In today's lesson we learn that ...
Nehemiah Helps The Poor --- Nehemiah 5

In week two, we see a different part of Nehemiah’s story. In Nehemiah 5:1-12, we discover that while everyone was building the wall, an issue arose. Some of the Israelites were severally mistreating each other. Even though Nehemiah was in charge of rebuilding the wall, he stopped building the wall to confront the issue. Helping others who were mistreated was more important than finishing the wall. He cared enough about the people to say to help them figure out a solution.

Our Bottom Line This Week Is: ... Look For Ways To Make Things Right.

As they grow up, kids will notice others in need. They may see when others being mistreated. We pray that kids will start to understand how they can be part of the solution to helping these situations and fixing what’s broken. Maybe they can do this on their own; perhaps they need help from a trusted adult.
Either way, we pray that they take the initiative to help instead of thinking it’s someone else’s problem. God can use them along with the trusted adults in their life to make an impact in the lives of others.

Our Memory Verse This Month Is: ... "Work at everything you do with all you heart. Work as if you were working for the Lord." Colossians 3:23A , NIRV

Remember that Initiative is: Seeing What Needs To Be Done And Doing It.
Initiative is a reflection of the character of God.
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THE CONNECTION BETWEEN INITIATIVE AND GOD’S CHARACTER, AS SHOWN THROUGH GOD’S BIG PICTURE
God took the initiative by sending Jesus to show us how much He loves us and fix the relationship between us. When we see a need and choose to do something about it, we reflect God’s image in us. Through our initiative, others can see the reality of God’s love for them.
As kids discover more about how we can reflect God’s character through taking initiative, they’ll spend the month studying the life of Nehemiah. Nehemiah’s life is a perfect example of someone who heard about a need, decided to check it out, trusted God, and dropped everything to finish the project. We can’t wait to see how God helps your kids discover how they can show initiative in their lives.