Featuring: Praise and Thankfulness
In this issue: 3
Weepy Willow Grattitude is the best attitude
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Dunkin Praise is the voice of faith
15
Twinkle and Sparky
Thank God for your blessings
19 Two Baskets God wants your praises
ILLUSTRATIONS: Etienne Morel, Danielle Adair, Jacques Elan, Shae Portess, Agnes Lemaire COLOR: Doug Calder, Shae Portess, Sabine Rane
NOTE TO PARENTS This Activated Kids mag highlights the important Christian value of thanking and praising God, and being grateful for the blessings that He gives us. We are the Lord’s children and He loves to bless us with good things. He also wants and expects our appreciation for His blessings and goodness. Through the stories in this Activated Kids mag, we hope to impart to children the principles of being positive and thankful—praising the Lord for the way He has made each one of us, and learning to find the good in any situation. Through the activities and games in this mag, kids3 will enjoy and learn some fun ways to praise Jesus. While this series of Activated Kids magazines is primarily directed toward children between the ages of five and eight, older or younger children may benefit from the content as well. We hope that this and other magazines in the Activated Kids series prove helpful to your family. God bless you! Shannon Richards For your Activated family
DESIGN: Danielle Adair
Note: All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version ®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. A-EN-MG-CH-001-X Copyright © 2008 by Aurora Production AG, Switzerland. All rights reserved. Printed in Taiwan by Chanyi Printing Co., Ltd. www.auroraproduction.com 2
weepy willow
By Natacha Delacour
A beautiful weeping willow stood in a garden. His drooping branches were a fresh green, and would sway gracefully whenever the breeze blew. Everyone loved the tree—that is, except for the tree himself. “If only I were taller,” the weeping willow would say. “And if only my branches stretched high into the sky, rather than down to the earth! And if only I bore fruit! I’m so useless!” The weeping willow lived near a crystal-blue stream. The stream seemed to sing as it rushed over the pebbles in its bed, and joyously watered the thirsty flowers that stood on its banks. Often, the weeping willow would complain to the babbling stream. A kind shepherd boy often found shade under the weeping willow’s branches, while his sheep grazed in the field nearby and drank from the stream. The shepherd boy noticed the tree’s sadness, and tried to cheer him up by singing and playing his flute. But nothing worked. The weeping willow only grew more miserable. His branches hung lower to the ground. Finally, the shepherd boy gave up; it was no use trying to make the weeping willow happy when he refused to think of anything but his supposed misery.
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The shepherd boy visited the tree less and less often, and finally stopped visiting altogether. Soon people started to call the tree “Weepy,” because he was always depressed and unhappy. And Weepy, too, grew weary with loneliness. If only he could see the cheery shepherd boy again! Now life was truly sad for him. Then one day, something took place that changed Weepy’s outlook. A raging storm pelted the surrounding hills and valley where Weepy stood. The wind blew fiercely and rain poured down. In the midst of the storm, Weepy saw a little girl stumbling through the pouring rain. He could hear her crying as she tried to make her way through the storm. She must be lost! Weepy thought. I want to help her, but what can I do? Dear God, show me how I can help this poor child. The little girl made her way slowly towards the weeping willow and stood before his drooping branches and leaves, shivering and frightened. Protect her from the storm, the weeping willow heard God whisper. Your branches and leaves will keep out the wind and rain until she is found. The tree obeyed, and opened his branches, making a little doorway. The little girl walked through the opening, and sat under the tree’s great leafy branches.
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It was quiet and peaceful there, and safe from the terrible storm. The weeping willow dropped his softest leaves to make a bed for the child, and watched as she snuggled to sleep on them. Covered tenderly with Weepy’s branches and leaves, she fell asleep, while the storm raged on. The weeping willow was blissfully happy. Now he was useful for something! He had saved a child from the storm and had made her happy, too. How wonderful life seemed! Even the howling wind now seemed to hum a melody in his branches and leaves. By morning, the storm had ended. The tree smiled as the girl woke up. She yawned, rubbed her eyes and smiled back at the weeping willow. The weeping willow then saw the shepherd boy who used to sit under his branches before, running frantically toward them. The boy looked like he was searching for something. Or is it someone? thought Weepy. The weeping willow opened its leaves, and the girl ran to her brother’s arms. They both hugged the weeping willow tightly and kissed his bark. “Thank you,” the girl said sweetly. “You protected me from the storm.”
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How wonderful the weeping willow felt! God had heard his prayer to help a lost little girl, and through it, he had found another secret. —His sadness was forgotten as he helped someone in need.
