Character Construction Crew—prayers and messages from Jesus, and Bible Stories
By CQ 
Character Trait #1: Positive Attitude
Bible Story
(True Story)
Job was a man who had more troubles in one day than you or I can imagine having! He lost all that he owned, as well as almost all those he lived with. It was very difficult for him to experience being rich, healthy, and well thought of, and then to suddenly have everything taken from him in a day. 
Job learned a lot through the hard times. He learned faith and trust. He learned that even if the worst possible things were going on around him, or happening to him, that God can and will make things right in the end. He learned to pray in humility, and to hold on to God’s promises. 
Sometimes it helps to compare yourself with others who have a much worse situation to endure than you do. So if things seem too rough for you today, and you just can’t seem to smile much, try to think about Job. He learned faith even in the midst of the hardest times. Be glad that you don’t have it nearly as bad, and if you do, or if you think you do, well, if Job could make it through that difficult time, so can you! 
Because of Job’s faith and how he learned to trust in God’s wisdom, God rewarded him with even more than he had before. How about that? Will your faith be that strong? Will you still praise God in spite of all the difficulties that you might have to face today? Then as a result, you will also gain wonderful rewards in return! 
Jesus knows what you can manage and just how much you can take, and He only allows you to experience the things that will in the end help you in some way. He is a God of love, and cares so very much for you. Trust that He loves you, no matter what may be happening to you. 
The prophet Habakkuk included a wonderful word of praise in his book, a promise he wrote in prayer. He wanted to praise God even if his crops didn’t grow well, and he didn’t have any farm animals left, and if the food he was depending on for his family wasn’t available. 
We are used to the idea of just going to the shop or market to get our food.—But for them back then, if their crops didn’t grow, that would be the same as us saying, today “I’ll praise God even if the market was all empty, and nothing was left in the shops when I needed to get food to eat.” 
Can we be that filled with faith in the Lord, that even when things we need the most aren’t there, that we’ll still trust that Him to take care of us and to work good or even better things out for us? That’s positive thinking! 
When you’re thinking positive thoughts you’re thinking that things will work out, even if it looks difficult. Jesus can help us to do this!

A Prayer
Dear Jesus, 
You tell us in the Bible to think on the things that are of “good report” and “lovely” and “pure.” Not everything around me is always good and great. I have a hard time enjoying some things that I often seem to be faced with. Sometimes people are unkind to me, and it takes away my smile for awhile. Sometimes a favourite item is lost or broken, or is no longer around, and it’s bothersome. I get hurt or feel sick in some way, and there are lots of things that I can’t do that I wish I could. 
I know that everyone on Earth faces things that aren’t their favourite, or even some things that are very sad or difficult. There are some people who seem to be happy and are encouraging to others, and kind-hearted no matter what is happening around them, or what they experience. I wish I could be like that, Jesus, but sometimes it just seems too hard to smile all the time. 
I know I don’t need to be laughing always, every second, as part of life is to experience all sorts of emotions and situations. That’s just the way it is on Earth. But maybe there is one thing I can do, and that’s what I’d like You to help me with. When there is something that is hard for me, I want to learn to form the habit of finding something good in it—even if there is only a tiny little part of it that isn’t bad. 
I want to be someone who looks for the good and thinks about the best, rather than mostly noticing the things that aren’t good. If I can form that habit, then I think it will help me to not get so down about things. It’s hard enough going through rough experiences, or being hurt by someone, or going without something that I need. I don’t need to add to the trouble by letting myself think only about the difficulties and sad things. 
If I were to make it a game to look for the good in everything—and I mean everything!—I think I would have a much happier and easier time. Things wouldn’t get to me as much, and I might even be able to smile too, in spite of hardships. I can’t do this on my own, Jesus. Please help me to listen to Your ideas, of what You’d like to whisper to me in those times when I need to see and think and focus on the good. 
It might help me get along better with many others who I might normally have a hard time being around. If I can notice the good things about people, and not concentrate on the things that I don’t like or the things that that aren’t good, I think I might be able to show more of Your love, Jesus, to others by being a better friend and help. 

*** 
From Jesus to Us

Imagine if ice wasn’t cold—there wouldn’t be anything to keep your food preserved in your  freezer. If there wasn’t such a thing as very cold water, snow and ice, well, things might be warmer and nicer in some too-cold places, but there are other things that wouldn’t be so great, right? 
There would be no ice-cream, no snowmen and snowballs, no ice-skating, no “save it for another day” perishable foods and no extra refreshing water on a very hot day.
Nearly everything that is difficult has something good about it too, that you can try to notice or discover and think about.
People are that way too. There’s no person on Earth that is totally and perfectly wonderful in every way and does everything right all the time. No one does just what you want them to all the time in every situation, and never gets sick or unable to do what you need them to do. There aren’t any people on Earth who never make mistakes, and who are right 100% of the time. 
If there is someone who is making things very hard for you or who has hurt you in some way, or has taken something of yours, or accidentally broke something special of yours, or has done things that aren’t to your liking, try to look for the good in them. 
Maybe not everything is good and perfect, but it won’t help you to be any happier if you fill your mind with only the things about them that you don’t like. 
It might be hard, and it might take some positive thinking and praying to be able to see past those “rocks” in the way. But if you can move those away from your mind, you might see something that gives you a new appreciation for them. 
Did someone take a certain item of yours without asking, and then lose it, so they were then unable to return it? Ouch! That can really hurt, and be pretty difficult to forgive and to see past. However, think for a moment. Have they done just that, constantly, again and again? Most likely not. 
Are they usually the first one to jump in and help when a job needs to be done? Or do they have a nice voice, and enjoy singing? 
Or perhaps they don’t have a brother or sister or a close friend like you do, and are lonely, and instead of your item that they borrowed, they would have gladly had you to talk with and laugh together with. 
Everyone has something good in them, and good things that they try to do, or that they did do before.  
Maybe there are things that are making it nearly impossible for them, at the present time, to act their best. Maybe they are having difficulties that you don’t know about, and things are easier for you in some ways. Maybe it’s time for you to jump in and be the first person today to help them smile. It could change their life or yours too, if they start to be a friend to you instead. 
However, it’s hard to speak kindly to or smile at someone, unless in your heart and mind you are trying to see the good, notice the best, find the good qualities, and imagine what great things they can and will do if you give them encouragement. 
Your positive reactions, actions and words to others will begin by your having positive thoughts about them, first of all. What you think will affect more than just your life, but each and everyone you come in contact with. Guard your mind. Look for the good and focus on it. 
****  
Character Trait #2: Patience/Longsuffering

Bible Story
Patience is Rewarded
(True Story)
Have you ever waited for something you wanted for a long time? Maybe you waited for a few weeks, or months, or even years. Some people wait nearly their whole life for something they are really looking forward to enjoying.
Abraham was a hundred years old when what he had been waiting to have for so long was finally given to him.  At long last he and his wife Sarah, had a little boy—the baby God said He’d give to them. Talking to God about his heart’s wish and believing God’s words helped him to be patient. He also kept busy in the meantime with all the other things God wanted them to be doing. It helped them to not give up hope or get upset about how long it seemed to be taking.
Simeon was another very old man, who was waiting for a special baby. It wasn’t a child for himself and his wife that he was waiting for. God promised Simeon that he’d get to see Jesus, God’s only son, the Saviour of the world. He was very old when it finally happened. One day Joseph and Mary and baby Jesus came into the temple. God told Simeon that the baby they held was God’s Son, the Messiah. At long last Simeon’s wish and desire had come true. He was glad he’d waited. It took time, but it felt wonderful when it finally happened. 
Anna was a very old woman, who had also waited so very long to see Jesus, God’s son, on Earth. That same day, she also saw Him, held in Mary’s arms, and knew at last she’d gotten to see Who she’d been longing to see. Salvation had come to Earth.
In the Book of Proverbs it says, “When the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12) Sometimes the best things take a long time to become a reality, but when at last the time is right, we’re so glad we waited, and didn’t give up hope. 

