- It never grumbles or complains
- It burns brighter and brighter
- It dances with the flickers of light
- It reflects that dance on the walls
- It comforts with warmth
- It opens up the vision
- It draws others to it
Sunday, December 29, 2024
Be the Light
Sunday, December 22, 2024
Angels Keep Watch
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 18:10
Did you realize that children have angels who watch over them continually? That doesn't mean nothing bad ever happens to them, but their angels continually tell the Father what is happening. Our heavenly Father is working out a plan for them and for us.
The night the Father sent His only begotten Son into the world, angels not only lit up the heavens singing to the shepherds, but I know there must have been angels watching from the rafters and in the corners of that stable. The Father knew He was sending His Son to die a horrible death for us but he did it anyway.
And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. Hebrews 1:6
His Angels Kept Watch
Heavenly Father, please open our eyes to the reality of Christmas, Your Son born to a simple family, living a simple life, dying a horrible death for me. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Sunday, December 15, 2024
No Christmas?
And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. John 10:22,23
All through history, Satan has tried to destroy God's people so Christmas would never come. Think about Abraham and Isaac. Imagine an old man over 100 years old, tying up a teenager to offer the teen as a burnt sacrifice. Isaac could have easily broken away and run like crazy. But no, Isaac was obedient to his father, even as Jesus was obedient to His Father, even unto death. God spared Isaac's life because he couldn't die for our sins. But the Father did not spare His only Son. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Without God's love, there would be no Christmas.
Think about Esther. God put her through tragic events to make her the queen who would save her people. If Haman had won, the Jews would have been destroyed. There would have been no special people to receive God's Son. There would be no Christmas.
Think about Hanukkah. The Greeks had come in to change the culture of the Hebrews to the Greek culture, language, and religion. A pig was sacrificed on the temple altar. The brave family of the Maccabees fought for Israel and the temple. They cleansed the temple but there was only enough oil to light the lamp for one night. It would take a week to make more oil. They demonstrated their faith and love by reclaiming the temple and lighting the lamp. God demonstrated His love and power by keeping the lamp burning for eight days while the oil was being made.
What would have happened if the Maccabees had not reclaimed the temple? The religion of the true God would have been destroyed. There would have been no Christmas.
Think about King Herod's attempt to kill the baby Jesus by killing all the children under two years old. If Joseph had not listened to God and taken Jesus to Egypt, there would have been no Calvary, no sacrifice for our sins. There would be no salvation.
Even to this day, Satan attempts to end Christianity. Satan knows his time is short. No matter what we see on the news, be reassured, God is not dead nor doth He sleep. He is in control. God wins. There is forgiveness and salvation because there is Christmas.
Sunday, December 8, 2024
Taste and See
Sunday, December 1, 2024
A Children's Advent
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. 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.
Heavenly Father, help us teach our children about Your Son who came as a babe in a manger to give His life for our sins. Show us how to keep them focused on Jesus above the secular draw of the season. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done with peace on earth good will to men. In Jesus's name. Amen.
A Children's Advent
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. 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.
Heavenly Father, help us teach our children about Your Son who came as a babe in a manger to give His life for our sins. Show us how to keep them focused on Jesus above the secular draw of the season. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done with peace on earth good will to men. In Jesus's name. Amen.
Sunday, November 24, 2024
We Gather Together
Verse 1:
We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.
Verse: 2
Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!
Verse 3:
We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our Defender will be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
Sunday, November 17, 2024
If My People
Exodus 36:5,6 The people were so excited about the work of the Tabernacle that they brought more than was needed. Moses had to give a command to stop bringing things for the Tabernacle.
What a wonderful situation to find ourselves in. When has the offering ever been too much? When has a congregation been so excited about God's work that they had to be told their gifts were enough?
Heavenly Father, at this season of Thanksgiving, may our thankfulness for all you have done be demonstrated in the enthusiasm we show in working for Your kingdom. May Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus's name. Amen.
Tuesday Reading
Exodus 37:1, 10, 25, 29 These verses demonstrate the responsibilities of Bezaleel. God chose him to do a mighty work but he is actually an unknown figure. His faithfulness to his calling has affected the understanding and worship of God for millions of people for thousands of years.
Can others look at my work and see my faithfulness to God's calling? Is my faithfulness or lack thereof affecting others? Surely everything we do affects others.
Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me a work to do. Help me to be faithful to Your calling regardless of how much or how little credit I receive. You must increase and I must decrease. Be glorified, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Wednesday Reading:
Exodus 38:8 The women brought their brass mirrors to make the brass laver, a place for the priests to wash their hands. Have you ever noticed women when they pass a mirror, even in a store? We have to stop and check ourselves. Beautiful hair, clothes, and make-up can all be a mess if a woman doesn't have a mirror to check herself. The women of Israel gave their most prized possession. They humbled themselves before God, putting aside their vanity for the building of the place of worship.
