WELCOME and happy Sabbath. Today’s story will be worth the cost of admission, but you may be in the wrong car for calm and peaceful, because we don’t get into a ♥ situation like this every day. Now, go out into the audience and sit and listen with a child that doesn’t belong to you.

We’ll be tuned in to the command center this morning with walkie talkies, listening to a parable from Jesus. Parables are brief stories that express spiritual truth in a poignant, memorable way, that allow us to honor God in a new light.

How simply and accurate this story describes our life. Our most important function is to be present and establish the significance of our experience with Jesus, because what will transpire is providence, a surprise for which we are not even prepared.

CONFLICT CRAFTED CAFE QUESTIONS I pose to explore and engage you well. What’s on your wish list? When is your ♥ most tender and compassionate?  When have you encouraged the expression of love, generosity, and loving impulses of a child? Have you accepted the idea that we’re childish? When have you felt empowered, like instantly mature beyond your age? What would you do with 6 dozen roses? Where do you find significance in your life? When have you been afraid to ask someone what they mean? When have you been afraid to tell someone what you mean? When did we become afraid to talk openly and honest, to hold our peace?

HYMNS & WORSHIP
“Come Thou Fount”
“‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”
“How Great thou Art”

PRAYER by Jesus @ Matthew 11:25, KJV
“At that time Jesus answered and said, ‘I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.’” 

Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.”

PAINTING:

Project the image on the wall by JSSargent. What I’m seeing is a linear painting rather than a painterly painting, where all the figures and all the significant forms within and surrounding the figures are boldly outlined, definite and clear; each figure evenly illuminated. Their rosy red cheeks change temperature to warm up their face that stands out lighter and darker than the background in similar fashion as the lanterns, repeating strong shapes and strong strokes pulled in a certain direction with medium texture for a purpose against the accented soft hands and flowers edges. I’m seeing a planar composition rather than recessional. Sargent’s figures are arranged on a series of planes parallel to the picture plane. The first plane is given to the center girl. The next plane coincides with the girl on the right, while beyond is the plane given to an abundance of flowers. I’m seeing an open composition of vigorous verticals of the frame. Figures and objects are not simply contained within the frame, but are cut off by it at the sides. There is a feeling of space beyond the edges of the picture. The composition is static rather than dynamic; it suggests calm and peaceful and is full of momentary effects of tranquility. I see little light bearers meandering outside, weaving contrast in and out all over the canvas.  Sargent placed color on edges of hair, face, hands, and even in the shadows, but it is less important than his use of contrast. This painting is about contrast, and I could study his masterpiece all morning. I’m ready to pick up a pencil and get started!

SCRIPTURE reading @ Luke 2:46-52, KJV
“And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, ‘How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?’ And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”

Narrate the BACKGROUND @Mark 9:30-32, NLT. Jesus was teaching the disciples about his death, and how he would be betrayed into the hands of his enemies, as they were passing through Galilee to a house in Capernaum. The disciples were filled with grief. Then they left Galilee to the region of Judea east of the Jordan.

This is where our YOUNG CHILDREN’S STORY begins. Narrate the story @Mark 9:33-37, and chapter 10:13-16, NLT, twice.

This is the story we have, and that’s the way the story goes. Let us spend some time to WONDER and DIALOGUE about this, and bring any questions or observations we have to the table. For example: What does the word, rebuke, mean? Were there any tigers or an army of men along the road? Did the disciples sell tickets to see and take pictures with Jesus?

Let us look at KEY CHARACTER MOMENTS. Look for Jesus in everyone. Discover Jesus in their story.

What do we know about childhood?
After your parents and the disciples have words about Jesus’ over booked schedule, Jesus picks you up in his arms and blesses you. How might the children feel in his arms? Jesus is calling you. What might our open, baby ears hear?

