Gone Fishing

And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. 

Mark 1:17

My son is a flyfishing guide. He studies the weather, the hatch of the insects, the water levels in the rivers and streams and notices what type of insects the fish are biting on this week. 

He ties his own flies. They have to look as near the same color and size as the actual insect as possible. He also has to hike miles through rough terrain and wade slick rocky rivers to give the best guides in natural waters. This is a lot of hard work but he absolutely loves the studying and hard work. 

When Jesus called his disciples he told them to follow him and he would make them fishers of men. It wasn't an instant transformation any more than my son became an instant expert on flyfishing. In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 and following, Jesus took his disciples up on the mountain away from the crowds and began to instruct them. They followed him and just like my son guiding on a trip, Jesus showed the disciples how to fish for men. They began to practice "fishing" before Jesus ascended so they would know how when they had to go "alone". 

There's is a pattern to become a fisher of men. Mark 1:15 says repent and believe the gospel. The first part of learning to fish for men is to know that we ourselves are sinners in need of repentance (a change of heart about ourselves) and we need to believe the gospel (Jesus is the sinless son of God who died for our sins and was resurrected again). 

Jesus then called the disciples to follow Him. Following is probably the hardest part. That's the study, the understanding of scripture, the talking with the Master. Along with all the study comes the practice, the little by little learning to talk to others, teach others and go into all the world with the gospel (Matthew 28:19,20).

The transformation into a fisher of men doesn't happen overnight. It happens over time. If my son were not a continual learner and follower of flyfishing he wouldn't have his own business today. If we are not faithful and continue in our study of God's word, faithful in prayer and faithful to reach out to others we will not be effectual fishers of men reaching all nations. 

Hey Kids:

Do you like to fish? 

Who taught you? How often do you get to practice?

Can you bait your own hook? What type of bait do you use?

Can you take a fish off?

Is fishing your passion? 

Maybe fishing isn't your thing but God has given you interest and talents that He wants you to use for His glory. 

How can you go into all the world? Do you speak another language? Can you draw or write? Do you contribute to kid's online magazines? In our day of technology, going into all the world can mean reaching them at home, but it doesn't mean it's easy.

How can you improve your talents so you can use them to be "fishers of men"?

Blessings,

Gail

Shine Brightly

For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

Romans 11:24

There aren't many olive trees growing in my area except the wild olives (top frame). We don't harvest them but my daughter has been in Italy and participated in the olive harvest there in October. I wonder if we could grow the cultivated olives here since the wild ones will grow. 

In Romans, Paul says we Gentiles are like wild olives grafted into the tame olives, tame olives being the Jews. We partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree. Who might that root be and what might be the fatness? Jesus is the root and stem of Jesse (Isaiah 11 ) and the Holy Spirit is the fat or oil. 

Zechariah 4 speaks of the two olive trees that pour out their oil into one candlestick fashioned like a menorah. The root bears the tree (Romans 11) therefore the root must be Jesus who bears the two trees and the oil being the Holy Spirit who lights up the candlestick. 

Matthew 5:16 tells us to let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven. 

What better way to let our lights shine than through the church? One candle gives light but a menorah of candles shines brightly. 

Hey Kids:

Do you have olives in your area?
What are other things about the olive you might see as representative of Jesus or the church or things the church does?

Are there other things in your area that are used as symbols in the Bible?
Look up John 15.
What does John say about us and Jesus?
Do you know a song that contains these symbols?

We would love for you to share your discoveries with us.

Blessings,

Gail

Just Wondering

And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. Genesis 2:15

This summer I finally grew my favorite fruit - watermelon. I usually try without much success. Either I pick them too soon and they're still white on the inside or I don't use enough compost and they don't grow any bigger than a teacup.

I sliced one of my medium size melons today and I just got to wondering how big is heaven's watermelon patch? You think that's a dumb question? Well, there's a tree that bears twelve kinds of fruit. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. The first thing God did with people was to put them in a garden. So I'm thinking I'd like to have the job of tending God's watermelon patch. After the marriage supper of the Lamb, it might be nice to have a slice of watermelon for dessert.

Since there's no reason to think we'll be sitting on clouds strumming harps, I'm wondering what you imagine getting to do to glorify our Savior. Sharing thoughts are welcome in the comments box.

Hey Kids:

Most likely you know someone in heaven.

What do you think they're doing?
Swimming in the river?
Picking flowers for a bouquet?
Rubbing the mane of a lion?
Climbing trees and picking fruit?

October 3 is Bring Your Bible to School day.
You've got time to do a little research on heaven and write a story about the person you know who's getting to explore heaven. Here are a few verses to get you started.

• II Peter 3:13
• Revelation 22:1-3
• Revelation 21:4

Oh, by the way, no fishing allowed. There is no pain or death there.

