Fireflies - God Knows Me

Happy Saturday!
Today is the Fireflies monthly meeting. For those who don't know what Fireflies is: "A group of wonderfully made 3rd-5th graders looking to shine our light. The Firefly girl knows that beauty radiates from the inside out, and that real beauty comes from serving others." I have the wonderful privelege of teaching them through God's Word. Here is the lesson from September's meeting.

God Made Me!

Has anyyone here ever completed a puzzle?
• When you look at one piece it doesn’t really make any sense.
• But what happens when one piece connects with another? (You begin to see a picture)
• When all the pieces are connected the puzzle is complete and there is a beautiful masterpiece.
• Definition of a Masterpiece: The greatest work, as of an artist.

From pieces to Masterpiece

You and I are like puzzle pieces in the hand of God. He selected each piece of our body to create a beautiful masterpiece. That’s right, You are His greatest work!

Remember what I shared with you last time we were together: God knows You. And He knows everything about you because He made You. Today we’re going to learn about your creation by looking at God’s work and His thoughts for you.


Psalm 139:13
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

From the top of your head, to the tip of your toes was created by God. He selected the perfect combination to make You. Here is a list that sets you apart:
• Your Hair – the color, the texture, and type
• Your Eyes – the shape, the color, the eyelashes, and eyebrows
• Your Nose – where it ends, how high, how low
• Your Lips – the shape, the length, the fullness, and the shade
• Your Skin – the perfect color you have is like no other! And some of you have beauty marks and freckles, or how I like to call them: God’s extra touch!

God not only created your unique features, but He designed you with purpose:
• Your neck – connects your beautiful face and intelligent brain to your body
• Your Arms – they help you work, eat, play, hug, worship and serve God
• Your Legs – they help you walk, run, climb, ride bicycle, and DANCE!
• Your Mouth – to eat, to speak, to laugh, and to sing
• Your eyes – to see, to read, to
• Your Bones – each shaped for their own function
• Your Muscles – which obey your bones and brains
• Your Heart - pumps the blood which is your lifeline
• Your Lungs – they breathe the right amount life giving oxygen
• Other Organs – work to sustain your life

These are all the pieces that make up you’re unique physical features. And He made all of this is your Mother’s womb. But there is more to you than just your appearance and function. He created you with a unique and awesome personality. I love that you are all so different. Each one of you represents a piece of God. Together we all reflect the beauty and glory of God.

Psalm 139:14
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.

You are wonderfully made. Everything about your creation is wonderful because our wonderful God made you. How should we respond to this great truth that God made us? By praising God!

Psalm 139:15-16
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out (The days fashioned for me) before a single day had passed.

We read that your life was recorded in God’s book. Another way of reading this verse says that God fashioned the days for you. What does this mean?

• Think of it like this: Tonight you will choose what you will wear tomorrow. You choose which pants to wear with what shirt and you leave it ready for the next day. So it is with you and God, He has already chosen for you what your purpose in life will be. And God’s plans are always the best plan. If you follow Him and obey, He will lead you to His life for you, the best life.

Psalm 139:17-18
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!

These two verses fill me with joy! God thinks about you. His thoughts aren’t bad, they aren’t sad, or mean. His thoughts are precious because you are worthy and of great value in His sight.

Let’s take a look into one of these precious thoughts of God about you:

Ephesians 2:10: For YOU ARE God’s masterpiece. He has created YOU anew in Christ Jesus, so YOU can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

This is wonderful news!

God made YOU

God knows YOU

And precious are His thoughts about YOU



Love this pic of the girls laughing and listening to the bible study.
As you can tell, I can be a "entertaining" while I teach.



This is Miss Sahrae, the wonderful master mind behind The Fireflies



The girls made these flowers
for the Residents of a local Nursing Home



Psalm 138

I will praise You with my whole heart;

Before the gods I will sing praises to You.
I will worship toward Your holy temple,
And praise Your name
For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
 In the day when I cried out, You answered me,
And made me bold with strength in my soul.

 All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord,
When they hear the words of Your mouth.
 Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
For great is the glory of the Lord.
 Though the Lord is on high,
Yet He regards the lowly;
But the proud He knows from afar.

 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch out Your hand
Against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.
 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me;
Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

Haiti 

He graciously gives!

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

Graciously give all things. 

These words are resonating heavily in my heart. How many times has God so graciously given me exactly what I needed, and I overlooked it? I am guilty of acknowledging God for all the big breakthroughs yet neglect to recognize His gracious hands taking care of the smaller matters of my life. 

He graciously gives all things. 

May we be a people who are aware that all out needs are met in Christ. 

be profitably engaged

Happy Wednesday Lovelies! 

This morning as I sipped on my coffee and casually opened my Youversion bible apple to the reading plans, I read Day by Day With Billy Graham. Here below is the reading for today: 

"As Christians, we have the Spirit of God in us. But ours is the responsibility to keep sin out of our lives so that the Spirit can produce His fruit in us. Become grounded in the Bible. As Christians, we have only one authority, one compass: the Word of God. Abraham Lincoln in a letter to a friend said, “I am profitably engaged in reading the Bible. Take all of this Book upon reason that you can, and the balance upon faith. You will live and die a better man.” Begin the day with the Book; and as the day comes to a close, let the Word speak its wisdom to your soul. Let it be the firm foundation upon which your hope is built. Let it be the Staff of Life upon which your spirit is nourished. Let it be the Sword of the Spirit which cuts away the evil of your life and fashions you in His image and likeness.Almighty God, Your Word nourishes my whole being and I praise Your holy name!"

