Even though the DVD is geared to children, I learned sooo much!  Why do we cut down trees?  Where did the name ‘Christmas’ actually come from?  What about Santa?  Those are some of the questions it addresses.  The best part about it is that it leads children back to salvation-the reason Jesus came.  How wonderful is that!

For those of you who want to teach this as a unit in homeschool and/or in a small group format, they offer great resources!  Take a look!

Sisters of the Faith is so excited to sponsor a “Why Do We Call it Christmas” sweepstakes!  One person will receive one free copy ($12.95 value) of “Why Do We Call it Christmas.”  The sweepstakes will run from December 11, 2011 to December 31, 2011.  All you have to do is enter here!  (Please see sweepstakes official rules).

Want to get more information about the whole series?  Visit:

http://www.buckdenver.com/

http://www.facebook.com/WhatsintheBible?sk=wall

I know this sounds like such a cliché and so many times we say it because it sounds good, but it’ really true, we all need each other. I know some of us would like to think they don’t need anyone else, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. We need each other. God created us to be in healthy relationship with one another. Vicky Winans has a song out that says “Long as I got King Jesus I don’t need nobody else.” And as catchy as that song is it’s only true to a certain extent.

First  Corinthians 11:11-12 reads, Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, even so man comes through woman; but all things are from God. We need each other. My kingdom assignment is attached to your kingdom assignment.  In order for us to grow into the fullness of what God has called for us we must learn to work together. Every part must do its share. No one is too young and no one is too old. We can all still grow in one area or another. Yes we can come to Him as a child,  but we don’t have to stay as a child.

The body must build itself up in love. When we love right we are strengthening our spiritual muscles, when we love right we are declaring to the world that Jesus is truly Lord, when we love right we are letting the world know that God is real and His love is true, when we love right we are saying that God is in control here, when we love right we show one another that we need each other. When we love right we send a consistent message to the world that God so loved her that He gave His only begotten son and that whosoever believe upon Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  When we love right we prove the testimony of Jesus Christ to be true and that what He went through, He did it for me and He did it for you. He endured the mistreatment of others. He put up with the sinful condition of man while speaking the truth in love. He showed His love by washing the filthy feet of 12 grown men, one would deny Him, one would doubt Him, one would betray Him, while the others strayed from Him.  He yet loved them and it was love that allowed Him to subject Himself into the hands of sinners.  It was love that allowed Him endure three trials that would condemn Him of crimes that He did not commit.  It was love that allowed Him to endure brutal beatings, mocking, spitting, and cursing.  It was love that allowed Him to be nailed to a cross that held Him up in pain and agony. It was love that allowed Him to say, “Father into thy hands I commit my spirit.” It was love that allowed Him to be separated from the Father for three days, but the testimony is true that on that third day it was love that raised Jesus up with all power in His hands! It was love that allowed Him to ascend and it’s gonna be love that’s gonna allow Him to come back again!

He’s coming back church, He coming for a spiritually mature church.  He’s coming for those who are working together in love.  He’s coming for those who acknowledge that He is the head of all things. That’s why we must grow up church! Grow up because the earth in is her birth pains and is moaning and groaning waiting for the sons of God to be revealed. With earthquakes going on in various places, wars and yes even rumors of wars we must grow up. Kingdom is rising against kingdom, it’s time to grow up! Nations are being overturned, it’s time to grow up!  Children are being sold into sex trade it’s time to grow up. Young men are killing one another,it’s time to grow up. Grow up into your kingdom assignment. Grow up and tell somebody about Jesus.  Grow up in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior.  Grow up and let bygones be bygones!  Grow up and let go of grudges.  Grow up give God full control!  Grow up and stop letting your peers influence your thinking! Grow up and let God be God in every aspect of your life!  It’s time to grow up church! Grow up! Grow up!

Part One

Part Two

So why should we grow up? Why can’t we just stay the way we are?

The first reason why we should grow up is because God is not through with us yet!

Verse 14 indicates that we should no longer be children: truth is some people are adults, but they demand to have their own way, and throw temper tantrums when they can’t get their own way.  They are swayed by their peers, follow the crowd, and accept things at face value. This is considered childlike behavior. Paul said in 1 Cor. 13:11, When I was a child, I spoke as a child; I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things. Many of us have yet to put away childish things. Paul encourages the church to longer be children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine. There were false teachers among the Ephesian church teaching different things pertaining to Christ and if it sounded good it was accepted. Just like it was then, so it is now. There are those who bring division and not unity. There are those who plan, plot, and scheme trying to sway this one this way and that one that way. They try to control and manipulate people into following them and not necessarily Christ, airing their ungodly opinions and trying to form ungodly alliances and to those who accept this God says Grow Up!

