Run, Run as Fast as You Can

 

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: I Peter 5:8

 There are probably still a few of these left around your house. You probably read or told the story to the children while they nibbled on the leg or bit off the head. But have you thought about how much we are like gingerbread men? 

The little old man and woman were childless so they decided to make a gingerbread boy. Different stories will have different ways of creating the eyes and buttons and jacket but at the very outset, the gingerbread boy was determined to run away. He even made fun of the little old man and the little old woman and all those who tried to get him to stop along the way. Where was he running to anyway? 

Then the fox entered the scene. He didn't act like he wanted to eat the gingerbread boy. He seemed helpful. He was going to get the boy across the river that otherwise would have melted the cookie boy. The deeper the fox went into the water, the farther up on the fox, the gingerbread boy had to ride until — the gingerbread boy had to ride on the fox's nose. When all finally seemed safe, the fox flipped his snout causing the cookie to go right in his mouth. End of story. But is it?

Almost from the time we are born we try to run away from our Creator and all those who would try to stop our running. Where are we going anyway? We laugh and make fun of those who try to warn us not to run to the world. Sadly many allow that old sly fox to trick us into thinking the best life is the free life, the life to live as we please. Then when the things of this world have taken their toll, we are left defeated, addicted, or worst of all dead. 

As we enter into a new year let's evaluate where we are headed. Are we running in the wrong direction? Will we turn around like the Prodigal son and return to our heavenly Father? He's waiting to receive us with open arms if we will only turn and run to Him. Look again at the picture of the cookies. The gingerbread men are holding their arms wide open. They are not in running motion. Maybe they too are trying to tell us to open our arms and hearts to God and return to Him this year.

Heavenly Father, help us open our hearts and minds to you in the coming year. Lead us in Your way. Direct our path away from the things of the world that daily seek to devour our lives. In Jesus's name we pray. Amen.

Tis the Season

 

And it was at Jerusalem the feast of dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. ~John 10:22,23 KJV

It’s that time of year. Cookies, gingerbread houses, and decorations galore. As I tried to copy the picture of a winter gingerbread village in a jar, I wondered what winter was like for Jesus. There were no Christmas trees, no holiday cookies, no . . . . But wait, there was the Feast of Dedication – Hannukah! Jesus walked in the temple on Solomon’s porch! He saw the city all covered with snow. There may have been holiday cookies and gifts. There was a menorah burning in the temple by the altar of incense. Jesus may have been thinking about the lights of the temple and the miracle God had performed. Hanukah celebrated the fact that God caused the temple lamps to burn for eight days with only enough  oil for one day.

Today, we are in the midst of the Hannukah/Christmas season. Though the world tries to put out the true meanings of Hanukah and Christmas, we must keep the light within our hearts shining, demonstrating God’s love to the world. Whether we read Isaiah 53 or John 3:16 the message is still the same. It is our job to let the world know that God sent His only Son to be the sacrifice for our sins. May we dedicate our lives to the Messiah. May we let our light shine before others to glorify our Father which is in heaven. 

  How are you keeping the Messiah in the Season this year?

Heavenly Father, as the lights shine around us this Hannukah/Christmas season remind us to let our lights shine for you all year long. In Jesus the Messiah's name. Amen.

Hey Kids:

Do you have special traditions for Christmas or Hannukah? We often see gingerbread houses but I thought a gingerbread village in a snowglobe might be a fun activity that would be edible for the whole season. I gave Pinterest a look and found some interesting ideas.

It may be fun to add a menorah cookie to the village. You can probably find a cookie cutter of a menorah at a hobby store or online. 

Enjoy all the fun, but remember the reason for the season is a time to celebrate the greatest gift of all— the birth of Jesus Christ who came to die for our sins. 

A Different Kind of Christmas

 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.  I Corinthians 1:18

 

A few years ago a family whose dad was laid off and a mother with three toddlers found themselves without a Christmas tree and without money to purchase one. The family did have some land with a few scrub pines. So they set out that Saturday morning wrapped in scarves, hats, and gloves to find the perfect tree.

