Never Too Little to Love

 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; I Corinthians 13:4 NKJV

Go figure, a little mouse and a very tall giraffe can teach us so many things. In Never Too Little to Love a little mouse loves a giraffe and wants to give the giraffe a kiss, but he's too small. He doesn't call up to her. He tries to reach her on his own. He tries to make himself tall enough stacking all kinds of things on top of one another to reach her until it all comes crashing down. That's when the giraffe reaches down and kisses him. 

Sound familiar? Here we are trying to prove to God that we love him by saying we are a good person. We deserve His love. We give money. We try to be kind to other people. We go to church and put in our time until our world comes crashing down. When we realize it's not us who can figure it all out, but only Jesus who reaches down with His love that can change our lives. 

Such a short little children's book. It probably wasn't written with that intent, but it can carry a big message for all of us. 

There's another blessing this little book can offer to parents and children. I see so many moms online frantically looking for homeschool curriculum for their preschoolers. I want to say, 

"Mama Chill!" 

With this one little picture book and others like them you have all the preschool curriculum you need without spending useless dollars on worksheets that make your child hate learning. Let's see what this book can do for your preschooler.

• Humorous, engaging text (it's funny, love reading)
• Large text (little eyes can see the words)
• Letter sounds (depending on the age of the child, 4 or 5, or 6 or 7)
• Demonstrates sequencing small to large (it's also engineering)
• Counting (counts the things as they are stacked)
• Opposites (small/tall, little/big)
• Genders (boy loves girl)
• P.S. this book is at libraries, Amazon and Thriftbook.com

Let's let our children be little, teaching them that Jesus loves them and learning can and should be a fun and loving experience. 

Lord Jesus, help us take a deep breath and gently lead our children to you. Help us not to build our own towers but let you show us your way. In your name we pray. Amen

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. ~Luke 2: 15,16 KJV

Have you ever tried to picture Mary and Joseph in a stable tucked back into a cave? Close your eyes and uses your imagination. Create the sensory reactions of the stable. What does it smell like, How does the straw feel when walked or lain on? What sounds are heard?
Wait! What's that sound? Is it the sound of someone struggling from pain? Infant cries. What is going on in this stable. May I offer a poem of that first night?
Sleep in Heavenly Peace
Mom and Joseph labored through the night
Now He is here, pink and perfect.
Joseph speaks and His head turns,
Eyes searching as if to say,
"I know that voice. That's my Joseph".


He easily finds both fists and suckles loudly.
Bright eyes search the face who holds him.
Mom nestles him close to her breast.
His head turns from His fists to her warm food.
She smiles and relaxes as her milk lets down.


He nurses strong, then begins to doze and
Awake to snack and doze and snack
And doze and ...
His chin quivers as her breast slips from His mouth.
Sleep, peaceful, quiet, heavenly sleep.


Swaddled in clean cloths, He is laid in the manger.
Whispers enter the barn door.
Shepherds shuffle in the shadows of lantern light.
Quiet awe at the sight of the angels' message.
"For unto you is born...a Saviour, which is
Christ the Lord."


Father God, help us make the Christmas season real. May we be aware of Mary's struggles in a smelly barn. May we be aware of Joseph's anxious feelings of delivering a baby, Your Son into the world. Help us be aware of Your miracles around us swaddled in the ordinary. In Jesus' name. Amen.

If My People

 

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land. ~II Chronicles 7:14 KJV

Many people have prayed, I among them, and agonized over the condition of our country. Several spiritual leaders have passed in the last few weeks, Charlie Kirk and Voddie Baucham to name a few.  As Erika Kirk has demonstrated, now is not the time to lay down our armor and grieve, on the contrary, there is yet much work to do and prayers to be prayed. 

One of the things the Lord has laid on my heart is a return to reading God's word—not just reading but studying it so that we know how to humble ourselves and pray for God's forgiveness and direction for our nation.

This week I offer a short reading on which you can easily expand, a thought and a prayer for each day. This is a great time to start reading and studying our Bibles in preparation of humbling ourselves to give true Thanksgiving for all God's blessings on our families and our nation. 

Monday Reading:
      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.

The Rocks Cry Out

 

 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” ~Luke19:40 (NKJV)

There are hearts all around us, in the stores, in classrooms, magazines, everywhere I look I see hearts. Love is in the air with Valentine's Day upon us. Jesus tells us to "love one another." February is a good time to check up and see if we truly love; love like Jesus loved. In Luke the people were praising Jesus as he entered the city of Jerusalem, just a few days before he would be crucified. The people seemed to love him, but in a few days they would cry out, "crucify him."

What is love? Is it a feeling, a temporary emotion, or is it something that endures? The people were praising Jesus because they thought he would overthrow the Romans. Their love, for the most part, was temporary. But true love is lasting, deep, even unto death. 

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. ~John 15:13(KJV)

When the Pharisees told Jesus to make the people stop praising, Jesus answered that if they didn't praise him, the stones would immediately cry out. God's creation praises him even if and when we don't. The picture of the heart stones is from If Rocks Could Sing a discovered alphabet by Leslie McGuirk. Rocks, stones all sizes demonstrating love. Their size doesn't matter. The place they were found doesn't matter. They all say love just by the way they are shaped. They cry out love. Their shape will stay the same as long as the world stands unless they are broken in some way. Jesus's heart was broken when he sweated great drops of blood as he prayed in the garden. His heart was broken when he hung on the cross, dying for our sins. But his love for us remains the same. There is no greater love than Jesus's love for us. He gave his life that we may have eternal life. 

Many of us say we love Jesus. Is it temporary like the crowd on Palm Sunday or has he worked a love in our hearts that is eternal? Have we allowed Him to give us the gift of eternal life or are we still trying to work for our salvation? The thief on the cross next to Jesus couldn't do good works and neither can we. Like the thief on the cross, we have to cry out to Jesus in repentance of our sins. You may want to cry out today. My prayer today is just an example of what you may want to tell Jesus.

Dear Lord Jesus, I have sinned. Please forgive me and save me. Thank you for loving me and dying for me. Thank you for your gift of salvation.  In Your name, I pray. Amen. 

Hey Kids: 

Do you like to collect rocks? What can you do with a pocket full of rocks? In Leslie McGuirk's book If Rocks Could Sing, she collects rocks that look like letters and then adds other rocks that look like things the letters could stand for — like V is for Valentine, E is for Elephant, and my favorite J is for Joy and she has little rocks that look like happy fish. They remind me of Nemo. 

Other books about rocks that you might enjoy are by Patti Rokus. She uses rocks to tell Bible stories. One is A Savior is Born: Rocks Tell the Story of Christmas. The other is He is Risen: Rocks Tell the Story of Easter.  My grandchildren loved collecting and retelling the stories with their own rocks after reading these books. 

Isn't it amazing how even the rocks praise our Lord and Savior? 

Planned and Prepared

 

And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 

~Luke 19:4

Jacob had a rock for a pillow.

Moses saw a bush on the backside of the desert.

David had stones to pick up for his slingshot.

Zacchaeus had a sycomore tree.

How long had Jacob's rock been there? Since the flood?

How long does it take a bush to grow on the backside of a desert?

Had David's stones lain there since the beginning of the world?

Had a tender of sycomore figs planted Zacchaeus' tree many years before? 

Like Jacob, Moses, and David, God planned and prepared for a man named Zacchaeus. The sycomore-fig tree is not native to Israel. It is an import from Egypt and other places outside Israel. Sycomore-figs have a fruit that must be tended to make it edible. Each fig must have an incision made in it so it ripens before the insects destroy it. 

Like the tree, Zacchaeus was an outsider. He was a tax collector. He was not a part of the community. When he knew Jesus was coming through Jericho, he ran to the sycomore tree, climbed up, and hid among the branches and leaves before Jesus and the crowd arrived. He didn't want anyone to see a grown man climb a tree and he probably didn't want Jesus to see him either. 

Jesus was set to go to Jerusalem but He took the time to stop under Zacchaeus' tree, look up and say, "Zacchaeus, come down, for I'm going to your house today." (Remember singing that song as a child?) The people were horrified that Jesus would go spend time with a publican, a sinner. Zacchaeus wanted Jesus and the people to know he was going to be a different person because Jesus took time for him. He publicly repented announcing the changes he would make. 

Zacchaeus was like the tree he climbed. Jesus had pierced his heart with the conviction of his sins. Jesus had changed him into a fruitful Christian who still bears fruit to this day. Years before God had planned for Zacchaeus and prepared the place for him to meet Jesus. 

