We are still learning about the twins- Jacob and Esau.

Just as we started talking about the twins, we were totally shocked when one of our twins walked in!! Robert walked in with Julie Ann!!

We were all so excited that they were visiting. Robert has gotten so much taller that we couldn’t believe our eyes! They are doing very well in school and get to visit often with their grandma and cousins they didn’t know. As we got over the excitement of having Robert with us, in walks Kaylee. She is quite a beautiful young lady. Of course, she also is doing very well in school. They will be in high school next year and Julie Ann is a 3rd grader. They started coming to our Sunday school class when Kaylee was 8 and Julie Ann was 3.

We all loved these kids beyond words and everyone in church was so happy to see them! The timing was perfect because Robert got to have fried chicken for lunch!

I was also very happy that I looked up and Jason popped in! He should have been resting, but he needed to check on us! My day was filled with joy that I got to see all these kids that I love so much!

Hope you all enjoyed lunch as much as we did! See you Sunday.

Blessings

Today, we were still discussing the twins Jacob and Esau. We talked about how different they were.

Esau had been hunting and came into the house to demand Jacob give him something to eat immediately. Jacob agreed to feed his brother, but wanted something in return; so after he thought a while, Jacob promised Esau soup right away if he would just give him his birthright.

Esau agreed to this on the spur of the moment without thinking through what he was really giving away for some food. When he later realized what he had given away for something he wanted immediately, he got very angry and threatened to kill Jacob.

Jacob now had his brother’s birthright, but to receive the inheritance he must also receive the full blessing from their father, Isaac. Isaac was now an old man and had lost his eyesight The only way he knew he was speaking to Esau was by smell and touch. Rebekah got some of Esau’s stinky clothes and put a hairy animal skin on his arm, so his father would think it was Esau. Though Isaac still questioned the identity of Esau, Jacob said that he was Esau and Isaac bestowed his blessing on Jacob.

When Esau discovered that he had been robbed of his father’s blessing, he wanted to kill Jacob. Rebecca sent Jacob away and Isaac finally gave Esau a blessing.

Everyone in this story must have been completely overwhelmed. When there is chaos all around us, we sometimes lose our ability to see clearly.

See you in church Sunday to continue our story. Blessings,

We have been talking for some time about the twins, Esau and Jacob. In last week’s lesson, Rebecca helped her son Jacob fool her husband into bestowing Esau’s birthright onto Jacob. When Esau discovers he has been robbed of his birthright, he wants to kill Jacob. Esau is very upset, angry, and confused. Rebecca sends Jacob away and Isaac finally does give Esau a blessing; however, the blessing is more like a banishment. Isaac says Esau will move far away and will serve his brother. Everyone in this story must have felt overwhelmed. It is easy to get overwhelmed when life gets hard.

When there is chaos all around us, we sometimes lose our ability to think clearly; and we don’t always respond in helpful ways. This story shows us what to not do. But this story allows us to act differently. We can proceed by asking God to be with us and strengthen our faith, to be able to be healthy and whole. See you in church on Sunday. Blessings.

WE HAD A WONDERFUL LESSON THIS WEEK. Abraham and Sarah’s son Isaac was older when he married Rebekah. They had been married many years before Rebekah became pregnant with twins.

When they were born, they were quite different. Esau was born first, with hair, much like a robe, all over his body. Jacob was born next, holding on to Esau’s heel.

Even though they were twins, they were very different.

We had twins in class on Sunday, Bill and Cindy Wheeler’s grandsons, and their sister, Rebecca. It made talking about the twins Esau and Jacob even more interesting.

Esau was an outdoors type of guy; he loved to hunt and spend time in the fields. Jacob stayed in the house and helped his mom cook.

We discussed what was known as “a birthright.” This went to the oldest son, and they would inherit the family wealth. Esau was the oldest and would receive all the family wealth. He wasn’t too concerned with this; he wanted to be outside.

As their father Isaac was getting old, he had lost most of his sight. Their mother, Rebecca, devised a plan to have her husband, Isaac, bestow the family’s birthright on her favorite son, Jacob. She dressed Jacob with animal fur on his arms and went to Isaac to have the birthright bestowed on him.

Jacob had made a wonderful stew for the family. Esau had been out in the fields hunting; when he came in, he was very hungry and wanted something to eat right away. Jacob said he would give him a bowl of his soup if he would give him his birthright. Esau was very hungry and agreed to the request just to get a bowl of this warm delicious soup.

After Esau had the soup, I wonder what he thought.

Despite our differences, our uniqueness makes each of us a special part of God’s family. See you in church on Sunday so we can continue our travel with Esau and Jacob. Blessings

You may recall that God promised Abraham that he would have as many descendants as there were stars in the sky. Abraham and Sarah finally greeted their son Isaac. Today we learned that Isaac was an older man when he married Rebekah. They had been married for many years but had no children.

Rebekah finally became pregnant with twins. It was a difficult pregnancy. It seemed that the twins were fighting in the womb. She asked God why they were fighting. God answered that there were two nations in the womb. One people will be stronger than the other. Esau was born first, with Jacob quickly following, holding on to the heel of Esau.

The twins were very different. Esau liked to be outdoors with the animals, to hunt, and to be active. Jacob liked to stay close to Rebekah and help her with household chores and with the cooking. The Bible story tells us that as they got older, the difference split the family apart. This story reminds us that despite our differences, our uniqueness makes each person a special part of God’s family. God claims us just the way we are.

While we discussed our story, our kids had a wonderful time completing some wonderful artwork and they promised to bring their completed pictures back next week to share with us.

Our swings were being used again by 2-year-old Audrey when I arrived before church. I gave her grandparents a tour of the classrooms, and they were happy to learn what a beautiful building we have.

Jade, Alec, and Remy checked the swings out after church! What a wonderful playground we have! See you Sunday.