The sun shone warmly, glistening on the raindrops that still lingered on the weeping willow’s branches. The stream splashed playfully at his roots as it sang its happy tune. The weeping willow watched as the two children walked away together. He smiled with joy. Life was indeed wonderful for him!
Moral: The way to be happy is to make others happy. If you’re feeling discontent with the way I’ve made you, then try reaching out and helping others and you’ll find that My joy will soon fill you. Jesus
Bible Verse to memorize: In everything give thanks. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
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1
WEEPING WILLOW SILHOUETTE
Can you find the two identical weeping willows?
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2
PRAISE TIME
Complete each thankfulness phrase and draw a picture to match it.
Thank You, Jesus, for my
Thank You, Jesus, for my
Thank You, Jesus, for my
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that is so cozy.
because they take such good care of me.
because I have so much fun playing with them.
By Christiana Heins, adapted by Danielle Adair
Dunkin There once was a donkey foal named Dunkin who lived in a nice barn on a large farm run by Farmer Summers and his family. During the day, Farmer Summers would let young Dunkin and his parents out to pasture. They liked to walk around the fields and nibble on the grass.
In the evening, Dunkin and his family would line up by the red barn doors and wait for the farmer to open them, so that they could settle down for the night in the nice, warm barn. Dunkin’s parents took good care of him, and Farmer Summers made sure he had all that he needed. Dunkin was a happy donkey, and the other animals enjoyed being around him. He often expressed his thankfulness to Jesus for everything that he had been blessed with: a nice barn to sleep in that sheltered him from the rain, loving and caring parents who were always doing their best to show Dunkin how much they loved him, all of his animal friends, and Sara, the farmer’s daughter who would play with him, and sometimes even scratch his back.
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Dunkin was especially happy this evening because he was looking forward to tomorrow, when they would get to go to the big corn field near the farm, as Farmer Summers had some work for them to do there. “Oh, I can’t wait till tomorrow!” Dunkin exclaimed. “I’m looking forward to eating some delicious corn for snack, and I want to play with Sara. What an exciting day it’s going to be!” With that happy thought, Dunkin drifted off to sleep dreaming of all the fun that awaited him the following day. The next morning Dunkin awoke to the sound of thunder, and raindrops falling hard on the barn’s roof. Oh, no! Is that what I think it is? he said to himself as he ran over to the barn’s window. It’s raining! Oh, why did it have to rain today? It was going to be such an enjoyable day, but now I have to stay in the barn, and I won’t be able to have the corn I wanted to eat. I won’t be able to play in the fields either… Then Dunkin remembered what his father had always told him when things didn’t go as expected, When you feel like you want to be on a bummer and sulk over something that has not turned out as you wanted it to, ask Jesus to help you see the situation positively. It makes Jesus sad when we complain and forget about our blessings. If you praise Him for all the good things, Jesus will bless you and make you feel content inside. Dunkin decided to ask Jesus to help him be thankful and praiseful. “Dear Jesus,” Dunkin prayed, “please help me see the good in this situation, even though I can’t go outside and play in the field. 10
I thank You for this rain because it means that the crops will grow better, and that will make Farmer Summers very happy. Thank You also that the ducks will have a lot of water in their pond after the rain, and thank You that I get to stay in the barn and play some cool games with the rest of the animals here.” As Dunkin walked around the barn, thinking about all the positive things he had to look forward to during a day inside the barn, Fudge and Bob, the piglets, came up to him. “Dunkin, do you want to play a game with us?” Fudge and Bob were organizing a fun game of hide-and-go-seek in the barn with Arnold the horse foal and Harriet and Molly the lambs.
“Certainly!” Dunkin replied, as he and the piglets went to join the rest of the animals. After they had been playing for a couple of hours, Sara came to the barn. She joined in the game, and they all had even more fun. Afterwards they ate some delicious apples that Sara had brought. Soon Dunkin’s dad came over to where they were playing and said, “Guess what, Dunkin? It’s stopped raining and the sun is shining. Farmer Summers has come for us. We’re going to the corn field after all.”
“Yay!” exclaimed Dunkin. “I knew it would make Jesus happy if I praised Him. And He blessed me too! Not only do I get to go to the corn field, but I also got to play some fun games with the other animals and Sara. Thank You, Jesus! You’re the best!” Moral: If you ask Me to help you cheer up when you feel down, I can make you feel better. I’ll help you to smile and have a good time, even if things aren’t exactly how you wanted them to be. Jesus
Bible Verse to memorize:
I will bless the Lord at all times. (Psalm 34:1) 11
FARMYARD PRAISE
Items needed: A die and place markers. Instructions: Roll the die and move ahead as many spaces as the number on the die indicates. Follow the instructions on the square you land on. The winner is the first one to reach the “end” square.
