Monthly Archives: November 2009

Devotional

Christmas: God Speaking through us

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Luke 1:13-15

Zacharias, a man in his old age and Elizabeth his wife, a woman well along in years, had never been able to bear children. Now here is an angel, none other than Gabriel (who in his own words stood in the presence of God) telling Zacharias that his wife would bear a son.

But this would be no ordinary son. This was to be John of prophesy who would go ahead of the Messiah, preparing the way for the Lord.

What future parents would not be thrilled to hear that their child was to be a joy and delight and, above all would be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth!

But wait a minute, doesn’t the Holy Spirit come into our lives at our acceptance of Christ as our Savior? We did say that this was to be no ordinary son. John was to be the fulfillment of a miracle; a man prepared by God for a wonderful mission hereon Earth, to proclaim the coming of the Son of God. He was filled with the Holy Spirit so the Holy Spirit could speak through him!

Let our prayer this Christmas season be that the Holy Spirit will be able to speak and work through us to proclaim Christ to the World.

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Devotional

Christmas: A Question Answered

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Questions, questions, questions.

Luke 1:34-38

Our lives are filled with questions we ask of God. How will I find the right husband or wife? Where should I go to college or university? Why am I not enjoying life more? How should I serve God? How can I live for God in my job? How long will I be in this job? What will happen tomorrow? Am I living within the will of God?

The questions go on…

Mary questioned the angel Gabriel concerning the birth of the Son of God. She could not understand his message to her. So she asked: “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” In other words, God’s plan didn’t fit her understanding as to the birth of a child. Mary’s preconceived ideas didn’t allow her to accept God’s plan. She didn’t reject it, but she did ask for an explanation.

The Angel described the future miracle in these words: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God… For nothing is impossible with God.”

There are powerful lessons for us to learn from this encounter between Gabriel and Mary.

  • Keep on asking questions of God but don’t forget to listen to God’s words directed toward you.
  • We can say and believe that nothing is impossible with God because the Holy Spirit is present in our lives through our faith in Jesus Christ. This affirmation will bring God’s miracles into our lives.

Are you willing and ready like Mary to say: “May it be to me as you have said.” In this way God’s answers will be worked out in your life. May this happen to all of us as we begin to celebrate Advent.

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Games and Activities helping youth discover the Reason for the Season.

Get more than 200 creative ideas for planning a Youth Christmas celebration or Christmas Party party. You can immediately download my best Christmas Icebreakers, games, illustrations, Christmas activity ideas AND MUCH MORE in a useful ebook!

=> Tell me more about the Christmas Collection

Game Ideas

Christmas Movies: Who am I?

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Materials
A list of Christmas movies printed on name-tags or address labels. (One title per name-tag)

Icebreaker Description
In this icebreaker / crowdbreaker game, youth will have the name of a Christmas Movie pasted to their back and will wonder the room asking yes or no questions to other youth in an attempt to discover the title of the Christmas movie they have on their back.

Preparation
Create a list of Christmas Movies/ TV Shows: Here are some of the more common ones: A Charlie Brown Christmas, A Christmas Carol, A Christmas Story, All I Want for Christmas, An American Christmas Carol, Babes in Toyland, Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Christmas Vacation, Elf, Frosty the Snowman, Heidi, Home Alone, Home for Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, Joyeux Noel, Miracle on 34th Street, Nutcracker, Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town, Santa Clause: The Movie, Scrooged, The Little Drummer Boy, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey Nestor, The Muppet Christmas Carol, The Night Before Christmas, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Polar Express, The Santa Clause, The Year Without a Santa Claus, We’re No Angels, White Christmas

Icebreaker Activity

  1. Place one of the nametags containing a movie title on the back of every youth as they enter the room.
  2. Each youth must now try to guess what is on their back by going around the room asking other youth “yes” or “no” questions about the nametage on their back.
  3. These questions must be yes-no questions (ex. Q. “Am I a recent movie?” A. “Yes”)
  4. Depending on the size of the youth group, only one question can be asked to each youth in the room (to get everyone talking to everyone else). For small groups you may allow 2 questions per youth.
  5. The first youth to guess the name of the movie on their back is the winner.

