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Loving God,

Open our ears, minds and hearts as we read today’s story. Help us to hear your Spirit speaking to us today.

Amen

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Loving God, open our ears and our hearts as we read today’s story. Help us to hear your Spirit speaking to us today. Amen.

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2 Samuel 11:1-13 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, a | King James Version (KJV) | Download The Bible App Now

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And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, a

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CCLI Song # 7034746 Barbara Hamm © 2008 Hope Publishing Company For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 756102

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We will learn four stories of people who used their gift of wisdom in the midst of difficult decisions. Deborah was a prophet and a leader of her people. She listened to God and then helped others make decisions for God’s people. Abigail was a wise woman and a peacemaker who helped keep the peace by using her gift of hospitality when her hot-headed husband Nabal wanted to fight David’s men. The wise woman from Tekoa told David, when he was king, a story to help him know what to do in a terrible situation. Solomon, David’s son, became king and God told him he could ask for anything from God. Solomon thought and realized that the greatest gift he could receive would be wisdom to lead God’s people.

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Dear Lord, open our ears and our hearts so that we can hear God's voice speaking to us today. Fill us with wonder and wisdom. Amen.

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If you could ask for anything in the world, and you knew you would receive it, what would you ask for?

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God Asks Solomon a Question. based on 1 Kings 3:1-15

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God Asks Solomon a Question. based on 1 Kings 3:1-15

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-I wonder why God came to Solomon in a dream.

-Has God ever spoken to you in a dream? If not, are there other ways God has spoken to you?

- Why do you think Solomon asked God for wisdom rather than riches or fame?

- How do you think Solomon felt when he woke up from his dream?

- Do you think Solomon told other people about his dream or kept it to himself?

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Pray: Ask God to help you make wise choices.

Reading the Bible: Turn to Proverbs 3:5 (Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding). Solomon wrote many of the wise sayings contained in this book of the Bible. What do you think Solomon was sharing in this verse and what can you learn from it?

Sitting in Silence: Try to sit in silence for two minutes and focus on God. Talk silently with God in your heart and mind and feel God's peace and presence around you.

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Loving God, thank you for listening and speaking to us in many ways. Hear our prayers today:

Thank you, God, for ____________________.

And all God's people said, Amen.

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Forgiveness Groove (Cool Kids Music Video) by Sean W Smith

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Awesome Christian Kids Music Video by Aussie Songwriter Sean W Smith. Discover the power of forgiveness with this cool, catchy, pop rock tune that will be sure to stick in your head! www.seanwsmith.com

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Judges 4:1 - 16; 5:3,31

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Judges 4:1–16

And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. 2 And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. 3 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. 4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Beth-el in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? 7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand. 8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. 9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him. 11 Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh. 12 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. 13 And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. 14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. 15 And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. 16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.

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I wonder what God’s voice sounded like when

God talked to Deborah.

I wonder what kinds of hard decisions the

Israelites needed help with.

I wonder why Deborah sat under a palm tree.

I wonder how Deborah and Barack became

friends.

I wonder if Deborah and Barack were afraid

when they went into battl

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Difficult Decisions-  Sometimes kids have difficult decisions to make like in our bible story about Deborah. What decision would you make in the situations below?

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Difficult Decisions-  Sometimes kids have difficult decisions to make like in our bible story about Deborah. What decision would you make in the situations below?

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Situation 1

Jayden and Karla are playing catch outside.

Jayden throws the baseball a little too hard,

and it breaks the window of their neighbor,

Mr. Lee.What should Jayden and Karla do?

Run back to their houses and hide,

hoping no one finds out it was them.

OR

Tell their parents and go to Mr. Lee’s

house to apologize and help pay to fix

his window.

Situation 2

Kylie and River head outside to the

playground for recess at school. They notice

a new student named Elianna sitting alone on

a bench. She looks lonely.What should Kylie and River do?

Say “Hi” to Elianna and then head to

the slide to have fun together.

OR

Invite Elianna to join them as they race

each other down the slide.

Situation 3

Ernesto and his family are going on a road

trip. His little brother, Gus, forgot to bring

toys to play with on the drive. Gus asks

Ernesto if he can play with some of Gus’s

toys. What should Ernesto do?

Tell Gus that he can’t use his toys.

OR

Share the toys he isn’t using right now

with Gus.

OR

Share his toys as they play together

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Think about the wise people in your life that you can turn to when you are facing a hard decision.

Draw a picture of them or write about them.

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Loving God,

thank you for helping us

to make good decisions.

When we need help with what to do

in specific situations,

helps us to remember

that we can talk to you

and ask for help from others.

Thank you for loving us

and being with us always.

Amen.

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1 Samuel 25: 2-42 (CEB)

(2)There was a man in Maon who did business in Carmel. He was a very important man and owned three thousand sheep and one thousand goats. At that time, he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. (3) The man's name was Nabal, and his wife's name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and attractive woman, but her husband was a hard man who did evil things. He was a Calebite.

(4) While in the wilderness, David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep. (5) So David sent ten servants, telling them, "Go up to Carmel. When you get to Nabal, greet him for me. (6) Say this to him: 'Peace to you, your household, and all that is yours! (7) I've heard that you are now shearing sheep. As you know, your shepherds were with us in the wilderness. We didn't mistreat them. Moreover, the whole time they were at Carmel, nothing of theirs went missing. (8) Ask your servants; they will tell you the same. So please receive these young men favorably, because we've come on a special day. Please give whatever you have on hand to your servants and your son David.'"