Some trees looked perfect but they were too short. Some were beautiful at a distance but up close they were far too tall. Finally, the dad stood beside a tree slightly crooked and sparsely branched. "It's perfect," the children squealed. The dad took his saw and cut the tree as close to the ground as he could while the mom and children held back the limbs. Dragging the tree across the red dirt hill, dad with the trunk, mom, and the children each with a limb, they loaded the tree into an old rusty pickup. 

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. Isaiah 53:2

After struggling to get the crooked tree into a dollar store stand, the dad set the tree in front of the picture window in the living room. All it needed now were the decorations of which they really had none. But first to string on the lights. Around the middle and down the limbs until the tree sparkled with white.  

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12

There was popcorn in the cabinet and the mom had purchased a bag of cranberries at the grocery store. So they set about popping corn and trying to figure out how to get a few more pieces on the string than in their mouths, adding in the cranberries here and there. The string was too long and tangled. They tried to tie it all together like storebought garland before they decked the tree but it tangled worse. Finally, with sore fingers from needle pricks, they managed to shorten the strings and tie them around the tree. But now what?

Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! John 19:5

There were flour and sugar in the cabinet, cinnamon, and ginger on the spice rack. The family decided to make gingerbread men. Toothpick holes for strings were too small and cooked together. Crotchet hook holes looked huge but cooked up to the perfect size. With red and green curling ribbon they hung the gingerbread people on the tree.  

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32

The mom had purchased some red styrofoam apples at an after Christmas sale. There were only a dozen but the balls of red made the tree pop with color against the white lights. Still it needed more. There were white pines in the woods behind the house and though it was not their wood they thought it not robbery to pick up a sack of cones. The curling ribbon was perfect to tie on the base of the cones and tie to the tree. Still, something was missing.

And in thy (Abraham's) seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Genesis 22:18

Dad bought a box of red and white candy canes from the dollar store. The children hung them around the tree with the promise that after Christmas the candy would be their treats. 

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. Hebrews 9:22

The family stood back to gaze at their finished work. With smiles from all the family, the Dad concluded that it was the prettiest tree he had ever seen. And indeed it was. Though the family tried every year to make their tree look like the straggledy pine it was never as pretty as the first tree born out of necessity. But still to this day, the grandma hangs popcorn and cranberries on the live tree and the grandpa buys candy canes for the branches and says, "It's a nice tree but it isn't as pretty as that first tree." 

Heavenly Father, this year Christmas may seem a little different for many of us. Help us remember Jesus is still the Light of the World. He gave His blood to save us and give us eternal life. Help us make meaningful memories for our families that reinforce the true reason you came. In Jesus's name, Amen. 

What Does It All Mean?

 

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

 ~Isaiah 11:1

Has your life been a  frenzy of shopping and decorating for the last few weeks? 

So what does it all mean, putting up a tree, buying presents, decorating with red and gold and blue and white? Is there purpose and meaning in our frenzy?

Putting up the tree can be a family time filled with traditions - Baby's First Ornament, hand-made ornaments, and great grandma's Victorian ornaments. But it can also be so hurried we miss the traditions and the meanings behind the decorations. 

Nostalgia fills the air as we settle down in front of the fire with a cup of hot chocolate and gaze at the sparkling tree. But WAIT! Did we miss the point? What have we instilled in our traditions to show our families the true meaning of Christmas? 

Instilling the true meaning shouldn't sound like some sort of lesson. A natural mention of how the items and colors remind you of Jesus and His love for us is the most effective way to instill meaning. 

