Ahma Andrews' Children's Hour

WHO'S WHO IN THE BIBLE for February 2012 MATTHEW WRITES ABOUT JESUS

2012-01-26T23:23:00.000-08:00

1. Mary and Joseph – Matthew 1:18-25

2. The Wise Men – Matthew 2:1-6

3. The Wise Men – Matthew 2:7-12

4. Escape to

Egypt

– Matthew 2:13-18

5. Return to Nazareth – Matthew 2:19-23

6. John the Baptist – Matthew 3:1-6

7. John the Baptist – Matthew 3:7-12

8. John Baptises Jesus – Matthew 3:13-17

9. Jesus is Tempted – Matthew 4:1-6

10. Jesus is Tempted – Matthew 4:7-11

11. Jesus begins to preach – Matthew 4:12-17

12. Jesus Calls his First Disciples – Matthew 4:18-22

13. Jesus Heals the Sick – Matthew 4:32-25

14. Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy – Matthew 8:1-4

15. A Centurion Trusts Jesus – Matthew 8:5-9

16. A Centurion Trusts Jesus – Matthew 8:10-13

17. Jesus Heals Many People – Matthew 8:14-17

18. Following Jesus – Matthew 8:18-22

19. Jesus Calms a Storm – Matthew 8:23-27

20. Jesus Heals Two Men – Matthew 8:28-34

21. Jesus Heals a Paralysed Man – Matthew 9:1-8

22. Jesus Calls Matthew – Matthew 9:9-13

23. A Dead Girl and a Sick Woman – Matthew 9:18-25

24. Jesus Heals the Blind and Mute – Matthew 9:27-32

25. Jesus Sends Out the Twelve – Matthew 10:1-4

26. Jesus and John the Baptist – Matthew 11: 1-6

27. Lord of the Sabbath – Matthew 12:1-8

28. Jesus Heals on the Sabbath – Matthew 12:9-14

29. Jesus’ Mother and Brothers – Matthew 12:46-50

WHO'S WHO IN THE BIBLE for January 2011

2011-12-22T19:09:00.000-08:00

JANUARY

1. Job – Job 1:1-12

2. Job – Job 1:13-22

3. Job – Job 2:1-10

4. Job – Job 2:11-13

5. Job – Job 40:1-9

6. Job – Job 40:15-24

7. Job – Job 42:1-9

8. Job – Job 42:10-17

9. Adam – Genesis 1:26-31

10. Adam – Genesis 2:1-9

11. Adam – Genesis 2:10-17

12. Eve - Genesis 2:18-25

13. Adam and Eve – Genesis 3:1-7

14. Adam and Eve – Genesis 3:8=13

15. Adam and Eve – Genesis 3:14-19

16. Adam and Eve – Genesis 3:20-24

17. Cain and Abel – Genesis 4:1-7

18. Cain and Abel – Genesis 4:8-16

19. Cain’s Family – Genesis 4:17-24

20. Seth – Genesis 4:25&26 to 5:5

21. Seth to Enoch – Genesis 5:6:20

22. Enoch to Noah – Genesis 5:21-32

23. Noah – Genesis 6:1-8

24. Noah – Genesis 6:9-22

25. Noah – Genesis 7:1-5

26. Noah – Genesis 7:6-16

27. Noah – Genesis 7:17-24

28. Noah – Genesis 8:1-12

29. Noah – Genesis 8:13-18

30. Noah – Genesis 8:20 to 9:7

31. Noah – Genesis 9:8-17

The Transfiguration.

2011-12-15T22:43:00.000-08:00

Next week, you will be reading a special story in your Bibles. It is called The Transfiguration.

Mark 9:1-13

Jesus took Peter and James and John away from the other disciples by themselves. He led them to the top of a high mountain. Four amazing things happened:

1. Suddenly Jesus clothes became shining white, whiter than you ever see on earth.

2. Two men appeared – Elijah and Moses. They talked with Jesus.

3. A cloud came over them all and a voice came from the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”

4. The voice stopped and Elijah and Moses disappeared.

See if you can find out what Peter wanted to do on the mountain while Jesus talked with Moses and Elijah.

Did you know that Moses was not allowed into the Promised Land before he died? Jesus brought him into the Promised Land 1,400 years later. Who will bring us into God’s Promised Land?

Who’s voice came from the cloud? What did He say?

There were other people in the Bible who saw the Lord in clothes so bright and shiny that they were frightened to look at Him. Isaiah and Ezekiel were two.

WHO'S WHO IN THE BIBLE FOR DECEMBER - MARK WRITES ABOUT JESUS

2011-12-08T22:08:00.001-08:00

1. Jesus Rejected At Home – Mark 6:1-6

2. Jesus Sends Out Apostles – Mark 6:7-12

3. Jesus’ Cousin John – Mark 6:14-20

4. John is Killed – Mark 6:21-19

5. Jesus Feeds 5,000 – Mark 6:30-36

6. Jesus Feeds 5,000 – Mark 6:37-44

7. Jesus Walks On Water – Mark 6:45-51

8. Jesus Heals Sick People – Mark 6:53-56

9. Jesus and Pharisees – Mark 7:1-8

10. Jesus and Pharisees – Mark 7:9-13

11. What Makes A Person Dirty – Mark 7:14-23

12. Jesus and a Foreign Woman – Mark 7:14-30

13. Jesus Heals A Deaf Man – Mark 7:31-37

14. Jesus Feeds 4,000 – Mark 8:1-5

15. Jesus Feeds 4,000 – Mark 8:6-10

16. Pharisees Argue With Jesus – Mark 8:11-13

17. Jesus Warns His Disciples – Mark 8:14-21

18. Jesus Heals A Blind Man – Mark 8:22-26

19. Jesus Is Christ – Mark 8:27-30

20. Jesus Teaches His Disciples – Mark 8:31-33

21. Jesus Teaches The Crowd – Mark 8:34-38

22. Jesus is Transfigured – Mark 9:1-8

23. Jesus is Transfigured – Mark 9:9-13

24. Jesus Heals A Boy – Mark 9:14-22

25. Jesus Heals A Boy – Mark 9:23-29

26. Jesus’ Death and Resurrection – Mark 9:30-32

27. Who Is The Greatest? – Mark 9:33-37

28. Who Is For Jesus? – Mark 9:38-41

29. Jesus Teaches His Disciples – Mark 9:42-50

30. Jesus Teaches The Crowd – Mark 10:1-11

31. Jesus and Children – Mark 10:13-16

ON THE BANKS OF PLUM CREEK

2011-11-03T21:46:00.000-07:00

- a story about how two little girls learnt to obey their father -

by Laura Ingalls Wilder

CHAPTER 8 STRAW-STACK

When Mr Nelson's harvesting was done, Pa had paid for Spot. He could do his own harvesting now. He sharpened the long, dangerous scythe that little girls must never touch, and he cut down the wheat in the small field beyond the stable. He bound it in bundles and stacked them.

Then every morning he went to work on the level land across the creek. He cut the prairie grass and left it to dry in the sunshine. He raked it into piles with a wooden rake. He yoked Pete and Bright to the wagon, and hauled the hay and made six big stacks of it over there.

At night he was always too tired, now, to play the fiddle. But he was glad because when the hay was stacked he could plough that stubble land, and that would be the wheat-field.

One morning at daylight three strange men came with a threshing-machine. They threshed Pa's stack of wheat. Laura heard the harsh machinery noises while she drove Spot through the dewy grass, and when the sun rose chaff flew golden in the wind.

The threshing was done and the men went away with the machine before breakfast. Pa said he wished Hanson had sown more wheat.

'But there's enough to make us some flour,' he said. 'And the straw, with what hay I've cut, will feed the stock through the winter. Next year,' he said, 'we'll have a crop of wheat that will amount to something!'

When Laura and Mary went up on the prairie to play, that morning, the first thing they saw was a beautiful golden straw-stack.

It was tall and shining bright in the sunshine. It smelled sweeter than hay.

Laura's feet slid in the sliding, slippery straw, but she could climb faster than straw slid. In a minute she was high on top of that stack.

