a lesson on the Trinity

Understanding the Trinity can be one of the most difficult concepts to explain to kids. As I was visiting one of my favorite sites, I came across a couple of ways to help kids comprehend the 3 in 1. Maybe you'll be able to use one of these illustrations with your students!

http://www.creativebiblestudy.com/Bibleobjectlessons-trinity.html

http://www.professorwonder.com/magic19.htm

Responding verses Reacting

When we as leaders (or parents or teachers or any capacity for that matter) are faced with difficult situations, we have a choice to make....

Will you

REACT??????? or RESPOND??????


I hope that you will respond. God's Word addresses this very issue. James 1: 19 say, " All men should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. For a man's anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires. " Quick to listen??? I know that's often not our first response because the "being slow to speak thing" is already out the window! We've blown up and blown it!

So what's the difference between the two anyway? RESPONDING IS...

• a well thought-out action
• an attempt to understand and assess the situation
• a desire to influence the child to make positive changes.
• offering positive alternatives to negative behaviors.
• addressing the actions of the child and not the character of the child.
• done with emotional control.

REACTING, on the other hand

• is more of a reflex
• is often regretted
• is often done in the heat of our anger or emotion
• can take care of a problem momentarily, but does not offer long term solutions

Unfortunately difficult circumstances with children will arise, and we need to have a plan in place to handle those times. Take a minute to evaluate right now what your usual course of action is. If you react more than you respond, ask the Lord to help you the next time you are faced with a tough situation.

Dear God

I know I was in the mood for a little humor tonight, so I thought maybe you could use a day brightener as well. These little letters to God written from kids have been around for awhile so you may have seen them in the past, but I thought I'd just share a few of my personal favorites.

Apparently Ginny doesn't think Valentine's Day is a good holiday- : )

Well I can certainly see how this little tidbit could be confusing to a child!

Really now- haven't we all thought something like this at some point?

I love the "kill each other so much..." in this one!

When you work with kids, you never know what the next moment is going to bring!