Jesus has planned and prepared for each of us. It was up to Zacchaeus to choose to see Jesus, to know more about Him. It's up to us to choose to know Jesus. He's already done all that is necessary for us to come to Him.

Heavenly Father, thank you for preparing a place for me. Thank you for my parents, and grandparents who taught me your word, took me to church, and prayed for me. Thank you for pricking my heart with the conviction of sin. Thank you that I stopped hiding and pretending and came to you in repentance and faith. Father help me be your fruitful servant. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Crosses on a hill

 

 

Everything is showing signs of spring - peach and apple trees blossom, daffodils and tulips pop up everywhere. Even the pine trees are sporting new growth. But wait! What is that I see?

Am I a Donkey?

                                   

 Come take up the cross and follow me. ~Mark 10:21NKJV

What first comes to mind when someone says donkey? What do you think about when you see a donkey? 

Hanukkah and 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

What does the feast of dedication have to do with Christmas? Could it be that we wouldn't have Christmas if there had not been a Hanukkah? 

I'm certainly not an authority on Hanukkah but I think I have a grasp on the gist of the story. Really everything in Jewish history has an effect on Christmas. If Adam and Eve had not sinned in the garden there would have been no need for Christmas or Calvary. It all started at the Beginning. God told Eve that it would be her seed that would bruise Satan's head and that Satan would bruise His heel.

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. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for overthrowing every plan of Satan from the beginning. Thank you for placing each person, Abraham, Isaac, Esther, the Maccabees, and Joseph in the right place at the right time. Father, we know you have placed each of us here for such a time as this. May we be like those who were obedient to you even in the face of death. In Jesus's name. Amen. 

The Apple Butter Church

  

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Acts 2:41 KJV

The apples are in so apple butter is in the making. It's really quite simple when you have the right tools. I use a crank apple peeler. I can crank out a 1/2 bushel of apples in about an hour. Try hand-peeling that many and see how long it takes. I have a large turkey roaster that holds my apples. It will cook a 1/2 bushel of apples into apple butter while I sleep. The next day, all I need to do is put it in the jars. The apple peeler will take out the core, peel the apple, and slice it into rings all at the same time. I use a large variety of apples so the mixture brings out the best apple flavors. Winesaps and Cameos are my favorites. I also added Mutsu, Golden Delicious, Fuji, and maybe a Gala or two. Add a little apple pie spice and sugar, and a few splashes of apple cider, and the apples have a new purpose, the makings of great homemade apple butter.

I was thinking about how we tell the kids about the salvation transformation with pumpkins, taking out the yucky stuff and putting the light inside to shine through the smiling face. That put me to thinking about apple butter and the church. Apples have a core with seeds. The seeds contain a cyanide compound. It won't hurt us to eat the seeds. A person would have to eat a tremendous amount to cause harm but our mothers told us apple seeds were poison. We take out the core before we make apple butter.

We have a core that has to be removed before we can become a Christian. That core will kill us if left inside. You know I'm talking about our sinful heart. We have to allow Jesus to cleanse us of our sins if we want to be saved. That's the first step in becoming part of a church. Just as a rotten apple would spoil the whole batch so an unsaved person will spoil the witness of the whole church.

The appearance of an apple has to change before it becomes apple butter. The peel has to be removed. Leaving it on would add a tough consistency to the butter.  It has to become soft, sweetened, and spiced to have the right smell and taste. It needs to be cooked on low for several hours to get the tenderness and consistency needed to create great butter.

What do you think we might need to be a great church? With salvation, our tough exterior will come off. We become the tender-hearted, loving person that desires to be like Jesus. We become part of a church where we can become that sweet odor of God to the world. Our lives are spiced with the truth of God's word. We are warmed to the things of God. We mix with others who may be of other races and cultures to create a wonderful mix that is able to reach out to a lost world, telling them, once, we too were lost but now we're saved. Once, we too were tough guys who didn't need help. Once, our attitudes stunk, but with Jesus, we have a new life, a new attitude, and a new purpose.

Good apple butter is the best mix of apples. Just put it on a little homemade bread and see how delectable it is. Apple butter on a foundation of homemade bread, that's another analogy in the making. Got it? The church on our foundation, Jesus Christ the Bread of Life.