She looked across the willow tops and away beyond the creek at the far land. She could see the whole, great, round prairie. She was high up in the sky, almost as high as birds. Her arms waved and her feet bounced on the springy straw. She was almost flying, 'way high up in the windy sky.

'I'm flying! I'm flying!' she called down to Mary. Mary climbed up to her.

'Jump! jump!' Laura said. They held hands and jumped round and round, higher and higher. The wind blew and their skirts flapped and their sunbonnets swung at the ends of the sunbonnet strings around their necks.

'Higher! Higher!' Laura sang, jumping. Suddenly the straw slid under her. Over the edge of the stack she went, sitting in straw, sliding faster and faster. Bump! She landed at the bottom. Plump! Mary landed on her.

They rolled and laughed in the crackling straw. Then they climbed the stack, and slid down it again. They had never had so much fun.

They climbed up and slid, climbed and slid, until there was hardly any stack left in the middle of loose heaps of straw.

Then they were sober. Pa had made that straw-stack and now it was not at all as he had left it. Laura looked at Mary mid Mary looked at her, and they looked at what was left of that straw-stack. Then Mary said she was going into the dugout, and Laura went quietly with her. They were very good, helping Ma and playing nicely with Carrie, until Pa came to dinner.

When he came in he looked straight at Laura, and Laura looked at the floor.

'You girls mustn't slide down the straw-stack any more,' Pa said. 'I had to stop and pitch up all that loose straw.' 'We won't, Pa,' Laura said, earnestly, and Mary said, 'No, Pa, we won't.'

After dinner Mary washed the dishes and Laura dried them. Then they put on their sunbonnets and went up the path to the prairie. The straw-stack was golden-bright in the sunshine.

'Laura! What are you doing!’ said Mary.

'I'm not doing anything!' said Laura. 'I'm not even hardly touching it! '

'You come right away from there, or I'll tell Ma!’ said Mary.

'Pa didn't say I couldn't smell it,' said Laura.

She stood close to the golden stack and sniffed long, deep sniffs. The straw was warmed by the sun. It smelled better than wheat kernels taste when you chew them. Laura burrowed her face in it, shutting her eyes and smelling deeper and deeper.

'Mmm!' she said.

Mary came and smelled it and said, 'Mmm!'

Laura looked up the glistening, prickly, golden stack. She had never seen the sky so blue as it was above that gold. She could not stay on the ground. She had to be high up in the blue sky.

'Laura!' Mary cried. 'Pa said we mustn't!'

Laura was climbing. 'He did not, either!' she contradicted. 'He did not say we must not climb up it. He said we must not slide down it. I'm only climbing.'

'You come right straight down from there,' said Mary. Laura was on top of the stack. She

looked down at Mary and said, like a very good little girl, 'I am not going to slide down. Pa said not to.'

Nothing but the blue sky was higher than she was. The wind was blowing. The green prairie was wide and far.

Laura spread her arms and jumped, and the straw bounded her high.

' I’m flying! I'm flying!' she sang. Mary climbed up, and Mary began to fly, too.

They bounced until they could bounce no higher. Then they flopped flat on the sweet warm straw. Bulges of straw rose up on both sides of Laura. She rolled on to a bulge and it sank, but another rose up. She rolled on to that bulge, and then she was rolling faster and faster; she could not slop.

'Laura!' Mary screamed. 'Pa said –' But Laura was rolling. Over, over, over, right down that straw-stack she rolled and thumped in straw on the ground.

She jumped up and climbed that straw-stack again as fast as she could. She flopped and began to roll again. 'Come on, Mary!' she shouted. 'Pa didn't say we can't roll!'

Mary stayed on top of the stack and argued. 'I know Pa didn't say we can't roll, but –'

'Well, then!' Laura rolled down again. 'Come on!' she called up. 'It's lots of fun!'

‘Well, but I –' said Mary. Then she came rolling down.

It was great fun. It was more fun than sliding. They climbed and rolled and climbed and rolled, laughing harder all the time. More and more straw rolled down with them. They waded in it and rolled each other in it and climbed and rolled down again, till there was hardly anything left to climb.

Then they brushed every bit of straw off their dresses, they picked every bit out of their hair, and they went quietly into the dugout.

When Pa came from the hay-field that night, Mary was busily setting the table for supper. Laura was behind the door, busy with the box of paper dolls.

'Laura,' Pa said, dreadfully, 'come here.'

Slowly Laura went out from behind the door.

'Come here,' said Pa, 'right over here by Mary.'

He sat down and he stood them before him, side by side. But it was Laura he looked at.

He said, sternly, 'You girls have been sliding down the straw-stack again.'

`No, Pa,' said Laura.

'Mary!' said Pa. 'Did you slide down the straw-stack?' 'N-no, Pa,' Mary said

'Laura!' Pa's voice was terrible. 'Tell me again, DID YOU SLIDE DOWN THE STRAW-STACK?'

'No, Pa,' Laura answered again. She looked straight into Pa's shocked eyes. She did not know why he looked like that.

‘Laura!’ Pa said.

‘We did not slide, Pa,’ Laura explained. ‘But we did roll down it.’

Pa got up quickly and went to the door and stood looking out. His back quivered. Laura and Mary did not know what to think.

When Pa turned around, his face was stern but his eyes were twinkling.

'All right, Laura,' he said. 'But now I want you girls to stay away from that straw-stack. Pete and Bright and Spot will have nothing but hay and straw to eat this winter. They need every bite of it. You don't want them to be hungry, do you?'

'Oh no, Pa!' they said.

'Well, if that straw's to be fit to feed them, it MUST - STAY - STACKED. Do you understand?'

'Yes, Pa,' said Laura and Mary.

That was the end of their playing on the straw-stack.

WHO'S WHO IN THE BIBLE FOR NOVEMBER - MARK WRITES ABOUT JESUS

2011-10-27T20:38:00.000-07:00

1.                 John the Baptist – Mark 1:1-8
2.                 Jesus’ Baptism – Mark 1:9-11
3.                 Jesus Begins His Ministry – Mark 1:12-20
4.                 Jesus Heals a Man – Mark 1:21-18
5.                 Jesus Heals many People – Mark 1:29-34
6.                 Jesus Preaches in Galilee – Mark 1:35-39
7.                 Jesus Cleanses a Leper – Mark 1:40-45
8.               Jesus Heals a Paralytic – Mark 2:1-12
9.               Jesus Calls Levi – Mark 2:13-17
10.         Jesus Talks about Fasting – Mark 2:18-22
11.         Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath – Mark 2:23-28
12.         A Man with a Withered Hand – Mark 3:1-6
13.         A Great Crowd Follows Jesus – Mark 3:7-12
14.         The Twelve Apostles – Mark 3:13-21
15.         Satan and the Holy Spirit – Mark 3:22-30
16.         Jesus’ Mother and Brothers – Mark 3:31-35
17.         The Sower – Mark 4:1-9
18.         The Disciples and Parables – Mark 4:10-12
19.         The Sower Explained – Mark 4:13-20
20.         A Lamp Under a Basket – Mark 4:21-25
21.         The Seeds – Mark 4:26-34
22.         Jesus Calms a Storm – Mark 4:35-41
23.         Jesus Heals – Mark 5:1-6
24.         Jesus Heals – Mark 5:7-13
25.         Jesus Heals – Mark 5:14-20
26.         Jesus Heals – Mark 5:21-24
27.         Jesus Heals – Mark 5:25-29
28.         Jesus Heals – Mark 5:30-34
29.         Jesus Heals – Mark 5:35-38
30.             Jesus Heals – Mark 5:39-43

ALPHABET - s - z

2011-10-27T20:34:00.000-07:00

SAMUEL TRUSTS AND OBEYS GOD

2011-10-19T14:55:00.000-07:00

Dear Children,

In the next few days, when you read "Who's Who in the Bible for October", you will read the story of how Samuel listened to God and obeyed Him. Here's a song about this story. See if Daddy or Mummy can teach you to sing it:

Hushed was the evening hymn,
the temple courts were dark,
the lamp was burning dim
before the sacred ark,
when suddenly a voice divine
rang through the silence of the shrine.

The old man meek and mild,
the priest of Israel, slept;
his watch the temple child,
the little Levite kept.
And what from Eli's sense was sealed
the Lord to Hannah's son revealed.

