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Big Time Bible Facts for Kids

Big Time Bible Facts for Kids

The Bible is a really cool book because it’s a love letter to us written by God Himself. He used different authors (40 of them in fact) but they all have the same message; God loves you and wants you to follow Him. But sometimes when you read the Bible (even if you’re a grown up) it might be confusing, so here are some interesting facts about the early part of the Bible or what we call the Old Testament:

Adam and Eve

Genesis 2

Where was the Garden of Eden?

At the very beginning of time, God created the earth, the oceans, the sun, moon and stars, the land and all the animals. Then He created people- two to be exact. Adam and his wife Eve. He placed them in the most beautiful place you can imagine, the Garden of Eden. So, was this a real place or is this whole thing just a myth? Well Genesis 2:10-14 mentions four rivers that ran next to and through the garden. Two of these still exist today- the Tigris and the Euphrates. And they’re located over in modern day Iraq. So, if this whole place was made up, they probably wouldn’t have mentioned real rivers that people seemed to know about.

Genesis 3 Talking Animals

Could the animals talk to Adam and Eve? Have you ever thought about that? It seems strange that when the snake spoke to Eve in Genesis chapter three Eve didn’t say “Wow I’ve never seen a snake talk before!!!” Things were so different back in the garden before Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Things were perfect, everybody got along, and maybe, just maybe the people and the animals could communicate with each other in ways we can’t do today. Just something to think about.

 Noah’s Ark

Genesis 6:13-22

How big was the ark?

When God told Noah to build the big boat or ark as they called it, He knew it was going to need to be huge to hold all those animals. According to Genesis 6:15 the ark was at least 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. To put that in perspective, a modern aircraft carrier is 1000 feet long and carries a crew of 5000 people. The ark was about half as long. According to researchers, the ark could hold as much as 330 railroad cars!

Tower of Babel

Genesis 11:1-9

What did it look like?

When you think of a tower, you might think of the Empire State Building in New York or the Chrysler building in Chicago. But the Tower of Babel mentioned in Genesis chapter 11 was probably what is called a ziggurat. It was like a multi leveled tower that almost resembled a wedding cake. Only not as delicious. Ziggurats were pretty common around the area for hundreds of years, but the Tower of Babel was different. The people who built it wanted to make a name for themselves, so they’d be famous. Plus, they wanted to make sure they’d all stay put and be together forever. Apparently, God had different plans for them. For He came down from Heaven and scattered them all over the region and even confused their languages. So much for their plan to build a tower to heaven.

Abraham

Genesis 22 

Perhaps the hardest thing Abraham ever had to do was offer up his only son, Isaac as a sacrifice to God. Abraham obeyed even though this was going to break his heart. But you know who else had faith for this moment? Isaac! You might think of him as being four or five years old but Isaac was probably a teenager or even in his twenties when Abraham took him up on the mountain. He easily could have escaped from his 100-year-old father! But he didn’t- he trusted Abraham (and God!) Don’t worry though God didn’t make them go through with it. Abraham and Isaac came back down the mountain together after that really hard test. Did you know that Jesus did offer Himself up as a sacrifice for all of us, so we would never be separated from God the Father?

 

Joseph

Genesis 37:1-8

Favorite son

Jacob (or Israel after God changed his name) had 12 sons! Can you imagine the sibling rivalry? As a parent, you’re not really supposed to have favorites but Jacob loved his son Joseph more than the other boys (long story). He even made Joseph a special coat made of many colors, the kind a prince would wear! Imagine how well that went over with his brothers. The description of the coat might also mean it had long sleeves, which meant whoever wore it probably didn’t do much work (long sleeves would get in the way as you were doing chores on the ranch). So, all in all Joseph might have ben his dad’s favorite but he certainly wasn’t his brothers’.

Why didn’t they recognize him in Egypt?

Joseph’s brothers hated him so much they actually sold him to be a slave and he ended up in Egypt running the household of a guy named Potiphar. Well, it’s along story (check it out in Genesis 37-50) but Joseph ended up being like second in command of the entire country. So anyway, there was a famine where his brothers lived so they came down to get some food from Egypt. And who do they run into but Joseph? Now even though he’s their brother they don’t recognize him. How come? Glad you asked.

One- it’s been thirteen years, and Joseph was really out of context for the brothers. So they weren’t expecting to see him. And here’s an interesting fact- While the Hebrew men had kind of long hair and beards, Egyptian men were clean shaven and maybe even bald. And they wore make up! So, Joseph really looked different from how he must have looked when his brothers sold him. Plus, he pretended not to understand their language and spoke through a translator so he could eavesdrop on their conversation. Good job, Joseph.

Moses and the plagues

Exodus 7-11

When you read the story of Moses and the plagues of Egypt in Exodus it’s easy to get caught up in how gross so many of then were. Flies? Frogs in your cupboards? A river of blood? Yuk. But these weren’t just random plagues. God designed them to confront the (fake) gods of Egypt. Here are a couple examples-

Nile turning to blood– Since the Nile River was such an important part of Egyptian life the people actually created a river god- Hapi who was supposed to bring life and fruitfulness to the land. When God turned the water into blood guess the Egyptians had second thoughts about Hapi.

Hail –When God sent hail into the land it was an affront to Isis the Egyptian goddess of life

Livestock- When the livestock was afflicted with disease, this was an attack on Hathor a mother-goddess who was usually portrayed as a cow.

Darkness- When God spread darkness over the land of Egypt, this was a major affront. It attacked Ra the sun god who had no power against the living God. But also Pharoah himself was believed to be a descendent of Ra. So it was an attack on Pharoah too. 

 

Gideon

Judges 6-8

In the story of Gideon, there’s a little detail that’s easy to skip over. When we first meet Gideon, it says he’s threshing wheat in the winepress. So what? Well normally you’d be threshing wheat on top of a windy hill, not in a hole in the ground. Threshing was the process of throwing the wheat up in the air where the wind would catch the empty husks (called chaff) and blow it away while the good grain (which was heavier) would drop to the ground where you’d gather it later. So why wasn’t Gideon up on top of a hill doing this right now? It’s because the bad guys the Midianites would ride into Israel just about harvest time and destroy all the crops Gideon’s people had grown (These were some really bad guys). So in order to hide, Gideon threshed his wheat in the hole in the ground- the winepress- so they wouldn’t find him. You should read his whole story, it’s a good one in Judges chapter 

 Samson

Judges 13-16

God had big plans for Samson- even before he was born! An angel visited Samson’s mom and told her she was going to have a son. Then he gave her specific instructions on how he was supposed to live. He wasn’t to cut his hair, he was never to drink any alcohol and he was forbidden to touch anyone or anything that had died. This was called a Nazarite vow. Lots of people took these vows in the Old Testament but Samson’s vow was to be for his entire lifetime. The problem is he broke all the vows sometime in his life. First, he touched the dead body of a lion and a donkey, violating the whole don’t touch dead things vow. He also held a big banquet for his wife’s clan where they probably -we don’t know for sure -drank a bunch of wine. And later Samson let his new wife cut off his hair breaking the third vow. Samson did a lot of great things to help the Hebrew people but unfortunately he didn’t follow through with his vows and his life ended up tragically.