Grow up and get some discernment (learn how to differentiate good/evil)!  Grow up and understand what is truly going on among you. Grow up and recognize when someone is trying to get you to do the wrong thing.  Recognize when someone is trying to get you to do their will and not God’s will.

Secondly, we must grow up because God wants total control.

In verse 15 Paul writes, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ. Saints God wants total control of every aspect of our lives. I don’t mean control in a manipulative way, but control in a loving way. Love should be the motive behind everything we do. Love should be the driving force of the church; love should be the reason behind why we say what we say. God has called us to speak the truth in love. Love is not a noun, but love in a verb. Love is not a feeling, love is choice. Love is and love does!

First Corinthians 13:4-7 reads, Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. The Bible says that God is love and He has commanded us to love one another. We should be able to speak the truth to one another in love, not in frustration, not rudely, not in envy, not in pride, but in true love.

The problem sometimes tends to be that we speak the truth out of emotion or even out of self; sometimes the problem can be that we can dish it, but we can’t take it. Maybe we don’t want to hear the truth. But saints if we are going to grow up and be all that God called us to be we must be willing to speak the truth in love and receive the truth in love. If love is not the motivating factor behind why you say what you say, then flat out don’t say it. God wants total control. He wants to be seen in all that we do and heard in all that we say. Christ is the head of the body of Christ. He is the authoritative leader it’s not you it’s not I, it’s not even the pastor: it’s Christ! Christ is in charge of the church. So God wants us to grow up because he wants total control in every aspect of our lives.

Part One

Part Three

Grow Up!

We each have a kingdom assignment! When God created both you and I He had a kingdom assignment intended for each us. Whether we know what that assignment is or not, the truth still remains that we have a kingdom assignment. Notice, I said kingdom assignment and not just an assignment. In other words there are things that God has called each of us to do for Him. I believe we get confused sometimes, thinking that our jobs are our Kingdom Assignment. No, your occupation is for you, but your vocation or (calling) is for God.

In Ephesians 4:11-16 we find a description of the five- fold ministry that Christ has given the church, His body of believers. Verse 11 says that he gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors, and teachers. Just in case there is someone here who does not know what these offices are please allow me to briefly explain. This goes beyond denomination: Apostles are the ones who have seen Christ, have walked with Christ and have been commissioned by Christ to lay the foundation of the church. Prophets are the ones called to speak direct revelation from God to God’s people. Evangelists are those who are called to proclaim the good news of salvation anywhere they may go. Pastors/teachers are those who shepherd God’s flock through preaching, teaching and ministering to the various needs of the people.

So, I believe it’s safe to say that everyone has a Kingdom Assignment. Now I can just hear somebody saying “Sister Moore none of those things sounds like me,” and that’s cool but there is still something that God has called you to do. Ephesians 2:10 reads: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The purpose of the fivefold ministry is found in verse 12.  That purpose is for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry and edifying of the body of Christ. Notice, the purpose of the fivefold ministry is not self-centered but Christ centered.

The words equip or equipping means to make fit and complete. It is the responsibility of the leaders of the body to make the saints fit and complete for the work of the ministry.

But, who are the saints? The saints are those who believe in Christ. Therefore if you are a believer in Christ there is a ministry assigned to you.

To edify or edifying is the spiritual building up, nurturing, and development of the church. In other words, God’s main concern is not a physical building but a spiritual one. What good is a new edifice without anyone to fill it? What good is it for you to faithfully attend a physical building if you are not going to share the good news about Him with anyone?

It matters not how young or old you are everyone can participate in the edifying of the building up of the body of Christ.  Every true believer or follower of Christ everyone should tell someone about Christ. If God has saved you, you ought to tell it, if he has changed you, you ought to tell it, delivered you, helped you, healed you, you ought to tell it.

Don’t tell me you don’t know your Kingdom Assignment, if you just start telling people about Jesus you are fulfilling your Kingdom Assignment. Notice I didn’t say to tell anyone about your “church,” no I said tell someone about Jesus!

We don’t have a problem inviting people to church but when it comes to telling them about Jesus we tend to not be as loud about it. Tell how Jesus forgave your sins, tell how He took you in, tell how he changed your life, tell how he loves you, tell how he teaches you, tell how he makes you smile, tell how serving Him is worthwhile tell somebody about Jesus.

I believe somehow the church has lost her focus, and we seem to think it’s all about “our church”  and we fail to remember why we go to “our church” in the first place. We come to build up and not tear down, we come to unify not divide.  We come to praise and worship not to gossip; we come to embrace one another, encourage one another, share with one another, care for one another, and love one another. How long do we do this for?

