Kissing Frogs.

A long time ago, in a land far away, there was a village. In this unique village there were princesses. Many princesses actually.  You see, whether they knew it or not, every girl was a princess. These young ladies of royal blood, had the privilege of marrying a prince.This beautiful gift came with one simple guideline, they had to wait until their prince was ready in order to meet him. You see, all of the princes started out as frogs. Through a process, similar to the one that causes the caterpillar turn into a butterfly, the frogs would mature, make changes, even struggle some, to turn into something completely new. Most girls waited, patiently or anxiously, until their prince came to them. Some however didn’t wait.  They would go around kissing the frogs they found, hoping the frog would turn into a prince, their prince.  The frog rarely turned into a prince, because they had not gone through the process and it took time for the frog to turn into the right prince, sometimes even, the frog stayed a frog.

 In this land there was a young princess named Joy, she was a beautiful princess, perfect and waiting for her Prince Charming.  She waited and waited for him to come, but he hadn’t come yet. Her friends already had their princes, but hers had not come. She wondered if he was lost, hurt, or stuck; perhaps waiting on her to come rescue him.  One day, she decided she was tired of waiting on him to come to her, so she set out on her own, searching for him.   

Now in order for her to search for him she had to walk through the forbidden Toad Woods. The Toad Woods was a dark, dreary place that no princess should ever go. The reason is because of the very thing they were searching for, the frogs.  “They’re only frogs” you might say, “what could they do?”  These woods were filled with frogs that would be turning into princes, but some of the frogs would never turn into a prince, they were always going to be a frog, never worthy of a princess.  All of the frogs, regardless of if they were going to be a prince or not, tried to get the young princesses to kiss them. Once she did, sometimes the frog would turn into what seemed to be a prince, then the girl would marry the “prince” and then he would turn back into a frog.  The reason for this is that when the frog is kissed before he turns into a prince he has not fully developed and could turn back into a frog.  This was the unfortunate result of the princesses becoming impatient and looking for their prince before he was ready. 

Sometimes the frogs wouldn’t even turn into a prince, he would still be a frog, this would disappoint the princess and she would keep moving on.  If the princess continued to kiss the frogs and become disappointed, she would turn into a fly.  It would take a lot for the fly to turn back into a princess, sometimes it never happened. We all know what frogs like to eat: flies. This is all why it was important that the princesses never go into the Woods, for they could be tricked into kissing frogs, turn into a fly, then into frog food.

Joy set about on her journey. As she started in the woods, though a bit scared, she knew she only wanted to find her prince charming.  Now Joy was smart, she knew not to kiss just any frog, she was only going to kiss the frog she thought was her prince. 

“Hey beautiful, how about a kiss?” an old toad said to her as she walked into the Woods. She knew her prince would not say something like that to her, besides, that was a real ugly toad, not her prince.  As she continued to walk she heard more things like that, “hey sugar, wanna come over to my place?” “Hey there babe, come over here and I’ll turn into your prince.” As she walked she thought, “at least I know my prince won’t be talking like that, it should be easy to find him.”

Little did she know that once she walked deep into the woods the old frogs that would never turn into a prince knew that they had to be convincing, seem authentic, romantic and sweet in order to get the princess to kiss them. They were lonely frogs and knew that the princess flies were the best, they wanted nothing more than a meal.

“Well at least I’m not hearing anymore of the rude frogs.” Joy said to herself as she bent down to the creek to get a drink of cool water. 

“Excuse me miss, but I-I think I know you.” A nice sounding voice said on the other side of the creek.

Joy looked up and there was a frog sitting on a lily pad a few feet from her. “Oh no probably not, I’ve never been in here before.” Joy replied, thinking that she was glad this frog was being a gentleman and not pushy like the others had been. She dipped her handkerchief in the water to wipe her face.

“Oh, well perhaps you're right. Might I ask, what is a beautiful young princess like you doing in the woods? Don’t you know its dangerous in here?” the frog replied.

“Well I’m actually looking for my prince, I’m afraid that he is lost.”

“Lost? Well that would describe me, I’ve been trying to find the way out of here for a while now, do you know how to get to the village?”

“Yes, its back that way, why are you going to the village?” Joy wrinkled her forehead, she was unsure as to why the frog would be going to the village, she thought they turned into princes before they got to the village.

“Oh, well you see, I’m trying to get to my princess, I’m ready to turn into a prince and once she kisses me we can get married and live happily ever after. I’ve been waiting so long for this.” the cunning frog replied, now a little closer, on a lily pad.

Joy thought he certainly sounded sincere, it sounded so romantic, he was so excited to find his princess. “By the way, what is your name? Mine is Joy.”

“Oh, I am so sorry, forgive me for my rudeness, its Lance.”

