Has Our Axe Head Flown Off?

Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. ~Psalms 127 KJV

Many years ago a small congregation outgrew their meeting house. The young men decided they would go down by the river and cut logs to build the meeting house bigger. 

Listening to the Call

 

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

~Proverbs 20:11 KJV

Have you ever played “Mother, May I”? "The mother" tells each child what to do to get to her. ("The mother" can be anyone, not just girls.) "The mother" asks each child, in turn, to perform butterfly twirls or bunny hops, take giant steps or baby steps. To win, the child must obey "the mother’s" directions and remember to ask, “Mother, may I?”.

In I Samuel 3, God literally called Samuel. Samuel thought Eli, the priest, was calling him. Eli trained Samuel to learn obedience, to take care of the tabernacle, and to serve God. God called Samuel three times. Each time Samuel got out of bed and went to Eli. He never yelled to see what Eli needed. He never ignored what he perceived to be Eli’s voice. Samuel went to check on Eli’s needs. Finally, Eli realized it was God calling Samuel. He told Samuel to answer God in this way; “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” When God called Samuel for the fourth time, Samuel answered God as Eli had instructed. God could have called anyone in the nation of Israel. He called Samuel because Samuel’s heart was prepared to listen and obey.

 Samuel made a great difference in the nation of Israel because of his willingness to obey God rather than please himself. Samuel first had to learn as a child to willingly obey Eli. We may already be adults but if we haven't been trained or discipled, we are still children in our walk with Christ. We all want to make a difference, leave our mark, change the world. God can choose anyone. God wants to choose you. Prepare for the job God has for you. Listen and obey those God is using to train you.

 “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” ~I Samuel 3:10b NIV

Are you allowing yourself to be discipled? How is the Lord speaking to you? 

Father, help me listen to those you are using to train me to be your disciple. Help me listen for your calling that I may make a difference in the time and place where you have placed me. In Jesus's name. Amen. 

Hey Kids: 

Samuel practiced obedience so when God called him he was ready to answer.

Read I Samuel 3. 

What were some of the ways Samuel allowed himself to be trained for God's service? Perhaps these were some of his jobs.

• fill the lamps with oil.
• trim the lamp wicks
• dust/shine the items in the tabernacle
• help Eli in preparing the showbread
• coming when Eli called realizing Eli was old and blind. 

How will you learn to obey your parents so you will be willing and ready to obey God's call?

Morning Glories

 

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. ~Proverbs 4:18 KJV

I don't like morning glories. They sprout up everywhere in the garden. They twine up the tomato cages, the bean poles, and the outside fencing. I can't keep ahead of them. Did I say I don't like morning glories? Until I saw a piece about how "the light shines within." (Whoever wrote that please forgive me for not crediting you. I went back and looked and couldn't find the piece.) 

But back to my point. Morning glories shine from within! I never noticed that. They come in a variety of colors. They grow in gardens, along roadsides, and some people plant them on purpose. As a child, I liked to find the unopened blossoms and pop them. When I found out my neighbor bought seeds for her flower bed I almost fainted. Then I saw that piece, "the light shines within." God never created anything without a purpose, not even morning glories. 

Why would the Lord create a flower to look like a light shining from within? Insects and bugs of all types are drawn to light. Flowers need bugs for pollination. If the inside of a flower that provides food for insects looks like a light all the better for both the bug and the flower. The pollinated flower can produce seeds for more morning glories. That's a good thing when you consider we should be like morning glories. 

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  

~II Corinthians 4:6 KJV

We have the Light within us when we repent of our sins and allow Jesus to come in. We are a new creation made to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God. We are to be morning glories, shining our lights and drawing others to Christ. The more we share Christ, the more seeds we produce from those who also allow Jesus to be their Savior. They too become morning glories. We grow in God's garden popping up everywhere, shining among the people of the world. Seeming obnoxious to those who don't realize God's goodness but so important in shining the light for all the world to see. 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify Father which is in heaven. ~Matthew 5:16 KJV

How are others seeing the Light of Jesus in you?

Blessings, Gail

Hey Kids:

What are you discovering about the creation that you can apply to your own life? 

Have you heard the cicadas that are emerging loudly declaring the glory of God?

Have you noticed how many kinds of pollinators are drawn to flowers? 

Are there birds performing rituals and building homes for their families?

How do you see nature allowing God's light to shine? 

May I recommend this book? It's a little different from the song you usually sing. 

A Mother's Day Cake

 

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 KJV

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 a 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 a 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 (John 14:6). 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.

                                        Have you allowed Jesus to pour over and into your life?

If you'd like a recipe for Maddog Cake, subscribe by email in the box at the top right and leave a comment below. 

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.

Flowers and Families

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. Genesis 1:11

I love peonies. My favorite is the anemone peony. It's not as common as the double peonies that are filled with petals. Both are beautiful but to me, the Anemone is more delicate. Though the anemone may be more delicate looking, it has the same parts as other flowers that allow it to reproduce itself. Inside, the very middle contains the carpel. The carpel contains a trinity of parts.

Carpel

• the stigma 
• the style
•  the ovary. 

This is the female part. 

The stamen surround the carpel. It only has two parts.  

Stamen

• the anther
• the filament. 

These are the male parts. 

Lastly, the petals protect and accentuate the inner workings of the peony.  You can learn more about peonies here. 

Flowers are like families. The mother and father are the center of the family surrounded by God's loving hands. It's as if God's cupped hands hold the family. They protect the family. It's inside those petals, those cupped hands that the flower produces seeds, the offspring of the flower. If any part of the flower is broken, the flower doesn't produce the optimum seed. If the carpel or the stamen is damaged the flower cannot reproduce. If the petals are damaged then they can't protect the male and female parts; the seed may be less viable.

So in God's cupped hands, families produce offspring, held and protected, where the children can be nurtured, and mature into the people God intends them to be. Families create another trinity, the mother, the father, and the child(ren). If any part of the family is missing there can be no children. If any part of the family is damaged by sin it is more difficult to raise the children. God's loving hands will not be damaged but He will not hold those who will not be held. 

 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23

Yes, we have all sinned, so it is up to us to ask forgiveness and allow the Lord to restore His loving hands around our families. There must be a commitment for the optimal family relationship. 

Commitment

• Individual commitment to the Lord
• Commitment to the marriage
• Commitment as a couple to the Lord

So what does that look like? 

• Daily commitment to the reading of God's word
• Daily commitment to prayer
• Weekly commitment to the house of God

These are hard things to ask in the busy, hurried, distracted days in which we live, but it is the only way we can restore our homes and our nation. It has to start with us. Government, laws, not even churches can fix our problems. 

You've heard "Stop and smell the roses." Maybe we need to stop and look deeply into the peony and how God has fashioned it as well as the roses. 

How has God surrounded your family with His love and protection? 

Heavenly Father, forgive us for neglecting You. Help us renew our commitments to You and our families. Please restore Your loving hands around our families and our nation. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Hey Kids:

Have you wondered how you can help improve your family? It's not just mom and dad's responsibility. 

What can you do to make life easier for your family? 

Here are a few ideas:

• pick up your toys and clothes
• do your homework without being asked
• walk away from a fuss with your siblings.
• remind your parents to have family devotion and prayer time

What other ideas can you add? 

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. Proverbs20:11

Blessings,

Gail