Entangled? - Super Hero to the Rescue

 

 

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.  Luke 15:10

Prince, our giant beagle/bloodhound was on the carport barking his head off. I peeped out the window to see if someone had pulled up in the drive. Prince was at the foot of the steps, hovered over a humming bird that had entangled itself in cobwebs from the chimney. Apparently, the bird had dropped to the floor and Prince was trying to encourage it to get up. I was really surprised Prince hadn’t picked it up in his big slobbery mouth and tossed it up like a ball. It seemed that Prince knew this was an animal in trouble.  

“Go get a broom,” I said to Alexandria, my granddaughter. I had often gotten lost humming birds to land on a broom and taken them outside. I was hoping I could scoop it up on the broom before Prince decided it was a toy. I wasn’t having any luck when Lucas, my eight-year-old grandson, reached down and gently picked the bird up in his hands. He pulled away the cobwebs as he stepped to the door of the carport. The bird flopped out of his hand and landed on the hot pavement. “Quick, pick him up. The pavement is hot!” I exclaimed. As Lucas reached for the bird again, it took off, gaining height as it flew toward the trees. Lucas, his sister, and I were so excited. Prince was still keeping a watchful eye too. We had all worked together to rescue the bird.

As I watched the humming bird fly away I thought, “we are a lot like that little bird.” You see, we get entangled in the sins of this world. When we are at our lowest and realize we can’t fix things ourselves, that’s when we allow Jesus to step in and rescue us. He saves us from our sins, wiping away our past entanglements, freeing us to live life anew. And isn’t it amazing that even the angels in heaven look down and rejoice that we are saved! I think I understand how they feel. There was a lot of rejoicing going on in my carport when that little hummingbird flew away free.

Father, help us to remember how you rescued us from sin and death. May we demonstrate that thankfulness in showing others the way of salvation. In Jesus name. Amen

Hey Kids:

Do you ever wish you could be a rescue ranger or a super hero?

There is really only One Super Hero and that is Jesus Christ, but He will use us to help others if we take the time.

We often see that super heroes keep an eye out for those in need, whether humans or animals or even plants.

This week keep an eye out for someone or something that needs help. It could be they need a drink of water or a bite to eat or maybe just someone to be their friend.

You may find an animal or bird like Lucas that needs a helping hand. Be sure you have an adult to help if you are dealing with wild animals.

You’ll be amazed at the good feeling, the rejoicing you will have just because you take the time to help out. If you do something around the house for mom or dad you’ll find they will appreciate your thoughtfulness as well.

We would like to rejoice with you. Won’t you let us know what good things are going on in your world this week.

 

Traps - Your Present Doesn't Have To Be Your Future

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. I Corinthians 6:11

This week I didn’t get to make soap as I had intended, but I did come across the biggest writing spider I have ever seen. There she hung beside the downspout. She made squiggles down the middle of her web as she positioned herself look like another flower. Surrounding the downspout were purple coneflowers, day lilies, black-eyed Susans, and butterfly bushes planted in mounds along a split rail fence. Bluebird houses and birdfeeders lined the fence. Hardwood trees of every description brought shade just on the other side. The spider paused to attract her morning meal of bees or butterflies or a juicy grasshopper. Patiently she waited. She had put the handwriting on the wall for some unsuspecting bug.

When I was a kid our parents and grandparents told us if a writing spider wrote a name in a web that person would die! Nearly scared us to death. Every time we saw a writing spider we checked close to make sure she hadn’t written our name. Writing spiders were nearly as good as ghost stories for a good scare or tea cup fortunes to tell us the future. Somehow  adults aren't as interested in their futures as children. We adults tend to live for the present.  

The world puts forth its attractions, spinning a web to catch the unsuspecting; giving us the line that “It doesn’t get any better than this”. The unsuspecting cannot see the handwriting on the wall that says “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.” Daniel 5:27.

However there is a way to escape the web weaved to deceive. Jesus says “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6). When we repent of our sins and turn from the world to Jesus Christ, He writes our names in His book. Now, there is the place to see your name written. Revelations 21:27 says, “And there shall in no wise enter into it (heaven) any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they (the saved) which are written in the Lamb’s book of life."

So how about you? Has Jesus written your name in His book? Maybe you think you are beyond hope. That’s another trap of the world. I Corinthians 6:9,10 names some of the traps the world lays for us, but it doesn’t end there. Read on to verse 11. “And such WERE some of you:” Your present doesn’t have to be your future.

Hey Kids

Have you watched a spider spin a web?
Maybe you’ve read The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle.

Have you noticed the animal that kept hanging around the web when the other animals left? What happened?

Look around your yard this week for spider webs. Stop and observe for a little while.

What can the spider teach you about hanging out in the wrong place or with the wrong friends?

 

Father, help us to be aware of the traps the world offers and may each of us turn to your Son to find our secure future.  In Jesus name. Amen.

             

Preserving With Salt

This week has been pickling week on God's Two Acres. I've made hamburger chips, Three Bean Salad, Kosher Dill spears and slices. The grandkids won't stay in the house because of the pickle juice smell! I rather enjoy all the spices and vinegar and salt.

There are so many ways to use salt to preserve my garden veggies. Some I haven't tried. Some  have been very successful. The basic reason to use salt is to remove excess moisture that will cause spoilage. Our foremothers knew how to brine corn, green beans, pickle mixes and kraut. They used large crocks, layering the vegetables with salt, then weighing down the vegetables to keep them beneath the fermentation. After about six weeks, the sweet sour smell of pickled vegetables wafted into the air when the lids were lifted. No vinegar needed. I've made kraut by the quart. That's fairly easy. My husband's aunt brined green beans. All she had to do to prepare a meal was put some of the pickled beans in a cast iron frying pan with a little grease and warm them up. They were the best beans I've ever eaten.