O give me Samuel's ear,
the open ear, O Lord,
alive and quick to hear
each whisper of Your Word;
like him to answer at Your call,
and to obey You first of all.

O give me Samuel's heart,
a humble heart that waits
where in Your house You are,
or watches at Your gates:
by day and night a heart that still
moves at the breathing of Your will.

O give me Samuel's mind,
a sweet unmurmuring faith,
obedient and resigned
to You in life and death,
that I may read with child-like eyes
truths that are hidden from the wise.

Love from Ahma

King Canute on the Seashore

2011-10-13T21:59:00.000-07:00

by: James Baldwin, The Book of Virtues

Long ago,

England

was ruled by a king named Canute. Like many leaders and men of power, Canute was surrounded by people who were always praising him. Every time he walked into a room, the flattery began.
"You are the greatest man that ever lived," one would say.
"O king, there can never be another as mighty as you," another would insist.
"Your highness, there is nothing you cannot do," someone would smile.
"Great Canute, you are the monarch of all," another would sing. "Nothing in this world dares to disobey you."
The king was a man of sense, and he grew tired of hearing such foolish speeches.
One day he was walking by the seashore, and his officers and courtiers were with him, praising him as usual. Canute decided to teach them a lesson.
"So you say I am the greatest man in the world?" he asked them.
"O king," they cried, "there never has been anyone as mighty as you, and there never be anyone so great, ever again!"
"And you say all things obey me?" Canute asked.
"Absolutely!" they said. "The world bows before you, and gives you honour."
"I see," the king answered. "In that case, bring me my chair, and we will go down to the water."
"At once, your majesty!" They scrambled to carry his royal chair over the sands.
"Bring it closer to the sea," Canute called. "Put it right here, right at the water's edge." He sat down and surveyed the ocean before him. "I notice the tide is coming in. Do you think it will stop if I give the command?"
His officers were puzzled, but they did not dare say no. "Give the order, O great king, and it will obey," one of then assured him.
"Very well. Sea," cried Canute, "I command you to come no further! Waves, stop your rolling!. Surf, stop your pounding! Do not dare touch my feet!"
He waited a moment, quietly, and a tiny wave rushed up the sand and lapped at his feet.
"How dare you!" Canute shouted. "Ocean, turn back now! I have ordered you to retreat before me, and now you must obey! Go back!"
And in answer another wave swept forward and curled around the king's feet. The tide came in, just as it always did. The water rose higher and higher. It came up around the king's chair, and wet not only his feet, but also his robe. His officers stood before him, alarmed, and wondering whether he was not mad.
"Well, my friends," Canute said, "it seems I do not have quite so much power as you would have me believe. Perhaps you have learned something today. Perhaps now you will remember there is only one King who is all-powerful, and it is he who rules the sea, and holds the ocean in the hollow of his hand. I suggest you reserve your praises for him."

The royal officers and courtiers hung their heads and looked foolish. And some say Canute took off his crown soon afterward, and never wore it again.

....................................................................................

King Canute ruled England, Denmark, Norway and Sweden 1,000 years ago. “He was exceptionally tall and strong, and the handsomest of men, all except for his nose, that was thin, high-set, and rather hooked. He had a fair complexion none-the-less, and a fine, thick head of hair. His eyes were better than those of other men, both the handsomer and the keener of their sight.” [Knytlinga Saga]

Today, people are saying we can stop the sea rising if we do this and don’t do this. They are giving to man the power that belongs to our Creator God alone. They are as foolish as King Canute’s courtiers.

This morning in church we sang Psalm 30:

The seas He gathers into jars,

puts ocean depths in store.

Let all the earth Jehovah fear,

all people stand in awe.

Canute was right when he told his friends that there is only one King who is all-powerful. He is so great and powerful that he can pour the oceans into jars and store them up in his own secret storehouse. Imagine that!

People show us pictures of the ocean waves coming in and pushing over homes. They make us afraid and say we must use less coal and oil and gas. These foolish people pretend this will stop the sea rising, though no one has any proof that it will.

Ocean levels have changed through all of history. Sometimes the sea level is higher and sometimes it is lower. And God tells us that he holds the sea back with his hand. What happens with the great flares of fire on the surface of the sun has far more effect on sea levels and melting ice caps, and only God can do something about the sun.

Job was a very great and rich man who got into a lot of trouble. He almost forgot who God is. This is what God said to him out of a whirlwind:

“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

"Or who shut in the sea with doors
   when it burst out from the womb,
when I made clouds its garment
   and thick darkness its swaddling band,
and prescribed limits for it
   and set bars and doors,
and said, 'Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
   and here shall your proud waves be stayed'?        [Job 38]

Don’t let us be afraid of what scaremongers say. Let us take heart and listen to what God says. Sometimes we can help other people who are in trouble from storms and floods, but also people everywhere need to look to God and help themselves. There is a lot of technology around today that could help people in places that have too much water. Why, on Saturday night I watched how the people of Hong Kong built a whole island for their new airport.

Fear is a terrible thing that Satan uses to tie people up and make them helpless. Back 2,000 years ago, some people really thought the sky would fall on their heads. Now governments are using the fear of melting ice and rising seas to take more money from their people, to impose higher taxes. Over and over again, God says to us, “Don’t be afraid,” “Fear not,” “Be of good courage!” Let’s listen to Him, and remember He has told the waves, “Thus far you shall come, and no farther!”

QUEEN VICTORIA AND PRINCESS MARIE LOUISE

2011-10-09T14:26:00.000-07:00

A GRANDMAMA’S LETTER

It was customary for Queen Victoria to give each of her 40 grandchildren a gold watch on their tenth birthday. Here is the letter that came to Princess Marie Louise with her watch:

Osborne,

12^th August, 1882

My dear little Louise,

On this your tenth birthday I write to express my best wishes, praying that God may bless and protect you for many years and help to make you a good, truthful, affectionate little girl, dutiful and loving to Papa, mama, and Grandmama, and kind and good to all around you. I hope you will like your watch and spend a happy birthday…

I hope that you will enjoy your stay with Mrs. Jeune and that you and Victoria will write sometimes to me.

Ever your loving Grandmama,

V.R.I.

Auntie Beatrice sends you her love.

Here are some questions to help you think about this letter:

What does this letter tell you about Queen Victoria?
Who does she mention first after greeting Marie Louise?
What sort of child does she hope Marie Louise will be?
Who's help does this Grandma say Marie Louise needs?

WHO'S WHO IN THE BIBLE FOR OCTOBER - Ruth and Samuel

2011-09-27T18:41:00.000-07:00

OCTOBER

1. Elimelech and Naomi – Ruth 1:1-5

2. Naomi, Ruth and Orpah – Ruth 1:6-14

3. Ruth’s love for Naomi – Ruth 1:15-18

4. Naomi and Ruth return – Ruth 1:19-22

5. Ruth Meets Boaz – Ruth 2:1-7

6. Boaz makes a place for Ruth – Ruth 2:8-13

7. Ruth works in Boaz’s fields – Ruth 2:17-23

8. Naomi plans for Ruth’s future – Ruth 3:1-5

9. Ruth goes to the threshing floor – Ruth 3:6-13

10. Ruth waits for Boaz – Ruth 3:14-18

11. Boaz meets a relative – Ruth 3:1-6

12. Boaz buy’s Naomi’s field – Ruth 3:7-12

13. Ruth and Boaz marry – Ruth 3:13-21

14. Samuel’s Mother and Father – 1 Samuel 1:1-7

15. Samuel’s Mother and Father – 1 Samuel 1:8-11

16. Hannah and Eli – 1 Samuel 1:12-20

17. Samuel is Given to the Lord – 1 Samuel1:21-28

18. Samuel’s parents go home – 1 Samuel 2:1-5, 11

19. Samuel ministers before the Lord - 1 Samuel 2:18-21

20. Eli rebukes his sons – 1 Samuel 2:22-26

21. The Lord rejects Eli’s household – 1 Samuel 2:27-30

22. The Lord rejects Eli’s household – 1 Samuel 2:31-36

23. The Lord calls Samuel – 1 Samuel 3:1-5

24. The Lord calls Samuel – 1 Samuel 3:6-9

25. The Lord calls Samuel – 1 Samuel 3:10-14

26. The Lord calls Samuel – 1 Samuel 3:15-21

27. The Philistines capture the Ark – 1 Samuel 4:1-4

28. The Philistines capture the Ark – 1 Samuel 4:5-11

29. The Philistines capture the Ark – 1 Samuel 4:12-18

30. The Philistines and the Ark – 1 Samuel 5:1-6

31. The Philistines and the Ark – 1 Samuel 4:7-12

ORKNEY

2011-09-22T22:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Children,

This week I would like to tell you about an amazing place. It is called Orkney, and is a group of islands in the North Sea. It is cold wet and windy for much of the year, but the people still manage to grow crops and raise cattle. The people are mostly descended from the Vikings who invaded

Scotland

Here is a causeway between two islands and below is the harbour where many sailors lost their lives in World War II

Here is a prehistoric village uncovered on the beach in a big storm, and below is the Ring of Brodgar, which has been reproduced at Glen Innes north of Tamworth.

