Work Together

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

At a recent book fair, I had the privilege of meeting Cathryn and John Sill. She is the author of All About Birds, All About Mammals, All About Reptiles, etc. He illustrates her books. Mr. Sill's illustrations are true matches for his wife's words. One without the other would not make a very informative book. There would be beautiful pictures without explanations or concise information without a necessary visual. Working together, they create great non-fiction books for children 4-7 years old.

Genesis 1:1 says,"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Later verse 26 says, "Let us make man in our image." (emphasis mine.) The Lord gives us His word and He illustrates it through creation. If we only look at creation without reading the scriptures, we only get a minimal view of God's plan. If we only read the scriptures and never examine the creation, we fail to get a good understanding of how things work together. Working together, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have created perfect information and illustrated it for us.

The Lord not only created and controls creation, He also sets up and control governments, things visible and invisible working out His plan. Knowing God the Father has given all things to the control of His Son, Jesus Christ, (I Corinthians 15:25-27; Hebrews 2:8) gives me great courage to hopefully work together to be the illustration of Jesus in my life.

Blessings, 

Gail   

Hey Kids:

Did you know Jesus has provided stories in the Bible with great illustrations in Creation?

Here are a few examples you may want to investigate this week. 

What can you discover by reading scripture and observing nature?

Ants - Proverbs 6:6-11

Spiders - Proverbs 30:28

How can these illustrations be applied to our lives? Colossians 3:17,23

Now try these.

Seeds - Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23

Sheep - Isaiah 53:6; John 10:11, 14-15

Rock - Matthew 7:24-27 I Corinthians 10:4

Apples Make a Church

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Acts 2:41 KJV

The apples are in, here in the Carolinas, so apple butter is in the making. It's really quite simple when you have the right tools. I use a crank apple peeler. I can crank out a 1/2 bushel of apples in about an hour. Try hand peeling that many and see how long it takes. And I have a large turkey roaster that holds my apples. It will cook a 1/2 bushel of apples into apple butter while I sleep. The next day, all I need to do is put it in the jars. The apple peeler will take out the core, peel the apple and slice it into rings all at the same time. I use a large variety of apples so the mixture brings out the best apple flavors. Winesaps and Cameos are my favorites. I also added Mutsu, Golden Delicious, Fuji, and maybe a Gala or two. Add a little apple pie spice and sugar, a few splashes of apple cider and the apples have a new purpose, the makings of great homemade apple butter.

I was thinking about how we tell the kids about the salvation transformation with pumpkins, taking out the yucky stuff and putting the light inside to shine through the smiling face. That put me to thinking about apple butter and the church. Apples have a core with the seeds. The seeds contain a cyanide compound. It won't hurt us to eat the seeds. A person would have to eat a tremendous amount to cause harm but our mothers told us apple seeds were poison. We take out the core before we make apple butter.

We have a core that has to be removed before we can become a Christian. That core will kill us if left inside. You know I'm talking about our sinful heart. We have to allow Jesus to cleanse us of our sins if we want to be saved. That's the first step in becoming part of a church. Just as a rotten apple would spoil the whole batch so an unsaved person will spoil the witness of the whole church.

The appearance of an apple has to change before it becomes apple butter. The peel has to be removed. To leave it on would add a tough consistency to the butter.  It has to become soft, sweetened and spiced to have the right smell and taste. It needs to be cooked on low for several hours to get the tenderness and consistency needed to create great butter.

What do you think we might need to be a great church? With salvation our tough exterior will come off. We become the tender-hearted, loving person that desires to be like Jesus. We become part of a church where we can become that sweet odor of God to the world. Our lives are spiced with the truth of God's word. We are warmed to the things of God. We mix with others who may be of other races and cultures to create a wonderful mix that is able to reach out to a lost world, telling them, once, we too were lost but now we're saved. Once, we too were tough guys who didn't need help. Once, our attitudes stunk, but with Jesus we have a new life and a new attitude and a new purpose.

Apple butter is the best a mix of apples can be. Just put it on a little homemade bread and see how delectable it is. Apple butter on a foundation of homemade bread, that's another analogy in the making. Got it? The church on our foundation, Jesus Christ the Bread of Life.

Be the church sitting strong on our Foundation, Jesus Christ, to a lost world who is searching for truth and purpose.

Blessings.

Gail

Hey Kids

Apple butter can be as easy as pie. If mom has an apple peeler ask if you can help crank. 

Wash and peel about 12 apples.

If you don't have an apple peeler, have an adult peel the apples. 

Slice the apples into small pieces with a plastic picnic knife. 

Place the apples in a crock pot.

Add about 1 cup of apple cider, juice or water.

Add 2 cups of sugar (optional)

Stir in 2 1/2 tsp of apple pie spice.

Place the lid on the crock pot and turn on low overnight. Stir once in awhile, especially in the morning until the apples have cooked down to the consistency you desire.

Sterilize 4-6 jelly glasses (1/2 pint jars)

Spoon apple butter into glasses.

