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Listen while you read: "O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing"1 (Lyrics) |
The Spark Sunday School Curriculum lesson plan for preschoolers focused on how the Old Testament story of God providing manna, quail, and water for the children of Israel throughout the forty years they wandered in the desert teaches a life application lesson about gratitude.
One of the class activities described in that lesson is to pass a basket containing a feather from child to child and have them in turn tickle themselves under the chin. In the closing prayer, the children are reminded of the tickle activity by asking them, "Thank God for a blessing He sends that makes you grin like a tickle under the chin."
A couple of months have passed since I read that lesson. "Thank God for a blessing He sends that makes you grin like a tickle under the chin" has caused me to pay attention to when I grin, and to see just how each smile-inducing experience, thing, or person is a blessing sent to me from God.
I have grown to value my every smile as a glint of joy added by God to the day. Each time I feel a face-cracking grin, I esteem the experience a valued jewel to be treasured.
Here are two New Testament passages that have taken on deeper meaning since I woke up to grinning:
James 1:17-18 – Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures. (MSG)
1 Timothy 6:17b – Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. (NLT)
Are my prayers more appreciative lately? Yes. Do I grin more often? I think so.
Now I ask you: "Thank God for a blessing He sends that makes you grin like a tickle under the chin."
Prayer: Father, with hearts full of thanks for our personal liberty and Your resources for spiritual growth, we ask to be infected and be infectious with Your joy! In the name of Christ Jesus our Lord, we pray. Amen.
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Good reminder Pat.
Dear Pat,
That’s a big Amen Sister!
Okay, but how are we going to keep our feet clean? submitted by not me!!! Hope you have a sense of humour.
I am always amazed (and blessed) when people passing by illuminate the day with a smile for me. People I don’t know at all. The one thing it does is provoke from me a responsive smile. It is frequent, and I hope it never stops.
(BC)
Hi Pat, Your message made me smile. We have been using SPARK in a Saturday program we’ve begun for kids in our community and I have gained wonderful insights as we’ve been exploring the stories in SPARK.
Presently I am recovering from surgery. Yesterday, as I looked out onto our snowy deck, I saw one of the snowbanks start to move, and suddenly out popped the red squirrel who has mastered the art of eating at our sqirrel proof feeder…clearly a tickle under the chin to remind me of God’s grace as I heal. Peace and smiles.
Dear Pat,
Your devotional today made me realize how important a smile is — did you know a smile or grin improves your face value?
It is several months since we started attending a new church. This church is growing and I have chosen to to become a little more involved this past week. I joined a study group called and its Awesome. Thank you for your encouragement. May this next year be Awesome for you and yours.
Hello Pat!
I hope you are staying nice and warm in the midst of the cold weather out your way. Here on the beautiful west coast it’s very foggy today but there is a promise of sunshine.
Thank you for your devotional today. It was very appropriate for my state of mind these days. At the beginning of this year I asked the Lord to give me a word on which to focus my thoughts, meditations and prayers. The word I was given was “JOY”! Last year was filled with so much anxiety, hurt and stress that I knew God didn’t want me to revisit those feelings. Focusing on joy is much more productive and I truly have found myself grinning more, frowning with worry lines less, and really taking the time to find the positive and good in each situation. So your devotional really made me smile! At the moment we have houseguests with their little 16 month old and I haven’t stopped smiling as I watch this little one interact with our kitten, all the new (to her) toys we have and in general being a sweet wee girl.
So, thank you for being faithful to God’s word and reminding us to grin and find joy in everything!
Wishing you a great day!
Blessings.
Thank you, Pat, for helping me to remember that our God delights in giving us light grins and smiles and full-fledged Joy.
I have grown to value my every smile as a glint of joy added by God to the day. Each time I feel a face-cracking grin, I esteem the experience a valued jewel to be treasured.
Two New Testament passages that have taken on deeper meaning since I woke up to grinning are
James 1:17-18 and 1 Timothy 6:17b.