Who remembers what book of the Bible and chapter we are studying? Have a child come up and find the 23rd Psalm or try to open the Bible to the middle.

Today we are looking at the fifth and sixth and last verse of this wonderful Psalm that tells us a little bit about what God is like. We have learned that God is a lot like a Good Shepherd who cares for his sheep, who protects them, and gives them everything they need. Let's see what the last verse says, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy . . ." (Open your Bible and read the verse.)

In Bible times when someone invited a guest to their house they would anoint them with oil. They would put special oil on their forehead to show them that they cared about them and thought they were very important. Oil was good for the skin, it kept it from getting dried out.

God shows us we are special to him by providing for our needs. He not only gives us what we need, but he gives us more than we need. He wants us to be happy. When it says, "my cup runneth over" it means that he not only fills it up but gives us so much that it runs over. He fills us with his love, peace, and happiness, so much happiness that it starts running over and spreading out and reaching others.

This verse is telling us that if we make God our Shepherd and follow him, goodness and mercy will follow us. God will guide and protect us and show us how to live a good life. He will show us mercy, or loving kindness, and forgiveness when we mess up. He will give us another chance. He will always love us no matter what.

Directions

Click here for video directions and step by step directions with photos.

Directions:

1. Give the kids a bowl of fruit loops

2- Give the kids a piece of construction paper

3- Give the kids a plate of glue.

4- Have the kids dip a fruitloop in the glue and then paste it to the construction paper to form a rainbow.

• 1. Divide your children up into two teams.

• 2. Give each team a large spoon.

• 3. Place a bowl of marbles, packing peanuts, or anything else you might have in the front of the line in between both teams. Place a cup for each team at the opposite end of the room.

• 4. On the word "go" the first two children in line should scoop up some marbles onto their spoon, race down to the other end of the room and drop the marbles into their team's cup. The team who fills up their cup first and it overflows wins.

1. Divide the kids into teams of 3 or 4

2. Give the kids (each team) 3 pieces of construction paper and have them cut out three footprints per team. one goodness footprint, one mercy footprint, and one blank footprint.

3.On the word go, the children at the beginning of the lines should place two of their footprints out in front of them in a row facing towards the other end of the room.

4.Have them place one foot on each footprint, and then place the third footprint in front of the first two and move their back foot onto the footprint in front. They then pick up the footprint behind them and place it in front moving their back foot onto the newly placed footprint.

5.They should keep walking like this until they get to the end of the room. When they get to the end of the room, they should pick up all three footprints, race back to the other end of the room and give the footprints to the next child in line.

6.The team that has all their players reach the other end of the room first wins.

7.If you have very little children, just give each child a set of footprints. Have them all line up in a row and demonstrate how to walk across the room with "Goodness" and "Mercy" following them.