  There are various meanings associated with Christmas. What meanings?
The Decorations

• Red - The color of blood. 
• Gold - The Wisemen brought Jesus gold and frankincense and myrrh. 
• Blue - The color of royalty. Jesus is King of Kings. 
• White - The color of purity. Jesus was without sin. 
• Wisemen followed a star. 
• Angels announced His birth. 
• Ribbons held the breastplate to the ephod on the robe of the high priest. 
• Bells were sown around the hem of the priest's robe so all could hear him as he performed his priestly duties. Jesus is our High Priest.

The Tree

• The tree is made of wood. Christ shed His blood on a cross made of wood. 
• The evergreen needles tell us that Jesus gives us eternal life. 
• The trunk and the branches lead us back to our scripture: And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 
• We display our Christmas trees where all can see their beauty. So shouldn't Jesus be displayed in our lives that all can see His beauty? 
• We want to receive gifts. May all the world come to Jesus this Christmas and receive His gift of salvation. 

May there be Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. 

Father God, please show us how to instill in our family the true meaning and purpose of the birth of your Son. For without His death, burial, and resurrection his birth would have been just another baby born one night in Bethlehem. Thank you for sending your Son to die for my sins.  In Jesus's name. Amen. 

Hey Kids:

 What else?

What intentional things are you doing to put Christ in your Christmas? 

You don't have to do anything more, only think about the reason you are 

• making cookies
• the places you are decorating
• the reasons for the decorations you are using

Is there anything that surprises you? 

We would love for you to share your Christmas stories, surprises, and blessings in the comments. And be sure to subscribe to our blog so you don't miss the weekly posts. 

M Is For Manger

 

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

So many things compete for our children's attention. Sometimes we need to be purposeful even in the things we intend for enjoyment. There is certainly nothing wrong with enjoying time spent teaching our children. I recently ordered M is for Manger by Crystal Bowman and Teri McKinley. My grandchildren came to help decorate the tree and set up the nativity scene on the coffee table. Our youngest loves to pretend with figurines so she moved the people and animals around several times until she was satisfied she had them placed just right. Then the girls settled down to read. They chose M is for Manger. The oldest is nine. She read it alone. The little one "read" the pictures. Then I sat down to read the book to her. She made it all the way to V is for Village until she got sleepy. Then she jumped up and ran over to the tree to check on the decorations so she could stay awake! Even children are purposeful in their actions. 

My grandchildren and I found the pictures to be inviting. The words are easy for young readers and listeners and carry the message in rhyme well. There is also a scripture on each page to connect the story. As I read the book I tried to think how I could use it to make a lasting memory of scripture since so much of Christmas now revolves around the secular.

One of the ways I thought to use the book is to make it an advent story, reading one page of the story each day and then creating something from the page to hang on the tree.  Pinterest is full of Advent crafts for those of us who need a little help. The first page is A is for Angel. A child with the help of an adult could easily make an angel. B is for Believe. It may be a little harder to capture in an advent picture but maybe something like praying hands or something meaningful for your family could be a symbol for believe.

Each day the child(ren) could review the story using the ornaments before reading and adding to the story. After Christmas, box up the ornaments for next year. It's likely the children will enjoy pulling them out and remembering their Christmas advent crafts, adding new ones, and recounting the story for others. 

Another idea is to use the book with a child-friendly nativity set like my granddaughter rearranged for half an hour. Rehearsing stories in a hands-on way is always a great way to imprint a learning experience. 

In whatever way you choose to teach your children about Christmas, I highly recommend M is for Manger as part of your Christmas experiences. 

Christmas blessings,

Gail

 

Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness endures forever. Psalms 136:3 (AMP)

I want to share a beautiful children's book I received the other day. Before I even opened it I was impressed with the artwork, at how well Olya Bodulina, who lives in Russia, knew our animals and our scenes. 

There is lots to share with your child. Author Jean Matthew Hall's child-friendly rhythmic language invites the reader/listener to share in God's blessings. The words and pictures are well matched to invite children 4-8 years old into the world of fall.

