Waiting for Popcorn

Make a bowl of popcorn the old-fashioned way. (If you don’t have kernels to pop, microwave popcorn will also work; even waiting a couple of minutes is a long time for a kid!) Stand by the microwave or stove waiting for it to pop. When it’s done, let it cool a little and eat it together.

IF you are really brave, pop the kernels on the stove but leave the lid off. Hold the corners of a clean bed sheet nearby to catch the kernels as they fly through the air. (Don’t try to catch the kernels in your mouth, as my boys did when we tried this; they are very hot.)

*****This would work with making any food when there is a waiting tim e–making popsicles, making a pot of soup, or baking a cake or loaf of bread.

Ask:
Why is it so hard to wait? (I want to eat it now, I’m hungry, It takes too long, etc)

The fruit of the Spirit for this week is patience. Patience is being able to wait without getting angry or upset. It is very hard to be patient.

How do you get patience? The Bible says trials–hard times–produce patience. No one really likes hard times, but James 1:2-3 says we should be glad to have trials because they can produce patience in us.

When do you need patience? (When you have to wait in line, when you have to keep quiet and just listen in class, when you have to do a hard job, etc.)

Storm-tossed at Sea

Act out a Bible story of a man named Paul, who put his hope in God and developed patience. The story is found in Acts 27. Let your children act the story out as you read the verses aloud.

Characters needed: Paul, centurion (soldier who was in charge of Paul, other sailors, angel of God)

Simple props–sword, pieces of cloth for a headpiece, loaf of bread—can add to the drama.

Make a boat with chairs or designate other pieces of furniture as the boat.  span>

****You may want to videotape the drama and then watch it together.

After you have acted out the story, ask:
How would have felt if you were Paul?

How did Paul have hope in God? (He prayed to God and believed God’s words when the angel came to comfort him.)

How can you put your hope in God during hard times? (Believe that God is with you and will make things work together for good.)

Our Hope in God

As you are driving in the car, give a sentence starter: “I hope.” (It’s like saying, “I wish.”) You can start out by telling what you hope will happen. “I hope dinner is on the table when we get home.” Take turns completing the sentence that starts with “I hope.”

Having hope in God is different from what we mean when we say, “I hope.” When we hope in God, we are saying that we believe in God and His Word. It doesn’t mean bad things will never happen, but it means we believe God is able to work things together for good– EVEN when bad things happen. (Read Romans 8:28.) Sometimes we have to be patient and wait for God to work things out, but He has promised that He will and His Word is true!

How can we talk to God?

Items needed:

Two empty tin cans or yogurt cups

Nail (and hammer to make a hole if you use tin cans)

String (about 12 feet long)

Scissors

Two paper clips

• Use the nail to make a hole in the bottom of the cups. (Warning: an adult should use the hammer and nail to make the hole in the can.)

• Cut a piece of string about 12 feet long

• Poke the string through the end of the can. (If you have trouble getting the string to go through the hole, wet a bar of soap, run the end across the soap and then between your fingers so it has a point.)

• Pull the string in a few inches and tie the end of the string to a paper clip (so it won’t slide out). Repeat this with the other string and can.

• Now, you’ve got a telephone. Give one can to a sibling or friend and tell your friend to walk away until the string is tight.

• Hold the can to your ear and ask your friend to talk into her can. Take turns speaking and listening.

FYI: Why does this work?

Everything that moves makes a sound by causing vibrations or movement of air. Your voice is a vibration. (Put your hand on your throat to feel the vibrations as you speak.) When you talk into the can, the vibrations from your voice go into the can, then from the can to the string, and then back into the other can. The can channels your voice into your friend’s ear. Our ears collect these vibrations (air movements) and change them to nerve signals that are sent to our brain. Our brain interprets these signals as sound.

Ask:

How can we talk to God? (Prayer)

How does God talk to us? (The Bible)

God gives us hope by giving us the privilege of asking Him anything. God wants us to talk to Him and believe that nothing is impossible with Him. He has recorded many words of hope (promises) to us in the Bible.

Red Light! Green Light!

When you're at a stoplight, use the three colors to teach your kids about prayer.

God always answers prayer. Sometimes He answers yes, sometimes no, and sometimes wait.

Red light: No

Yellow light: Wait

Green light: Yes

Share times (or ask children to think of times) when God answered in different ways. Remembering that God is wise and God gives what is best will help you to have hope through hard times.