Our Kids and Their Ideas for the Future

When I got back to Zambia after my sabbatical I found out that our elementary kids had reached Jeremiah in their 4 year Bible study. Jeremiah is a tough book to read, but the kids have done very well in learning about metaphors and analogies as well as wonderful truths.

Some of my favorite verses from Jeremiah are those dealing with God having a plan for our lives which He knew about and ordained from before we were even born. 

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you;

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord......to give you a future and a hope

Aren't those beautiful? The kids loved them too and after some discussion, I assigned them a writing project to tell me what they thought they were good at and what God's plans might be for them.

Here they are:

When I grow up I will tell others about Jesus and tell them to love one another and to love your neighbor and to be kind. I will preach the gospel and be a missionary.

Beauty—10 years old

·         I am good at running and Science and Bible Reading. When I grow up God wants me to be a baker. I am good at playing baseball and kickball.

Chola—12 years old

·         What makes me special? I am different from everybody else.  I am good at games, and coloring, and drawing pictures, painting and singing.

God knows that I am special.

Elias—13 years old

·         What makes me special? I can draw pictures and sing and do my math book. And I can dance. 

Queenie—11 years old

·         What makes me special? I like to build things and I like to help people. And I do things that please God and please man.

Johnny—11 years old

·         [When I grow up] I will be singing and teaching how to crochet. And I can make boxes for dolls.

Sandra—9 years old

·         God wants me to have a baby in my life.

Maggie—6 years old

·         I want to be a missionary. I want to speak God’s Word. And to preach to people about God.

Jennifer—9 years old

·         When I grow up I want to be a police officer. And I want to serve God very very much and to forgive people—men, women, and kids. I love God and Jesus very much. I love the Holy Spirit.

Nathan—8 years old

·         When I grow up God may want me to be a leader to His people. I am a special child of God because He put His Holy Spirit in me that I may have His strength. I love Jesus and my Father who watch over me. I am happy he forgives me and my sins. When I grow up I would like to be a pastor.

Moriah—8 years old

·         When I grow up I will be a scientist and a missionary and a hero. I am good at patience.

Denny—8 years old

·         When I grow up I will be a teacher and tell others about Jesus. I love Zambia.

Janet—10 years old

·         I like myself. I want to be  a missionary and become a dad. I want to read the Bible and learn about God and become closer to Him. I want to do everything I can do, and learn to be gentle.

Henry—10 years old

·         I think that I am good at drawing and I like drawing sometimes. When I don’t have anything to do I start drawing. I like drawing trees, mountains and the sun. One day I would like to be an artist. I think God made me special at drawing.

Theresa—11 years old

·         I like to help people do things. I like God and Jesus because they like me and you. I like to play, read, work and draw. When I grow up I will be a missionary.

Ernest—11 years old

·         I want to be a policeman.

Peter—8 years old

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