Lenten Prayer Pots

Prayer Pots Teach Lessons from Ash Wednesday throughout Lent

Note: You can create your own clay pots with each Child using a fist sized ball of clay or use terracotta pots with disc bottoms

Teach the children how to form a pinch pot and then widen it to become a bowl. Let these dry. The outside can be decorated with paint or markers or may be left plain. Give each child their own pot along with the following directions.

ON ASH WEDNESDAY: 

Place the pot in a special place where it can't be missed - perhaps the center of the family table. It reminds us that Lent is here but remains empty for the next few days.

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT:  Romans 8: 38,39

 A small heart cut from construction paper is placed in the Prayer Pot during the main meal to remind everyone of God's love for us and that we should show our love for, and be kind to, others.

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT:  Colossians 1: 10-12

A small seed (any kind - sunflower, pumpkin) is placed in the pot to remind us that God's love for us constantly grows and that we should try hard to do more for other people.

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT:  Ephesians 4: 2

 Place a small rubber band in the Prayer Pot as a reminder that God always stretches His patience with us and we need to do the same for others even when it isn't easy.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT:  Hebrews 13: 16

A marble or small game piece is placed in the pot to remind us that we need to remember to take turns, to share.

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT:   I Thessalonians 5: 13b

 Add a little band-aid to remind us to help other people when they are sad or hurt.

PALM SUNDAY:  Colossians 1: 15-20

 Place a tiny piece of palm to remind us that Jesus is our King and we always need to remember to say our prayers to him.

EASTER SUNDAY:  Matt. 28: 1-8; 18-20

 The last item is a tiny piece of egg shell to remind us that Jesus will always be with us and is always ready to hear our prayers.

Original Concept Source: Diane Laney Fitzpatrick Activity Sources: Catholic Parenting - ExploreAndExpress
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At Calvary - Casting Crowns Video

From the 2015 GMA Dove Awards Telecast.

At Calvary - Casting Crowns Lyrics

Years I spent in vanity and pride, Caring not my Lord was crucified, Knowing not it was for me He died At Calvary By God's word at last my sin I learned, Then I trembled at the law I'd spurned, Till my guilty soul imploring turned; to calvary There your mercy and your grace was free, there your pardon multiplied to me, there my burdened soul found liberty; at Calvary Now I've giv'n Jesus everything, now I gladly own him as my King, now my raptured soul can only sing of Calvary there your mercy and your grace was free, there your pardon multiplied to me, there my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary yeahh at calvary oh, the love that drew salvation's plan! Oh, that grace that brought it down to man! Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span; at Calvary yeeaahh there your mercy and your grace was free, there your pardon multiplied to me, there my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary there your mercy and your grace was free, there youre pardon multiplied to me, there my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary there my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary

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Valentine's Day Prayer

When you kneel in front of the white table to receive the Lord for the first time, then joy over your forehead, joy in the heavens of the sun bathed,  let it shine with a lively flame, with a great love, with a holy emotion!

And when Jesus, hidden in the Host,  descends into your hearts noiselessly and when I celebrate with joy in them today,  then let each of you quietly sigh: 

I love You, Jesus ... Thank you for coming! I will write "I Love" from the heart.
And let this Love pure as the heart  in which the Lord Jesus lives willingly, with each passing day more and more, more purely, more powerful and more beautiful, multiply in us !

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H.O.P.E.

HOPE - Hanging Onto Positive Expectations. 

Motivational acronyms from renowned speaker and author Byrd Baggett. 

 -- Hope is the cousin to optimism. 

With OPTIMISM you Hope for the best. With HOPE, you have desires with the expectations of fulfilment.

 -- Like the most positive of thoughts, Hope keeps us hanging onto our highest expectations. 

When you hope for something positive to happen, You fill full with that spirit...You feel full of hope or are hopeful at that time. 

-- Don't Lose Hope. Hang onto it! Nuture it, Keep it close, and above all Cherish it. - Exerpts from - Seven Soulful Secrets: For Finding Your Purpose and Minding Your Mission By Stephanie Stokes Oliver

"Have faith and believe in yourself & GOD." A very inspirational video from start to finish.

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The Ice Cream Prayer

Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, “God is great and God is Good. Let us thank Him for the food, and I would even thank you more if mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And liberty and justice for all! Amen!”

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, “That’s what’s wrong with this country. Kids today don’t even know how to pray. Asking God for ice-cream! Why, I never!”

Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, “Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?” As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, “I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer.” “Really?” my son asked. “Cross my heart.”

Then in theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), “Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes.”

Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and without a word walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, “Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes and my soul is good already.”

Note: In today’s world with crime and hate we need to be still and listen to God. I believe Jesus speaks to us through little children but we have to be willing to listen. So next time a little one is around be still and listen because they just might have a message for you.

Author Unknown

(Luke 18:16 NIV) But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

(Luke 18:17 NIV) I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Read more: http://www.inspirationalarchive.com/

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W.W.J.D.

Is Jesus A Fad?

Commandment and Scripture

YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME 

- Luke 16:13 “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FOR YOURSELF AN IDOL

- 1 John 5:21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

YOU SHALL NOT MISUSE THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD

- 1 Tim 1: 13-15 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY

- Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 

HONOUR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER

- Colossians 3: 20-21 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

YOU SHALL NOT MURDER

- 1 John 3:15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY

- Heb 13: 4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

YOU SHALL NOT STEAL

- Eph 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need."