 Ruth

Ruth 1-4

Kinsman Redeemer

This is a great short book in the Old Testament right after the book of Judges. It’s a love story but it also gives us a glimpse of God’s great love for us. The main theme has to do with something called a Kinsman Redeemer -Goel in Hebrew- a provision God created to take care of a widow after her husband had died. In those days when a husband would die quite often the wife would be in danger of losing everything. So, God told the people that a relative usually a brother, would marry the widow and thus take care of her, even if the brother was married already. That way the widow wouldn’t starve or become sold into slavery. In the book of Ruth, Ruth discovers her Kinsman Redeemer is a relative of her husband’s named Boaz. He ends up marrying Ruth and taking care of her. And her great grandson turns out to be King David!

Gleaning

When Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi, return to Bethlehem, they had no money and not much future. So, Naomi told Ruth to go and glean in the fields. Now gleaning was a concept God had given the Jewish people in order to take care of the poor and it was very unusual in that day and age. God told the Jewish farmers not to harvest the corners of their field. That way poor people could come in and gather the “leftovers” that the farmer had left behind. God also said not to completely strip their fruit trees but to leave some fruit for the less fortunate. Isn’t that cool? So, when Ruth went to glean, she was taking advantage of the provision God had arranged to take care of families like hers. And by being obedient to her mother-in-law, Ruth ended up meeting Boaz who would soon become her husband.

The sandal agreement

When Boaz decided to become Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer, he went to the gates of the city where legal matters took place in order to find Ruth’s next closest relative. If that relative would redeem Ruth and promise to take care of her, then that would be that. But since the relative refused to take Ruth under his roof, Boaz agreed to play the role of redeemer and took Ruth as his wife. When the agreement was settled, the relative did an interesting thing. He gave his sandal to Boaz as a sign that the agreement was settled. According to Ruth 4:7 this was a custom in Israel when two parties agreed to a settlement. This might date back to Joshua’s day when God told him that wherever “The soul of your foot shall tread, that I have given unto you.” Perhaps the sandal represented the foot and that might be how the tradition came about. But after the “sandal ceremony,” it was official. Ruth now belonged to Boaz.

I’ll be posting more fun Bible facts for you pretty soon so keep your eyes open for that. If you liked this post, you might like a couple of my books The Awesome Book of Bible Facts and Kids Big Questions for God . 

The post Big Time Bible Facts for Kids appeared first on Sandy Silverthorne.

Father’s Day Scriptures and Activities

Father’s Day is just around the corner, coming up on Sunday June 15. A day for celebrating dad’s and how they’ve impacted our lives and helped us become the people we are today. Of course, God is our perfect Father and He has a lot to say about the importance of dads in their kids’ lives. Here are just a few verses that begin to express God’s heart towards fathers and a few activities you might like to do as you get ready to celebrate dad:

 

Proverbs 1:8: 
“Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.”

This is a verse that encourages us to keep a teachable spirit- one that’s open to correction and encouragement. It’s important to be able to learn from people older than you- especially your dad and mom because they love you and want the very best for you. 

ACTIVITY

Make your dad a personal Father’s Day card. You might draw it, color it with crayons or use small items around the house to create his one-of-a-kind masterpiece!

 

2 Corinthians 6:18:

“And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

This Scripture assures us that as followers of Jesus we get the privilege of being His kids. Check out John 1:12. Think about that- the King of the universe is our dad! So, you can always know that God knows you, sees you and has only great plans for you. Check out Jeremiah 29:11.

ACTIVITY

Make a list of 10 things you love about your dad. Is he funny? Does he play ball with you? Do you do fun things together? Does he read to you before bed? Make your list and then give it to him.

“The Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son.” —Deuteronomy 1:31

 

Psalm 103:13:

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”

Since God loves us and calls us His kids, we can know for sure that He knows all about us and cares about every little detail of our lives. He knows what color your hair is, how many freckles you have and even your favorite flavor of ice cream!

ACTIVITY

Plan a fun time for you and your dad. It might just be the two of you or maybe you can invite your siblings. A trip to the park? A walk through the neighborhood. A game of ping pong? Maybe a trip to his favorite coffee shop?

“Start children off on the way they should go … they will not turn from it.” 

 

Proverbs 22:6

“The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.”

This means that dads are especially proud of their kids who do the right thing, are open and honest and who try to please God (and their parents!) whenever they have the chance.

ACTIVITY

List 4-5 ways you can make your parents proud of you today.

 

Proverbs 4:11-12:

“I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered, and when you run, you will not stumble.”

This is a promise from God but do you know one of the ways He makes this happen? Through your dad of course! He teaches you things, he guides you, he protects you and he helps you grow up!

ACTIVITY

Think about the ways your dad or mom help you grow up. Do they teach you things? Do they help you solve problems? Do they listen? Some time today let them know how much you appreciate them.

 

Luke 15:20:

  “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

Jesus told this story of a son who left home and rejected his family. After the boy lost all his money and was reduced to eating pig’s food, he decided to come home and work as one of his father’s servants if he’d have him. But when his father saw the boy, he ran to him, welcomed him home and even threw a party for him. Jesus wanted us to know that this is how God is. He loves us and is always ready to welcome us home.

ACTIVITY

Make 5-10 IOUs to give to your dad on Father’s Day. They might be for a backrub or a trip for ice cream. Or an uninterrupted nap. You might offer to wash his car or take the dog for a walk with him. Be creative, find some things that you know he’ll love and let him pull out a card whenever he likes.

“I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright paths.” —Proverbs 4:11-12

 

Deuteronomy 1:31:

 “There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.”

This is God’s way of saying that He’ll never leave us alone. No matter what you’re going through at home, at school, with friends, He’s always with you.

ACTIVITY

Make a list of 10 things you love about your dad. If you think of more than 10 keep going! You might even add some drawings. When you’re all done make sure you show it to him. Then give him a hug and thank him for being such a great dad.

 

Malachi 4:6:

“He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.”

God loves it when dads and moms, brothers and sisters are all getting along and loving one another. Of course, no family is perfect, and you might not always get along but be thankful for your family and make sure you pray for them to become all God wants them to be!

ACTIVITY

Find out what your dad wants for breakfast on Father’s Day, then serve him breakfast in bed! If he wants cold cereal, you can do that yourself but if he wants something a little more complex, like eggs or pancakes, you might need some help from your mom or an older brother or sister. Bring it on a tray to his bed (be careful!) along with his newspaper and Bible and let him enjoy!