Heavenly Father, please open my eyes to the things I put before worship, before praise, before witnessing. Help me to humble myself for Your work. In Jesus's name. Amen.
Thursday Reading:
Exodus 39: 18. The names of the tribes of Israel covered the priest's heart and his shoulders bore the weight.
Are God's people on my heart? Are the lost on my heart? Do I have a burden for people or do I just complain about the situation?
Heavenly Father help me carry a burden for repentance among Your people and a burden to see the lost saved. In Jesus's name. Amen.
Friday Reading:
Exodus 40:34. The people had followed God's directions. They had set up the tabernacle in God's order and He had descended on it. He guided their way day and night.
When our lives are clean God abides and directs our way. When we allow sin to enter in the Spirit departs until our lives are clean-forgiven. I John 1:9. We cannot do a work for God if we harbor sin .
Heavenly Father, direct my path that I might walk in Your way. May my life be pleasing unto You. In Jesus's name. Amen.
Sunday, November 10, 2024
What's in a Name?
Walking through our wooded neighborhood, I noticed an Eastern towhee flitting through the pine brush. He was joined by others, chickadees, wrens, and a cardinal. Bluebirds lit on the fence post. I could hear crows calling in the distance and the fuss of a bluejay. Then it struck me how many birds I can name. Is that important?
Did you name your dog or pet? Do you know the names of your neighbors' pets? Why? Is it because they have names? You are familiar with them. You care for them. They are important to you. God wanted the animals and birds to be important to Adam. He gave the responsibility to Adam to care for His creation. Farmers often do not name the animals they plan to sell to the market. Why? They don't want to be attached.
Do you know your neighbor's name? I can see a house through the trees whose occupants I have never met. How cold is that word, Occupant? They live and work and probably go to school. They have days of health and sickness and accidents I never know about. Maybe one day I will see a lot of cars or a white wreath on the door. I don't know their names but God does. He sees. He cares. He knows their names. He cares if they know Him.
How did I learn the names of the birds? I set out birdfeeders. I listened to their calls. I became familiar with them. I have seen pictures of people feeding wild birds from their hands. I have fed and tamed feral cats. Getting to know the birds and animals is such a joy but it takes time. They won't eat out of our hands at first. They need to know we care about them before they trust us.
It's the same with people. We have to be friendly with others, get to know them, and show we care before they trust us, before they are willing to hear what we have to say. What do we have to say? It's simple.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.~John 3:16He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Psalms 137:4
Sunday, November 3, 2024
God's Patterns
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 KJV
Fractals— never heard of them until this fall. Fractal is a comparatively new term coined in 1975 by Benoit Mandelbrot. It's from Latin meaning broken or fractured. We've always seen fractals, we just didn't use that term. God used fractals in Creation.
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Prepared
- Do we need to change the TV channel often?
- Do we need to monitor the music our children hear?
- Do we need to monitor our children's social media and web history?
- Are we having trouble finding modest clothes?
- Are the popular clothes covered with worldly or demonic symbols?
- Are we aware of the books our children read or have read them in school?
Sunday, October 20, 2024
Star of Wonder
Sunday, October 13, 2024
Seeing with Spiritual Eyes
- the rainbow in the autumn colors
- the colors in a sunset and a sunrise
- an evening sky full of stars
- the verses God has put in his word to call attention to all he has done.
Sunday, September 22, 2024
Sprouting Seeds
- Now is the time to save a few seeds for a flower bed or garden next year.
- Collect a few seeds, allow them to fully dry, then place them in a jar or bag in the fridge until spring.
- Allow a few others to drop to the ground. Place a marker at the spot(s) you want to watch next spring for sprouts.
- Watch how God gives the increase.
Sunday, September 15, 2024
A Tree Planted by the Water
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night
.3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
- There is a constant flow of water to sustain the trees
- Some of the trees are along the edge and some are farther back.
- Those along the edge are constantly drinking from the flowing water.
- Fruit from a well-watered tree is plump and juicy, delectable.
- Juicy fruit makes it desirable to be picked.
- There is no dry spell for the leaves to wither. It's always appealing.
- An appealing tree draws people to it for the shade and the fruit.
- It grows, bears fruit.
- It's noticed.
- It's desirable.
- Ask mom or dad for post it notes or index cards
- Copy down your favorite verse or passage
- Place the note or card in a place you'll see it every day - on a mirror on the front of your notebook
- Read the verse at least 3 times each day.