YOU SHALL NOT GIVE FALSE TESTIMONY

- Colossians 3:9-10 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

YOU SHALL NOT COVET 

- Eph 5:3 "Covetousness, let it not be named among you"

Photo Source

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P.R.A.Y.

What is the difference between prayer and pray?   Pray is the verb ("I pray when I go to church.")  and prayer is the noun ("We said a prayer for the safety of the troops.")

When you PRAY you should: P = Pour out your heart.
R = Realize God will answer.
A = always believe.
Y = Yeild to what God tells you.

Some people expand the word pray as an acronym for: praise, repent, ask, yield.
Praise - Mathew 6:9 - Pray then in this way... "Our Father, Who Art In Heaven"...
Repent - Mathew 6:12 - "And forgive us our debts as we have forgiving our debtors".
Ask- Mathew 6:11&13 - "Give us this day our daily bread." .. and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Yield- Mathew 6:10 - "Your kingdom come, your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven"

Note: Interesting read about  The “R” in Pray 

P = Persistent

R = Report
A = About
Y = Your
E = Every
R = Request

What are the 4 types of prayer?

This definition encompasses the four main kinds of prayer: adoration, contrition, thanksgiving and supplication. Christ Himself provides us examples of all these forms of prayer — except contrition, since He never sinned.

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F.R.O.G

“F.R.O.G.– Fully Rely On God”  printables, treat bags, crafts and more .

F.R.O.G. Treat Bag / Boxs
Fill each clear baggie or box with some HARIBO® Gummi Candy Frogs, and attach this tag along with some cute green & white twine tieing the whole thing together for giving. 

Click HERE to print F.R.O.G. tags from LDS !

The verse reads  "For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Isaiah 41:13"

Encourage others! Free Christian Pass Around Cards that you can download and print from your own computer. They print out on a regular 8.5 x 11 inch sheet of paper or card. Each individual card will measure 2 x 3 inches.  fully-rely-on-god-print-page.pdf

F.R.O.G Pin and Poem - Inspirational Card Gift

Advice from a Frog
 *  Make a splash  * Look before you leap  * Don't jump to conclusions  * Enjoy a good swim  * Stretch your legs often  * Spend time at your pad  * Hop to it! 
Advice from a Frog Card from YourTrueNature.

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God's Rocking Chair

A man's daughter had asked the local pastor to come and pray with her father. When the pastor arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up   on two pillows and an empty chair beside his bed. He assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit. "I guess you were expecting me," he said. "No, who are you?" "I'm the new associate at your local church," the pastor replied. "When I saw the empty chair, I figured you knew I was going to show up." "Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man."Would you mind closing the door?" Puzzled, the pastor shut the  door.

"I've never told anyone this, not even my daughter,"said the man. "But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it always went right over my head. I abandoned any attempt at prayer, "the old man continued, "until one day about four years ago my best friend said to me, 'Joe, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here's what I suggest: Sit down on a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It's not spooky because he promised, 'I'll be with you always. 'Then just speak to him and listen in the same way you're doing with me right now.'

So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful, though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm." The pastor was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old guy to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him, and returned to the church.

Two nights later the daughter called to tell the pastor that her daddy had died that afternoon. "Did he seem to die in peace?" he asked. "Yes, when I left the house around two o'clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me one of his corny jokes, and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead. But there was something strange, in fact, beyond strange-really weird.

Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on a chair beside the bed."

~Author unknown~

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V.I.P.

God: I want you to be a V.I.P.
Me: A Very Important Person?
God: (smiling) No, not a Very Important Person, but a V.I.P!
Me: I don’t understand!
God: Have you not read what I have told you through the Priests, the Kings and the Prophets?
Me: I am sorry Lord, I have not been too diligent in the study of your infallible Scripture, which gives us Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth (B.I.B.L.E)
God: Well, let me explain. I want you to be a Very Inclined Person (V.I.P)
Me: What does it mean to be a Very Inclined Person, Lord?
God: To incline is to bend as in the gesture of a bow or to lean! You must BOW to no other gods but to me for I am a jealous God. Incline your heart to me and me alone (Joshua 24:23): Incline to walk in all my ways and keep all my commandments (1 Kings 8:58); Incline not after your own evil ways, after the imaginations of your heart (Jeremiah 35:15; Jeremiah 11:8) and Trust only in me and LEAN not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5) but incline your heart to my sayings and to wisdom and my understanding (Proverbs 2:2; Proverbs 4:20).
Me: Help me Lord, to be a V.I.P!

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A Golfer's Prayer

“Almighty God, as we play through our 18 holes of life, we pray that you will give us a drive that’s both long enough to reach our goals, and yet straight enough to keep us out of trouble.

“Help us avoid the traps and hazards of life; nevertheless, should we find ourselves in them, give us the tools, skills and desire to escape them with no penalty. May we always stay in bounds.”

“Help us to be willing to stand by - and not play through - those in genuine need. May we always play with honor.”

“And finally, when we’ve putted out on the 18th green, we pray that we will have demonstrated the integrity of our character, so that you will judge us worthy enough to join your threesome and play eternally on your heavenly course. Amen.”

source

“You compare the things that happen in golf to your life, things like sand traps, hooks, slices, and out of bounds shots,” she said. “We set ourselves up for ridicule and shame.” Handicaps are something that we all have and that we shouldn’t be discouraged by them, Sister Dorothy Ederer said: “They often provide the push we need.” - Ederer’s book, “The Golfer’s Prayer Book, Walking the Fairway with the Master,”

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