Jesus said, Ye are the salt of the earth: (Matthew 5:13a). I was thinking about that this afternoon. Just how does the uses of salt fit the lives of Christians? Our lives should be used as a witness to preserve the lives of those we come in contact with. Our examples should demonstrate how sin has been withdrawn from our lives through salvation. We are saved, preserved unto eternal life. The difference salvation makes should be a pleasing aroma to all who come in contact with us. Did you know that if you have a crock of brined pickles, more veggies and herbs can be added to keep a constant mix of pickles going? Our witness should be such that we influence the world to become part of the mix of saved folks, adding their particular talents to the church.

If more veggies aren't added to the mix, the mix empties and becomes useless. The brine will have to be tossed out before another crock of veggies can be started. How are we adding to the church? Are we simply sitting in our own pews satisfied, or are we daily working, being salt, so others are added to the church?

Hey Kids: Would you like to make some sauerkraut to go with your hot dogs? Give this recipe a try.

You will need:

1 medium head of cabbage (about 3 lbs)
1 1/2 Tbsp of kosher salt
1 Tbsp of caraway seeds (optional)
2 wide mouth qt mason jars with lids
2 jelly jars
Clean cloths and rubber bands or string

Get an adult to help you shred the cabbage. Place the cabbage in a large bowl and sprinkle with the salt. Then mix, massage the salt into the cabbage until it wilts. Add the caraway seeds and mix well. Pack the cabbage tightly into the jars. If the jars are not completely full the cabbage can be weighted down with a jelly jar. Cover the jars with a clean cloth and use a rubber band or string to tie the cloth down. Place the jars in a dark, cool room. I put mine in the pantry.

Check in 24 hours to make sure the juice from the cabbage has covered the shreds. If more liquid is needed make a brine with 1 tsp. of salt in 1 cup of water and add as much as needed. It is safe to taste the kraut at any time. Begin to taste after 3 days until the desired tartness is achieved. It may take up to 4 weeks.

Bubbles will rise to the top of the jar. It may even run over the top. Be sure to place the jars in a saucer or bowl. When the kraut has reached the desired tartness or the bubbles no longer rise, remove the jelly jar and screw on the jar lid, refrigerate the sauerkraut and use on hot dogs, brats, or enjoy it plain, because it's plain good!

Won't you let us know how you're preserving the summer?

Blessings,

Gail

Happy Independence Weekend

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. II Timothy 3:15

The Walton’s is one of my favorite TV shows. It reminds me of the way I worked together with my grandparents when I was a child. Friday, I got to have a little Gramma time with my family. My grandson brought his summer assignments to God’s Two Acres today. One of his math project choices was to find a recipe, double it, execute it, and take a picture of the final project to turn in when school begins in August. Chandler loves to cook. Desserts are naturally his favorite, so I gave him the recipe book and told him to look for something that interested him. He pulled out pages of his favorite sounding recipes and then came across a picture of an Uncle Sam cake.

“You know, Gramma, I wouldn’t have to make the Uncle Same cake. Maybe I could make a flag,” he said. Hmmm. How many ways had I seen flag cakes done? Doubling a sheet cake might present a problem. I didn’t have pan that big! Then we came up with the idea of making a cupcake flag. He doubled the ingredients on the recipe page and we laid out a plan, drawing circles for cupcakes deciding which ones would be what color.

We worked together gathering ingredients and mixing batter for the first round of cupcakes. While the first 22 were cooling, he loaded cupcake papers and mixed batter independently. I gathered the ingredients for icing. He was doing great for a rising third grader.

When all the cupcakes were cool, we lined them up in an array according to the plan and began to frost each one, beginning with the white stripes. Then we did blue and then the red. Ooops, no red food coloring. Hmmm, what to do? Colored sugar. That worked well until we ran out of red sugar. We still had quite a few cupcakes left. Red sprinkles, how could we use those? What a mix of red decorations. We moved the variety around until we had a pleasing mix. Picture snapped, printed and placed in a sleeve for school. He was ready for his Independence Day Cookout and he’d knocked out a school project as well.

I think he had done much more. He had begun to learn to read a recipe and follow directions. He learned to double fractions. He gained confidence and independence. It was a lot of fun for everyone, even those who just stopped by to beg for the extras. Their compliments made the little chef happy. Two generations working together. It felt better than Walton’s Mountain.

Training our children in the little things is important to help them on the road to maturity. Whether it’s cooking, making beds, gardening, or doubling fractions, the closeness of adults and children working together makes the important learning enjoyable.

But what about the spiritual learning/training? In our rushing and hurrying we tend to have our independent devotion time, failing to include others of our family. Even if we try to make a family time, it’s a rush between red-lights on the way to school and work. How much attention and training are we actually giving to our children much less to God to whom we are trying to devote time (devo-tion). How do you teach independent Bible study when we’re not looking at the Word, not flipping pages together? How are we teaching focusing on God when we are having to “watch and pray” we don’t get run over in morning traffic? Waking up ten minutes early or going to bed ten minutes late won’t harm anyone. It may even be beneficial. If we turn off the distractions of our modern world and have a little God time with family, we can help our children along the way to spiritual maturity. It may even feel better than grace around the table on Walton’s Mountain.

How do you carve out time for your family to spend together with God? Won’t you share your secrets with us this week? We could all use some shared insight.

Hey Kids:

Do you have a favorite recipe you would like to double and have twice as much?

Have you ever participated in a Bible Sword Drill?

Do you have a favorite thing you like to do with your parents or grandparents?

Has Grandpa taught you to whittle and play mubbledy-peg yet?

Blessings,

Gail