Just for Kids October 2023

Hi kids!

This week we celebrate Thanksgiving, a time to be grateful for the things we have and the people around us. During Thanksgiving, many families often have a big meal together with turkey and other delicious foods, such as mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Sounds yummy!

Some families have special Thanksgiving traditions. In my family, we sing a special prayer before we eat. You will find the words of that song in the word search of this issue of Just for Kids! I hope you get to spend Thanksgiving with the people you love—and maybe have some pie, too!

Your friend, Abby

What are you thankful for?

ISSUE 40

God has blessed us with so many things. We can show our gratitude to Him by helping others. This year, consider starting some family traditions of your own. Here are five things you can do to help others at Thanksgiving:

• Collect food and bring it to a food bank.

• Donate to your local Salvation Army thrift store.

• Offer to do a chore, such as folding laundry or raking leaves.

• Write a letter or make a card for someone you are thankful for, such as a friend, teacher, corps officer or youth leader.

• Ask if you can help prepare dinner or set the table.

HOLIDAY SCRAMBLE

Can you unscramble these Thanksgiving words?

Give

What’s a turkey’s favourite dessert?

Thanksgiving Song Search

Find the words in bold from this Thanksgiving hymn in the word search puzzle. We plow the FIELDS and SCATTER the good seed on the land, But it is fed and WATERED by God’s almighty hand; He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain, The BREEZES and the SUNSHINE, the soft REFRESHING rain. All good GIFTS around us are sent from heaven above. Then THANK the Lord, O thank the Lord for all His LOVE .

COPY THE TURKEY

Peach gobbler

What sound does a turkey’s phone make? Wing! Wing!

—1 Chronicles 16:34 40-10/07/23

Just for Kids is a Ready to Explore resource, published weekly by The Salvation Army, Canada and Bermuda, 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto, ON, M4H 1P4. Phone: (416) 422-6119; fax: (416) 422-6217; email: justforkids@salvationarmy.ca.

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thanks to the Lord, because He is good. His faithful love continues forever.

Hi kids!

Imagine I put two plates in front of you. One plate has a big chocolate cupcake with frosting and sprinkles. The other plate is filled with crunchy green vegetables, such as cucumbers and celery. Which plate do you choose?

I bet you would really want to choose the cupcake! Cupcakes are a delicious treat to have once in a while, but it is important for us to eat our fruits and vegetables because they are good for us. They keep us healthy and strong.

In the Bible, Daniel encountered this same choice. Do you think he made the right decision? You’ll have to read this issue of Just for Kids to find out!

Your friend, Abby

Find the path through the peppers.

Daniel is Trained

in Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, wanted some Jews to serve him when he took over the city of Jerusalem. He was looking for young men who were healthy and smart. Among the men chosen was Daniel. He did not want to eat or drink the king’s food because it was the type of food that God did not want His people to eat.

ISSUE 41

Daniel asked the king’s court official, Ashpenaz, to tell the king that he could not eat that food. But Ashpenaz was scared of Nebuchadnezzar so he did not want to. “I’m afraid of the king. He might kill me,” he said.

So, Daniel spoke to one of the guards instead. He said, “Please test me for 10 days. Give me nothing but vegetables to eat. And give me only water to drink. Then compare me with the young men who eat the king’s food. See how I look. After that, do what you want to do.” The guard agreed and tested him for 10 days. After those days, Daniel looked healthy and well fed. In fact, he looked even better than all the young men who ate the king’s food. Because Daniel was loyal to God and spoke the truth, God gave him great wisdom as a reward. When his three years of training to serve the king ended, Nebuchadnezzar could not find anyone as wise as Daniel. He always found his answers to his questions to be the best. In fact, his answers were even 10 times better than the magicians in the kingdom. Because Daniel was obedient, God blessed him with great wisdom.

Hi kids!

Imagine you and your friends are playing in a park, and there is a big slide that everyone wants to go down. But suddenly, someone tells you that you can only go down the slide if you do something that you know is wrong, like taking someone else’s belongings without permission.

As a Christian, you know that stealing is wrong, and that God wants us to be honest and respectful. So, you decide to do the right thing even though it’s difficult. You tell your friends that you can’t go down the slide because it would mean doing something against what God wants.

This is kind of like what happened to three people in the Bible named Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when they encountered King Nebuchadnezzar (Can you say those names 10 times fast?) who asked them to do something they did not feel was right. You can find out what happened to them by reading this issue of Just for Kids. Your friend, Abby

Bible Story Search

Choose the Right Path

ISSUE42

What’s Happening, Canada and Bermuda?

Lieutenants Derek and Angela Kerr, corps officers, enrol four junior soldiers at Saskatoon Temple. Congratulations to Ginny Reilly, Caitlyn Andrew, Jacob Watts and Kolten Kerr!

I Spy

The Fiery Furnace

Daniel 3

Along time ago in Babylon, there was a king called Nebuchadnezzar. He thought he was the best king ever, so he created a gold statue of himself. It was about 90 metres tall.

Nebuchadnezzar made a law that everyone in his kingdom had to bow down and worship his statue. “Whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace,” the law ordered.

But there were three men who would not bow down. Their names were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They were followers of God and would only worship Him.

When Nebuchadnezzar found out that they would not bow down, he was very angry. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than normal. He had his men tie them up with ropes and throw them into the furnace.

Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace and was astonished. “Did we not put three men into the fire?” he asked his counsellors. “But I see four men walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

A FIERY CROSSWORD

He called the three men to come out and praised the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. “There is no other god who is able to rescue in this way,” he said.

4. What the statue was made of

5. Where the three men were thrown

6. The king wanted people to

him

1. One of the three men

2. Who saved the men from the flames?

3. The men were tied with _________

5. How many men did the king see in the furnace?

ISSUE43

Hi kids!

Have you ever had a scary dream? When I get nightmares, I try to think about good things instead—things that make me feel happy and safe. I think about my parents who love me, my favourite memories with friends, and God who protects me. When I am scared, I pray that God will watch over me and give me peace.

This week is Halloween, and you might see some spooky things around your school and neighbourhood. Many people will dress up in costumes, such as superheroes, animals, movie characters and monsters. Costumes can be scary, even though they are not real. So, just remember, if you feel afraid, you can talk to God.

Your friend, Abby

How many words can you make from the letters in TRICK OR TREAT?

Finally, my brothers and sisters, always think about what is true. Think about what is noble, right and pure. Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect. If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about those kinds of things.

What does this mean?

God wants what is best for us, so we should always think good thoughts. Let’s look at some of the words in this verse and what they mean.

• True: We should think about things that are honest, real and trustworthy. We should always strive to be truthful.

• Noble: This means thinking about things that are honourable and good. We should think about actions and behaviours that show kindness, respect and love toward others.

• Right: It’s important to think about what is fair and make good choices.

• Pure: We should think about things that are clean and pure, and avoid actions that are harmful to ourselves or others.

• Lovely: We should think about things that are beautiful and bring joy to our hearts, such as nature, art, music, and the love of our family and friends.

How do you mend a broken jack-o-lantern?

• Worthy of respect: We can look up to people who show good character and strive to be like them. 43-10/28/23

What does a bird say at Halloween?

What do you get when you cross a hot dog and Halloween?