*** 

A Prayer
Dear Jesus, 
Sometimes it’s so hard to wait. I have to wait for so many things. I have to wait for a turn. I have to wait to grow older. I have to wait for permission to do certain things. I have to wait for coming events. Even waiting for my birthday takes so very long. I just wish I could have everything right at the time when I feel like I most want it. 
I know that learning to wait can teach me to have patience, and patience will help make me a wiser and more able adult, able to do things I couldn’t do if I wasn’t patient. Being a good driver, for example, requires me to wait for the light to change, to wait in traffic, to wait for my turn to safely go. If I don’t learn to wait now, while I’m younger, I won’t make a good driver, or a very skilled person when I am older.
I need You to help me, Jesus. I get upset and grumpy, and I grumble at times. I just can’t seem to wait patiently sometimes for the best things. I feel I want everything right away. Please help me to learn this important trait—to wait, and to have faith while doing so. 
You take care of me so well, and I know that I can trust that everything is in Your hands. I am Your child, and I know You love me, and will give me just what I need when the time is right—as I pray, have faith and trust You for it. And in the meantime, You are giving me other good things that I really need—like patience, which is so important to have. 
Thank You for the opportunities to exercise it and strengthen it. I know that I as trust you, Jesus, for all things, that patience will come more easily. 
From Jesus to Us

Has there ever been something that you really wanted so much that you had a hard time waiting for it? You thought about it, dreamed about it, and couldn’t stop talking about it with your friends? It can be so hard to wait. 
That’s not the only time you need patience. There are other times, when what you want isn’t just a thing or an event, but when you have the urge to say something, or to act in a certain way, and it isn’t the best thing at the time to do or say, and might make things harder for others, or even for yourself. These are also times to exercise patience—to wait for the right time to say or do what you are feeling, or to wait till the feeling passes, if it’s something that should not be acted on—like anger, or wanting something for yourself that is not best for you to have then. 
There are lots of times when patience is just what is needed, rather than the satisfaction of having what you’re wanting. And it’s hard! It can feel like it’s one of the hardest things to do at the time. It’s a difficult skill to learn because it means giving up or going without what you might be wanting, or wishing to have right then and there—whether it’s something you can touch and hold, or see and experience, or something of the heart that you want to feel. 
It takes great strength of character to wait, to told your tongue, or go without for a while, to bear with the actions and words of others and not get upset, to listen to others’ thoughts and feelings before saying your own, to see something of yours get lost or broken accidentally by others and take it calmly, to not feel you have to be always on the go, but can sit and relax when you have to wait. These are a few examples of exercising patience.
So why would anyone want to be patient? What are the consequences of not waiting or keeping control of your temper, words, actions and wishes? The end result is that you miss out on the things that you most want. 
Imagine a pilot learning to fly an airplane. He might just want to get to the fun part real quickly, to finally be up in the air. But if he doesn’t take the time to study and learn about all the gauges and dials, to get to know all it takes to fly the plane safely, how to deal with weather conditions, how to land, and all that he needs to know, he won’t be prepared or skilled enough to do the job, and things won’t go well.
If you want to have friends, and enjoy fun times together, it may not happen if you aren’t able to wait for your turn. To have fun with others you’ll also need to learn to be tolerant of others’ mistakes and to forgive their blunders or the times things aren’t just the way you’d like them to be. It works well to patiently wait to say what you are feeling, until it’s the right time, and to say it in a kind way. 
Learning patience is hard, and comes through having times of not getting all you want at just the time you want to have it. But when you learn to be a patient person you’ve learned something very important that will benefit you and others so much.

*** 
Character Trait #3:  Honesty/Openness
Bible Story
(True Story)

Talking about Feelings
While living in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had a hard time being honest when they had disobeyed God. The Lord would walk and talk with them in the garden. But after they did what they knew was wrong, it was hard for them to be honest and to talk with Jesus. They felt like hiding. (Genesis 3) Jesus loved them so much, and missed being with them. That’s why He then came to Earth, to make things all right again, to be with us, to pay the price to forgive all people’s wrong doings. The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” (1 John 1:9)  We can always talk with Him about what happens, whether it’s a careless mistake or a wrong that we’ve done. 
We know God loves us, but sometimes we aren’t so sure that others will love us as much as God does, and we wonder what they will say or think if we tell them the truth about something. However, if it’s something that should be said, and needs to be said to make things right again, then the Lord will help things to go better than if we were to hold it in and not say anything. We can get help when we talk about the things that need to be said.
King David often had things on his heart that he wanted to talk with the Lord about, and he wrote down many of his prayers. These are compiled in the Book of Psalms. One time he wrote, “I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.” (Psalm 32:5)
When he had done something that wasn’t right, and was sorry for it, he wanted his heart to be clean again. It can feel uncomfortable and like your heart is dirty if you have something you haven’t been honest about. So, it helps to do like King David did, and talk with Jesus about it, asking Him to forgive you and to show you if there’s anyone else you should be honest with, and what to say about it. 
Sometimes it can feel so very scary to think about telling someone something—whether it’s about what you did that wasn’t right, or even you giving someone else a suggestion of a way they could improve their behaviour, or explaining that they have made you feel bad by their words or actions. 
The Book of Psalms has many words and thoughts from King David’s heart. He was a man that went through a lot of things. He’d made plenty of mistakes and experienced many different emotions and feelings, as well as sickness and pain. He faced many challenges and had lots of struggles in his life.  David talked to the Lord in prayer and with words of praise during his times of difficulty, and found peace and encouragement when he did. Many of these words of communion with the Lord are written down, and now we can benefit from these words too. It helps to read from the Book of Psalms when you are feeling difficult emotions and facing hard situations and don’t know who to go to or talk with. When you talk to Jesus first of all, as King David did, and you get His thoughts and instructions on what to do next in order to make things right between you and others, it helps give you faith. 

