Another Treasure: Encouragement

My friends call me an Encourager because
I am always loudly cheering for them!

Do you like to be encouraged?  

This month my parents want me to learn scriptures about encouragement. 

I do like it when people tell me that I am special. 

That's what encouragement is all about.

At our house, encouragement is important. 

We do lots of good deeds for others. 

My Mom says we need to try to be the Hands and Feet of Jesus

That means we make lots of meals for others. We have people over a lot. We send cards to people when they are sick. or sad.

I make funny photos and put them in the cards to cheer people up
I like to distort faces on my DS and make silly shots.

The Bible is full of verses to lift people up. Here is one of my favorites: 

Deuteronomy 31:6 

Be strong and courageous. 

Do not fear or be in dread of them, 
for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. 

He will not leave you or forsake you.”

We have kids over all the time and play

board games and other fun activities. 

Fun with my Dad

The Treasure of Jesus by Steven Curtis Chapman

I love this song, which goes along

with a past Theme from L2L.

Here are the lyrics, and I posted the  link to hear it below.  

What can I do
How can I live
To show my world
The treasure of Jesus

What will it take
What could I give
So they can know
The treasure He is

And if I can sing
Let my songs be full of His glory
If I can speak
Let my words be full of His grace

And if I should live or die
Let me be found pursuing this prize
The One that alone satisfies
The treasure of Jesus


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atuT0DUaf90

Source:  Dayspring.com

Missions: One Young Missionary to Follow

Truett is a good friend of mine.  He loves telling others about the good news of Salvation through Jesus Christ. Truett is an excellent example of a Leader, and someone I am trying to imitate.  I know that Truett loves Jesus.  He loves the lost.  He is a Soul Winner.  This is what I want to be, so I am sharing this article from the Harding University Bulletin today.  Please support this good work if you are able... 

****************************************

This is a Re post from 

"Around Campus" 

in the Harding Bulletin 

March 4, 2016 in Around Campus by Hannah Beall Owens |

Source:  Hannah Beall Owens

Harding University Junior, Truett Keener had never been to South America before this week. He has been co-leading a group of 22 students on a spring break mission trip in Ecuador.

Keener has participated in mission trips during spring break before, but this is the first trip he has led as a part of spring break missions through the Mitchell Center for Leadership and Ministry.
“People often don’t realize how many opportunities there are to travel, to lead groups or participate in a group, and that’s something I would love to see vocalized more,” he said. “I would love to see the program grow.”

The group has been busy ministering to children, leading Bible classes and chapel, and working on the property around a local school. While Keener has been focused on the specifics of his trip this week, he can’t help but see the impact of spring break missions as a whole.

“Sometimes we can get caught up in what’s happening with our individual trips, but when we look at the big picture, it’s very impressive what actually happens,” he said. “I’m really happy to be able to be a part of it. “

Hannah Owens, director of digital media

Finding Treasure in Hobbies: Playing Legos

I love to work on LEGO things.
this is an "AT-AT" from Star Wars

I work hard every day.  

I have chores, school work, and I have my own small business.

Plus, I have goals.   

But a kid needs time to relax, too.

     One of my favorite things to do to relax is to play with Legos.

 They capture my imagination.  I love to build stuff.  I love to look at  a magazine, and them build what is in there with Legos.   I get little breaks during my school day, and lots of times I do Legos then.  I hope to help other kids with my animated LEGOS videos some day.  I want other boys (& girls) to know how to build this stuff, cause it is so easy.  

I thought this was cool and I liked
it from the Star Wars book

Super Scooby and the Spider Flyer

     I say that Time for Legos is a Treasure because time is precious.  At the end of my LEGO breaks, I always say, "Aw, it can't be over."  It's like I never get enough time for fun.  And I am supposed to have fun, because I am a kid.  But I have so much work to do because of my Goals.

Some of my Goals are to make You Tube Videos that help kids who can't read.  They could watch my videos, and learn how to do stuff, like LEGOS, or building Bungie Swings, or doing Science Experiments, or Cooking.  All these things are important, and that is why time for Legos is Treasured.  Everyone has only 24 hours in a day.
     

Super Scoob

The Bible talks about this topic, too.  In Matthew chapter 6,  it says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth where moth and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal."  Treasures are NOT just money or diamonds!  TIME is a Treasure, too!   God cares about the way I spend my TIME.

When I spend time building these LEGOS and making Videos to help other kids, I am storing up treasures in Heaven.  I don't have tons of money.  But I do have TIME.  And I can share what  I know, and if it helps other kids, then I think God is glad!

Crazy Dave's Fapping machine

Crazy Dave from Plants Vs Zombies

The Sled Car 

Front of Sled Car

For when it snows 

I am working on an animation
right now.  It is a recorded video where
my creations will look like they move. 

A list of my favorite Books 

My Distorted Face
Source:  My DS

The Treasure of a Good Deed

I am planning to do many more good deeds this year. 

My Mom and I brainstormed and I wrote down ideas for 

people and places that might need a Good Deed. 

We decided that today, we would serve our 

Dentist and his workers. 

Today for the Good Samaritan Project,
we took food and hot cider to
our Dentist's Office 

They really loved it!  



In the same way, good deeds are 

obvious,

 and even those that are not obvious

 cannot remain hidden forever.



