God's Word NEVER Fails!

Artwork by Joy Neasley
These scripture cards can be downloaded at
 https://www.etsy.com/shop/LadybugThankYouCards

God's Word NEVER fails! 

As a Pastor I know always says, "You can have, you can be, and you can do what the Word says to you."

My declaration into my life today is:  "God's Word will come to pass in my life today and everyday.  Not one WORD will fail!!!   ---joy

Luke writes it this way in Luke 1:37 AMP, "For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment."  

Therefore, if we speak the Word of God, then His word in my mouth is just as His Word in His mouth.  (quoted from another pastor again...LOL).  

Every word that comes out of my mouth has the power for me to choose to life according to His Word, in an abundant life.

Empowering Children Today - Genesis Part 1

Empowering Children Today

Children’s Ministry 

Lesson 3 Curriculum Introduction

     Lesson 3 covers the first three chapters of the Book of Genesis. Genesis is the first book of the bible and also the first book of the Law.  There are 66 books in the bible altogether.

Books of the Bible (Gale Database)

    

I encourage the students to create a blank book shelf for their note-booking.  Label the top "Books of the Bible" and place the other labels on the shelves.  Every time another book of the bible is studied, the student can create a card stock book to represent the book of the Bible they are studying and place it in the appropriate place on the shelf.

This curriculum requires parent involvement during the week.  Parents can have a night of fellowship in which they can help read the passages of the Bible to their children, and even help them remember by playing a game or doing a craft.

Let's get started:  Here is our ROUGH DRAFT for the lesson 3.

Ages 3-5 yrs.	Ages 6-8 yrs.	Ages 9-11 yrs.	Ages 12-14 yrs.	Ages 15-17 yrs.
Intro	Intro	Intro	Intro	INtro
Discovered Treasure Bible Stories  God made the World Gen 1 God’s Powerful Word Gen 1 God Three in one Gen 1, Jn1 God Made Adam and eve Gen 1-2 Garden of Eden Gen 2 Sin Spoils the World Gen 3 Where are you Adam?  Gen 3 God punishes Sin – Gen 3 Cain and Abel – Gen 4 Noah builds the Ark Gen 6-7 Dry land Again Gen 8-9 Rainbow Promise Gen 9 The Tower of Babel Gen 11	Discovered Treasure Bible Stories Read Gen 1-3 Revelations 12:9 & 20:12 Read Gen 4 Read Gen 6-7, gen 8, gen 11:11:1-9	Discovered Treasure Bible Stories Read Gen 1-3 Revelations 12:9 & 20:12 Read Gen 4-5 Read Gen 6-7, gen 8-9, & gen 10-11	Discovered Treasure Bible Stories Gen 1-3 Gen 4-5 Gen 6-7 Gen 8-9 Gen 10-11	Discovered Treasure Bible Stories Gen 1-3 Gens 4-5 Gen 6-7 Gen 8-9 Gen 10-11
“Got Scripture?” verses Memorize Gen 1:1 Create a scripture card”	“Got Scripture?” verses Review last week’s verse Memorize Gen 1:1 and Gen 1:27.	“Got Scripture?” verses Memorize Gen 1:1, Gen 1:27, and Gen 4:7 *Create a scripture cards”	“Got Scripture?” verses Memorize Gen 1:1, Gen 1:27, Gen 4:7, Gen 3:15, Rev 1-17, *Create a scripture card”	“Got Scripture?” verses Memorize Gen1:1, Gen 1:27, Gen 4:7, Gen 3:15, Rev. 12:1-17, *Create a scripture card”
Notebook/Journal Activities White or draw what the world was like before sin.  Then what was the world like after Adam and Eve ate the forbiddin fruit .	Notebook/Journal Activities Describe what the world was like before sin… either in words or in artwork.	Notebook/Journal Activities Using Genesis 1:11, describe some of the ways God responds to human sin in the bible so far;	Notebook/Journal Activities Write about the four major sins in Gen 1:11.  What happened and how did God respond.	Notebook/Journal Activities Discuss the fulfillment of   Gen 3:15. What are you personal thought about this week’s reading?
Project/Craft draw or describe what it means that the Bible was inspired by God.  Divide paper plate  into seven sections.  Paint each one to represent the days of creation. Create a work of art for this week’s memory verse.	Project/Craft Create a work of art representing this week’s bible story and memory verses.	Project/Craft Divide paper into seven equal sections.  Pain each section to represent a day of creation. Create artwork for your bible verses this week.	Project/Craft Do mini-research on “ziggurats”.  What did you find?	Project/Craft 1.       Share what you have learned this week, create  a video, or short blog, or presentation,
“simply prayer” Pray using scriptures from this week for yourself and others. Add to your prayer journal and pray this week’s scripture and anything else on your heart to pray about..	“simply prayer” ·         Pray using scriptures from this week for yourself and others. ·       Write who you prayed for in your prayer journal	“simply prayer” Pray using scriptures from this week for yourself and others. Write who you prayed for in your prayer journal. Pray this week’s “Operation World” calendar.	“simply prayer” Pray using scriptures from this week for yourself and others. Write who you pray for this week in your prayer journal. Pray this week’s “Operation World” calendar.	“simply prayer” Pray using scriptures from this week for yourself and others. Write who you pray for this week in your prayer journal Pray operation world  topic. Chose one are of the church and pray for it, journal about it, and commit to prayer daily this week on it.
Family Fellowship Read together the bible stories in week 1:  Exploring the O.T. Practice memorizing this week’s scripture.	Family Fellowship Read together the bible stories in week 1:  Exploring the O.T. Practice memorizing this week’s scripture	Family Fellowship ·         Reread the bible stories this week. Practice memorizing this week’s scripture. ·         Pray for someone different each day and write in your prayer journal.	Family Fellowship Reread bible passages Practice “Got Scripture?” Pray “Operation World” calendar. Make or print a world map for prayer journal.	Family Fellowship Reread bible passages Practice “Got Scripture?” Pray “Operation World” calendar. Make or print a world map for prayer journal.

