SPLINK for the Week of February 19th

February 19-25 Authority Your kids are knee deep in learning the 10 Commandments.  I've had a lot of you ask for me to post the cards that I have used in the past to help the kids memorize the 10 Commandments.  Well, here they are! The 10 Commandment Cards Hint:  if you use these cards for yourself, you too will know all 10 Commandments in no time!  Try it, I think you'll be surprised how easy using these cards makes remembering the commandments in order. __________________________________________ Below you'll find 3 easy activities to do with your kids to reinforce what they have learned on Sunday. Why? Because! Items Needed: slips of paper or index cards Pencils Two small bowls to hold the slips of paper Play Why? Because! Give each person two slips of paper and a pencil. Ask them to write a question on one that starts with Why? (Why is milk white? Why do I have to go to bed at 8?) Then on the other slip, write a Because answer. (Because it's not green; because you turn into a monster at 9.) Keep the Why questions separate from the Because answers and put them in two separate bowls. Mix up the questions in each bowl. Let one person choose a Why question and read it aloud. Then ask another person to randomly choose a Because answer and read it. (Hopefully, they will not pick one that actually answers the question.)  Read all the questions and answers. This was a silly game of questions and answers, but there are many questions we don't always know the answers to. There are questions we may like to ask God. God doesn't always answer our questions, but we can know that He is wise AND good. God is in charge and He will do what is best for us when we love and obey Him (Romans 8:28).  Handiwork Ask each family member to draw a picture. When all are finished, praise each person's "handiwork”-–work of their hands. How would you feel if I grabbed your picture and tried to tear it up? (I would be angry; I would tell you to leave it alone, etc.) Just as your picture belongs to you and you have the right to say what happens to it, the world belongs to God and He has the right to rule over it. Psalm 19:1 says that the skies are God's handiwork. He made the sun, moon, and stars. He created the entire world and has the right to rule over it (Psalm 24:1). God is the ultimate authority who is wise and good. He makes good rules, but He gives us a choice to say yes or no. God wants us to say yes and do what He has asked. In this week's lesson, Balak, the rich and powerful king of Moab tried to persuade Balaam to curse God's people, the Israelites. God told Balaam NOT to curse His people. God even used a donkey to talk to Balaam. Even though the king tried to bribe Balaam, he would not curse God's people. God is in charge and can use whatever He chooses to teach us and help us submit to His authority. Better Than an Umbrella Item Needed: umbrella Use an umbrella to illustrate God's authority over us. Open the umbrella and ask: Why do we use an umbrella? (To protect our clothes from getting wet, to keep us dry, etc.) Just as an umbrella protects us from the rain, God's commands are designed to protect us from the bad consequences of wrong behavior. When we break God's commands, we step out from under His protection and expose ourselves to more trouble. Pick one of the commandments and ask: How does keeping this commandment protect us? For example: How does honoring your mom and your dad protect you?(If you do what they tell you to do, you will be safe; if you obey, you won't be punished; if you speak good about them and honor them, others will respect you; you will protected from guilt and a bad reputation, etc.) Keep reviewing the Ten Commandments. Write each number from 1-10 on a slip of paper and put them in a bag. Take turns drawing out a number. Say the commandment that matches that number. (5—Honor your mom and your dad.)