(9) When David's young men arrived, they said all this to Nabal on David's behalf. They they waited. (10) But Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is David? Who is Jesse's son? There are all sorts of slaves running away from their masters these days. (11) Why should I take my bread, my water, and the meat I've butchered for my shearers and give it to people who came here from who knows where?" (12) So David's young servants turned around and went back the way they came. When they arrived, they reported every word of this to David.

(13) Then David said to his soldiers, "All of you, strap on your swords!" So each of them strapped on their swords, and David did the same. Nearly four hundred men went up with David. Two hundred men remained back with the supplies.

(14) One of Nabal's servants told his wife Abigail, "David has sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, but he just yelled at them. (15) But the men were very good to us and didn't mistreat us. Nothing of ours went missing the whole time we were out with them in the fields. (16) In fact, the whole time they were a protective wall around us both night and day. (17) Think about that and see what you can do, because trouble is coming for our master and his whole household. But he's such a despicable person no one can speak to him."

(18) Abigail quickly too two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep ready for cooking, five seahs of roasted grain, one hundred raisin cakes, and two hundred fig cakes. She loaded all this on donkeys (19) and told her servants, "Go on ahead of me. I'll be right behind you." But she didn't tell her husband, Nabal.

(20) As she was riding her donkey, going down a trail on the hillside, David and his soldiers appeared, descending toward her, and she met up with them. (21) David had just been saying "What a waste of time--guarding all this man's stuff in the wilderness so that nothing of his went missing! He has repaid me evil instead of good! (22) May God deal harshly with me, David, and worse still if I leave alive even one single one who urinates on a wall belonging to him come morning!"

(23) When Abigail saw David, she quickly go off her donkey and fell facedown before him, bowing low to the ground. (24) She fell at his feet and said, "Put the blame on me, my master! But please let me, your servant, speak to you directly. Please listen to what your servant has to say. (25) Please, my master, pay no attention to this despicable man Nabal. He's exactly what his name says! His name means fool, and he is foolish! But I myself, your servant, didn't see the young men that you, my master, sent. (26) I pledge, my master, as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, that the Lord has held you back from bloodshed and taking vengeance into your own hands! But now let your enemies and those who seek to harm my master be exactly like Nabal! (27) Here is a gift, which your servant has brought to my master. Please let it be given to the young men who follow you, my master. (28) Please forgive any offense by your servant. The Lord will definitely make an enduring dynasty for my master because my master fights the Lord's battles, and nothing evil will be found in your throughout your lifetime. (29) If someone chases after you and tries to kill you, my master, then your life will be bound up securely in the bundle of life by the Lord your God, but he will fling away your enemies' lives as from the pouch of a sling. (30) When the Lord has done for my master all the good things he has promised you, and has installed you as Israel's leader, (31) don't let this be a blot or burden on my master's conscience, that you shed blood needlessly or that my master took vengeance into his own hands. When the Lord has done good things for my master, please remember your servant."

(32) David said to Abigail, "Bless the Lord God of Israel, who sent you to meet me today! (33) And less you and your good judgment for preventing me from shedding blood and taking vengeance into my own hands today! (34) Otherwise, as surely as the Lord God of Israel lives--the one who kept me from hurting you-- if you hadn't come quickly and met up with me, there wouldn't be one single one who urinates on a wall left come morning. (35). Then David accepted everything she had brought for him. "Return home in peace," he told her. "Be assured that I've heard your request and have agreed to it."

(36) When Abigail got back home to Nabal, he was throwing a party fit for a king in his house. Nabal was in a good mood and very drunk, so Abigail didn't tell him anything until daybreak. (37) In the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him everything. Nabal's heart failed inside him, and he became like a stone. (38) About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.

(39) When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Bless the Lord, who has rendered a verdict regarding Nabal's insult to me and who kept me, his servant, from doing something evil! The Lord has brought Nabal's evil down on his own head." Then David sent word to Abigail, saying he would take her as his wife.

(40) When David's servants reached Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, "David has sent us to you so you can become his wife."

(41) She bowed low to the ground and said, "I am your servant, ready to serve and wash the feet of my master's helpers." (42). Then Abigail got up quickly and rode on her donkey, with five of her young women going with her. She followed David's messengers and became his wife.

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Nabal, Abigail, and David:  Read Aloud from Growing in God's Love Story Bible

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Nabal, Abigail, and David:  Read Aloud from Growing in God's Love Story Bible

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*What did Abigail say to David that helped him make the right decision about Nabal?

*How many donkeys do you think Abigail needed to take all that food to David?

Abigail was wise and understood people.

*When have you done something that was wise or showed that you understood how someone felt?

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Wondering about Abigail, David, and Nabal

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Wondering about Abigail, David, and Nabal

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I wonder...

why did Nabal refuse to give David anything?

I wonder...

why was David's reaction to fight Nabal?

I wonder...

why did Abigail decide to intervene in the conflict between David and Nabal?

I wonder...

was Abigail nervous to talk to David?

I wonder...

why did David have a change of heart?

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One of Abigail's gifts for David was 100 raisin cakes. Use this recipe to make a raisin cake of your own!

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Old Fashioned Raisin Cake - The Southern Lady Cooks

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Remember Abigail's wisdom and to choose your words wisely by coloring this picture of Abigail and hanging it in your home.

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Listen to this story and see how she suggests a way for David to be merciful and peaceful.

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You will be presented with 4 realistic situations that could come up in life. Think about how you would react in each situation as you are asked follow up questions.

Situation 1

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Situation 2

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Situation 3

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Situation 4

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Loving God,

Thank you for being with us today. This week, help us to show mercy, not anger. May we feel your love in our hearts and share your love with others.

In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen