Week 4

Love

December 23

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but should have ever lasting life.

John 3:16

Something to talk about:
What is the best gift you have ever received?  What is the best gift you have ever given?

At my house, we are busy selecting or creating gifts for one another.  This is hard work finding just the right thing for a person we love.  The first Christmas gift ever given, was a baby, who would grow to be a child, who would grow to be a man.  This baby, Jesus, would grow up to show us God's love.  He was wrapped in simple bands of cloth, not shining wrapping paper.  At first, he didn't do much, just ate and slept, and cried.  But one day, he would tell stories about God and God's kingdom.  One day, he would walk on water.  One day, he would calm a storm, and another day, he would feed the many who had gathered to hear him.  One day he would heal a man born blind, and one day, he would die on a cross.  Because he loved us, he came to us, told us about God, calms our storms, feeds our hungers, helps us to see, and gave his life for us.

Something to do:
Cut out a paper heart.  Find or draw a picture of yourself and glue it on the heart.  Write on the heart,
"Because God loves ______ (your name)so much, he gave his only Son, so that ________ (your name) might have life!"  Hang your cross on the Christmas tree.  OR  Make a similar heart, find or draw a picture of someone you would like to give a gift to, and write the same words with your friend's name on them.

Dear God,
Thank you for the gift of your love!
Amen.