What do we know about the disciples?
The disciples intended to brush off the young children from seeing Jesus, but Jesus just offered the kingdom to those short people. How might the disciples feel? On their way down the road to Capernaum, the disciples argued about who was or would be the greatest. What were they envisioning? What could they not see?

What do we know about Jesus in this story?
What do you think Jesus saw in the young children? What might Jesus be thinking about the parents who brought their young children to be touched by him? Jesus took a little child in his arms, what was he trying to recover? 2 cor 5:18-21_

What did we learn about GOD in this story? God’s most efficient solution is simple, to have a mind of a child. God’s grace is sufficient to aid in the management of our children. God has a far reaching, inclusive spirit of sympathy.

What aspects of this story or character, foreshadow the GOOD NEWS?
• It’s only good news when we present and dedicate our children to Jesus. Without the  behavior of “watch and learn” from Jesus and his believers, we wouldn’t know that we achieve greatness through serving others, or that you can die and find eternal life, and we would never know the depths of real love. So, Mary and Joseph, took their son, Jesus, to the temple in Jerusalem to present and dedicate him to the Lord. The Holy Ghost was upon a just man, Simeon, who was there in the temple, and he took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,

Storying EVALUATION:
1. Inductivly present 2. Biblical answers validated 3. Did we see Jesus 4. Clear questions 5. Logical flow of story 6. Affirmations given 7. Low participants encouraged 8. Who did most of the talking

Our goal is to seriously apply this story to our life. Our challenge is to write a prayer, a poem, a song, a short story, or create something that EXPRESSes our response and share.

BODY PRAYER:

I live in the heart of Jesus
my life long friend
you’re not far but in
I want to meet my destiny
where I put down so much love
I want to anoint you
not because you’re a King or a God
I want to anoint you
because you’re that good

CHILDREN’S SUMMER ART CAMP:  I’ll teach one, two hour art class this summer and see how it goes. I’m not making a commitment to the exhausting day’s heat, where my gung-ho attitude evaporates on the spot. For “fun and free” is a good place to start, but to stand steadfast in half a shade won’t last, and I want to be free in my spirit. Others around me may benefit from my love toward them, but I want to love for me, an emotional reward.

CHILDREN’S JOURNAL PROMPTS:

In Luke 12:22-34 Jesus is speaking to each of you and asks why worry about everday life. This farm is our school and He wants us to talk with Him through nature but we have to observe the lillies and the ravens. He wants us to think, question, and to work together.

“I heard songs of birds like tweet, tweet, and peep, peep
and so it went
I loved hearing the wind blowing and the limbs falling from the tree.”
>Keller Blue Sweeney, age 9 

“I feel like this can be my home. I see the great power of our God and His creations of life. Every living thing has a purpose on earth.
If you were to look out here
You would see nothing but green things.”
>Marcus, age 17

“Well I’m sitting near a lake and a tree. This tree is not bearing fruit. I can see the sun and the sand, and there is a be who keeps flyen around my head.”
>Malik, age 11

“First thing I seen was poison ivy and oak
The squirrels were making the branches crack
Snakes were my biggest fear
I thought I was going to get attacked.”
>James, age 13

“Looking at a tree
The tree is looking back at me
Asking in my head
a who are you
I heard buzz buzzing”
>Christavious, age 12

“I feel ok because I am a boy becoming a man. I love how God inspires me. I am starting to feel scared because I am hearing bees, wasp, and sweat bugs flying around me.
I feel like God have me and he’s watching me. I know that the Lord is speaking to me like he did last night.”
>Deyanciss, age 9

“I think this is a safe place to be and I hear a lot of voices and birds.
God I want you to lift me up and I hope you don’t let me go. And God, I want you to help me work.”
>Zavier, age 7

POEM:

“Angel Kisses”
Around in the garden
goes merry-go-Maron
red roses
gold marigolds
underneath the pergola
the timbers fell
on her vessel a wreck
embraced by an angel
kissed on her neck
~ Stacy