VBS is ...

VBS is a Carousel

(the carousel in our children's church building)

A Carousel of Color

and CreativityVBS is Messyand Noisyand Fun!

because God is Colorful, Creative, Messy, Noisy and Fun!

A Lesson in Tailoring

"...God has allotted to each a measure of faith." Romans 12:3

"But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift." Ephesians 4:7

I've read these verses many times, and always pictured a measuring cup in God's hand. Somewhere in a corner of my mind, that image evoked words like ration, portion; which in turn suggests God maybe favors some people with a meager 1/4 cup of grace or faith and others with 3/4 cup. Great men of faith must have gotten a full cup, otherwise how could they have been used so mightily! Of course I know that's not true; God is not stingy with His love or His gifts.

However, the word 'measure' is also a tailoring term. Ahhh...now I can relate. When something is tailor made, it's a perfect fit just for you.

 

God's grace is tailor-made for your situation! There is nothing you will ever face that He does not have the perfect-fit grace for you to deal with it.

God's gifts are also tailor-made for you and His plan for your life! The problem comes when people don't want the gift they were given; they'd rather have something else. Here's a little illustration:

Once upon a time a delicate piece of thin, tan paper was covered with an array of lines, numbers and symbols. Its Designer had in mind for it to be turned into a beautiful purple jacket. The paper would be cut into several pieces and laid onto the rich fabric. There were 2 fronts, 2 side fronts, 2 sleeves, a back, collar, etc. The front & side front pieces, even though curved, would line up at the notches and fit perfectly together to create a nice form fitting look. The designer could see it in His mind's eye. How perfectly it would fit! How elegant the wearer would look in it!

But one of the side pieces did not want to be a side piece. It desired to be a sleeve. After all, the sleeve covers the arm which is connected to the hand and surely that's where all the action is. That's where sermons are written and miracles happen and everyone wants to clasp the hand in prayer and friendship and love. No one notices a side piece! Being a side piece is B O R I N G.

A silly story, I know. But can you picture this garment put together? The side piece doesn't cover the arm properly and there's nothing connecting the front & back, just a gaping hole where the side should be. What was intended to be an elegant purple jacket, tailor-made for the wearer, is a mess. It can't be worn like that. It's useless.

Ephesians 4 continues to explain Christ's gifts and their purpose. They are to equip His church so that more will come to know Him (v 12). We are not to be like childen, who always want another child's toy (v 14). We are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head (v 15)

(v 16) "...the whole body, being fitted and held together...according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love."

In other words, it's not about what the pattern pieces want to be; it's about the finished garment. How exquisite it will be; perfectly tailor-made and fit for a King of Kings!

Strange But True

Ok, this is just strange...
(Copied from an actual Facebook page)

RECENT ACTIVITY
God edited their Subject's sex is unknown, {profile-field2} and {profile-field3}.
God edited their Birthday and Location.
God joined Facebook.

Even God has succumbed.
*heavy sigh* No wonder the world is such a mess. He's doing Facebook instead of takin' care of business.