The Stranger

All references in this post are from the NIV of the Bible

I'd like to do a different sort of book review today. Not only do I want to recommend this book but I also would like to suggest a way to use it as a family devotional. Some of my favorite books are illustrated with photographs. Nature is my favorite subject. Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick do a great job of capturing nature and children in both story and photography. Stranger in the Woods was my first introduction to their books. I'd like to take a look at Stranger in the Woods and see how our Sovereign God fits into "the picture."

The animals discover a stranger in their woods one morning. When did he come? How did he get there? They tried to answer these things themselves. Even when Jesus was grown and teaching, the people had a hard time accepting Him because they didn't understand where he came from. King Herod wanted to know where the new baby was, the one the wise men were searching for. The Pharisees didn't think Jesus fit the mold of the Messiah either. 

          When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he            asked them where the Messiah was to be born. Matthew 2:4. 

          They(the Pharisees) replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find            that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.” John 7:52

In our book, the animals are afraid. Who would approach the stranger first? Would the others follow? At first, people were skeptical about following Jesus. They questioned if any good thing could come out of Nazareth. Then they were afraid to follow because their leaders wanted to kill Jesus, even though by this time they were admitting that no one could do the miracles He did unless God were with Him. 

            Philip found Nathaniel and told him, “We have found the one Moses       wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathaniel asked.“Come and see,” said Philip. John 1:45,46

          Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member            of the Jewish ruling council.  He came to Jesus at night and said,         “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”  John 3:1,2

The animals in our book did follow the chickadee to the stranger. They found food from the snowman's head to his toes. They were filled and went away thankful for the stranger. Jesus is our" stranger" who has come to give himself for us, that we might have that spiritual bread and water for eternal life if we will only come to Him. 

          Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

Two children hidden in the bushes, watched the animals in our book. They were glad to be able to provide for the animals.  They didn't want the animals to worry about where they would find food. Neither does the Lord want us to worry. He wants to provide our every need. 

          So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:31-34

One of the children asked how long they would feed the animals. The other replied with visions of springtime, when the earth would be renewed. Jesus promises us a time when there will be a new heaven and a new earth. A place where there will be no more tears. Until then He will provide for us. 

“See, I will create
    new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
    nor will they come to mind. Isaiah 65:10

For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” 

Revelation 7:17

Look around. How is our Sovereign God providing for you today?

Noticing is half way to giving praise. You cannot give praise for that which you have not seen or experienced.

          These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:6,7

                                Blessings,

                                    Gail

Hey Kids:

What stories have you read that you can relate to a Bible story?

Some are easier to do than others. Other stories by Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick would probably good starters. Fairy Tales and poems are also easy to work with. Give it a try and let us know what you discover this week. 

         

          

Snowflakes

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalms 139:14 KJV

My niece, out playing in the snow with her sons, took close-up pictures of the snow on their hats. She obviously has a great camera to take such detailed pictures. Amazing that man can make a camera like that. Oh, I just said, “Man made a camera.” But what about snowflakes? Are they complicated? Simply put they are snow crystals that enlarge and change shape as water vapor changes into ice without going through the liquid state. I wonder if frozen fog would actually be snow formed on the trees.

Amazing that God can make a person who is so much more detailed in every respect. The explanation of the making of a person is so much more complicated than that of a snow crystal. Scientist still aren’t sure why  snow crystals grow with six sides and form symmetrically.  Explaining exactly how a person is formed is still a mystery too that scientist can only observe. That’s why this month is Sanctity of Life month. A time to stop and reflect on how precious each life is whether young, old, middle aged or at the moment of conception. All life is precious and purposeful. Whether a person is a great statesman, a mom, or a mechanic, they each serve a great purpose. Using the talents God has given us to serve Him is even a greater purpose. God has given each of us something precious and holy, life itself. May we use our lives for His glory this year and always.

Hey Kids:

Would you like to learn more about snowflakes? Maybe even make a snowflake? Here's a great site.

Please let us know what you've learned about snowflakes. 

Maybe you'd like to share something wonderful you've learned about yourself as God's marvelous creation. 

Never forget you are precious in God's sight.

Blessings, 

Gail

Hide and Seek

Pray without ceasing. I Thessalonians 5:17

I want to welcome Jetta Allen as my guest blogger this week. 

Jetta lives in North Carolina where she writes stories for children and devotionals for adults. She and her husband Jim are retired. They often ask their children if the grandchildren can come out to play. Jetta's experiences have shown her how prayer can change a situation. Today, she relates one of those experiences with a snake. Personally, I think snakes are always a good reason to pray. 

On Saturday, nine-year-old Ethan watched his mom shine a flashlight in the kitchen cabinets and under the sink. He peeled his orange and licked juice off his fingers. “Mom, why don't you call Miss Jen and pray about it, like the Bible says?” 

Beth Adams nodded. “You're right. What was I thinking?” She called her friend and explained. 

Jennifer's laughter rippled through the phone. “Oh, I'm sorry, Beth! I've never laughed at a prayer request,” Jennifer said. 

“I know. It's the strangest request ever, but we've looked all over since we got home yesterday,” Mrs. Adams said. “I'm desperate. I don't want to spend another night wondering where it's hiding. With Jason gone for the sixth-grade weekend trip, it's up to the rest of us.”

