Have you ever planted carrots? Carrots are a root vegetable. What you eat is actually the plant’s root. This is one root that is quite beautiful. The Bible tells us that when you put your faith in Christ “you are being rooted and grounded in love.” Wow, how spectacular to think of ourselves as being “rooted and grounded in love.” God’s love provides nourishment. We are given all we need to flourish and grow.
Just as we can identify birds by their behavior and the sounds they make, we can also identify a Christian by his or her loving behavior and kind words. Another clue is that Christians are found in churches all over the world. So, the way to spot a Christian is to look for a person who loves others as Jesus loves us.
When you read about kings and queens, pirates and dragons, and look at pictures of shiny gold pieces and sparkling jewels, remember the treasure of God’s love. It is always with you and offers you beauty, peace and eternal life.
We sometimes call this building "the church." This is where we come to worship God. Sometimes we think of this church building as the place where God lives. Well, God does live here in this building, but God lives elsewhere too. Can you think of anyplace other than this church building where God lives?
It seems as if most rules are about what we should not do. Your parents ask you to respect certain rules because they want you to learn and grow to be a happy, helpful adult. Let's list some of the "do not" rules. But Jesus' new rule is this – "that you also love one another" (13:34). This rule is not about what you shouldn't do, it is about what you should do – love one another.
It is good to have heroes, but Jesus is more than a hero. He is holy and when we accept His Love, his Spirit becomes a part of who we are. We are baptized in his name. We are changed by His Spirit. We follow his example and do our best to be like him.
Paul reminds us that "God… made the world and all things in it" (17:24). We are God's children. We don't need to search far and wide to find God. The Bible teaches us to be quiet and listen. Pray. God's Spirit lives in us. When you accept God's Love it is with you always.
Dogs like nothing better than to be with their special person and do useful work. These stories about dogs and the work they do may cause us to think about the importance of being of service – to God and to others. Jesus said, "If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him" (12:26). What a wonderful award, to be honored by God, for the help and service we give to others.
God has a plan for each one of us. It is our job to use our talents to find our best life. Think of yourself as a lovely plant in a garden. You may be a flower that perfumes the air, a vegetable that brings nourishment, or an herb that heals. The plants in the garden are different, yet all are important. Together the unique shapes and colors and fragrances are beautiful and useful. Find the shape of your life––God's plan for your life, and do "good works."
There may be times in your life that will be difficult. You may find yourself in an unfair or frightening situation. At that time you can make an important decision––you can choose to "pray and sing to God." You can decide to make the best of a bad situation.