Safety and Recovery in the Father's House

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, Luke 15:18

This morning, on my way to church, I saw a Canadian Goose hobbling down to a stream along the side of the road. I wondered why he was alone? What had drawn him to this particular spot? Was he injured as the limp indicated, or was it just the embankment he was traversing?  He was alone and headed for water in a brushy, secluded area. Was this a place of recovery? Was this a place of safety?

So often, it is only when Satan has beat us down,  that we arise and go to Jesus, the Water of Life. We go alone, ashamed and injured by our past. We try to hide our needs. Though the world may not know, God always sees. Maybe we have never gone to Jesus, or maybe it's been a long time. We wonder if God will accept us. Will this be a place of safety and recovery? 

In Luke 15, the prodigal son had to make a choice to arise and return to his father or die in the hog pens. He decided to go to his father and confess his sins. You know the rest of the story. His father placed a ring on his finger, shoes on his feet, gave him the best robe, and killed the fatted calf.  

O Prodigal, "Arise and go to Jesus. He will embrace you in His arms. In the arms of my dear Saviour, O there are ten thousand charms." (I Will Arise and Go To Jesus; J. Hart)

Arise

Hey Kids:

I love watching nature and using a Noticing Journal. A Noticing Journal is a great place to draw and write about the things I observe from nature. God tells us in Romans 1:20 that the invisible things of God are clearly seen in His creation. I like to add a Bible verse or song to my noticings to remind me of the way God shows Himself through all He has made. 

What things will you notice this week? 

How will you describe the great truths of God from your noticings? 

We would love to share in your noticing joys this week. 

Post your drawings and/or writings in the comment section. 

Parents, if you have a noticing journal, we would love to share in your joys as well!

l

Prayer Needed

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. I Timothy 2:1,2 KJV

This passage is the beginning of the verses read by Franklin Graham at President Trump's inauguration on Friday. It explains our obligations as Christian citizens. In our country, we have many rights and opportunities, but prayer is the most important right, opportunity and obligation we have to help our nation heal. 

God spoke to Solomon in a dream after he completed the temple. 
In II Chronicles 7:14, He told Solomon how to pray for the nation of Israel. It is also an example for our nation. 

• We need to humble ourselves
• pray, seeking God's face
• demonstrate our willingness to turn from our wicked ways

Then God promises to hear our prayers and forgive us and heal our land. 

As Franklin Graham traveled to each capitol city in all fifty states this past year, I believe he was attempting to call us to pray, not just that day, but every day for ourselves and our leaders. 

We have many outlets to express ourselves. Social media, blogging, marches, even the bumper stickers on our cars let others know how we feel, but have we told God? 

The most powerful way to affect our nation, our communities, and our families is on our knees. 

 Hey Kids:

Do you know our leaders? Who is a leader?

Leaders can be parents, teachers, pastors, police, firefighters, mayors, governors, state and federal representatives, judges and of course the president.

Who is God prompting you to pray for? 
Write their names in your prayer journal with specifics you will ask for those leaders. 
Don't forget to record how you see God answering as you pray daily.

P.S. Let me know how I can pray for you, because YOU are our future leaders. 

Blessings, 

Gail

Be Still and Know

One final winner of the December give away... Jetta Allen! Jetta wins Edie Melson's book While My Child is Away. Jetta if you will email or PM me your address, I'll put your book in the mail as soon as the snow melts. Thank you to all the email subscribers and followers who encourage me each week. I hope I encourage you in some small way.

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalms 46:10

The weatherman predicted record cold with moisture rising from the Gulf to meet the sinking arctic air. Snow was on every mind. Hurry to gather groceries, meet deadlines, check the woodpile and the flashlight batteries.

It started with the gathering of clouds and robins in the yard. The still, the quiet, the smell, it all said snow. Then a small twirling flake, and another, and another. Faster, thicker, the white fluff clung to points grass and elbows of trees. Close the schools and make the last mad rush for milk and bread only to find empty shelves and long lines. Hurry home through driving snow, black snow. The speed of the car and the thick falling of the snow created a darkness that was blinding. But snow was white, light. How then this darkness, this blindness?

