Sabbath School Children’s    

9^th April 2016

“DO NOT PRETEND”

 
By Pastor Liburd

 Pastor Liburd told the children a wonderful true story, firstly he went down the line of all the children asking if there was anyone the age of 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, e3 and stopped saying there isn’t anyone here younger and smiled. Pastor spoke about remembering when he was at certain age.  He gave the children the advice saying “do not pretend”.  Pastor said “always be yourself no matter what.”.
He said “there cannot be anyone but yourself” “you can’t be anyone else you can only be yourself.  Pastor told the children about something that had happened to him as a boy at school. He felt he had to fit in, blend in to be like the others, he didn’t want to be separate. Pastor had a problem, he couldn’t swim. One day they went to the pool, Pastor was very nervous because he knew he couldn’t swim and didn’t wish to be laughed at or feel embarrassed. 
The teacher said “those that can swim please go to the deep end, those who cannot go to the shallow end please.  He stood thinking oh gosh what should I do, if I go to the shallow end they will know I can’t swim and they will all mock me.
His mind was quickly made up by hearing a voice which said all the babies have to go to the shallow end of the pool.  He had a plan, I know he thought! I will go to the deep end jump in by the side, I will be able to stand and grab hold of the side bar. So this was his big plan. Each one took their turn to jump into the pool and in no time at all it was his turn.  as he stood waiting for his turn he decided to pray, he prayed for an earthquake, an electrical fault anything that would stop him having to get jump into the deep end because he couldn’t swim. He just wanted to fit in and pretend he could do it like the others. The3 que was getting nearer to him and he felt he was going to die. He thought of another plan, I know I will watch the others as they are jumping in and teach, myself to swim I must be able to do this. I will copy them. So as his turn came he jumped into the water to try to copy the movements the others had been doing. He jumped into the deep end and of course it was too deep for him to get his feet on the bottom of the pool to stand, he tried to copy the movements but to no avail the more he moved he just kept going down under the water. He thought his time was coming to an end when all of a sudden a large plastic hook was held out and placed around his waist.  He was hooked like a fish and taken to safety. Pastor explained to the children what an awful experience just because he wanted to be like the others, to fit in and be the same. He repeated what he said at the beginning of the story, “BE YOURSELF” “DON’T PRETEND” That day he learned by what had happened to him and he was able to tell the tale to others.  Pastor told everyone, don’t be afraid to say you can’t manage or you can’t do things, don’t ever be embarrassed because no matter what happens God our father has a plan for each of us and he will never let us fall.  Pastor went onto to say there are some in church and even today that pretend , they pretend to be Christians. They pretend so long that they believe their own lie and really think they are Christians and they aren’t. Pastor said when Jesus returns in the end the pretending will be ended. When God speaks to us He will say be removed I never knew you.  You are a pretender depart from me, you are neither hot or cold you don’t know what or who you are I DON’T KNOW YOU GO AWAY. Be who you are, God loves us as we are and He will help you to be where you want to be. We don’t have to pretend, be real for Jesus as He is real to us.  No matter what you go through He will be there, no pretending is needed.

I know the children learned from this experience and I also know the bigger ones would also have learned a very important lesson.  Don’t pretend, say you can’t do things and God will take us through.

One of the children closed in prayer and the service continued where we heard a wonderful sermon.  Thank you Pastor Liburd and family your visit was a Blessing.

Story by Pastor Liburd

Reporter:  Sister Carol Lewis