 

No father (or mother for that matter) is perfect, but God has placed you in the family you’re in for a reason. So, this Father’s Day celebrate your dad with maybe a special meal, a handmade card, a back rub or maybe even some help around the house. But most of all let him know you love him!

The post Father’s Day Scriptures and Activities appeared first on Sandy Silverthorne.

Fun Mother’s Day Activities for Kids

Mother’s Day is coming up. This year it’s Sunday May 11th and I’m sure you’ll want to make it a special day for your mom. The Bible talks a lot about moms and how important they are to the children they help raise. Can you think of some cool things your mom does for you? Below are some scriptures about moms and some activities you might try as you get ready for her special day:

.  Proverbs 31:18 – She makes sure that what she makes is good.
    She works by her lamp late into the night. 

Moms usually get up before everyone and stay up way past your bedtime. They keep busy all day making sure that everybody’s day goes well.

ACTIVITY

Why not design your own Mother’s Day card for your mom? You might cut out pictures from a magazine, draw something cool about your mom or even write your own poem telling mom how much you appreciate her.

Proverbs 31:20 – She welcomes the poor.
    She helps the needy. 

One of the best things about moms is how they make everyone feel welcome in your house. 

ACTIVITY

What are some ways you and your mom (and maybe your brothers and sisters) can help people who have less than you? Is there a Mission in your town that helps take care of homeless people? Does your church help with a food bank? Or maybe you’d like to give some money to World Vision, Samaritan’s Purse or Compassion International to help people in other countries.

Proverbs 31: 21 – She does not worry about her family when it snows.
    They all have fine clothes to keep them warm.

One of the great things that moms do is help you pick out clothes for school, church or just for hanging out. 

ACTIVITY

Draw a picture of you in your favorite outfit. Is it a nice dress? A shirt and tie? Jeans? Tee shirt and shorts? Write a note on the picture that says “Thanks for helping me always look cool,” and give it to your mom.

Proverbs 31:25 -She is strong and is respected by the people.
    She looks forward to the future with joy. 

Does your mom help you make plans for the future? It might be an activity for the weekend coming up. She might help you decide if you want to go to camp next summer or what to study in school. Moms are great at helping you make plans and good decisions.

ACTIVITY

Make a month’s calendar with all kinds of fun things you want to do for you mom. For example, next Tuesday you might want to help with dinner. Maybe Friday you want to do a movie night-Mom’s choice. Add foot rubs, help with the laundry or maybe a bike ride together.

Proverbs 31:26- She speaks wise words.
    And she teaches others to be kind. 

I bet your mom is kind when she talks with you and other people. In fact, she teaches you to be kind to others in two ways. One is by telling you how to care about other people and the other is by showing you how to do it. When she treats other with love and respect, she’s giving you a good example to follow.

ACTIVITY

Think of some kind things you can do for the people around you this week. Can you help a younger kid- maybe a brother or a sister with schoolwork? Or play basketball with them? Can you visit an older neighbor who lives by themselves? Can you think of other kind things you might do for someone? Make a list of them and check them off as you do them.

Proverbs 31:27- She watches over her family.
    And she is always busy. 

It’s good to know that your mom (and dad!) are always watching out for you, isn’t it? And have you noticed that your mom is always busy- making meals, helping you get ready for school, teaching you things you need to know, and a whole lot of other good stuff?

ACTIVITY

Think of some ways you could help your mom with the work she needs to do around the house or even at her job. Could you take out the trash? Feed the pets? Clean your room! What are some ways you can help make her life a little easier?

Proverbs 31:28- Her children bless her.
    Her husband also praises her. 

When was the last time you told your mom how awesome she is? Or what a great dinner she made? Or how you love being with her? When you say good things to your mom you might just make her day! Make sure you thank her when she does nice things for you. You might even thank her sometimes for “just being your mom”.

ACTIVITY

Make 5-10 IOUs to give to your mom on Mother’s Day. They might be for a foot rub or a trip for ice cream. Or a showing of her favorite movie. You might offer to wash her car or take the dog for a walk with her. Be creative, find some things that you know she’ll love and let her pull out a card whenever she likes.

Proverbs 31:30- Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you.
    But a woman who respects the Lord should be praised. 

Does you mom tell you about how much God loves you? Maybe she takes good care of you, listens to you and helps you with things that are too hard for you. You know who else does that? That’s right- God! God uses your mom to show you a little bit of what He’s like.

ACTIVITY

Write one of the Bible verses in this article on a piece of paper, add some drawings and give it to your mom. Then tell her how much you love her.

Proverbs 31:31 – Give her the reward she has earned.
    She should be openly praised for what she has done.

Your mom does a lot of things because she loves you. She might work outside the home at a job. She makes meals for you, she encourages you, and she helps keep your life organized. She takes care of things around your house, helps you with your schoolwork and maybe even makes special treats for you. And most of the time nobody notices all the cool things she does. Today let her know how much you appreciate what she does and how thankful you are that she’s your mom!

ACTIVITY

On Mother’s Day, why don’t you make your mom breakfast in bed? You and your siblings (and probably your dad), can put together a yummy meal of scrambled eggs, toast, orange juice or maybe a muffin, yogurt, and cold cereal. Whatever she’d like for breakfast, you should make it!

The post Fun Mother’s Day Activities for Kids appeared first on Sandy Silverthorne.

Life Skills for Kids

Life Skills for Kids

How can I make friends? Are there some simple things I can learn how to cook? How do I make the team? Growing up can be full of questions- 

So, I’ve done a book that should help kids and maybe a few adults out. It’s called The Big Book of Life Skills for Kids. It’s got over a hundred questions that kids might ask and need to know to help them grow up and have an awesome life. Here are just a few to give you the idea-

How to Make Friends

Some people seem to make friends easily. In fact, it’s almost like people come searching for them! They might be really gifted in athletics, or they might be musical or even really funny, so they always seem to be surrounded by people who want to be their friend. But if you’re like most kids, you might find it hard to make friends. You might be at a new school, or maybe you’re a little shy and nervous about going up to somebody and saying, “Hi, you wanna be my friend?” Most people have trouble making new friends, but never fear! Here are some ideas on how to start to develop good friendships:

1.The first and most important way to make a friend is by being a friend yourself! That means not making everything about you. Don’t just talk all the time. Don’t make people always do things the way you want to do them. Show that you care about them. Remember their birthday. Call them up once in a while. If they ask you to help them with something, help them out if you can. Show yourself to be a good friend to them.

2.One way to make some friends, especially if you’re at a new school, is to find a group and join it. A sports team like soccer, volleyball, or baseball might be just the way for you to get to know kids who are interested in the same things you are. Or you might join a music group, try out for a play, or get involved in the science fair, chess club, or math fair. That’s a great way to meet people.