A Prayer

Jesus, Your Word says, “Let the words of my mouth be acceptable in Thy sight”, and I want my words to please You. Sometimes it’s just really hard to say things that make me look less than perfect. I want people to see, and think, and say good things about me. I want to have good feelings in my heart, but I don’t always. 
I’m always making mistakes. I know it will make things easier on me and others, and make things better if I admit, apologize, explain, tell, confess, or whatever I need to do when I get these feelings and thoughts in my mind and heart. 
I need You to help me to know the words to say, to show me the right time to say things, and to say them to the right people too. Thank you for being my true Friend, Who loves me no matter what. You’re the best!

From Jesus to Us

There are so many reasons why it’s hard to say what you are thinking, or to tell others about something you’ve done. Mostly it’s because you are afraid of something happening that you don’t want to happen. Just remember the verse that says, “All things work together for good to them that love the Lord.” That means that if you love Me, and if you are saying and doing something because you think it’s what I tell you in My Word is right, then the end result will be far better than if you hold back and are afraid to be honest. 
I can make even the most difficult things easy. Pray, obey and say! There’s a good motto. Pray for Me to help you to know what is the right thing to do or say when you feel something in your heart, or something goes wrong. Do what you think is right or that I’m showing you to do. Say the words you need to, in the way that is best—a loving, honest way. 
Another time to be open and honest with others is when you need prayer. If things are getting too hard for you, or you keep getting the wrong ideas from the Enemy, or you are feeling bad feelings towards others, or you aren’t feeling well, just be honest and ask someone who will understand to pray for you. James wrote in his book, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16) 
Admitting to others that you need My help, and joining together in prayer brings much faster results than if you were to just keep trying on your own to make things better in your heart and mind. It’s just part of being in the world (ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden) that people will get tempted to give in to thoughts and ideas from the Enemy. But listening to Me and talking to Me about it, and getting good advice from the right people is sure to bring good things your way. 
Be open, be honest with Me and with the kind of people who can help you, and it will bring good fruits and faster victory your way. Try it!

*** 
Character Trait #4:  Communicative/Expressive
Bible Story
(True Story)
Language is like the joints that keep the bones of a body moving and working together to do something—like walking, running, playing ball games, carrying something, and dancing. These are all things that require several bones moving and working together. 
When you can talk together with others, and understand what needs to get done, and explain things to each other, or ask questions or give answers, you can then get things done. If a team of people gathered together in a room, and no one could talk, or read, or understand anything that others were trying to say, it would be impossible for them to invent something new and work together to build it. Ideas couldn’t be expressed, questions couldn’t be answered, and jobs couldn’t be divided among them all. 
That’s a bit what it was like sometime after Noah and his team had made it safely through the flood, and the world was getting populated again. Since everyone spoke the same language they could all understand what everyone was saying. However, what they were getting into doing wasn’t pleasing the Lord. They were entertaining very proud thoughts, and came up with a project of building the tallest tower they could—in order to be as great as God. It was not a good idea. Teamwork and unity are good, but if there is only one team in the whole world, and everyone is compelled to do the same thing, then that doesn’t leave much room for variety, new inventions, and new ideas, and people can’t learn new things. 
God then gave new languages to people. The work on the tower of Babel came to a halt as each person adjusted to the change—that their personal family were the only ones that could understand what they were saying. There was confusion with so many people speaking different languages and being unable to understand what others were saying. God used this as His way of correcting them for perusing their proud plans. People left the work site and area, and moved to new places with their families. 
Communication can bring success to projects, jobs, ideas and work. –Whereas the lack of it can make things pretty difficult, or impossible. In this case it was a good thing that the project came to a stop. However, if the Lord shows you something good to do together with others, talking about things and understanding what each other is trying to express will make things work better, and go more easily.

A Prayer
I want to learn how to be a better communicator. I have a hard time expressing my thoughts and feelings, and I don’t feel confident that others even want to hear what I have to say. I feel bad when my thoughts and feelings aren’t treated with kindness when I do try to say things. This makes me want to close up and not say things. That doesn’t really help, though, as then I get all bottled up and feel like I don’t have a friend, or that people don’t like me, and then things start to bother me even more. 
Please help me to know when to speak, and to know what to say. I know I don’t have to—nor is it even wise—to always speak whatever is on my mind and heart. Learning to wait for the right time, and learning to say things in the right way is a good skill. But even if I can’t get it right every time, help me to have the boldness and the faith to just try to say things anyway, to communicate, to express the things I feel, in the best way I can. 
Your Word says, “Forget not to communicate,” and that it pleases You when we do. (Hebrews 13:16) Help me to make it a daily part of my life, to talk, to listen, or write notes, or in some way to say what I’m feeling, and to find out what others have to say too. I know it’s a two-way street. I need to do better at listening to others. Please help me to have the love and concern that I need to listen more.
I guess I can just start with You, Jesus. You are someone I can talk with about anything, and anytime, and You always understand. Maybe if I practice saying things to You often throughout the day, and get used to hearing You speaking to me as well, it will help me in my interactions with others. 
I’m so glad You can help me to take the steps I need to, one day at a time, to grow in this skill of communication. I want to be like it says in the Book of Isaiah, “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary.” (Isaiah 50:4)

From Jesus to Us

Language and communication are like bridges that bring people together. To know what’s on people’s minds, and for them to be able to help answer your questions, you usually need to put things into words—and use words that accurately describe what you are trying to express.
Sometimes you feel upset, or sad, or are bothered by what someone does, and choose to use other ways to express how it is making you feel. However, using things like acting roughly, doing unkind things, feeling and acting very sad, making comments that make others feel bad, getting angry, or just not wanting to talk to others doesn’t help to make things feel right and friendly again. 
Most of the time others don’t even know that you are feeling bad about things, or are hurt inside, or that you don’t understand why they did something.  So if you express your thoughts in words, and explain how it’s made you feel, and what you’d like them to do or to change in, you may be pleasantly surprised how much easier things get from taking that step of communication.
 If you know what someone else was thinking and feeling and why they did what they did it helps you understand them better, and it’s easier to then be forgiving and tolerant. So besides explaining what you feel, asking others to explain things when they are ready to talk about it, can help to smooth things over. It can prevent misunderstandings and difficult times that a lack of communication brings. 
There are many reasons that make people do and say things in certain ways, and you can never accurately guess just what all the reasons are. If you wonder, or if something has rubbed you the wrong way, you might want to ask them about it, and express how it’s made you feel. They also can’t guess what you are feeling and the way their actions or words have affected you. When there is a deeper and better understanding between you and others then you can have a lot more fun, and there is less guessing about what you and they are thinking and feeling. 
Remember, it helps to think before you speak. Think first, “Is what I want to say true, kind, and necessary—helping to make things better in some way?” Stopping to pause and think about this will help to prevent you saying things that you may wish you hadn’t—words that you will need to apologize for later. Not that that’s bad, on the contrary, apologizing is a good thing.
It’s part of important communication. But the fact that someone feels badly about what’s been said is what you and others want to minimize and avoid of course.   
A good Bible verse to remember is: “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” (Proverbs 31 26)
***
Character Trait #5: Undaunted by challenges/Tackling difficulties with faith

