God Talk with Kids #2

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me”? Jeremiah 32:17,27.

When you are young, you’re always learning and growing. We should always keep learning and growing even if we’re 90 years old!

Do you like to draw and put things together?

Do you like to ride a bike? Learning is an adventure.

And what about books and learning to read?

We love books. They take us to other places.

Can dogs sit and read with you or join you in your Lego or train play?

No way. They’re animals. They can’t learn to read.

In the Bible, the first Book is called Genesis, we can read that “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).

God is all-powerful. He’s all-knowing. He’s Everywhere at one time. “My God is So big, so strong, and so mighty, there’s nothing our God cannot do, for you.” This is true. Do you know this?

We learn this from our Bibles. It is truly Good News for all who will believe.

God created animals and man on the 6th day. But Adam, (the first man) and Eve, (the first woman), the Bible tells us were created

In His own image.
In the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them
Genesis 1:27.

The image of God? What makes us different than the animals? As we already mentioned, we can build with Legos or read a book. We know that animals can’t join us in these things, except to get in the middle of it all and make a mess of it all.

We have eyes that can see, but we know an eagle can see much better than people. How about our noses? We love to smell pizza or homemade bread, but dogs can smell amazingly better than people.

What about our hearing? Well, it is found that the moth hears best of all created creatures, as well as the elephant. This makes sense because Elephants have huge ears, but moths? Yes, they hear the sound best of all the creatures.

But think about the human hand. Think of all the things you can do with your hands. Talk about them for a bit.

When we think of amazing hands, the Bible is a huge Book that reveals the greatest of hands, unlike any other. God’s hands. And God let us see His hands, even though we can’t see God,

God gave His only Son to us. He came from heaven to earth to show us God’s ways, to walk the earth with us. Do you know who I’m talking about?

Yes, Jesus came to earth to heal and to touch hurting people, but most importantly,

Jesus came to willingly pay a debt we owed. Do we owe a debt?

Yes, on the first 2 pages of the Bible, we learn the glorious beginnings of the creation of everything including Adam and Eve, (Genesis 1 & 2).

And God created all the beautiful plants for the animals and Adam and Eve to eat. In fact, they could eat from every tree in the garden,

except one. Or they would die. All the fruit is good for food, except the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. You can read it in the Bible:

But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die Genesis 2:16-17.

But Eve was right there by the One Tree.

And who else was there? A serpent.

He asked Eve, “Did God really say you can’t eat from this tree?

Yes, God did say. But Eve didn’t know God’s Word well, and she was tricked by the serpent and she ate the forbidden fruit. And then, Adam outright disobeyed what God had told him and he ate too. (Read Genesis 3 for this complete story).

Then Adam and Eve realized, they were naked and they were ashamed. They never were ashamed before. They didn’t know they were naked. But now they do. And they hid from God.

Who told you that you were naked?” the LORD God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat? Genesis 3:11.

Adam and Eve had covered themselves in some itchy leaves.

But God covered them. With the skins of an innocent animal, He covered their nakedness.

Right here in Genesis, the first Book of the Bible, God’s Word, we see a picture of Jesus and how He paid a debt and “covered” our sin. He is the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” How do we know?

The Bible tells us so: John the Baptist in the New Testament, when he saw Jesus coming, said, Behold the Lamb of God!

Yes, He is more than a covering for the disobedience, shame, and guilt we all have. He paid our “Sin debt” in full.

Jesus willingly gave His life. He stretched out His hands for you and me. For everyone who will believe in Him, (an invitation to every person on this planet) will receive from the glorious hands of God, Eternal life. Life now and forevermore.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life..

For God did not send His Son into the world the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through Him John 3:16 & 17.

Jesus is the Lamb of God who died in our place. He is God the Son. He didn’t stay dead. He rose again on the third day. This is the good news. There’s so much to learn in our Bibles.

Now we can better understand verse 2 of Jesus Loves Me:

Jesus loves me, He who died. Heaven’s gate to open wide. He will wash away my sin. Let His little child come in. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.

Faith is believing. Believing God.

If you don’t have faith, ask God to give you a willing heart to receive His invitation of love and grace.

Also found on Toni & Kids Sing Bible Youtube.

I hope you know even better how Jesus really, truly loves you, especially you.