3.When you’re in a class or group activity, or even waiting for the school bus, and you see a kid you’d like to get to know, go on over and introduce yourself. You might say something like “Hi, my name is _________ (don’t say “blank”—use your real name). I like your backpack,” or “Cool T-shirt. Did you get it in New York City?” (Only say this if their T-shirt has something about New York City on it.)

4.Ask them questions. Everybody likes to tell you their story. “Are you new at school?” “What kinds of things do you like to do?” “Seen any good movies lately?” “Do you have any brothers or sisters?” “Do they annoy you?” That kind of thing.

5.Step out. Don’t always wait for the other person to invite you to do something. If you’d like them to come over after school sometime or sit with you at lunch, let them know. And if they say no, don’t take it too personally. They may have other things to do at that time. But if they say no every time, you might need to look for another good friend.

Why not write down some questions you might like to ask someone when you meet them for the first time.

We just talked about joining a team but how do you do that? Do I just show up? Who do I talk to? How do I join a team? So glad you asked.

How Join a Team

A great way to meet new friends, get some exercise, and have a lot of fun is to join a team. Do you like soccer? Baseball? Swimming? Track? There are a lot of sports out there, and kids like you can get the chance to play almost all of them! You might be a pro at basketball, or you might never have even seen one, but that doesn’t matter. Teams are all about learning and becoming the best you can be. So, if this sounds like fun to you, here are a few tips for making the team:

1.First, find out what team sports are available for kids your age. Certain sports, like tackle football, require you to be a certain age to play. See if there are soccer, basketball, or volleyball teams in your area for kids your age. Sometimes they’ll put up ads around your school to let kids know when they’re holding tryouts. Maybe your school has a team you can join. Find out how you can sign up and if it costs anything. Usually, your parents can sign you up online.

2.Make sure you can attend the practices and games. If they’re at a time when you’re already busy, you might have to wait till next season to try out for that team.

3.Most teams hold a tryout to see where you are in your skills. Don’t worry, the coaches just want to see how their team is shaping up. Especially in the early grades. They’re there to help you learn. So, show up, do your best, and have a great attitude.

4.If there are papers your parents need to sign or if you need certain shoes or uniforms, make sure you have that all taken care of before the first practice. This shows the coaches that you’re responsible and trustworthy.

5.Control the stuff you can control. That simply means that even if you’re not the fastest or most talented player out there, you can always show up on time, listen to instructions, and follow directions. Lots of pro athletes work harder than anyone else on the team, get better and better, and end up playing in the Super Bowl! 

6.Have fun!

Team sports are a great way to make friends, learn new skills, and create some fun memories. 

Here’s another skill you might try your hand at- cooking!

Learn How to Cook Something

Learning how to cook something is really fun and a great way to feel more grown up. Don’t worry, you don’t have to bake up a ten-course meal with side dishes and dessert right off, but learning how to cook some simple meals will give you a great feeling of accomplishment. Plus, it’ll be fun, and you get to eat your creations once you’re done!

Important Tip! Keep this in mind when you decide to cook something. Make sure an adult is right there with you as you work with the stove, with the oven, or with knives. They’ll keep things safe, help you with ingredients, and give you useful tips along your way to culinary greatness! (That just means you’ll be a chef before you know it.)

Here are some suggested meal ideas and simple recipes you might try:

Microwave Mug Cake

This is a really easy, delicious, and quick dessert or afternoon snack. Gather all your ingredients, follow the directions, microwave, and enjoy !

Ingredients:

¼ cup all-purpose flour

¼ cup white sugar

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

⅛ teaspoon baking soda

⅛ teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons milk

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon water

¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Mix the flour, sugar, and cocoa powder in a mixing bowl. Add the baking soda, salt, milk, oil, water, and vanilla, then stir until you’ve got a liquid.

2. Pour the mixture into a big microwave safe mug.

3. Microwave for forty-five seconds. Remove from the microwave and let cool for a minute, then dig in!

PS: For extra gooeyness, throw in some semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Microwave Mini Pizzas

These are great for a snack or even for a family dinner. Top your pizza with all of your favorite toppings.

Ingredients:

English muffins

Pizza sauce

Shredded mozzarella cheese

Precooked salami or pepperoni

Added toppings:

Pineapple pieces

Tomato slices 

Red peppers, chopped

Carrot slices

Directions:

1. Slice the English muffins in half and place on a microwave-safe plate (for extra crunchiness, toast the muffin halves in the toaster for a couple of minutes first).

2. Spread some pizza sauce over the top of each muffin half.

3. Top the sauce with the shredded cheese and precooked salami or pepperoni.

4. Add other toppings like pineapple, tomatoes, red peppers . . . whatever you want! (Maybe not chocolate chips!)

5. Place the plate in the microwave, and cook for about two minutes.

6. Remove the plate and let the pizzas cool for a couple of minutes, then enjoy!

Chocolate Banana Smoothie 

This is a yummy, quick, good-for-you shake you can enjoy anytime!

Ingredients:

1 to 2 handfuls of ice

1½ cups milk (you can also use vanilla almond or soy milk) 

¼ cup vanilla yogurt, nonfat or low fat

2 large bananas

1 tablespoon chocolate hazelnut spread, such as Nutella

Directions:

1. Put the ice, milk, and yogurt into a blender.

2. Add the bananas (you might slice them or break them up for easier blending) and the chocolate hazelnut spread to the blender.

3. Place the lid tightly on the blender, and blend for twenty seconds.

4. Pour into your favorite glass and enjoy!

Peach Strawberry Yogurt Popsicles

This is a fun, delicious, and healthy way to enjoy a sweet treat for dessert or a snack on a warm afternoon. You might need an adult to help you with measuring and blending.

Ingredients:

3 cups strawberries, pureed in a blender to 1½ cups

3 cups peaches, peeled and sliced, pureed in a blender to make 1½ cups

2 tablespoons of honey

½ cup Greek vanilla yogurt

Directions:

1. In a blender, puree strawberries with 4 teaspoons of honey. Put the mixture in a bowl. Clean the blender.

2. Add the sliced peaches to the blender with 2 teaspoons of honey and puree. Put into a separate bowl.

3. In a popsicle mold (or in small paper cups if you don’t have a mold), layer the popsicles as follows: 2 teaspoons strawberry puree, 1 teaspoon yogurt, and 2 teaspoons peach puree. Repeat layers until the mold is full.

4. Tap the mold on the counter to make sure all of the layers settle. If you want, you can use a spoon to swirl the mixture.

5. Insert the popsicle sticks and then freeze for at least six hours or overnight.

Easy Scrambled Eggs

This recipe makes a great quick breakfast, but why not try eggs for dinner occasionally?

Ingredients:

¼ teaspoon butter

4 eggs

Pinch of salt and pepper

2 slices of whole-grain toast

1 tablespoon cold water

Directions :

1. Melt the butter in a small frying pan on the stove. This will help the eggs to not stick to the pan. Have an adult help you with this!