Bible Story
(True Story)
When there is a huge job to do, and you seem to be the main one who needs to do it, what do you need to have? Of course you need the tools and materials and all that you physically need to use to get it done. But what are the tools of your heart and mind, the spiritual materials that are necessary to help you get it done? 
You need a vision, an idea of the way it should be, and the way you want it to be. You also need faith that somehow, with you and the Lord working as a team, and with others helping all they can, that you can do it. Maybe not completely on your own, but you know that through prayer and God’s wonderful assistance, you will be victorious. 
Another thing that helps is if you have the courage and initiative to just start. It’s hard to get started, but once you do, and you begin to see progress it gets the momentum going, and things get moving and easier in some ways as you go along —unless something or someone is trying to stop you, like Nehemiah encountered. 
Nehemiah decided to tackle an enormous task. He wanted there to be a tall, wide and strong wall, not on a house or a building, but around an entire city. Now that’s a big job. The old wall was broken, and he felt God calling him to be the one to help fix it. He wasn’t, however, the only one around to rebuild it. He asked others who wanted to see this job completed as well to work with him. So together he and his team got to work, and day after day put in long and hard hours working. 
If everyone else around town had been supportive of this project it would have gotten done even faster. There were however some people who just didn’t want there to be a wall around the city. They tried all they could to get Nehemiah and the hard working team of men to stop their work, or to be slowed down at least. 
Nehemiah was not one to give up or to quit when things were tough. He knew in his heart that the job was one worth finishing. He knew it was what God had asked him to do. He wasn’t about to stop just because a few people didn’t like it. Nehemiah just kept on, and didn’t quit no matter what others said or did to stop them. 
In the end the wall was built, and there was great joy and rejoicing! He then had the hard job of helping the people to also follow in the Lord’s ways, and to start making it a good city, filled with people who wanted to behave according to God’s rules and to be motivated to do what was right.
Many people benefited from his bravery, courage, initiative and persistence. There was nothing easy or particularly fun about the jobs he needed to do. However, it gave his heart a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment to see the job getting done. When his work there was done he was so glad that he hadn’t given up, but had worked hard and persevered.
What kinds of things make you want to quit when you are faced with a difficult job, but you are the one who can do it best or whose turn it is to help out? Think of the end results, and don’t give up until you reach your goal. If it’s something that Jesus has commissioned you to, and told you to do, then you can be sure that you’ll be much better off, and have a much happier time in the end if you’ll just get to it and push through until the job is complete.

A Prayer
Dear Jesus,
I’m so glad that I can always turn to You, and that You are able to help me, no matter what situation I find myself in, or what troubles may come my way.
Your Word says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) So even if something is too hard for me, it is never too hard for You to help and bring a solution.
I’m praying now to ask You for Your strength. There are some things that I need to do that just seem too hard, and like they will take too long to do. I wish I was skilled enough to be able to do anything that needs to be done, and for it to be easy and fast for me to do it. –I might be well thought of by everyone then! I just can’t do everything, though, and there are others that seem better at some things than I, so it takes more effort and work for me. 
Please give me the courage, the faith, and the perseverance to do what I need to do. With You by my side, helping me, I know I can do it. Any problem is easy for You. I’m so glad to have You as My friend, and to know that You are with me day and night. You never leave just because things are hard or unpleasant or difficult. In fact, You are even closer to me at those times, when I call for You and I need Your help. 

From Jesus to Us

Did you know that I had countless troubles and difficulties when I was on Earth? Things were not easy for Me just because I was the Saviour of the world. Who I was didn’t mean that I could live a life free of any hardships and “road blocks” and things that were hard for Me and My disciples.
That is because it was one of My reasons for coming to Earth in the first place. I wanted to experience what sorts of difficulties people have on Earth, and to be able to help them. I wasn’t just travelling around to find nice cozy, problem-free places to camp in and enjoy the scenery. I was travelling around to find the problem areas, the sad people, the sick, the naughty folks who were making things hard for others, the troubles of heart and body that I came to bring the love and healing of Heaven to. 
If I only did what was easy, well, I wouldn’t have been of any good to anyone. Problems are part of life, because life on Earth is for folks to have an experience—like I did. To experience things that you won’t experience at any other time of your existence, and thus to learn things that you can best learn while here on Earth. 
So what will you do? Just try to make things comfortable for yourself? Ignore those around you who need help, and just hope that someone else will come along to save the situation and fix things for you and others?
If you want to have success, and for good things to work out, you need to do just that—“work it out”. It takes work and effort to bring good results. Face challenges and hard times with a bit of a smile, thinking, “Here’s an opportunity to learn something—and to help make a difference!” Then you won’t feel weighed down with the discouragement that problems and troubles often bring to those who are looking only at the bad, and not at the good that can and will come to those who face it bravely.
So smile in the face of hard times. They won’t last forever—and can only get better if you pray, and think about the good in it, and do your best to improve the situation. Tell Me about it if things are tough for you. Together you and I can change anything you encounter for the better.

*** 
Character Trait #6: Intrigued and interested in life/Full of vigour, zest, and not giving place to boredom
Bible Story
(True Story)
Paul (or Saul as he was also called) was a man that wasn’t going to waste time sitting around wondering why he was bored, and thinking that there wasn’t much to do. 
He thought whatever he believed was good enough for the whole world to know! When Jesus appeared to him, telling him the truth and setting him straight on a few things, pointing Paul in the right direction, it was enough for Paul to get moving. 
Since Jesus was real, then what was he waiting for? Paul was determined to tell as many people about Jesus as he possibly could, in the shortest amount of time. 
Once he had the vision and the goal of what he wanted to do with his life, this propelled him onward. Paul experienced many different situations, but because he had a goal and a passion to reach the world with Jesus’ message of love and salvation, no matter where he was, or who he was living with, or what other things he had to do, he kept happily busy working towards his goal, in some way or another—talking, writing, praying, travelling, instructing, preaching, and so forth. 
Sometimes he was just on a ship for a long time; other times he had to stay in one house for an extended period of time. At other times he was travelling without a place to stay; sometimes he was sick; other times he had lots of writing to do; other times he was preaching to many people, and sometimes he was making tents! 
Paul was full of zest, and full of the joy one has in knowing the truth and the love of Jesus. Paul learned to be content in whatever situation he was in. He wasn’t going to wait around hoping for people to come and inspire him or try to give him ideas of what to do. He was the one going out and getting others going with new and great ideas—how to follow, love and serve the Lord, and to get busy telling others the good news themselves.
Are you going to be someone who just waits for everyone else to come and make things nice and fun for you? Or are you going to stop and pray, and find out what good, helpful and fun things you can do, no matter where you are, or what is happening to you—and then get busy doing it, and encouraging others to try it out too? 
If you are lacking inspiration, it’s because you are lacking ideas and the will to work to bring those ideas into reality. Prayer is really the first step. Find out first from the Lord what you can do, since He knows what is truly best for you and others. Then get busy and have fun doing it, with all your heart, mind and strength. 
Life will be a thrill then, like it is meant to be! You won’t be here on Earth forever, and time ticks on by quickly. What are you using your time for? 
When your life is coming to a close, and you are thinking back on all that you did, I hope you will make the choices now that will please you and Jesus, as you ponder things then. Make the choices now that when you look back on our life you’ll be glad for all that you did, and not regret all that you didn’t do—simply because you didn’t stop to pray and get a plan from the Lord, and work hard to make it happen. 

A Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Your Word says so many times to rejoice and to be glad. One verse says: “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” I will actually feel better and stronger if I have a joyful attitude, and am thinking about You and all Your goodness. That verse was written in the story of Nehemiah. He and his helpers had a very big job to do, and it wasn’t easy at all. They weren’t sitting around wishing for people to make things better for them. And they found joy working hard on the job they needed to do. 
I want to be filled with a happy heart, and to have great things to use my time for. I only have one chance to live on Earth, and I want to use it, every bit of it, to bring You joy too, Jesus. I know if I just try to make myself happy, and sit around thinking about what might be just perfect for me, I may miss something really exciting. Whereas if I look around and see what I can do to make others’ lives better, and how to make You happy too, Jesus, then I may discover that happiness comes to me. 
Please give me some cool and terrific ideas of things to learn, and do and discover in those times when I really don’t know what to do or what will make things fun. I know You have all the ideas that I need. Please show them to me, or to someone else who can pass on Your fun ideas to me. 
I know all I have to do is to stop and pray, and You can show me something to do when I’m starting to feel bored or uninspired. Then when You show me something, help me to be willing to get going and give it a try, and things will perk up and begin to get better. 
Living each day with You will bring the most fun things into my life. I love you, dear Jesus.

From Jesus to Us

When someone is skipping with a rope, what do they need to do to keep it up, and not to trip, get tangled or just to plain stop? If they want to demonstrate how well they can do it, or want to get good exercise, they’d need to focus on the goal—what they are doing it for. Secondly, they need to not get distracted with other things that are going on around them. Their mind needs to be concentrating on that rope and the timing of each jump in order to do it at the right time. They need to have stamina to keep going, and not be too weak from a lack of exercise. 
In some ways that’s like what you need in your life if you want to accomplish the goal of having a happy time, and learning all that you can, right where you are. You need to have a “rope” first of all—the rope can represent having something to do. Next you need to decide why you want to do that certain activity. What is the goal? What do you want to reach for or accomplish? If you don’t know why you are doing something, then it can seem rather pointless and can make you want to stop too soon. Next, you need to have the stamina, the bravery, the courage, the stick-to-it ability, to focus on and finish your task. 
Without these you’ll have a hard time getting anything done, and won’t get to have that great feeling that you are learning things and helping others too.
So, say it’s a sunny Saturday afternoon, and you and your friends, or brothers and sisters, are sitting there wondering what to do. You don’t want to just keep wasting time, and you are starting to get that not-so-pleasant feeling of boredom, so you get thinking of something to do. You decide to make a miniature village out of cardboard, and bits of this and that. Well, you have the idea, and that’s a great start. Next, you need to have a reason to do it. In this case it’s because you don’t have much else to do, and don’t want to just be sitting around doing nothing. But besides that, you want to learn something artistic. It will be a great learning experience. You also decide how fun it will be to use your little Lego men there, and it will be something fun to show to your parents. So those are your reasons.
Once you get started it kind of gets you in the gear of doing things, and that’s when it’s easy to get distracted doing other things as well—whatever pops into your mind, or whatever you see someone else starting to do. That’s when you have to decide if it’s something that you want to finish, and to reach your goal. You’ll feel good that you stuck to it and are then able to enjoy the end result. 
Ideas, doing them, working, learning through it, sticking to it, and getting to enjoy the results can make each day a fun experience!

*** 
Character Trait #7: Desire Godly ways/Respect and reverence the Lord/Stay on His channel
Bible Story
(True Story)

The story of Noah and how the world was washed and given a fresh start shows the importance of choosing to do things God’s way. It’s like a person who has made a neat new invention. He’s put a lot of work into it and planned every detail. When at last  it’s complete there’s one more important thing to do before he gives it to someone else to use for a while—he needs to give instructions on its use and make a “user’s manual.” So he does that, and makes it very clear just how to operate his machine and how to use it in the best and safest ways—and how not to ruin it or get hurt while using it.
However, if the person he gives all the instructions to doesn’t read them, and doesn’t follow them, the machine really won’t last long and won’t be able to be used for the purpose it was created. The one who worked so skilfully to make it will feel sad and upset. 
The Earth is God’s creation, and lots of love, time, thought and creating went into it. But if humans won’t read or listen to or follow any of His instructions for how to enjoy and care for the world and each other properly, and they don’t remember or obey His words and instead start doing it their own way, things will get into a mess—like they have. 
At the time of Noah things were already very messed up, mixed up, and nothing good was coming from the wonderful creation that God had made. It was time to clean things up and give out the instructions once again, to people who would listen and obey. Noah was someone who would listen and would follow whatever God said, so he and his family were the only ones permitted to keep using God’s invention—the world.
The Bible says that things will continue to get bad again, until it’s like it was at the time of Noah, because the people who then began to live on the cleaned-up world tossed aside the manual and stopped asking the creator about how to operate and use His Earth-invention wisely, and were always trying to do things opposite to His ways. 
Will things always be this way? Or will God the Creator once again need to clean things up, and get things (and the people) working and functioning properly again? Yes, He will—one of these days, in His own special way that He knows will be best. There won’t be another flood of water again, as He promised to not do that again.  But He will get things cleaned up one day, and restored to the beautiful way it was when He first created it.
 Are you going to be one of the modern-day “Noah’s” who will follow His Words and do what He said to do while on Earth, and to try to help others to obey and do things His way? If so, then you’ll make Him so happy, and you’ll have a wonderful future with Him, and will enjoy seeing how nice the world will be one day, when the time is right.

A Prayer
Dear Jesus, everywhere I look I see something that I don’t think you really like. It seems books nearly always include something ugly or untruthful. Magazines and advertisements also show pictures that display something that is unpleasant. There are songs and stories that not only tell things that are completely untrue, but also make those who listen to them or read them feeling bad inside, motivating them to do the wrong things—and then it makes them doubly sad. Movies, videos, television and the internet are filled with bad examples of what NOT to do, and images that are ugly and destructive. 
I wish the world were only filled with things that made You and me happy, all the time! I wish everyone on Earth could feel true love, joy and happiness. When people make the wrong choices and choose to do something thing that is ugly, bad or destructive to themselves or others, sometimes they feel that it’s what they want to do, at the time. However, those who do those things they never get to feel the real joy that comes from knowing they are loved by You; they miss experiencing the joy of helping others and putting the needs of others first. In the end they are always a bit sadder, no matter how much they wanted to do or see something that was bad, it doesn’t actually make them happier, after all. 
Even if I can’t change everything in the world and make it all better again, help me to at least make the right choices today. I wish that children everywhere would be lovingly cared for, and that all families could have what they need, and that people can laugh more and have really great things to smile about—like the way real love makes them feel. I may not be able to do everything, but I can do my part.  I need You, Jesus, to help me to chose to give rather than take from others. I need Your help to look away from something that is showing what that the Enemy of our lives wants to advertise and get me interested in. I pray that you will help me to think Your thoughts—like “what would Jesus do if He were in my situation right now,” and things like that. I need You to help me make the choice to listen to Your words, to read the Bible, to talk about what You say with others, and to pray and talk with You. Even if other things try to distract me when I am just about to take this special time with You, I want to push it all away, and “learn of You” so that I can get Your instructions on how to do things Your way.
I know if I just take these little steps things will be better for me and for those around me. 