The Gate

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18

What's behind the gate? Do you ever walk past a fence along the sidewalk and wonder, "What's behind that gate?" Is that gate there to keep you out or something/someone in? Maybe both. A gate is a defense against any and all. 

In Matthew 16:18 Jesus gave us a picture of a gate defending hell and it's future inhabitants. Maybe in our modern minds, a better picture is a gate that keeps the lost locked in while we amble by on my merry ways.

Who's behind the gate? The addicted, the gang members, the prostitutes, the too rich who intimidate us, the too poor who disgust us, the profane, the bully, you fill in the blank. We see them. We whisper about them. We pass them by never attempting to unlatch the gate, much less break the gates down. Isn't our usual excuse, "Oh well, they made that bad choice. They can straighten up, or come to church, or _______ if they want to." Not true. 

Who is the leaven in the flour? Matthew 13:33 tells us it is our job to spread the gospel. We have to be the leaven in the flour, the world. It is our job to assault the gates that lock in the lost. Not by beating our tambourines against our Bibles and singing "Bringing in the Sheaves" as the temperance movement is pictured in the old westerns. Rather meeting and greeting the lost in a sincere and caring manner.

Who do I meet? Does your child play sports with families that may be lost? Do you have business acquaintances? Do you see community members at the local store? What about your neighbors? My brother once wrote a letter to a corporate owner who lived in our city. He invited this owner to a Franklin Graham crusade. To my brother's surprise, the owner had his secretary contact my brother and set up a time that he would pick up the owner and take him to the crusade!

What do people want? Sadly we usually just pass by the people who aren't in our circle of friends. We fail to unlock the gates and invite people to escape. When the crowds in Matthew 19: 29-34 tried to shush two dirty, loud, blind men begging by the roadside, Jesus stopped and asked what they wanted, what they needed. They asked for sight. Jesus gave them both physical and spiritual sight. Funny, or rather odd, though they were lost, they already knew they needed Jesus.

What are ways we can consciously show love to those we meet along our path so we unlatch the gates of hell?

Hey Kids:
Is there someone in your class or neighborhood who is being passed by?
What kind and friendly words can you offer them to let them know you care?
A few friendly words can open doors to invite others to church and to share the gospel.

Write down a name(s) you plan to show kindness to this week.
Pray for them and your friendship greeting.
Be aware Satan will try to make you chicken out.
He is not in control of the latch on the gates of hell.
That gate is waiting for you and me to open it so the Light of Jesus will light their way out.

Blessings,

Gail

Labor Day in the Kingdom of Heaven

Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. Matthew 13:33

Have you ever made yeast or sourdough bread?
It takes some effort but the results are absolutely scrumptious. 

To make the bread it takes either yeast or sourdough starter. Just a small amount is added to several cups of flour. The starter or yeast is the leavening agent.  It is small organisms that live and grow on carbohydrates. When it is mixed with the flour and water the organisms begin to consume the carbs and multiply giving off CO2 in the process causing the dough to rise. I know, it sounds like a food channel explanation but it is important to the understanding of the parable.

The Kingdom of heaven is explained by Jesus in John 18:36 as a spiritual kingdom, one in which His servants did not take up physical arms against the enemy but rather participate in spiritual warfare. Christ's servants are a small group in this world but like leaven in the flour, we are a conquering army when we stand up in word and deed for Christ's kingdom.

Daniel 2:31-45 tells us Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream. In the dream, Nebuchadnezzar was the golden head. The kingdoms became less important in value or effect as they followed Nebuchadnezzar. Next were the Medes and Persians, then the Greeks, followed by the Romans who were in power at the time of Jesus. 

Finally, in the dream, a small stone was cut without hands and smote the toes of the image breaking them in pieces. The stone became a great mountain filling the whole earth. That stone is Jesus and His kingdom that to this day continues to expand and grow filling the whole earth with the gospel. 

As Christians, what is our vision of the Kingdom of Heaven? Matthew 13:44 says we are a treasure that Jesus gave up all to have as His own. He left heaven and gave His life on a cross. Are we not to live as treasures bought with a price? 

We must be the ones to keep the stone rolling, the leaven expanding, the kingdom growing. We must be of one heart and one mind to fill the whole earth with the gospel of the Lord.

Hey Kids:

Have you ever helped mom or grandma make a loaf of bread? Fall is the perfect time to give it a try. The smell of warm bread baking wafting on the cool air is mouth-watering. 

It takes time just like it takes time and effort to expand Christ's kingdom but the results are well worth the effort. 

Here's a recipe that may get you started.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/basic-homemade-bread/

If like me, you prefer a whole grain recipe just google whole-grain yeast breads. You're likely to find a whole basket of recipes.