With An A Attitude

Having an A Attitude is something we all need to learn. I have to remind myself each time a problem comes up, to have an A attitude. - Thinking of Joseph in prison, I know that Joseph had to have a good attitude. Each time Joseph was put anywhere, even in prison, he became favored by those in charge. Joseph was blessed because He had a good attitude and God put favor in the hearts of those in charge.

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At treasurebox18@yahoo.com - All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include the Site Name And Proper Credit Back To This Blog. Thank-You.

It's Time To Forgive (Song Or Reading)

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At treasurebox18@yahoo.com - All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include Site Name And Proper Credit Back To This Blog. Thank-You.

What Kind Of Root Is Growing In Your Heart? LESSON

What Kind Of Root Is Growing In Your Heart?
(Ephesians 4:26    Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:)

Good morning young people, 

Today we are continuing our series of lessons about the power of God through His Spirit in us.   Our series began with the greatest Commandments "loving God with all our heart and loving others as Christ has loved us." I will be speaking about forgiveness today.  Forgiveness is vital in a Christian's walk with God, for a number of reasons.  We will be talking about some of those reasons this morning.

 On the first page of your folder, You will find a prayer that we are going to pray together in unison.  By praying in unison you will learn how to pray and learn about the importance of unity.  Please let us pray in agreement as we seek God's blessing on each of us this morning and upon these lessons.

Heavenly Father,  We come before you with praise and thankfulness for your forgiveness towards us. Help us understand just how powerful forgiveness is in the life of your children.  Search our hearts today and speak to our hearts as we learn

how to honor you with our lives.  Give us the grace to do the things you teach us to do and help us to live in your power.  Give us wisdom as we trust you and seek to please you with our lives. I'm reminded of this verse, Lord, let it be a beacon as we look to you this morning. Ephesians  6:10 ¶  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.   In the name of Christ Jesus,  We pray this, Amen

I would like to remind you, before we continue, Be sure to pay attention and take notes so that you will be prepared to answer some questions at the end of this lesson.  Be sure to keep all your notes from week to week until the conclusion of this series.  You will use those notes to prepare for our "BIG DAY BIBLE BEE".   Please do not interrupt with any questions until we are open for discussion.  Thank-you.

  Around seven or eight years ago, I was working in my garden.  There were three or four huge bushes growing on the side of my house.  They were very tall and very full, they took up a lot of room.  The former owner of our home planted them there years and years before.  I decided I wanted to get rid of them.  I cut them down, that was quite a chore, but honestly, the hard work had just begun.  I started to dig up the first root.  I worked nearly all day on one root, digging with my shovel and chopping with an ax.  I cannot remember exactly how many days I worked on digging those roots. Each day,  I was exhausted after working in the heat, my hair was a mess, my face was red and my hands had blisters.  I was dirty from the top of my head to the tip of my toe.  I was on the last root, digging and chopping, I couldn't get the root loose, I was tired and wanted to quit, but I was so close to being done.  My husband offered a hand and we got the last bit of root out together.   I'm telling you this story because the Bible speaks of a root, a root that can grow into your heart.  Once it grows there, it's hard to get rid of.  The root will rob you of your joy and of your peace.  It will rob you of your youth and of your health. 

     Forgiveness is a choice and sometimes very hard to do.  It is something that requires great humility and dying to oneself.  It is obedience to God's will.

  Usually, if you're mad at someone you don't want to forgive them.  It is a struggle to forgive them, but when you want your life to be blessed by God and you want God pleased with you, you're going to ask God to help you to forgive.  It may take years of asking God to help you forgive until you finally you do.  I can say that because it took me a long time to forgive some things from my childhood.  Not forgiving only hurts yourself it doesn't hurt the one that hurt you unless they happen to love you, then it hurts them. 

   
   Christ is within us if we know Christ as Saviour and we have the power to forgive things that are unforgivable.  We must not let our hearts become embittered.  If we do it hinders our walk with the Lord, our relationship with God suffers.  It grieves the Holy Spirit.

 Forgiveness is something we have to do every single day that we live.   God tells us to be angry and sin not.  So what does that mean?  When does anger become sin?  

 There are a lot of injustices in life that make us angry, and justly so.  We should be angry at those things.  That's why we have law enforcement and laws to protect people.   Anger becomes sin when it starts taking control of us.  We can not go to bed angry lest it turns into a root of bitterness. When anger changes us and changes our relationships between people and with God, that's when it has taken hold.  

