Just Keep Running…

Isn't it comforting to know that God doesn't label us a "failure" when the going gets tough.  He never promised life would be smooth ride, that's not what being a Jesus follower is about.  He does promise that He will be our strength in difficult times, and that He'll use those trials to continue fashioning us into the masterpiece He's created us to be.  This week we're looking at the sufferings of Paul.  He went through some crazy stuff (2 Corinthians 11:23b-27), but he was determined to complete his calling.  Paul's determination can be felt in Acts 20:24: "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace."  That pumps me up!  This week we want the kids to grasp the fact that no matter how difficult life can get, God is for us, and through Him we are able to keep moving forward.

Just keep running!!!

Seek the Finish Line

"Let us keep running the race marked out for us!" -Hebrews 12:1

We're heading into the second weekend of 2011 with "Determination!" Interesting how we're following the story of the Israelites again—just with a different outlook. Man how I want to be more determined than the Israelites! They were stuck in the desert wandering for 40 years!!! You'd think after year number two they'd get the point? The cool thing is that God never quit on them, He never gave up them, and He finished what He started with them! God used a few strong leaders to bring the nation of Israel to their destiny—The Promise Land. It took some determination, and refocusing their hearts back on the One who set them free!

I've realized that when we're walking on our own through life, seeking to please ourselves, we begin to wander. It's no wonder we wander, our purpose is found only in seeking our Creator. Matthew 6:33 says "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and everything else will be added to you." God's purpose in creating us is to know Him—to know His love, and to share it! Let us move forward, with determination, in seeking Him! Don't give up! God never quits on us! He never gives up! And He is determined to finish the good work that He's started in us! Eyes fixed on Christ, we will run this race to the full, till the day we see Him face-to-face. Heaven our Promise Land, our Finish Line.

Mission Possible

For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment. – Luke 1:37

I looked up the meaning of impossible on dictionary.com and found this amazing explanation:

Impossible: (adjective) not possible

Why thank you. All jesting aside, here are some other words that define impossible; unable to be, unable to be performed, incapable of being true, not to be done with any degree of reason, utterly impracticable. And then…I saw this one, which really hit home for me,” hopelessly unsuitable or difficult.” Have you ever been in a situation you could describe with those words? Unable. Void of reason. Impracticable. Hopeless. I would venture to say we all have, I know I have. But there is good news!!! When it comes to God and his will for us, those words have no meaning! Last week we learned that we can have Joy because God always keeps his promises, and this week we’ll be learning we can have Joy because NOTHING is impossible with God.

Our story this week is one many of you are familiar with. It’s the story of the Angel Gabriel visiting Mary. He told Mary she had received special favor from the Lord, and that God was very pleased with her. But that’s not all Gabriel said. He told her “You are going to have a baby, a son. You must name him Jesus. He’ll be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God.” Say what?! That must have been Mary’s response. Actually, that’s almost what it was. Mary responded “HOW can this be?” She went on to tell the Angel that she wasn’t married yet, so how could she have a baby? I believe Gabriel might have smiled as he spoke next; “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you… Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age (remember her)… For nothing is impossible with God.” And Mary, in her amazing faith, said “may it happen to me just as you have said.” She knew and understood that anything was possible with God. And she, even though fearful and probably a little confused, could have Joy in knowing this! (Luke 1:26-38)

So as we head into this season and new year, let us not forget that lesson that Mary so quickly understood, to not look at our problem/situations as impossible. I was 19 when God taught me this lesson. Working a good paying job and….paying rent for a house that was much bigger than one should need at 19. Then one day, I lost my job. And as some of us know all too well, the bills didn’t stop coming. I was out of work for a little over 5 months with no savings and no income. And to this day I don’t understand it, but I never missed a bill or rent payment! It didn’t make sense to my small brain (and it still doesn’t), but it was living proof of Luke 1:37. Let us also heed Gabriel’s words….and Mary’s faith. When we put our complete trust in God, and truly believe he can do anything, we can take "impossible" out of our vocabulary and see that the possibilities are, in fact, endless! :)

Joy to the World!!

"Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!" – Philippians 4:4

YAY!! It's December now, which means, Christmas season if officially ON, and in full swing!! Joy to the world!! Hmm…wait a minute….Joy to the world? Joy? What is that? What is Joy? Is it just a feeling? Is it just an outward expression? Is it just a dish soap? Well, that's the Virtue we are going to be talking about this month in Cove Kids! Together, we are going to learn that Joy isn't just a feeling or expression (or an awesome dish soap). Feelings are circumstantial, but Joy is something much deeper than that. Joy is finding a way to be happy at ALL times, even when things don't go your way, a "Defiant Happiness" if you will. Knowing that no matter what, we have a God and Savior who loves us, protects us, fights for us, and works good in all things for us. So, even if things aren't going the way WE thought they should, or would like them to, we can have Joy in Christ.

This week in Cove Kids we are learning about the Joy that comes with knowing that God always keeps His promises! The Bible says "The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. – Psalms 145:13. The story this week takes place in Luke Chapter 1, and it's about a very godly couple named Zechariah and Elizabeth. One day, Zechariah got a visit from an angel of God, who promised him a son, who he was to name John. The thing was, Zechariah was an old man and his wife well along in her years when this happened, so he momentarily doubted God's promise. The Angel Gabriel assured Zechariah that this good news was straight from God and would surely come true at the proper time. But because of his brief moment of unbelief, he would not be able to speak until that day came. Well, as it turns out, God was faithful in his promise! Elizabeth gave birth to a boy, and they named him John. And he would later prepare the way for the Messiah, another promise God would keep, over 400 years in the making!

It's not always easy to have Joy. Sometimes when difficult circumstances come, it can be hard to have a defiant happiness. Especially when we have to wait, when things don't happen when we wish they would. When everyone else seems to have it together, and it seems like everything in your life is constantly falling apart, it can be tough to find Joy. BUT!!! We CAN have Joy, because we know that God always keeps his promises!!! "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ." – 2 Corinthians 1:20. And even though the wait for God's promises may seem long at times, "…wait, It's on its way. It will come right on time!" – Habakkuk 2:3.

Joy to the world!!! The Lord HAS come!!! :D

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

Articulate Your Faith!

If I were to tell you that Starbucks is giving away free venti frappaccino's tomorrow, what would you do? What if I told you the only way to receive your free drink was if you're wearing a red shirt? When you run to share the good news with your friends, would you leave that part out? Of course not!! You would articulate the fact that they need to wear a red shirt in order to relish the frothy drink for free!!! Boy how I wish Starbucks really was giving away free drinks! That would definitely be some great news to share! This weekend in grade school we're talking about articulating our faith, sharing it!!!

Everyone enjoys hearing good news! When we go a while without hearing any, doesn't life begin to feel drab? God's Word is chock-full of good news! The best being that Jesus saved us from eternal separation from God! While we were still sinners, God sent Jesus to pay the penalty for our sin, so that we can be in a freedom-filled relationship with the Father. Once we believe this, Christ's love compels us to articulate, communicate, and express this faith to those who don't yet know His rescuing love! That's exactly what Philip did (in Acts 8:26-40) with a total stranger…

God sent an angel to tell Philip to take a walk down the road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza. So Philip went. On the road there was an Ethiopian man of high authority returning home in his chariot. The man was trying to read from the book of Isaiah, but didn't understand much. Philip was compelled by the Spirit of God to go near the chariot. He sat with the man and read the scriptures to him. The Ethiopian man asked who Isaiah was speaking about and Philip was able to articulate the wonderful truths of Jesus Christ! As they continued down the road they came to some water. The man said to Philip, "See here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" (v.36) Philip answered, "If you believe with all your heart, you may!" And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Halting the chariot, they went down to the water where Philip baptized the Ethiopian man as a symbol of his rebirth in Jesus Christ!

There are so many people in this world who go about life knowing of God, but never having a relationship with Him. Many of them would relish the free gift of Christ if someone would just share His love with them! John 1:1 says that Jesus is the Word. We have the Word, God's Word alive inside of us. We don't need to know all the answers. If we simply articulate our faith, the Word, God will do the rest—just like He did with Philip!