2. Crack the eggs into a bowl, add water, and whisk with a fork until well blended.

3. Add the salt and pepper to the eggs.

4. Pour the eggs into the hot pan.

5. Stir regularly until the eggs are cooked through. Make sure they’re not runny.

6. Remove from pan, and put onto a plate. Serve them with the toast and jam.

Here’s a question you might not have ever even asked, but when you figure this out, you’re going to have a much easier time in school. Check it out:

Want more tips for the kids and grandkids in your life? Preorder my brand new book The Big Book of Life Skills for Kids from Revell. It’s got more than a hundred common sense tips to help kids grow up and enjoy a healthy, awesome life. Click here: The Big Book of Life Skills for Kids

The post Life Skills for Kids appeared first on Sandy Silverthorne.

Ten Things You Probably Didn’t Know About the Old Testament Story of Esther

Ten Things you probably didn’t know about the Old Testament story of Esther

The book of Esther is one of the simplest, and most beautiful stories of love, trust and faith in the entire Bible. It tells the story of a young Jewish girl living in a foreign country- Persia- after her people had been conquered and carried away. Her parents have passed away so she’s living with her relative, a godly man named Mordecai. When the current queen of Persia is dethroned, the king gathers beautiful young women from around the empire to “audition” for the role.

And out of all the young women Esther is chosen to be the new queen. And just in time to help save her people from annihilation. It seems an advisor to the king named Haman hated the Jewish people and tricked the king into signing an edict that would allow all the citizens of the Persian empire to attack and destroy the Jews on a certain date. If it weren’t for Mordecai’s wisdom and Esther’s bravery, the Jews might have been wiped out. It’s a great story filled with suspense, drama and God’s faithfulness to intervene in the affairs of people.

Here are a few things you might not have known about this story:

Believe it or not God is never named in the entire book. Even though as you read through it, you can see His hand guiding and directing every situation. God’s name is never mentioned. Esther is the only book in the entire Bible that does this.Although Mordecai was older and took Esther in like a daughter after her parents died, he was actually Esther’s cousin not her uncle as many believe. It’s possible that Esther’s parents had been killed during the assault by Babylon on Jerusalem or as they were being transported to Babylon after the captivity.
By the time the book of Esther begins, Babylon had been conquered by the stronger kingdom of Persia. Persia under Cyrus the Great invaded Babylon in 539 B.C. and soon became the most powerful nation on earth. In 334 B.C. Alexander the Great led the Greek army against Persia and conquered it.The story of Esther takes place when many of the Jewish people had been allowed to return to their homeland. But as is the case of Esther and Mordecai many chose to remain in the Persian capital. Zerubbabel led many Jews back to Israel around 536 B.C. Ezra led another group around 455 B.C. and Nehemiah returned in 446 B.C. The story of Esther takes place around 483-473 B.C.When the story begins Esther’s name is actually Hadassah. It was a Jewish name meaning Myrtle Tree. The myrtle tree represented peace, love and prosperity. Later her name is changed to Esther which means Star. It’s interesting to note that the name Esther can also mean “hide or conceal”. Could it be that Mordecai changed her name when she was called to the king’s court because she needed to conceal the fact that she was Jewish?Even though God is never mentioned in the story, it’s evident that He placed Esther and Mordecai in the right place at the right time to come to the aid of the Jewish people. It “just happened” that Esther was queen at the time of Haman’s evil plot. It “just happened” that Mordecai overheard two treacherous servants planning to assassinate the king. It “just happened” that the king couldn’t sleep one night and asked for the royal histories to be read out loud. As a result, he “just happened” to hear the story of Mordecai foiling the assassination attempt. Have you ever experienced any “just happeneds” in your life?

Probably the best-known verse in the story is Esther 4:14 when Mordecai tells Esther 

           “And who knows but that you have come to your royal
            position for such a time as this?”

            God has orchestrated all of the events in the story to
            save His people and to reveal His love and power.

Esther knew the power of prayer and solicited all her countrymen to fast and pray for three days as she prepared to go before the king. Fasting is often mentioned in the Bible and was practiced for several reasons. Sometimes it was because of sin as in the case of Israel in the Old Testament. The book of Joel says “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning” (Joel 2:12). Other times as in Esther, fasting was used as a powerful weapon along with prayer in the case of a national emergency.Why two banquets? Esther knew the law of the kingdom. Anyone coming into the king’s presence without being summoned could be put to death. But she bravely went before him, and he showed his favor by extending the royal scepter towards her. When the king asked what her request was, she invited him to a banquet she would prepare the next night. At that banquet she invited the king and Haman to a more private banquet the next night. Why? Could it be at the private banquet she could make her request for him to revoke the edict against the Jewish people in a quieter, more private setting? That way he wouldn’t be seen as changing his mind in front of many other people.Haman hated Mordecai so much that he commanded a 75-foot gallows be constructed on which Haman would hang Mordecai. Talk about making a statement! 75-foot gallows would be about as high as a modern day seven story building!

So, what can we learn from the book of Esther? It’s apparent that she was really in the right place at the right time, and this was because of God’s perfect plan for her life and the lives of so many others. Where has God placed you right now? In school? Working? On a kids’ soccer or volleyball team? Even if you aren’t a queen, city leader or even the president of your class, God still has you right where He wants you. Look around- what are some ways you can show God’s love to the people around you? A smile, a helping hand or an encouraging word might be just what the person next to you needs right now. You were placed there on purpose. Just like Queen Esther, God has put you in your neighborhood, your school, your teams and even your family “for such a time as this”.

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The Armor of God for Kids

Exploring the Armor of God with kids

A long time ago the apostle Paul wrote to his friends in Ephesus (which was a city in modern day Turkey) and let them know that a great way to stay close to Jesus was by putting on the Armor of God. His letter is part of the New Testament. But what’s the armor of God? You might ask. Well, here’s what Paul says:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his great power.  11  Wear the full armor of God. Wear God’s armor so that you can fight against the devil’s evil tricks.  12  Our fight is not against people on earth. We are fighting against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness. We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world.  13  That is why you need to get God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing.  14  So stand strong, with the belt of truth tied around your waist. And on your chest wear the protection of right living.  15  And on your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong.  16  And also use the shield of faith. With that you can stop all the burning arrows of the Evil One.  17  Accept God’s salvation to be your helmet. And take the sword of the Spirit—that sword is the teaching of God.  18  Pray in the Spirit at all times. Pray with all kinds of prayers and ask for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready. Never give up. Always pray for all God’s people.  

Ephesians 6:10-18

Some scholars believe that Paul may have been chained to a Roman soldier when he wrote this letter. So, all he had to do was look at the guy next to him and name all the armor he was wearing. Let’s look at what Paul says so we can be suited up and ready to follow Jesus.

