photo by pixabay

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life:he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: John 11:25

Last fall, we found this enormous caterpillar. We put him in a terrarium to watch for a few days. The next day there was a fuzzy cocoon in the back corner of the terrarium. We were so excited! We thought in a few weeks, it would hatch out and we would see what kind of moth we had. Our best guess from caterpillar pictures was a luna moth. We waited and watched and waited some more. Nothing happened. It appeared the caterpillar in the cocoon had not survived. We were disappointed but we didn't clean out the cocoon. Other matters were taking our attention.

April was beginning to bring warmer weather and better light. Last Thursday afternoon, one of the children noticed a big brown blob on the covering of the terrarium. No, we still had not bothered to clean the terrarium. Everything in it was as dead as the winter outside, or so we thought. We all gathered to take a look. There was a huge brown moth just clinging to the screen. It wasn't moving. It must be dead, but we left it alone. Wrong again. The next morning, it had dropped to the bottom and spread its wings. Two big beautiful brown eye dots glared from each wing, enough to scare any predator. All day we watched, but it didn't move until the afternoon. As one of the children took another look, the moth began to flop and knock against the sides of the terrarium. It was obviously alive and kicking. I trapped him with a net against the screen top. We took it outside to let it free. For a few moments it dropped to the top of my sneaker, then... with the clumsy fluttering of giant wings, it flew up and off across the yard to a distant oak. The children waved and yelled their good-byes and see you agains. 

God always has ways to give us pictures to help us understand His word, his plan. In John 11 we read the story of Lazarus. Lazarus was sick and eventually died. By the time Jesus came, Lazarus had been dead four days. They were all sure he was dead. He really was dead, but when Jesus called Lazarus out of the grave, Lazarus was as alive as you and I. Jesus is the only One who has the power to give life to the dead. Jesus created moths and butterflies to help us with a spiritual explanation. When the caterpillar spins the cocoon or chrysalis, it looks very dead, but when it comes forth, it is a new creature. It is no longer a caterpillar but a beautiful moth or butterfly. It can never go back to its old life. When we ask Jesus to forgive our sins, He changes us. We are dead to our old live and we have a new life in Christ. One day, when Jesus calls, all that are in the grave will come forth, just as Lazarus did. Some will come alive to live with Jesus eternally. Some to die the second death in the lake of fire. 

Make this day the day you allow Jesus to make you a new creature in Him.

Blessings,

Gail 

Hey Kids:

Have you ever read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle?

The caterpillar was doing just fine until he chose to eat food that is not good for caterpillars. He tried to go back to eating caterpillar food but his course was set. He had to spin the cocoon and allow God to change him into a beautiful butterfly. The butterfly is a perfect picture of how we must recognize we are sinners. We must die to our old way of life and let Jesus change us to live a new life in Him. 

What other things in Jesus' creation demonstrates death to an old life and resurrection to a new life?

Here are some hints to help you investigate.

Frogs: Discover the frog life cycle. Write out a spiritual application of the frog.

Seeds: Grow a few seeds in a plastic bag to discover a plant life cycle. Then write out the spiritual application. 

Are there friends or websites for you to share your discoveries? 

We would be glad for you to share with us here. 

Come to the Water

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Revelations 22:17

Children love playing in the water, skipping rocks, wading, splashing, swimming. Our grandchildren are drawn to water like maddogs. The attraction is so strong we can barely draw them away. It's almost as much fun to watch kids in water as to participate, but not quite. Participating in anything fun is better than watching. What is it about water that is so special? It's refreshing. It's enjoyable, especially with others. It's cleansing. It's needful for life itself. 

We are so used to water used as a metaphor in scripture, we may just pass over it without thinking. "Take of the water of life freely; whosoever drinketh of this water shall never thirst; well of water springing up into everlasting life," are common terms in Christian circles, but how deeply have we considered these terms. How will taking of the water of life freely allow us to live, not just in the realm of eternal life, but what about now? Think about enjoying a cool stream or even the ocean. You will likely relax and enjoy the experience, especially with friends and family. Are you enjoying your salvation in the same way? 

Jesus told the woman at the well if she drank of the water He would give her, she would never thirst. Of course that was another metaphor. She would not be looking for life, she would find eternal life and peace in Jesus, the Water of Life. She took him at His word and shared it with others, just as we would beckon others to join us in a cool refreshing stream. 

This week won't you think of how the Water of Life can affect your life? Relax, enjoy, call others to join you in this exciting experience. Allow Jesus to bring a refreshing into your hectic life and know He is in control. 

You are welcome to share pictures and comments.

Blessings,

Gail 

Hey Kids:

Do you know the difference in a metaphor and a simile? 

If I say, "The trees in the swamp looked like old men with gray beards," I am using a simile to help me understand how trees look with Spanish moss  hanging from the limbs. 

If I say, "Old men stood in the swamp, gray beards hanging to the waters." I am using metaphors to describe the trees and the moss.

The Bible uses lots of similes and metaphors. Try figuring some of them out.