In the future I plan to write the bible stories for the younger age levels.  However, for now there are several great children's bibles out there... Here is the one my children loved and took them through the age of 9:  The Children's Bible in 365 Stories by Mary Batchelor  (Author) , John Haysom (Illustrator).

Note:  More notebooking, crafts, journaling, etc will be added as we try out the curriculum.

Here are a few websites that include great journaling ideas where the children are not only learning God's Word but also expressing it in both written and artistic means to enhance their learning process.

1.  creating the journal from scratch (or notebook)  http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2011/09/collage-art-journal-covers.html

2.  As children hear the bible readings, they can artistically express what they have learned.  http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2011/09/collage-art-journal-covers.html

Creating scripture memory cards can be as simple or elaborate as the child would like.  You can use a computer and business card stock from the department store.  I have even seen parents help children write them on small paint color chips that you find at a store selling wall paint.  

Operation World is a great website with a calendar to follow for praying for different people in different countries.  Here is a link to their prayer calendar http://www.operationworld.org/prayer-calendar . 

 In addition to praying for the various people groups around the world, encourage the children to pray for those around them.  Then, write down what they prayed for their friends or others, and watch as the prayers come to pass. 

I also encourage the older children to go to "simply prayer"  and share their prayers and the answer to those prayers.  It is always encouraging to others who might be going through the same situations to see God work in other's lives.

There is a great printable timeline for the older students to use at http://webminis.tyndale.com/chronologicallifeapplication/wp-content/themes/chronologicallifeapplication/clasb.pdf  

It's a privilege!!!

I am thankful to be given the opportunity to do this.  However, it takes a team to get this into Mandarin in five different age groups of children and teens.  There are also training materials for children's pastor and leaders and volunteers, and even parents that will also need to be created and translated.  Isn't that exciting?

If you would like to donate to help this project, just go to the tab at the top of the page on the right that says donate.

I am producing this in English first.  If you try some of the curriculum while it is in rough draft form, please make suggestions in the comment section of the blog.  This is ultimately for the Asian people.  However, I would like to share it with my Partners and their Children's Ministries also.

Since it is in rough draft form, many changes and additions will be added before it is finished.  Thank you for your patience.

Prov. 4:20-23 insights

Many of you will find this funny or strange, but it is my note taking and study method of God's Word.

Here is a sample of my study of Proverbs 4:20-23, which is also today's Scripture memory verse.

2014 Prayer Requests:

First prayer request of 2014:  

 I need to move into an apartment closer to the center of the action we handle here in this country.

It needs to be between 1800 and 20000 sq. feet.  Four bedroon with master bath, and bath for the fourth bedroom also.  Half bath guest bathroom.  The apartment will be set up to encourage small group fellowship, and maybe even for midweek children' ministry.  

One bedroom mine, another is guest room, another is room for a roommate, and the last one is a studio for me to artwork, curriculum development, etc.  

The main part of the apartment should be open floor plan with a kitchen and room set up for fellowship with many tables and chairs.  

I also need financing for the development of materials on "How to locate a good children's pastor", volunteer training, a handbook on running the curriculum, (which will require professional translators to translate it all in Mandarin,), and a team to assist me with this.  The curriculum will be designed for ages 3-5, ages 6-8, ages 9-11, and ages 12-17.  The project "Empowering Children Today" is already underway, but generous financing will speed things up drasticaly.

Waking up in the mornings, seems to be when i hear Him the clearest.

Morning Wake-up Call!

Artwork by Joy Neasley.
Prayer produces a strong rooted foundation that keeps the tree strong even when a storm comes through.  It also produces growth and fruit as we persevere in prayer.  Even prayer in worship and thanksgiving produces a sweet a sweet sound unto God's ears.

Morning Wake-up Call!

Many times I awake in the mornings, and while I lay in bed for a few  minutes, I can more easily hear that still small voice of God a He speak.

This morning I clearly saw this vision of Prayer that I had drawn yesterday.  

I also clearly heard the verses in Matthew 7:7-8.  

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."