I was refreshed yet convicted by these words. Too often I head for my phone, check off a reading plan and consider that God's Word for me that day. How easily I have exchanged my Bible for technology. Not to say that these Bible apps are terrible, they are not. However, nothing should replace the intimacy of alone time with God... Alone meaning just me and my Bible. May my hands be engaged with the pages of my Bible. May my eyes be engaged with every word . May my heart be fully engaged with the heart of the One who penned this book for me. And may my mind be engaged with every command, truth, and promise.

"I am profitably engaged in reading the Bible." -Abraham Lincoln
Can these words be true of me?

ll Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

... and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. John 17:17

How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. Psalm 119:9

For the word of the Lord is right, and all His work is done in truth. Psalm 33:4

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105

Lyrical Friday - Made Alive

Happiest of Fridays to You! 

There is one portion of scripture that can prepare our hearts for today's lyrical post. 
Ephesians 2:1-10:

 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. 

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. 

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

I don't have much to say in light of God's word. Only, "Thank You my Lord!" Thank You! Thank You!

Made Alive, Citizens


I once was dead in sin alone and hopeless
A child of wrath I walked condemned in darkness
But Your mercy brought new life and in Your love and kindness
Raised me up with Christ and made me righteous

Chorus:
You have bought me back with the riches of
Your amazing grace and relentless love
I'm made alive forever with You, life forever
By Your grace I'm saved, by Your grace I'm saved

Lord, You are the light that broke the darkness
You satisfy my soul when I am heartless
If ever I forget my true identity
Show me who I am and help me to believe

Bridge:
My sin has been erased, I'll never be the same
My sin has been erased, I'll never be the same

Sentence Tuesday

The more touched you are by people's praises, 

The more devastated you will be by their criticisms. 

-Ben Courson 

photo credit 

Fireflies - God Knows Me!

Hi Lovlies!
A week ago a good friend of mine took a step of faith and began a ministry called Fireflies. Here is a brief description:

"A group of wonderfully made 3rd-5th graders looking to shine our light. The Firefly girl knows that beauty radiates from the inside out, and that real beauty comes from serving others."

How could I not accept the invitation to be a part of this group!?
The Fireflies gather together the first Saturday of every month to do a craft, play a game, work on an outreach project, and (my favorite part) learn about God. My lovely friend hosted the meeting and deligated each portion of the meeting to another lady invited. I had the awesome privilege of teaching God's word to the beautiful fireflies. I was asked to teach from Psalm 139 (YES!!!). These are my notes:

God Knows ME!

Psalm 139:1-4
O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.

Here we read that God sees you. Our GREAT and BIG God sees the whole world, including you. He is with you sleeping.

He is with you awake.
He is with you when you sit down.
He is with you when you stand up.
He is with you when you walk.
He is with you when you run.
He is with you when you play.
He is with you when you sing.
He is with you when you read.
He is with you when you are alone.
He is with you when you are with your family.
He is with you at school.
He is with you everywhere you go.
He knows your thoughts.
He knows when you are afraid.
He knows when you are sad.
He knows when you are happy.
He knows what makes you happy.
He knows your heart.
He knows you, everything about you.

Psalm 139:5
You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. He is all around you on every side protecting you.

Not only does God know everything about you, He also promises to bless you and protect you. Nothing about your day catches God by surprise.

For example, He knows if you have to go to the doctor’s office, He knows if you have to take a test in school; he knows if you have a sports activity to go to. He knew along time ago that you would be in this room today. He knew about Fireflies.

Day and night God is aware of everything that happens to you. Day and night He protects us from harm. He protected all of us on our way here. He protects you and your family and your friends because He knows them too.

Psalm 139:6
Such knowledge is too amazing for me,
Too great for me to understand!

It is difficult for me to understand God’s mind. When doubt fills my mind I have to remember that I won’t always understand all of God or why He does so many amazing things for me, a sinner. The little knowledge that I know about God is enough to quiet my doubts. Here are four great truths that are amazing:

God knows you.
God loves you.
God blesses you.
God protects you.

Psalm 139:9-12
If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you

Two things we see here that are so good for us.
One) No matter where you are, or how far you are, God will be with you to guide you. God is strong and will help you with every problem. He will help you and support you.
Two) Darkness and Light are the same to God. Have you ever been in the dark? It’s scary!!! When you are in the dark, you can’t see anything, but God can see everything in the dark. He can see you and be with you. God isn’t afraid of the dark. Remember, you are never alone.

Have you ever been lost in the day time or in a store? That too can be scary, even though it isn’t darkness. God still sees you and is with you. He isn’t afraid of anything. No matter where we are at, near, far, or lost, God can see us and is with us.

Next time we meet I will share with you more about God’s love for you and how much He knows about you. There is so much God wants us to know about Him. He has given to us His own words to know Him by. It’s called the Bible. It tells us EVERYTHING we need to know about our awesome God. All the pages speak of His greatness. They give us knowledge and make us more like God. I would like for all of you to read your Bible and learn more about the God who knows everything about you!

After the Bible study we split into small groups. These were my sweet, spunky, and gusty gals:

back from uth camp

RCamp was yet another great experience. Lazy days, crazy games, and girl time. Ben Courson and Jesse Lusko were our key speakers, and boy were they on key. Here are a few pics:

B L U E    T E A M, my team

Walk the Plank. Lot's of team work for this game. and we won! yay! 

TP TANTRUM. 

MESSY BACON . Beastmode

Battle of Middle Earth 

team blue being fabulous!

Cabin 9A, night time reflection 

braids, braids, and more braids. 

Cabin 9A, my cabin, after their cabin performance. ha ha ha 

it wouldn't be camp if we didn't play games in the Oasis