The DEEP VBS 2018

We were bubbling up with excitement over this under the water theme!  

"They see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the DEEP."

Psalm 107:24

Here is an over view of our week.  (For more of a complete lesson plan, contact me!)

Day 1- The Trenches- Deep Faith-

Day 2-The Reef- Calm in the Storm

Day 3-Goin' Fishin'- Obedience 

Day 4- The Well- Salvation

Each of these lessons was a classroom on rotation as well.  

Example: Day 1

Minute to Win it- Ice Breaker Games- Crab Ball-Kids wear oven mitts and transfer ping pong balls

Welcome

Rules

Worship- We used the music from Submerged VBS. CD is up for purchase on Lifeway or on Youtube.

Lesson:  Today we are headed to the TRENCHES.  A trench is a long narrow, deep cut in the ocean floor.  It's pretty deep.  We are going DEEP today. How our faith has to run deep inside of us to keep us a float or we may end up sinking.  Are you going to be a floater or a sinker?  When you have big waves coming at you in life, will you have the FAITH it takes to float thru it or will you sink in despair.  When we believe, we have FAITH.  But it's up to you what you will believe in. Will you have faith in yourself or man OR will you put your faith in Yeshua/Jesus and His ability?  In your devo time you will discuss the bible story about Peter.  He had faith, but he allowed fear to enter his heart and mind and he started to sink in the water.  So how can you build your faith in Yeshua and stand strong on it so you won't sink!  What is faith?  Having complete trust and confidence in Someone or something.  Even though we may not see that person or thing.  Do you believe you have a heart?  Are you sure? Why? (allow kids to answer)  You can't see your heart, but you know it's there.  How about the air?  You can't see it, but you know it's there.  You see evidence of it.  We were not there when Jesus died on the cross and rose again, but we were told and there were several hundred eye witnesses.  Where can we read about that again???? Oh yes, the bible!

(prepare a giant set of colorful keys, with the words, Faith, Love, Healing, Fear and Joy)

Now keys are used for all sorts of things.  Mostly to unlock things like my car, my house, the office or a safe.  But today, I want to talk about a key that unlocks things we didn't even think about.  Now, when we have the key of FAITH, it unlocks so many other doors in life.  It unlocks the power of God in your life. When we have the key of FAITH in God, it can unlock things like: Love for others, Healing when we doubted, Fears, and Joy!  Make sure you have faith in Yeshua, and you will have the key to walk out your faith in Him.  Do you have the faith to be a floater or will you sink in your disbelief.

Dr Marine Biologist:  Dr. Holly Mackeral

 Object Lesson: Do you have faith?  Need: Slush Powder, water, 2 cups and volunteer(full object lesson found on Youtube.)

Memory Verse:  "That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Puppet Skit-Petey and Ms. Judy

Rotation Begins: 1 hour duration

Rejoin in Sanctuary at 7:45 for Musical Practice

8pm Dismiss

Pinterest helped me make these awesome coral reefs!

Check in and name tag station

Stage area and puppet stage

The rotation:  The kids visit a different station every night, and my teachers teach the same lesson plan. Much easier on my volunteers!

Example classroom lesson:  The Trench

Teacher Objective:  Teaching the kids that we need to have FAITH, and truly trust Yeshua. With Him all things work out to good, even though things look scary and dark.

Location: Classroom A & B

Duration: 1 hour

Bible Devo time: Jesus and Peter walk on Water -Matthew 14:22-34

Craft: Sand Dollar painting. Need: Sand dollars(Amazon) water colors and supplies

Activity:  Floater or sinker?  Paper clip activity (found online)

Snack: " Walking on Water"

Teddy grahams, blue frosting on graham crackers

Verse Game: Balloon Chaos Verse Game

 "That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

1 Cor. 2:5

Help! It's Sukkot and I'm In Charge of the Kids!! 5 Tips to Get You Started

Sukkot is one of my favorite times of the year.  Our community does a family camp and it's a great time of fellowship.  Nothing brings a community together like no make-up, sweatshirts everyday and lack of showers.  But when we get together, we are swimming in children.  There are about 50 children that we adults have to keep an eye on throughout the day.  Mostly, they are playing games, boating or hiking.  But it is nice to have a time for all to come together in the afternoon to do a craft  and devotional with the kids. So, if your community has either one day or several days together during Sukkot, these tips will help keep you organized.

1. Color-Code the kids. This will help keep the kids together as color groups and minimize the group sizes(10 kids per group). I like to mix ages, so if there are older kids in the group, they can assist the younger. Use either colored name tag lanyards or colored rubber bracelets. Have them return them in a coordinating colored basket at the end of your time.

2. Rotate to different stations in one day(5+ hr, 5 stations) or 1 hour and 15 min. per day for 5 days. Each station lasting an hour. Give each station a fun Sukkot name. Ex. Snack time= Manna Station.

3.Have a schedule:     Sing Songs
                                   Devotional Talk and memory verse
                                   Craft 
                                   Snack and activity
                                   Game.
If you do each thing for 15 minutes and then rotate to the next station, you will have done about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Add more stations if you'd like!

