Celebrate Your Uniqueness!

As we continue our study of uniqueness in Cove Kids this week, we're going to look at one really unique guy, John the Baptist. We don't know much about John except that he was Jesus' cousin. We learn about his birth, but then we pick-up the story when he is a grown man.

When John started his ministry, he did it in a unique way. Some people thought that the Messiah was going to come as a military leader. Since they thought this, they were looking perhaps for someone to come in with a lot of fanfare – with a parade entrance in a big city. But instead, God appointed John to go out into the wilderness and talk about Jesus' coming; a unique foretelling for a unique man, Jesus.

Even though John was a plain and simple kind of person, he must have been pretty interesting, because the Bible says people went out into the wilderness to hear him preach. And he must have been pretty convincing, because a lot of people repented – confessed their sins and promised to stop sinning – and were baptized.

That's how it is when we become the unique person God has made us and called us to be. We begin to exercise those special qualities and talents He has given us to do those special things that He has planned for us. It's a perfect fit when we let God use us in the unique way He planned for the unique task(s) He has for us to do.

Celebrate your uniqueness this week!

Blog by: Steve Hoye

(Small Group Leader)

Somebody!!!

Have you ever felt un-important or insignificant? Or maybe you think what you bring to the table isn't as good as everyone else. Or maybe…you don't even know WHAT you bring to the table. It's easy to look at other people's gifts, attributes, talents, etc…and feel like you're a nobody compared to them. They're fast, smarter, stronger, better looking, or whatever. However, this idea of "nobody's" is a lie. This week, continuing our Virtue of Uniqueness, we'll be talking about how EVERYBODY is a SOMEBODY. God did not waste His breath on anyone, but rather, He personally formed each of us to be who we are, someone who can and will make a difference in His Kingdom, no matter what our character is.

Our Bible story talks about Gideon, who considered himself un-worthy to do what God called him to do. "But Lord, how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family" (Judges 6:15). See, God had called Gideon to lead the nation of Israel out of oppression from the Midianites. But immediately Gideon tried to point out that he was a nobody, "But Lord…how can I….?" He then tried to explain his view on this, that His tribe was the weakest of the tribes, and the Gideon himself was the weakest of them. The weakest of the weak. In his eyes, the REAL biggest loser. But not in God's eyes. God knew, like always, what He was doing with Gideon. And even though God had sent Gideon an angel, Gideon was still uncertain of this "call from God." He asked the angel to accept his sacrifice, which the angle did. Still unsatisfied, Gideon asked God if He was really sure that "you will save Israel by my hands" to do two things for him. First, Gideon wanted God to make dew appear only on his fleece, and then, only on the ground but not on his fleece. God did so. Gideon was the certain that God WAS calling him to something great. Gideon (remember, the "weakest of the weak") then gathered 32,000 men. God then told Gideon to cut that number down, so after a few tests, the number was decreased to only 300!! He then split them into 3 teams of 100, and told them to lay low. He gave each team trumpets and jars with torches in them. At his signal they were to give a great shout, blow their trumpets, and smash their jars. And that's what they did. The Midianites were frightened, so frightened in fact, that they attacked each other, and fled in fear. Gideon had done it. He and his army had driven out the Midianites and ended their reign of terror. And it was all because of his unique willingness to follow God, even though he THOUGHT he was a nobody.

Don't ever let yourself, or anyone else, think you're a nobody (Don't let ANYONE look down on you….. 1 Tim 4:12). Because, like Gideon (who really was the weakest of the weak), God has a designated purpose for you. And also like Gideon, we should be open to accepting the things God has called us to do, fearing not our short comings, and knowing that "I will be with you" (Judges 6:16), even if that something is "Immeasurably more than you ask or imagine" (Eph 3:20). And because God has a designated purpose for you, that makes you, like the now infamous Gideon, a SOMEBODY!! J

I’m Unique!!!

 

"Now there are distinctive varieties and distributions of endowments (gifts, extraordinary powers distinguishing certain Christians, due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit) and they vary, but the [Holy] Spirit remains the same." 1 Corinthians 12:4

 

Have you ever tried to loosen a screw with one of your car keys? Just the other day I witnessed someone trying to open the back of a video game with her keys, the whole time thinking to myself "I know there is a tool that is designed specifically for this." If you've ever looked in a mechanics tool box, you might notice something strange; numerous types of the same kind of tool. Different kinds of wrenches; metric, standard, open, box, line, all of different sizes. Different screw drivers; Phillips and flat heads with different number sizes. Different sets of pliers…the list goes on…and on….and on. It's enough to make one wonder "Why so many of the same thing? A wrench is a wrench isn't it?" Well the truth is, even though there are many similarities among tools, they are each unique. Each one designed slightly different than the others, each with the ability to do something unique. This idea of Uniqueness is what we are going to be diving into this November month in Cove Kids.

In our first week, we will be focusing on one very unique individual, who God created with an array of attributes, and whom God used to lead his people. This person was a warrior, a judge, a spiritual leader, and the leader of the nation of Israel. This person was pretty tough and had to be really smart, too. And HER name, was Deborah (didn't see that coming did you?). That's right, Deborah was a very unique person, but that's exactly WHY God choose to use her. She had all the qualities needed for this special task (Judges 4). The kids will be learning that we are all unique, there is not one of us that is exactly like another. God has lovingly created us all with different traits, strengths, weaknesses, gifts, talents, and abilities. And that God is going use us in specific ways for the greater purpose of building His kingdom!!

And just as it would be silly for a screw driver to be upset at or look down upon a hammer because of their differences, neither should we for our differences. Because really, it's not about the tools, but the one who is using them, and the greater task he is using them for. As we embrace our uniqueness, we should work together, not as single tools, but as a whole set, as the Church, and let God use us, like Deborah did, to rebuild and repair a broken world.

YOU ARE LOVED!

Have you ever thought “Does anyone REALLY love me?” Does anyone REALLY care for me?” For many who have lost a job, lost a home or a loved one these questions surface almost daily in their minds. Recently someone who lost a job related they didn’t leave their house for a month as they were sure no one wanted them, no one cared, their whole world fell apart.

For a preschooler, they too wonder who will take care of me if my parents are gone? They hear of friends whose parent have died, or parents who have divorced, or had to move because of job loss. It is so important to help your preschooler know God loves you. You are His child and even if earthly parents are not there, He will always be there to care for them.

To help your child know of God’s great love for them take a walk in the outdoors. Point out the flowers, and ask who feeds the flowers, who cloths them? God does!! He gives them rain to grow and clothes them in beautiful colors. Next point out a bird and ask who feeds the birds, who give them clothes to keep them warm? God provides the worms to feed them and feathers to keep them warm.

If God takes care of all the creatures on the earth, will He not take care of His children? God tells us to not worry about our life-what we will eat or drink or about what we will wear. He is our God, our provider and we are His children. He loves and cares for us!!

This is the month that we need to think about all that God has blessed us with. Help your child make a list of all that God has given to show He loves them (home, food, clothing, parents, friends, health, and most of all His only son Jesus).

The Bible Story for this weekend is from Matthew 6:25-34. God tells us not to worry, but to trust in Him! He tells us to” seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

Help your child learn this month’s Bible memory verse “My God will meet all your needs.” Philippians 4:19 This is a great opportunity to talk about basic needs versus wants. Then ask how we can be a blessing to others by helping to meet their needs. God wants us to be part of His plan to meet the needs of all His children. If your child received a RICE BOWL, please talk about how they can help meet the needs of orphaned children who have so little to eat. Rice Bowls need to be returned to Cove Kids on November 13-14th weekend.
Carolyn Hillegeist
Early Childhood Coordinator