1st Sunday of Advent

Today was the first Sunday of Advent, and my turn to teach Sunday school. During today's lesson I found a neat idea for the children to get them thinking about Advent. Remember as kids making your own chain link decorations, with strips of red and green construction paper?

The idea was to put 25 links of red and green together, and on each of the link was a scripture reading for the children to read each day leading up to Christmas.

"Keep Christ in your Family's Christmas"

Christmas is...
1. A TIME OF SHARING - Read John 3:1-21
2. A TIME OF MEMORIES - Read Luke 1:68-79
3. A TIME FOR GREETINGS - Read Luke 1:39-55
4. A TIME FOR CHARITY - Read Matthew 25:31-40
5. A TIME FOR VISITING - Read Romans 15:1-7
6. A TIME OF HOPE - Read John 14:1-6
7. A TIME OF FAITH - Read Isaiah 55:6-11
8. A TIME OF PROMISE - Read Galatians 3:23-4:7
9. A TIME FOR CANDLES - Read John 11-14
10. A TIME FOR MUSIC - Read Psalm 150
11. A TIME FOR BEING IN TOUCH - Read John 15:1-11
12. A TIME OF RUSHING - Read Luke 10:38-42
13. A TIME FOR SINGING - Read Colossians 3:12-17
14. A TIME FOR FAMILY - Read Luke 1:5-80
15. A TIME FOR DECORATIONS - Read Psalm 118:19-29
16. A TIME FOR BAKING - Read John 6:32-40
17. A TIME FOR LOVE - Read 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13
18. A TIME OF SOLITUDE - Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
19. A TIME FOR REMEMBERING - Read Isaiah 25:6-9
20. A TIME OF PEACE - Read Matthew 11:25-30
21. A HOLIDAY - Read Hebrews 4:9-16
22. A TIME TO GIVE THANKS - Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
23. A TIME OF BLESSING - Read Ephesians 3:14-21
24. A TIME FOR GIFTS - Read Ephesians 2:4-10
25. GOD WITH US - Read Luke 2:1-20

A few inspiring stories for me, the teacher, from my Sunday school class today:

During our Sunday School lesson, I was asking if everyone was excited for Christmas and asked what they wanted this year on their lists. One little boy, told me he was just thankful that his Nan was feeling better and home. His Nan had just spent 3 weeks in the hospital. (Wow, a child's heart. You never know what they are going through. But they have stress too, and are thankful just like adults when someone they love is home where they belong after being in the hospital). So we took a moment to say Thank you to God for answering the prayers for his grandma to feel better.

Next inspiring story of the morning. A couple of new visitors to our class, who are not so fortunate as you or I. At the end of the lesson, the young girl asked me if she could take home one for the kids bibles on the table. I asked her if she had a bible at home, but she said not like that one. So I took the opportunity to give her a bible written for kids, that way she can enjoy her Advent readings above and learn all about the true meaning of Christmas.

Just when you think your blessings are over for the morning. I was rushing about cleaning up after Sunday school, so that we could get home for lunch....

I get in the church lobby and one of the older gentlemen in our Corps stops me, "There's the boss he says". LOL, I didn;t know what to expect next. .... but it was cute. He told me that he had a white Christmas Bear in his car, wrapped in Plastic that he brought today for Ashley. So we went to his car, which is parked by ours and he gave Ashley the bear.

Thinking of how people impact people. This gentleman, years ago was an alcoholic so much so that he missed out on his young daughters life, and his little girl was actually killed in a car accident at a young age. He must always think of his little girl when he sees Ashley in church each Sunday (I watch him smile at her all the time) and knowing this about his past, it gives me nothing less than JOY to share a smile with him. And I gladly accepted this bear from him this morning, wrapped in plastic that was on the bear for a few years.

So Ashley got the plastic off, and as we drove out of the church parking lot she waved the bears hand at the gentleman and he had a HUGE smile on his face.

That made my day!!! And I hope it makes yours by reading it, because you never know whose life you are going to touch as you walk along this journey of life.

Good night all! Have a blessed week.

Love Dana
a.k.a. Mommy to one of the cutest, sweetest, joyful and strong personality girls in the world.