Lord, You are the Best News anyone could ever accept. Give us boldness in articulating our faith. Let Your love lead us to those who need to hear about you. Your name and renown is the desire of our hearts!

House of Refuge

Where is your house of refuge when you are in the midst of the storms of life? When you are in the turmoil of conflict, facing serious health issues, or attacked for your beliefs? These are the times that try our faith. Who can keep us safe? Is Jesus really able to calm the storms?

Most of us are not facing life threatening storms, but when David wrote many of his psalms he was on the run, fearful for his life, without a home. Yet he knew the power and unfailing faithfulness of the one true God. He wrote “Keep me safe, O God, for in You I take refuge.” Psalms 16:1, and “For in the day of trouble, He will keep me safe.” Psalm 27:5

Much like David, in this weekend’s Bible story your preschool child will hear about Rahab a woman who put her faith and trust in the one true God. She risked her life to hide the Israelite spies who came to her city, because she believed in the power and faithfulness of their God. When the wicked city was attacked by the Israelites everything was destroyed, except Rehab’s house and her family. She could count on God to keep her and her family safe. God was her refuge!

Through the fun small group activities, your child will discover “God Can Keep You Safe”. For a preschooler, it is important to know that in good times and scary times God is there protecting you. Perhaps you have a story to share with your preschooler about a time when you were afraid and you called on God to keep you safe. For me, it was when I was 6 years old and my older brother teased me about not looking over a high cliff we were on. I cautiously walked to the edge only to have the earth give way and I tumbled down trying to grab on to branches. In that moment I thought only God could save me. He did! I came to rest on a small patch of earth just a few feet from a 100’ drop off. I knew then that my God would keep me safe in any situation!

Our God is amazing! Whether it is life threatening situations or just the storms of everyday life He is there for us! What storm in life are you facing? You can have His peace and comfort as you trust in His refuge!

Carolyn Hillegeist
Early Childhood Coordinator

Give Me Your Eyes

"What if there's a bigger picture? What if I'm missing out? What if there's a greater purpose that I could be living right now? I don't wanna miss what matters, I wanna be reaching out! Show me the greater purpose so I can start living right now, outside my own little world." -Matthew West

So many times I zoom right past someone or something that I could have aided. Often times I don't even see that I had the opportunity because I wasn't thinking "outside of my own little world." Focused on ME, focused on what IIIIIII have to get done, on how people should be helping ME. (Please tell me I'm not the only one in the world who does this?) In Cove Kids, we're talking about a man who was "GOD-FOCUSED." And because He wasn't focusing on his "own little world," God was able to use Him in a mighty way.

Nehemiah was a leader with Initiative! What exactly does that word mean? Initiative is the ability to act and make decisions without the leading of other people. My definition of initiative would be: Immediately stepping out on faith to accomplish the mission at hand. This is exactly what Nehemiah did. He lived in Babylon and worked as the cupbearer to the Persian King. Having never visited Judah, but being from Jewish decent, Nehemiah sought reports concerning the city of Jerusalem. It had been 78 years since the Jews had returned to the city and the city walls we STILL in ruin. The city couldn't protect itself and the people were living in disgrace. When Nehemiah heard this, his heart was burdened for God's people. He immediately took initiative, risking His own life many times. Nehemiah demonstrated that when a leader with initiative is prompted by God to do something, they cannot stand still.

Nehemiah's eyes weren't focused inward, but upward. Where are your eyes focused? The prayer that I've been praying lately is one inspired by Brandon Heath: "Give me Your eyes for just one second. Give me Your eyes so I can see everything that I've been missing. Give me Your love for humanity. Give me Your arms for the broken-hearted, the ones that are far beyond my reach. Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten. Give me Your eyes so I can see." Nehemiah glimpsed Jerusalem through God's eyes initiating the restoration of the city. What has God burdened your heart for? What are you passionate about seeing come to restoration? I want to see God's Kingdom come. But not only do I want to see it, I want to partake in the coming of His majesty!

Lord, give us Your eyes so that we can take the initiative to step outside of our own little world, and into Your Kingdom. Let Your Kingdom come. On earth, just as it is in heaven. Amen!

