Water in the Beginning

And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. Genesis1:7

Eight times in the first nine verses of Genesis the word water or waters appears. One of my Bible Study students mentioned that her "aha" moment this week was the often mention of water in the creation since The Holy Spirit is often symbolized by water. 

I'd never really thought of water in the creation like that! All three of the Trinity were present at the time of creation. God said "Let us make man in our image." But here was the water covering everything as the Spirit covers our lives and controls our thoughts and actions if we know the Lord and allow Him control as we should. Here the water was above and below saturating the universe with life. Yes, life because without water we cannot live and without the Holy Spirit we have no eternal life. 

The image above helps me think of the beginning of the world. The clouds above and the water beneath, both in motion yet controlled and purposeful. The tides to cleanse the ocean and more. The clouds moved by the winds to move great ships, bring more water in rains, and more. All working in tandem for God's purposes. 

There is so much the Creation can teach us about God and His eternal purpose if we only stop and take the time to notice if we study and share if we listen to God's creation speak to our hearts and in our lives. 

Our Bible Study uses the S.O.A.P. method. 

• Scripture
• Observation
• Application
• Prayer

Read a chapter and write down the verse that seems to jump out.

Write down what you observe about the passage

Write how it applies to you.

Pray and ask God to help you apply this truth to your life.

Who will you study and share with this week? We will continue our study of Genesis in our Bible Study Class. We invite you to share your thoughts with us.

Blessings,

Gail

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

 Here in the Carolinas, the apples are in, 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 crockpot.

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 crockpot and turn on low overnight. Stir once in a while, 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.

Let's Talk About It Outside

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 (NIV)

Ahh - Fall, my favorite time of the year. Breakfast picnics along rushing streams and waterfalls.  Hikes through a rainbow of colored leaves. Jackets and sweaters that become too hot by afternoon. Nuts stashed in our pockets.  Wood smoke from fireplaces. Snuggles with blankets around campfires and tales of long ago. 

Studies from Harvard and MIT reveal the importance of time spent talking to children from birth to three. Those babies love the woods, actually any part of the outdoors. They are full of questions and listening ears. Yes listening ears. They are more calm outside than indoors. But back to the research. Research with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who have conversations with adults shows that in ten years their IQ and literacy skills are ahead of others who lacked those conversations. These skills are necessary for success with all other areas of learning. Poverty seems not to be the biggest player in learning gaps.

So how do you have a conversation with an infant? a toddler? a pre-schooler? A conversation is when an adult or child initiates a conversation and the other replies. An infant my only coo or babble but there is eye contact and facial expressions that convey a message. An infant may cry and the adult responds with "What's wrong? Are you wet? Do you need a diaper change? Are you hungry? And the child will either continue to cry or will calm and listen to the adult speech. Either way, it's a conversation. The same with toddlers and pre-schoolers. The child says, "Look tower." The adult responds, "You want me to look at your tower?"

The conversation about life should be going on all day long as Deuteronomy instructs us, when we wake, when we walk or sit and when we lie down, we must be talking to our children. God knew what it takes to help our children grow. He told us long before Harvard and MIT figured it out. Let's put down the iPhone, iPad, Tablet and yes turn off the TV. Let's get outside and talk to our children. Let's make connections to God's creation and His word. Let's go hiking.

Hey Kids:

Have you had a conversation with someone today? Was it a little kid or a parent or maybe a grandparent?
What did you find interesting about that conversation? 
Was it funny or silly?
Did you speak a different language or pretend to use different dialects and dance to silly tunes? 
Was it a serious conversation about times long ago and the difficulties faced?
Did you ask for help with lessons or join mom for a cooking adventure?
Did you take a hike with dad through the woods?
Did you learn the names of trees and nuts?
Did you turn your conversations into a journal entry?
Conversations are the first part of great learning. Writing is the second part because you are using more movement. 
So dance like no one is looking and who cares if they are.
Sing and talk like you're on a great stage because you are on life's great stage.
Write like it will be read by scholars 100 years from now because it may and the scholars maybe your family. 
Enjoy being loud and silly and adventurous because that's what makes life so much fun. The world wants to know that living your life for Christ is the best life.

Our mouths were filled with laughter,

    our tongues with songs of joy.

Then it was said among the nations,

    “The Lord has done great things for them.”Psalms 126:2 (NIV)

Blessings, 

Gail

Children in Church

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Mark 10:14 NIV

Parent Worries
Have you ever worried that your child might cause a disturbance or a distraction in church?
Did you think, maybe I should have left her in the nursery? Maybe I should have made him go to children's church. Maybe I should just stay home, I'm not getting anything out of the service anyway.

Be assured that is Satan desiring to keep your child from learning to worship.

As a teacher of young children, each year I see children who know little to nothing about the reason for Christmas and Easter. Christmas is Santa Claus and presents. Easter is the Easter Bunny and candy. There is a total disconnect with the two most important Christian holidays.

God's Truth
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them,..."
 Why?
Imagine it was your children Jesus took on His lap and blessed them. What would be your emotions, feelings, actions to such an act of caring? How long would you remember that day? How often would you rehearse that occasion to your children?  If they were old enough to remember would they ever forget?

The Importance of Children

Demonstrating worship is a church action.

Children need to see their parents worshipping. 

Older people need to be encouraged that there are children to keep the church going.

Young people need to see their children will be welcomed.

Children need to know they are welcomed and cherished as part of worship.

Children need to hear the songs, the music of worship.

Children need to see the feelings and emotions tied to worship, the tears, the repentance, the joy.

Children need to be a part of worship that they will remember all their lives.

Let your children come to Jesus even if they are so small all they do is cry or sleep.

Jesus wants them there and so do you.

Hey Kids:

What are your first remembrances of church?

I remember an older couple who sat in front of us. They always handed my brothers and me gum. We loved them for their kindness, though it was probably to help us stay quiet.

I remember trying to hold the hymn book and helping my parents sing. Daddy took it and turned it right side up for me.

I remember there was no air conditioning and on Easter Sunday the stain glass windows were open just a few inches at the bottom. I could hear the birds chirping and smell the spring flowers as the preacher spoke about Mary and the others coming to the tomb very early in the morning. It was as if I was experiencing that moment of resurrection with them. For me, it was a soothing, happy experience.

Do you have memories to share? Your parents and siblings would probably enjoy hearing your memories. I know I would.

Blessings,

Gail