A Wise Owl Christmas

A Wise Owl Christmas

This is Wise Owl.  He loves to learn.  He writes down what he learns in his wisdom journal.

image from coloring-nicole.blogspot.com

Wise Owl also loves Christmas.  He likes the smell of cookies baking in the oven.  He likes putting each ornament on the Christmas tree.  He can’t wait to start singing Christmas carols.

Every Christmas Wise Owls packs a shoe box full of gifts for a child somewhere in the world who wouldn’t have Christmas presents otherwise.  He loves to share the good news of Christmas!

Then Wise Owl sees the packages wrapped under his Christmas tree.  He dreams of the gifts he wants to open.  He knows that “every good and perfect gift comes from above.” (James 1:17a) God loves to give His children good gifts, but which gift would the Heavenly Father want most for Wise Owl? This morning Wise Owl wrote in his wisdom journal…

http://www.bestcoloringpagesforkids.com

“Wisdom is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.  Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.  Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.  She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.” (Proverbs 3:15-18)

Wise Owl knows that God gives us clothes, toys, candy and every good gift for us to enjoy.  They’re not bad things, but wisdom is the best of all.  Wisdom is the best because it enables us to enjoy all the blessings God has for us.

God doesn’t promise that wisdom will give us a trouble free life.  He promises that even in the midst of trouble we can have an abundant life when we respect Him, when we follow His ways, when we live the life He made us to live.

So how do we get wisdom?  Will Santa bring wisdom if we write it on our wish list?  Can we go shopping for wisdom?  Wise Owl remembers that …

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.  For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:5-8)

So Wise Owl takes some time to be still before God.  He prays, “Dear God, thank you that you hear my prayer.  Thank you that you will answer me because I have put my trust in Jesus.

Lord, you know that I need wisdom.  I want to honor You in this Christmas season and not forget about why we celebrate.  I trust You to show me how to live for You this Christmas, not so that I can get a pat on the back but so that I can enjoy who you’ve made me to be to the fullest.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen”

When Wise Owl finishes praying, he is looking forward to seeing how God is going to answer His prayer.  How will he know when God answers his prayer?  What does God’s wisdom look like anyway?

Wise Owl remembers something else from his journal…

“Who is wise and understanding among you?  By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom…The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:13,17)

So as Wise Owl thinks about opening gifts this Christmas, the gift he is looking forward to opening the most is the gift of wisdom.  He will know that he has begun unwrapping the gift when he sees purity, peace, gentleness, reasonableness, mercy, generosity to everyone, sincerity…good fruit. All of these blessings come from wisdom.  Wisdom is the best gift God has provided for us this Christmas!

Let’s unwrap the gift of God’s wisdom today!

Wise Owl asks you…

1.  What is the best gift anyone has ever given you?

2.  What is so great about wisdom?

3.  How can we get wisdom?

4.  What does God’s wisdom look like?

Taking it further with the kids…

1.  Pray together to ask God for his wisdom each day.

2.  Ask God to show you how you can share the good news of Christmas with someone else this year.

3.  Use the tool…”What’s so great about wisdom?” from www.emissionsoffaith.wordpress.com

4.  Wrap a box with gift wrap and put it in a central location to remind you of the gift of wisdom.

 

What’s so great about wisdom?

What is so great about wisdom (living life in line with God’s truth) ?

Wisdom gives understanding (Proverbs 4:1).  When we don’t know how to read all we can do is look at a book.  We can’t understand what the letters mean.  In the same way that we want to understand the books we read, we want to do more than just look at life.  We want to understand it…to know what life means.  Wisdom gives the insight we need to understand life.

Wisdom gives us life (Proverbs 4:4).  There is health and peace and joy in a godly life.  This does not mean that we do not get sick or have health concerns.  Sickness is part of our fallen world, but wisdom enables us to make choices to protect our health as much as possible.  We are able to be healthy physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually.

Wisdom guards us (Proverbs 4:6).  It keeps us within God’s plan for our life.  Wisdom is a boundary that helps us to live in God’s blessing.

Wisdom watches over us (Proverbs 4:6).  It protects us from danger when we make wise choices.  Wisdom helps to keep us safe.

Wisdom (living out God’s Word in a situation) exalts us  (Proverbs 4:8).  When we make wise choices we stand out from others who are relying on themselves.  God’s ways are always higher than our ways.

Wisdom honors us  (Proverbs 4:8).  There are rewards for following God’s ways, even if others do not recognize the value of them.

Wisdom places a “garland of grace on our head” (Proverbs 4:9).   It presents us with a “crown of beauty”  (Proverbs 4:9).  Wisdom gives us an abundant life.  We are able to enjoy all of the blessings and promises that God has made available to us when we put His Word into action.

This is what is so great about wisdom!

Wise Owl and the Beanstalk

Wise Owl and the Beanstalk

This is Wise Owl.  He loves to learn.  He writes down what he learns in his wisdom journal.  Today Wise Owl was sitting in his comfy chair with a cup of tea reading one of his favorite stories, Jack and the Beanstalk.

Wise Owl is in suspense as he wonders what will happen to Jack and his mother.  They are so poor.  They have nothing…no food, shabby clothes, no work, and not much common sense.    He wonders what will happen to them.  Will Jack be able to sell their cow to provide for his family?

Coloring page from Unit 8 Tell Tales

Then Jack does something really silly.  He sells their only cow for three beans, supposedly magic beans.  Wise Owl thinks about what Jack and his mother really need.  What is the best way for their needs to be met?  What they want is to be safe and happy.  They want to live the best life possible for their situation.  Will the magic beans give them the best life?

Wise Owl remembers what he wrote in his wisdom journal this morning…

Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.  When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.  Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.  Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.  The beginning of wisdom is this;  Get wisdom and whatever you get, get insight.  Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.  She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.  (Proverbs 4:1-9)

Wise Owl knows that wisdom (living out God’s Word) is what will bring about the life that Jack and his mother are longing for.  No amount of money can keep anyone safe and happy.  God is the only One who can keep us safe and at peace.  Even though the story of Jack and the Beanstalk is still one of Wise Owl’s favorites, he knows that Jack and his mother cannot live happily ever after just by putting some magic beans in the ground.

from 2.bp.blogspot.com

Wise Owl says, “Wisdom is the only way to have God’s best in life.”

Wise Owl asks…

1.  What did Jack do to try to provide for his family?

2.  Can the magic beans meet their needs?

3.  What can provide the life that they long for?

4.  What do we count on for the life we want?

5.  What is wisdom?

6.  How can we get wisdom?  (Answer:  by listening to godly instructions, obeying  your parents, remembering wise teaching every day)

Taking it further with the kids…

• Read Jack and the Beanstalk together.
• Memorize a proverb from Wise Owl’s wisdom journal
• Make a crown to remind your child of the honor that wisdom brings
• Use the  free Jack and the Beanstalk printables at http://www.1plus1plus1eaquals1.com

Wise Owl says, “It’s not Wise to be Lazy.”

This is Wise Owl.  He loves to learn and write what he learns in his wisdom journal.  Wise Owl is excited about going to see his friend Johnny today.  What do you think he will learn about wisdom at Johnny’s house?

When Wise Owl gets to Johnny’s house he finds Johnny in his room.  Johnny is down on the floor cleaning up his room.  He feels overwhelmed by all of the things that need to be picked up.  His face is sad.

“Hi, Johnny” says Wise Owl.  “You look sad.”

“Yeah, my Mom said that I have to clean up my room before I can play with you today.”

“What kept you from cleaning it earlier?” asks Wise Owl.

“Well, it just seemed like such a big job that when my Mom would mention cleaning up my room, I kept on looking at my favorite library book.  The next time she asked I was playing computer games and it just seemed too hard.  It makes me tired just looking at all of this stuff.” complained Johnny.

“I think that I have something that might encourage you in my wisdom journal that I wrote down this morning, Johnny”  It says in Proverbs,

“You people who don’t want to work, think about the ant!  Consider its ways and be wise!

It has no commander.  It has no leader or ruler.  But it stores up its food in summer.  It gathers its food at harvest time.

You lazy people, how long will you lie there?  When will you get up from your sleep?  You might sleep a little or take a little nap.  You might even fold your hands and rest.

Then you would be poor, as if someone had robbed you.  You would have little, as if someone had stolen from you.” 

Proverbs 6:6-11

“Johnny, if we work hard when our parents or our teachers say it’s time to work, then we get to enjoy the good things that come from that work.  We know where to find the toys we want to play with because they are in their spot.  We know where to find the clothes we want to wear because they are in the drawer in which they belong.  We also get to enjoy our time of rest when we don’t have to spend it doing the work we didn’t want to do earlier.  You see, it’s not wise to be lazy. Let’s work hard right now.  Then we can enjoy some playtime together if your Mom says it’s okay.”

Wise Owl asks you…

1.  What does it mean to be lazy?

2.  What is unwise about being lazy?

3.  Does laziness give glory to God?

4.  How can we ask God to help us overcome laziness this week? (This is a good time to remind your child that their worth is not based on whether they are lazy or not.  They are valuable because they are created by God.  When we ask God to enable us to make wise choices we get to enjoy the blessings of wisdom.)

Activities to make this truth tangible:

1.  Purchase an ant farm so your child can see the diligence of the ant.

2.  Print out an ant coloring page.

3. Make a plan to address an area of laziness.  (Example:  picking up toys daily, cleaning your room)

Wise Owl would love to hear your thoughts about wisdom today…

Wisdom for Little Ones with Wise Owl

Meet Wise Owl

This is Wise Owl.  He loves to learn.  Every day he writes what he learns in his wisdom journal.  He wonders where he will need wisdom today.  What is wisdom anyway?

Wise Owl says, “Wisdom is putting God’s Word into action.”  Wise Owl knows where to find God’s wisdom.  Where will it be?

Will Wise Owl look for God’s wisdom on the television?  Will he look for God’s wisdom at the store?  Will he find it under his bed?

Wise Owl will find true wisdom in God’s Book.  He knows that “respect for the Lord is the place to start.”  (Proverbs 1:7)  That means putting God’s truth above your own opinions in life.

Since God is all-wise, His Word is perfect.  It is the absolute best.  Wisdom will not allow anything to get in the way of what is best.

So Wise Owl begins his day with the all-wise God, seeking the best in His Word and asking for his wisdom in prayer.  This is what makes him so wise.

Wise Owl will be sharing his journal entries with you on a regular basis.  He would be so pleased if you would join him in seeking God’s Wisdom.

He would like to hear your thoughts about wisdom as well…please share.