 I remember when my eldest daughter came home from school angry over something a teacher had done.  I told my daughter "you must forgive her, you can not stay angry."  She refused to forgive her.  I prayed with her, she still refused to forgive her.  It was bedtime
and again we talked about forgiveness.  I taught her about the verse in the bible that says not to let the sun go down on our wrath.  (Ephesians 4:26    Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:) She still refused. I wouldn't let her go to sleep until she realized how important it was not to go to bed angry.  We put a gift together for her teacher and I taught her to show her teacher love and to apologize for sticking her tongue out at her.  She finally agreed after hours.  I didn't want my daughter to grow up bitter but to fight against the temptation by showing love.  We prayed until she was ready to obey.  I was so proud of her, it took strength to show love to her teacher.  

We are not to go to bed angry about this world, but rather praising the Lord.  Our eyes can't be on the wind and the waves, but upon the one that can calm the sea.  He is the one we need to keep our eyes upon, not upon the many sorrows of life.  He's the one that helps us do the impossible, He's the one who helps us fight the battles of this life.

  Becoming bitter will make you old and sick and will hurt your own family.  I've had to cry out to God myself to help me forgive some things that have brought grief to my life.    Though we know these things, we are tested on them every time hurt or trouble comes along.  We must be dependant on God to overcome these obstacles.

  The Bible compares a root to bitterness, anger, and resentment.  All of these are out shoots of bitterness.  If you think about it the root could be almost any sin that can get hold of your life.  

What kind of root is growing in your heart?  
Please, let us ask ourselves this question as we talk about "Forgiveness".

   


Hebrews 12:15 
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled

More Soon - Not Quite Done Yet

Other Lessons In This Series:

Believe In The Power Of Love

Staying True To God's Love
Lesson Helps:
The Ten Commandment Scripture Poster


Other Posts About Forgiveness On This Blog

The Power Of Forgiveness - Illustration It's Time To Forgive
We Need To Ask Forgiveness
The Hurt Heart
Short Kids Devotional - Forgiveness
You Were The Because - Teen Lesson
Puppet Show - Lemon Of Bitterness -

Responding To Problems
Forgiveness Puzzle

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At treasurebox18@yahoo.com - All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include Site Name And Proper Credit Back To This Blog. Thank-You.

The Lemon Of Bitterness - Puppet Show And Lesson - Restored August 19th, 2014

The Lemon Of Bitterness

( A Lesson On Bitterness)

Susan Y Nikitenko

May 13th, 2013

I Wrote The Puppet Show About 15 Years Ago

But This Lesson Was Written This Morning  -

Age: Junior Age And Up

This Lesson Can Be Modified For Younger Children

Puppet Props Needed:

2 lemons  - 1 cut in half

monkey mouth puppet

 ----------

Hello boys and girls,

Today I brought someone I think you will enjoy meeting.   His name is Charlie.   Charlie is such a busy little fellow.  He's always doing the funniest little things.   Charlie will be visiting us off and on during the year to help me teach you some valuable lessons about life.

Come on up here Charlie, 

(Charlie pops up with a lemon in His mouth.  Charlie moves around being funny  like a monkey making monkey sounds,  but keeps the lemon in His mouth.)  

Charlie has a little problem but He really doesn't even know it.   He has been holding on to a lemon all morning and He won't let it go.   The problem is he thinks the lemon he is holding is a banana. 

Charlie,  I've told you that it's not a banana and if I give it to you,  you're not going to like it.

(Teacher tries to take the lemon from Charlie but he  won't let her. Just make sure it stays funny. ) 

Charlie,  I promise you that it is a lemon.  Do you want me to prove it to you?  (Charlie shakes His head yes)  Teacher has a lemon already cut in half in a plastic baggie.

I have a lemon I've cut in half. See it's the same as what you are holding in your mouth.  Here taste it.

(Charlie puts down the lemon in his mouth to taste the lemon she is holding in her hand)

(Charlie makes a sour face and makes funny reactions and sounds)

See Charlie, I told you, you wouldn't like it.  Here Charlie,  how about a banana? 

(Charlie shakes his head  yes and happily plays with the banana and exits while the teacher starts to teach the  lesson.)

Today's lesson is about bitterness.  There  are many things in life that hurt us.  When hurts or disappointments happen in life we have a choice how to react to them.   When someone has hurt us or disappoints us we sometimes feel  angry.    We want to hold on to that anger,  just like Charlie held onto that lemon.  Anger in the heart can make one a very hard person and a very  unhappy person.   it puts an ugly expression on our face and silently kills our joy inside.  It robs us of being the best person we can be. 

