Cantilever Ferris Wheel

This summer our church will be using Lifeway's Vacation Bible School curriculum,"Colossal Coaster World." although VBS is not until July 2013, I have been working on decorations for several months now.

The first item that I have completed with the help of my husband, is a Ferris Wheel for our preschool department decorations. My husband built the cantilevered base for the wheel.

Cantilevered Base supplies:
1.) 3 ft piece of 2X4 cut at a 40 degree angle. (Actually my husband informs me the the angel cut on the arm is the radius of the wheel and the distance you want if above the ground.) This is why my engineer husband made the stand and not me.
2.) two 5/16 anchors bolts for the base and but the plastic anchors in the 2 x 4 and counter sink the screws in the bottom of the base so that it will sit flat.
3.) a 5/16 bolt, two plastic spacers and a washer and a nut)
4.) Paint, I used red semi gloss interior paint and a white primer. (After using the primer, I had to used several coats of red so that it actually looked red and not pink.) If I do this again, I will just use the red paint.

First step for the stand is to cut the 2 x 4 at a 40 degree angel, drill a hole.in the top of the 2 X 4 and then two holes in the angle of the 2 x 4 and insert a plastic anchor in each hole. Next, drill a hole in the bottom of the stand. (ours is in the left side in the center) (See picture) insert, a washer onto the screw and then through the stand and the 2 x 4, tighten. Repeat with the other screw.
As you can see from the picture above, I used primer to paint the arm and stand. After that dried I used some left over red semi gloss paint I used last year on our airplane for VBS 2012.

Supplies for the wheel:
1. One white science board
2. One color of duct tape, (I used lime green)
3. blue painters tape
4. three different colors of construction paper for center circles
5. several different colors of construction paper for the chairs (I made 16) (the pattern for the chairs is from Lifeway's VBS curriculum.)
6. brads to attach the chairs to the wheel
7. pencil, yarn, and thumb tack
8. Utility knife
9. white craft glue and tape

First, I took a science board and opened it up. I used duct tape to the seams to reinforce them. You can use a piece of insulation board found at home improvement stores. However, I had the science board and instead of spending more money, I used it.

Next, to draw a circle on the science board, I took a thumb tack and attached a piece of yarn. Then attached it to the center of the science board. Take a pencil to the other end of the yarn and use it like a compass to draw a large circle. Then using a utility knife carefully cut out the circle. I divided the wheel into 16 parts using blue painters paint. About four inches from the top I drew another circle and then put more painters tape on the circle. I then cut three different sized circles from three different colors of construction paper. Depending on how large your wheel is you want the circles to be approximately two inches bigger than the next. The smallest circle in pink is about 2 inch radius and the next, blue circle, is 4 inches, and the last is 6 inches. I did not measure anything as I made my wheel. However, if you want it more precise you probably would want to measure. Attach the circles to the wheel starting with the largest using glue.

Once the circles are attached to the wheel cut 16 pieces of blue painters tape approximately 5 inches. Then refer to the above picture for placement of the tape. They form the spokes of the wheel. Take on piece of tape and attach it at the top of the tape circle at one of the spokes that divide the wheel. The other end is attached on the opposite spoke at an angel. Do this all the way around the wheel. It will look an 8 pointed star.

Drill a hole in the center of the wheel and insert a 5/16 screw and washer through the wheel and screw into the hole at the top of the arm. Place a plastic spacer on the screw before you insert it into the 2 x 4, then place another plastic spacer on the other side of the screw and attach a washer and a nut. Tighten the screw down so the the wheel will still move as you turn it.

I made this Ferris Wheel to decorate the preschool department hallway or one of the preschool rooms during VBS. I was going to have my husband attach a small motor so that the wheel would automatically move. But since it is for preschoolers I did not want them to get hurt so we made it turn by hand.  The final step is to cut out the constructions paper chairs, tape the together, and attach them to the wheel with brads. This will allow the chairs to move as the wheel is turned. I can't wait for "Colossal Coaster World "Vacation Bible School to start this summer.  My next post will be how I made our Enter sign for our VBS.

God Forgives, So Can You!

God tells us to forgive others as He forgives us. “Bear with each other and forgive one another. If any of you has grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13

To forgive someone of a wrong is to obey what God commands us to do. In order to obey God we must be in a relationship with Him. David writes in Psalm 63, “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you, I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you.” Psalm 63:1. God created man to have a relationship with. He would walk in the garden with Adam and Eve. He wants us to seek Him. He is always there for us to find

.

From the beginning He had plans to redeem us from the fall. That plan was fulfilled in the birth, death, and resurrection of His, Son, Jesus. In order to receive forgiveness, we choose to Trust in God, Believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and confess that we are sinners. Once we ask for forgiveness, God forgive us. He extends us His grace. Although it is undeserved He gives it to us because He loves us.  “This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only son into the world that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10.