“He saw me ruined in the fall, Yet loved me notwithstanding all . . . “

“He saved me from my low estate, His loving-kindness, oh how great! Samuel Medley, 1782.

When temptations rise to be afraid or heavy-hearted under life’s weight, the hymns immediately change my mind.

After-all, doesn’t the Lord tell me, (and you), in His Word to, “Fix (y)our thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable” Philippians 4:8, NLT.

And furthermore, to “Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

The hymnal, (along with the Bible, of course), is a safe place to find excellent and praise-worthy thoughts:

He saw me ruined in the fall, Yet loved me notwithstanding all; He saved me from my lost estate, His loving-kindness, oh how great! Samuel Medley, Loving-Kindness, 1782.

To wake and imagine my sweet Lord, patting the seat next to Him on the sofa,”Come a sit by Me.” So, I sit to be with the Lover of my soul as I open the hymnal:

Awake, my soul, to joyful lays,
And sing thy great Redeemer’s praise;
He justly claims a song for me,
His loving-kindness, oh, how free!

(In the back of our minds, do we have the report from the doctor, or that call on the phone, or the piece of mail that recently arrived?)

The Lord in my heart, is near. He’s right here. And He reminds me today from this hymn long ago:

Though num’rous hosts of mighty foes,
Though earth and hell my way oppose,
He safely leads my soul along,
His loving-kindness, oh, how strong!

Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,
His loving-kindness, oh, how strong!

The Comforter, the Holy Spirit speaks to me. He reminds me of a favorite psalm,

Why are you cast down, O my soul?And why are you disquieted within me?Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him Psalm 42:5.

When trouble like a gloomy cloud,
Has gathered thick and thundered loud,
He near my soul has always stood,
His loving-kindness, oh, how good!
Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,
His loving-kindness, oh, how good!

God’s Word is living water refreshing my soul. Word-picture perfect, Psalm 42 reminds me, “God knows.”

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God . . . My tears have been my food day and night,While they continually say to me,“Where is your God?” . . .

For I used to go with the multitude;I went with them to the house of God,With the voice of joy and praise, Psalm 42:1,3,4.

I will think on this today, “His loving-kindness, oh, how good:”

The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me—A prayer to the God of my life . . .

Why are you cast down, O my soul?And why are you disquieted within me?Hope in God;For I shall yet praise Him,The help of my countenance and my God Psalm 42:8,11.

My eyes are up. My heart is tuned.

“He saved me from my lost estate, His loving-kindness, oh, how great!”

Awake, my soul, to joyful lays, And sing they great Redeemer’s praise; He justly claims a song for me, His loving-kindness, oh, how free!

His loving-kindness, oh, . . .

how free!

Revive us Oh Lord. We speak aloud Your Word:

 Sing, . . . Enlarge the place of your tent,
    stretch your tent curtains wide,
    do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
    strengthen your stakes . . .
Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.
    Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.
   the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
    he is called the God of all the earth . . .

Though the mountains be shaken
    and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
    nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
    says the Lord, who has compassion on you Isaiah 54:1-10.

Awake, my soul, to joyful lays, And sing they great Redeemer’s praise.

“His loving-kindness, oh, how great!”

Loving-Kindness by Samuel Medley, 1782:

  1. Awake, my soul, to joyful lays,
    And sing thy great Redeemer’s praise;
    He justly claims a song for me,
    His loving-kindness, oh, how free!
    Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,
    His loving-kindness, oh, how free!
  2. He saw me ruined in the fall,
    Yet loved me notwithstanding all;
    He saved me from my lost estate,
    His loving-kindness, oh, how great!
    Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,
    His loving-kindness, oh, how great!
  3. Though num’rous hosts of mighty foes,
    Though earth and hell my way oppose,
    He safely leads my soul along,
    His loving-kindness, oh, how strong!
    Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,
    His loving-kindness, oh, how strong!
  4. When trouble like a gloomy cloud,
    Has gathered thick and thundered loud,
    He near my soul has always stood,
    His loving-kindness, oh, how good!
    Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,
    His loving-kindness, oh, how good!
  5. Soon I shall pass the gloomy vale,
    Soon all my mortal pow’rs must fail;
    Oh, may my last expiring breath
    His loving-kindness sing in death.
    Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,
    His loving-kindness sing in death.
  6. Then let me mount and soar away
    To the bright world of endless day;
    And sing with raptures and surprise,
    His loving-kindness in the skies.
    Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,
    His loving-kindness in the skies.
tonirypkema.com

In Case You Were Wondering . . . It’s Time to Turn to Jesus

Need Good News?

