Spiders

And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. ~ Acts 7:60

I kept seeing a Wolf Spider around my carport door. Spiders are creepy, especially these SC wolf spiders. They're big and hairy. They move fast. This one always skittered away before I could step on it. Finally, it was a little slower than usual, and I nailed it with one big stomp. Baby spiders exploded out everywhere on the carport. I was dodging baby spiders in all directions! I had no idea this species of spiders carried their babies on their abdomens. Killing one just released the babies to spread. They're actually helpful hunters. But to me, that's just more spiders to watch for and dodge everytime I go out the door. 

When the church first began there was great persecution. A deacon named Stephen was such an effective witness, the leaders of the Jews and the high priest wanted to accuse him of blasphemy. The penalty was stoning. Stephen was led outside the city. A young man, Saul of Tarsus, who was a well trained Pharisees held the coats of the men while they stoned Stephen. 

Stephen's final words as he kneeled down was a prayer to Jesus not to lay this sin to their charge. Then he "fell asleep". He died. It didn't seem to affect any participating in the stoning. It seemed to make Saul more adamant in persecuting Christians, but in reality, Jesus was working on his heart. Jesus was convicting him of his own sin. On the road to Damascus to persecute more Christians, Saul saw a blinding light and heard Jesus speak to him. Saul became the Apostle Paul who brought the gospel to the Gentile world. Though the Jewish leaders including Saul had meant evil toward Stephen, God used it for good to spread the gospel. 

Just like the spider, they can't stop the gospel. There are many already training to reach the world. Pray for those who don't yet know Jesus as Savior. Pray for those who try to stop the Gospel even with deadly persecution both in our country and around the world. Pray for families who need strength in the trying days ahead. 

Heavenly Father, may we have the courage of Stephen to continue to witness of Jesus even in the face of death. We know that like the spider, when one is persecuted, even unto death, there are hundreds more already trained to proclaim the gospel. May Your kingdom come, and Your will be done. In Jesus's name. Amen.

 

I Am The Clay

 

But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter;  we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8 (ESV)

Do you have a piece of pottery in your home? I don't mean a dollar store coffee cup. I'm talking about a piece of pottery that is handmade by someone. I have a little bowl my oldest son made when he was in elementary school. I can see the size of his little fingers where he squished the bowl into shape. His initials are scratched on the bottom.  He brought it home as a gift, probably for Mother's Day. It may not be much to look at, but it holds the paperclips on my desk. It does its job, and to me it's priceless. 

When he went off to college, he met a girl majoring in something far different than art, but she took a pottery class as an elective. She is now a professional potter. Her work is amazing, very unlike the child-made bowl on my desk. Her work is unique. I can see the ridges her fingers made as she turned the pieces on her wheel. I asked her about the process of bringing her pottery to the finished product. 

She explained that clay doesn't need to cure, just dry, which could be between two days and two weeks before it is fired in the kiln. In the first firing, called the bisque, the pottery is heated to 1800 degrees. After the pottery is glazed, it goes through another firing at 2000 degrees. This firing takes between eight and nine hours. The pots shrink 10% during firing. She sometimes fires a third time if something needs to be fixed. I'm thinking she means fixed as in the glaze. 

She often names her pieces according to the way she glazed them. The mug shown here is a mountain view. It was a gift because she knew how much I love the mountains. The saucer under the mug is my favorite muffin plate. It was one of her first works. It's nothing like the saucers she makes now, but I love it. 

Have you ever turned a piece of pottery over and noticed it's not glazed on the bottom? There's a secret about the unglazed area. Regardless of the use of the pottery, the bottom can be used to sharpen knives. Just a little kitchen magic for you there. 

Isaiah compares God to a potter. God fashions each of us for a unique job. We are all different in our appearance. Even identical twins have different fingerprints.  Some of us may feel a little misshapen by the world's standards, but like my son's little bowl, we are priceless in God's eyes. The Lord knows each of us by name and we are created with a special purpose. 