“Its nice to meet you Lance. So how will you know when you find your princess?” Joy was almost hoping it would be her, he was so sweet.

“Well, I think I’ll just know. I’m sure she will be beautiful, like you." He feigned bashfulness,  "I am not trying to sound too forward, but I wonder how she could be more beautiful than you.”

Joy could feel her self blushing, “Oh you don’t mean that Lance” she said as she turned away from him.

“ I most certainly do Joy.  I have seen many princesses come through the woods looking for their princes but none of them were as beautiful as you are my dear.”  Lance smiled, mostly at himself, she was falling for him and he knew it.  It had been his plan all along, you see, he just wanted her to kiss him, once she did, she would turn into a fly and then be all his.  He knew this because he had been a frog for a long time and he had convinced many princesses to give up that first kiss to him. He also knew that the old toad skin that he had hidden deep, would certainly permeate through her and turn her to a fly with only one kiss.

“Lance, do you really think you and I are meant for each other? I mean, is it possible that I have already found you?” Joy said as she moved closer to Lance, stepping into a slight bit of muck. She picked him up from the lily pad and put him on the bank next to her.

“It could only be true, for I was lost, hoping my princess would come to help me, and here you are, the most beautiful princess I have ever seen, coming, looking for your lost prince.”

“Oh Lance, I think this is too good to be true.” her eyes twinkling with excitement.

Little did Joy know, her prince had just turned from his frog state into a prince. His name was Phillip, he was very handsome and ready to find his princess now knowing how to treat her like the princess she is.  He felt in his heart, a spurring, know something was wrong. He wondered if his princess waited for him. Although he started out walking, his concern grew and his pace turned to running, hoping he wouldn’t be too late.

“Oh Joy, will you please kiss me so we can run away and get married, I know you are the one.” Lance pleaded with Joy, looking her deep into her eyes.

“Lance, are you sure?" Joy could barely breathe, "Because I think you are the one.”

“Yes my dear, I am. I've never felt this confident” Lance said, thinking to himself, confident in myself.

 At this Joy lifted Lance up, looked him directly into his beady eyes and smiled.

“Alright then, I’m ready.” Joy was willing to kiss Lance.

Lance was more than ready for her to kiss him, she was a little harder to break than some of the others, but none the less, she was about to be his.

Phillip's running came to a stop when he saw the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. He knew instantly that was his Princess. Concern turned to horror as he saw the frog in her hand. “Oh no!” he thought, “she didn’t wait for me.” His heart was starting to break when he saw that she was about to kiss the frog.

“STOP!” Phillip shouted right as Joy’s lips went to kiss Lance.

Jolting from being startled, Joy almost dropped Lance.

“Kiss me now, you have to! I’ll leave if you don’t!” Lance croaked in panic.

Joy was instantly bewildered, Lance was talking in a way that she didn’t ever think her Prince would talk to her.  She sat in confusion for a few seconds, when she realized the man who had shouted was almost next to her. “Who are you?” she asked.

Phillip, grabbing Lance, threw him back into the water, “I am Phillip, your Prince.”

Joy looked over at Lance and saw that he was now a very ugly old toad. He lied to me, she thought. Tears were starting to come to her eyes when she realized what she had done. She went out looking for her prince, and she was nearly fooled into kissing a frog. I'm sure my prince doesn't want me now.

“Are you alright?” Phillip asked as he reached for his handkerchief and gently wiped the tears from her eyes.

“I’m fine, but you must be disappointed in me. I’m very sorry, I-” sobs broke through.

Phillip pulled her into his arms and said “I’m not disappointed in you, I love you, I’m just glad I got to you in time. You should have known that I would come for you, you just needed to wait for me.”

Joy sobbed in his arms, “I’m so very sorry. Do you still want me?”

Phillip pulled away from her, “of course I still want you, you are my princess.” He then bent down and kissed her cheek and wiped away the rest of her tears. “Now, lets get out of here.”

Joy and Phillip were almost out of the woods when Joy said, “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For coming for me.”

“It is my pleasure, and my duty to my lady.”

This story was inspired by the song Princes and Frogs  by Superchick and Song of Solomon 2:7, 3:5, & 8:4.

Summer Work

Last night I did a devotion for the middle school boys and girls on Ephesians 4:17 - 5:8. I read it out of the Message Version because it was so well put, but other versions are just as clear.

Most of the girls from my group were out ministering in the Kids Crusade at another church, some wanted my notes since they would be missing it. That makes my heart so happy, to see the hunger for God. Anyway, I decided to put the notes on here... Its more of a discussion style because I like to have them involved, so there are several questions regarding the passage of scripture that was read. This style could be used for journaling when not in a group setting.

Verses 17-19

• In the message version, it says, there will be no going along with the crowd. What does this crowd do that we shouldn't?
• When school is in session, we are around "the crowd" everyday. Do you think it makes it harder not to follow the crowd being with them on a daily basis? Why?
  

