This is a resource you will want get started with TODAY! The best part is that this is an SDA resource.
“Each of these twenty-five sweet cards has the prophecy regarding the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ followed by the fulfillment of each prophecy found in Scripture for you to read together as a family.”
Click on the image below to go straight to this printable resource.
Guest Post by Nikki who blogs @ Sew Running Around
First, we need to be living in the Water of Life, just like a hermit crab needs water to live. Are we “in Jesus”? Do we seek him every day in His Word, to be in us and with us? John 4:14 “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
In order to grow, a hermit crab needs to find a larger shell and abandon its previous one. In order for us to grow, we must abandon our flesh (our too-small shell), and seek a house greater – Christ’s robe of righteousness. We cannot become too comfortable in our flesh, and in our own sins, for if we do-just as if a hermit crab were to- we cannot grow. Romans 6:6 “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” Romans 8:10
When a hermit crab is in too small of a house, it is no longer perfectly protected. It is 
vulnerable to the enemy. If we live in our sinful flesh, we are vulnerable to the enemy too! Not only can’t we grow, but we will be eaten (hurt) by Satan. If a hermit crab continues seeking for larger shells to live-in, it can live to be 70 years old – and if we daily die to self, seek Jesus for His protection, we will live a long, happy, and prosperous life. 1 Peter 2:2 says “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby“…“but bring them (thy children) up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord That it may be well with thee, and thou (they) mayest live long on the earth.” Ephesians 6:4,3
In general, and despite their name, hermit crabs are social animals that do best in groups; and best in groups where there are varying ages and sizes of other crabs. As Christians, we need to be near to one another, strengthening each other, helping each other. Acts 2:46 And not all the same! We need our young tender crabs, and our old crusty crabs too! If crabs are all the same age and size, they tend to fight ferociously with each other – and play king of the crab, to see who is better. That reminds me of us too. We need all ages, all sizes, all gifts – none the same! We are all in the perfect shell for ourselves – just the right size for the day, if we just look to Jesus. Romans 12: 4, 5, 6 “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us” Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
Lastly, hermit crabs live in varying depths of saltwater, from shallow reefs and shorelines to deep sea bottoms. As Christians living in the shell of Christ, we will be at different places too. Some of us will be just starting out, on the shoreline. Some of us are blooming in the beautiful reefs, and others of us are diving deep – but we are all living in The Water of Life! And each of the crabs are still hermit crabs, despite where they live. We are Christians, too, no matter where we are in our walk – as long as we continue to seek a greater house than our own by surrendering our flesh and seeking His righteousness daily. Romans 8:4 “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Departing Words: 2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
“The lesson that the youth of today most need to learn, is the importance of seeking with all the heart to know God and to obey him implicitly. The science of the salvation of the human soul is the first lesson of life. Every line of literary or scientific knowledge is to be made secondary to this. To know God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent, is life eternal.”
The Youth’s Instructor – August 6, 1903
“It is right for the youth to feel that they must reach the highest development of their mental powers. We would not restrict the education to which God has set no limit. But our attainments avail nothing if not put to use for the honor of God and the good of humanity….
What we need is knowledge that will strengthen mind and soul, that will make us better men and women. Heart education is of far more importance than mere book-learning. It is well, even essential, to have a knowledge of the world in which we live; but if we leave eternity out of our reckoning, we shall make a failure from which we can never recover…. If the youth understood their own weakness, they would find in God their strength.”
The Ministry of Healing, 449, 450.
“Strength of character consists of two things—power of will and power of self-control. Many youth mistake strong, uncontrolled passion for strength of character; but the truth is that he who is mastered by his passions is a weak man. The real greatness and nobility of the man is measured by his powers to subdue his feelings, not by the power of his feelings to subdue him.”
Child Guidance, 161, 162.
“All heaven was interested in the great event of Christ’s advent to earth. Heavenly messengers came to make known the birth of the long-promised, long-expected Saviour to the humble shepherds who were watching their flocks by night on the plains of Bethlehem. The first manifestation that attracted the notice of the shepherds at the birth of the Saviour, was a radiant light in the starry heavens, which filled them with wonder and admiration…. The astonished shepherds could scarcely comprehend the precious message borne to them by the angels, and when the radiant light had passed away, they said one to another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child” (Luke 2:15-17)….
What matchless love Jesus has manifested for a fallen world! If angels sang because the Saviour was born in Bethlehem, shall not our hearts echo the glad strain, Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will to men? Although we do not know the exact day of Christ’s birth, we would honor the sacred event. May the Lord forbid that any one should be so narrow minded as to overlook the event because there is an uncertainty in regard to the exact time. Let us do what we can to fasten the minds of the children upon those things which are precious to everyone who loves Jesus. Let us teach them how Jesus came into the world to bring hope, comfort, peace, and happiness to all…. Let the hearts of all respond with exceeding joy for the priceless gift of the Son of God.”
The Review and Herald, December 17, 1889.
“Family worship should not be governed by circumstances. You are not to pray occasionally and, when you have a large day’s work to do, neglect it. In thus doing you lead your children to look upon prayer as of no special consequence. Prayer means very much to the children of God, and thank offerings should come up before God morning and evening. Says the psalmist, “O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.”
Child Guidance, 520
The Adventist Home Educator 