From Jesus to Us

Have you ever tried pouring a big glass of juice or milk, but you aimed wrong or were going too fast and the cup tipped over and the drink spilled all over the table and on to the floor as well? A glass of refreshing cold juice or milk would have been nice, but in the wrong place—on the table or floor—it was then just a mess to clean up. It would get stinky, sticky and be slippery and dangerous too if you didn’t clean it up. Instead of something nice it was just a bunch of hard work to get things fixed up again.
That’s like words and actions—at the right time, in the right place, and doing it in the right way it can be great and just what is needed. But if you aren’t aiming your thoughts right, and you aren’t doing things in a thoughtful way, or you’re being careless about the effects of what you are doing, then it can end up making a mess of things.
Take kite flying as another example. You have to have the string nice and long and strong and straight. The kite needs to not be torn with a large hole in it. The tail needs to be freely flying in the right direction to be of any help to the kite. And of course, you need to be trying to fly it at the right time when the wind is blowing just the right amount for the kite to even fly at all. 
If you just went out on any kind of day, wind or not, and took any old broken kite that had parts missing and was tangled it really wouldn’t work well, and wouldn’t be fun at all. You’d be doing a lot of running trying to get it to fly. It might be good for exercise but the goal you are trying to reach wouldn’t happen. 
So when you are doing things, you need to stop and pray, and stop to think: “Is everything that I need here? Do I have the right materials? Is this even the right time to be doing this activity at all? Am I doing things in a safe way? Will it bring the results that I’m hoping for? Is it what the Lord wants me to be doing right now? Will it make Jesus and others happy? –Or is it just some crazy plan that I’m trying to make work, but it won’t be the best?”
I want you and others to be safe and happy and getting to know Me better. When you are doing things My way—I, Who made you and the world around you, and Who knows the past and the future and just what is going on in the present—then I can make things turn out for your good in the end, and you’ll learn helpful things along the way too.
So stop to think, stop to pause, stop to pray, and you’ll get better results from the things you attempt to do. Being wise means to put into effect the things you have learned and the knowledge you have gained to bring about good results and to make things go well for you and others. It means not just doing whatever you happen to think of but to do as is best—and as I have taught you or will continue to teach you, is truly the best thing.
Sometimes you have to just do what I’ve said in My Word is right, before you’ve learned for yourself that it’s really the best—because you aren’t old enough to have experienced the troubles that would come if you did things the opposite way. But if you do what I say to do anyway, then things will go much better for you than if you just were to do any old thing that others are doing or saying to do, or just doing whatever comes to mind.
There is a right way and a wrong way—and usually the easy way isn’t the best way. But the right way is simply My way and what I want you to do at the time, and in the end that will prove to be the best and what makes you the happiest.
If others are foolishly saying to do this or that, yet in your heart you know it’s not something I would have liked to do or to watch or to listen to if I was there, and if it’s not a safe idea or good in anyway, then don’t do it. Even if it’s hard to do things differently than what it seems others are doing, and they might even make you feel bad or pressure you to do this or that, in the end you’ll have it better, and be happier and wiser if you choose to do what I know is good and lovely, true, just and honest and all those great things listed in Philippians 4:8.
“ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

A Message from Jesus about respecting His Spirit and staying on His Channel:

My dear little ones, do you remember how I told My disciples to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves?  Perhaps you thought that was an unusual parallel but I was trying to tell them the importance of wisdom.  Everyone is pretty respectful of snakes and gives them a clear berth. And that is wise. 

Wisdom is one of the most important things for My children to learn, especially as the world gets more evil and spiritually darker. The best way to avoid falling into one of the devil’s traps is by staying close to Me and keeping your channel to Me clear and unobstructed.

Remember that analogy in My Word about life in these Endtime days being like crawling through a minefield?  Minefields are very dangerous because the bombs are buried underground and you can’t see them. The only way you, My Endtime soldiers, can make it through will be by keeping your headset on and listening to My directions every inch of the way as you crawl through the minefield.

I have the advantage of being able to see from the Spirit world and I know where the Devil has set booby-traps to try and catch you. Don’t think you can take off your headset even for a minute when you’re crossing one of his minefields.  Keep it on and your channel clear of static so you can hear My minute by minute instructions.

I love you, My dearest little ones. I’ve gone over the course already and won My reward. Now it’s your turn. But don’t worry, I’ve made all the necessary preparations to make it easy for you and I’ll be there to coach you all along the way. Just stay close to Me, ok?

eof

*** 
Character Trait #8: Enjoy Nature 
Bible Story
(True Story)
Jesus often talked of nature while speaking to the many who came to hear Him. Many of the stories He told and the examples He gave were about things of nature. When He was asked where He lived, He explained that He didn’t have a house to go to then and He spoke of the animals each having a habitat or nest—unlike Him, who was travelling around helping people.
To give an example to everyone of what it means to have faith and to trust that God will care for us and give us what we need, Jesus talked about the beauty of the flowers, and spoke of the birds receiving the food they needed by God’s provision.
Jesus talked of spring and the leaves growing on the trees being a sign of summer getting closer—just like there will be signs in the way things are in the world, that will show us that Jesus’ return is getting closer.
Then there was the “Parable of the Sower” that Jesus told, to show how God’s Word in our hearts can bring about good things in our lives—like the good crops that grow in good soil, bringing forth plentiful fruit and produce. He spoke of the rocks, different types of plants, the sun and the birds.
Jesus talked about the weather. Rainstorms and flooding around the wise and foolish man’s houses was like the troubles of life, and only those that do what He tells us to do will remain strong. He spoke of the colourful clouds in the sky being signs to give clues about what the weather will be like, and reminding us to keep a look out for the “signs of the times.” He said to notice the events in the world that tell us it’s getting closer to the time when He’ll come to make things right again in the world, and He said what things to watch for, as things get worse in the world before His return.
The wind was used as an example of what God’s spirit is like when Jesus was talking with a man called Nicodemus. You can’t see God with your eyes, but you can see that He is around—just like wind is as invisible as the air your breathe, but you can feel it and see what it is blowing on. You can’t predict just what way the wind will blow, and when it will stop, just like God is too amazing for us to know everything about Him or always know just what He’s going to do next. Wind is, however, a very necessary part of nature and helps the plants in many ways. It spreads seeds and pollen, blows off old leaves, and strengthens trees by giving resistance to it that causes their roots to grow down deeper. We also need God’s spirit to help us thrive and be refreshed, to blow away the old, and to grow strong in heart and mind and spirit. 

