The Best Christmas Present Ever

By Mary Vee

Since Christmas is this weekend, 
I wanted to show you your gift. 

It's the best present of all. 

The gift--is from God.

God loves you and wants you to be able to go to heaven. 

The colors listed below explain God's gift for you:

In the picture to the right are several colors.

Black describes sin, the things we've done wrong. The Bible says everyone has sinned. Lying, disobeying, taking something that doesn't belong to us are examples of sin. The punishment for sin is death, forever away from God, the one who made us.

But did you know God loves you so much that He sent His one and only Son to take your place and pay the punishment for sin?  

Red is used to describe God's love. The Bible says God showed His love for us in that while we were sinners, His Son, Jesus, took our punishment for sin by dying on the cross. Nothing else needs to be done. 

Blue is used to describe faith. If you believe Jesus died for your sins, and truly want Him to live in your heart, He will. By believing in Jesus you will have life for ever with God in heaven. When we put our trust in Jesus we will want to do the things He wants us to.

White is used to describe cleanliness. By believing Jesus died for your sins and asking God for His forgiveness, your heart is made clean--The Bible says you will be white as snow.

Green is used to describe growing. After you put your trust in Jesus spend time getting to know God, learn what He wants you to do, and how to obey Him. This can be done by reading the Bible, praying, going to church, and learning from others who believe in Jesus. When we choose to live the way God tells us to in the Bible, we will  grow like a healthy plant given sunshine and water.

Yellow is used to describe heaven. Those who believe in Jesus will go to heaven to live with God forever. The Bible says Jesus is preparing a mansion for you and the streets are paved with gold. There will be no tears or sorrow. We will be together with God.

If you would like to ask Jesus into your heart today and start serving God, you can pray to Him right now, He's listening!

Dear Jesus, I know I'm a sinner and can't go to heaven on my own no matter how hard I try. Please forgive me for the things I've done wrong. I believe that you took the punishment for my sins when you died on the cross because you love me. I also believe you rose from the dead and live in Heaven. Because Your Word is truth, I trust in You and will start learning how to obey You. Amen

If you asked Jesus into your heart, please email me at mimary_vee@yahoo.com so I can rejoice with you.

Photo courtesy of Mary Vee

Sweet Baby Samuel

By Mary Vee
I Samuel 1

From Hannah's Journal

Can you hear my baby? He is sleeping. His little chest rises and falls with each tiny breath. Baby Samuel is a gift from God.


Oh, look. He moved his hand. He opened his fist to let us see his tiny fingers. Excuse me, I must pick him up. 


"Hannah, Hannah, where are you?"


"I'm in here with Baby Samuel."


My husband, Elkanah, peeked around the corner. "It's time to leave for the Temple. Are you ready?"


I hugged my little baby. "Not yet. I can't take Samuel until he can walk. The priest need to be able to take care of him. No, not yet. Baby Samuel needs to stand tall when he appears before the Lord."


Elkanah nodded and pointed his eyebrows down. "Do what you think is best; You can wait until Samuel is able to walk and stand before the Lord. But, remember, you promised you would give him to the Lord."


Baby Samuel stretched then yawned. His little heart beat like raindrops patting against the tent. "Just think, Samuel, some day you will do great things for the Lord." I hugged him close. His soft breath tickled my neck. 


It seemed only days before Samuel could sit. He chewed on his fingers and anything else he could shove in his mouth. Poor baby cried when his teeth broke through his gums. 


Most of the time baby Samuel giggled and explored. He laughed when his older cousins tickled him. Sometimes, while standing at my cooking pot, I'd watch him staring at the other children and wonder what he was thinking. His eyes moved with the children's movements. He seemed to study their moves then try to imitate them. He seemed to care about others around him.


Soon Samuel took a first step then many more. He toddled a few steps and fell, picked himself up and toddled some more. I had to keep any dangerous objects away from him--what a curious little boy.


Feasts and celebrations past. Samuel learned to run after the other children and join in some of their games. He could stand tall and speak words. And the questions! Every wakening second he either asked a question or furrowed his brow as he thought about an answer. 


At this time, God let me know Samuel could go to the Temple to serve him. I packed a few of his things, the needed gifts for the priest and walked with Elkanah to the Temple. 


You might ask, did I feel sad? Did I cry? Well, only as a proud mother would. God gave this little boy to our nation to serve Him. Sure I will miss him, but I also know young Samuel will be here at the Temple serving the Almighty God.