Verse 13 says till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; till.  It’s a word that denotes time.  Till. It’s an immeasurable span of time that ends whenever God sees fit.  Till, till we all reach the unity of the faith.  Till, till we agree across denominations, culture, background, race and class. Till, till we are all united in the knowledge of the son of God.

The word used for knowledge means to know by experience. Many people have heard of Jesus but have yet to experience Jesus. Many are fans of Jesus but not necessarily followers of Jesus. It’s not enough to know of Jesus, but we must know Him by experience. God wants us to experience Jesus. We must experience His life saving power, experience his power to change, experience his power to forgive, experience his power to grow us.  God wants to perfect us or mature us in such a way that His qualities are seen in every area of our lives. I don’t know about you but I got a long way to go. My attitude isn’t always godly, my responses aren’t always godly, my behavior isn’t always godly, my tone of voice isn’t always godly, I know I’ve got a long way to go but thanks be unto God that I’ve come a long way and I know that I’m alone. We were all something else before you got serious about God.  We’ve all come along way and yet we’ve still got a long way to go.

So why should we grow up? Why can’t we just stay the way we are?

1) First reason why we should grow up is because God is not through with us yet!

Verse 14 indicates that we should no longer be children: truth is some people are adults but They demand to have their own way, and throw temper tantrums when they can’t get their own way, they are swayed by their peers, follow the crowd, and accept things at face value. This is considered childlike behavior. Paul said 1Cor 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child; I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things. Many of us have yet to put away childish things. Paul encourages the church to longer be children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine. There were false teachers among the Ephesian church teaching different things pertaining to Christ and if it sounded good it was accepted. Just like it was then so it is now, there are those who bring division and not unity, there are those who plan, plot, and scheme. Trying to sway this one this way and that one that way. Trying to control and manipulate people into following them and not necessarily Christ, airing their ungodly opinions and trying to form ungodly alliances and to those who accept this God says Grow up! Grow up and get some discernment (learn how to differentiate good/evil) Grow up and understand what is truly going on among you. Grow up and recognize when someone is trying to get you to do the wrong thing, recognize when someone is trying to get you to do their will and not God’s will.

Part Two

Part Three

There comes a point in time where we have to re-align ourselves with God and His vision for our lives.  What is He most concerned with?  What makes Him smile when sees what has been accomplished at the end of the day?  What are the things in our lives that we can’t seem to let go of or struggle with that God is trying pry out of our hands?  Peace often escapes us because our priorities have been thrown off balance and we measure ourselves by everyone’s standards except God’s.

I found this wonderful chart that really begins to get to the heart of the matter.   I enjoy it’s simplicity (sometimes we make things really complicated).  This is posted on my refrigerator as a constant reminder that my goal in life is to be a woman who abides in Christ.  Not someone who works tirelessly on activities that won’t mean much in the end.  Now that I have finished rambling (LOL), please read an enjoy!

P.S. A special thanks to Erica from Confessions of  A Homeschooler.  Thanks for sharing this and allowing us to share it with others!

http://confessionsofahomeschooler.blogspot.com/2010/02/super-mom-vs-abiding-mom.html

“I picture the kid in the back of Sunday school class–with the questions teachers dread. I know that honest answers now help solidify faith long-term,” Vischer said. Select theologians comb every script to accurately present the Bible on ground common to the broadest number of believers. “We work hard to show respect all around,” Vischer said.

VeggieTales has sold more than 50 million DVDs and produced two theatrical films around Bible stories. WITB plugs in the entire Bible. This comes in a groundswell of new concern for Bible literacy and because today’s kids learn visually.

Bestselling author Randy Alcorn emailed Vischer: “[My grandson and I] watched together and again the next day and the next, bonus features and all, until we had to leave. Matthew is now a devoted fan of Buck Denver and the other characters.”

Alcorn also liked, “the depth of biblical background and commentary on God’s great drama of redemption.”

Episodes one, two, and three?

1. In the Beginning — Kids learn God’s big story and how Genesis’s first 11 chapters set up the whole Bible–and life.

2. Let My People Go! — Kids meet Abraham and learn how God used him to start a great nation called Israel.

3. Wanderin’ in the Desert–goes into Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy, joining Genesis and Exodus in the Law Books and setting up trials and victories of God’s people.
“We must learn the language of our audience,” said C.S. Lewis, who connected children to God. “For this generation, visual is fundamental to learning,” Cambridge scientist Alister McGrath said. “By the time kids see the final DVD,” Phil Vischer said, “they’ll know the entire Bible.”

www.WhatintheBible.com

Have you watched any of them yet?  Let us know what you think!