A Prayer
Dear Jesus,
I’m reminded of You so often throughout the day. Every time I see a bright cloud, or notice a wild spring flower that has blossomed, or see the coloured sky at sunset, I realise that it wouldn’t be there it if weren’t for You making things beautiful. 
You are the God of beauty and of creation. You created me and the plants and animals and universe that’s all around. Everything You touch has something special about it. Everything You create has something beautiful about it. 
I like making a game of trying to notice Your handiwork in all the things of nature that I see and come across. When I think of how much love and thoughtfulness You put into each thing that was made it makes me feel nice inside, and calm. I realise then that You put lots of love and thoughtfulness into making me too, and You think about all that is going on around me.
Please help me to put forth the effort and to make the right choices to help take care of the plants, the animals, the seas and lakes, and the air around us. Even if I can’t do much now, even if there is only a small bit I can do to help, I want to do my part and make You happy when You see that I am caring for things, just as You asked people to do when you first created them.
I’m looking forward to the day when the world is made new again, and the troublesome pests and dangers that now are in the world and in nature too, will be changed. I want to see and experience what it must have been like when You first made the world and everything was safe and beautiful, without any pollution either. But until then, I want to enjoy the beauty that is still around.
Being out in nature and enjoying it in safe and fun ways is so important. I need You, Jesus, to work out good opportunities and special times for me and my family and friends to do this. Thank You for all that You have made, and I pray for Your loving care and safekeeping as I explore and enjoy it.

From Jesus to Us
I love to see you gazing at the colourful clouds that I display at sunset or sunrise. I enjoy seeing you laugh at some silly antic of the playful animals. I appreciate that you take the time to smell the flowers and to notice just how delicate, intricate and amazingly designed each one is.
When you admire the beauty of creation and all the amazing different things there are to discover, I’m glad. It’s like if you made a special surprise for someone you love, and you laid it out in hopes that they’d notice it as they walked along. And if they did, and they thought about you and how kind and special you were to make it for them, it would make you feel glad, right? 
What if they rushed on past it, day-after-day, never noticing anything that you put for them to see; never knowing that you thought about them, loved them and wanted to cheer them up? You’d wish they would see it and it would make their day a bit happier. If they knew that you loved them it would make them feel better, and it would warm your heart too, because you wanted them to be happy.
When you see the simple and beautiful things in nature, thank Me for it! When you notice the amazing and more spectacular displays of beauty, praise Me for it! When you go outside, let your first thoughts be of Me—the One who made this world and you as well. Even every good breath of the air you breathe is because I created it and made things such in the world around so you could have all that you needed. 
“Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord!” If you are breathing and have life, declare it with gratitude. It’s because of all that I made—you and the plants and the atmosphere and all that it takes to make the fresh air. Everything has been planned for, and everything can help you in some way to live and to learn and to experience interesting things while on Earth.
I made it all for you to enjoy, and I get great joy when you thank and praise Me for the good that you notice, the things that are beautiful and Godly in the world that surrounds you. Enjoying nature together with Me is a wonderful, health-building and inspiring experience.

A message from Jesus to the children about enjoying nature:
When I was a child, I loved to sit on a grassy spot and watch the sky, the wind, and the trees. I loved being alone and watching the quiet simplicity and beauty of nature. And My Father would speak to me at these times. He would teach me so many things that I would never have learned any other way when I learned to get quiet and appreciate the beauty of His creation.

The same is true for you, My children. I love to speak to you through My creation. I love to paint a sunset and see if you notice. My presence is in the tiniest flower, and it breathed life into newborn baby birds. I am also in the crashing waterfall and the thunder storm. You can learn to appreciate so many aspects of My nature by spending time in My creation. Take time to stop, look and listen and My Spirit will come to you and speak to you. Always, I promise. 

***
Character Trait #9:  Think well of others (Not critical/looking down on/judgemental)
From Jesus to Us

In My life on earth, it would have been easy for me to get critical of others.  Even My twelve closest disciples were so thick-headed and full of faults, it would have been easy to get impatient with them. After all, I was the Son of God. I had enjoyed all the privileges of Heaven and all the power that being part of the God-Head entitled me to.  I was there with God the Father when He created the world. We were always in perfect accord with one another. 
Part of My mission on earth was learning how to humble Myself and let Myself be contained in weak human flesh.  I took on the form of an insignificant working class person, a carpenter. I took orders from my parents until I was 30 years old.  Nobody thought much of me.  But all the while, I was communing with My Father; I was growing stronger and stronger in His Spirit.
I would take time every morning and evening to pray and talk with God My Father. And He would tell Me so many things. He told Me that being humble and loving is what is really important in the Kingdom of Heaven. He showed me parables from His Creation that I would use to teach the multitudes these same truths about the Kingdom.  
Being loving, positive and thinking well of others are Kingdom qualities. I told My enemies, “My Kingdom is not of this world.”  And that means the qualities that are valued in My Kingdom are also different. People in the world may think it’s cool and smart to be critical, and put others down to make yourself look good.  But you and I, My children, belong to a Kingdom that is not of this world. A Kingdom that will last forever. 
My time on earth was just a training period so I could learn all I needed to know about compassion, love and thinking well of others. It is your training period, My children. So do all you can to be loving and try to practice this skill every day. You’ll never be sorry for living God’s way.  And when you join Me in My Kingdom, I will welcome you with open arms and a “Well done, My faithful servant!  Enter into the joy of your Lord!”

**** 
Character Trait #10:  Empathetic/ Understanding/ Put one’s self in another’s place
A message from Jesus to the children about empathy:

When I was on earth, I wanted to teach My disciples about empathy and in order to do that, I first had to be a sample.  I couldn’t just preach to them about loving their neighbour, I had to show them how. That last dinner we had together, I knew they were arguing among themselves who would be the greatest in My Kingdom.  The best way to stop their arguing was to show them by My example. That’s why I took off My clothes and wrapped a towel around my waist and went among them with a wash bowl and water, like a servant, to wash their feet. 

I became like a lowly servant to teach them the lesson of humility.  And that is how it was all through My time on earth with them. The only way I could get through to them was being a sample of My Father’s way, of the Kingdom way. 

Later on, inspired by the Holy Spirit, they wrote all the stories down of what I did and how I taught them, and that is how you come you now have the Gospels.   

Now you know how I cared for My disciples, how I wept when my friend Lazarus died, how I wept over the city of Jerusalem and the many hard-hearted people there who would not receive Me. You also know how I gave love and understanding to everyone I could, no matter what they had done or what their station in life.