Belt of Truth

First, he says to tie the belt of truth around our waist. What does that mean? Well since all of our armor hooks to the belt, it’s important that it’s strong and reliable. All of our life hangs on the truth that Jesus is God’s Son. He came to show us what God was like. He lived a perfect life then died in our place on the cross so we could have a friendship with God. When we live in that truth we’ll follow Jesus closely every day.

Breastplate of Righteousness

Next Paul mentions that we can protect our chest (our heart) with right living. Some Bible translations say, “put on the breastplate of righteousness”. The breastplate in ancient times was a piece of metal or leather that covered from the neck down to the waist, protecting all the soldier’s important organs. God makes us righteous through Jesus and when we guard our heart by trying to live a life that looks like Jesus (with God’s help), it’ll be safe and covered.

Shoes of Peace

Then Paul says to wear the good news of peace- that’s the confidence we have in Jesus- as shoes on our feet. And we all know if our shoes aren’t sturdy and strong we’ll have trouble walking or even standing still! So, make sure the truth of Jesus is your foundation- the ground you walk on- and you’ll stand strong wherever you go, and whatever you do. And you’ll experience God’s peace as you do.

Shield of Faith

Next, we’re to pick up and carry the shield of faith. Paul says that having this shield will help stop all the burning arrows of the enemy. In olden days soldiers would dip their shields in water before the battle so when a flaming arrow would hit the shield, the water would put out the fire. How can we make sure the enemy’s arrows around us get “put out”? By washing our lives with the Word of God. That’s the Bible! When you read the Bible, you’re actually reading God’s letter to you! He wants us to live good, helpful and happy lives and by reading His word we can learn how to do that.

What are the burning arrows of the Evil One? Things like being tempted to do bad stuff. Feeling anxious or discouraged or even having bad thoughts about other people or even ourselves. God wants to help you put out those flaming arrows as soon as they come at you. When you carry the shield of faith by getting to know God through His word, you’ll be able to do that!

Helmet of Salvation:

Next Paul wants you to put on the helmet of salvation. That covers your head and even more importantly your mind! The devil most often attacks us in our minds. Have you ever noticed that? You get a thought that says, “Oh he’s such a jerk!” “She doesn’t like you!”  “God doesn’t hear your prayers” and other lies like that. But since you have the helmet of salvation- the truth that you belong to Jesus, those thoughts can start bouncing off! You can ask God to guard your mind right now. Just ask.

Sword of the Spirit:

Finally, Paul says to take up the sword of the Spirit- that’s God’s teaching through the Bible. Know your Bible. It might even be a good idea to start to memorize some verses that can help you when you’re having a hard time. They’re simple reminders that God hasn’t forgotten you and that He has great plans for you! Here are a couple you might try right now:

When I am afraid, I will trust in You. Psalm 56:3

 “ I say this because I know what I have planned for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. Jeremiah 29:11

 “ So don’t be afraid. The Lord your God will be with you everywhere you go.” Joshua 1:9

  “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son. God gave his Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost but have eternal life.” John 3:16

So, it’s a good idea to suit up every day. 

Make sure you cover your heart- the things you love and care for- with right living, (The breast plate of righteousness). Cover your head, (your thoughts and imagination) with the helmet of salvation (your friendship with Jesus). Carry the shield of faith (knowing you belong to Jesus) to fight off the attacks of the devil. Also make sure your feet are covered with the shoes of the Gospel (this means stand on the truth that God loves you and Jesus died for you) and carry the sword of the Spirit-God’s Word by reading it and memorizing it.

That way no matter where you are or what you’re going through, with God’s help you can stand strong!

 

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Click here to download a Printable Coloring Sheet of the Armor of God for Kids

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How to talk to your Kids about God (and other Spiritual things)

How to talk to your Kids about God (and other Spiritual things) What do I do if my kid or grandkid asks me a question about God and I have no idea how to answer them?

What’s the difference between God and Santa? If God loves us so much why does bad stuff happen? Will Fluffy (or Samson or Prince) go to Heaven when they die? If you have kids, you might have been confronted with questions from their curious little minds and even though you’re smiling because they’re so curious, inside you might be saying “Help! I have no idea what to tell them!”

Well, you’re not alone. I’ve written more than fifteen faith-based books for kids including one called Kids Big Questions for God and I’m still stumped by elementary school aged kids and their amazing questions.

Just last week at a Christian school chapel a second or third grader asked me why Jesus didn’t warn His disciples they were about to encounter a storm in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. Whoa. Where did that come from? And why didn’t He?

So how do you talk about Spiritual things with your young kids? And where do you look for answers to their perceptive and sometimes puzzling questions about God, Jesus, and heaven?

Well here are few things to think about:

Consider your kid’s age as you start the conversation.

Talking about if dogs go to heaven or why bad things happen in this life can look a lot different if you’re talking to a seventh grader or a preschooler. Make sure you meet your child where they are in their development. Use age-appropriate words and make sure they’re following you. As much as possible, let them lead the discussion. Even if they get off track or lose their concentration, the fact that they feel safe enough to come to you with their “God questions” is a win.

Go to the Source. The Bible. And phone a friend.

It’s tempting I know to make up a good sounding answer for your child, but always go to the source- God’s Word when you’re answering their questions about spiritual things. This might require you to say, “You know I’m not sure about that. Let me check a few things out and get back to you.” At this point, you might go to your Bible and see what it has to say or better yet, talk to a Christian friend who’s been around a while and ask the for advice. They might be able to send you right to the chapter and verse that will help you out.

Some simple answers to some Kids’ Questions 

Who created God?

This seems to be one of the most popular questions I hear from young kids. Because everything in our experience had a beginning- the tree in your front yard, your house, their school, even all of us, it’s natural to think God had a beginning too. Let your child know that according to the Bible God has always been around and he always will be. He lives outside of time so we can’t measure Him the same way we measure everything He’s created.

Why does bad stuff happen?

The short answer to this is we’re not always sure. How come a wonderful Christian woman gets sick? Why are there natural disasters? What about people who don’t have enough to eat? For over 3000 years people have been struggling with these questions. But often hard things and challenges in our lives cause us to draw closer to God. He doesn’t create bad stuff in our lives, but He’ll use it if it means getting closer to Him. Since having a relationship with us is God’s number one priority He’ll even allow hard things if it means we’ll cling closer to Him.

Will there be animals in heaven? 

There are a few verses in the Bible that indicate that yes, there may be animals in Heaven. First, when God created a perfect place- the Garden of Eden- it was full of animals. It seems like a perfect place like Heaven might also be filled with our furry friends. Also, the Old Testament book of Isaiah mentions that when God comes back and sets things right in the future, animals will be right there with us. 

Then wolves will live in peace with lambs.
    And leopards will lie down to rest with goats.        
Calves, lions and young bulls will eat together.
    And a little child will lead them.
Cows and bears will eat together in peace.
    Their young will lie down together.
    Lions will eat hay as oxen do.