Verses 20-24

• Why are you different?
• What is wrong with the "old way"?

Verses 25-31 & 5:1, 2

• How is this God Fashioned life different?
• List the characteristics of this new self:
  

Changing takes time and obedience. Just like lifting 300lbs takes training, your new life does too. Training starts with obeying God and fully surrendering everything to Him. Pursuing a pure life.



Purity, a pure life, is giving everything to God. Imagine a house with all the lights out. Do you want to walk around that house in total darkness? Why not? You'll get hurt, right? That is the same with our lives, we are a house with all the lights out. God wants to turn those lights on, expose the junk in the rooms and clean it up. The problem is, we typically only give him access to certain rooms, we like to hold on to some of those rooms, keeping the light off. Sometimes it is fear of what He will make us give up, sometimes it is fear he won't love us because its so bad. Either excuse we give isn't enough, the bottom line is to live truly for Him. We have to give Him full access to our lives.

This illustration came from True Purity by Haley and Micheal DiMarco.

Another great illustration comes from this skit by the Skit Guys.

Take time over the summer to pursue God. In this time you are not surrounded by "the crowd". Practice obedience to Him. Saturate yourself in His word. God will reproduce His character in you through the Holy Spirit if you let Him.

Ephesians 5:8 says: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the Light. 

Let him turn on all the lights.

Water War Wednesdays

In the summer, in order to help avoid the summer slumps when kids go on vacation and forget about church, the girls and boys ministries put on a summer competition.

For the past few years we have done Water War Wednesdays; a water themed points competition between the groups of kids/youth on Wednesday nights. We divide the students into groups, either by their normal club groupings or combining some in order to make the groupings equal (for example: Prims & Daisies). In years past, we have combined the RR & GM groups for the whole meeting time to complete the games and devotion. In recent years, our set up runs with the Girls Ministry and the Royal Rangers competing in the games together, then dismissing into their groups to do devotions and work on badges or merits.

Games aren't the only way the teams earn points. They also earn points by attending Wednesday nights, going to Sunday service, bringing their Bible, wearing club colors, and bringing friends. This gives incentive to keep doing the things we already encourage them to do, while adding the fun to keep them intrigued over the summer. The team concept also encourages them to hold each other accountable to come every week, especially after being on vacation or at camp.



Rules:
Here are the rules and guidelines we use:

Water War Wednesdays

Earning Marks

Each Team:

•   Each team member on original sheet present – 100 marks
•    Each team member wearing their team colors – 100 marks 
•  If entire team is present – 2,000 bonus marks 
•   Each team member/visitor who has a Bible with them – 100 marks
• Team with greatest offering – 1,000 bonus marks
• Every Team member present for Sunday 10:30am service – 500 marks

*Team members do not receive any points on Sunday if they are more than 15 minutes late to the service.

Team Visitors:

•  First Time visitor are worth 1,000 marks
• Second Time visitors are worth 2,000 marks 
•  Third Time visitors are worth 3,000 marks 
• Fourth Time visitors are worth 4,000 marks

*Visitors must have completed Kindergarten and do not have to come consecutively in order to receive marks.

Team Challenges:

•  Teams who participate receive 2,000 marks 
•  The Team that wins the challenge receives a total of 7,000 marks

Team Banners: RAINY DAY ALTERNATIVE ONLY

•   Banners are judged on five categories:

Creativity, Professionalism, Originality, Team Colors, and Team Name

•  Points will be distributed as follows:

§  First place receives 10,000 marks

§  Second place receives 6,000 marks

§  Third place receives 3,000 marks

Deduction of Points:

•   If a Team member is found to be participating in un-orderly conduct. (including but not limited to cursing or threats.) 
•   If a Team member is found to be disrespectful to any leader or property in the church.

* The amount of points to be deducted will be decided upon by the Rangers and Girls Ministry Leaders depending on the severity of the offense.  All offenses will be no lower than a 15,000 mark deduction from the Team involved.

Games:
All of the leaders take turns heading up the games. A quick Google or Pinterest search will score you some ideas for games. Here is a list of ideas that we have tried.

Water Balloon Toss
Water Balloon Hot Potato
Water Balloon Dodgeball
Bob for Water Toys
Put the Candles Out (with straws and water).

I'll try to post the games we use this year, and let you know how much fun we had!

Point Tracking:
We have one person in charge of tracking points. Each night the kids sign in at our sign in table, and the leader of that table fills in all of the information for us. If you don't have that luxury, each leader gets a folder with their team sheet in it and fills it out. In either case, the points tracker gets the sheets at the end of the night.
Here is an example of our sign in sheet:

Using this format, we have experienced growth and excitement over our summers.