Recently I had the privilege of travelling to India with an organisation called Compassion UK – you can read all about them later in this Topz. I visited some projects run by Compassion in and around Kolkata, one of India’s big cities, where children can go and be given a healthy cooked meal each day, receive help with their school work, make friends and play with other children, and learn about God and His love. We also visited some of the children in their homes – many of which were made from mud or plastic sheets, and were no larger than an average bedroom that you probably sleep in, but would be home for eight or ten people – often positioned on the side of the road. It made me realise how important it is for us all to remember the poor – in thinking of ways we can help them practically, and in praying for them regularly. It also reminded me – as I saw them caring and looking out for each other, playing, laughing, and doing their best in their school work – that true happiness does not depend on our homes or possessions.

So as we think about Easter at this time of the year – and the fact that Jesus died and rose again to provide the way for us to be forgiven and have a day by day relationship with God – let’s remember that He died for every single one of us, wherever we live and whether we’re rich or poor.

Did you spot all the eggs on the cover? There are 26 (including the two in Benny’s mouth!).

Hello!!!IN THIS

TOPZ ...

JuST lIke uSPage 3

MuM’S THe wOrd!Page 16

keeP MuM!Page 26

TOPZ BITZ: readerS’ OwN CluB PageS

Page 36

SIgNS aNd PrOMISeSPage 40

TOPZ HOrSe arOuNdPage 48

a TeST fOr JOBPage 53

aNSwerZ aNd TOPZ Order fOrM

Page 73

Cert no. SA-COC-1502

I MeT JeSuSPage 27

alex leaveSPage 68

TopzMar-Apr2010.indd 1 22/10/09 15:03:48

the bible books How to use

1: Each day in Topz there’s a Bible reading. It’s shown like this:

2: To find this, turn to the Contents page near the front of your Bible and look for the name of the book – which in the example above is Genesis. Now find the page this book starts on and turn to it.

3: You will have to turn on a few pages now

to get to the right chapter.

4: Now look for the verse numbers which will be in smaller type. The chapter and verse will look like this: Chapter Verse

5: After reading the Bible passage, go back to the Topz page and see what it says. Each day ends with a prayer and sometimes an action point too. To solve the puzzles in Topz you will need a Good News Bible. If you don’t want to turn to the Contents page of your Bible all the time, you will see we’ve listed all the Bible books in order for you (see left). The ones you’ll be reading from in this Topz are highlighted with a star . Use this Topz Marker to keep your place in Topz. Cut it out and stick it to a piece of card to strengthen it.

It may be that some of you haven’t looked inside a Bible very much before. If so, here’s a few helpful hints:

Genesis 25 v 2–5

OLD TESTAMENT GENESIS ExodUS LEVITICUSNUMBERSdEUTERoNoMYJoSHUAJUdGES RUTH 1 SAMUEL2 SAMUEL1 KINGS2 KINGS1 CHRoNICLES2 CHRoNICLESEzRANEHEMIAHESTHER JoB PSALMS PRoVERBS ECCLESIASTESSoNG of SoNGS ISAIAHJEREMIAHLAMENTATIoNSEzEKIELdANIELHoSEAJoELAMoSoBAdIAHJoNAHMICAHNAHUMHABAKKUKzEPHANIAHHAGGAIzECHARIAHMALACHI

NEw TESTAMENT MATTHEW MARK LUKE JoHNACTS RoMANS1 CoRINTHIANS2 CoRINTHIANSGALATIANS EPHESIANSPHILIPPIANSCoLoSSIANS 1 THESSALoNIANS 2 THESSALoNIANS1 TIMoTHY 2 TIMoTHYTITUSPHILEMoN HEBREWS JAMES 1 PETER2 PETER1 JoHN2 JoHN 3 JoHNJUdE REVELATIoN

TopzMar-Apr2010.indd 2 20/10/09 14:26:20

3

Just like us

Did you enjoy it, Josie?

I suppose so, but I like films

with ...

... more action.

But this was more like real

life.

Josie likes films with a lot of adventures, amazing special effects and extraordinary things. Life is not often like that. The film Josie and Sarah saw was more like real life. In the Bible there are stories of seas dividing in two and people

rising from the dead. But life wasn’t like that for everyone. The book of Ruth is about an ordinary family. They had

sad times and happy times just like us. But in all the stories of the Bible, God was with His people ...

READ RUTH

SUPERFILMS CINEMA

TopzMar-Apr2010.indd 3 20/10/09 14:26:22

Can you find the path Naomi’s family took to Moab?

Jesus was a refugee. which country did He go to? Matthew 2 v 14 has the answer.

Naomi and her family became refugees. Refugees are people who have to leave their homes and go to another country because of war or famine.

They often lose all they own and are very frightened. There are thousands of refugees in the world today.

What do you think danny meant when he said, ‘I’m starving’?1. I’m very hungry. q2. I haven’t eaten for days. q3. I’m about to die. q

A famine is when people actually die because they are so hungry.

Five minutes later ...

That was a hard game. I’m starving.

There was a famine in Israel. Naomi

and her family left home and went to Moab to find food.

dear lord, please help families who

have become refugees and have to live in strange

countries. amen.4

MONDAY1ST MarCHRuth 1 v 1–2

Tears in heaven Only the lonely

TopzMar-Apr2010.indd 4 20/10/09 14:26:33

What do you think danny meant when he said, ‘I’m starving’?1. I’m very hungry. q2. I haven’t eaten for days. q3. I’m about to die. q

Today’s verses in Ruth give us a family tree. Can you fill it in?