Here is the Italian Chapel made of tin by Prisoners of War. Inside it is painted to look like a great stone church.

And here is a puffin! Puffins run and skid along the water, even when it is choppy. Then they dive and come up with lots of little fish in their mouths. They really are the cutest creatures.

Isn't our Creator God wonderful to think of such great places and little things!

Lots of love,
Ahma

[Thanks to Google for the photos.]

ALPHABET IN PICTURES - j like a jumping fish to r like a rose in a vase

2011-09-15T22:25:00.000-07:00

WHO'S WHO IN THE BIBLE FOR SEPTEMBER - Jesus and John

2011-08-28T22:31:00.000-07:00

1. At The Foot Of The Cross - John 19:23-27

2. Jesus Side Is Pieced – John 19:31-37

3. Jesus Is Buried – John 19:38-41

4. The Resurrection – John 20:1-10

5. Jesus Appears To The Disciples – John 20:19-23

6. Jesus and Thomas – John 20:24-29

7. Jesus appears to Seven Disciples - John 21:1-8

8. Jesus Serves Breakfast – John 21:9-14

9. Jesus and Peter – John 21:15-19

10. Jesus and John - John 21:20-24

11. The Gospel of John – John 20:30 and John 21:25

12. The Revelation of Jesus – Revelation 1:1-3

13. Greetings to the Seven Churches – Revelation 1:4-8

14. John’s Vision of Jesus – Revelation 1:9-16

15. John’s Vision of Jesus – Revelation 1:17-20

16. To The Church in Ephesus – Revelation 2:1-7

17. To The Church in Smyrna – Revelation 2:8-17

18. To The Church in Pergamum – Revelation 2:12-17

19. To The Church in Thyatira – Revelation 2:18-29

20. To The Church in Sardis – Revelation 3:1-6

21. To The Church in Philadelphia – Revelation 3:7-13

22. To The Church in Laodicea – Revelation 3:14-22

23. The Defeat of Satan – Revelation 20:7-10

24. The Great White Throne – Revelation 20:11-14

25. The New Heaven and the New Earth – Revelation 21:1-8

26. The New Jerusalem – Revelation 21:9-14

27. The New Jerusalem – Revelation 21:15-21

28. The New Jerusalem – Revelation 21:22-27

29. The River of Life – Revelation 22:1-5

30. Jesus is Coming – Revelation 22:1-9

CASTLES

2011-08-11T22:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Children,

What do you know about castles?

Most of them are very old. Some are tumbled down. Some, like this one, still have people living in them.

This very famous castle in Scotland is called Glamis. It has lots of stories, some true and some imaginary. In the middle is an ancient tower. One King who visited the castle was King Duncan who is famous in the play Macbeth.

Psalm 87 talks about Zion, the citadel of the Great King. It says, “

Glorious things of you

are spoken,
O city of God.”

That is the castle of the King of Kings that Ahma looks forward to visiting one day. I pray that we will all go there and live with Our Lord and King Jesus for ever.

Love from Papa and Ahma.

WHO'S WHO IN THE BIBLE FOR AUGUST - Gideon and Samson

2011-07-29T00:45:00.000-07:00

When you have read each passage, write down one thing you want to remember.

1. Gideon – Judges 6:1-5
2. Gideon – Judges 6:6-10
3. Gideon – Judges 6:11-14
4. Gideon – Judges 6:15-18
5. Gideon – Judges 6:19-24
6. Gideon – Judges 6:25-27
7. Gideon – Judges 6:28-32
8. Gideon – Judges 6:33-35
9. Gideon – Judges 6:36-40
10. Gideon – Judges 7:1-3
11. Gideon – Judges 7:4-8
12. Gideon – Judges 7:9-14
13. Gideon – Judges 7:15-18
14. Gideon – Judges 7:19-23
15. Gideon – Judges 7:24-25
16. Samson – Judges 13:1-7
17. Samson – Judges 13:8-14
18. Samson – Judges 13:15-20
19. Samson – Judges 13:21-25
20. Samson – Judges 14:1-3
21. Samson – Judges 14:4-7
22. Samson – Judges 14:8,9
23. Samson – Judges 14:10-14
24. Samson – Judges 14:15-18
25. Samson – Judges 14:19-20
26. Samson – Judges 15:1-8
27. Samson – Judges 15:9-13
28. Samson – Judges 15:14-17
29. Samson – Judges 15:18-20
30. Samson – Judges 16:23-27
31. Samson – Judges 16:28-31

SOUNDING WORDS - The Vowel "U"

2011-07-29T00:43:00.000-07:00

u like a swing;

up we go!

cup

pup

sup

mum

bun

fun

gun

pun

run

sun

UNDER HIS WINGS

2011-07-29T00:39:00.000-07:00

Dear Children,

Last week I told you about the eagle soaring over Tamworth. This week I have a beautiful photo of another bird. It is a perfect illustration of another Bible verse:

Psalm 91:4

"He will cover you with his feathers,

and under His wings you will find refuge".

Remember to fly to Jesus when you are frightened or lonely or unhappy.

Love from Ahma Andrews

ON EAGLES' WINGS

2011-07-21T22:49:00.001-07:00

Dear Children,

This morning after Church, Papa visited a lady in hospital. I sat in the car and waited for him. It was warm and sunny.

Suddenly, in the sky above, at the end of the street I saw a small bird chasing an eagle. The eagle was many times larger but the small bird kept diving at it until it went away. I could not see what sort the small bird was -probably a peewee.

For the next 10 or 15 minutes I watched the eagle soar in circles up and up and up to the clouds. It slowly circled round and round, each time gaining height.

It was probably a young female wedge tail as it was light in colour.

Did you know?

· The Wedge tailed eagle is the largest bird of prey in Australia. It lives in all parts of Australia.

· A wedge tail eagle calls by whistling and loud shrill screams.

· Wedge tails can carry 5kg and more of prey through the air.

· The Eagle is one of the most powerful birds in the world. They are careful to avoid danger.

· Eagles are very afraid of humans and rarely attack them, but an eagle may dive at people who come too close to its nest and may strike with its talons.

Love from Papa and Ahma

God said to His people:

I bare you

on eagles' wings,

and brought you

unto myself.

Exodus 19:3-5

SOUNDING WORDS - The Vowel "O"

2011-07-02T23:54:00.000-07:00

o like an orange;
o says “o”.

bob

cob

dob

fob

gob

hob

job

lot

tot

con

pot

rot

not

lob

mob

nob

rob

sob

What other "O" words can you think of?

The Pied Piper Of Hamelin by Robert Browning

2011-06-30T19:45:00.000-07:00

Hamelin Town's in Brunswick,
By famous Hanover city;
The river Weser, deep and wide,
Washes its wall on the southern side;
A pleasanter spot you never spied;
But, when begins my ditty,
Almost five hundred years ago,
To see the townsfolk suffer so
From vermin, was a pity.

Rats!
They fought the dogs, and killed the cats,
And bit the babies in the cradles,
And ate the cheeses out of the vats,
And licked the soup from the cook's own ladles,
Split open the kegs of salted sprats,
Made nests inside men's Sunday hats,
And even spoiled the women's chats,
By drowning their speaking
With shrieking and squeaking
In fifty different sharps and flats.