Variation
Instead of “yes” or “no” questions, as the youth move around moving from person to person they must name one fact about the movie or one character / person that starred in the movie. As soon as a youth is successful in guessing the title of the movie, he goes and sits down. The youth who is giving information to the person with the nametag tries to keep it somewhat vague so that other youth will not be able to sit down before he does. All information must be factual and honest.

Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Christmas Collection" ebook Christmas Collection
Games and Activities helping youth discover the Reason for the Season.

Get more than 200 creative ideas for planning a Youth Christmas celebration or Christmas Party party. You can immediately download my best Christmas Icebreakers, games, illustrations, Christmas activity ideas AND MUCH MORE in a useful ebook!

=> Tell me more about the Christmas Collection

Music

With Heart and Hand and Voices

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Martin Rinkert was a minister in the little town of Eilenburg in Germany some 350 years ago. He was the son of a poor coppersmith, but somehow, he managed to work his way through an education.

Finally, in the year 1617, he was offered the post of Archdeacon in his hometown parish. A year later, what has come to be known as the Thirty-Years-War broke out. His town was caught right in the middle. In 1637, the massive plague that swept across the continent hit Eilenburg… people died at the rate of fifty a day and the man called upon to bury most of them was Martin Rinkert. In all, over 8,000 people died, including Martin’s own wife.

His labors finally came to an end about 11 years later, just one year after the conclusion of the war. His ministry spanned 32 years, all but the first and the last overwhelmed by the great conflict that engulfed his town. Tough circumstances in which to be thankful. But he managed. And he wrote these words:

Now thank we all our God
With heart and hands and voices;
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom his world rejoices.

It takes a magnificent spirit to come through such hardship and express gratitude. Here is a great lesson. Surrounded by tremendous adversity, thanksgiving will deliver you…with heart and hand and voices.

Source: Brett Blair, www.eSermons.com, Nov. 2002.

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Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

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Humor

Not a Turkey

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Asked to write a composition entitled, “What I’m thankful for on Thanksgiving,”
little Johnny wrote, “I’m thankful that I’m not a turkey.”

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Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan your next Thanksgiving event, as well as other familiar holidays. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for all the various common holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

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Humor

Turkey Riddles for Thanksgiving

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What did the mother turkey say to her disobedient children?
If your father could see you now, he’d turn over in his gravy!

Why do Pilgrims have trouble keeping their pants up?
‘Cause they wear their belts on their hats!

What is the difference between a chicken and a turkey?
Chickens celebrate Thanksgiving!!

What is the Turkey’s favorite black tie celebration?
The Butter Ball

What do you get when you cross a turkey, the beach, and Broomhilda?
A turkey sand-witch

What kind of music did Pilgrims listen to?
Plymouth Rock

Which side of the turkey has the most feathers?
The outside

Why do turkeys eat so little?
Because they are always stuffed

Why did the turkey cross the road?
It was the chicken’s day off.

What key has legs and can’t open doors?
Tur-key.

What sound does a space turkey make?
Hubble, hubble, hubble.

How do you keep a turkey in suspense?
I’ll tell you at Christmas.

Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Holiday Collection" ebook Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan your next Thanksgiving event, as well as a lot of other familiar holidays. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for all the common holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

=> Tell me more about the Holiday Collection

Teaching Illustrations

Be Thankful

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Author, source unknown

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,
because it means you’ve made a difference.

It’s easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings.

For lots of youth ideas for Thanksgiving, search for “Thanksgiving” in the search box in the top left of this webpage

Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Holiday Collection" ebook Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan your next Thanksgiving event, as well as a variety of other common holidays. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for familiar holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

=> Tell me more about the Holiday Collection