Nature Corner: Moths
Moths are flying insects that look a little like butterflies, but they are kind of fuzzy and usually have dull colors.  They are night insects.  

One interesting thing about moths is that they like to fly into light.  That's why you see them near your porch light at night.  But they cannot tell if a light is good or bad for them.  Even if a light is from an electric bug zapper or a fire, the moth will fly right into it and die.  

The moth's attraction to light reminds of what God says in the Bible in Proverbs 14:12 - "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."  Sometimes, ideas seem really good to us, but if we follow them, we could get hurt or do wrong.  

​Our Bible story today is about the Israelites who wanted to be like other nations and have a king, even though it was a bad idea.  Instead of just doing what comes into our mind, like the moth always going to light even if it will hurt him, we need to make sure that our idea is good with God.  

Mission Mail: Jesus, Our Best Teacher
Dear Patterson Kids,
My name is Aurely, and I live in France.  Do you like math?  It's always been a very hard class for me.  One day, I was very frustrated because I couldn't understand my math lessons, and I had a big test the next day.  My mother told me to pray to God for help.  So, I did.  When I opened up my book to study, God opened my mind so that I could finally understand my lessons.  I decided to pray also before I took my test, and God helped me do well on it.  Do you pray when things are hard?  Jesus really is our best teacher.
Sincerely, Aurely

Bible Story: Wanting to Be Like Others
References: 1 Samuel 8-10; PP 589-612

Samuel was a prophet of God and the last judge of Israel.  He served God his whole life and taught the people to follow God.  He even started special schools for young people who wanted to work for God, too.  When the Israelites worshiped idols, Samuel reminded them to return to God.  When they followed God, God would save them from their enemies the mean Philistines.

One day the people asked Samuel a strange request.  "We want to be like other nations and have a man as our king," they said.  "But God is our king," Samuel reminded them.  "We want a man king to lead us into battle," they insisted.  Samuel was sad.  He talked to God about it.  God agreed to allow the people to have a man as their king.  Samuel warned them that bad things would happen if their new king did not do what is right, but the people still wanted a new king.  

​God chose a very tall man named Saul from the tribe of Benjamin to be the first king over Israel.   Samuel anointed him with oil, so that Saul would receive special help from the Holy Spirit to be a good leader.  

​Our prayer verse is Proverbs 3:6, which says, "In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths."  It was not good for the Israelites to copy what the other nations were doing by asking for a man to be their king.  We should acknowledge only God as our king.  He will never lead us astray.  He will always keep us on good paths.

Dear Father God, Please direct my life path each day.  Help me think of Jesus to know what to do.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Nature Corner: Ripples
Have you ever thrown a rock into a lake?  Suddenly the still water starts to move and make lots of circles.  These circles are called ripples.  They get bigger and bigger as they move out from the spot where the rock hit.  All of our actions are like ripples.  The Bible says in 1 Kings 15:26, "He did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin by which he had made Israel to sin."  Unfortunately, many leaders of Israel decided to do evil and caused others to do evil, too, like Priest Eli's sons.  Our actions affect others around us.  We can make ripples of good or ripples of evil.  What kind of ripples will you make?

Memory Mastery: God's Special Book
Our class is learning all about the Bible - who wrote it, what it's about, and how it's made up.  Can you help your child learn about God's Special Book?  Children who can answer these questions will receive a sample of sheep's wool to add to their Bible artifact collection.

• What's the name of God's special book?
• How many little books are in the Bible?
• What are the 2 big parts of the Bible called?
• Who helped each Bible writer to write his book?
• The Bible tells us the story of ___ from ___ until __________.
• Who will we see leading God's people in all the Bible stories?
• How can we have Jesus lead us in our daily lives?

Mission Mail: A Prayed-for Piano
Dear Patterson Kids,
My name is Matthew.  I am 12 years old, and I live in France.  
Do you play a musical instrument?  I wanted to play piano, so my mom let me take lessons at school.  I loved playing piano, but I didn't have one at home for practicing.  I asked mom if she could get me a piano.  She explained that they are very expensive.  Then she said that we should pray about it.  And we did.  One day, my mom and I visited her friend who has a piano.  When I told the lady that I didn't have one, she said that I could have her piano!  God answered our prayer.  Now, I practice at home on my own piano, and I am getting better and better.  I can even serve God by playing piano at church.
Sincerely,
Matthew

Bible Story: Angels Guard God's Ark
References: 1 Samuel 4-6; PP 581-591

It was a sad day in Israel.  The wicked Philistines took away the ark of the covenant, God's special box that represented His throne.  Eli's sons were dead, and Priest Eli died, too.  

So, the Philistines moved the ark of the covenant.  But, everywhere it went, it brought them trouble.   God was judging them for stealing His ark away from Israel.  Finally, the Philistines sent the ark back to Israel.  They didn't want to be punished anymore.

​​Our prayer verse is found in Isaiah 42:8.  It says, "I am the Lord. That is my name.  I will not give my glory to another.  I will not let idols take the praise that should be mine."  There is no other God but our God - the Creator of heaven and earth.  We only pray to Him.  And we can bring glory to Him, like Samuel, by doing what is right.

Dear Father God, May my life bring glory to You.  Thank You for my parents who help me do what is right.  In Jesus' Name, Amen