At last the people in a body
To the Town Hall came flocking:
"'Tis clear," cried they, "our Mayor's a noddy;
And as for our Corporation—shocking
To think we buy gowns lined with ermine
For dolts that can't or won't determine
What's best to rid us of our vermin!
You hope, because you're old and obese,
To find in the furry civic robe ease?
Rouse up, Sirs! Give your brains a racking
To find the remedy we're lacking,
Or, sure as fate, we'll send you packing!"
At this the Mayor and Corporation
Quaked with a mighty consternation.

An hour they sate in council,
At length the Mayor broke silence:
"For a guilder I'd my ermine gown sell;
I wish I were a mile hence!
It's easy to bid one rack one's brain—
I'm sure my poor head aches again
I've scratched it so, and all in vain.
Oh for a trap, a trap, a trap!"
Just as he said this, what should hap
At the chamber door but a gentle tap?
"Bless us," cried the Mayor, "what's that?"
(With the Corporation as he sat,
Looking little though wondrous fat;
Nor brighter was his eye, nor moister
Than a too-long-opened oyster,
Save when at noon his paunch grew mutinous
For a plate of turtle green and glutinous)
"Only a scraping of shoes on the mat?
Anything like the sound of a rat
Makes my heart go pit-a-pat!"

"Come in!"—the Mayor cried, looking bigger:
And in did come the strangest figure!
His queer long coat from heel to head
Was half of yellow and half of red;
And he himself was tall and thin,
With sharp blue eyes, each like a pin,
And light loose hair, yet swarthy skin,
No tuft on cheek nor beard on chin,
But lips where smiles went out and in—
There was no guessing his kith and kin!
And nobody could enough admire
The tall man and his quaint attire:
Quoth one: "It's as my great-grandsire,
Starting up at the Trump of Doom's tone,
Had walked this way from his painted tombstone!"

He advanced to the council-table:
And, "Please your honours," said he, "I'm able,
By means of a secret charm, to draw
All creatures living beneath the sun,
That creep or swim or fly or run,
After me so as you never saw!
And I chiefly use my charm
On creatures that do people harm,
The mole and toad and newt and viper;
And people call me the Pied Piper."
(And here they noticed round his neck
A scarf of red and yellow stripe,
To match with his coat of the selfsame cheque;
And at the scarf's end hung a pipe;
And his fingers, they noticed, were ever straying
As if impatient to be playing
Upon this pipe, as low it dangled
Over his vesture so old-fangled.)
"Yet," said he, "poor piper as I am,
In Tartary I freed the Cham,
Last June, from his huge swarms of gnats;
I eased in Asia the Nizam
Of a monstrous brood of vampire-bats;
And, as for what your brain bewilders,
If I can rid your town of rats
Will you give me a thousand guilders?"
"One? fifty thousand!"—was the exclamation
Of the astonished Mayor and Corporation.

Into the street the Piper stepped,
Smiling first a little smile,
As if he knew what magic slept
In his quiet pipe the while;
Then, like a musical adept,
To blow the pipe his lips he wrinkled,
And green and blue his sharp eyes twinkled
Like a candle flame where salt is sprinkled;
And ere three shrill notes the pipe uttered,
You heard as if an army muttered;
And the muttering grew to a grumbling;
And the grumbling grew to a mighty rumbling;
And out of the houses the rats came tumbling.
Great rats, small rats, lean rats, brawny rats,
Brown rats, black rats, grey rats, tawny rats,
Grave old plodders, gay young friskers,
Fathers, mothers, uncles, cousins,
Cocking tails and pricking whiskers,
Families by tens and dozens,
Brothers, sisters, husbands, wives—
Followed the Piper for their lives.
From street to street he piped advancing,
And step for step they followed dancing,
Until they came to the river Weser,
Wherein all plunged and perished!
- Save one who, stout a Julius Caesar,
Swam across and lived to carry
(As he, the manuscript he cherished)
To Rat-land home his commentary:
Which was, "At the first shrill notes of the pipe
I heard a sound as of scraping tripe,
And putting apples, wondrous ripe,
Into a cider-press's gripe:
And a moving away of pickle-tub-boards,
And a leaving ajar of conserve-cupboards,
And a drawing the corks of train-oil-flasks,
And a breaking the hoops of butter-casks;
And it seemed as if a voice
(Sweeter far than by harp or by psaltery
Is breathed) called out 'Oh, rats, rejoice!
The world is grown to one vast drysaltery!
So munch on, crunch on, take your nuncheon,
Breakfast, supper, dinner, luncheon!'
And just as a bulky sugar-puncheon,
All ready staved, like a great sun shone
Glorious scarce and inch before me,
Just as methought it said 'Come, bore me!'
- I found the Weser rolling o'er me."

You should have heard the Hamelin people
Ringing the bells till they rocked the steeple.
"Go," cried the Mayor, "and get long poles!
Poke out the nests and block up the holes!
Consult with carpenters and builders,
And leave in our town not even a trace
Of the rats!"—when suddenly, up the face
Of the Piper perked in the market-place,
With a, "First, if you please, my thousand guilders!"

A thousand guilders! The Mayor looked blue;
So did the Corporation too.
For council dinners made rare havoc
With Claret, Moselle, Vin-de-Grave, Hock;
And half the money would replenish
Their cellar's biggest butt with Rhenish.
To pay this sum to a wandering fellow
With a gypsy coat of red and yellow!
"Beside," quoth the Mayor with a knowing wink,
"Our business was done at the river's brink;
We saw with our eyes the vermin sink,
And what's dead can't come to life, I think.
So, friend, we're not the folks to shrink
From the duty of giving you something for drink,
And a matter of money to put in your poke;
But, as for the guilders, what we spoke
Of them, as you very well know, was in joke.
Beside, our losses have made us thrifty.
A thousand guilders! Come, take fifty!"

The Piper's face fell, and he cried
"No trifling! I can't wait, beside!
I've promised to visit by dinner-time
Bagdat, and accept the prime
Of the Head Cook's pottage, all he's rich in,
For having left, in the Calip's kitchen,
Of a nest of scorpions no survivor—
With him I proved no bargain-driver,
With you, don't think I'll bate a stiver!
And folks who put me in a passion
May find me pipe to another fashion."

"How?" cried the Mayor, "d'ye think I'll brook
Being worse treated than a Cook?
Insulted by a lazy ribald
With idle pipe and vesture piebald?
You threaten us, fellow? Do your worst,
Blow your pipe there till you burst!"

Once more he stepped into the street;
And to his lips again
Laid his long pipe of smooth straight cane;
And ere he blew three notes (such sweet
Soft notes as yet musician's cunning
Never gave the enraptured air)
There was a rustling, that seemed like a bustling
Of merry crowds justling at pitching and hustling,
Small feet were pattering, wooden shoes clattering,
Little hands clapping and little tongues chattering,
And, like fowls in a farmyard when barley is scattering,
Out came the children running.
All the little boys and girls,
With rosy cheeks and flaxen curls,
And sparkling eyes and teeth like pearls,
Tripping and skipping, ran merrily after
The wonderful music with shouting and laughter.

The Mayor was dumb, and the Council stood
As if they were changed into blocks of wood,
Unable to move a step, or cry
To the children merrily skipping by—
And could only follow with the eye
That joyous crowd at the Piper's back.
But how the Mayor was on the rack,
And the wretched Council's bosoms beat,
As the Piper turned from the High Street
To where the Weser rolled its waters
Right in the way of their sons and daughters!
However he turned from South to West,
And to Koppelberg Hill his steps addressed,
And after him the children pressed;
Great was the joy in every breast.
"He never can cross that mighty top!
He's forced to let the piping drop,
And we shall see our children stop!"
When, lo, as they reached the mountain's side,
A wondrous portal opened wide,
As if a cavern was suddenly hollowed;
And the Piper advanced and the children followed,
And when all were in to the very last,
The door in the mountain-side shut fast.
Did I say, all? No! One was lame,
And could not dance the whole of the way;
And in after years, if you would blame
His sadness, he was used to say,—
"It's dull in our town since my playmates left!
I can't forget that I'm bereft
Of all the pleasant sights they see,
Which the Piper also promised me:
For he led us, he said, to a joyous land,
Joining the town and just at hand,
Where waters gushed and fruit-trees grew,
And flowers put forth a fairer hue,
And everything was strange and new;
The sparrows were brighter than peacocks here,
And their dogs outran our fallow deer,
And honey-bees had lost their stings,
And horses were born with eagles' wings:
And just as I became assured
My lame foot would be speedily cured,
The music stopped and I stood still,
And found myself outside the Hill,
Left alone against my will,
To go now limping as before,
And never hear of that country more!"