I paused for a moment as I began to consider the gravity of such a declaration.  I had to ask myself if I really wanted God’s will to be done. If I were to examine my behavior and actions would they reflect the submission of my will to that of the Father’s?  The honest answer would be that I, like many, have been inconsistent.  It has been a matter of convenience and all too often I have ignored what I know to be God’s will because it might put me in an uncomfortable position or cause me to rely on something besides my own understanding.  However, the desire to be found pleasing in His sight is far greater and offers a more gracious and valuable reward.  So, what exactly does God’s will entail?

The will can be defined as desire; decision-making capacity; by choice, without reluctance.  Often, we pray one of three ways.  First, we pray for God to lead or guide us in a particular matter or situation and never inquire as to what His will is for us. Second, we ask God to reveal, or make His will known to us and we merely attempt to include God into our will.  Or finally, we ask to be taught to do God’s will.

When we pray for guidance we are not trusting the Lord.  The steps of a good man are ordered, not guided, by the Lord.  On the occasions that we desire knowledge of God’s will it is useless for us to ask for any such revelation when we have no intention of being completely obedient.  However, when we seek to be taught how to do God’s will we become tremendously useful to the kingdom.  The psalmist David requested on numerous occasions to be taught to do the master’s will.  (Psalm 51:12; 143:10) As such, he was described as a man after God’s own heart.  Even when he sinned his desire to reconcile his broken relationship was so great that he readily submitted his will.

God teaches us in three ways. First, by his word. Secondly, he illuminates our minds by the Spirit. Thirdly, he imprints it in our hearts and maketh us obedient to the same; for the servant who knoweth the will of his master, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes: Luke 12:47.—Archibald Symson.—Treasury of David, The

Teach me to do thy will. We are to pray that God would teach us to know, and then teach us to do, his will. Knowledge without obedience is lame, obedience without knowledge is blind; and we must never hope for acceptance if we offer the blind and the lame to God.—Vincent Alsop (-1703), in “The Morning Exercises.”

—Treasury of David, The

Jesus said to Pilate: “Thou couldest have no power against Me, except it were given thee from above.” In everything that came on Him, He saw God’s will: it was all the cup the Father gave Him. When believers learn to see God’s will in everything that comes to us painful or pleasing, great or small, then the prayer, Thy will be done, becomes our unceasing expression of submission as well as praise!

My prayer is that as I make the petition, Thy will be done, that God continually transforms my will to His.  The object of God’s will is holiness.  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord…Hebrews 12:14.

by Bob Lotich

Who doesn’t want to be more loving, joyful, at peace, patient, kind, full of goodness, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled? Each of those are the fruit that the Bible says we should be bearing (John 15:16). I know I would love to see each one of those more in my own life – wouldn’t you? So, what do we need to do to bear more fruit?

1. Fruit needs water in order to reach it’s fullest potential

You can probably ask your five-year old how to take care of a plant and they will tell you that it needs water to survive. And if you have ever kept a garden, you have surely realized that if only water it once a week during the summer months your harvest is going to be much smaller. On the other hand, if your plants are recieving frequent and consistent waterings, the plants are going to be stronger and the fruit is going to be better.

Psalm 1:3 (NIV) - He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

2. Good soil is very important

The soil contains a lot of the nutrients that cause the growth of the plants. There are tremendous differences between good soil and bad soil. This was one of the reasons I said that good potting soil was one of my 10 things worth spending more on. We need to be spiritually receptive to allow the seeds of God’s word to grow and develop the way they should.

Matthew 13:23 (NIV) - The one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

3. Death brings life

John 12:24 (NIV) – I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

We must die to ourselves and our own desires and submit to God’s plan. In doing so, like the above verse states, we will bear much fruit.

4. Pruning produces more fruit

I am by no means an expert gardener, but I have found this one to be true. It doesn’t make sense while you are doing it, but the results prove its effectiveness. God is an expert gardener and He knows which areas of our lives can be pruned to make us more effective. It does hurt, but the end result is beautiful.

John 15:2 (NIV) – He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

5. A branch can’t bear fruit separated from the plant

That is a no-brainer right? Well, I don’t know about you, but I have caught myself trying to do that in my own life. I will find myself trying to accomplish things in my own strength rather than “abiding in Him.” All the fruit that we will bear in our lives will be a result of us being connected to our source: God. Just like a severed branch can bear no fruit, neither can we bear any fruit if we are not abiding in Him.

John 15:5 (NIV) – I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Source:  http://www.christianpf.com/page/2/

Bible Explorer allowed me to easily switch between books and the cross referencing tools elimante the need for multiple books all over the place.  I can see that it will be a great time-saver for me (I have two small children).  The software can be downloaded for free and there are over 2600 books available for download and many of them are free.  There is unlimited potential for what one could accomplish with this software.  Check it out and let me know what you think.