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Dear Shiloh Family,

Some things are inevitable, but it often takes a moment to reveal when things are evident. The inevitable comes when Stevie, my Son-in-Law is out of town on a business-related conference. At some point, during his absence, Jordan and the tribe come over and it’s party time at Dita and Poppy’s. 
 
Such was the case last week, and it was on like a chicken bone. The back door flew open like an incoming tornado and energy meters were peaked out on full throttle. Luke was doling out his usual bundles of love to “My Dita”, and Brady was filling us in on the day’s events. However, Caroline, my 5-yr-old Granddaughter, couldn’t wait to get to Poppy. She meticulously arranged a group of papers in perfect order, flashed that beautiful princess smile and exclaimed, 

“Poppy, these are for you, just you and Dita, nobody else.”
 
I mirrored her excitement, “Oh, thank you so much. Tell me about them.”

She carefully laid out the first leaf of her masterpiece. “Poppy, this is Twiced.”

I picked up on it quickly, “I see, it is Christ.”

“Yes, Jesus Twiced.” She then presented the second sketch which displayed three figures with a cross over the one in the middle. “And this is Jesus on the twoss. The other two are thieves. They are bad, Poppy.”
“Wow, Caroline, that is so good.”

The third drawing portrayed the same type of abstract of a figure bearing a crown. “Poppy, this is the bad king. He made Jesus go to the twoss.”
 
The next phase of artwork imaged four people with one lying prone. My Granddaughter’s face grew somber as she explained, “This is the people putting Jesus in the tomb after he died on the twoss.” 

Before I could respond, she flopped the last of her canvas creations in my lap and with a jubilant, near shout, threw her little hands in the air and proudly announced, “And this is Jesus, alive forever-n-ever.”
 
Needless to say, I was overwhelmed and amazed at the precision and accuracy of her presentation. I commented and inquired, “Caroline, that is so awesome! I’m so proud of you, but where did you learn this? Who taught this to you?”

She reacted as if I’d slapped her with a wet noodle. “Poppy, Miss Tya taught us.”

That’s when the evidence verified the evident. Our children’s ministries are effective. When you think you aren’t being heard…you are. When you think they aren’t listening…they are. And when you think God isn’t using you…He is! 

Thank you, Tya, and all of our Student Ministry workers. It is evident that you all are teaching God’s word, and it is inevitable that it will become contagious.
 
Deuteronomy 11:18-20: 18 "Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. NKJV

The seed is planted in the ears of children, but the sprout appears in their hearts. 
  
God bless you all, 
Pastor Derrell

P.S. Next week is family week. Spend time with your families.