God

It’s time to get outside in God’s beautiful world!

“You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.
Nehemiah 9:6

I love all the seasons, but especially the warmer ones.  I am looking forward to spending lots of time outside.  As you experience the beauty of God’s creation during this season, please remember to share with your children that it IS God’s creation.  Lead them to praise Him. Make up songs about it.  Here’s one suggestion:

https://youtu.be/AbWgeJOMQ4U

Hopefully you will get to take a family trip this summer, maybe to the beach to get sand between your toes. To The Sea by Callie Grant is a book about a day at the beach that young children will enjoy.  The pictures by Jeremy Tugeau make you almost able to smell the sea air. (The author’s mission is to encourage and equip parents to effectively teach their kids about God and His creation, even at a very young age.) (Check out some of her other books on this site here.) In the book the sand castle is washed away by the sea, but the boy builds one on a rock and it stands safe. Play in the sand and tell this parable from Matthew 7:24-29.

Even if you can’t get away this summer, take advantage of every opportunity around you to enjoy God’s beautiful world with your children.  Jesus used visuals from nature as he taught.
Read Matthew 6:25-33 and be ready to share His teachings the next time you are outside observing birds or looking at flowers.

Hike, explore, play in the sand. Start collecting things from nature – moss, feathers, shells, rocks, leaves, seeds, an abandoned bird’s nest or wasp nest.  Make a nature box full of items you can enjoy all year.  And don’t forget to point out that all God’s creation praise Him!

All your works praise you, LORD; your faithful people extol you.
Psalm 145:10

Nature Box
Nature Box

Side Note: Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says to speak of God and His word as we go.  Everything doesn’t have to be related to a Bible verse, but as you discover things on your nature walk you could say, “Think of the wonders of God” (Job 37:14) or “all God’s works praise Him” (Psalm 145:10)

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Job believed God is bigger than the bad things that happened to him.

Telling the Story:

Read the book of Job and tell it dramatically in your own words or read it to your children from a Children’s Bible.  My First Study Bible tells and illustrates the story excellently.

Here’s a suggested telling of the story.  “Job loved God and had been very blessed by Him with many animals, nice houses, 7 sons, and 3 daughters. He was very happy.  But one day thieves stole all of his animals.  Then a great wind destroyed the house that all of his children were dining in and they were all killed.  Then Job became sick with sores all over his body.  He was sad that God had allowed all these bad things to happen to him but he never stopped trusting God!!

His friends came to sit with him and told him that all these things had happened because he was a bad person.  Job knew that wasn’t the truth.  He cried out to God for answers.  God came to Job in a whirlwind and reminded Job how big He is and all the things He can do.  Job believed that God is greater than man (Job 33:12)  God told him his friends were wrong and then God told Job to pray for his friends.

The Bible says that after Job prayed for his friends God began to restore all that had been taken away. He gave Job TWICE as much as he had before – (Job 42:10 When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes.) Job was happy again.  Job knew and loved God even more now.

Activities:

Use a circle cut from cardstock and covered in clear contact paper as Job’s face.  Glue on wiggly eyes. Use play dough to show the different feelings Job had (glad, sad, and glad again) Show the sores on his face and then show his face after God healed him.


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Lunch can be a sandwich made to look like sad Job.

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Mark two jars, one with ‘God Can’ and the other marked ‘I Can’.  Write on legos somethings that only God can do (ex. – make a fish, cause the sun to shine), and somethings that we can do (ex. – catch a fish, turn on a flashlight).  Drop the legos in the appropriate jars.

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Sing “My God is So Big”

 

Lead children to pray for their friends like Job did.  Especially tell them about and pray for a friend your family might know who quit trusting God when something bad happened.


(Click here for another lesson on How Big God is.)

 

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God Sees Me

 

I received this question from a mom last week:

“We are having a problem with our preschool son being sneaky. We tell him no and he waits until we aren’t looking and then does it.
Any scriptures for this one? Ideas? Help.”

Below is my response:

“This one verse comes to mind:
 Genesis 16:13 Thereafter, Hagar referred to the Lord, who had spoken to her, as’the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have seen the One who sees me!’
Here is a week long lesson I used with my children using this verse:”

 

God Sees Me

Genesis 16:13 God Sees Me

Bible Stories: (Tell a different Bible Story each day)

Genesis 3 Adam and Eve disobeyed God. They ate some fruit from a tree that God had told them not to eat. They tried to hide themselves from God in the garden. But God came looking for them. He knew what had happened. God saw them. God was very disappointed with Adam and Eve. Remember that God sees you and you can’t hide from Him when you do wrong.

Genesis 16 There was a lady name Hagar who ran away from her home. She ran to the wilderness trying to hide from everyone but God knew where she was and he told her to go home. Hagar said, “You, God, see me: and she went home like God had told her to do. God sees me everywhere I go and He sees you everywhere you go. God sees everyone.