God doesn't want us to stay angry .  It doesn't mean He never wants us to be angry because anger is good when it's under control and used to make good decisions and making plans on fixing a problem,   but when anger makes you do something wrong  like holding a grudge, or gossiping, or hating, or hurting someone else to get even it becomes a very dangerous sin. 

God doesn't  want us to go to bed with anger in our heart, He wants us to pray about our anger and forgive anyone who has hurt us or put whatever problem it is into His hands.  God knows that anger in someone's heart becomes bitterness.  The Bible describes bitterness as a root.   Anger grows like a tree and the longer it is left in the soil of our heart the deeper the root grows and the harder it is to dig out.

Bitterness causes bad attitudes that effect other people and it causes other people to be upset and to suffer around us.  Bitter people tend to strike out at the people that have been good to them.  Bitter people destroy themselves and the people they love.  They are hard to live with and they  don't even like themselves.

This is what bitterness left to grow starts to look like. 

I'm glad Charlie decided the lemon didn't taste good.  We need to see that holding onto the lemon of bitterness.  Has to be dealt with before the sun goes down or the root will grow deeper into the good ground of our heart and it will grow like a weed choking out the happiness in our lives and also in the lives of those around us.

If we  have been having a hard time forgiving someone,  we know that we need to get that taken care of.   So let us bow our heads today and ask ourselves " Is there anyone I need to forgive?" 
 If so, we need to make a decision with God's help just to let it go.  We need to confess the sin of unforgiveness  and to ask God to heal our hearts because bitterness hurts ourselves the most.

Dear Father In Heaven,

I have been very angry and I know it is wrong to stay angry.  Please do not let any root of bitterness take control of my  life and actions towards other people.  I know Father you have forgiven me even  though I have not deserved any of your mercy.  I want you to use my life for your honor and glory.  I know I cannot stay angry and be completely be used of you.  Forgive me Lord and give me the grace to forgive and love others the way you would have me to do.

In Christ name I pray, Amen

Scripture References:

Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

 Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At "treasurebox18@yahoo.com" All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include Site Name And Link To This Blog. Thank-You.



Poem Suggestion : Let Go





 Let Go

Children's  Poem

Funny little monkey;
Climbing in the tree.
Finds a different coconut;
It has a hole you see.

He peeks inside and sniffs.
Mmm, it smells sooo good.
He sticks his little hand inside;
Just like a monkey would.

He finds a yummy treat.
He holds to it, real tight.
When he pulls to bring it out;
He pulls, he jerks, he fights.

Funny little monkey;
He's stuck, he can't get free.
Determined now, to keep the treat;
He won't let go you see.

Funny little monkey;
Trapped in a hunter's snare.
Doesn't see the danger;
And is taken unaware.

Listen, children listen.
Don't let sin keep your hold.
Trapped your life is useless;
When in bondage you are sold.

Let go and let the Lord;
Give strength in sins attempt.
To take away your freedom;
Just like this little chimp.

~ Susan Y Nikitenko ~
Copyright © 2009
All Rights Reserved

memory verses

 coloring sheets

  2Timothy 2:22   Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

 James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At "treasurebox18@yahoo.com" All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include Site Name And Link To This Blog. Thank-You.

Let Go - Restored - August 19th, 2014,



 Let Go

Children's  Poem

Funny little monkey;
Climbing in the tree.
Finds a different coconut;
It has a hole you see.

He peeks inside and sniffs.
Mmm, it smells sooo good.
He sticks his little hand inside;
Just like a monkey would.

He finds a yummy treat.
He holds to it, real tight.
When he pulls to bring it out;
He pulls, he jerks, he fights.

Funny little monkey;
He's stuck, he can't get free.
Determined now, to keep the treat;
He won't let go you see.

Funny little monkey;
Trapped in a hunter's snare.
Doesn't see the danger;
And is taken unaware.

Listen, children listen.
Don't let sin keep your hold.
Trapped your life is useless;
When in bondage you are sold.

Let go and let the Lord;
Give strength in sins attempt.
To take away your freedom;
Just like this little chimp.

~ Susan Y Nikitenko ~
Copyright © 2009
All Rights Reserved

  2Timothy 2:22   Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

 James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At "treasurebox18@yahoo.com" All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include Site Name And Link To This Blog. Thank-You.

The Day Stony Heart Found Love Again

 

 

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At "treasurebox18@yahoo.com" All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include Site Name And Link To This Blog. Thank-You.