Playing With Play-Doh Week Five “All things work together for good.”

Activity/ Discussion for 5th and 6th grade Awana or Sunday School. Have the kids start to make a vase. Just make the beginning part of it like I did. See how they do with getting the ball into the right shape, forming the ball, and then the bowl. Do they know that the Lord is with them at all times and that nothing that happens in their lives is in an accident? Point out Bible characters like Daniel when God brought them through a furnace without getting burned. Talk about how God uses trials in our lives to mold us into a shape that’s pleasing to Him. This would be a good week to lead the kids in a prayer of salvation.

I am beginning to make a vase again. I made the bowl without any help from Jessica. Yay! It took me a while to form the ball into the right shape so the play-doh wouldn’t break into pieces, but I finally did get it. I just kept saying, “Take a deep breath. Don’t get frustrated.” The next step was forming the opening for the hole. That was harder. Jessica tried to describe to me how to do it but my brain just couldn’t get it. Jessica had to show me. That’s okay. Jessica is very patient. In fact, sometimes if Jessica sees me getting frustrated, she’ll tickle me to make me laugh. Then I’m okay again. Just like Jessica had to show me how to form the hole for the vase, sometimes as Christians, we don’t understand what the Lord is doing in our lives until we get through the trial. We say, “Why Lord why?” The Lord says, “Just trust me.” After we get through the trial, we see that the Lord has taught us more about Him if we’ll only just stand back and watch the Lord work in our lives. Then we can say, “Thank you Lord for helping me to become more like you. Thank you that there’s a purpose for my trials. Help me to trust you in hard times so I can be a light and lead others to you. In the midst of suffering, help me to proclaim your goodness. Thank you for being patient with me. Amen.” Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to his purpose.”