Bring to a boil in a water bath and boil 5 minutes.

If you don't have a water bath, place several table knives in the bottom of a large pot. Place the jars on top of the knives so they don't touch the bottom of the pot. Cover with water and boil the same way as with a water bath.

In the Storm

And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? Mark 4:38-40

It seems we've been in the midst of hurricanes and fires for weeks now. The storm, whether fire or water or wind, has taken precedent over all other world events. 

When the storms happen in our lives, whether medical, financial, or sudden death, nothing else matters ... but God.

God is who we run to when there is nowhere else to go. Funny how that happens. Where is God when we think we don't need Him? 

Like the prodigal's father, He stands and watches, waiting for our return. 

In Mark 4:36, Jesus had been preaching from a ship so the people could see and hear. When he finished the disciples set sail on a calm sea with Jesus in the boat. Jesus lay down on a pillow and went to sleep. His earthly body was tired and needed a rest, but He knew, as Sovereign God, what would take place shortly. When the storm came up the ship began to take on water. The disciples ran to find Jesus. They even asked Him if He cared that they drowned! What a question. Don't be too quick to judge.

How often in our pleading for help do we ask God why He allows bad things to happen to innocent children, good people and really everyone. 

When the disciples called on Him, His answer to the winds and the sea was "Peace be still."

Then He asked them why they were so fearful. The disciples were terrified even more because they saw the power of the One they had just questioned.

Jesus is our Sovereign God. Do you understand that no matter what, He is always in control, working things for our good? This storm was for good, to awaken the disciples to who He is. 

He did care about them. He does care about us, about YOU! 

So whatever storm you are in, let Him whisper "Peace, be still" for you. 

John 3:16

Blessings, 

Gail

Hey Kids:

With all the hurricanes, it's a great time to practice your map skills. 

Can you tell someone what direction the hurricane will move? (I'm not sure the weather man can either. Remember God is in control).

Why do you think a storm slows down when it makes landfall?

If you have a topographical map, notice what land structures will continue to slow the storm until it finally dies out.

What other factors might contribute to the demise of the storm?

Hint: What about other weather fronts? cooler air in northern territory?

What do you think would be the most fun part of being a meteorologist?  

What would be the most scary part? 

Whatever field of study God leads you into, remember He is in control. You don't have to be afraid of what weather or man can do to you. 

Be all He has called you to be.

Inspecting the Fruit

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8

My garden is small, so I don't grow many vining fruits or vegetables, but occasionally something comes from a seed that may have ended up in the compost pile. This year a moon and stars watermelon vine sprouted in among the pole beans.The yellow dots on the leaves and melon let me know the variety right away. 

I have a hard time judging when a melon is ripe. My daddy always thumped them. I never learned how to listen to a watermelon. Others say look for the tendrils to dry up. Others say it will slip easily from the vine.  Usually when I grow a watermelon, I pick it too soon. Produce managers in stores tell me to look for a yellow bottom. I wondered if that would hold true for this type of melon since it has yellow spots anyway. 

This melon and another grew all summer in my little bean patch. I was amazed at the size of both. I waited as long as I could. After weeks of inspection, I decided today was the day. I didn't see any tendrils. The bottom was yellowing. If I picked too early, at least there was one more to give some more time. 

I was surprised at how easily the thick stem came off the vine, no tugging or twisting. So far so good. It was really heavy, carrying it up the hill to the house. After wiping it clean, I took my largest and sharpest knife and began to cut. "Craaack!" The melon split! I could see the red meaty heart and juice was running on the counter top. I knew I had a winner. I finished cutting it open. My patience was rewarded with the sweet taste of a sun warmed, fresh from the garden, Moon and Stars watermelon. Sweet success. 

People are a lot like watermelons. Most people will say they are Christians, but we can't see their heart. The only way we can know, is by inspecting their fruit. Christians will allow themselves to be "split open". Their hearts show their love for Christ and others. Their goodness spills out wherever they go. Their kindness and compassion leave a "sweet taste" for those they have touched. They may look just like everyone else, but their hearts show, not just tell, a different story. 

We should never shun those who talk the talk, but don't walk the walk. They may just be beginning to ripen. They may be confused themselves and still need salvation. As Christians, we need to demonstrate the love and compassion that will help weak Christians grow. We need to demonstrate true Christian love that will help deceived people see Christ in us. Others are inspecting us. 

In what way can we as Christians, demonstrate to others who are inspecting our fruits, that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life?  

Hey Kids:

It's that time of year for visits to orchards and pumpkin patches. 

Do you know how farmers can tell when to pick their crops? 

How do they know when apples are ripe? 

When are watermelons ready?

Are pumpkins always ripe when they turn orange? 

How do you know if a fruit is a winter squash or a gourd?

How about your own "fruits"?

Do your actions show that you know Jesus?

Are your friends Christians too, or do they need your love and kindness to show them the truth? 

Fall fruits are ripening now!

Blessings, 

Gail