Naomi married E ______________

Chilion married

R ______

Mahlon married

o________

Benny has the wrong idea! A family tree is a chart that

tells us who our relatives are!

Naomi’s family tree is a sad one. First her husband died and ten years later both her sons died. Naomi must have felt very sad.

Crack the code to find out what we should remember when we feel lonely and sad.

lord Jesus, I pray for all those who

feel lonely and sad today. May they feel Your love.

amen.

Think about how you can show God’s love to someone who feels unhappy.

Ø£– %v +%<z lv $ x+ $>vi = % s = v h = z a = $ G = Ø l = xo = £ w = + d = –u = l t = < y = >

What has happened to you that has made you feel very sad?

5

Only the lonelyTUESDAY2Nd MarCHRuth 1 v 3–5

TopzMar-Apr2010.indd 5 20/10/09 14:26:42

I’m homesick!

But this is your home!

I know, and I’m sick of it!

Oh, Benny!Only joking!

Help me, lord, to think of the needs of others, even when it is

hard. amen.

Do you know that you can enjoy giving more than receiving? Can you think of a time when that’s been true for you?

What did Naomi say to them? (Join the dots)

Why do you think Naomi said this?

1. She wanted to be all alone. TRUE/fALSE

2. She didn’t like Ruth and orpah. TRUE/fALSE

3. She knew how hard it would be for them to leave their country, family and friends. TRUE/fALSE

Naomi’s husband and sons had died. She became homesick for Israel and decided to leave Moab. Her sons’ wives wanted to go with her.

Naomi was unhappy and alone, but she still cared more about others than her own feelings.

6

WEDNESDAY3rd MarCHRuth 1 v 6–13

Travelling light loyal love

TopzMar-Apr2010.indd 6 20/10/09 14:26:53

Gruff is loyal to John. He goes everywhere with him ...

John’s friends are Gruff’s friends!!

Ruth wasn’t going to leave Naomi, whatever happened. Naomi’s friends would be Ruth’s friends. Naomi’s God would be Ruth’s God. What loyalty

and love!!

Which girl wouldn’t leave Naomi to travel

alone? Colour in her name.

draw some of the people you love here.

father god, thank You for people like ruth, who are loyal, kind

and loving. amen.

Look at the people you have drawn. Do you behave like Ruth or Gruff towards them? 7

loyal loveTHURSDAY4TH MarCHRuth 1 v 14–18

TopzMar-Apr2010.indd 7 20/10/09 14:27:02

Sarah is feeling miserable ...

I’m fed up. I’ll never be happy

again.

Where’s my Smiley Sarah?

Don’t call me that! I’m sad Sarah.

do you ever feel like Sarah does? Naomi did when she reached Bethlehem. The name Naomi means ‘pleasant’ or ‘lovely’. But she wanted to be called Marah, which means ‘bitter.’

Naomi thought God was against her. But she forgot that He had given her some good things, like Ruth who loved her.Cross out the crosses (except the one fifth from the end!)

to find something else: WxHxExNxSxHxExAxRxRxIxVxExdxIxNxBxExTxHxLxExHxExM

xTxHxExWxHxoxLxExTxoxWxNxGxoxTxExxxCxIxTxExd.

These are ways of saying ‘welcome’ in other languages. Can you match the word to its country?

God had more blessings in store for Naomi too!

dear lord, please help me not to

forget all the good things with which You have

blessed me. amen.

Make a list of some of the good things in your life. Look at it when you feel sad.

(Answers on page 73)

8

FRIDAY5TH MarCHRuth 1 v 19–22

Bitterness to blessing a field trip

TopzMar-Apr2010.indd 8 20/10/09 14:27:12

Topz have been thinking about

jobs ...

I’d like to work in a flower shop!

I’d like to be a

doctor.

I’d like to be a maths

teacher.

I want to play for

Liverpool!

I want to join the circus.

I want to be a vet. Oh,

dear!

1. Ruth

6. harvest

7. workers

4. corn

5. the

3. up the

8. left.

2. picked

lord, help me to remember the poor

and do all I can to help. amen.

Could you give some of your pocket money to charity?

Look at the words on the ears of corn. Put them in the right order to find out what Ruth had to do for a job.

Have you any idea what job you would like to do?

Ruth and Naomi were very poor. Ruth worked very hard in the fields so they could eat. She was determined to care for Naomi.

I’d like to be a comedian or own a sweet shop.

fINGERfLICKIN’ TIME: Read Leviticus 23 v 22. God wants

His people to care for the poor.

�

a field tripSATURDAY6TH MarCHRuth 2 v 1–3

TopzMar-Apr2010.indd 9 20/10/09 14:27:22

dear lord, please help me not to dislike someone just because they are from a different country

or culture. amen.

Who can help? Match the pairs.

Who helped Ruth?

DOCTOR

DENTIST

Although Boaz was a rich and important man,he cared about his workers and even helped poor Ruth.

He gave Ruth advice, food and water.

(Leviticus 19 v 33–34)

BE A BOAZ. God wants us to be like Boaz. We should never

think we are too rich or important to be friends

with people who are poor or seem less important.

And we should be kind to all people no matter where they come from.

Boaz followed God’s law. Read it on the cartwheel:

VET Lo

VE LIV

ING

IN

YoUR

LANd

AS

YoU

LoVE

YoURSELf

foRE

IGNE

RS

10

SUNDAY7TH MarCHRuth 2 v 4–9, 14

Big-hearted Boaz ruth’s reputation

TopzMar-Apr2010.indd 10 20/10/09 14:27:33