Carole Loebs

3rd-5th Grade Coordinator
http://www.covechurch.org/

Who Can You Count On?

Life can be full of anxieties and lonely when you have no one who you can count on to help you! Perhaps you can remember a time when you thought who can I count on to help me in this time of trouble. For me, it was one late afternoon when I was in a hurry to get to a doctor’s appointment. I was already late as I pulled into the parking lot and dashed to the office door. It wasn’t till after the appointment when I reached in my purse to get my car keys that I realized something was wrong. I couldn’t find my keys. Maybe I dropped them on the way in. I searched the path to the doctor’s office. No keys. It was then that I looked into my car and saw my keys on the driver’s seat. Now what do I do? My husband was on a trip; my friends work out of town. I didn’t have any family that lived near by. I had a spare key at home, but it was a 3 mile hike and I couldn’t leave my car with the keys in full view. To top things off I was to go to my first Life Group meeting that evening. So I called the Life Group host and told her I would probably not make it as I had locked my car with my keys inside. Much to my surprise she said "Where are you?" and within a short time she came to pick me up take me to my home After getting my spare key, she drove my back to open my car. She was so kind and understanding! She didn’t even know me yet she made me feel like a close friend! I know God put her in my life to show me who I can count on-Him!

This weekend your preschool child will learn “God Can Save the Day” as they hear the Bible story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and the Fiery Furnace. The story is from Daniel 3:10-30. In a continuation of last week’s message “I can always count on God”, this week the children will discover that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, much like Elijah trusted in God and knew that they could always count on Him. They didn’t bow down to the fake God of the King, so he threw them into a fiery furnace. God saved the day by sending an angel to protect them and they came out of the furnace without harm!

We may never face being thrown in a fiery furnace, but you may have had an experience where God saved the day for you. Please share your story with your child to help them realize God can always be counted on to help you. Life can be scary for a preschooler so your own story of God’s faithfulness will help them in times when they are afraid or in trouble. Ask you child to think of a time when they were scared or in trouble? Did they know that God was with them and He would help them?

Please help your child learn the Bible verse “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid” Deut. 31:6 Once they can say the memory verse they will receive a reward. The children are having a blast with the new small group activities and loved the “Super Hero” capes! We hope you are putting stars on your child’s Super Hero Challenge Sheet as they show you they are a “Do the Right Thing Hero”, “Sharing Hero”, “Brave Hero” or “Helpful Hero”. By the end of this month, your child will know that being the “Super Hero” that God wants them to be is much better than being a fantasy hero.

Carolyn Hillegeist
Early Childhood Coordinator

Fantasy or Real Heroes

It is easy to understand the attraction to “Superman” or “Wonder Woman” for who wouldn’t want to be able to leap over tall buildings or vanquish bad guys. The movies create the fantasy that if only we had these “super powers” our life would be so much better.

Even adults are pulled into the fantasy world of the “Super Mom” who can effortlessly work a full time job, whip up a gourmet meal for 10 guests in a spotless home, while teaching her children advanced math, train for her next marathon run, and finish her second graduate degree. Sounds too good to be true, but for many moms they feel guilty and frustrated that they can’t be more like our society’s version of the self made “Super Mom”.

They have traded a fantasy hero for the real hero, the mom that God created to trust in Him for strength, not rely on her own self will to take control of life’s challenges! It is only through God that we are transformed from the ordinary into the majestic “He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body.” Philippians 3:21 Are you ready for God to use your life experiences for His purposes and be transformed into the majestic hero He created you to be?

Our young children also find it hard to separate fantasy from God’s truth, when it comes to “Super Heroes”. In the Cove Kids Preschool lesson for this weekend, your child will learn that “God is the One, True God”. He is not a pretend hero like Superman or Wonder Woman. Your child will learn about God’s awesome power and faithfulness in the story of Elijah and the Fire from Heaven. The story can be found in 1Kings 18:1-39.

In this Bible story, Elijah loved God and obeyed His commands; for he knew God was the biggest, strongest, one and only God. Elijah lived in a land where many people worshipped a fake god named Baal. Elijah trusted God and knew He could always count on God. He bravely challenged the Baal worshippers to ask their fake god Baal to bring down fire from heaven to burn up wood. Only the one true God could do that. Hundreds of Baal worshippers prayed and prayed but to no success. Elijah prayed and God was faithful in sending down fire that not only burned the wood but all the rocks around the fire pit.