Here's some starters. The Sun of righteousness (Malachi 4:2)

The Bread of Life (John 6:35)

Water of Life (Revelation 22:17)

You are welcome to share your discoveries with us.  :) 

Planting by the Signs?

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: Genesis 1:14

Saturday I planted potatoes and onions. The calendar said Saturday was a good day to plant for underground vegetables. Tuesday is suppose to be good for things that bare above ground. I remember an old radio announcer who always gave the signs and for what the day was best, even good days for fishing. Long years ago many farmers planted by the signs. I'm not sure that's what the verse in Genesis is referring to but perhaps. 

People judge times by what signs they think they see. Like today our country is in such turmoil with drugs and terror and immorality. Many are losing hope that things can change. Jesus never loses hope. May I share another verse. 

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. John 4:35

Jesus disciples wondered that Jesus would talk to a Samaritan woman. This woman was not just a Samaritan, which in their eyes was bad enough. Jesus knew she had been married five times and she was not married to the man she was currently living with. Even the Samaritans had rejected her or she would not have come to the well alone. Jesus still saw hope in this woman. When he took time to witness to her, she believed on Him and she went back to the town and told them about Jesus. Jesus then had to explain to his disciples that the people were ready to be saved, they just hadn't heard the gospel. In two days time the entire city had received Jesus as the Messiah. The woman and the people had some knowledge of the gospel, but no one had loved them while hating sin.  

We do a great job of hating sin, but are we failing in the love department? The fields are ready for harvesting. At the time of the Revolutionary War, America was in the same moral decline it is today, but great people of God got together to pray and revival began to take place. Two Great Awakening periods took place in America and England in the 1800's. 

This week while hating sin, take a step back to show some love and prayerful concern for those who need to hear the gospel. We are ripe for a Great Awakening in the 21st Century. 

Praying for a Great Awakening,

Gail

Hey Kids:

Planting is a great time to see how food grows more food. 

A potato is just a potato until you place it in some soil.

Place a layer of soil in a large flower pot.

Add a potato on top and cover with soil. 

Place it in a sunny location and keep it watered. 

When the leaves appear, scrape back the soil to find the potato.

You will likely find a mushy, stinky, rotting potato with roots extending into the soil. 

As the potato plant grows the old potato will vanish and lots of new edible potatoes will grow on the roots. 

We may look good on the outside, but like the potato, we are pretty stinky sinners. Jesus can give us the change that will make us into strong Christians with a new purpose and life. We can grow into strong Christians and take the gospel to our friends and family, growing more Christians with every witness. 

I Am Not Ashamed

photo by pixebay

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:16

This rusty old blue truck with a blue tick hound dog in the back was pulled up in the shade of the Ingles store Saturday afternoon. The day was hot for April. A young farmer in overalls and a straw hat was bent over the side of the truck pouring a bottle of water in a pan inside the bed. The dog waited a bit, then he started stealing sips from the bottle. The farmer seemed to be so caring to the dog, like the stories you hear of a faithful old friend. I wondered why the dog was so hot and so in need of water. Had the farmer been up town shopping for spring items and left the dog in the truck. Had he been in for groceries? Maybe they had been out in the FENCE area training and stopped just to cool. Did it really matter? What mattered most was the intimate moment between the man and his dog, right there in plain sight, not ashamed. I wanted to ask for a picture but the moment was so intimate I didn't feel comfortable breaking in, though the farmer probably would have been glad to show off his dog. I didn't want a dog show. I wanted to capture the relationship. 

Intimate, unashamed, in front of the whole world, that's what I want my relationship to be with Christ. I don't want an in your face religion; just a natural, comfortable relationship that others would want to share. A relationship that others would say, "Isn't that sweet how she leans on and depends on her God." I almost just wrote "God," but I thought no, "her God" demonstrates a more intimate relationship, a natural, real relationship that only comes from working together, riding together, resting in the shade and soaking in a cool drink of water together. 

Keeping up with my busy world often interrupts my intimate relationship with my Savior. I would like to stop and ponder how to make my relationship more focused on Him and less on me. How about you? 

Blessings, 

Gail

Hey Kids:

What kind of things do you like to do with your parents? How do you address them?

Jesus called God, Father. He said we could become the sons of God. What a great way to think about our relationship with God. He is like our earthly fathers, dads, papas, however you address your earthly father.

An idea to begin a closer relationship with God could be to make a list of things you enjoy doing with your dad. Before you can call your dad, Dad, you must first belong to him. 

Do you have a time and a place you remember asking Jesus for forgiveness? Did you ask Him to save you so you could be part of His family? 

Do you enjoy talking to your dad? What do you talk about? Do you talk to him in public?

Do you think Jesus would enjoy hearing about those things too? 

What kinds of activities do you enjoy with your dad? Do you hunt or fish, read books, play games? 

How can you involve Jesus in those activities?

When does your dad make you feel safe? Do you ask for his help?

How does your dad make you feel loved? Do you tell him you love him?

Have you ever thought Jesus might enjoy your asking for things?

Do you think Jesus would like to know you love Him?

Maybe a good start would be to stop... right where you are and begin a conversation with God.