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1.  Why did Hannah need to take Samuel to the Temple?
2.  Why did Hannah wait?
3.  Why did Hannah later take Samuel to the Temple?
4.  What promise did Hannah make (hint, read last week's story here. 
5.  What did you learn from today's story?


photo courtesy of christianimageresource.com

The Tabernacle-pt. 1-Chosen

By Mary Vee

Exodus 35:4-36:3

Bezalel-
chosen by God 

and given wisdom and understanding in every kind of workmanship

A little while back, Moses called a meeting.  Everyone gathered outside the camp to a place we could see Moses at the same time.  Since he invited everyone and not just the elders, I knew it had to be an announcement for everyone. He told us about the commandments and showed us the tablets the Lord wrote.  It was good to hear God's laws, but to tell you the truth many of us had become bored.

There was nothing to do. We couldn't plant crops in the desert soil, besides we didn't know when the Lord would tell us to pack our things and move to a new place.  It'd been more than three months since we left Egypt.

If only we had some project to do, maybe the people would get along better.

After he finished teaching the commandments and talking about the feasts, Moses told us to bring an offering to the Lord. He said, "Whoever had a willing heart should bring an offering of gold, silver, or bronze; blue, purple, scarlet thread, fine linen, or goat's hair; ram skins dyed red, badger skins, or acacia wood; oil for the light, or spices for the anointing oil; onyx stones, or other precious stones."

Actually, we all had plenty of the things Moses wanted.  The Egyptians gave us so many gifts the night before we left we had to stack them high in our carts.  Masters and ladies of houses, Egyptian workers, even Egyptian slaves threw metal, threads, skins, wood, and oil at us then shouted, "Leave. Never come back."

That was before they changed their minds and sent the army after us, but your can read about that adventure here:  Egyptian Wealth

Anyway, after Moses' announcement to bring offerings he asked for gifted artisans to make whatever the Lord commanded for the tabernacle.  I can't believe it, we finally had a project!

I liked to work with my hands so I volunteered right away.  Just think, me, a builder of the tabernacle for the Lord. Something to do!

Of course, many others volunteered to help, both men and women. Moses didn't push anyone into helping. He always said, "Those who are willing..." each time he asked for something.  No one was forced to work or give at any time.

The next morning a large group of women gathered in one area of the camp. They talked and laughed as they spun yarn by hand.  When they finished making a large bundle, they took the blue, purple, scarlet and fine linen to those who would weave fabric.

The offerings grew.  It looked fantastic.  This Tabernacle will be great.

A few days later, Moses gathered everyone together for more instruction.  I ran to the front of the group, anxious to hear what we'd do next.  He silenced the people then looked at me. "People of Israel, the Lord has called by name Bezalel, the..."

Wait a moment, what did Moses say? The Lord named me? Out of all the Israelites, the Lord picked me?  A deep breath later I could listen to more.

"He has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting jewels for setting , in carving wood, to teach and to work in all manner of artistic workmanship."

The Lord chose me for this job? I'm not gifted.  I'm not special.  Before I thought another work, ideas filled my mind; I couldn't wait to get to work!

Moses then said:  "And the Lord called Aholiab from the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to do all manner of work as the engraver, designer, and tapestry maker, those who do every work and those who design artistic works.  You, Bezalel and Aholiab, along with every gifted artisan in who the Lord has put wisdom and understanding to know how to do all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary shall do according to all He has commanded."

Moses took Aholiab and me to where the offerings had been gathered.  "Here are the offerings which the Israelites brought for making the tabernacle."

I looked at Aholiab smile and nodded. He did the same back. We both started talking at once, sharing our thoughts how to start the project.  We talked for several hours after supper. We never disagreed or argued.

I couldn't sleep....it was like the night before we left Egypt.

Aholiab and I were chosen to lead the building of the Tabernacle!

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1. Who all volunteered to help build the Tabernacle?
2. Who did the Lord chose to lead the building of the Tabernacle?
3. Where did the building supplies come from?
4. Why do you think the Lord chose Bezalel and Aholiab to lead the building of the Tabernacle?
5. If you had been there, would you have brought offerings? If yes, what would you have brought?
6. If you had been there, would you have volunteered to help? If yes, what would you have wanted to do?
7. If you had been there, would you have to give an offering or volunteer to help?  Why or why not?