Is God Gonna Getcha?

Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
Proverb 15:11

So many think God is looking for an excuse to punish us, He's out to get us.

No! God is looking for a way to get us to understand He loves us. He knows what lies before us. He knows the hurting and confusion we've already experienced. He wants to communicate with us in a loving spirit. 

Do you remember scraping your knee? The worst part seemed to be Mom cleaning the wound. You wanted a bandaid to cover the wound but not the cleaning to prevent infection. Cleaning might hurt. Yes, it might sting for a moment but that's better than the infection. 

When Satan tried to take over heaven he and his angels were cast out without hope of ever returning. Their time is reserved for hell. 

But God, wanting to show love to His children provided a way for us to enter heaven. 

God's only desire is to clean the wound sin has made in our lives. Often we may only want to turn over a new leaf, put a bandaid on the problem. Yes, the process of allowing God to clean up our lives may sting but God knows the end result is so much better than the alternative. 

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

Blessings

Gail

Hey Kids:

What's worse cleaning up a skinned knee or the blood? 

Actually, bleeding is part of the process of cleaning a wound.

When the bleeding stops if there is still dirt around the wound, infection can set in and make the wound worse. That's why Mom insists on cleaning the scrape.

What is the hardest thing about living for Jesus? Removing the things or people that might draw you back into your old life. 

“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
 “I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.”

II Corinthians 6:17,18 NKJV

Daily HIs Delight

Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. Proverbs 8:30-31

Where is your favorite place to have a cup of coffee or tea? I love my deck with the view of the mountains. 

With whom do you like to have that cup? I enjoy morning conversations with my husband or an afternoon tea party with my grandchildren. An evening chat with my neighbor is nice too. 

But there is one who delights in spending time with me -- and you.

Watching the Invisible

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. John 3:8 (NIV)

Little goldfinches seemed to tumble across our drive like leaves tossed in the wind. One landed on the handle of an old plow. The yellow plumage glistened in the sunlight like gold coins. Its crown and wings were ornate with the black of onyx. Where had the finches come from? Where were they going? I marveled at their beauty as they fluttered off to other places.

Jesus told Nicodemus "You must be born again." Nicodemus didn't understand the Spirit. It was something he couldn't see or touch. Jesus used the analogy of the wind. Nicodemus could hear the wind and see what the wind did but could not see the wind itself. He couldn't know where it came from or where it was going but he could know the wind was there. 

I couldn't see where my little goldfinches came from. They seemed to blow in on the wind. I didn't know where they were going. I just saw their beauty and wonder of the moment. 

When we open up our hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives we may not understand the work but we will know the beauty of a close relationship with God. 

What is the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart today?

Hey Kids:

What got your attention this week and made you stop and wonder in amazement?

Our children are incubating eggs. Several hatched out Thursday and Friday. A few are due to hatch tomorrow. 

The children are young and don't yet understand how chickens grow inside of shells. Maybe that's you too. 

As we were watching the new hatchlings we noticed an egg move.  We weren't sure so we watched more intently. 

Sure enough, the egg was moving. 

An egg that looked like any other egg was moving! 

We all look just like any other person but when God's Holy Spirit moves in our hearts others take notice. 

Can others see God's Spirit working in you? 

Ask the Lord how He can use you and watch what He will do.

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. Malachi 4:2 

Winter was so drab and depressing. The cold rain kept me and my students inside most of the time. But this week with spring break, pretty weather and a garden that needed to be resurrected, I began to notice the healing of winter as it turned into spring.

A bluebird seeking a home for his new mate landed on the birdhouse. The blue of his wings was so vibrant. The red on his breast so prominent, it reminded me of the story of Jesus and the woman who was desperate for healing. 

Jesus walked along the dusty road. A crowd followed Him, pressing in to hear His words. The tallit he wore with its blue fringes spread like wings with each step. Many people recognized this Man as having "healing in His wings." He had healed many. Some He even raised from the dead. The blue was significant as indicating the royal priesthood.  A woman whose faith told her that if she could only touch the hem of his garment she would be healed of a disease that had held her captive for twelve years. She pressed through the crowd to touch His wings, the fringes of His garment. She was unclean. If anyone suspected she could be pointed out and shunned from the group. 

Jesus felt the healing, the virtue go from Him as she touched his garment. He already knew who touched Him and what she needed but He wanted her to know and confess Him before the people (Matthew 9: 18-26; Luke 8:40-48). 

The bluebird reminds me of even more. The red that covers his breast reminds me that it is the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin, heals our brokenness and restores life. The woman who reached out tllo Jesus knew He was more than just a famous priest, she knew by faith He was the long-awaited Messiah, the one who could restore her life and give her life eternal.

Have you reached out to Jesus? Press through the crowd without worry of what they will think. Reach out for our Royal Priest who gives us life eternal. 

Hey Kids:

Our yards and parks are coming alive with birds and flowers and insects. God created them for a reason. One of those reasons is to show us His great love. 

What are you noticing in your area that demonstrates God's love?

Here are a few hints:

• Are the dogwoods blooming? Examine a flower and draw or write what you observe.
• Are butterflies pollinating the flowers in your garden? How does a caterpillar become a new creature? Draw a  or write about a caterpillar lifecycle.
• Have you found any rocks with interesting shapes? Does its shape remind you of a verse or a story? Draw or write about your rock. 

Sharing God's love is sometimes as simple as observing His creation with your neighbor.

How will you share God's love this week?

Blessings, 

Gail