Elijah was courageous to stand up to the King and many worshippers of Baal, for Elijah knew God’s word “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid.” Deuteronomy 31:6 This is the memory verse your child will learn throughout this month. To help your child learn this verse, they will receive a magnetic memory verse card to take home and practice.

Throughout this month your child will be in small fellowship groups learning through games, crafts, making snacks, and applying Bible truths. You may hear your child say “I was a Super Hero by helping, by sharing, by doing the right thing.” Parents will receive a colorful Super Hero Challenge Sheet which will help your child to learn real heroes are those who love God and love others. Each time you see your child being a Sharing Hero, Good Friend Hero, or Helping Hero please draw a star next to that hero picture. This will help your child apply the Bible truths that God loves us and He wants us to show love to others. Those who do this are the real heroes! We can trust in God’s power and strength! We know that we can always count on God!

Carolyn Hillegeist
Early Childhood Coordinator

God Invites Me to Follow Him

When I say the words Silly Bands what comes to mind? For me it was running around trying to find these crazy shaped bands that went on the wrist. Of course every store was sold out of them at the time and they were no where to be found. They were flying off the shelf like hotcakes. My child just had to have them because everyone else did. It was the latest greatest thing. He was following a trend. Now where ever I go it seems like every store and gas station has them. Are they still as popular as they once were?

Raise your hand if you have ever followed the latest greatest tend? Maybe for you it was bell-bottoms or leg warmers or the denim jean jacket. Maybe a cool hairstyle? We all make decisions about what we will or will not follow.

This week we will learn that God provided us with salvation and

forgiveness through His Son Jesus. God wants us to follow Him through Jesus. Our bible story is from Joshua 24:1-18. Joshua made it clear to the Israelites that they had a choice to make. Joshua knew that God gives us a choice. We choose who or what we want to follow in life. We all have that same problem sin which separates us from God. God sent his one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins. It is up to us whether or not we take that next step to follow him. Unlike a trend or fad he will always be there for us and he will never fade away.

"But as for me and my family we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:1-18

By Tera Buskirk
K-2nd Grade Coordinator

A Patient Heart

As a child I remember how very difficult it was to wait patiently for my birthday, Christmas, our vacation, or even my turn to play a game. It seemed like an eternity to me.

Even today as an adult I am caught up in the “instantaneous” generation. I find myself impatient with my computer, my microwave, instant replays, and so on. Can you relate? Unfortunately with all the technological advances we seem to becoming more and more impatient with life. Then we wonder, why can’t our children just be patient?


In this weekend’s Bible lesson your child will learn “I Will Be Patient”. This is the last lesson in our series TEN HUT, which focuses on the life of David. Your child will learn that David wanted to thank God for all He had given him. David wanted to build a very special temple for God. God told David he would not build the temple. David would have to patiently wait until his son Solomon was born, as he would build the great temple. While David waited for Solomon to grow up, he gathered wood, stone, and other things to use in the building of the temple. Waiting patiently is the right thing to do even if it is difficult. This makes God very happy as it shows God we have faith and trust in His plans and His promises!

You can help your child to learn to be patient by sharing a story about how you waited patiently for something-trusting and believing in God’s promises! You can help your child to remember a time when they waited patiently for something.

When I begin to lose my patience with others I remember how patient God is with me. As His word says, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3: 8-9

Our awesome God is so patient with us and He wants us to learn to be patient with others and with circumstances in our lives. We can help our children to be patient by modeling patience in our lives.

Carolyn Hillegeist
Early Childhood Coordinator

The Promise Keeper

"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." -2 Corinthians 1:20-22

It's one thing to make a promise, but it's another thing to KEEP one. God is flawless, and all of His promises are sure! He is not a liar, He doesn't forget His promises, and He loves to bless His children! When He makes a promise to us, He's telling us that it's going to happen… we just need to believe Him for it!

In looking towards the ending of the journey into the Promised Land, God's promise seemed unreal to the Israelites. There were huge giants living in the land. The people of Israel looked like grasshoppers compared to them! How were they going to take over this "promised land?" But God promised them victory, if they would believe Him for it. It's significant that those who BELIEVED God for His promise (Joshua & Caleb) delivered the rest of the people into the land.

We receive what we believe! What promises has God made to you? The Bible is chock full of them! Our God is the God who not only parted the sea, but created it. He's the one who thought up the idea of the sun, invented the cell, and so intricately fashioned our bodies together. He's the one who made the concept of relationship, and the Way (through Christ) to have it with Him! Our God is Great, and He can do far more than all we can imagine!!! All of His promises are a "YES!" Do you believe that today?

Talk to God this week about His promises. Thank Him for the ones you've seen Him fulfill in the past! In fact, write them down so you can look back on His faithfulness. He keeps His Word, from generation to generation. Commit to boldly believe God for all the wonderful promises He's made to you! Claim His truth for your life! Share one of God's promises with someone this week, and watch to see His word come into full fruition!

A Thankful Heart

The Thankful Heart


“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I must admit I sometimes don’t exhibit a thankful heart. I don’t think about all the blessings that God has given me. Not just material things, but the blessings of friends and family who encourage me and lift me up in difficult times. A recent illness in my family brought me closer to the brothers and sisters in Christ who prayed for our family. I thank God for their fellowship and for demonstrating God’s love to our family!


This weekend your preschooler will grow in their understanding of thanking God for who He is. He not only blesses us with food, clothing, shelter, but He puts in our lives others who love and care for us. Your child will learn the key verse “I Will Thank God!”, as they continue to learn about King David. David thanked God in songs and praises throughout his life in good times and bad.

David wrote in Psalms 100 “Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgivings and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.”

You can help your child to appreciate all that God has given by taking a walk and having you child point out things that God has made for us. (sunset, flowers, birds, water, air, plants, etc). Share with your child things that you thank God for (family, brothers & sisters in Christ, the Cove, pastors, God’s word, etc.) Can you thank God for the bad times as He helps you grow into the person who He can use for His Kingdom?


In all things we should thank God for His mercy, His love, for our salvation through His son Jesus Christ!!

Carolyn Hillegeist
Early Childhood Coordinator

God Hears My Prayers

Is there anyone out there who loves dropped calls? Failed text messages? Emails that won’t send?  Well, I sure don’t. In fact, I rather DISLIKE when that happens. For two reasons: One, it shows my incompetence of electronics (I see you smiling), and Two, it means that whatever I was trying to communicate, didn’t get through. It can be very frustrating, or even worrisome, when we can’t communicate our point. It puts an uncertainty in us that shouldn’t be there: “am I being heard?”

The cool thing is when you are talking to God, that answer is always an emphatic “YES!!” There are many places in God’s Word that remind us of this. Here are just a few:

“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.” – Psalm 34:17

“I LOVE the Lord, because He has heard [and now hears] my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live.” – Psalm 116:1-2

“And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.” 1 John 5: 14-15

God always hears our prayers. Where ever. When ever. And as our story for this week shows, that was a good thing for Joshua.

Joshua had led the Israelites into the Promised Land. He had also, with God’s help, led them to victory over both Jericho and Ai now. News of this spread like wild fire, and soon a coalition of rulers formed against Joshua and his army. Now, there was one town, greater than Ai, called Gibeon. The Gibeonites feared Israel, but instead of fighting, they tricked the Israelites into signing a peace treaty with them. When the royal coalition of kings found out, they were, in a word……upset. So they gathered all of their men (that’s FIVE kingdoms worth for those playing at home), and headed towards Gibeon. When Gibeon was found out about this impending invasion, they sent word to…..guess who? That’s right, Joshua. Although, I’m sure, Joshua cringed at the news, he knew what he had to do. He had to be true to his word (an admirable trait). Joshua gathered all his fighting men and marched all night to help Gibeon. During the march Joshua heard God say to him: “Do not be afraid of them, for I have given them into your hands. Not one will withstand you.” That must have been a relief! When Joshua and the Israelites arrived in the morning, they took the other armies by surprise. The other kingdoms were thrown into confusion, and Joshua capitalized. But even after a whole day of fighting, not all of the armies were defeated yet. Fearing they might escape, Joshua asked God for something huge! He prayed for the Sun to STAND STILL where it was, so there would be more daylight hours to finish the battle. The only thing more absurd than his request, was God’s answer. God heard Joshua’s prayer….and granted it! The earth stopped rotating, and the daylight was extended far longer than usual. Joshua finished the battle in victory.