The blessings God has provided for the animals and us will help open children's eyes to the happenings around them. Some of the scenes are familiar, others will be new but intriguing to young minds. Parents can use the story and pictures to help children notice the animals and the changes in their own backyard or on trips to apple orchards, pumpkin patches, and leaf-peeping adventures. As a parent, I would love to make a checklist or a bingo game for my children to look for the animals and the blessings God has provided for them and for us. 

Blessings are all around us this fall. Taking time to notice brings joy in the midst of our craziness. I want to encourage my family and others to give prayers of thanksgiving for all the blessings of the fall. 

God's Blessings of Fall is available on Amazon and other booksellers. Be sure to watch for more of Jean's books to come in the Blessings series. 

I give God's Blessings of Fall 5 stars! 

Heavenly Father, thank you for all your blessings of a beautiful fall, food on our table, and warm homes with family we love. May we honor and thank you not just at Thanksgiving but all year long. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Hey Kids:

I'd like to share a few books about family get-togethers as we celebrate Thanksgiving this week. They are not about Thanksgiving but about family visits, some in the mountains, some at the beach, and some may just be next door. Look for things the families have in common as well as their differences. 

The Pink House by Sally Kate Palmer

The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant

She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain by Chris Demarest

Grandma's Feather Bed by John Denver

How is your family like the families in the books? How are they different? What sounded like fun? What new celebrations would you like to add to your family gatherings? 

The Thanksgiving Miracle

  

O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. ~Psalms 105:1

You know the picture in our minds we all get of the Indian brave who walks into the Pilgrim village in the spring of 1621 to show the Pilgrims how to plant corn, and beans, and pumpkin? Wasn’t his name Squanto? Or didn’t anyone ever tell you about Squanto?

The Family Basket

 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. ~Exodus 2:3 

Do you have a basket? What do you keep in it? Are there treasures inside? Baskets are beautiful works of art. I love placing the ribs side by side then weaving in other ribs to make the stout bottom that supports the rest of the basket. As I was thinking about our family it reminded me of the baskets I've made and used. If I don't make a tight weave across the bottom with the ribs the basket will have holes and won't hold the berries or herbs or other items I place in them.

Some baskets are made tight enough to hold water. Mine are not that tight. But I thought -families need to be woven tight. Families can't let anything in that will weaken or destroy its integrity. Nor can families leave anyone out. Every person is valuable to the family.

When Moses was born, the Pharaoh gave orders to kill all the baby boys by throwing them into the Nile. Moses was important to his family, so his mother sealed a basket, placed him inside, and gently lowered it into the river under God's watch care. Yes, his sister was there but all she could do was watch. God held Moses safe in the family basket.

Families weave safe baskets for their children. The bottom of the basket is the foundation, the marriage. As the basket takes shape the spokes across the bottom are turned up to make the ribs. As more material is woven around the ribs, the basket takes shape until it is a complete basket just as children are added to the marriage to complete the family. 

Moses was safe inside the basket. Our children should be safe inside our families. They need to know the stability and love that comes from a family. They also need to know that the main spoke in their family basket is the Lord Jesus Christ. Water makes the basket tighter. It makes the spokes pliable and when dry, the spokes are tight enough to make a sturdy basket. Jesus Christ, our Water of Life will make our marriages strong if we allow Him to soak into our lives and season them with His strength. It is Mom and Dad woven together in Christ that creates that family basket that will keep the children safe and secure in the midst of a culture of destruction. 

Heavenly Father, help us consider how we allow You to weave our marriages together. Help us give you first place that our homes might be a safe basket for our children. In Jesus's name. Amen.

In God We Trust

 But when the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for them: Judges 3:15

In the days of the judges, Israel had intermarried with the pagans around them. They had turned to the pagan gods. Baal was the god they most often looked to who required child sacrifice. The firstborn son was placed in the hot hands of Baal to be shriveled into ashes for the god. This was supposed to bring them rain and good crops; economic success. 

We find ourselves within days of an election that is most often about economics. Our food, gas, and other necessities are inflated so high the average American is struggling to keep their head afloat. This past summer, our Supreme Court overturned a ruling that federally legalized abortion, back to the states.  Many states are in the process of restricting abortions or eliminating them all together. 

But those whose eyes are on the elections recognize it's the economy driving the electorate. One candidate is even suggesting that the lack of access to abortion is the reason our economy is in such bad shape. She says all abortions should be legal so that women are not burdened with children who are a drain on a woman's income. 

WHAT? Is her platform not the same as the Baal worshippers in the time of the judges? Isn't she telling us that to be successful economically we must sacrifice our children? She's not the only one. 

Before we cast our ballots next week (and please be sure you vote), pray, pray hard for our nation, for our leaders, and for our own attitudes.  Examine the platforms of the candidates. Examine your own priorities. The Hispanic voters are strongly proposing that we voice our long-held family values of God, Family, and hard work. May we join our voices with theirs in prayer to the true Provider. 

Heavenly Father, Help us return to the values we were taught, the values this nation was founded on. Let it be known In God We Trust. You have allowed it to be placed on every piece of our money as a reminder of where our economic success comes from. It only comes from You, O Lord. In Jesus's name we pray. Amen. 

Fishers of Men

  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 fly fishing 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 close to 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 a pattern to becoming a fisher of men. Mark 1:15 says to 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 effective fishers of men reaching all nations. 

Heavenly Father, help us be faithful followers who study your word daily and pray for guidance in reaching others. Help us practice lives of dedication to your calling. In Jesus's name. Amen.  

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 kids' 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

 

  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 

~Romans 1:20 KJV

Ahh, Autumn, my favorite time of the year. Leaves, mountain apples, pumpkins, and cooler weather, what could be better? We often use pumpkins to explain the plan of salvation to children. But that is not the only thing we can learn from the beauty of Autumn. 

What do we find when we cut open an apple or pumpkin or practically anything? On the outside is the skin. Just inside is the flesh. At the core of the fruit, we find the seeds. Did you notice the trinity?  Seeds that are most often thrown away are the heart of the fruit itself. Those seeds will produce more plants and fruit just like the parent plant. Even the seed is a trinity; the outer coating, the food store inside, and the embryo that contains the leaf.  

It seems so hard to understand how God is a Trinity yet He shows us daily through His creation. He shows us how we too are created in His image. We have a body, a mind that thinks, and a soul that is eternal. The soul is actually the heart of our being. Have you ever thought about how we feel things? We say "my heart is broken." when there's nothing wrong with our heart; it's our feelings, the core of who we are. God, too, is a being who thinks and yes, who feels. Love is a feeling. God showed us His love by sending His only Son to die in our place for our sins. 

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

~Romans 5:8 ESV

When we show our children what it is like to be a Christian we are instilling in our little seeds the understanding that will reproduce itself to the third and fourth generation. In contrast, when we distort or confuse, or don't recognize the importance of instilling Christian doctrines in our children we still teach them. We teach a lack of importance for the things of God. That too will reproduce itself to the third and fourth generation. 

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands,  forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.

~Exodus 34:6,7 ESV

Heavenly Father, please help us be aware of the seeds we plant in our children's lives. May they be the seeds of salvation that will make a difference for our children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation. In Christ Jesus's name, we pray. Amen

Hey Kids:

Take a walk with your parents. Notice the beautiful sun coming up or setting. Notice the light, how it colors the sky or brightens the day. Feel the warmth of the sun. What a delight to enjoy another trinity God has created for us to know more about who He is and the love He has for us. Can you explain the Trinity using the sun, the light, and the heat of the sun?

Autumn blessings,

Gail 

Having 3D Vision

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. ~Matthew 28:19,20 KJV

• Decision - Exodus 15:20-27 gives us the picture of the Israelites travelling three days into the wilderness after crossing the Red Sea. They grumbled and complained because they had no water. There must have been a lack of trust in the Lord. They had seen the hand of the Lord deliver them by parting the Red Sea yet now they complained that the waters of Marah were bitter and undrinkable. So Moses took a tree and cast it into the water and it became sweet. God used the bitter water and the tree to show them how Jesus's death on the cross would make their lives sweet if they put their trust in Him and Him alone. The Lord would not need to put the plagues of Egypt on them to get their attention if their trust was in the Lord. They had a decision to make.
• Disciple - The Lord then led the people to Elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. God showed them another picture as they rested here. All the pictures were to disciple them for the job ahead, the job of witnessing to the whole world. There were twelve tribes that carried the gospel message. Seventy nations were dispersed from the tower of Babel to fill the world. Now, these springs fed the seventy palms just as the twelve tribes would be the nation to feed the gospel to the whole world. Jesus chose twelve disciples, one of whom was replaced, but these twelve were discipled to bring the gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection to the world. 
• Deployed - Moses would continue to lead the children of Israel through the wilderness teaching them about the Water of Life by striking the rock to bring them water, giving them the Ten Commandments, and guiding them with God's words preparing them to be witnesses to all the world with the building and worship in the tabernacle. He deployed them in Jerusalem, the crossroads of the world trade at that time. Jesus gave command to His disciples to go into all the world beginning at Jerusalem (Acts 1:8). 

We too have the same Decision to make. Will we accept Jesus by repenting of our sins and following Him or will we choose the way of the world and continue to drink its bitter water?

We too need to be discipled by studying the word daily and attending a church where we can be taught how to live a life that witnesses of the power or Christ.

We too have been deployed by the same Great Commission Jesus gave His disciples to go into all the world and teach, baptize and make disciples of every nation. 

Heavenly Father, help us examine ourselves to know we have chosen You as our Savior. Help us make prayer and daily Bible study part of our routine. Give us the boldness to reach out to the world with the gospel beginning first in our own homes and communities. In Jesus's name we pray. Amen.

Staying in the Moment

Where there is no vision, the people perish: ~Proverbs 29:18a

One of my favorite contemporary Christian songs is Keep Me in the Moment by Jeremy Camp. I knew what the song meant to me but I wanted to know his reason for writing it. 

Jeremy Camp lost his first wife to ovarian cancer just four months after their marriage. He wrote this song as part of the film "I Believe". He has since remarried and has a daughter who is growing up fast. Jeremy wants to stay in the moment with her and his wife so he doesn't look back on all the things he missed. 

I wondered how many things I'm missing because they pass by so quickly in my busy life. I feel I need to be intentional in my relationships so that I can not only savor the moments but use those moments to fulfill God's purpose in my life. I gave my high school class an assignment to research the reasons behind their favorite Christian songs — any genre. Then they were to write why they chose that particular song, what it meant to them personally. 

This is how I felt Keep Me in the Moment is playing out in my life. 

Create relationships through

• Listening to others — giving full attention
• Patience
• Kindness
• Speaking the truth in love
• Protecting confidence
• Create trust
• Persevere

Relationships open doors

• Creates opportunities to share the gospel
• Builds relationships to disciple believers
• Demonstrates love
• 
  

Faith, Hope, Love

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

~I Corinthians 13:13 NKJV

Father, keep me in the moment so that I have a vision for building Your kingdom.  You have told us in Your word the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk2:14). May Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10) In Jesus's name. Amen

Walking in the Dark

                          

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

~Prov 29:18

Back when we camped in a tent we always tried to remind everyone, the children and ourselves, to go to the bathroom before dark. There would be no street lights, no lights or lanterns hanging in campsites along the way, no way to see the path through the dark trees. In the middle of the night, there would only be darkness, the darkness that hid tree stumps, snakes, spider webs, and skunks. A thick darkness that closed in around us and chased us up the path to the bathhouse. Inevitably someone would need to go potty.  If one has to go everyone needs to go. Pity the camper whose flashlight batteries were low or gone.

