VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

I LOVE Vacation Bible School (VBS)! Always have and I pray I always will! Kev calls it my soapbox.
I remember as a child going to the one at our church and my parent's home church. I remember, the pledges, singing Fairest Lord Jesus, VBS cookies (you may know what I mean. The little shortbread cookies with the hole. We put them on our fingers.), and crafts, (One in particular was plates, cups etc made into a candle holder glued and painted a solid color. My first DIY project).

I'm sure VBS is one of the many places where my knowledge of the Bible grew. Being from the country, VBS was one of the highlights of the summer. I want children today to enjoy their time learning about Jesus and His wonderful love for them as I did as a child. I want VBS to be one of their highlights too.

Our lives are so busy. I'm sure my parents' lives seemed busy too with 5 children. But today just seems so different. We weren't part of Little League, Boy or Girl Scouts, a community pool, etc. We stayed at home for the most part. We had a park across the street. Mom and dad would let us go for an hour or two but we didn't spend all day. We truly looked forward to VBS. We went to a small country church. One of my favorite memories was the year that anyone present at VBS every night got to go to Hardees in a white jeep painted with red pocka dots. Number one, we very rarely went out to eat. Number two, there were no seat belt laws and I can't remember how many kids rode in the jeep but I'm sure it wouldn't happen today.

I heard many years ago that, "Parents use VBS as a baby sitting service. They just drop their kids off and leave."and "All the churches in this area should do VBS the same week. That way we just get our kids."

My response is, "YES, use us as a baby sitting service! Let the children have two or three hours a night for a week learning about Jesus, playing with others, singing new songs with motions, and being creative doing crafts." Instead of sitting in front of a TV, video game or even using a cell phone.

VBS crafts

VBS Song

And as far as all churches doing VBS on the same week. Oh NO! Think about this. If all churches did VBS the same week, the area children would have one week of fun with friends. And would hear the word of God for 4 or 5 days, according to how long the program lasts. Now let's look at if several churches were to do their program on different weeks. The children could have several opportunities to learn songs, motions and Bible stories. By the end of the summer they will have a better chance of having lasting memories and maybe just maybe understand the love of Jesus more than they did at the beginning of the summer. And if the churches did the same program, the children would have different teachers teaching the same lessons and songs. Children and adults learn from repetition.

For example, one year a neighboring church was doing the same program as our church. After their week was up they gave us some of their decorations. We heard of two other churches doing the program. One was doing it the week after us but their first day was our last day so there wasn't time to share decorations with them but the second church was several weeks later so we were able to share with them. We were very appreciative of the decorations and so was the other church. And I believe the people that made the decorations were so happy other children were going to be able to enjoy them.

Vacation Bible School to me is a mission field. I believe God lets us be missionaries right in our own backyard. We don't have to go to a foreign land. God brings the children to us.

Blessings on you,
Mama D

Matthew 19:14 NIV
Jesus said," Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

THE RICHMOND YOUTH SYMPHONY

Recently, my husband and I, along with several friends attended the Richmond Youth Symphony. One of the violin players is a member of our church. He and his family have been friends of ours for several years.

This young man was actually the Concert Master (the one that helped the others get in tune). I didn't know what that was until that night.

I truly enjoyed the music. It was soothing and comforting.

I have always been a nervous person. I didn't know that everyone didn't feel their heart beating or pounding all the time until several years ago. Little things made me nervous, like forgetting a book at home. I would have a panic attack until I got to class. Then I was terrified to tell the teacher. I was a good student but the teacher saying we were going to have a pop quiz put a knot in my stomach, even if I knew all the answers.

Once in college my professor gave us a few minutes to go over our notes with a partner. There was an odd number of students so the professor asked me questions from my notes. I got them all right. He passed out the test. It looked a lot like my notes. I got the test and just went blank. I only got a few right. He said,"Danette, you answered them all just a minute ago." I told him, "tests just do that to me."

As I got older and had a kid I realized that music with a lot of bass also made me nervous. I could get in the car in a great mood and get out 10 minutes later in a very fowl mood. It could sometimes take me the rest of the day and some of the next to get myself together.

The music at the symphony was wonderful. I wish I had known how calming it could be when I was young. It reminded me of King David  before he was king. When he was growing up he played a harp. A small hand held one from  pictures I've seen. He played to the sheep and later to King Saul.

King Saul "had an evil spirit" come upon him. Someone suggested they get a person to come play soothing music to him to calm the spirit.

Almost everyone likes music. I'm a preacher's wife and I love Southern Gospel, praise music and other Christian music. Christmas music has always been my favorite. It drives me crazy when radio announcers  play Christmas music for a month and start complaining. I have to listen to what they like 11 months out of the year! My favorite artist is Dolly Parton.

But now I will start to listen to instrumental music more. I really enjoyed it. It was calming and exciting at the same time.

Have a Blessed Day,
Mama D

1 Samuel 16:18 NAS  Then one of the young men answered,"Behold I have see a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech and a handsome man; and the Lord is with him."