Alas, alas for Hamelin!
There came into many a burgher's pate
A text which says, that Heaven's Gate
Opes to the Rich at as easy rate
As the needle's eye takes a camel in!
The Mayor sent East, West, North, and South,
To offer the Piper, by word of mouth,
Wherever it was men's lot to find him,
Silver and gold to his heart's content,
If he'd only return the way he went,
And bring the children behind him.
But when they saw 'twas a lost endeavour,
And Piper and dancers were gone for ever,
They made a decree that lawyers never
Should think their records dated duly
If, after the day of the month and year,
These words did not as well appear,
"And so long after what happened here
On the Twenty-second of July,
Thirteen hundred and seventy-six":
And the better in memory to fix
The place of the children's last retreat,
They called it, the Pied Piper's Street—
Where any one playing on pipe or tabor
Was sure for the future to lose his labour.
Nor suffered they hostelry or tavern
To shock with mirth a street so solemn;
But opposite the place of the cavern
They wrote the story on a column,
And on the great Church-Window painted
The same, to make the world acquainted
How their children were stolen away;
And there it stands to this very day.
And I must not omit to say
That in Transylvania there's a tribe
Of alien people that ascribe
The outlandish ways and dress
On which their neighbours lay such stress,
To their fathers and mothers having risen
Out of some subterraneous prison
Into which they were trepanned
Long time ago in a mighty band
Out of Hamelin town in Brunswick land,
But how or why, they don't understand.

So, Willy, let you and me be wipers
Of scores out with all men—especially pipers:
And, whether they pipe us free, from rats or from mice,
If we've promised them aught, let us keep our promise.

The Pied Piper Of Hamelin
Robert Browning

WHO'S WHO IN THE BIBLE FOR JULY - Jesus Goes to the Cross

2011-06-23T23:19:00.001-07:00

JULY

1. Hosanna! – John 12:12-16

2. Some Greeks Seek Jesus – John 12:20-26

3. Unbelief of the people – John 12:36b-43 (‘b’ means the second half of the verse!)

4. Jesus Washes the disciples’ Feet – John 13:1-5

5. Jesus Washes the disciples’ Feet – John 13:6-11

6. Jesus Washes the disciples’ Feet – John 13:1-4

7. Jesus Washes the disciples’ Feet – John 13:12-16

8. One of You Will Betray Me – John 13:21-26

9. One of You Will Betray Me – John 13:27-30

10. Jesus’ New Commandment – John 13:31-35

11. Jesus and Peter – John 13:36-38

12. In My Father’s House – John 14:1-4

13. The Great I Am – John 14:5-7

14. Jesus promises the Holy Spirit – John 14:15-17

15. I Am the True Vine – John 15:1-5

16. Love One Another – John 15:12-17

17. Jesus Prays for Himself – John 17:1-5

18. Jesus Prays for Us – John 17:9-11

19. Jesus is Betrayed – John 18:1-5

20. Peter Draws His Sword – John 18:6-11

21. Jesus is Arrested – John 18:12-14

22. Peter Denies Jesus – John 18:15-18

23. High Priest Questions Jesus – John 18:19-24

24. Peter Denies Jesus Again – John 18:25-27

25. Jesus Before Pilate – John 18:28-32

26. Pilate Questions Jesus – John 18:33-36

27. Pilate Questions Jesus – John 18:37-40

28. The King of the Jews – John 19:1-6

29. Pilate is Afraid – John 19:7-11

30. Jesus Delivered to be Crucified – John 19:12-16

31. The Crucifixion – John 19:17-22

PICTURES FOR LETTERS - a b c b d e f g h i

2011-06-23T23:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents,

It is common for small children, and especially little boys to write their letters round the wrong way. 'b' and 'd' are particularly troublesome.

Please take time to use these pictures to teach letters of the alphabet to your pre-schooler. Once children have a clear picture of 'b like a bat and ball' and 'd drags the drum' in their minds, they never confuse them again. And it is far better to get in first and teach them correctly than try to correct a mistaken idea once it is settled in the mind.

Once children have their letters and numbers clear in their minds, you can send them to school confident that they are ready to learn to read and do basic arithmetic.

Happy teaching!

Ahma Andrews

SOUNDING WORDS - the vowel "i"

2011-06-16T22:54:00.000-07:00

i like a boy with his hat in the air;

i says “i”.

pin tin fin sin din kin

bit fit hit

kit lit mit

nit pit sit

wit

tif wif

See how many more three letter words you can make with the vowel "i".

SOUNDING WORDS - the vowel "e"

2011-06-10T16:40:00.000-07:00

e like an empty egg;

e says “e”.

Ben

fen

hen

Jen

ken

Len

men

pen

ten

yen

get

let

met

net

pet

THE WHITE HORSE AT UFFINGTON

2011-06-09T22:19:00.000-07:00

Dear Children,

Isabella is going to spend a few days holiday at a place called “The White Horse Inn” in England. It is hundreds of years old and has a thatch roof.

Nearby, out on a hillside called Uffington is this white horse cut into the chalk that the hill is made of. Isn't 'Uffington' a wonderful name?

Nobody knows for sure when the Uffington horse was cut, though the general belief now is that it is probably 2000 years old and possibly even older. So it was probably there when our Lord Jesus walked on earth. Isn’t that amazing!

If you want to find out more, you can look it up on:
">http://www.whitehorsewoolstone.co.uk/

Have a great week,
Sent with love,
Ahma

SOUNDING WORDS - the vowel "a"

2011-06-02T23:15:00.000-07:00

Look at the words you can make with

"a" like and apple on a twig: "a" says "a".

at

bat

cat

fat

mat

pat

rat

sat

vat

dad

sad

mad

bad

fad

lad

WHO'S WHO IN THE BIBLE FOR JUNE - Joshua and The Judges

2011-05-27T01:10:00.000-07:00

It's a good idea to write down one thought each day to get the most out of reading your Bible.

1. Joshua’s First Passover in Canaan – Joshua 5:10-12
2. Joshua Meets His Commander – Joshua 5:13-15
3. The Fall of Jericho – Joshua 6:1-7
4. The Fall of Jericho – Joshua 6:8-11
5. The Fall of Jericho – Joshua 6:12-14
6. The Fall of Jericho – Joshua 6: 15-21
7. The Fall of Jericho – Joshua 6:22-27
8. Joshua Renews The Covenant – Joshua 8:30-35
9. Joshua Calls All Israel – Joshua 23: 1-5
10. Be Very Strong - Joshua 23:6-11
11. Joshua Gathers the Tribes – Joshua 24:1-5
12. Choose Whom You Will Serve – Joshua 24:14-15
13. We Will Serve The Lord – Joshua 24:24-28
14. Another Generation – Judges 2:6-10
15. Israel Disobeys God – Judges 2:11-15
16. The Lord Raises Up Judges – Judges 2:16-18
17. Othniel – Judges 3:7-11
18. Ehud – Judges 3:12-17
19. Ehud – Judges 3:18-23
20. Ehud - Judges 3:24-26
21. Ehud – Judges 3:27-30
22. Shamgar – Judges 3:31
23. Deborah and Barak – Judges 4:1-3
24. Deborah and Barak – Judges 4:4-7
25. Deborah and Barak – Judges 4:8-11
26. Deborah and Barak – Judges 4:12-16
27. Deborah and Barak – Judges 4:17-20
28. Deborah and Barak – Judges 4:21-24
29. The Song of Deborah and Barak – Judges 5:1-5
30. The Song of Deborah and Barak – Judges 5:19-22

ANZAC DAY 25th April 2011

2011-04-28T23:31:00.001-07:00

Dear Children,

Today is Anzac Day and a lot of people are marching in all the towns throughout

Australia

. There are young servicemen and old soldiers, school bands and people marching in the place of old soldiers who have died. Some are wearing the medals of their fathers, grandfathers or uncles.