 Jennifer snickered and Mrs. Adams waited for her friend to settle down. What were a few more minutes, anyway? Jason's pet snake escaped over twenty-four hours ago. “Yesterday afternoon, Ethan went to refill its water. That's when we realized Fang was missing. He escaped from the old aquarium Jason used as a snake home,” Mrs. Adams said. “I'm thankful he's completely harmless, but still . . .
At bedtime, I handed Ethan a bath towel with instructions. He rolled his eyes, but took it. I stuffed another one against the bottom of Tim's and my door. I did not want to discover Fang coiled up by my shoes.” Mrs. Adams peered under the sink again while Jennifer giggled. “This morning, Tim went to work, but Ethan and I looked in Jason's room again. We're still snakeless.”

“Whew, what a problem. Ok, no more laughing. Ready to pray?” Jennifer asked. 

“Yes, thanks to Ethan. He suggested it. I was so busy searching, I forgot to ask God for help. God cares about every problem, I know. Even pet snakes.” 

Ethan headed outside while the two friends prayed. They asked God to reveal Fang's hiding place. “Thanks, Jennifer. I'll update you later,” Mrs. Adams said.

She headed upstairs to look once more in Jason's room. There sat Fang on the desk, swaying like a small cobra. “Lord, that was a fast answer. Thank you. Now it's my turn,” Mrs. Adams whispered. On school books, by the snake lay Jason's big work gloves. Mrs. Adams eased a hand into one and grabbed the snake. Fang resisted. “Oh, great,” she mumbled. She pulled harder. He was stronger than he looked. At last, he gave up and whipped his body around the glove and her arm. Mrs. Adams shuddered. “Okay, Fang, let's get you back home.” She banged on the window. When Ethan looked up, Mrs. Adams held up the snake. The back door slammed and footsteps trotted up the stairs. 

“Wow, you found him!” Ethan grinned and leaned close to the snake. “Hi, Fang.” 

“The Lord uncovered him, so I had to do my part. Run find that old scrap of plywood. And Ethan—hurry. I'm not crazy about holding him.” After easing the snake into the aquarium, Mrs. Adams and Ethan covered it with plywood and stacked heavy books on top. 

Later that afternoon, Mrs. Adams peeked in the aquarium. “Fang, we forgot to leave you air holes. We can't have you smothering.” She called Mr. Adams at work and explained the problem. 

When he got home from work, he and Ethan built an escape-proof lid from a window screen. “This snake's home is really fancy now.” Mr. Adams gathered his tools. “Jason will be surprised tomorrow.” 

“I still don't like snakes, but this little guy is okay.” Mrs. Adams looked at Fang curled against the aquarium's glass wall. “He obeyed his Creator and came out of hiding.” 

“When a problem seems too small to pray about, let's remember Fang,” Mr. Adams said.

Hey Kids:

What experiences have you had that reminded you that prayer is always the answer?

Try writing out your experience. 

Don't forget to use your five senses in describing your story. 

Mrs. Allen and I look forward to reading your prayer experiences. 

Blessings,

Gail

The Light in the Darkness

This year, I'd like to offer a few stories. Maybe a deeper look at Bible stories or modern stories that present a Biblical truth.

Today is a Bible story from Acts 20:7-12. I'd like to take you deeper into the story to see the sights and sounds, "the just like us" human side of the story, because the Bible is just as much about us as it is about the people who lived those stories. Enjoy.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Matthew 5:14

Children chattered and played as they walked with their parents carrying baskets of food and their lamps. Tonight was the last night to hear and visit with Paul before he sailed to Assos. There was a large house, three stories high, where they had agreed to gather. Neighbors watched as the little troop grew larger the closer they came to the house.

The ladies in the house welcomed the guests, taking the baskets and spreading the food along tables for everyone to share. A little food, a little fellowship, a little preaching, because of the buzz of the house no one noticed how late the hour had become.

Neighbors noticed the lamps twinkling into light in a third story room. “What’s going on there?” Their own lamps were going out one by one as they laid down for the night.

Eutychus, a young man, sat propped in a window to catch the night breeze and make room for the older folks to sit. As Paul preached toward midnight, Eutychus’ eyes began to droop and his head to nod. Several times, he’d caught himself from falling onto the old man seated in front of him. He’d rearranged himself hoping to wake up. He wanted to hear and he didn’t want to begin to snore. Suddenly his arms flailed and he toppled out the window to the street below.

People screamed. Lights poured into the streets. Eutychus was dead! The commotion awakened the neighbors. Paul pushed his way through the crowd, then gathered the young man in his arms. “His life is in him,” he declared as Eutychus’ eyes fluttered open.

“Hallelujah! Praise God! Thank you, Jesus!”came the exclamations from the crowd as they lifted their hands and faces heavenward.

Thank you Jesus? Who is this Jesus? , the neighbors whispered along the street. They watched as the people filed back into the house, talking, praising.

Inside the people prayed, ate, listened, and asked questions until dawn when the town began to stir again. Eutychus, the young man was helped home as the people dispersed. Neighbors watched and eyed the window where last night he had fallen.

Lamps through the night, a dead man raised alive, people praising Jesus. “We’ve never seen anything like this before.”

To think, it seemed to have started with lights shining in the dark.

Hey Kids:
What's your favorite Bible story?

I love to take a story and imagine the sights and sounds and smells that may
not be described.

Try taking your favorite story and make a list using your five senses.
In the story above:
I could hear children talking and playing.

I could smell the food spread for the visitors and the oil and smoke from the lamps.

I could see the lights, the neighbors, the people coming in,
and Eutychus propped in a window.

I could feel the breathless thud of Eutychus fall,
because I have fallen from just a short distance and the breath knocked out of me.

I wanted to taste the food because I know potluck meals are always delicious.

So what's your story. I love to have a chance to read it.

Blessings for your writing,

Gail