The Lord's fashioning of our lives is not a hands-off process. He shapes us and molds us and often times puts us through the fire, maybe more than once. No one is too young or too old, too sinful or too messed up for God to make them into what He has planned them to be. 

Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the whole armor of God. When we put on the armor, the head and front are covered, but the back is still open. Of course, God's got our back, but I'm wondering if, like the glazed pottery, our most vulnerable side is another part God will use. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for creating me for a special work. Thank you for leading me to know your salvation and plan. Father, please continue to guide me and use me for Your unique purpose. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Communicating with Our Children

 

That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: Psalms 78:6,7

It's back to school. The kids come home and you ask, "How was school today?" 

And the answer is, "Fine."

Do you feel like your children just don't want to tell you or are they answering like we often do when someone says, "How are you?"

Here are some suggestions to get a conversation going.

• What did you do today that was fun?
• What was hard today?
• What was your best class? Why?
• Did you read any good stories?
• What are you studying in history? science?

All of these questions and more lead into conversations with your children that will help you engage with their education. Even if you're homeschooling, these can be worthwhile questions to see where your children's interest lie.

Let their answers tell you what to share about your experiences with your children. Suppose they say they had fun at recess. Next question," What did you do?" It's not likely they played jump rope or hopscotch or red rover, but maybe you did. Share those experiences. Teach them how to play those games and recite those jump rope rhymes.

If fractions were hard, pull out the measuring cups and spoons and ask them to help you make cookies or supper. Then show them how you use fractions. Money is another good way to teach fractions. Pour out the change jar and let them sort and count the money discovering what makes up the parts of a whole dollar. 

Maybe music was the best class. Ask about what they are singing and share songs you remember from childhood like Eating Goober Peas, or The Erie Canal. 

Are they reading Little House on the Prairie? Go explore a nearby antique shop or the basement if you happen to have family antiques. Subjects like reading, history, and science are always more meaningful if children can put their hands on what they are reading about. 

Are their historical parks in your area? Do they put on demonstrations? In my area, there is American Indian Days at Haygood Mill, reenactments at Cowpens Battlefield and Walnut Grove. What about your family history? Did your ancestors follow the wagon road down the mountains to settle southern Appalachia or were they already there to meet the pioneers? Did they come over on slave ships? Did they go with the wagon trains to settle the west? Were they stowaways on ships? Are they new immigrants who are fleeing harsh homelands? Let your children know and then tell them how good God has been to your family during the tough times as well as the good. 

Do your children enjoy science or need encouragement to study harder? Visit farms, orchards, festivals, planetariums, museums. The Creation Museum is close by for most of the east coast located in Kentucky. The Institute of Creation"s museum is opening in September located in Texas. 

As the holidays approach make sure your children are aware they can share the true meaning of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter at school. 

Heavenly Father, keep us in the middle of our children's lives, especially their education. Help us have conversations that implant You Lord, in our children's hearts and daily life. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Hey Kids: '

What's this school year like? 

Dig deeper into things that interest you most. Let your parents know so they can share their experiences with you. 

Did you know that everything in life is tied to every subject? 

Maybe math is your best subject but history is kind of okay. You will need to read well to learn about the best mathematician - Einstein. In the process, you will learn the history of how he struggled as a kid and why he needed to flee his homeland. Einstein was also a scientist. Look, we've already covered every subject in school just because you like math!

Maybe you liked to reading The Drinking Gourd. To really understand it you may need to talk with your grandparents, visit an antique shop, a farm or a National Park to see how harsh life was during that time period. Math and science will come in handy to know slaves navigated by the stars. Now you've already used all the subjects from school.

Don't leave your parents out of your adventures. They have lots to share as well and may the Lord lead you in this new school year. 

 

Under God

 

For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for?