Isaiah 11:6-7

How good do I have to be to go to Heaven? KID WITH HALO

This is a good question that kids and adults wrestle with all the time. So, what’s the answer? How good do I have to be? Well, the answer is none of us will ever be good enough to reach Heaven on our own! What?!?! That’s not what I want to hear! But the good news is that even though none of us will ever be good enough to reach Heaven, God has another way for us to join Him and live forever in His presence. He sent Jesus to live a perfect life, show us what God the Father was like, and then take our punishment so we won’t ever be separated from God. Since Jesus was perfect, he was the only one who could be our sacrifice. When He died on the cross, He was also separated from His Father. When we believe that and receive Jesus’s gift to us, we get to enter Heven. Not because we’re so good but because Jesus opened the door for us.

If your kids have trouble with the concept of sin, ask them if they’ve ever done anything to hurt themselves or other people. Without making them feel ashamed, let them know that we all do bad things. And since God is perfect, He can’t be friends with us. So He sent Jesus to pay the penalty for us.

What about dinosaurs? Did they really Exist? 

Did dinosaurs exist in the garden of Eden, along with Adam and Eve? Or did they go on the ark with Noah and his family? Yikes! What would that have been like? While the Bible isn’t real clear specifically about dinosaurs (the word dinosaur didn’t even exist until 1820), there are a few clues that might make us think there were dinosaurs around with Noah, Adam and Eve, and even a guy in the Bible named Job.

1.Let’s start with Adam and Eve. Genesis 1:24–25 says that God made all the land animals on day six of creation. Since we know from fossils found all over the world that dinosaurs existed, we have to believe that God created them along with the cows, wolves, beavers, and mice.  

2.Since God told Noah to take two each of all the animals onto the ark with him, it follows that he would have taken a couple dinosaurs too. They were probably young ones who wouldn’t take up too much room. Remember, any of the dinosaurs outside the ark when the flood came would have been swept away. That’s probably why we find their fossils in layers of dirt all over the globe.

3.Here’s a really cool thing about the possibility of dinosaurs being mentioned in the Bible. In the book of Job (which rhymes with robe), there’s a creature mentioned that sure sounds a lot like a brontosaurus. According to the description in Job 40:15–22 of this big creature that’s called “one of the first of God’s works,” it “eats grass like an ox,” has strength in his body, has bones that “are like tubes of bronze metal,” and—check this out—has a tail “like a cedar tree” (a cedar tree is tall and thick). This could be describing a crocodile. Or was it a dinosaur, like a brontosaurus, that these verses are talking about? Could be.

Later, dinosaurs died out. That might have been because of their lack of food or lack of a good environment in which to live. Now all we have are fossil bones of the now-extinct dinosaurs.

Did Jesus have any brothers and sisters?

While some people believe that Jesus was an only child (I mean, He was pretty special when you think about it), the New Testament clearly mentions that Jesus had not only brothers but sisters as well. Matthew 13:55–56 mentions his brothers and sisters. The brothers’ names were James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas (not the Judas who betrayed Jesus—that was another guy). Sisters are mentioned too, but they aren’t mentioned by name. So yes, Jesus lived in a family a lot like yours! Since Jesus was the Son of God, and Mary was His mother, these other kids were half brothers and sisters to Jesus. Their mom was Mary, but their dad was Joseph. Jesus’s Dad is God.  

A Note of Encouragement:

If your child “stumps” you with a question about the Bible or God, don’t sweat it. Just let them know you’re not sure, but you’ll find out. Check with a friend or pastor and ask them what they think. Then come back and share with your child the answer you received. Be real. Be authentic. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know.”

When bank tellers are trained to spot counterfeit bills they aren’t shown the fake ones. They spend hours looking at, handling and probably even smelling the real thing. That way when something phony crosses their desk something just won’t feel right. If you train up a child to recognize God’s voice in their lives, chances are they’ll spot the phonies no matter what the issue might be later in their lives. If they witness real, authentic, (not perfect!) faith in the lives of their parents and caregivers, they’ll know when the real thing comes along later in their lives.

If you want to explore more on this topic, check out my two new books Kids’ Big Questions for God and Kids’ Big Questions About Heaven, the Bible and Other Important Stuff from Revell. 

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What Professions Won’t We Need in Heaven?

I’m so excited about my brand-new book coming out in the spring called Kids’ Big Questions About Heaven, the Bible and Other Really Important Stuff that I wanted to give you a preview. Have you ever thought about the jobs we won’t need in heaven?  You might not have ever thought about this question, but it’s a fun one to consider. After all, things are going to be perfect in heaven, so apparently there won’t be any need for:

Undertakers—These are the people who take care of people after they die. Since nobody’s ever going to die in heaven—no undertakers.Doctors—Nobody will ever get sick or hurt up there, so there will be no need for doctors or nurses.Dentists—You won’t have any cavities, and apparently your teeth will be perfect, so no more trips to the dentist. Or the orthodontist.Soldiers—We won’t have any wars or invasions in heaven, so there will be no more need for soldiers, sailors, or even the Air Force. Hope we still have planes though.Police officers—There will be no more crime, so no laws will be broken or even need to be enforced. So, no police officers will be necessary.Prison guards—No prisons in heaven, so there won’t be any need for guards, wardens, prison cooks, or prison laundry workers.Pharmacists- Since we won’t have headaches, or colds or the flu we probably won’t need any medications to help us get better. We’ll already be healed!Optometrists—These are the people who check your vision, prescribe glasses, and help you see better. Since all of our bodies will be perfect in heaven, our vision will be 20/20 too. We’ll be able to see perfectly.Lifeguards—Lifeguards are those men and women who protect us when we’re swimming in the ocean, at a lake, or in the pool. But since we’ll all be able to swim just great, no need for lifeguards!Insurance salespeople—People buy insurance to pay money to cover expenses after accidents or when someone dies. But in heaven? No accidents and nobody ever dies. No need for insurance!Fitness and beauty businesspeople—Once again, we’ll have perfect, healthy bodies, and everyone will reflect Jesus in all they do, so we won’t need to train or have beauty treatments.Auto-repair workers—I’m not sure if there will be cars in heaven, but if there are, since there won’t be any accidents, no need for repairs!So, what will all these people be doing in heaven if their jobs won’t exist? Good question. Everybody’s going to work in heaven as they serve God, whether they were a waitress, surgeon, painter, or plumber here in this world. In heaven, we may not do the jobs we did here on earth, but since things will be amazing and perfect up there, you can be sure that our work’s going to be perfectly designed for us.

Can you think of any other jobs that we won’t need in heaven?

