Each week, at One In Messiah, we share a story with the children. Then we pray over them for blessing. Here is a story that is similar to the ones that you will hear at One In Messiah. I hope you like it.
Leo and Lenny loved their sixth birthday party. Even though they were twins, Mom and Dad always made sure they each had a special time. And with their birthdays coming in October, Mom and Dad also always made sure their birthdays were special even though Sukkot was right around the corner.
The party was so fun with a clown and cake and songs and wonderful presents from their friends and grandparents and uncle and aunts. It went by so fast but before they knew it, everyone had gone home and it was time to clean up and get ready for bed.
Evening family devotions were one of the most important parts of Leo and Lenny’s day. Dad read part of the story of Yeshua coming at Sukkot which is where he read every year during September or October so they would know a more realistic time to celebrate the birth of Yeshua.
At the end of it, Leo asked, “Dad, did Jesus get a birthday party every year with presents and a clown too?” Everybody laughed trying to imagine what kind of birthday party Mary and Joseph gave for Yeshua when He was six.
Lenny wondered, “I bet he liked the same kind of toys we like.”
“Well, what does God like?” Leo added. “I mean, we like cookies and cartoons and toys, but what kind of things are fun for God?”
It was a question that for a minute Mom and Dad had to think about.
“I know!” Said Lenny. “I bet he likes angels because he has them around all the time. Maybe he and the angels play family games like we do sometimes. Maybe they play Monopoly.” This made Mom laugh.
“Or maybe he likes bowling.” Leo continued. “I heard someone say that when you hear thunder, that means that they are bowling in heaven. I bet he is really good at it.”
“I bet he is PERFECT at it!” laughed Lenny.
“Well boys,” Mom finally said after they had come up with lots of silly ideas of what God did for fun, “What God really likes is when people love each other and take care of each other like we do in our family.” That made sense to Leo and Lenny, so Leo hugged Mom and Larry hugged dad to just make God happy.
“You know what Pastor Wilson told us on Sunday is that God really likes worship.” Dad added.
“You mean like when we sing praise songs in Church?” Lenny asked and daddy nodded. “Well I can make up a worship song.” So Lenny jumped to his feet and began to make up a song to a very bad tune. “Yeshua is so cool. Its fun being with God. He is the funnest God anyone could have.” Lenny sang very badly so Leo had put his hands over his ears.
“Singing worship songs is good but that’s not the only way to worship.” Dad said, maybe just to make Lenny stop singing. “There are lots of ways to worship.”
‘LIKE WHAT DAD? TELL US, TELL US.” Both boys jumped up and down wanting to know how to make God happy.
Dad answered, “Well like Mom said, when we love each other and love the world that Yeshua died for, that’s a kind of worship. When we think about God and listen to the sermon or in Bible Study, that’s a way of worshiping because we are learning how great God is and He likes that. Or when we sit around and tell each other what the greatest things about God are. You know how much you like hearing people say how smart or cute you boys are? Well God likes when we talk together about how great He is.”
“I know a game we can play that is like Dad is talking about.” Mom said making both boys want to know the game a lot. “It’s called ‘What is the best thing about God?' And each of us has to come up with one really great thing we like about God. Who wants to go first?”
Leo and Lenny jumped and shouted “ME ME!” waving their hands in the air like they do at school.
Finally, Mom said, “Well Leo, since you are two minutes older than Lenny, you can go first.”
“Ok,” Leo said and then he stopped and thought. “The best thing about God is ……… hmmmm……………..” He puzzled because he had so many things that were great about God but he wanted to pick the best one so he would win the game. “That he knows everything. That’s really cool. That means he can help me with my homework.” Leo concluded with a proud expression on his face.
“My turn, my turn.” Lenny said eagerly wiggling to get a chance to talk. “I think the best thing about God is that he can beat up the enemy because the enemy is scary and mean and ugly and bad and God can beat him up so the enemy can’t hurt us like he did those demon filled people in Jesus day.”
Mom and Dad hugged the twins because it was getting time to get to bed. “Mom thinks the best thing about God is he gave me these two silly rascals and they are the best thing in Mom’s world,” She said, squeezing both boys.
They giggled, hugged Mom, and were almost ready to go to their bunk beds when Leo said,
“Dad you didn’t say what the best thing about God is. You have to play too.”
“Well, I am surprised you all left the very best one for me,” Dad said with a smile. “It’s that he sent Yeshua to die for us and give us life forever and ever, and that because of that we will be a family in His kingdom for millions of years. That’s pretty good isn’t it?”
“Dad wins!” The twins declared.
“This is such a fun game and we had a perfect birthday,” Lenny added. “Can we play ‘What’s the best thing about God’ tomorrow too?” he begged.
“You can play it anytime you want,” Dad answered. “Because talking about how great God is makes Him happy... and it is worship. Play it before you go to sleep tonight and when you wake up in the morning and God will be close to you all day long."
“WE WILL.” They both shouted. Then they ran to the bedroom bickering about who gets to go first.