Proverbs 15:3 The Bible says that God’s eyes are everywhere and He sees all the good things we do and He sees all the bad things we do. Even when mom and dad aren’t watching you, God is watching you. God sees you; He keeps His eyes on you to take care of you and to keep you out of trouble. Always remember that God sees you and when you are tempted to do something bad, ask yourself if you want God to see you doing that.

1 Kings 19 A wicked queen named Jezebel was mad a the preacher Elijah. She wanted to hurt him so Elijah ran away. He ran into the wilderness and sat down under a juniper tree and went to sleep. God saw Elijah there and woke him up and gave him some food and water. Then Elijah went to a cave. God saw him there, too. God saw Elijah everywhere he went. God told Elijah he had special things for him to do and to go back. Elijah obeyed God because he knew that saw him.

Jonah God told Jonah He wanted him to go to Ninevah to preach to the eople there. But Jonah didn’t want to go to Ninevah. He got on a boat going to Tarshish to hide from God. But God saw him on that boat and sent a big wind to disturb the water and cause the boat to almost sink. The men on the boat found out that Jonah was trying to hide from God so they threw him out of the boat. God saw Jonah in the water and caused a big fish to swallow Johan. God saw Jonah in the fish and heard him praying. God made the fish spit Jonah out on dry land. Then Jonah went to Ninevah and preached like God had told him to do. Jonah learned that God saw him wherever he was.

Prayer: Help us to always act with the thought that You see us. Thank you that we can’t hide from You. You are always watching over us to keep us from trouble.

Activities:

  • Cut the letters ‘God Sees Me’ out of felt and frame them and hang them on the wall as a constant reminder that even when no one else is looking, God sees me.
  • Show glasses, telescope, mirror, camera, microscope, binoculars, sunglasses. Talk about the fact that God doesn’t need any of these things to see us.
  • Have child turn their back and you take one of the items away.  When they turn around have them guess which one you removed.  Talk about the fact that God sees what we do when others can’t.
  • Go in every room, outside, under the bed, etc and repeat the Bible verse in each place
  • Play Hide and Seek with older children and Peek a Boo with younger – pointing out that even when you can’t see them God still can


“You can talk to him about honesty which is being careful what you say and do – Click here for a post on this site for ideas and a song with signing video about honesty.

Hopefully something here will be helpful. Thank you for having a passion for establishing God’s Word in your children.

‘You are doing a great work’ (Jeremiah 6:3)”

Please feel free to email me with any questions at sheilahdaws@gmail.com. Not that I have all the answers, but I would be happy to try and help you find the answers as you train up your child in the way he should go.

 

 

 

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How Big is God!?!

(This is another lesson from Here a Little, There a Little, a compilation of Bible activities I created to use with my preschool children. It was designed to spend a week memorizing the verse and reinforcing it through Bible lessons and activities.)

Our Big God

God is greater than man.
Job 33:12

Bible Stories:

  1. Psalm 104 David wrote about how great God is.  He knew God was greater than man.  It was God that made the heavens, water, and earth.  He puts the mountains and valleys in place..  God walks on the wind, causes the thunder, gives water to all the animals, and causes the grass to grow.  It is God who has made darkness, feeds the animals, causes the sun to rise and set, gives the animals homes, makes the moon to rise and set.  Man could work from morning to night and not be able to do all God does and has done and will do!!  Truly God is greater than man.
  2. Exodus 2:11-14; 3:1-22; 14:15-31 Moses saw one of his people being beaten by an Egyptian.  This made Moses angry and he wanted to help his friend.  Moses killed the Egyptian and buried him in order to help his friend.  The next day someone found the Egyptian that Moses had buried and knew that Moses had done it.  Moses ran away.  God followed Moses and told him that he saw how bad his people were being treated and he was going to use Moses to help them.  God lead Moses to gather the people and lead them out of Egypt.  The Egyptian army followed them.  When they got to the sea, God parted the water and let them pass to the other side.  Just when the army started to pass, God caused all the army to be buried under the water.  God showed Moses that He is greater than man.  When Moses tried to help his people, he only helped one, only destroyed one Egyptian, and then didn’t bury him very well because someone found him.  When God helped His people, He helped them all, destroyed the entire Egyptian army, and completely buried them in the sea.  God IS greater than man!
  3. Isaiah 55:8-9:25-31 God is greater than man.  God said that His ways are higher than our ways.  The things God thinks and plans are greater and wiser than the things we think and plan.  That is why we should always ask God what He wants us to do because He knows what is best for us.  God is greater than we are and knows more than we know.  Always ask God to show you what to do because He is greater than you.
  4. Matthew 14:25-31 Jesus’ disciples were in a boat one night and Jesus came to them walking on the water.  Peter then wanted to come to Jesus and walk on the water, but he began to sink in the water because he was afraid.  Jesus was greater than Peter.  Jesus could walk on the water but Peter couldn’t.  God is greater than man and can do things greater than men can do.
  5. Philippians 2:9-11 Jesus is greater than man.  God has even given Him a name that is greater than any man’s name. God says that at the name of Jesus everyone and everything shall bow down.  Jesus’ name has power and we can use His name to help us with any problem.  When we use Jesus’ name everything and every person will have to respect His name.  God is greater than man.  Jesus is greater than man and His name is greater than man.
  6. Mark 4:36-39 Jesus and His disciples were in a boat.  Jesus was taking a nap.  All of  sudden a big storm came up with strong wind that was tossing the boat back and forth.  The disciples were afraid.  When they woke Jesus, He spoke to the wind and said “Peace, be still”.  Immediately the wind stopped.  Only Jesus can stop the wind!!

 

Prayer: Help us to always be aware that You are greater than us and we should depend on You to handle our problems

 

Activities for younger preschooler:

  1. Go outside and point out all God made and share the verse
  2. While in the tub, tell the story of God parting the water
  3. Let him look in the mirror and talk about only God can make a cute little baby like him.
  4. While in the tub, tell the story of Jesus walking on water
  5. Sing ‘Jesus, Jesus, There’s Something About That Name’ from Bill Gaither’s Especially for Children
  6. Let him feel the wind and talk about how Jesus stopped the wind

 

Activities for older preschoolers:

  1. Put the verse on the refrigerator.
  2. Play in the pool or bath and tell the story about God parting the waters
  3. Show a rock, sand, water, etc.  Tell him to try and make a rock.  Share the verse.
  4. In the tub or pool, tell the story of Jesus walking on water.  Try to walk on water.
  5. Print the name of Jesus in block letters and let your child color it while you sing ‘Jesus, Jesus, There’s Something About That Name’ from Bill Gaither’s Especially for Children
  6. Stand in front of a fan and try to stop the wind

 

Songs:

“Jesus, Jesus, There’s Something About That Name“
Listen to it here
Purchase it here

“My God Is So Big”

 

Books:

Check your children’s Bibles for the stories mentioned above.  If you don’t have any, there are several recommended on the Train Up The Child aStore

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The Lord is Good to All – Bible Stories and Activities

Here a Little, There a Little is a compilation of Bible activities I created years ago to use with my preschool children.  It was designed to spend a week memorizing one verse and reinforcing it through 5 Bible lessons and 5 activities.  I hope you find this week’s lesson helpful to intentionally notice the ways God is good to us.

God is Good

Psalm 145:9  The Lord is good to all.

Bible Stories: (I suggest you read the stories from the Bible and then tell them in your own words with expression.  Also find them in your children’s Bible and read them to your children.)

  1. Genesis 2 God made the first man and named him Adam.  He was good to Adam.  He gave him all kinds of animals to keep him company.  But Adam was still lonely so God made Adam a wife to be his best friend, to talk to, and to share the garden with.  God made Eve to be Adam’s wife.  God was good to Adam (Proverbs 18:22)
  2. Exodus 14 God’s people were being chased by some bad people who didn’t love God and wanted to hurt His people.  When they came to a great big sea, they had no way to cross the water, so God parted the water in the center and the people of God walked on dry land right over to the other side of the sea without even getting wet! Then the bad men started to cross over after them, but God caused the waters to go back together and all the bad men were drowned.  God protected his people; He was good to them.
  3. I Samuel 1 Hannah was so sad because she wanted a baby very badly.  She asked God for a baby and God answered her prayer.  He gave her a baby boy named Samuel.  God was good to Hannah and wanted her to be happy.  God was good to us so He gave us a special gift from Him – He gave us you!  The Bible (Psalm 127:3) tells us that children are a gift from God.
  4. Matthew 8:20, Matthew 6:25-34 God is good to the birds; He gives them nests to live in. God is good to the foxes; He gives them holes to live in .  God feeds the birds and clothes the flowers and the grass.  Jesus said that if God takes care of these, how much more will He take care of you and feed and clothe you too. He is good to all!
  5. God is good to you; The Bible tells us that He thinks about you (Psalm 139:17).  He is with you always (Joshua 1:9).  He even knows when you are crying and catches your tears (Psalm 56:8).   He gives you good things to eat (Psalm 103:5). God is good to you!!

Prayer: Thank You, God,  for being so good to us. (Lead your child to thank God for  specific things as they come to mind)

Activities for baby:

  1. Sing the songs in the videos below and change the words to fit what you might be doing that reminds you that God is good.
  2. While rocking, name the ways God is good to us.
  3. Let baby look in a mirror and talk about how good God is to have given him to you
  4. Feed the birds and talk about how God takes care of them and us.
  5. Share the verse while he eats.

Activities for older preschoolers:

  1. Creatively write or illustrate the verse.  Hang it on the fridge or in a prominent place all week.
  2. Lead him to name ways God is good to us and sing the songs below, fitting the things he named into the songs.
  3. Look at pictures of when he was born and talk about how good God is to have given him to you.
  4. Feed the birds and talk about how God takes care of them and us.
  5. Make cookies and say “God satisfies our mouths with good things to eat (Psalm 103:5).

Songs:


Books:

Check out these:

Children’s Bibles

My Awesome God Bible Story Book



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