The speed of life does not wait to contemplate the Light, though the Light gently swirls around us every day. If we look below, it softly falls around our walk. If we look above, it lights gently on our faces. If we look straight ahead, the Light is there in every nook and corner of our lives. At the speed of life, Light is not allowed to shine. It's like the fear of the unknown, the confusion of being told of beauty without the ability to see. It is only when we take the time to "Be Still" that we can know that He is God. He is here to light our way, shine down on us and direct our paths.

How easily we forget and allow hurry and deadlines, woodpiles and the ever ready battery that runs our lives to keep us in darkness. "Be still. Be still and know. Be still and know that I am God," He gently calls to us. May the blessing of the snow allow us the time to be still.

Blessings,

Gail

Hey Kids:

How can you see God this week? 

Look around your feet.

Look up. 

Look straight ahead.

Can you see the longsuffering of God, His gentleness, His goodness? 
These are the fruits He can help us demonstrate but we must first see how He demonstrates these fruits to us. 

Here's a hint to get you started: 
Those winter trees you see in the yard that look dead, watch how they change in the next few weeks. Watch them come to life. 
Jesus is demonstrating how we sometimes have to wait to see the good come of a situation. 
When the tender leaves and blossoms begin to show in the spring and the gentle breezes blow, it reminds us of the gentle way God deals with us.
As that tree begins to come into full fruit, it can remind us of the goodness of God to help us grow into fruitful Christians. 
Fill your fruit bowl with longsuffering, gentleness and goodness this week. 

Changes in the New Year

And the winner is ... Kathy Van Wormer. Kathy if you will email me your address, I will mail your copy of With All Due Respect right away.

Since I didn't post last week, I wanted to give away one more book. Please be sure to subscribe by email in the top right hand corner for an opportunity to win this week's offering. 

Perhaps the New Year will bring changes - major changes into your family life. Your child may be going off or returning from college. You may be helping plan a wedding or you may be looking at military deployment in your child's future. When my child graduated from college, she moved 5 hours away to her new job. At least she had a job, but she was out of mom's arm reach. We never want to control our children's lives - just guide them, so we say. 

Guidance for them and us. That's why I want to introduce you to my friend Edie Melson's book, While My Child Is Away. I met Edie at a writing conference several years ago. Her teachings have been an invaluable resource for me. 

Edie says "The most powerful thing you can do for your child is to pray." Edie has prayed for her children through childhood, college, deployment, and now as adults. Her book offers prayers for your children, yourself (we all need prayer), and devotions for parenting. No matter what stage of life your child is in, covering them in prayer releases them from your control into God's care. You will find yourself praying right along with Edie, finding God's peace as you release the care of your child to Him. 

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

James 5:16

Prayers,

Gail

Hey Kids:

Are you still working on that fruit bowl? This week would be the fruit of peace. 

How can we produce that fruit of peace?

Perhaps it begins with prayer. 

So what do we pray for? This may be your list on the piece of fruit this week.

We could begin by praying for ourselves. 

James 5:16 says confess your faults. Could we confess our faults to Jesus and then ask our friends and family to forgive us? That's tough. That's why we need to pray and confess to Jesus first, so He can give us the courage to ask forgiveness of others. 

We could pray for one another.

Is there someone who is sick or sad that needs your prayers? 

We could pray fervently.

Don't let your prayers be repetition. Talk to God like you talk to a friend. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Pray often.

We could pray for righteousness. 

First, have we confessed to Jesus that we are sinners and asked His forgiveness?

Then we need His help to live like Jesus. You may have heard it called living Christ-like lives. 

Jesus says praying in this way will get a lot accomplished. It will also give you peace of mind that you have done your best in giving yourself and others to Jesus' control. 

Praying for you. Please pray for me.

Gail