Kids Map

I’ve had a request to post the map we have been working with in the kids’ class on Wednesday night.  I’m no cartographer, but I hope it will suffice for my 4-year-olds!  🙂

A brief overview of what has happened in all these places solely during our study of Mark. 

Jordan River– John the Baptist baptized Jesus (Mark 1)
Sea of Galilee- Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James & John as disciples (Mark 1:16-20); Jesus called Levi=”Matthew” as a disciple (Mark 2:13-17); Jesus told the Parable of the Sower beside the sea (Mark 4:1-9); Jesus calmed the storm (Mark 4:35-41); Jesus walked on the water (Mark 6:45-52)
Capernaum– Jesus healed Simon Peter’s mother-in-law (Mark 1:29-34); Jesus healed a paralytic (Mark 2:1-12);
Galilean side of sea (not a specific city)- Jesus heals Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:21-43)
Decapolis– Jesus healed a man with unclean spirits, whom they called “Legion” (Mark 5:1-20); Jesus healed a deaf and mute man (Mark 7:31-37); Jesus feeds the 4,000 (Mark 8:1-21)
Bethsaida– Jesus fed the 5,000 (Mark 6:30-44)
Gennesaret– Jesus healed and talked to the Pharisees (Mark 6:53-7:23)
Tyre & Sidon, Phoenicia– Jesus healed the daughter of a Gentile Woman
Nazareth– Jesus’ hometown (Mark 6:1-6)

*More to come!

Storing Up God’s Word in our Heart!

This is not only the cutest video you’ll probably ever see, it is also a good reminder that you’re never too young (or old!) to hide God’s Word in your heart. 

If this little girl (who is barely three!) can quote all of Psalm 23, how much more can we be storing up in our hearts?! 

This is exactly what we learned about in the kids’ class last night.  We discussed Deuteronomy 6. 

 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

We learned that the Jews wore phylacteries and mezuzahs, but most importantly, they hid God’s Word in their hearts!  We even stored up another verse in our hearts last night: “I have stored up Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”  [Psalm 119:11]

We should be teaching our children the importance of God’s Word.  How will they ever believe us unless we live it out ourselves and store it in our hearts first?  It is my prayer that the kids at NLBC will always have someone they can look up to who is hiding God’s Word in their heart.  I pray that we will always teach those precious words to them diligently and talk about spiritual things at home, whether while we eat, ride in the car, take a walk, go to bed or even when we visit the homes of others. 

Even though I do not have any children, I still take this verse very personally.  I believe it is my duty to help these children store up as much as they can in their little hearts and minds! 

As Corrie Ten Boom said, “Gather the riches of God’s promises.  Nobody can take away from you those texts from the Bible which you have learned by heart.” 

I hope you have started (and are continuing) with Psalm 119! 
Little Girl Saying Psalm 23

[I guess we can call this my once a month soapbox extravaganza!]