 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; Deuteronomy 4;7-9

We've all recited the Pledge of Allegiance and we are often reminded of the words "one nation, under God" but have you considered that you and I are one person under God? We want our nation to recognize God, but are we recognizing Him in our daily lives? 

In Deuteronomy 4,5 Moses is recounting how God gave the children of Israel the Ten Commandments. He is reminding them of how they promised God to obey His laws. The Israelites had heard the voice of God, the thundering and lightning, the smoke on the mountain, but they were afraid, so God had Moses go up on the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments. When Moses left, the people forgot their promise. By the time Moses came down in just forty short days, they were worshipping a golden calf! They had completely lost their fear of God. 

Where are we today? Are we not a nation so great with God so nigh in all the things we call upon Him for? Are not our statutes and judgments and laws righteously based on God's Ten Commandments? Have we failed to take heed? Have we forgotten all the things we have seen that God has brought us through? Have we failed to teach our children and our grandchildren? 

I won't be so pessimistic as to think there is no hope. I refuse to believe that we can no longer be "one nation under God". Beginning with the Mayflower Compact, it is He that hath made us and not we ourselves. Moses led the people of Israel — one man under God. William Brewster drew up the Mayflower Compact — one man under God. Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote for the abolition of slavery  — one woman under God. Are we not each one person — man or woman — under God who can be leaders in our homes, in our churches, in our communities, and in our nation? These and so many others have taken it upon themselves to be that one person, to make that difference, to lead their nation to be united, one nation under God. 

O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! Deuteronomy 5:29

Heavenly Father, May I be that one person willing to be under Your direction to change the direction of my home, my church, my community, and my nation so that You, O God will bless America again. In Jesus' name. Amen

The Moon is Always Round

 

For the LORD is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.

~Psalm 100:5 ESV

I remember my sister-in-law quoting a nursery rhyme. 

I see the moon.

The moon sees me.

God bless the moon. 

And God bless me. 

Have you ever wondered why and there was just no answer? 

Someone recommended a children's book to me, The Moon is Always Round, by Jonathan Gibson.  There were several things I liked about this book. It's an easily read children's book, but with lots of deeper meaning. 

• The dad is the spiritual leader of the home even before tragedy.
• God's truths are taught from the scripture and the Creation
• Adults don't have all the answers
• God is loving and faithful in all circumstances.

I feel having the dad as the spiritual leader in this book gives dads the honor and respect God has given them as the head of the home. He protects his wife and gives her space to grieve while he takes on the responsibility of attending to his son's questions.

The analogy of the moon as a continual presence, to God as always a continual presence, gives a child and us as adults something tangible to help us remember God's love and presence. We see the moon in many phases and at times - invisible, but the moon is always there and always round. Sometimes we see God full on in a situation. Sometimes we feel like God is hard to see. And sometimes we can't see God at all. But God is always there and He knows our circumstances, our needs, and our heartaches even when we can't see Him working. 

Often children and others ask Christians why. Why did this happen? What have I done to deserve this? 

Even Christians don't have those answers. We have to look to scriptures for others who have gone through similar circumstances and see how God worked. Job, a just man, lost all his wealth and more importantly all his children. He hadn't done anything to cause the circumstance. 

God allowed Satan to try Job to demonstrate God's faithfulness and Job's trust in God.

Abraham and Sarah had no children. Neither did Zechariah and Elizabeth. God used Abraham and Sarah to create a nation. Zechariah and Elizabeth were the parents of John the Baptist. 

We may not always understand God's purposes, but we must trust he is loving and faithful in every circumstance, just as the moon is always round in every phase. 

Dear Heavenly Father, help us trust you in every circumstance. Help us know that you never want to harm us but to allow us to demonstrate your love and faithfulness to others. May we trust you as Job, and Abraham, Sarah, Zechariah and Elisabeth. May we never lose sight of your love and care. In Jesus' name. Amen.