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Some interesting things you might not have known about the Old Testament Book of Ruth

When I was a new believer, I have to admit I stuck to reading the New Testament only. The “these” and “thous” of the Old Testament were not only confusing but downright intimidating to me. But as I continued to read and study this first half of the Bible, I have to admit, I’ve discovered some amazing and incredibly inspiring stories. Some of these deal with kings, queens and prophets, but a lot of them deal with normal, ordinary people just like you and me. One of the best of these stories concerns a young girl named Ruth. Her book is right after the Book of Judges and right before First Samuel.

The book of Ruth in the Bible has been described by some as the “Crown Jewell of the Old Testament-

A beautiful story of love, loyalty, and redemption all in four short chapters! But here are a few little-known facts about this story that will help you get some background.

1. This wonderful story filled with love and hope takes place in one of the darkest times of Israel’s history- the period of the Judges where there was no king and everyone did what was right in their own eyes. During this period people worshipped pagan gods, sacrificed their children and lived lives of uncontrolled sinfulness. But in the middle of this dark time God showed up. The book of Ruth gives us a glimpse into the lives of a couple of righteous God-fearing people- Ruth and Boaz. It’s as if their light shines even brighter against the dark background of lawlessness and idolatry that was going on in their nation at the time.

2. When Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi returned to Israel after the death of their two husbands, they were left penniless. During this time in Israel’s history very little provision had been made for widows and orphans. Often a woman with no means of support would have to sell herself as a slave or worse- a prostitute. Ruth and Naomi could easily have starved to death having no family members to support them, but God had created a provision for the poor hundreds of years before. When a landowner harvested their field, God had instructed them to leave the corners untouched. In other words, they weren’t to harvest the entire field. They needed to leave some of the crops for the poor to gather or “glean”. So, every day Ruth went into Boaz’s field and gleaned from the corners thus supplying Naomi and herself with food. It was there in the field that Boaz discovered Ruth.

3. When Boaz discovers Ruth and falls in love with her, he realizes she’s a distant relative through marriage of Naomi’s family and it’s actually his duty to care for her. This is another provision God made way back when. If a woman’s husband died, the man’s brother or closest relative was to take the woman and marry her. That way the deceased man’s widow and children would be cared for, and the deceased husband’s heritage would continue. This was called being a “Kinsman-Redeemer” –Kinsman because the person is a relative and Redeemer because they’re helping restore not only the widow but the family’s legacy. Israel- God’s people were to be different from the neighboring countries. God had created this provision back when Moses was leading the Israelites out of Egypt (Deuteronomy 25:5-10).

4. There was one glitch though. In our story Boaz discovered that there was a relative of Ruth’s who was nearer than Boaz. So, he had to meet with this relative and offer him Ruth’s land, Ruth and Naomi. When the relative refused to take these responsibilities on, Boaz was free to marry Ruth. 

When Boaz makes the agreement with the relative, the relative takes off his sandal and hands it to Boaz to seal the arrangement This was the custom at the time to show an agreement had been made and the unnamed relative is giving up his right to the property (and the women). Many people believe the sandal represented ownership and may have even gone back to the time of Joshua when God told him to walk- march through the land for “wherever the soul of your foot treads shall be yours.” This may have been the beginning of the sandal pass ritual that became a habit in Israel.

5.  The story of Ruth is such an incredible example of redemption- God restoring things and people who seemed at a dead end and hopeless. The story starts out with Naomi and Ruth losing their husbands and returning to Israel with nothing- no family, no money and no support. And worse yet, Ruth wasn’t even one of the “chosen ones”- God’s people, the Jews. She was from the neighboring country of Moab. But God had a plan. He wanted to restore and bless Ruth far beyond what she could ever ask or imagine. Even though the Jewish people weren’t really supposed to marry non-Jews Ruth had decided to follow the Living God, so Boaz was able to marry her. God blessed their union and even placed Ruth into the lineage of King David (Ruth 4:21). And as a result, she was also included in the lineage of King Jesus too (Matthew 1:5-6, 16)!

6. Boaz took the role of Kinsman-Redeemer, taking Ruth “under his wing” and caring for her. This act foreshadowed what Jesus would do for us hundreds of years later. Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer- our Kinsman because He became a human just like us and Redeemer because He went to the cross to take on himself the punishment for our sins. So not only did God bring redemption to Ruth in this amazing story, but in it He painted a beautiful picture of our redemption through His Son (and Ruth’s ancestor) Jesus.

Why did God bless and redeem Ruth in this beautiful account? Mostly because of His unmerited and unearned grace but Ruth also put herself in the position to be blessed by God. By taking a huge risk and leaving her family, city, and the only life she’d ever known Ruth was putting herself totally into God’s hands. 

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Kids’ Big Questions About God

A real highlight of my year is when I get to speak to young kids at camps, churches, and schools. I love being around young kids and the more I do it the more I realize why Jesus encouraged us to come to Him like little children. They’re honest, trusting and have some great insights. At a camp a few years ago one of the boys I was having lunch with asked if God created computers and another one asked if I had homeowner’s insurance. I asked him what he was planning.

Here are a couple questions kids have asked me in the past and hopefully some accurate and scriptural answers.

If God is Good, Why Does Bad Stuff Happen?

At the very beginning of time God created the world and it was

perfect. There were no hurt feelings, no sickness, no pain, everybody

got along, and people could talk to God just like you were talking

to a friend. But when Adam and Eve, the first people God created,

disobeyed Him, their actions did two things: they broke their relationship with

God and they invited evil into the world.

And now even nature is messed up. We have hurricanes and fires and

all kinds of natural disasters. And because God has given us the freedom

to make choices for our lives, people end up hurting one another.

People hurt each other, they get sick and sometimes even die but that

was never God’s original plan for all of us. Whew. Sounds bad huh?

Yeah but the good news is there’s good news. And God has a plan to

bring us all back to Him.

And sometimes it’s the hard stuff like pain, sickness and loss

that opens us up to getting closer to God. Always remember that

God is in control of everything, and He wants only the best for us,

even when things are hard.

What’s God’s Favorite Thing?

This is an easy question to answer. You want to know God’s

favorite thing in the entire universe?

It’s YOU!

Even though God created the Pacific Ocean and

Utah and The Grand Canyon and the Rocky Mountains and

India, His favorite thing He ever made is you.

In fact, the Bible says God thinks of you as His special treasure.

You’re His Masterpiece. And even though God can do

anything and everything and He loves what He’s created, still

His very favorite creation is you. He loves you so much that

He even sent Jesus down here to let you know what God is like.

And He even had Jesus take the punishment for all the bad stuff

you’ve ever done so you and God can be close. We’ll talk about

that in a few chapters.

I realize these are quick and simple answers to questions that theologians have wrestled with for centuries but hopefully they’ll give you some encouragement today.

Remember “This is the day the Lord has made,” it wasn’t an accident or just a 24-hour period. He made it with you and me in mind “So let us rejoice in it!

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