******I Timothy 5:12*****

Hard Work is Good

It rained really hard this past week.  We got water in our basement, I mean a LOT of water.  We had to get the shop vac out and suck up all the little streams that we going across the floor down there.  

Now it smells moldy, and my Mom is really upset.  I sketched out a plan to drain the water from the back yard into the alley beside our house.  The back yard is kind of at an angle that lets the rainwater flow down to our patio.  My Dad says that the people who designed our house did not think ahead.  

Now we get water in the basement every time a flash flood comes.  So I drew out a sketch, and today Mom and I dug out canals and put in drainage pipes to get the rain water to flow out to the alley instead of into our basement.  

I was pretty tired and sore after we dug up 

all that dirt and put in the pipes. 

Now I am kind of excited for the next flash flood, 

to see if my ideas and sketches will work

to keep the basement dry. 

Luke 14:28 says, 

"But don't begin until you count the cost. 

For who would begin construction of a building 

without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?"

It did not cost much to do this project, 

and I hope it works! 

  

Treasuring Up Good Times

We Decorated our Porch Today

We have a lot of fun at our house. 

 There is always someone coming over, stopping by, or visiting.  

We stay super busy in the Fall.  

My Mom and Dad like to make the house look fun with Decorations.  

We have people here from church nearly every weekend, and Missionaries sleep over in our Guest Room a lot.  All of this stuff brings many good times here at our home. 

I made this bird
It is a Black Bird for Fall

It's not that we have a lot of money, because we SURE don't!  But we use stuff like leaves, nuts, and nature to decorate, and to do crafts.  We grow our own vegetables for meals with Family, and friends.  We shop at ALDA and my mom uses coupons like crazy.  

And we always have enough.  It's like the verse in the Bible that says, "The Son of man is going to come in His Father's glory with the Angels, and then He will reward each person  according to what he has done"(Mt 16:27).  

We collect Leaves in Fall and
do all kinds of Crafts with them


That is what I mean about Treasures.  

I read a book about Hudson Taylor, a great missionary to China.  

He said, "The less I spent on myself, and the more I gave to others, 
the FULLER of happiness and blessing did my soul become."  

We gather up acorns in the fall, and then
when it snows, we throw them
out into the backyard for the
Squirrels to have a Snow Feast

It doesn't matter if you are helping animals, people, babies, or anything else.  When you give, it makes you happy inside.  God feels really good, too.  

What about you, do you like to treasure up good times?  Do you give of yourself?  I would love to know what you think about this topic... you can leave a comment if you want. 

First Blog Post: A Treasured Event **Explanation of Blog Purpose

Hi!

Just wanted to let you know that I am glad you are reading my blog.

 This is my second year in Lads to Leaders, and my 

Second year to write a blog about 

my times in L2L

  

Our Theme for 2015/2016 is 

 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

 I want you to know that

 I treasure my time in Lads to Leaders (L2L).

Note:  If you would like to read the blog in 

the order that it was written, please start at 

the last post written way back on 4/18/15 and select

 "Newer Post" after reading each post.

The posts are in reverse order, with newest posts first.

 This could be confusing, so just know that this is the last 

official Lad to Leader's post.  I will be adding future posts, but

they are for my personal blog, and not always to do with 

Lads 

to Leaders. 

A Good Friend is a Rare Treasure

                                    Do You Have Good Friends?

I mean, really good friends!  I think a good friend is like a Life raft. 

They will help when you are stressed.

My Grandma says, to have a friend, I must be a friend

I  Helped Alexa Bake a Cake

I like to cook and bake with my friends.
A lot of my friends are girls... From church.
We have a lot more girls than boys there, but that is O.K.

Being a friend sometimes means letting others do stuff I
really wanted to do

I let Alexa ice the cake, because she never had iced a cake before.

Her mom doesn't let her do that. 

It turned out yummy

Friends help each other: 

We planted flowers at a Nursing Home, and 

my friends helped me by telling me where to dig the holes
it was so hot and fun at the same time

May  3rd 2015 we planted flowers at the patio at the Nursing home.

My friends and I showed TEAMWORK!

 Let no one seek his own good, 

but that of his neighbor.

-I Cor. 10:24

It was pretty hot, but the flowers were so
colorful and the old people loved it,
so sweating so much was not so bad.

All of the Youth came and helped out

Even little Garret worked in the Garden

We got it all cleaned up after making a big mess

Mrs. Evans and Miss Too Ha are
hard workers 

It was hard work, but worth it! 

Afterward, we had Luncheon with 2 church friends and we visited and played 

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpens iron, 
one man sharpens another.

Source: heartlight.org

Secret Good Deeds

It's almost time for our Fourth of July Celebration. 

I helped my Mom make this special cake.  

Before we went to the Parade, Dad and I secretly 

emptied the dryer for Mom and 

folded the clothes and towels in there.  

Then we put them away.

It was part of our "Secret Service mission" 

in our Youth Group.  

We are dressing up like Secret Servicemen 

and doing good deeds secretly. 

It's from what Jesus said on the Sermon on the Mount:

 "When you do good deeds, don’t try to show off. 

If you do, you won’t get a reward 

from your Father in heaven."

********Mt. 6:1*********