A Deathbed Confession

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. ~Luke 23:43

So often, the message of this man hanging on a cross beside Jesus is overlooked, forgotten. He confesses his sin of a wicked life. He knows that to die is a rightful judgment, but he looks at Jesus and asks Jesus to remember him when he comes into His kingdom. Jesus tells him that today he will be with Him in paradise. Jesus pronounces salvation for this man, though he has never done anything worthy of salvation. The man's faith that Jesus is the Son of God, who can forgive sins, brought salvation to him in death. Have you ever known anyone to make a "deathbed" confession? What would be your thoughts about such a person? I would like to share a true story about someone whose life and death I am well acquainted with. 

A young man grew up in a Christian home, his dad a deacon. He married a young lady from his church. Somewhere along the way, he denied that faithful upbringing. For what reason, I do not know, but his wife remained faithful. They raised a family of thirteen children, most of whom reached adulthood. He was known in the community as the old atheist, though he personally confessed to be agnostic. There's not much difference. A lost man is a lost man. 

For all his lack of faith in God, he was a faithful husband. He loved hunting and guns. He loved his family and was a sober man. One evening, as he came in from hunting, he noticed his wife had left a basket of clothes under the line. Propping his gun against the wagon, he retrieved the basket. As he picked up his gun with his free hand, it slipped. The stock hit the ground. The bullet hit the man under his left arm. This was in the days just before penicillin. Though the doctor was called and all that could be done was done, the wound set up gangrene in a few days. His wife and children, some of whom had become believers, pleaded with him to repent and ask forgiveness before it was too late. 

On his deathbed, he confessed Jesus as his savior. The family wanted to take comfort in his confession, but there was always that nagging feeling that maybe Pa had said it to please the family.

The man's oldest son was already a Christian when his pa died. He may have already been a deacon in his church. This son contracted lung cancer when he was about 60 years old. As he languished in the hospital in and out of consciousness, his son sat by his side. In the dad's last words, he began to greet those who had gone before. "Hello Grandma, Hello Grandpa, Hello Ma, Ohhhh Pa!" Then he was gone. 

Now his son wondered what he had seen. Did he see his Pa in heaven or a vision of him in hell? No, we won't see the anguish of hell. Pa's deathbed confession was real. 

Heavenly Father, thank you that you hear our prayers and the prayer of every sinner who comes to you in repentance and faith. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Like Trees Planted by the Water

 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Colosians 2:7

What a beautiful, quiet place. I'd like to sit on that bench and just rest awhile. Quiet places can be a place to be rooted and established in the faith. But how? 

God's creation is given to help us see his plan, his care, to teach us. So what does this picture teach besides I want to have a seat under the tree?

Paul was well taught in the scriptures. He was a Pharisee of the Pharisees. I think in our verse he is reflecting back on Psalms 1:3

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.

The Lord plants us in His family, the church, where we can be taught by the word, nourished by the Living Water, the Holy Spirit, and bear fruit, spiritual fruit, in the world. 

A tree must put down roots to be firmly planted. The wind and rain must not be able to move it. Yes, it may lose a few limbs, but every tree profits from a little pruning, and so do we. Having our roots firmly planted in a church that teaches God's word will disciple us to be profitable servants.

A tree must receive water regularly, and so must we. We must include prayer, talking with the Lord, so His Holy Spirit can speak to us through His word, helping us to grow. 

To bear fruit, a tree must receive pollination, and so must we. We need Christian friends with whom we can discuss the scriptures, pray together, witness together, and give thanks for the fruit we bear. 

We all will face storms of different magnitudes at different times in our lives. When we are rooted in God's word, watered by His Spirit, and work together for the kingdom, we will be strengthened and bear much fruit. 

Father God, help me continue to grow, putting down my spiritual roots in the good soil of Your word, watered by Your living Spirit, and bearing fruit of You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Where Does My Strength Come From?