I find traveling through life is a lot like a dark night in search of the path to the potty. It often feels like the walls of the world are closing in. There are wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, hurricanes, and wildfires. I feel like I'm stumbling in the darkness trying to find the path through life. 

There is a way to find my way. One of my favorite verses to remind me that God knows how to shine his light and show me the path is found in Psalms.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

 ~Psalms 119:105 

So now the question is "What is God's vision for me and for his people?

How do we get there? 

What part do I play personally in his vision? 

I'm reminded that when God told Abram to go into a land that he would show him, Abram got up, took his wife and his belongings and went (Genesis 12:1-5.) He didn't make excuses that he had never been there before or he was afraid of the people or that he didn't want to leave his home and family there in Ur. He just went, one step at a time, one day at a time, trusting God to show him the way. 

Abram didn't have the word of God as we do. He had to be a good listener and actually, so do we. What did the verse say? "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." God is not going to speak from the clouds to give us direction. He has already spoken in his word. If God's people do not read, study, meditate, memorize, put into action the things God has told us we stand in danger of being harmed in the darkness of this world. Read the first verse from Proverbs again. " Where there is no vision, the people perish." So what do we do? The rest of the verse says he that keeps the law is happy (my paraphrase). How will we keep it if we don't know it? How will we know it if we don't read it? 

Pray for God's vision for his work in our day because he has put us here for a reason.

May I offer a challenge? Read one chapter each day, Monday-Friday. Keep a journal about what the Lord is showing you in each chapter. On Saturday review what you've read and what you've written. On Sunday, attend your house of worship and see how God speaks to you through the services in congruence with what you've studied. Follow God's lead as Abram did, one step, one day at a time. 

Heavenly Father, direct our steps in this dark world. Show us our purpose. Give us a vision for your work. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Hey Kids: 

Have you thought about the fact that Jesus has put you here in this time and this place for his purposes? He has a reason you were born into your family, your country, your region. What talents has he given you? What direction might he be pointing you? 

This week I challenge you to find a quiet place to read God's word. Memorize a favorite verse. Ask God for his plan for you each day and then follow just as Abram did. 

  

The Gates of Hell

 

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 its future inhabitants. Maybe in our modern minds, a better picture is a gate that keeps the lost locked in while we amble by on our 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 we must be 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 could 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.

Heavenly Father, help us consciously show the love of Jesus to those we meet along our path. Show us how to unlatch the gates of hell and invite others into the love and light of Christ. In Jesus's name. Amen.

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.

God's Great Love

 

                                         

