Day #6, Christ-Like Attributes: Faith

Hi! I’m Marci Coombs and I’ve been writing my own little lifestyle blog over HERE
for quite some time now.

I blog about everything from: church ideas and recipes to craft tutorials and party details.  

I love my life!  And I love the people I share it with EVEN MORE!
I’m addicted to:  Diet Dr. Pepper, the color purple and all things polka dots!
I was SUPER excited to be asked from the Jedi Craft Girl to be apart of the 14 Day Walk with Christ.  
Is this not the BEST IDEA EVER for families to take part in?
Kuddos to Amanda for creating and organizing it all!
The topic I was given was:
Christ-Like Attributes – Faith

Start the lesson out by asking your children the question: 
“What is faith?”

Answers may include – –
* Confidence in something or someone
* A hope for things which are not seen, but which are true.
Have everyone turn to Alma 32:21.
“And now as I said concerning faith – faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.”
Attention Activity: Gather a plastic Easter egg, a few pebbles or grains of rice, and a small picture of the Savior. I printed mine out and just changed the sizing HERE.
Roll up the picture so that it fits inside the egg and cannot be seen when shut.
Shake the egg {with the rice in it} and ask the kids if they think anything is INSIDE of the egg?
They will answer YES and then you can follow up with
 “But you can’t SEE anything in there…so how do you KNOW?”  
Have the kids open up the egg to discover the picture.
Explain that even though we have not seen Jesus Christ, we know He is there. We have had living prophets testify of the Savior, the scriptures are written ABOUT the Savior, and we can see His existence and all of His creations in the natural beauty of the earth everyday.
“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:

Which indeed is the least of all the seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.”
Ask the kids if they know how big a mustard seed is?
A mustard seed is about 1/20th of an inch in size.  It is one of the smallest seeds in the world.  Follow up by showing them this picture.
Image
Ask the kids: Do you think that it took great FAITH on the farmer’s part, to plant that teeny tiny seed – – and trust that it would grow into something large and bountiful?
Ask the kids:

What things are necessary to help a seed grow? Sunshine, water and air.
If we stop watering our seeds or place it in a dark room, will it continue to grow? No.
IF we continue to take care of our litte seed, doing everything that is necessary, our seed will staret to blossom and turn into something beautiful.
Let’s compare our FAITH to a SEED.
In order for faith to work, we need to plant it in our hearts.  
Then we have to nourish it with: reading the scriptures, saying our prayers, going to church – all of these Gospel principles will help our own faith grow – – just like sunlight and water do with any type of seed.
Read Alma 33:23.
“And now, my brethern, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell, even so nourish it by faith.  And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen.”
Activity: Let the kids plant their OWN seeds….literally!
Purchase little clay pots {white styrofoam cups do the trick as well for this!} and have them decorate their pots however they’d like!
Show them the correct way to plant a seed — while discussing the necessities for the seed to grow.
Explain to them that faith is something that will continue to grow within us throughout our entire lives.  As long as we constantly NOURISH our faith, in doing what is righ, our lives will be blessed.
Dessert: Serve ‘Dirt Cups’.
This easy treat is always a hit with kiddos!
All you’ll need is:

Place your pudding into a cup of any kind, and top with crushed Oreos, gummy worms and gummy flowers.

Thanks again for having me here and taking the time to read this post.  I hope that in some way, it can help your family come closer to our Savior, during this Easter season!
For a copy of my Faith Printable for your journal you can click HERE.
P.S.
I’d love for you to follow me along at some of my very favorite places here:
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Day #5, Christ-Like Attributes: Obedience

Today’s lesson is from Jessica who writes the Latter-day Chatter blog.  Jessica writes and designs fabulous lessons and hand-outs.  This is an overview of the Obedience lesson, scroll down for the link to download the PDF.
 Click HERE to download the entire Obedience Lesson PDF

Jesus is the Light of the World

Welcome to the first day of our 14 Day Walk with Christ.  I hope you and your family enjoy these lessons and take time to Come unto Christ as we anticipate the wonderful celebration of Easter.

Day #1 – Jesus is the Light of the World
Lesson Printable:  Download PDF, Download JPEG
This lesson is a little backwards as we are doing the activity/craft first.  We are making lanterns to be used in the lesson.
 
Activity: Mason Jar Lanterns
Supplies: Mod Podge, Mason Jars, Tissue Paper, Wire. Paper Punch, colored tissue paper, tea light
I used a hexagon shape paper punch, you can use any shape to cut the colored tissue.  Mod Podge the tissue paper shapes to the outside of the jar.  Let dry.  Wrap wire around the mouth of the jar to secure and form a handle.  Place a tea light in the jar.

Have everyone design their own pattern – you can’t mess them up!  They all turn out cute!!

Lesson:
Begin the lesson by turing off all the lights, or going into a dark room.  Have a discussion about light and darkness.  What types of physical light do we need in our life (sun, flashlight, light bulbs, candles, headlights, night light, moon, etc.) ?  How do you feel in the dark?  Do you remember a time you were afraid of the dark?  
One by one, light the tea lights in each person’s lantern and notice how the light gets brighter with each light.

Light always dispels darkness, it can never be the other way around.
Sing: Teach me to Walk in the Light of His Love
Scripture:  John 8:12 – Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
 
 He also declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). He is the way and He is the light because His teachings light our path in mortal life and show us the way back to the Father.
 
What does “the path” refer to?
How can we feel spiritual darkness?
How can Jesus light your path?
 
As we keep the Lord’s commandments, we see his light ever brighter on our path and we realize the fulfillment of Isaiah’s promise, “And the Lord shall guide thee continually” (Isa. 58:11).
 
And so we see that Jesus Christ is the light of the world because he is the source of the light that quickens our understanding, because his teachings and his example illuminate our path, and because his power persuades us to do good.” – Dallin H Oaks
 
Sometimes the path is hard
Jesus taught that “there will be times when you will walk a path strewn with thorns and marked by struggle. There may be times when you feel detached—even isolated—from the Giver of every good gift.” For these times, he reminded us that “we were not placed on this earth to walk alone. … He will be there for us to provide help if we but ask.  Two ways we can find comfort: as we remember prayer and take time to turn to the scriptures, our lives will be infinitely more blessed and our burdens will be made lighter.” Thomas S. Monson
Journal time:
What is “the path” and where is my path leading?
How can Jesus light your way?  What can we do to see the light?
How have you felt Him light your path?

If you have little ones who have a hard time writing in a journal, they might enjoy coloring this picture: