Parable of the Talents Day #10

March 27, 2013 by 1 Comment
Today is Day 10 – the Parable of the Talents
Attention Activity:  Talent Hunt
Preparation: You need some kind of pretend coins.  We are using chocolate coins.  Before the lesson, label each coin with a “talent”.  Here are a few ideas:
good friend
kind
good listener
obedient
piano
singing
math
example
sports
patient
caring for others
creative
good leader
smart
funny
Hide the coins and tell the children to try and find as many coins as they can.  Each child will most likely find a different amount of coins.

Scripture Discussion
Read the parable of the talents Matthew 25: 13-30.
In the parable, the talents refer to pieces of money. For us talents mean abilities we can develop to bless and help others.

  • Why did the Master give different amounts of money?
  • How do your talents differ from your friend’s talents or members in your family?
  • Why does Heavenly Father give us different talents?
  • What did the servants who were given five and two talents do with their money?
  • How do you think they were able to double their money?
  • How can hard work be a blessing to us?
  • What did the servant who was given one talent do with his money?
  • Why do you think he did this?
  • Why do you think some people don’t develop their talents?
  • What happens to people’s talents if they do nothing with them?
Have each child read what talents they found during the talent hunt.  Decide who got the most talents.  Discuss how we should feel toward that person.  Who got the least amount of coins?  Have each child consider the talents they found and talk about how they can bless the lives of other people with these talents.

Journal Activity:
Have everyone write their name on top of today’s journal page.  Pass the pages around and have each member of the family list a few talents of that person.  Encourage your family to look for talents that may not be obvious.  Once you get your own journal page back, have everyone read what was written.  Then have everyone write in their own journal what additional talents they have and how they can use these talents to bless the lives of other people and glorify God.
Handout:
Click HERE to download today’s handout.  Have the children glue a penny in the circle.  (I found the poem on Sugerdoodle, the author is anonymous.)

Filed Under: 14, 14 Day Walk with Christ

Day #9 Miracles

March 26, 2013 by 11 Comments
Attention Activity:
Spread out a quilt or blanket and have everyone come sit on it.  (It would be fun to do this outside if the weather permits.)  Tell everyone you are going on a pretend picnic.  Then play the following game:
The person that is “It”  begins by saying, “Hi, my name is ___________ and I am going on a picnic.  I am bringing my _______________.  Ahead of time the “It” person thinks of a pattern that the others in the group must guess.  For example, she could say her name is Amanda and she is bringing her Aunt to the picnic.  The pattern would be you bring something that begins with the letter of your first name to the picnic.  Then it goes to the next person and the next person says, “Hi my name is ________ and I am bringing my __________ to the picnic, may I come?”  If the 2nd person has figured out the pattern, the “It” person will say, “Yes.”  This continues until everyone can come to the picnic.  You can start a new round and the next “It” player can decide a new pattern.  Examples are: Choosing things in alphabetical order, choosing things with 2 syllables, choosing things with double letters, choosing items in a certain food group or category.  You can also make this more challenging by having each player repeat what has been said before them, “Hi, I am Amanda and I am going on a picnic.  I am bringing, apples, bananas, cherries, and dates.”  The pattern here is alphabetical fruit!  This might be hard for small children, so adapt as necessary.
Scripture Discussion:
In the bible during Jesus’ time, there is a story about a different kind of picnic.  There were many people following Jesus all day, watching him perform miracles.  They became very, very hungry and there wasn’t anywhere to buy food or enough money if it were possible to purchase it.
Read the Story of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes in  John 6:5-13 and Mark 6:34-44
How many people were gathered together?
Where did they sit?
Where did they find the fish and the loaves?
What size were they?
Was everyone able to eat?
Who did Jesus ask to give the food to the multitude?
How much food was left over?
What would you have thought if you were part of the 5,000 people?
Christ’s miracles offered a proof that He is the Messiah, the Son of God.  He said, “The works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me”.  Through miracles mankind “might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing…might have life through His name.” (John 20:31)
“Have our children felt the power of the Savior’s miracles? Jesus healed the leper, gave sight to the blind.  He fed the 5,000,  calmed the sea, and raised Lazarus from the dead.  Do our children believe that “it is by faith that miracles are wrought,” and do they pray for miracles in their own lives?“ Elder Neal L. Andersen 
If you have time and your children are a little bit older, you can do this Miracles of Jesus matching game.  It would also be nice to discuss more of Jesus’ miracles or even watch a few brief videos depicting the miracles.
Are there Miracles today?  YES!!!
“Miracles come to those who have faith.  Remember, faith proceeds and produces miracles for which we have no immediate explanation within our experience.” Elder Marcus B. Nash.
Talk about miracles you have seen in your life and in your family.  Explain that miracles are very personal.
Activity:  Faith Fish
Print and cut out the fish.  Attach a paperclip to each one.  Attach a maganet to a piece of string and attach it to a sitck or dowel (make a fishing pole).  Have each of the children take turns “fishing”.  You can set up a sheet or fish over the back of the couch or off the stairs, etc.  When the child catches a fish, have them read what is on the fish and tell how that can help us build our faith so we can recieve miracles in our life.

Handout: Click HERE for fish and handout
Journal:
What is your favorite miracle of Jesus?  Write down miracles you have received in your life.  What can we do to increase our faith in Jesus so we can receive more miracles.

 

 
 

Filed Under: 14, 14 Day Walk with Christ, easter, printables

Day #8 The Good Samaritan

March 25, 2013 by 3 Comments
Attention Story:
Read “What are Neighbors For” from the Friend.  Its a silly little story that younger children will think is funny about different animals coming over to your house.  You can download the pictures that go along with the story Here.What is a neighbor?

Scripture Discussion:
Read the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.  There is a nice video depicting the parable.  Click Here for the video.

Show the children Samaria and Judea on the map, and explain the situation between the Jews and the Samaritans. The Jews felt that they were better than the Samaritans. They disliked the Samaritans so much that when Jews traveled from Jerusalem to Galilee, they would take the longer way through the Jordan Valley rather than travel through Samaria.
  • Why do you think the Jewish priest and Levite did not help the wounded Jewish man?
  • What did the Samaritan do for the wounded Jewish man?
  • Why is it significant that it was a Samaritan who helped the Jewish man? What characteristics of a good neighbor did the Samaritan have? How does this story help us understand who our neighbor is?
  • Who is your neighbor? Do you think Jesus meant only the people who live close to you?  How can we become better neighbors?
  • How can we follow Jesus’ teachings and show love for other people? How should we treat someone who needs our help? someone who is different from us? someone who might have been unkind to us?

If you have time, it would be fun to have everyone act out the story.

Activity:

Have everyone write 5 to 10 names on individual strips of paper of people that could be considered your “neighbor.” This can be people in your family, people on your street, teachers, etc.  Put the names in a bowl.

Take turns drawing the names out of the bowl and read them out loud.  Have everyone give suggestions of service that could be offered to that person.  It’s OK if someones name is in there more than once.  Examples of service can be:
write a note
bake some treats
smile
give someone a compliment
help a family member clean up or do chores
help a teacher with a project
play nicely with a sibling
Call someone on the phone for a nice visit
don’t gossip or argue
be on time

Service:
We are taking this opportunity to visit people as a family and take a plate of baked goods.  Do what you feel is best for your family.

Handout:
Click HERE

Journal:
Write in your journal the names of a few people you want to do something nice for.  Write how you can carry out your idea.  Also write how you feel when someone does something nice for you.   How does Jesus want us to treat our Neighbor?

 
 

Filed Under: 14, 14 Day Walk with Christ, easter

Day #7 The Lost Sheep

March 24, 2013 by 13 Comments
 Attention Activity:
Show this video from YouTube about sheep herding.  (Click HERE.)  If you are like me, the only knowledge of anything to do with sheep comes from the movie “Babe”!!
A few years ago, Elder Thomas S. Monson contrasted two experiences:
“Have you ever seen a sheepherder in one of our western mountain canyons directing the sheep? He is usually at the rear of the flock, slouched down on his horse, sound asleep. And doing the work are half a dozen small dogs yapping and barking at the heels of the sheep. He is a sheepherder.”
“A few months ago in Munich, Germany, I saw a true shepherd. There he was with staff in hand, singing, walking in front of his flock; and the flock followed behind him. When he turned to the left, the sheep turned to the left; when he went to the right, they went to the right. There were no dogs barking at the heels of his sheep. They indeed knew their shepherd and were following the pathway he took.” (Pathways to Perfection, p. 93.)
Explain that a shepherd takes care of sheep. The sheep know the shepherd’s voice, and they follow where he leads them. Point out that the shepherd does not herd the sheep from behind. He walks in front of them to show them where to go. The shepherd leads his sheep to green pastures where they find good grass to eat. He also leads them to water. At night he leads them back to the sheepfold, which is a walled or fenced area or a cave where the sheep are safe from wild animals and thieves. The shepherd stands guard at the entrance to the sheepfold and protects his sheep. The shepherd counts his sheep to make sure that not one is lost.
There are so many beautiful paintings and prints of Jesus with sheep.  I have one hanging in my dining room.   I didn’t include the pictures in this post for copyright purposes.  I think it would be a good idea to show a few different pictures to your children. 
Scripture Discussion
Have the children tell you how Jesus is the Good Shepard. 
Help the children understand that they are some of the sheep in Jesus’ fold. Explain that the Savior compared himself to a shepherd because he loves and cares for each of us like a shepherd cares for the sheep. He wants each of us to be safe and happy. Just as a shepherd knows each sheep, Jesus knows each one of us. We are all important to him.  How do you feel knowing Jesus left the 99 to find the one lost sheep?
Activity:
Play “Don’t Eat Sheep”.  This is just like “Don’t Eat Pete” only I made the game board with sheep.  It is my children’s most requested game!!  The instructions are on the sheet if you are not familiar with it.
Click HERE to download the PDF of the game.
Handout:
I discovered that my 5 year old colors all of the handouts whether they need it or not.  Here are 2 different ones in case your children love coloring too!!
Click HERE for the handouts.  (The coloring page is from netmums.)
    

Journal Activity:
How do you feel Jesus looking after you?  What does it mean to you to know how much Jesus cares about all his sheep?  How can we love and care for others in the same way?
 

Filed Under: 14, 14 Day Walk with Christ, easter

Forgiveness Day #6

March 23, 2013 by 3 Comments
Attention Activity:
Make 2 paper airplanes that are exactly the same.  Ahead of time, tape a penny inside one of the airplanes.  Tell the children you are going to demonstrate how well the airplanes fly.  Fly the first plane (without the penny).  Talk about how far and graceful it flies.  Then fly the second airplane with the penny taped inside of it.  Play it up and act like you don’t know what is wrong.  They both look the same – why aren’t they flying the same?  Have the children examine both of the planes and try flying them until they find the penny.
The airplanes are like us and the penny is when we hold a grudge.  A grudge is when we hold bad feelings inside of us because something someone did or said to us.  These feelings can weigh us down and keep us from flying high.
We must learn to forgive just as Jesus and Heavenly Father forgive us.
“A person’s ability to forgive is in proportion to the greatness of his soul…An unresolved grudge gnaws at our hearts, disturbs our peace, and is a burden we would well be rid of…Forgiving relieves us of a lingering uneasiness inside ourselves. Oh, what easing of our relationships with loved ones, and with others also, with a lightening of our own lives, as we learn to forgive!..How can we expect forgiveness if we don’t forgive?” Richard L. Evans,
Scripture Discussion:
 Colossians 3:13 “Forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
“But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matt. 6:14–15.)
The Savior has offered to all of us a precious peace through His Atonement, but this can come only as we are willing to cast out negative feelings of anger, spite, or revenge. For all of us who forgive “those who trespass against us.”
A spirit of forgiveness and an attitude of love and compassion toward those who may have wronged us is of the very essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each of us has need of this spirit…The Lord taught it in the time of his agony on the cross of Calvary, with vile and hateful accusers before him, those who had brought him to this terrible crucifixion, he cried out, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ (Luke 23:34.)’ None of us is called on to forgive so generously, but each of us is under a divinely spoken obligation to reach out with pardon and mercy.” President Gordon B. Hinckley, 
Discussion:
Take turns giving examples of situations of forgiveness.  You may need to come up with some scenarios to help younger children grasp the concept of holding bad feelings in and then forgiving.  My children love charades and pictionary.  You can draw and act out the situations.

Video
There is an amazing 8 minute video about a man who forgives the teenager who killed his wife and two children while driving under the influence.  I cried through the whole thing.  Click HERE to go to the YouTube page to view it.

Handout:
Click HERE

Journal:
Write in your journal a time when it was hard to forgive someone and how you felt after you forgave them.  Is there someone right now you need to forgive?  How can Jesus help us forgive more freely?

Family Fun:
Either before or after the lesson, have everyone make paper airplanes.  Have a contest to see whose plane can fly the farthest.  Try different designs.  Who doesn’t love paper airplanes!!

Filed Under: 14, 14 Day Walk with Christ

Day #5 Repentance

March 22, 2013 by 52 Comments
Today’s lesson comes from my friend, Brittany.  Brittany is super talented: she has amazing taste, great style, and lots of fun ideas.  She is busy with her four darling children and has deleted her blog….gasp!!  I hope to feature more of Brittany’s creations here at Jedi Craft Girl!!  Here are a few photos I snapped at her house today:
 
Day #5 Repentance
 
Attention Story:
(You may want to hold up a $20 bill and demonstrate as you read the story.)
 
A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill.
In the room of 200, he asked, “Who would like this $20 bill?”
Hands started going up. He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this.” He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up. He then asked, “Who still wants it?” Still the hands were up in the air.
“Well,” he replied, “what if I do this?” And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. “Now who still wants it?” Still the hands went into the air.
“My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value in God’s eyes.  To Him, dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to Him.“
Scripture:
Isaiah 1:18 “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”
Activity:
In this experiment we teach our children how Christ took our sins upon him in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Through this activity, we can teach our children how Jesus can help us each individually become clean from our daily sins.
 Supplies:
Water
Food Coloring
Bleach
Alka-Seltzer
Teach the children that like this glass of water, we come into the world pure, but everyone makes mistakes and everyone sins.  When we sin, we become unclean.  Add a few drops of red food coloring.  (You can use as many colors as you want to create the effect.)  By dropping this into the water it represents our sins.  Talk about actions that might cause us to become unclean; such as being unkind to others, being dishonest, or using bad language.  When we have sinned, it’s hard to feel the spirit.  The world becomes confusing.
What can we do to become clean again?
We can ask the Savior to help us to overcome our mistakes.  During the Atonement, Jesus Christ became the great and eternal sacrifice for our sins.
We can call on Christ to help us and to take away our sins.  Add a cup of bleach representing Christ’s Atonement.  Then add an Alka-Seltzer (repentance) to the water.  Watch the change before your eyes.  Soon the water will be clear and pure once again.  The Atonement really can change us that quickly, but it does take action on our part.  We must act in faith by repenting of our sins in the name of Jesus Christ.
Handout:
Click HERE
Click HERE

 

Journal:
Write in your journal how you feel about the repentance process.  What does it mean to you that, because of Jesus, you can be forgiven of your sins?  

Filed Under: 14, 14 Day Walk with Christ, easter

Christ-like Love Day #3

March 20, 2013 by 1 Comment
Day #3 Christ-Like Love
 

Attention Activity:
Ask who has the longest hair, who is the tallest, whose nails are the longest, etc. (things that can be measured) Then ask who has the most Christ-like love.  How do we measure this?  Through our actions.
Lesson:
True love requires action. We can speak of love all day long—we can write notes or poems that proclaim it, sing songs that praise it, and give lessons that encourage it—but until we put that love in action, our words are nothing but “sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 13:1.

Christ did not just speak about love; He showed it each day of His life. He did not remove Himself from the crowd. Being amidst the people, Jesus reached out to the one. He rescued the lost.  He not only taught but also showed us how to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.” 

 

Read Matthew 25: 35-40.  “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”  When we love and serve other people, we are showing our love for Jesus.

Service Activity:
Take this opportunity to do some service.  This can be anything appropriate for your family.  In our family, we are writing cards and taking them to people with a plate of treats.

Handout:
Click Here to download.

Journal:
Write in your journal how you felt when you found out you were doing service.  Then write about how you felt after your service.  Write your feelings about how Jesus showed His love while on the earth and how He continues to show his love for us. What else can we do to show love daily?  Make a list or set some goals about how you can be more service-minded.

 

Filed Under: 14 Day Walk with Christ

Love one Another Day #2

March 19, 2013 by 3 Comments
Love One Another Day #2

Part of today’s lesson comes from Jodi at Pleasant Home.com. She writes a darling blog full of fun sewing, quilting, and crafting ideas.  She is very talented and has a fun story why her blog is called Pleasant Home.  Her darling summer quilt will be featured on the cover of “Quilt-It” in the spring.  Check out her blog to find out more about her and her cute projects!

Attention Activity:
Take your family on a walk through your neighborhood or the park.  Have them notice all the trees and how they look.  Here in Southern California, there are trees with blossoms, trees that still look like winter and trees that already have their leaves.  Ask your children lots of questions about trees, leaves, seasons, and fruit.

Story:

The Parable of the Pear Tree
Click HERE to for this printable version of this story:

 

There was a man who had four sons

He wanted his sons to learn a valuable lesson – so he sent them each on a quest.
In turn, to go and observe a single Pear Tree
Each son traveled to the Pear Tree, each son in a different Season…
 
The first son traveled to see the tree in the Winter
The second son in Spring
The third son in Summer
The fourth son in Fall
 
When they had all returned from their travels, he called them together to each describe what they had seen…
 
The first son said the tree was ugly, bent, old and gnarled. Not much use to anyone…
 
The second son said it was covered in green buds and full of promise…
 
The third son disagreed; he said it was full of blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful. The tree was the most graceful thing he’d ever seen….
 

The last son disagreed with all of them. He said it was ripe and dropping with fruit. Full of life and fulfillment…

 
The father then explained to his sons that they were each right, because each had witnessed only one Season in the tree’s life
He told them you cannot judge a tree or a person by only one season…
Not all things are possible in all seasons.  Joy comes from recognizing and appreciating the challenges and opportunities in each Season of Life…

Scripture and Discussion

  • “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” (1 Sam 16:7 )
  • “A  new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”  (John 13:34)

Use these two scriptures to discuss how we can apply the Parable of the Pear tree to how Jeasus wants us to treat others.  Look in the scriptures for other examples of how Jesus loved others.

Treat/Activity
I found this recipe for Pear Bread on SmittenKitchn.com. I thought it would be fun to make it with the family.

Handout:

Download this handout HERE.
 
Download this handout HERE.
 Journal Activity:  
Take some time to have everyone write in their journals. Write ways they can show love for others and how to look on the heart and not the outward appearance.
Filed Under: 14, 14 Day Walk with Christ

Jesus Loves Me – Day #1

March 18, 2013 by 2 Comments

Day #1 Jesus Loves Me
Click HERE for today’s Handouts 
Attention Activity:
Tell the children you have a picture of someone Jesus loves very much.  Ask each child one at a time go in another room with you so you can show them the picture.  As each child comes up to you, hold a mirror and let them look at themselves.  When you reassemble together ask the children to tell you who was in the picture.
Lesson
Read Scripture Story Mark 10:13–16.
The disciples were afraid the children would interrupt and disturb Jesus while he was teaching. But Jesus wanted the children to come near him. “Let the little children come unto me.”
What did Jesus do when the children came to him?
Why did Jesus want the children to come to him? (Because he loved them and wanted to bless them.)

 

Even though Jesus was busy teaching the adults, Jesus took time to hold and bless the little children because of his great love for them.
How do we know Jesus loves us? (Answers may include the following: He created the earth for us; he gave us commandments to live by; he gave his life for us; he directs the Church and speaks to us through his prophets; he set a good example for us.)
Activity:
Gather small items that show Jesus loves us.  Here are a few ideas:
a family picture
music CD
Small toy animals
picture of a church or temple
small set of scriptures
house
plant
fruit
(these can be anything you can think of)
Place the items on a tray.  Let the children look at each of the items and tell how it represents Jesus’ love for them.  Take the tray away and remove a few of the items.  Bring the tray back to the children and see if they can name which items are missing.

Handout & Journal Time
 Click HERE to download these two handouts.
There are two handouts for today.  The first one is for the inside title page.  Print and glue a photo of your child in the frame.  (A school wallet size photo will fit perfectly.)

This second handout goes next to the journal page.  Your children can color the picture.

  Make sure to take time at the end of the lesson to write your feelings in your journal.  List ways you know Jesus loves you.  For smaller children, they can draw a picture and you can write something they say.

Filed Under: 14, 14 Day Walk with Christ

More 14-Day Tags

March 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment

My friend, Brittany, who is joining us on our 14-Day Walk with Christ sent me these cute tags.  If you would like to download these, click HERE.

Filed Under: 14, 14 Day Walk with Christ