempted Jesus. Likewise, Adam and Eve are tempted in Genesis 3.

Avoiding temptation

Jesus avoids Satan’s temptations by being anchored in God’s Word. He then makes a definitive choice to follow it. First, he quotes Deuteronomy 8:3 “Man shall not live on bread alone”. Secondly, he quotes Deuteronomy 6:16 “Do not put the Lord your God to the test”. The third time his answer comes from Deuteronomy 6:13 “Worship the Lord your God and serve Him alone”. The book of Deuteronomy is something Jesus would have studied as a child. As a result, He knew the scriptures and used them to guide his decisions.

avoiding temptation is to know God’s Word

If we are to avoid temptations, we should also know the Word of God. The Bible also teaches us that the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. Therefore, it should be our weapon against temptations. In Louie Giglio’s new book, Don’t Give an Enemy a Seat at your Table, he describes lies Satan tempts us with, alongside specific scriptures to refute them. For example, the lie that we are weak and powerless can be erased with 2 Corinthians 12:9. Likewise, the lie that we cannot be used by God because of our past can be erased with Romans 8:1-2.

Avoiding temptation and growing the fruit of the Spirit

Little Pot is a vessel that grows fruit for the potter. Likewise, we are vessels created to grow the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5 describes how we are to live by the Spirit. Thereupon, we grow His fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc.). The desires of the flesh are in contrast to this fruit. We described them as appetite, applause, and authority. Remember Satan will use these desires to tempt us. In addition, we are to “crucify” the flesh and its passions so we can live by the Spirit (Galatians 5:24).

worms.in strawberriesSalt removes worms from strawberries. Likewise, being the salt of the earth allows us to avoid temptation.

The potter grows strawberries through His vessel in the story of The Little Pot. The strawberries represent the fruit of the Spirit. Recently, discovering worms in strawberries went viral on TikTok. Therefore, I believe there is a spiritual lesson here. Satan worms himself into our lives so he can tempt us. Then the fruit of the Spirit gets damaged. How can we remove Satan or “these worms” from within?

The TikTok videos suggest soaking the fruit in salt water. Salt is found throughout the Bible. In Matthew 5:13 we are told to be the salt of the earth. Our conversations should be seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6). Did you ever wonder exactly what that means? Annette Reeder, the Biblical nutritionist, does a great job of explaining the meaning and uses of salt in the Bible.

Her video and blog describe seven examples of biblical symbolism with salt. Consequently, it. is worth studying. In addition, we act as the salt of the world by avoiding temptation or simply removing worms from the fruit of the Spirit that grows through us.

Continue growing the fruit of the Spirit with Little Pot

In conclusion, you can read more about how Little Pot becomes a fruit-bearing vessel by signing up below. You will discover more ways “the Potter” grows the fruit of the Spirit through you! In addition, you will be added to our email list. Then, each Friday you receive a short, fruitful email. I hope you will join me.

Learn how the potter grows the fruit of the Spirit through you.

The Little Pot, The Tea Pot, and The Oil Lamp are also available on Amazon.

Disclosure: The links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

If you prefer to buy the entire set as a signed copy, go here. If you would like to schedule Dawn for a speaking engagement or author visit, go here.

The post Avoiding temptation. 3 temptations of satan that fruit-bearers must avoid appeared first on Inspirational Children’s Books & Creative Teacher Resources.

Ants Bible Lesson. 3 ways ants can help us grow the fruit of the Spirit

Looking for an Ants Bible lesson? Did you know ants can help us learn about God? They can also help us understand how God can grow the fruit of His spirit through us. If you are familiar with Little Pot’s fruit-bearing steps, you know that God uses our physical, spiritual, social, and academic growth to produce His fruit.

Little Pot and a few little ants are here to teach us important lessons from the Bible. Much of what they are about to share can be found in our Little Miss Muffet Learns About Spiders book and our Teach About Spiders and Insects with Little Miss Muffet Teacher’s Guide. Both are available as a bundle. Within the Learn and Teach About Insects and Spiders Bundle there are lesson plans, worksheets, and activities for each. Together they make for an awesome ants bible lesson.

Ants Bible Lesson – Spiritual GrowthSpiritual growth happens when we humbly plant God’s Word.

The potter plants a seed in Little Pot’s humus soil. That is to say, the seed represents God’s Word and the humus represents our humility. Therefore, we plant Proverbs 6:6-8 and Proverbs 30:25 in our humble hearts.

 Go to the ant, O sluggard;

    consider her ways, and be wise.

Without having any chief,

    officer, or ruler,

she prepares her bread in summer

    and gathers her food in harvest.

Proverbs 6:6-8

To clarify these verses, we are told to consider the ways of ants. For instance, ants are not lazy. They prepare and never give up. They also work together. These three characteristics make a great Bible lesson about ants. Furthermore, you can read these three important behaviors here.

Social Growth through the Ants Bible LessonSocial growth happens when we form good relationships and have strong integrity.

In addition, the plant inside Little Pot will grow a stem and leaves. The stem represents our integrity because it is straight and upright. Likewise, a man of integrity is straight and upright too (proverbs 11:3). The leaves represent healthy relationships. Photosynthesis is when a leaf nourishes a plant with light. Likewise, our relationships should nourish us with the light of Christ.

To be a person of integrity and develop healthy relationships, we must grow socially. Above all, applying the Bible verses about ants will help.

Academic GrowthAcademic growth happens when we bloom knowledge.

After Little Pot grows a stem and leaves, a flower blooms. The flower represents new knowledge blooming. The more we study ants, the more we can learn from these little creatures. I imagine that Solomon probably studied ants. He was known for being very wise. The Bible tells us that God gave him wisdom. Consequently, the book of Proverbs contains wise information. In addition, here are a few books and a video to help you learn more about ants.

Read more about the Mother Goose Meets Mother Nature Series here.

Spiritual, Social, and Academic Growth are Necessary for Fruit-Bearing

In conclusion, The Teach About Insects and Spider with Little Miss Muffet is a resource that includes activities for spiritual, social, and academic growth. All three areas are necessary to grow the fruit of the Spirit. You can read more about how Little Pot becomes a fruit-bearing vessel by signing up below. You will discover how “the Potter” grows the fruit of the Spirit through you too. In addition, you will be added to our email list and each Friday you will receive a short, fruitful email. I hope you will join me.

Learn how the potter grows the fruit of the Spirit through you.

The Little Pot, The Tea Pot, and The Oil Lamp are also available on Amazon.

Disclosure: The links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

If you prefer to buy the entire set as a signed copy, go here. If you would like to schedule Dawn for a speaking engagement or author visit, go here.

The post Ants Bible Lesson. 3 ways ants can help us grow the fruit of the Spirit appeared first on Inspirational Children’s Books & Creative Teacher Resources.