By not forgiving others or even ourselves we are disobeying God and we also call Him a liar. He tells us to confess our sins, and He will forgive us. We have to trust and believe Him. We do this through faith in Him. Forgiving others and ourselves is not easy, that is why choosing to depend on God and use His strength to forgive is always better than going it alone. When we totally trust Him and allow Him to provide for us, give us strength, and Love for us. Then and only then will we realize the Joy and happiness he has for us.

We must first seek Him, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33, and realize we are “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3), and truly trust Him and he will take control and provide for us. Through Him we will be able to forgive and continue growing towards Christ. We must live in the light with jesus and not hide form Him in the dark as Adam and Eve did when they realized that they had done. By confessing to Christ and those we have hurt. God can and will take this and turn it into good. “ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us form all in righteousness.” 1 John 1:9.

If you are having trouble forgiving someone or yourself, remember God is the one who forgives. He forgives us and does not have to forgive you again for that particular event. You must trust and move on in your life towards His purpose for you. Hanging onto guilt or not forgiving those you have offended only hurts you, causing you to disobey God and continue in sin and in a life of bitterness,. Reach out to God; He has so much to offer you! 

God's help in time of trials

God is always with us! He will never leave us! (Deuteronomy 31:6)
As we go through trails and temptations in our lives, it is up to us to admit our helplessness and turn to God for strength and perseverance. "Consider it pure joy, my brother's and sister's, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you now that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-5.) God gives us trials so that we can grow more like Christ, that we will keep our focus on Him, and that we will only relay on Him. We must not rely on ourselves, or let ourselves be tempted by Satan.  When we ask God for Help  and we truly believe He will help, and not doubt, He give us what we ask for as long as it is in his plan and timing for us. If not, God will change our heart and desire toward His will, we have to  just, trust Him, and Him alone.(Psalm 37:4; Romans 8:28; Matthew 6:33; Proverbs 16:9) And not be tempted or enticed by the evil one. Who wants to derail us and put us on a path towards unhappiness, destruction, and even death. James 1:1-18

As David wrote in Psalm 63:7-8, "Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand uphold me." Because all that we have to face in life are so very hard, the only way to get through life, and not fall apart or do the wrong thing, is to totally depend on Him. The days I don't start off with prayer and in His word are the days I stumble or do the wrong thing. Doing what you want is always easier. But doing what God wants us to do is much harder. We have to rely on his love and strength. This always brings the Joy He only can give, His love, and to remember the difficult times are times to be thankful for. God is with us and is reminding us to depend on Him, cling to Him, and that His love and faithfulness for His children will never change or go away. 

I pray that god will hep those of us who love, trust, and believe in Him! Show Himself in a might way and open hearts, eyes, and lives. Always in all things remember to rely on You and Give You all the glory! In Jesus name I pray,  Amen.

He is always with you!

My devotion for the day, March 6, 2013, from "Jesus Calling:" Continue on this path with Me, enjoying my Presence even in adversity. I am always before you, as well as alongside you. See Me beckoning to you: Come! Follow Me. The One who goes ahead of you opening up the way, is the same One who stays close and never lets go of your hand. I am not subject to limitation of time or space. I am everywhere at every time, ceaselessly working on your behalf. That is why your best efforts are trusting me and living closer to me.

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to god through him, because he always lives to intercede for them, Hebrews 7:25;

Trust in the lord and do good; dwell int he land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:3-4

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6

I bought Chris Tomlin's CD, "Burning Lights" two weeks ago. I love #3 song, "Whom Shall I Fear
(God of Angel Armies). Today's devotional reminds me of this song. God has placed this in my
when it is so tough he carries us. Instead of turning to something you know is not what God
wants for you or would approve of. Let him carry you. He has a whole Army of Angels to help
fight against evil. He is everywhere helping us, even if we can't see it at the moment. I could
not get through my days with out Him. Psalm 23"6 tells us he is with us all the days of our lives and that we will be with Him in heaven foreve. If you have not accepted Christ, and realize you need to, stop and pray, asking forgiveness, asking him to take charge of your life and that you will Trust and follow Him. He is there waiting for you.  Thank you God for loving us so much, you will carry us
through our trials For dieing on the cross for all of us, to cleans us from our sins so that we can be with you all of our days on earth and in heavern. We all need you, help us all to find you and to trust and follow you, keep the evil one away from your children. Hold us and carry us when we can't walk, when we can't get out of bed and face the new day. I prase you for who you are and for who you are guiding and modling us all to be. In Jesus name, amen