“…Hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth”

I’ve learned a lot about love in my journey through 1 Corinthians 13. I know that I’m about to learn volumes more as I take this new step in my journey (My wedding is tomorrow!)

Love covers all things. Im sure you’re familiar with the “See No Evil” monkeys, picture love that way. It sees no evil, hears no evil and speak no evil to anyone. Instead it believes all things. True love wears rose colored glasses, and is ever ready to believe whatever may tend to the advantage of another. And when it can no longer believe well, it hopes whatever may excuse or extenuate the blatant fault. When love is exasperated beyond all measure, it hopes God will at  give repentance. As it waits for that change love endures all things – Whatever the injustice, the malice, the cruelty of men can inflict. He can not only do, but likewise suffer, all things, through Christ who strengthens him.

In the end, when time will come to cease, it will be Love that stands. Love will never fails. Gods great love for his own creation, revealed in his grand plan for the ages. His redemptive process through sending his own Son to die in our place, to buy us back into a relationship with Him. It is this great enduring love, that should be our ultimate goal. This chapter gives us the greatest definition of love, yet often it is hard to apply it to our own life. I do hope that as I journey on as a married woman, these words will echo in my mind, and help me to love, truly as God loves, not just Daniel, but all. (Its that little 3 letter word that hits me the hardest – all means ALL) I trust that God will strengthen our love as we depend on Him each day.

What you’ll need:

Need a piece of palm, used traditionally during Palm Sunday service. I found this pattern in a craft book and wanted to share it with everyone!

photo by ceciliaflyer

Steps:

1. Cut 2 strands of palm about 1/2 inch by 14inches. Place the ends of the 2 strips together to form a right angle. Bend #1 down and around the back to make a loop around #2.

2. Fold #2 behind and bring it through the loop in front.

3. Bring #1 through the top of the loop to create the top of the cross.  Loop #2 through the same side in the same manner to create the left side of the cross.

4. Tuck the loose ends of #1 and #2 into the center to finish the bottom and right side of the cross.

Jesus is invited to the Pharisee, Simons’ house. He  is making his way to the banquet table, and has just sitting down at the table to eat. When a woman, who was a known sinner in the city, enters the room behind him, and begins weeping. Suddenly, the air is permeated with a heavenly aroma! The woman had broken her precious alabaster box at the feet of Jesus. People are starting to notice her, whispering one to another. “What is she doing?” “Why is she bothering the Master?”

photo by le vent le cri

The woman’s mannerisms may seem rude to us, in 2010. Yet, during Jesus’s time it was customary for an uninvited guest to join a gathering as an observer. Notice she didn’t say anything? She kept silent in respect; her goal was to learn from Jesus and receive forgiveness. Knowing she was a sinner, she wept in repentance, washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, and dried them with her hair. In Luke 7:38, the word “kissed” shows it wasn’t just one kiss, but she repeatedly kissed his feet, in adoration. The fragrant oil of verse 46 was a mixture of various aromatic substances, far more costly and precious than the oil commonly used for anointing the head.

Comparing her behavior, with that of Simon’s, shows an extreme difference. Jesus says he shows “little” love, she shows “much”. She demonstrates overflowing and emotional appreciation for the forgiveness Jesus offers.She then openly displays her immense love for Him. What a contrast to Simon’s disregard of the basic courtesies to Jesus!

Consider our love for God. Christ’s forgiveness of sins is MUCH — How is your love to in return to God in light of His great forgiveness?

• Toy Clean Up - Clean out all the toys used by the kids in the nurserys and sunday school rooms. Those puzzles with missing pieces and torn up books can be a bad testimony of your church. Old doesn’t mean bad, unless its broken.

photo by bamalibrarylady

• Clean everything - I love Clorox clean-up! It gets things clean and shiny again! Make sure whatever you are cleaning can handle being bleached.

• Wash Windows - Nothing improves a room like letting the sun come in. Cleaning up the windows (inside and out) will make your room instantly brighter.

• New Curtains - Buying new curtians might not be in your churches budget, but asking for donations, or searching at resale shops might be a valid answer.

• Fresh Coat of Paint - Add some fun to your classes with color. Host a painting day. Use stencils, or make your own designs on the walls. Don’t be afraid to try something new! Bright blue walls with red and yellow stars. Red walls with orange and green balloons. Give each class have a biblical theme: Noah’s Ark Nursery, Armor of God boys class, Fruits of the Spirit girls class. Get creative!

• Maintain the Cleanliness - Keep Clorox disinfectant wipes on hand, after a classroom is used, go through and disinfect. Make a schedule for the nursery items to be laundered every week. Use Oust to clean the air.

Also, don’t forget to check out our Sunday School Classroom Makeover ideas! Have any more ideas for classroom Spring cleaning?

Get the Word Out:

• 4 weeks before: Post it in your bulletin, online and in the local news paper.
• 3 weeks before: Send out mailers to houses near your church.
• 2 weeks before: Send home flyers with your Sunday School kids.
• 1 week before: Follow up on RSVPs.
• Sunday before: Post it around the church, information area, bulletin board, on your overhead projector before the service begins.
• Day of: Advertise on your church sign.

Get Help!
Many hands make light work and depending on the turn out you will have, you may need a lot of help!

photo by xrrr

Be Organized
Establish a chain of command. Assign every volunteer a specific tasks and someone they report to.

Accept Donations
Have your congregation donate plastic eggs, candy, small paper bags for the hunt.

Get Everyone Involved
Have an ‘egg stuffing’ activity church wide so everyone can be a part of the process if they want to be.

Reach the Community
Make sure every goodie bag has a appropriate literature about the gospel and more information about the church.

Have a Check-in station
Every child participating must check in. Require parents information, address, phone number.
Perhaps have the parents fill out a questionaire that can be used in follow up visit.

Set a Rain Date
Be sure to include this information on ALL literature your distribute.

Have Fun!
Remember no event will be perfect, but it CAN always be fun! Learn from your mistakes and make next years better!

Clinton and Stacy, stand aside, because we are about to give your Sunday School classroom a makeover.  Here are some helpful tips for perking up your classroom this Spring:

• Storage - Every school classroom needs organization. Use bookcases, cubbies, or storage containers from your local Walmart, to keep things in order. Containers for toys should be child friendly. This means that corners should be rounded and lids should not fit too tightly.

• Use the Walls - Save space by using walls for posters, display shelves, books, and supplies.
• Create a new felt board for Bible stories - Select a piece of cardboard, and cut it down to your desired size. Then, cut a piece of felt that is just slightly larger than the board; and glue it to the cardboard. Fold the extra felt over; and glue it to the back. This will create a nice, finished edge. You can create your own felt characters from Bible coloring books, just color the person or scene. Cut it out, and back each piece with sandpaper. Make the stories more personal by taking pictures of the children in the class and putting them into the story! Use stencils to create uniform letters and numbers.
• Bulletin Boards - Create one a month to incorporate your theme, the seasons, your memory verse, character of the Bible. If you dont have a bulletin board already in your classroom. You can always make one yourself.
• Ask for Help - Don’t be afraid to ask the students to help you re-arrange your classroom. They might have some great ideas. When you incorporate their thoughts into how you set things up, you are telling them that their thoughts matter. Perhaps, they would even help in a bigger way like being a part of bulletin board making?

What tips do you have to give your Sunday School Classroom a makeover?

photo by bamalibrarylady