I'm Giving Away a VeggieTales Princess and the PopStar DVD - Family Pick!

I had the opportunity to review the new VeggieTales story, "Princess and the Pop Star" which releases on DVD August 13, 2011. I have to say right up, VeggieTales has outdone themselves with this one! This story is a "Lesson in Being Yourself" and "understanding one's unique God-given gifts" and is based on Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in your mother's body, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart to serve me." 

The story shows "Princess Poppyseed's life on her family's farm is far from the glamorous, but lonely, world of her favorite pop singer, Vanna Banana. On a chance meeting at a playground, Vanna and Princess cross paths and realize they look almost exactly alike - which leads to the crazy secret plan where they decide to switch lives! As each girl realizes the life they longed for doesn't fulfill all their dreams, they learn the life God gave them is the one for which they were uniquely and lovingly designed."

My favorite part in the story is when Princess' mom says, "You know, the Bible says you are so special to God that if you tried to count every time He ever thought about you, it would be like trying to count every single grain of sand in the whole wide world! God thinks about you all the time, Princess! And do you know what He thinks? He thinks you're really, really great! And so do I!" This is a powerful and true message every child needs to hear . . . and every adult as well! When you watch this dvd with the children in your ministry, be sure to talk with them about how God thinks about them all the time, too! Encourage them with the truth God thinks they are really, really great! Take advantage of the opportunity to share your love with the children in your ministry, too!

Consider getting a small vial and fill it with sand. Ask the children if they could count each grain of sand . . . of course, even in your small vial there are far too many to count! Lead them in thanking God for His love for them by praying Psalm 139:16-18 back to Him! (Psalm 139:16-18  Your eyes saw my body even before it was formed. You planned how many days I would live. You wrote down the number of them in your book before I had lived through even one of them. God, your thoughts about me are priceless. No one can possibly add them all up. If I could count them, they would be more than the grains of sand. If I were to fall asleep counting and then wake up, you would still be there with me.)

If this were the only powerful message in this story it would be well worth sharing with the children in your ministry, but there is more . . . which isn't surprising since it is a VeggieTales story! Princess' mom also says, "God uses the good times and the tough times to make us who He wants us to be. Every life has both." Bob says, "It's not good to compare yourselves to others and to want what they have. The grass, or tile, isn't any greener on the other side of the fence . . . God made each of us special. God knew us and had a plan for each of our lives before we were even born!" Once again, these are the messages we all need to hear and be reminded of. We all have good times and tough times in our lives, but God allows these times to make us the people He wants us to be. Share with the children some of the good and tough times in your life and be ready to listen to them as they share their good and tough times, too. Spend some time with the children thanking God for loving us enough to make us who He wants us to be and ask Him to help you be thankful for the life and blessings He gave you.

Which is the perfect time to have a conversation with the children about doing something real and tangible to show you are thankful and share with someone else. Talk with them about sponsoring a child through World Vision. I'm so happy to see VeggieTales continue to provide an opportunity for us to live what they learn by serving and caring about others! This sets VeggieTales apart from other production companies . . . not only do they tell a good story with characters kids, and even adults, will enjoy, but their stories communicate the powerful truth of God's Word in a way kids will understand and remember and then goes the next step to provide opportunities for us to live what we learn! I also appreciate the information on MOPs and Secret Keeper Girls.

And as we have come to expect, the music on this dvd will not disappoint! The silly song - "Astonishing Wigs" is absolutely silly! Be sure to listen to the lyrics of the song, "You Never Are" by Jason Walker and Francesca Battistelli and sung by Francesca -"Grace іѕ under estimated аƖƖ уου еνеr really һаνе tο ԁο - іѕ take іt God іѕ bіɡɡеr tһаח tһе times wе fail - ѕο wһу саח wе חοt forgive ourselves -- Oh don’t bе ѕο afraid - уου tһіחk tһаt уου′re tοο far - bυt уου never аrе уου never аrе - ѕο scared tһаt уου′re tοο late - tοο hidden іח tһе ԁаrk - bυt уου never аrе уου never аrе." Like everything else on this dvd, these lyrics are powerful and give you something very important to talk about with children!

I love "Princess and the Pop Star" . . . as you can plainly tell! VeggieTales sent me this DVD for review and I'm happy to announce, they sent another for give-away! If you have "liked" About the Children's Department using the tab in the "find us on facebook" box ON THE BLOG, then you are entered in my give-way - which will be on August 11, 2011. If you have not "liked" this blog yet, please take a moment to do so and you will be entered in the drawing! It is this simple. Please also help spread the word about About the Children's Department by sharing/reposting this post with your friends and family!