Some people wear a sprig of rosemary for remembrance. This is the day when we remember the people who fought and died to keep our country free. This is how we honour them.

Jesus told us that there will be wars and rumours of wars until He comes again. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, but many of His servants find themselves at war. There are Christians today in the Middle East, Africa and Asia whose countries are torn apart by war. Let us pray for them, especially when people they love are killed or wounded.

Great-grandfather Andrews

Great-grandfather White

Two of your great-grandfather’s served in the Second World War. They were Christians and very brave men. God gave them courage and strength. Let us thank Him that we live in a peaceful land.

Love from Papa and Ahma

WHO'S WHO IN THE BIBLE FOR MAY - Jesus by John

2011-04-24T17:18:00.000-07:00

MAY

(Don't forget to write down one precious thing you read in each passage.)

1. Jesus and His Brothers – John 7:1-9

2. Jesus and the Jews – John 7:10-15

3. Can Jesus be the Christ? – John 7:25-31

4. Officers Sent to Arrest Jesus – John 7:32-36

5. Jesus and the Holy Spirit – John 7:37-39

6. Who is Jesus Really? – John 7: 40-44

7. Jesus Confuses the Pharisees – John 7:45-52

8. Jesus Heals A Blind Man – John 9:1-7

9. Jesus Heals A Blind Man – John 9:8-12

10. Jesus Heals A Blind Man – John 9:13-17

11. Jesus Heals A Blind Man – John 9:18-23

12. Jesus Heals A Blind Man – John 9:24-29

13. Jesus Heals A Blind Man – John 9:30-34

14. Jesus Heals A Blind Man – John 9:35-41

15. I Am The Good Shepherd – John 10:1-6

16. I Am The Good Shepherd – John 10:7-13

17. I Am The Good Shepherd – John 10:14-18

18. I Am The Good Shepherd – John 10:25-30

19. Jesus and Lazarus – John 11:1-4

20. Jesus and Lazarus – John 11:5-10

21. Jesus and Lazarus – John 11:11-16

22. Jesus and Lazarus – John 11:17-23

23. Jesus and Lazarus - John 11:24-27

24. Jesus and Lazarus – John 11:28-31

25. Jesus and Lazarus – John 11:32-37

26. Jesus and Lazarus – John 11:38-44

27. The Plot To Kill Jesus – John 11:45-48

28. The Plot To Kill Jesus – John 11:49-53

29. The Plot To Kill Jesus – John 11:54-57

30. Mary Anoints Jesus – John 12:1-8

31. The Plot To Kill Lazarus – John 12:9-11

BUNYAN’S CATECHISM FOR CHILDREN

2011-04-14T02:33:00.001-07:00

Who made you?

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Who saves you?

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

How does God the Father save you?

By His grace.

How does God the Son save you?

By His righteousness, death and blood and life.

How does God the Holy Spirit save you?

By His illumination, by His renovation, by His preservation.

[He gives me light, He makes me new and He keeps me safe.]

What is Man?

A reasonable creature so made by God.

Why is it necessary to be saved?

Because man, by sin,

has brought himself into a state of captivity and misery.

What is meant by his being saved by the Trinity?

That sin is so great and mighty a tyrant that none can pull him out of its clutches but God;

and that God is so good and loving to man, to pull him indeed out of this miserable state.

What is God's design in saving poor men?

To glorify His name, His grace, and justice,

and the everlasting happiness of His creatures.

Who are those that must be saved?

Those who accept of His salvation.

What is heaven?

A place and state most blessed , because God dwells there.

What is hell?

A place and state most woeful, because it is the dwelling place of sin, the devil and death.

Why would you want to go to heaven?

So that I may see God, and serve Him without weariness;

that I may see Christ, and love Him for ever;

that I may have the fullness of the Holy Spirit in me

which here I am not able to enjoy.

Was there anything that existed before God?

No, for God is eternal; nor is there anything, except Himself,

that existed until the beginning of the first day:

What do you think of the Bible?

It is the holy Word of God.

Is there anything in it that you don’t understand?

Yes, a great deal.

What do you do when you come to such places in it that you do not understand?

I think that God is wiser than I.

I pray also, that He will please let me know all in it

that He knows will be for my good.

What do you believe about the resurrection?

I believe the same people who were buried shall rise;

the same in their nature, though not in bodies that decay.

And I believe this for two reasons:

first, because God has promised it;

secondly, because He is able to do it.

CONFUSED LANGUAGES

2011-03-27T23:46:00.000-07:00

SELKIRK

Dear Children,

What do you know about other languages?

Did you know that everyone spoke the same language once. Now there are many, many languages all round the world, and people cannot understand each other. Daddy and Mummy might tell you the story of the Tower of Babel, which tells us how and why God confused the languages of this world. (Genesis 11:1-9)

Here are some verses in a slightly different language from what you speak. Can you work out what they mean?

Lots of love,

Papa and Ahma

The Selkirk Grace

Some hae meat but cannae eat
An’ some wad eat that want it,
But we hae meat and we can eat
An sae the Lord be thankit.

A Scottish Toast

May the best ye’ve ever seen
Be the worst ye’ll ever see,
May a moose ne’er leave yer girnal
Wi’ a teardrop in his e’e.
May ye aye be hale and he’rty
Till ye’re auld enough tae dee,
May ye aye be just as happy
As I wish ye aye to be.

A Scottish Grace

Doon wi’yer heid
An up wi’ yer paws,
And thank the Lord
For a guid pair o, jaws.

A Scottish Grace

O Lord wha blessed the loaves and fishes,
Look doon upon these twa bit dishes
And tho’ the tatties be but sma,
Lord, mak them plenty for us a’.
But if our stomachs they do fill,
Twill be another miracle.

WHO'S WHO IN THE BIBLE - JESUS AND JOSHUA

2011-03-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

Dear Children,

Here are some Bible Readings for the months of March and April to help you get to know the people of the Bible. It's a good idea to write down just one thing each day that you want to remember from the reading.

MARCH:

1. Jesus, The Word – JOHN 1:1-5

2. Jesus, The Word – JOHN 1:6-13

3. Jesus, The Word – John 1:14-18

4. Jesus and John the Baptist - John 1:19-23

5. Jesus and John the Baptist - John 1:24-28

6. Jesus and John the Baptist - John 1:29-34

7. Jesus Calls His Disciples – John 1:35-42

8. Jesus Calls His Disciples – John 1:43-51

9. Jesus’ First Miracle – John 2:1-12

10. Jesus and The Jews – John 2:13-17

11. Jesus and The Jews – John 2:18-22

12. Jesus and People – John 2:23-25

13. Jesus and Nicodemus – John 3:1-8

14. Jesus and Nicodemus – John 3:9-14

15. Jesus and Nicodemus – John 3:16-21

16. Jesus and John the Baptist – John 3:22-30

17. Jesus and John the Baptist – John 3:31-36

18. Jesus and His Disciples – John 4:1-6

19. Jesus and A Woman of Samaria – John 4:7-15

20. Jesus and A Woman of Samaria – John 4:16-26

21. Jesus and A Woman of Samaria – John 4:27-30

22. Jesus and A Woman of Samaria – John 4:31-38

23. Jesus and A Woman of Samaria – John 4:39-45

24. Jesus’ Second Sign – John 4:46-54

25. Jesus Heals a Sick Man – John 5:1-9

26. Jesus Heals a Sick Man – John 5:10-18

27. Jesus Feeds 5,000 – John 6:1-7

28. Jesus Feeds 5,000 – John 6:8-15

29. Jesus Walks on Water – John 6:16-21

30. Jesus: The Bread of Life – John 6:22-27

31. Jesus: The Bread of Life – John 6:28-34

APRIL:

1. Joshua, God’s Warrior – Exodus 17:8-16

2. Joshua, Moses’ Assistant – Exodus 24:12-18

3. Joshua, Moses’ Assistant – Exodus 32:15-20

4. Joshua, Moses’ Assistant – Exodus 33:7-11

5. Joshua, Moses’ Assistant - Numbers 11:24-30

6. Joshua, The Spy – Numbers 13:1-16

7. Joshua, The Spy– Numbers 13:17-20

8. Joshua, The Spy – Numbers 13:21-24

9. Joshua, The Spy – Numbers 13:25-29

10. Joshua – Numbers 13:30-33

11. Joshua – Numbers 14:1-10

12. Joshua – Numbers 14:11- 19

13. Joshua – Numbers 14:36-38 and Numbers 26:65

14. Joshua – Numbers 27:12-13

15. Joshua The Leader – Deuteronomy 34:1-8

16. Joshua The Leader – Deuteronomy 34:9-12

17. God Commissions Joshua – Joshua 1:1-5

18. God Commissions Joshua – Joshua 1:6-9

19. Joshua The Leader – Joshua 1:10-18

20. Joshua Sends Spies – Joshua 2:1-7

21. Joshua Sends Spies – Joshua 2:8-14

22. Joshua Sends Spies – Joshua 2:15-21

23. Joshua Sends Spies – Joshua 2:22-24

24. Joshua Crosses Jordon – Joshua 3:1-6

25. Joshua Crosses Jordon – Joshua 3:7-13

26. Joshua Crosses Jordon – Joshua 3:14-17

27. Joshua’s Memorial – Joshua 4:1-7

28. Joshua’s Memorial – Joshua 4:8-10

29. Joshua’s Memorial – Joshua 4:11-18

30. Joshua’s Memorial – Joshua 4:19-24

HOME AND HOME AGAIN

2011-02-26T21:58:00.000-08:00

Katy was saying how she calls Australia “HOME” but at the same time she calls Northern Ireland “HOME”. Here’s the last two verses of a poem by Veronica Mason who knew how she felt:

… Now, I’m a small Tasmanian, I love my own dear land,
Its deep blue seas that ebb and flow on curves of pearl-white sand.
I love the vast and silent Bush, it’s tall and solemn trees,
Its endless maze of trackless ways and fairy mysteries.
The colour-flash of parrots’ wings in sunny crystal air,
The lonely runs where grey flocks graze, and blossoming orchards fair.

But, still I never do forget that Island great and old,
And watch the sun that shines on It blaze out a track of gold.
Then brave and dear, it rises clear across the World’s Highway;
They say its skies are grey and blue, its seas are green and grey.
To me it seems an Isle of Dreams far, far in distant foam.
But I belong to It, you see, and It belongs to Mine and Me,
So I shall call it - Home.

And that reminds me of more verses about the sun rising on God’s people living on the other side of the world:

We thank Thee that Thy church, unsleeping,
While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping,
And rests not now by day or night.

As o’er each continent and island
The dawn leads on another day,
The voice of prayer is never silent,
Nor dies the strain of praise away.

The sun that bids us rest is waking
Our brethren ’neath the western sky,
And hour by hour fresh lips are making
Thy wondrous doings heard on high.

Let’s remain faithful in prayer for each other as the sun sets for us and rises for our dear ones over there. God is not far from any one of us.

FLOODS AND RAINBOWS

2011-01-25T17:22:00.001-08:00

Dear Children,

Did you see pictures of the terrible floods our country has

been having?

People have lost their homes and their pets and their jobs

and even their lives.

Once there was a much worse flood when only 8 people

survived.

I’m sure you know who they were.

After that flood God promised He would never cover

the whole earth with water again.

What sign did He give us that He would always keep

his promise?

Love always,

Papa and Ahma

A VERSE TO LEARN

2011-01-17T00:26:00.000-08:00

But from everlasting to everlasting

the LORD’s love is with those

who fear him,

and his righteousness

with their children’s children.

Psalm 103:17

BIG BEN

2010-12-07T18:12:00.000-08:00

Dear Children,

There is an old rhyme that goes with the Westminster Chimes:

I am Big Ben,
I keep good time.
People complain
Because I chime.

There is a better rhyme:

God in this hour
Be thou my guide:
Kept by thy power
No step can slide.

Love always,
Papa and Ahma

Your word is a lamp

to my feet

and a light

to my path.

- Psalm 119:105

What do you do when you come to such places in the Bible

that you do not understand?

I think that God is wiser than I.

I pray also, that He will please let me know all in it

that He knows will be for my good.

- John Bunyan’s Catechism

THE BIBLE

2010-12-06T01:38:00.001-08:00

There are some things that are hard to understand,

which the ignorant and unstable twist

to their own destruction,

as they do the other Scriptures.

2 Peter 3:16

Is there anything in the Bible that you don’t understand?

Yes, a great deal. – John Bunyan’s Catechism

Dear Children,

Here is a picture that tells a story.

What story does this picture tell you?

How many children are there?

What are they doing?

What are the grown ups doing?

How did that tractor tyre get there?

I wonder if there is a cave in those rocks.

Love always,

Papa and Ahma

HAPPINESS

2010-12-02T20:39:00.000-08:00

I’m happy when everything happens to please
But happiness comes and goes.
But the heart that is stayed on Jesus the Saviour
Ever with joy o’erflows.
Happiness happens but joy abides
In the heart that is stayed on Jesus.

Happiness is the Lord

Psalm 144:15
"... yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord."

Happiness is to know the Saviour,
Living a life within His favour,
Having a change in my behaviour,
Happiness is the Lord.
Happiness is a new creation,
Jesus and me in close relation,
Having a part in His salvation,
Happiness is the Lord.
Real joy is mine, no matter if teardrops start;
I've found the secret, it's Jesus in my heart!
Happiness is to be forgiven,
Living a life that's worth the living,
Taking a trip that leads to Heaven,
Happiness is the Lord,
Happiness is the Lord,
Happiness is the Lord!

- Ira F. Stanphill

THE BIBLE

2010-12-02T19:24:00.000-08:00

What do you think of the Bible?

It is the Holy Word of God.

“All scripture is inspired by God.”

2 Timothy 3:16

MANGROVES

2010-11-11T20:46:00.001-08:00

Dear Children,
Do you know what mangroves are?
 
They are unusual trees that grow in salt water. 


 Their roots send up little shoots above the ground

so they can breathe.

These mangroves grow at Redland Bay in Queensland.

You can find out more on:

kidcyber.com.au/topics/mangroves.HTM

Love always,

Papa and Ahma

P.S.Here's another important question and answer from your catechism:

Why would you want
to go to heaven?

So that I may see God,

and serve Him without weariness;

that I may see Christ,

and love Him for ever;

that I may have the fullness of
the Holy Spirit in me

which here I am not able to
enjoy.





 



The throne of God and of

the Lamb will be in it,
and his servants will

worship him.
They will see his face,
and his name will be on

their foreheads.
And night will be no

more.
They will need no light

of lamp or sun,
for the Lord God will be

their light,
and they will reign

forever and ever.
Revelation 22:3-5

2010-09-30T22:49:00.000-07:00

Dear Children,

Here is a story about Balgal Beach for you from Papa. We hope you like it.

Love always, Papa and Ahma

Once upon a time, five children and two white mice went on holiday to Balgal Beach. They stayed in a little house beside the beach. Their names were Rodney, Stuart, Barbara, Neil and Geoffrey. We’ll call the mice Mickey 1 and Mickey 2.

As soon as they jumped out of the car, Rodney and Stuart took the white mice out of their box and ran down to the beach. They were going to have fun with their pets. Perhaps they would build a fort for the mice to defend. Perhaps they would build a race track for the mice to run. The mice needed exercise after their long journey.

They ran along the beach, the smaller children following behind. The boys found a shady spot and sat down to play with the mice. Little did they realize there was a crab hole nearby. Mickey 1 ran straight down the hole and disappeared. They dug with their hands and the hole kept going down and down. They ran to the house and brought back Grandad’s spades and dug an enormous hole with them, but the tunnel went still deeper. In the end they had to give up. Sadly, they took Mickey 2 back home and put him alone in his box.