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For archives of the World Kids PAL Page (each issue focuses on a different country) and the World Kids PAL Project (each issue focuses on a different topic of life as experienced by children around the world) follow this link PAL pages
Latest message - Questions, questions, questions!!
Last weekend some of our grandchildren visited us including a 7 year old grandson and his two little sisters aged 5 and 3. They raced around the house, playing and chattering, but one of them kept stopping to ask "what's this for?" or "why do you have these?" It seems that children are always asking questions, especially "WHY?" I've heard many parents patiently trying to answer each eager question - only for their child to immediately ask another! It can become very tiring!!! But children are just that way - full of questions because they are always trying to learn and understand more.
As Christians, even as adults, we are often still full of questions. It seems the more we read the Bible and get to know God, the more questions we have because there is still so much MORE we don't understand about life and God's purpose for us! The Bible tells us in Proverbs 2:1-5 that if we seek and ask for understanding, we will get to know and understand God. Jesus himself said in Matthew 7:7,8 (NIV) "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Again, in James 1:5,6a we read: "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone." (NLT)
We CAN ask God questions and He DOES answer us - because Jesus died on the Cross for our sins so that if we believe in him we can have a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with our Heavenly Father. He answers us through the Holy Spirit - sometimes he puts the answer straight into our heart and we suddenly know the answer when before we did not; sometimes the answer comes through a sermon or through something we read - but when it comes we KNOW it is true. (Next month I will share a special testimony about that!) But this knowledge is not like learning multiplication or a historical fact - sometimes the answer to our question is not that simple! Another of our grandsons asked us recently: "If God made the world and Man and everything else, who made God?" Probably everyone on earth would like to hear that answer!
Sometimes a particular question just never seems to get answered - so what can we do about it? I believe we must not allow that to stop us trusting in God. As we learn to seek God to answer our questions and help us understand more about life, we do come to know and trust Him more and more. Eventually we reach the point where getting an EXACT answer to our question doesn't matter any more because we know that God really loves us and cares for us and will guide us through this life until one day we will be able to understand everything as He does. "All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely." (1 Corinthians 13:12b NLT)
Getting ready for the year ahead
Sometimes it is difficult for children to think about the future or be patient to wait for something still months away, but Jesus was a good example for us to follow. Read more
Have you ever been disappointed at Christmas?
Sometimes Christmas doesn't turn out as we expect and we feel let down, but this message helps us realize that Jesus is still there with us and will help us enjoy it no matter what happens. Read more
Who likes to do chores?
Most children hate to do family chores, but they are an important part of growing up and learning to help others and be responsible. Read more
Enjoy being a child!
So often children want to grow up too quickly and be adult. Let's encourage them to appreciate and enjoy the blessings of being a child while they can. Read more
How do you like school?
Here we learn that God loves us and can use us no matter whether we are top of the class or not - as long as we always do our best. Read more
Do you have a pet?
This message talks about how pets can be a blessing but also how they teach a child responsibility. Read more
Dealing with death
Death is a subject that is often not talked about with children yet it is important to answer their questions about it truthfully. This message addresses the issue in a simple and encouraging way, while also sharing the wonderful truth of the Gospel. Read more
Do you like YOUR family?
At times we all feel unhappy with our family and wish we could be part of a different one, so this is a very encouraging bible-based message that will be a blessing to every child. Read more
How clean are you?
We often think that something is clean because it LOOKS clean...but really it is not! Jesus wants us to be truly clean! Read more
Being a sheep
This reminds us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and knows how to take care of his sheep - his followers like us! Read more
Fun ways to memorize bible verses
Here are some great ways to learn bible verses by heart while playing! Read more
Overcoming fear and bad dreams
This is a very practical help for children to be able to handle having a bad dream and learn to trust God for sweet sleep. Read more
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