Depending on God

Something God has really been teaching me during my first 3 weeks on the field is to depend completely on him.
Over the past few months I have started to really try to do things on my own. I know I can do all things through Christ (Phil. 4:13). But I really only go to God when I realize that I can't do it on my own. What I have realized is there is NOTHING I can do on my own. I am totally dependent on God for everything. No matter how well I learn to teach the Bible lessons it is still only God who can reach the hearts of the children.
My first week out in the field no kids were responding to the invitation. By Thursday I was feeling pretty discouraged. Before we did the Bible lesson on Thursday we had a "treasure truth" which included an object lesson I completely messed up the object lesson and I was thinking to myself that this was going to be such a horrible day. During the Bible lesson the kids didn't seem to be paying attention but after during the invitation 4 kids accepted Christ. God really showed me through that, that it doesn't matter how well I do or if I mess up he is the one who is working.

Training!

Things have been so busy. I haven't really had anytime to blog. So now it is time to play catch up. Instead of writing one really long post I'm going to write separate ones for different things.
I spent June 24 until July 7 at STI (summer training institute). It was really amazing. I learnt so much. I learnt about how to present a Bible story while including gospel points. I also learnt how to present a memory verse. I also learnt many other things.
About half way through training we found out who our partners are going to be and where we are going. I have two different partners for the summer, I have one partner (Hannah) for four weeks and the other (Rachel) for two weeks. I am serving all 6 weeks in the GTA.
Training was really hard at points. There was so much to learn. I wanted to learn everything really well so I would often study during my free time. During the second week we had to present the entire program for all five days of club. So each day would be two hours of stuff.
I had a really great time connecting with so many other young Christians who have a passion for serving God. Even though I am a lot older than most of the students I still developed many great friendships.
I didn't become a Christian until I was 17, and most of the people at STI were either 17 or younger. So it was just really amazing seeing people serving God at such a young age. Especially since when I was their age I wouldn't have even thought about serving God like them. For a few days I was almost feeling jealous of the kids I would be telling about Jesus, because they would be hearing about Jesus at such a young age and they would be able to grow up knowing and serving Jesus. One night I was sharing with one of the staff about my feelings and he said that it is great that I am going out now to tell young children about Jesus because they will have an opportunity to know Jesus at a young age that I did not.
So that is a very brief overview of training. I will try to blog again soon.
Until next time,
Megan Jones
Signing out

Packing, packing, packing

Well it is official I am finished the 2011-2012 yearbook. Not only am I finished, I finished it two days early. I'm really glad to have it done so now I can focus on getting ready for summer training institue (STI) which starts in two days. 
My biggest task right now is packing. I have packed maybe three things. Since I never really unpacked from school it is making it really hard to find some of the clothes I want to pack. There is also a few more props that I need to find and buy as well. I think Saturday is going to end up being rather busy. 
My biggest worry heading into training is having enough energy to make it through the days. Lately I have been feeling really tired and I'm afraid at training I won't have enough energy and I'll pass out in the middle of the day. 
I'm also going to be learning a tone of things during my two weeks at training so prayer for being able to learn all the information and remember it all would be great. 
I'm really looking forward to seeing what God does this summer. I will try to keep everyone updated via blog post from my phone.
Anyways back to packing.

The Wordless Book: Green

Green reminds us of things that grow, like trees or grass. God wants you to grow too.Not just by growing taller or gaining weight. God wants you to grow to love and please the Lord Jesus more and more. 
When you become a child of God you will not suddenly be perfect but God will give you the strength to keep from doing wrong things that displease Him. He will help you be more kind, obedient and truthful. When you do sin, tell God you have sinned. He will forgive you. The Bible says in 1 John chapter 1 verse 9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 
God has given us way to grow in Christ and get to know Him better.
Go to church to learn more about Jesus and how He wants you to live
Read your Bible and pray, talk to God about what you think and feel
Obey do what God tells you to do in the Bible
Witness to others, telling them about what the Lord Jesus has done for them so their sin can be forgiven

The Wordless Book: Clean

Jesus wants to forgive all of your sins and make you clean before God. 

In the Bible it says in John chapter 1 verse 12 "yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God"

You can become a member of God's family by:

Admit you are a sinner and can't save yourself 

Believe that Jesus died on a cross was buried and rose again to take your punishment for sin

Choose to receive Lord Jesus as your Saviour, know He will forgive your sins and make you His child

When you become God's child, He gives you some promises. It says in Hebrews chapter 13 verse 5 "I will never leave you", no matter what God will never leave you. 

After you receive the Lord Jesus, God wants you to get to know Him better.

The Wordless Book: Red

God knew about the sin in your life—that there was nothing you could do to take it away. That’s why He sent His only Son, Jesus in the world as a baby. Jesus is God’s perfect Son. He lived a sinless life. He never thought, said or did anything that did not please God, the Father.
Jesus did not deserve to die, he could have called down a thousand angels to take him down from the cross. But He willingly gave Himself up to die on the cross for you and me. He took your punishment. This was the only way you and I could have our sins forgiven.
Just like the red on this cross, Jesus gave his blood for you and me. It says in the Bible in Hebrews chapter 9 verse 22 "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness".
Jesus died and God brought Jesus back to life on the third day. Jesus is alive in heaven today.
Because of what Jesus did for you, you can have your sins forgiven.

The Wordless Book: Dark

Sin is anything that we think, say, or do that does not please God. (At this point I would have the children give examples of sin). 
Why is it so easy for us to tell lies, lose our tempers or be unkind? Because every one of us is born with a nature that is sinful. That means you and I are born with a "want to" sin. Just like this dark heart, all of our hearts are dark due to the sin in our life.
God’s Word says, “All have sinned” (Rom. 3:23). All means every one of us, including you and me. Sin separates you and me from God because He is perfectly good—without any sin at all. God can’t allow sin where He is.
God says sin must be punished. The punishment is to be separated from God forever. 
But God has a wonderful plan so that you and I don’t have to be punished for our sin.