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
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
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.
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.
