Pentecost - What does it mean for us?

It (the kingdom of God) is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. Luke 13:21

Today is Pentecost 2020. Pentecost means fifty days. It is counted from Passover and is usually late May or early June, the beginning of spring harvest. In Leviticus 23 Moses gives the festivals the children of Israel were to observe each year. After the first Passover in Egypt, Pentecost would have been celebrated at the foot of Mt. Sinai with the giving of the Law but the people turned to idols while Moses was on the mountain. Had Moses not pleaded for the people God would have destroyed them. Instead, about 3000 died. 

Examining the Starfish

 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:10-12

Many of you have plans to visit the beach this week or in the coming weeks. While you're there, use a magnifying glass to examine a starfish. Use your senses to feel its rough texture. Notice the small star-shape on the very top. Now turn it over. See its mouth in the center? Tentacles run down the length of each arm or ray. On the tip of each arm, there are light sensors so the starfish can tell if it is light or dark. I doubt if we can actually see the light sensors in their hardened state. Just think, once this beautiful starfish was soft and pliable. It had no bones and pulled itself along over rocks and shells and anywhere it wanted to go. It wrapped itself around tightly closed shells and, with strong arms, pulled the shells apart for tasty morsels of clams, mussels, and other shellfish. Now it lies motionless on the beach or in a shell arrangement. Its strength is gone, its light sensors put out. Its part in the food chain of life is finished.

There was once a man whose strength was renowned. He pulled down the gate of a walled city. He killed a lion with his bare hands. He knew the Light of the World but he played in the edges of darkness. Playing on the edge of darkness cost Samson his strength and his sight. It cost him his ability to do great and mighty things for God. Samson was used to pull a mill. He was taken into a temple of a false god. He spread his feet and arms like the starfish and bowed his head. With a mighty prayer, he pulled down the columns of that temple and destroyed more of the enemies of God in his death than he had in his life. How much more could Samson have accomplished for God had he not entangled himself with friends who did not know God?

How often do we entangle ourselves with the things of this world? We choose friends that we think will make us popular but we fail to befriend those who would strengthen our spirit.  We busy ourselves with technology but forget to look into God’s Word. Our eyes are put out to the Truth. We play on the edge of darkness with the friends we choose and the things we allow in our minds through our eyes. Will we one day find ourselves hardened by the darkness, unable to affect the spiritual lives of the lost because we have lost our own spiritual lives?

Have you felt the struggle with the rulers of darkness? 

How do you equip yourself with the whole armor of God every day?

How can you affect the lives of others in our socially distanced capacities? It's not too late.

Blessings, 

Gail

For Such a Time As This

 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Esther 4:14

Yes, we are in a crisis, but God knew this was coming long before anyone including China knew what this virus could or would do to the world. God also knew you before you were born. He had a plan for you then and He has one for you now. You were born for such a time as this. 

"I don't know what I'm suppose to do," you say.

"I'm afraid," you say.

"If I go somewhere I may be risking my life."

Esther had the same reaction when Mordecai asked her to plead for her people before King Ahasuerus. She was so much safer in the palace, staying quiet, hiding her identity. Besides if she went before the king she could be killed! Would we have felt differently?

Mordecai's answer to Esther was that God would deliver His people with or without her help but if she refused she and her father's house would be destroyed. He reminded her that she was in her position for such a time as this. So here you are, born within the last 100 years. Why? What's God's purpose for you since you are right here, right now?

Esther sent word back to Mordecai. She told him to gather everyone in Shushan. Then fast and pray for her for three days. She and her maidens would do the same. Then she would go before the king saying, "If I perish, I perish." 

There is power in the name of Jesus. We are in need of health, jobs, family, and HUGS and there is a world out there in need of the Gospel. We must gather ourselves together and come before the Almighty God with our petition. Then we must follow God's lead in whatever that entails. If we stay hunkered down people will perish, not just from the virus but because they will not be able to hear the Gospel. They will not be able to see your loving pleading face for their salvation. They will not feel the hugs of fellowship with the brethren. 

We are here for such a time as this. How will we answer? 

Blessings,

Gail

Happy Mother's Day

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

I’ve got this pretty good pound cake recipe I like to use for Mother’s Day because it goes well with fresh strawberries. I say pretty good because it has good texture and flavor, but to make it Mad Dog Pound Cake I have to add the boiled syrup. I pour the syrup over the cake and in the middle. It sits and soaks and mmmmmmmmmmm. With the first bite, the syrup is running out the corner of your mouth and dripping off your chin. Of course, that’s an exaggeration but it sure seems that good.

Our lives are a lot like pretty good pound cake. Most of us would say we are pretty good people, but is pretty good, good enough to get us into heaven? My pound cake totally changes when the syrup is poured over it and into it. The syrup can’t be removed and no one would want to scrape it off. No one wants the cake without the syrup once they’ve tried it. Jesus said no one comes to the Father but by Him. He is the way, the truth, and the life. We can’t get to heaven or be a true Christian without first coming to Jesus. When our lives are covered by His blood and filled with the Holy Spirit, we are totally different people, fit for the kingdom of God. Only Jesus makes us good enough. Like syrup, once we’ve experienced salvation, there’s no going back to the old pretty good person and no one would want to.

Would you be interested in getting the Maddog Cake Recipe? Just follow by email and leave a comment.  I'll be glad to send you the recipe. 

Happy Mother’s Day.
Gail

Hey Kids:

Have you ever tried to make a recipe and it "flopped"? Once I used the wrong kind of flour in my cake recipe. It overflowed into the oven and created a horrible mess. 

I just used self-rising flour instead of plain flour! Not a big deal one would think.

What would happen if I had put in salt instead of sugar? The cake would have to be completely thrown out and started over!

Our lives are like recipes. 

God has the recipe for us. We just need to read and follow His plan.

Romans 3:23 says For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Somehow we all manage to add that sin "ingredient" into our lives.

Now, how do we fix the problem? We can't, but God can!

Romans 10:13 says Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Butterflies and Preschool

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. II Corinthians 5:17

If you've had an opportunity to be out and about in your yard or on trails you may have noticed the variety of butterflies we have here in the Upstate. My friend Diane Buie, has published My Butterfly Chair, a butterfly book for preschoolers. She photographed the most common butterflies here in the Upstate and lets her book be a type of butterfly search. It will help children and parents learn the names and habitats of butterflies in our area.

My Butterfly Chair will be a good book to take in the yard to help young children identify butterflies. Instead of catching butterflies, Miss Buie encourages children to allow the butterflies to land on knees and toes. Children can have up-close and personal observations. How fun is that!

There are so many lessons butterflies can teach us.  Each butterfly is different just as we are one of a kind creations. By extending the observation to include lifecycles, children will begin to see how caterpillars have to make a drastic change to become beautiful butterflies. They have to die to their old way of life and become new creatures.  By applying the lifecycle to our spiritual lives we can understand our need for change. We go along with life until the day we realize this need, the need for repentance, and a new direction. God's direction. Then like the caterpillar we must die to our old way of life and let God change us into the new creature He wants us to be.

Have you allowed the Lord to bring that change into your life? What new things have you noticed in yourself?

Diane's books are available at LuLu.com. You may also find her out and about with her books at area craft fairs in the near future.

Blessings, 

Gail