For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38,39 KJVWe camped in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As usual it was overflowing with people, but we were there for the same reason, to find some peace from the crazy rat race of work and cell phones and TV's and technology of every description that invades our lives every day. True, without technology, I wouldn't be able to share this with you, but sometimes you do need a break.
When you cross into the park, your cell phone immediately loses signal. It will search until all power is gone, which won't take long unless you cut the phone off completely. Then to get your pictures you have to go through all the stuff to get it back on and to the camera. Whew! Word to the wise, pack another camera. We camped at Cades Cove. There are no electrical sites, except maybe the handicapped sites, another shut down of technology. I'm not sure if even the generator powered campers had the ability to receive TV and radio signals. Who would want it when you are surrounded by the glory of God's creation.
The eleven mile loop that takes you through forest and meadows and leads you to old cabins and trails. Traffic creeps along at ten to fifteen miles an hour with people stopping to view deer and bear. Pull-offs are frequent for those wishing to get out and get a closer look or walk through cabins and along trails. You may be accompanied by fifty to hundred people but most speak in whispers, in awe of the beauty that surrounds them. Smiles greet you as fingers point out the wildlife across the meadow or up in the tree. I thought, this is almost heaven. There are no harsh words. There is no hurry. There is no worry. That's probably why so many signs say stay fifty feet back from wildlife! We lose all fear. Peace and calm reign and you wish for the day to never end.
The highest mountain in the Smokies is Clingman's Dome. For many years it was thought to be the highest mountain in the east until more accurate measurements declared Mt Mitchell the winner. There are also a significant amount of caverns under the Smokies. Most are not open to the public, but there are a few. We ventured into Tuckaleechee with an older guide who knew the cavern inside out. Though I didn't take pictures inside (I didn't know going in I could take my camera), the beauty and magnificence of the cavern was awesome. Stalactites and stalagmites, curtains of formations, underground rivers and a waterfall, amazement at every turn. Then he turned off the lights, but God was still there in the dark, the dark you could almost feel. Here in the Smoky Mountains, we could ascend to one of the highest peaks or descend in one of the deepest caverns. No matter where we were, we were never without God. We could pray at the heights or in the depths. God would still hear. We could still feel His presence. We still had His love. There is no escape from God or His love and why would you want to escape? It's because of His love that we have the beauty of His creation. It's because of His love that we have salvation through Christ Jesus. God is love (I John 4) in all He does.
Heavenly Father we thank you for your loving kindness in creating this tiny earth filled with wonder. Thank you for placing us in the midst of the wonder. We are such a tiny speck on the earth in the midst of your gigantic universe yet you care for us. You sent Your Son to die for us in the midst of our sin. May we never lose sight of Your great mercies. In Jesus's name Amen
Hey Kids:
God's creation is so amazing. Have you ever thought that God created all things because He loves us? From the smallest atom to the tallest tree to the deepest cavern, we can see our amazing God and His love for us.
Why not take a little vacation from technology this week and take note of something far more amazing - God's creation.
Take pictures or draw or write about something awesome.
Here's some hints to get you started.
Watch fireflies or lightning bugs as they begin their nightly dance. What makes them glow without burning up?
Listen for woodpeckers in search of food or building homes. Why doesn't his beak break or bend?
Check a flower bud for a few days to watch it as it opens. Does it twirl open or pop or slowly, slowly broaden its petals.
Can you find a way to measure the tallest tree in your yard or neighborhood or park?
What other things can you find that God has created to bless you with?

Mining for Truth

 

 Photo courtesy of Matt Seymour

 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17

Have you ever been gem mining? My grandson always loved swishing a pan of sand in the water and finding little gems. The water helped the sand pass through the sieve, leaving the goodies in the pan. If the sieve had a hole in it or was coming loose from the side, the gemstones would slip through and be lost. That would never do. We needed a good sieve so he could come away with a nice pocket full of rocks.

Just like with gem mining, we need a good sieve in life.  It's often hard to figure out the truth. We hear so many versions of "truth". We see so many video clips trying to convince us of "the truth". We read so many "facts" to demonstrate "the truth". We need a good sieve to pass all this information through. One with no holes or loose edges that would allow an untruth to pass through. 

 Jesus said that God's word is truth. How do we filter everything through God's word? It's hard to understand. It's a big book. We don't have time. My grandson didn't pour water over the pan of sand and just wait for the gems to appear. He had to swish it and dip it again and again. Each time swishing and taking out little treasures until he had devoured the whole $15 bucket. So too, we must take little bits, letting the Water of Life swish over the words, revealing the gems a few at a time. Here are a few tips I use:

• Commit to reading one chapter each day, just one.
• Pray before reading to commit that chapter to God's revealing.
• Look for the gem, the one thing God is revealing to me in the chapter.
• Journal my find.
• Write an application for myself.
• Write a prayer about the application.
• Share the gems with someone else, my spouse, my family, my friend, etc. 

One find leads to another. As soon as my grandson finished one bucket of sand he always wanted more. 

Heavenly Father, help me look for the gems in Your word and apply them to my life, the things I hear and see and read. Help me to be hungry each day for another chapter of truth. In Jesus's name. Amen.