4. Ideas, Ideas and more Ideas!!  There really is a wealth of knowledge out there to help you plan.  Making a sukkot out of a refrigerator box.  We did this when my kids were little. Make edible sukkah's.  Graham cracker walls and pretzel rooftop..yummy!!  For your devotional, talk about the Israelites traveling through the dessert and having to pack up their temporary dwellings and move. Have the kids pick up their selves, tables, chairs and "travel" .  Be creative and just be organized. The kids will have a ton of fun.

5. Get volunteers.  Don't do this all yourself.  Look for like minded people who want to invest in the children and genuinely want to help them grow in Yeshua. You will need 5 adults, one per station.  Depending on the number of kids, 2 adults per group and some teens are great!

Happy Sukkot!!

ABC's of Shabbat

When I first started keeping Shabbat, I didn't have the best attitude.  If I had a list like this to help me transition out of a self-centered Saturday to a holy, Christ -centered Shabbat, it wouldn't have taken me so long to appreciate how beautiful and set-apart this day can truly become.  May your Shabbats be richly blessed!

Acts of Love-Above all days, lets speak and have actions of love
Bike ride- A leisurely ride and praying as you go.
Create and decorate a Bible/Prayer journal
Design a Bible Study just for you
Erev Shabbat Meal-light some candles and pray and eat together as a family.  My daughter likes to set the table extra special for Shabbat meal.
Feed the Duck or birds.  This is relaxing thing to do if you have littles.  Letting them appreciate God's creation.
Gather with believers.  We are commanded to fellowship with like minded believers.  This can be a lonely path, and we need to sharpen each other weekly.
Hospitality-Open your home to others to share a simple meal and encourage fellowship
Inspect your Heart- It is important to have a weekly check up to remove any bitterness, anger or unresolved issues to truly have a healing Shabbat.
Jigsaw puzzle- If you can truly relax(I can't) doing a 10,000 piece puzzles, it's a nice activity during those long peaceful summer Shabbats.
Knit a gift- One Shabbat I was home with my sick toddler and was able to knit a baby hat for my niece.
Listen to Worship or a favorite sermon or teaching.  This creates such a wonderful atmosphere to welcome in Shabbat.
Make a card --Snail mail is dying art.  Especially something hand made.  Add a verse and encouragement. If you are feeling creative, this will truly bless someone.  If you just write a card, it will equally bless the receiver.
Nature Walk- I love doing this with my family.  Peaceful family walk. Surrounded by God's beautiful handiwork.
Organize a prayer group- This a great way to welcome in Shabbat for Erev Shabbat or for the end of Shabbat as a Havdalah.
Pray-If a group setting is not your thing, then get in that prayer closet
Quiz your family on Bible Trivia- We like doing this on Friday Nights in the winter when Shabbat begins at 4pm.
Read the Word- This needs to be one of the first things we do
Sing Praises-This is a wonderful runner up
Talk with your spouse, kids, --I like to take this time to have one on one devotions with each of my girls and take the time to see how they are doing.
Unplug-In this day and age, this is an important thing to do.  We are so tied to our electronics, we need to cut the cord on Shabbat and focus on Him.
Visit the sick, homebound, new mother.  This a wonderful time to visit someone who is unable to attend services or needs to see Yeshua in you by giving your time to care.
Write in your prayer/Bible journal- This past 6 months I have incorporated a Bible Journal where I write the verses that minister to me during my devotions and I love it.  Decorating it is fun too!
Xamine your attitude- Shabbat is made for us. If you want to truly be blessed by it, your attitude may need to be adjusted.
Yeshua is the center of the day.  We keep Shabbat because we love Him. May all we do, point to Him on Shabbat and bring honor and glory to Him.
Zzzzzzzzzz.....Rest, nap...we worked 6 days and now it's time to rest. 

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."  Exodus 20:8

Is Yeshua Enough??

This Messianic movement has grown leaps and bounds over the years.  It has rabbit trailed this way and that way.  I am afraid Satan is using the internet to distract us away from the Word and the Spirit of Torah.
Am I Jewish enough?  Am I Christian enough? Headcovering? Fringes?
Isn't Yeshua Enough?
Tzitzi ? Phylacteries? Long Hair? Long dresses? Beards?
Isn't Yeshua Enough?

That is the question I want to shout from the mountain tops!  Is Yeshua Enough for you or do you feel the need to scour the internet for more ways to please Him?  Instead, we should be scouring the Word for more ways to please Him.  You will find that the internet and God's Word do not always line up.  So why not just stick to what we KNOW is true..the Bible.
It reminds me of the Haggadah during Passover...DAYENU!  It would have been enough!  If the Israelites has been taken out of Egypt...It would have been enough.   Is what Yeshua did for you, enough? Or are you adding on baggage that we were not supposed to bear.

Yeshua, you love me more than anything....Dayenu
Yeshua, you promise to never leave my side...Dayenu
Yeshua, you can give a peace and joy that can't be taken....Dayenu
Yeshua, you died on the cross for my sins...Dayenu
Yeshua, you rose again...Dayenu
Yeshua, you are coming back for me...DAYENU!

Just give me Yeshua!