A NIGHT TO REMEMBER ◽ HOME
October is the month to carve pumpkins and give them all sorts of faces. Some like the traditional triangle eyes, nose and teeth-y mouth, while others love to make goofy faces or even scary ones on their pumpkins. And it’s so fun to carve them, get out the seeds and maybe roast them, and set the pumpkins out and enjoy them.
So…what about all of the expressions on their faces? Let’s make some on paper and talk about how our faces show what’s in our hearts.
Preparation: Draw or print out five pumpkin shapes per person, and provide markers or crayons for kids to give faces to the pumpkins as you enjoy this devo. Also, if you can, provide some of those cute frozen pumpkin cookies, baked to enjoy at the end of the study.
Proverbs 15:13: "A joyful heart makes a face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit"
What do you think this verse means? If we have a joyful heart, it shows on our face. And if our heart is hurting that too shows.
Think about your heart right now and how you feel, and then draw that expression on the pumpkin.
(Ask the kids to share why they chose which face, and pray and chat together, allowing those with joyful hearts to pray for those with hurting ones.)
Genesis 4 say, "So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?'"
Have you ever been angry? What about downcast? (gloomy or really upset…)
Think about the last time you were angry and draw that face on your pumpkin.
Share together about what to do with anger and how the Lord can take care of our hearts when we are angry about something.
Proverbs 6 says the Lord hates haughty eyes. Who knows what haughty means?
See if you can draw a face on your pumpkin that make him look haughty. Got any ideas of how to do this? Maybe a pointy nose or squinty eyes?
In Luke 5, we read that people were totally amazed at the miracles Jesus performed as he healed the sick and set people free.
How can we draw amazement on the face of a pumpkin? Maybe curl the eyebrows up and make big eyes and an open mouth?
Psalm 63 says, "... with singing lips my mouth will praise you."
Now, this is a fun expression! Draw a singing pumpkin. Maybe make musical notes come from an open mouth and joyful eyes!
Let’s look at the pumpkins we drew. They all express different emotions, just like the ones we show on our faces, depending on how we feel.
Prayer: God, please help us to be present for each other when our face looks downcast, rejoice together when joy is alive, to never look down on others but always look up to you And may we always be amazed at your goodness in our lives, and remember to sing praises unto, because you are good.
Let’s enjoy some pumpkin cookies together – and smile at the sweet taste!