Memory Verse Monday - Philippians 2:14-15

How in the world did this happen… Only one week in on the summer schedule… and I’m already running behind.   Did I bite off more than I can chew? I sure hope not.  Thank you all for being so patient and I hope your memory verses went well last week. My boys loved Memory Verse Monday, and loved getting Transformer toys… They have been asking me for the next verse!  So here it is Tuesday, running one day behind, as usual. 

This week we will be working on a Memory Verse to help remind all of us (me included) about being joyful. 

Philippians 2: 14-15

Do everything without complaining or arguing,

so that you may prove yourself innocent children of God,

in a broken world.

Sample Devotional:

The Bible is full of situations where God’s people complained and argued about the things that were happening in their lives or things they were asked to do. One example is the Israelites.  Do you remember their story?

The Israelites were slaves in Egypt. God brought them to freedom and they thanked Him by complaining about their food, the time, the weather… to the point that they decided to make an idol and worship it instead of God. 

How do you think God felt about the way they acted? Were they  acting obedient? Were they joy-filled?

God commands us in Philippians to do EVERYTHING without complaining… did he say, “Unless you don’t want to do it then you can complain? “ No, He didn’t. Did he say, "If you have a good enough reason/argument, then you don't have to obey." No, He didn't.  When we complain about the things that are asked of us, we are not only telling our parents, teachers, and others NO... we are telling God "No, I don’t want to obey you."  Just like the Israelites did.  God loves us even we complain, but we can show Him how much we love him by obeying with a joy-filled heart and not arguing and complaining. 

Can you share a time you complained or argued?  How were you feeling at the time? Was your heart filled with joy or frustration?

Can you share a time you share a time you were obedient? How were you feeling then?  Was your heart filled with joy or frustration?

Sometimes it is very hard to obey without complaining… but remember God commands us to do everything without complaining or arguing… and if we are transforming by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2 ) we can be obedient and grow closer and closer with God as well as be a shining light to the broken world around us.  

Activity:

This week, our activity is to make a sticker chart of attitudes.  The paper will be divided in half and will have the verse written across the top. (We are making this tomorrow, I'll put a pic up on Twitter)  On one half the boys will draw a picture of a time they were obedient with a good attitude.  On the other side they will draw a Picture of a time they had an attitude of grumbling and complaining.  For the rest of the week the boys will earn stickers by being obedient without complaining and arguing (this is going to take a little work on my part…I’m thinking I’ll keep stickers in my pockets) and the stickers will be placed on the second side to cover up the picture of disobedience and bad attitude.   At the end of the week, we will see how everyone did… and some sort of prize will be given for saying the verse.  If you can come up with a clever idea of a prize that relates I am open, oh wait, desperate for ideas!!!