Being a Christian is kind of like being a pumpkin.
Here’s what God does when we invite Him into our hearts…
Step 1: Wash Your Pumpkin
“We’re not a pumpkin, but we’re kind of like one. God picks us from the patch, brings us in and washes us clean. Just like a pumpkin, we have an inside and an outside. People only see the outside, but God sees the inside as well.” Bible Verse – 1 Samuel 16:7 – “The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Step 2: Carve An Opening In The Top
Make sure the opening of the pumpkin is large enough to fit your hand in to. Continue with the Christian pumpkin carving story by saying… “God wants to change our inside, but the only way he can do it is if we become open to Him.”
Bible Verse – Revelation 3:20 – Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
Step 3: Put Your Hand In And Pull Out The Insides
“God scoops out all the yucky stuff, the sin, in our lives. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, impurity and greed. Jesus was willing to get messy for us…He died on the cross to cleanse us from all our sins.”
Bible Verse – Ezekiel 36: 25b – 27 – I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws
Step 4: Carve The Eyes And Smiling Face: Say “Jesus gives you a new smiling face. When all the yucky stuff (sin) is gone, you feel so happy!” Bible Verse – Proverbs 23:26 – My son, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways.
Step 5: Add A Votive Candle To The Inside Of The Pumpkin
Say – “If we leave the pumpkin empty, it will just be hollow. We need God’s light inside of us to make us alive! When Jesus lives inside of you, you can glow! You will want to tell people about him, be kind to others and bless others more than yourself.”
Bible Verse – John 8:12 – “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
May we make the most of every opportunity to teach our Children about God, scripture and what He means to us…
18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.
Don't forget to send your Pumpkin photos into Children@stfranciswgc.org.uk for a chance of winning a tub of sweeties
thanks to truemoneysaver.com for this great article