God hears all of our prayers and requests. Even the ones we don’t verbally say. He reads our body language, interprets our tears, and understands our sighs. And no, he doesn’t always answer us with a yes. I’m sure we can all think of a time when the answer was “NO.” Or even “wait!” But the majesty is this, that He always hears us, and always answers us with and in Love! (And let’s be honest, you can think of a time when He said no and you realized it was for the best, which is what He wants for us). We may not always be heard by those we text, call, or email, but we can KNOW that we’re ALWAYS heard when we pray to God. And that’s something to talk about : )

Nathan Zaso
Cove Kids

What is Happiness? Preview of CKC Lesson # 5 for Preschool Children

"To the person who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness,.." Ecc.2:26

Do you remember a time when you were a child that you dreamed of getting something that would make you happy? I remember telling my parents that "if I only had a Betsy Wetsy Doll" I would be so happy. Then my birthday came and I got my dream doll! Well, I was so happy, until I learned that it leaked all over my new dress and then later it stopped wetting altogether! I learned "happiness" was very short lived and dependent on the circumstances and my emotions. Throughout my life experiences I learned "my efforts to find happiness apart from God were meaningless" just as Solomon the wisest man discovered. But when we place our faith and trust in God we will find everlasting happiness.

In this weekend's Bible lesson your child will learn that David was happy in good times and bad times, because he knew God loved him. David's life reflected his love of God, his faith and trust in a God who would never leave nor forsake him. God blessed David with His power to accomplish much in good times and in trials. The Bible story in found in 2 Samuel 5:1-4 & 7:8-9 and Psalms 57:7-10. Throughout the Psalms David proclaimed God’s faithfulness and God’s blessings.

Your child will discover through crafts, games, and the Bible story that as children of God we can be happy no matter what our circumstances or emotions, because we know we have a God who loves us. Your child will learn that God so loved us that He sent His son, Jesus, to take our punishment for our sins. We are saved and blessed because of God's mercy and His love for us. The key verse your child will learn is "I Will Be Happy Because God Loves Me".


You can help your children to realize how "blessed with happiness" they are by asking them to share with you all the blessings God has given them ( wonderful parents to take care of them, a home, food, great outdoors, fun things to do with friends, a great church to learn about God, etc.) You also can share with your child some of the blessings God has given you!

Help them remember a bad time like an injury or sickness or moving or loss of someone; that even in the bad times God blessed them with good doctors to care for them, healing, new friends, or comfort for losses.

As parents we want to shield our children from the trials of life, but God wants us to teach our children that He is our hope, our joy in all circumstances! So by sharing with your child a time when you were able to go through a difficult time because you knew God loved you and would always be with you, you will help your child to grow in trust and faith in our eternal God.

In Christ's love,
Carolyn Hillegeist
Early Childhood Coordinator

God Will Make A Way For Me To Follow Him!

Ever had a task that God asked you to do that seemed so big so enormous that you wondered how in the world am I going to do this HUGE task. This weekend in Grade School we are talking about the time when God asked the Israelites to do something that seemed impossible. The Bible story comes from Joshua, chapter 3 and 4. Joshua was to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River and the Ark of the Covenant was to go ahead of them. This seemed like an impossible task. At that time the Jordan River was almost overflowing. God helped Joshua and the Israelites. As soon as the priest who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing and piled up far away. God performed a miracle and provided a way for them to follow Him. How awesome! Alone they could not have accomplished the task but with God it was possible. When God gives us a job to do, He will make sure we have a way to do it. He will provide us with what we need to follow him. He is our provider! We can always depend on Him to provide. “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

Tera Buskirk
K-2 Grade Coordinator
Cove Church