Author: jonithetentmaker

Published author of the awesome Christian children's book, "The Tent Maker". I believe that life is a journey with a story to tell and I am here to tell it!

Character

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Character

Do you ever wonder why it is important to have “character” as the backbone of who you are? First let’s define “character.”

Character means moral or ethical strength.  In other words, you know the right things to do and try your best to do them.

I am going to tell you why “character” is important to Christians.

Let’s go back to the old testament and take a look at the prophet Samuel.  And, prophet does not mean dusty, old desert man.  A prophet is an interpreter for God and His will.

For the rest of the story, click on the link and go to the Middle/High school page.

http://www.thetentmaker.org

New Website, More Fun

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The Tent Maker blog now has a website at http://www.thetentmaker.org.  Each age group has their own page and parents have a page too! It has taken me a long time to get the site set up the way I would like. Being webmaster, author, and artist is a daunting task, but I think as time goes on, the site will become better and better.  It is all about raising Christian children and family life.  I hope you will join me there during the new year of 2013!

Leaves in My Hair

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It is that time of the year when trees are going to go to sleep.  Trees are very smart because they store their food during the spring and summer, so they will have food for the fall and winter.  All spring and summer they use their leaves to help them collect sunlight, and that is why they are green.  When the fall comes, they stop collecting the sunlight, and the green slowly fades from the leaves leaving them with the beautiful colors of orange, red, yellow, and purple.

Isn’t magnificient that our God takes the time to plan the smallest details! Genesis 1:31– “And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”

Wouldn’t it be fun to have a crown of colorful leaves to wear? There are two ways to make one.

1. A piece of construction paper.

2. Glue leaves to paper.

3. Bend at bottom of paper toward the back side to make about a one inch headband.

4. Punch hole in each outer end of headband and put string through to tie around back of head.  Never tie string or rope of any kind around chin or neck!! Safety first!

 

 

Moving New State and New Website

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Hello!

Moving from North Carolina to Texas has been an adventure that is till working itself out.  I have started a new website http://www.thetentmaker.org to be able to have the contests and separate pages for each age group. There will be a bookstore to help me keep the costs down and keep everything free for the families!  Be sure to visit and check out October’s writing contest!

Grace and Blessings!

Joni Berry

Footprints in the Sand

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This is a fun activity that parents can do with younger children.  You older kids, tweens, and teens can do this without help.

1. Take a piece of paper and draw and outline of your feet on it.

2. Cut out each foot print, right and left.

3. Now, when you go somewhere on vacation, do something fun, spend time with your family, or friends…write about it on each foot print.  Be sure to put the date.  Younger kids can draw pictures about their adventures.

4. Put your footprints aside and keep adding to them until the end of summer.

5. At the end of summer, pull them all out, and walk them across the room according to their dates.

It will be fun to remember the fun and see how far across the room you can go with your memories!

 

Dance, Sing, and Do Your Own Funky Thing!

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Today is a day for dancing, singing, and just being you!  Actually every day is the day for happiness! Why? Because God loves you so much that there is no one exactly like you!

Before you were born, He planned when you would be born.  Did you ever wonder why you were not a Roman soldier or a Pilgrim?  It was not your time to be on this earth.

Why would God plan for you to be on the earth at a set time?  Because He has given you special gifts to spread the word about Him, and Jesus.  He even knows the career He wants you to have to help this world.  There is not a job too small or unimportant for a Christian to work.  We must always do our very best and display our Christian qualities for everyone to see.  Ask your parents how you can start working on these qualities today!

Remember, you have a choice!  You can either follow God’s directions for your life or you can follow your own.  He has always left the decision up to us. Now that is true love!

Don’t take my word for how important you are to God, but listen to God, Himself…

1 Corinthians 15:38 “But God gives the seed a body just as He has planned. And to each kind of seed He gives its own body.”

Luke 12:7  “And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”

The most important one.

John 3:16 “God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only son.  Anyone who believes in Him will not die but will have eternal life.”

Clean Your Room!

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clean!

Spring is coming and you know that your parents will be getting around to the subject of cleaning your room!  Really cleaning your room!  Pulling the mystery stuff out the closet and the dresser drawers with a huge trash bag starving to be filled.  Maybe a box or two of the “to keep” and maybe a box or two of “give away”, yes it is that time of year.

There is another type of “spring cleaning” we are going to explore.  It won’t take very long and is even less painful than you imagine, but worth doing each year!

Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me”.

Visit the Middle and High School March Page for the rest of the story!

Elementary School Students

You have a new seek and find page, on your “Pre-school/Elementary Page For March” page!  Saint Patrick’s Day is coming soon, and we need to practice finding four-leaf clovers or shamrocks.

Get Your February Writing Contest In Before the End of February!

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February is coming to an end in about one week.  So get busy!  The prizes will be the same of the last month with the first place winners getting a $25.00 Visa Gift Card and the runner-ups getting a $10.00 WalMart gift card.  The winners will be announced by March 15, 2012.

1. Middle and High School Students    A one page essay which answers the following question.  “What would a Presidential candidate have to say to you to get your vote and why?”

2.  Elementary School Students   One paragraph to two paragraphs which answers the following question.  “Why is it important to vote?”

The contest is free to enter and one of our judges will be our English teacher.  She has her Master’s degree and is National Board Certified.  I am the creative judge, looking at the work from a totally creative stand point.  And our third judge will be some one with an interest in our subject; i.e. February judge needs to be a politician or someone holding an elected government position.  I will always try to keep the contests as fair as possible.

Remember a one page essay is usually 600 – 800 words.  Grammar, punctuation, and spelling are always considered when judging a written work.  Read over your work to check for errors and also to see if it makes sense to you.

Check out the new page…March Writing Contest