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Ziggy
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15
ST AR
14
T
Oops! I lost my bone! Go back three spaces to find it. 13
It’s a rainy day! Recount a time when something that seemed bad happened but turned out well in the end.
Thank Jesus for your favorite animal. Dunkin
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2
11
3
4
On your next turn, move one space. Jump ahead one space.
Thank Jesus for one of your favorite friends.
Roll the die again. If you roll 3 or 6 move to the space with my friend Fudge.
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7
Jumper
8
6
Bob 12
10
Fudge
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Mini
Tell the player to your right something you like about them. 17
END
Thank Jesus for your favorite vegetable. Sara 31
32
18 30
All players imitate the sound of a different farm animal.
Dolly 19
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Thank Jesus for an outing you enjoy.
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Time for a catnap! Miss one turn.
Gertrude Thank Jesus for your favorite fruit.
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Sam
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21
You forgot to praise the Lord today! Roll the die again and move back as many spaces as the number you rolled.
Give a hug to the person on your right.
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27
23 24
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Harriet
Molly It’s a beautiful day! Roll again.
Give a hug to the person on your left. 13
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maze fun
Help Dunkin find his way through the barn.
START finish
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Twinkle and Sparky By Natacha Delacour
High in the sky were two stars named Twinkle and Sparky. They were best friends and spent much of their time playing games with each other, and twirling around in space. Twinkle was a small star, and his shine could only be seen when the sky was very dark— but shine he did. Sparky was a larger star, whose light shone in the evening, night, and early morning. Twinkle and Sparky would imagine that far away someone was looking at them, and so they had to shine their best for whoever was watching. Though Twinkle sometimes wished he could shine as long and as brightly as Sparky, he never complained and was always cheerful, for he knew that God had designed him to be exactly how he was. And Sparky had been made for a special purpose too.
Twinkle decided that even if he wasn’t the brightest star, he was going to shine as best he could and praise God for the light he could shine. One day, God told Sparky about a special mission He had for him. God needed Sparky to be one of the many stars shining for the great man, Abraham, as a sign that God was pleased with his faithfulness.
In the Bible, Abraham was a man faithful to God, who obeyed God in everything. Abraham and his wife Sarah had no children. But because of Abraham’s faith in God, God promised to give him and his wife a child. God then told Abraham to look up into the sky and count the stars. Abraham said he couldn’t because they were too many, and God told him that just as the stars were innumerable, likewise, his descendants would be innumerable and he would be the forefather of a great nation. Sparky was very excited, and Twinkle knew that when the time came Sparky would do his best to shine beautifully and brightly. 15
Twinkle was a little sad that he had not been called for a special mission like Sparky was, and thought, I don’t shine bright enough, so I can’t join him on this mission. But then, a happy thought came to mind, and Twinkle smiled. Maybe if I keep shining and I’m faithful like Abraham, God will think of something special for me to do as well. Twinkle cheered up and continued to shine on, determined to do the best he could, cheerfully praising God for the light He had given him. “Help me to shine brightly for You, God,” Twinkle prayed, “and to be content, even though I may not be as bright as Sparky.” The great day came for Sparky to shine brightly as a sign to Abraham, and to help God in this important mission. Twinkle watched the other bright stars shining brightly in a beautiful light show and he
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knew that even if he was not the brightest star, God loved him just as much as the others. It made him feel happy to see the other stars sparkling and twinkling so beautifully. He smiled as he thought of Abraham looking up from below at the many stars shining especially for him. Suddenly Twinkle heard a voice call him.
“Twinkle,” God said. “I need another bright star to shine. I will increase your light for the job.” And God touched Twinkle, making the little star glow brighter. “Thank You, God!” Twinkle said, smiling as he joined Sparky and the others and shone brighter than he ever had.
Moral: When you are thankful for the way I have made you, and you do the best that you can, then I am happy, and so are you. I hear your prayers and your praises, and if you have a positive attitude, I will bless you in the way that I know will make you the happiest.
Jesus
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4 praise jesus joy thankfulness gratefulness happy blessings love
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LETTER SOUP Can you find the following words? You can go down and across.