 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

WOW! Look at those muscles. I wonder how long it took him to gain the strength to do a push-up with one hand, holding a weight, balancing on a weight, and on his toes. I wonder who coached him and how he was coached. I just don't have the mindset to chase that goal. But I do have another goal that includes a coach who will encourage, correct, and strengthen me. 

Looking back at our verse, I notice the word "which". In many translations and in our own mental gymnastics, that word is translated as "who". "I can do all things". I don't think that means one-handed pushups with weights, but maybe there are things to be done that will strengthen me even more than pushups. 

Paul lists things he had learned to do. 

• Be content
• To be abased - lowly, humble
• abound - live well with plenty
• suffer need - hungry, lonely

Paul knew how to weather through the hard times and enjoy the good times. He knew that Christ was the one who strengthened him. Christ was his coach to get him through. Had he done nothing, had he refused to be based, to live without plenty, to suffer need, Paul would not have been able to reach the goal Christ had set for him. Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. Most likely, if you are reading this, you are a Gentile brought to the knowledge of Christ through first the preaching, the obedience of Paul. Christ was like a coach whose encouragement pushed him to continue in the work.  Once Paul overcame one obstacle, he could feel strengthened to push forward to another goal. If you follow the travels of Paul, you can see he went into dangerous places that were far from home. He couldn't take the next plane home when the ship wrecked. He didn't throw up his hands and quit when he was beaten near to death or thrown in jail. Paul knew Christ would meet his needs, strengthening him whether he was alone or had friends at his side. 

Reading all that Paul went through makes me wonder how I would handle an uncomfortable situation. I've been on mission trips to a third-world country. It's not how I'd want to spend the rest of my life, but I know those who do, and I know it is Christ who gives them the strength to keep going. 

Christ has a plan for each of us. Each of us faces challenges that will strengthen our walk for Him. We must keep pressing toward the goal and never give up.

Father God, strengthen me when I am weak. Encourage me when I feel down or disheartened. Help me look to you and to others whom you have helped. Help me be like Paul, weathering the storms and enjoying the blessings in the calm. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Adam and Eve (You and Me) in a Garden

 

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Phillipians 2:12

As I pondered on this verse, I noticed Paul was saying you work without me or anyone having to watch over you. That's a good worker who can do the job without someone looking over their shoulder. So I wondered where were people first given a job with instructions and allowed to complete that job without a watchful eye?

Adam and Eve were first placed in a garden.  They were instructed to keep it, to take care of it, care for the animals and to fill the earth with children. Big job, but then God left them to work coming by to talk in the cool of the evening. Things were going well until Satan deceived Eve into believing God was hiding something from her. After the fall, she and Adam were still expected to work the land but there would be added troubles, briars and weeds. 

Now in our verse Paul tells us to work out our  own salvation with fear and trembling. Do we need to work for salvation?  No, Jesus already paid for our salvation.  Should we be afraid and tremble all the day and night? Let's consider the old language. Fear can also be awe, and trembling can be a reverance. Because we serve an awesome God we can reverantly serve Him without someone looking over our shoulder. Whether it's Monday or Sunday our work should be the same. Not a work for salvation but of pleasing the One who saved us.

Let's look at the verse again. Work. The first work was in a garden and so was the second work outside the garden. So what does gardening involve?

• Cultivate - we need to cultivate our lives, plow up our hearts so God can do a work.
• Plant - plant the word of God in our hearts so we can grow and share with others
• Weed - pull out those things that don't belong in the life of a Christian.
• Water - let the Holy Spirit pour into our lives and show us the blessings of a Christ filled life
• Harvest - God gives the harvest but we reap the blessings. A harvest produces seed to plant again. Those seeds may reach our family, our friends, our community, our nation, and the world. 

Father God, help us work to live the joyous life you have in store for us. Help us study to show ourselves approved, pull out those things in our lives that hinder our walk with you, and allow you Holy Spirit to encourage and bless us that we might enjoy the harvest you desire to give. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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