The shepherds continued (day 35)

To review the story of the shepherds visiting Baby Jesus we acted it out. The angel got to stand up on a chair to deliver the good news to the shepherds. Then, the shepherds took their sheep (sometimes a person crawling and sometimes stuffed animals) to the other room to bow down to the newly born King.

the point? Even as a baby, Jesus was King over all Kings

The Light of the whole world (day 34)

Sally Lloyd-Jones tells the story of the shepherds, from Luke 2, on page 185 of The Jesus Storybook Bible. We used cotton balls to be tiny sheep and a spoon or clothespin to guide the sheep from the field to the stable. Each utensil uses a different fine-motor movement. We also did some timing, to see how quick each shepherd could get their sheep to the stable (another bowl.)

the point? Jesus came for people who are not lovely

He's here! (day 33)

Page 176 begins the New Testament stories with Jesus being promised and born, from Luke 1-2. After reading the story we acted it out, with Gabriel the angel wearing a white blanket. Baby Jesus was wrapped in a plain blanket and laid in a plastic box filled with freshly picked grass. Sally does an excellent job of making it very obvious that this is the climax, the point that all time has been leading up to. Thank you Lord.

the point? Jesus was the savior God had promised

Get ready! (day 32)

Sally Lloyd-Jones finishes the old testament stories by telling the story of the Israelites returning from captivity, as told in Nehemiah, Malachi, and Ezra. Since this story is one I am not as familiar with, I am glad she referenced the actual chapters in the Bible so I could read them. Basically we read the story, some selected passages from the Bible (especially Nehemiah 8-10) and then acted out the story. The stuffed animals and children that were the Israelite people "cried" for their sin and asked God for forgiveness. They told of their desire to follow God's ways. The account in Nehemiah is a beautiful picture of repentance. Then they had a party (with music and dancing) to celebrate the forgiveness they received.

the point? "If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

Jonah continued (day 31)

To review the story of Jonah we acted it out. We were all Jonah, running away from God on the couch ship. After the storm came we fell into the sea and swam on the rug until we arrived inside a red sheet fish. When we pulled the sheet over us we were crowded and hot. We took turns praying. Then, the fish spat us out.

the point? God gives second chances