No longer do we say, “When the storm comes.” It’s here now.

For the entire world. Do we all say, “It’s too much, Lord. It’s just too much.”

For those who have avoided spiritual things and always put off thoughts or decisions about Jesus Christ, are you wondering, “Is it time to get right with God?”

What kind of foundation have we laid for our lives? I’m not talking of bank security, nor our physical homes, even our physical bodies, but our eternal souls.

The Bible warns, “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell” Matthew 10:28.

Jesus talked about hell in the Scriptures on many occasions. In Matthew 25, He gave a parable about wise and foolish virgins, a parable about talents, and then proclaimed Himself, (the Son of Man) as the judge of the nations.

No-one needs to hear about what the Bible says. We need to have our entire being , our heart, mind, and soul reading and ingesting Truth. God alone is good, (Mark 10:18). His Word is truth, (Psalm 119:160).

More than 2000 years ago, John the Baptist proclaimed,

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” Matthew 3:2.

Scroll past, this is another one of those . . . ” Is this your thought? Today, . . . DON’T SCROLL PAST. (Yes, all caps.)

Not that I have anything of importance to say with my words. What I’m saying is, it’s time to open God’s Word for yourself, (not for your mother, nor your sibling, not your anybody . . .).

If you honestly don’t know Jesus and the purpose of His coming to earth over 2000 years ago, or you only have a collection of “hear-say,” with man being judge over God, . . . (which makes man a god),

OPEN God’s HOLY WORD TODAY because . . . (Perhaps I’m shouting. It’s time!)

He wrote it for you. And for me.

And for every single person on this planet.

This is not the time to “follow the crowd.”

The Bible tells us about a wide way in the last days, Matthew 7:13,14.

Choosing Jesus, not choosing Jesus: This IS a life and death choice; an eternal life or eternal death decision.

At no other time is the Bible readily available. At a touch on the phone the Bible can be read aloud, in every Book and many translations. We are without excuse. Have we forgotten that the Word of God is light to our feet? (Psalm 1119: 105).

Do the heavens declare with each stunning sky, each morning sunrise, and glorious sunset, “Be still and know I am God . . . Psalm 46:10.

Yes, and if you find the verse in the Bible, it continues:
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

And God will. Whether we join Him or choose to remain separate for all eternity from Him, The Holy God of heaven and earth gave us choice.

For those who seek Him, God is not silent. Of His Counsels He says:

When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you. For the commandment is a lamp,

And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life” Proverbs 6:22,23.

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus commanded unclean spirits out of a man in the synagogue, He turned water to wine at a wedding feast in Cana, cleansed a leper, healed a paralytic, and all who were sick.

Crowds formed anywhere He went. “And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things” Mark 6:34

Jesus wants to teach us many things. We have to open His Word. This is light and life to all men. God’s kingdom is at hand.

What did Jesus say of the coming kingdom when asked?

“When will the Kingdom of God come?”

Jesus answered, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs . . .

. . .  For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so it will be on the day when the Son of Man comes . . .

When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all.

And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building— until the morning Lot left Sodom.

Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed . . .

If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it. That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.”

Where will this happen, Lord?” the disciples asked Luke 17:20-36.

We ask now, “When will this happen?”

“It’s time to turn to Christ. The Kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

IF you have fear . . .

STOP . . . and talk with the Lord. Jesus tells us not to fear. We need to turn to Him. Receive Jesus today.

First, repent. He’s been there all along for each of us. He’s been waiting.

Turn your face to Him, (and not your back as before).

Ask Him to come into Your life. Ask Him to fill you with His Spirit of light and life.

He will.

He makes you His child. A child of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He makes you a new creation.

And Angels sing in heaven rejoicing that one sinner has turned to Jesus. I share some children singing like angels rejoicing in the new, good life we have in Christ:

God Bless you.

All Things New. John 1:12, 2 Corinthians 5:17. Kanagy girls.