You have learned about it in the stories I told, like the Story of the Good Samaritan. Now My little ones, I ask you, will you also give that same love and understanding and compassion to others in need?  That is how My Kingdom will come to reign in people’s hearts. By each one of us doing our best to show love and empathetic understanding to those who need it.  Love your little brothers and sisters, and those around you. See the good in them and try to see the good in every situation. Love and you can’t go wrong!  Even when it seems you are losing, like I did, in the end you will win out, as I did. Love, Jesus. 

Character Trait #11: Encouraging
A message from Jesus to the children about being encouraging:

Time and time again, the Bible is full of stories about encouragement. From the beginning pages where God encouraged Adam and Eve after they had disobeyed and fallen into sin until the last and final pages where it says that God will wipe away every tear that has been cried. 
Sometimes that’s why mistakes happen and things go wrong. It’s so that people can be encouraged that they are still loved in spite of their mistakes.
In the same way you, My dear children, are called to be encouragers, and to encourage those who are discouraged with themselves and the mistakes they make.  Or perhaps you’re someone who has made a lot of mistakes and needs encouraging. Then come to Me. Come to My Words and come to My arms because they are always open to you.  Learn what great love I have for you. A love that sees all and forgives. A love that sees beyond mistakes.  And then My dear one, once you have experienced My great love for you, please be sure and share it with others. Give to others what has been given to you. That is how My love will grow and how My Kingdom will fill the earth. I love you!

Character Trait #12:   Show out going concern

*** 
Character Trait #13: Generous

A message from Jesus to the children about being generous:
	I love you, My children, and I hope you are learning that My nature is to give. When I saw the people who had stayed the whole day to listen to Me, I wanted to feed them and My Heavenly Father did a miracle in stretching the loaves and fishes. It makes Me so happy when I see you being giving and sharing with your younger brothers or sisters.  Also when you are sharing and giving in situations where no one notices and it means you get a smaller piece. Remember, it is more blessed to give than to receive. And I always see what you do and will reward you greatly. You never lose by giving, My dear ones!  I even went to the cross and died for you so that I could give you My Father’s love and you could share My rewards in Heaven. That was a pretty big bit of giving!  So I hope you can remember that and share and give with others whenever you can.  It sure makes Me happy, dear one!

Character Trait #14: Giving/Caring about others more than yourself
A message from Jesus to the children about being giving and caring:
I always bless giving and caring, My dear ones.  In My kingdom, those who give and care the most are those who are honoured the most.  –Not because they did it for that reason but because they did it out of love for Me.  And that is what I want your motivation for giving to be, too.  Because I look on the heart. To Me, it doesn’t matter how much or how little you give, as long as you give from the heart.  That is why I marvelled at the widow’s mite although others scorned her small gift.
When you pray for My Kingdom to come and for My will to be done on earth, you are actually praying for My sample of giving and caring to come alive more and more upon the Earth. And for that to happen, dear ones, I need you!  I need each one of you to live a life of giving and carrying. One by one, heart by heart, together we can change the world with love!

Character Trait #15: Hard working

Character Trait #16:  Not Lethargic

A message from Jesus to the children about working hard:
My dear ones, consider My life on earth, if you will.  I was the son of a carpenter and trained to follow his craft.  As such, I learned about work and working hard at an early age. It wasn’t like today where you can buy wood and power tools at a hardware store and timber yard. No, my father taught me how to find my own wood, select the right tree and cut it carefully so that no wood was spoiled in the process. Then it had to be shaped and smoothed and cut into planks. And it was all done by hand!  
I learned about hard work from My father and I learned a lot of lessons in the process. Lessons on going slow and doing things right and, above all, being patient.
I even told My disciples, “My Heavenly Father is still working and I must do so also.”  And “I must work the works of Him that sent Me while it is still day. The night comes when no man can work.”
And that is just as true for you, My children. For in your time, spiritual night has fallen and will soon cover the entire world. So learn to use the time well, and do all you can for Me and others while you still have the time.  I love you and am with you always!

A message from Jesus to the children about not being lethargic:
My dear ones, I love you so much!  And I have a special calling for you that is bright and shining and full of promise!  But only you can reach out and make it your own.  I spent My time on Earth doing My best to teach people and love them and share with them about the Kingdom of God. Because I wanted to bring as many to Heaven with Me as I could. I knew My time was short so I had a sense of urgency about what I was doing.  And I pray that you will have the same sense of urgency.  Because I need you to be My light, My sample in the world. There is so much waiting for you in Heaven that I have stored up for you.  All you need to do now is run the race with patience and endurance that is set before you.  Don’t be lethargic like the rabbit that went to sleep in the middle of the race because he was so confident he would win.  But keep running the race and don’t let the devil trick you out of the Heavenly reward that is waiting for you!  Keep running the race with patience and perseverance!  I love you and am rooting for you!

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Character Trait #17: Gratitude-filled reactions/Contentment
A Message from Jesus About Gratitude

It’s a funny thing but during My time on earth, I noticed that the people who were closest to Me were the most grateful ones. Do you remember the woman who washed My feet with her hair?  She was so thankful for My loving touch and forgiveness, she couldn’t stop weeping and washing My feet with her hair.  My disciples thought it was silly and a waste of time and money but I saw through to her heart and said, “What she has done will always be remembered. They that have been forgiven much, also love much.”

It’s the same way with gratitude. Those who have the most gratitude and thankfulness also have the most love for Me. And as a result, they experience so much more love and blessings from Me.  Gratitude and a grateful attitude unlocks the treasure chest of Heaven that I am waiting to pour out to you, My children. 

Sometimes My hands are tied and the locks stay closed because of your own attitudes, sad to say. The children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years because of their unthankfulness and murmuring. A negative, ungrateful attitude throws up a spiritual wall between you and Me.  I have to wait until you make the first move and start praising and being thankful. That’s when I can unlock those treasure chests and pour out unbelievable treasures and riches upon you, My dear ones whom I love to bless.  

Character Trait #18: Prayerful reactions

A Message from Jesus About Having Prayerful Reactions:
There were plenty of times when I was tempted to shoot off an answer from the top of My head. But the long years of preparation and training before I started My public ministry taught Me a lot. I learned to rely on My Father’s voice for My wisdom.  As I said, “I can of Myself do nothing. But as I hear I judge.”

So that when the religious leaders tried to trick Me, I didn’t react or reply right away. Sometimes I kept them waiting while I waited. One time I even stooped down and drew in the sand with My fingers. That was because they had asked Me a particularly difficult question. Do you remember about the woman who was taken in adultery?  They were trying to trick Me into saying something rash and unwise.

But because I didn’t let Myself get pressured to answer them right away and instead stayed calm until I hear clearly from My Father, I was able to give them the best answer possible. --One that convicted even their stony hearts. 

And I can do the same for you, My children, in whatever situation you are facing where someone is pressuring is on you to say something quick. Don’t yield to that pressure; instead yield to My Spirit and I will give you the best answer possible.

That is the way to grow in wisdom and understanding. By staying close to Me so I can teach you Myself.  I love you!