Two Baskets
By Curtis Peter Van Gorder
One bright day in Heaven,
the Archangel Gabriel called two of his young angels; for God needed two angels to go on a special mission to Earth. All the angels in Heaven were excited about this special mission, but none were more excited than Ben and Angela who had been chosen to go. The two angels flew as quickly as their angel wings could carry them. “Thank you for coming,” Gabriel said. “God has chosen you to go on this special mission. You will each need an empty basket.” Gabriel handed the two angels each a sparkling golden basket. The young angels couldn’t wait to hear what they were supposed to do with the baskets. “Ben,” Gabriel said, “God wants you to go to Earth and collect all the prayers that people pray asking God to give them things, like good health or new clothes or food, or to do things for them. “Yes, sir!” replied Ben. “Dear Angela, you must also fill your basket. You must go to earth and collect the prayers of praise and thankfulness to God.”
“Yes, Angel Gabriel, I will do as you request.” “Thank you, my dear friends. I trust that you will do well in this mission. God wants to weigh the baskets to see if His children remember to praise Him for the blessings He gives them every day.” 19
“Thank you for choosing us all the requests prayed to You.” Ben put his for this mission!” Ben said. overflowing basket at God’s feet. It was so full that some of the prayers fluttered down the stairs. “We hope to return with a A little cherub collected them and put them back basket full to overflowing with on top of the basket. praises. That will make God’s God spoke, “I see that My people have been heart glad!” Angela added. faithful to bring their requests before Me. I am glad for that! I love to answer their prayers. Now let’s see how many took the time to thank Me for The two happy angels then My blessings…” flew off on their mission. All “Dear Angela, bring your basket before Me.” the angels in Heaven cheered Angela looked down into her nearly empty basket, for them as they went on their and with a sad heart laid it at God’s feet. way. They were excited to see which basket would be the most full, the praises to God or the petitions to God. Angela and Ben flew all over the earth, to every village, every town, and every farm, even to the hospitals and nurseries, the schools and the playgrounds. They went to every house and to every child’s bed as the children knelt to pray. After many days the angels returned, bringing their baskets to God. The angels in Heaven cheered as they saw Ben and Angela approach with their baskets. God smiled kindly and reached out His arms. “Come, My young ones, I want so much to see what you have brought. Have My dear people on Earth taken the time to thank Me for My blessings, or only to ask Me to do things for them?” Ben approached first. “Here, my Lord, I have searched all over the earth and these are 20
“My Lord, I too have been all over the earth searching for prayers of praise and thankfulness to You. I was certain that I would find many, but dear Lord, these few prayers of thankfulness were all I found.” God’s face grew sad. “My dear Angela, you have done well. “My heart is sad that My people forget to thank Me. I wish they would remember that the more they thank Me, the more I will bless them and the more I will give them.” God then said to the angels of Heaven, “We have seen the lesson mankind must learn. Now let us pray for them, that they will come to understand how it brings joy to My heart when they praise and thank Me. And in praising and thanking Me, their hearts will also be glad and My blessings upon them will be multiplied.”
And so, on that day, all the angels of Heaven bowed their heads and prayed for people everywhere to have hearts filled with praise to God and to utter these praises to Him always.
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Praise and Thankfulness Jar Things you will need: • A clean jar • Some colorful construction paper • A pen or pencil • Scissors Cut the construction paper into strips and keep them near your jar. Then, every day, write on the strips of paper something that you are thankful for, and praise God for it before you put it in the jar. You can write on as many strips as you want, and for as many things as you are thankful for every day. Then, at the end of the week, you can take them all out, and see how much God has blessed you with.
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ANSWERS TO THE ACTIVITY PAGES 1. WEEPING WILLOW SILHOUETTE
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4. LETTER SOUP
3. maze fun
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4 praise jesus joy thankfulness gratefulness happy blessings love
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From Jesus with love My dearest children, I love
to hear your sweet praises of thankfulness. Praise makes Me so happy. I love to give you blessings, and it makes Me so glad when you thank Me for them. It makes Me feel like giving you lots and lots more! Have you ever given someone a present? Were they happy, and did they thank you for it? Did their appreciation make you feel like giving them more presents? But what if you gave someone a present and they didn’t thank you? You would feel sad, wouldn’t you? It’s the same with Me, so praise Me and thank Me for the many blessings and gifts I fill your life with! You have so much to be thankful for if you’ll just look around—even all of My creation is a gift I have given to you to make your heart glad! And if you sometimes feel like you’re under a cloud of sadness, just start praising Me for the good things I bring into your life, and you’ll be surprised at how much better you feel. I love you, My dear one. Your praises make Me so happy. They’ll make you happy too, so keep praising!