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.