Heavenly Father, may those who do not yet know You, allow You to take away their sinful core, their heart that poisons their spirit. Father, replace it with your sweet savor. Mix them into Your church built on the foundation of Your Son, Jesus Christ, so that the world may know Your plan of eternal salvation. In Jesus's name, I pray. Amen 

Hey Kids:

Apple butter can be as easy as pie. If mom has an apple peeler, ask if you can help crank it. 

Wash and peel about 12 apples.

If you don't have an apple peeler, have an adult peel the apples. 

Slice the apples into small pieces with a plastic picnic knife. 

Place the apples in a crock pot.

Add about 1 cup of apple cider, juice or water.

Add 2 cups of sugar (optional)

Stir in 2 1/2 tsp of apple pie spice.

Place the lid on the crock pot and turn it on low overnight. Stir once in a while, especially in the morning until the apples have cooked down to the consistency you desire.

Sterilize 4-6 jelly glasses (1/2 pint jars)

Spoon apple butter into glasses.

Bring to a boil in a water bath and boil for 5 minutes.

If you don't have a water bath, place several table knives in the bottom of a large pot. Place the jars on top of the knives so they don't touch the bottom of the pot. Cover with water and boil the same way as with a water bath.

Star of Bethlehem

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. ~Matthew 24:14

My flower beds desparetly need weeding. The worst offender in the bed is a tiny white flower that grows from a bulb. Before the flower blooms the bulb grows about the size of a spring onion. Along the sides of the original bulb are tiny baby bulbs that will also enlarge and create more flowers. Sounds wonderful. I won't have to buy bulbs for these pretty white flowers ever again. Oh but wait! That means they will spread. The garden will be filled with Star of Bethlehem in a few short years. Any time I try to pull out a large bulb all the little ones fall off into the soil scattering the flower farther and farther where they will grow and reproduce even more flowers. They will spread into the grass if I accidentally drop a tiny bulb outside the bed. Even if I sift the soil I will miss some of the tiniest bulbs that again will grow and reproduce. I began to despise these pretty flowers with such a unique name. That's when it hit me. 

Since the world began Satan has tried to weed out the word of God, His Son and yes, even God himself. Satan thought one bite of the fruit would finish off God's intention but the blood of an innocent animal and the acceptance of the sacrifice was only the beginning. Cain killed Abel. Satan again thought he had won. But God provided Seth. On and on throughout scripture Satan attempts to make man thinks he can weed God out of his life. God always has a person who is willing to follow Him and His plan, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Esther, Daniel, and Cyrus. Then God sent His Son only to have Herod try to kill him by killing all the little boys under two years old. But the Star of Bethlehem won again. All through Jesus's life Satan tried one way and then another to destroy Him. The Jews tried throwing him off a cliff and stoning Him. They tried to discredit him so no one would follow. Then the Romans and the Jews crucified him. Ahh, Satan thought he had won until the third day. Then Jesus was resurrected. 

All through history Satan has tried to destroy God's people with persecutions and murder. But God is never left without a witness. Though searched out, sifted, and destroyed, there has always been and always will be a pocket of people scattered far and near that hold dear to God's word and His Son.

Heavenly Father, strengthen Your people to face whatever comes. Whether we are uprooted, sifted, or scattered help us be true to You and the faith You have planted in our hearts. In Jesus's name. Amen. 

Jesus and The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

 

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, NC photo by pixabay

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

~Mark 16:15 KJV

We're planning our vacation to the Outer Banks of NC this summer so I've been doing a little research on the lighthouses we want to visit. Cape Hatteras is probably the most famous so that's the one I want to share about today. 

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse has been built in a variety of ways. First, it was short and made of sandstone. It wasn't very visible to mariners. Later in the 1800's it was built on a floating foundation, built much taller, equipped with a Fresnel lens, and painted a distinguishable color. I'd like to examine some of these important features. 

The Sandstone - As we mentioned, the sandstone lighthouse was too short and too hard for mariners to see. It couldn't do the job. 

• When God commanded that sacrifices be made, they were only to be representations of the true sacrifice. They were simple altars made of stones. Even when the brass altar of the tabernacle was constructed it was still a symbol of the true sacrifice to come.

The Floating Foundation - When the foundation for the new construction of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was made in the 1800s the water table was only four feet down. Construction workers had to make a floating foundation by laying wood crossways below the water table. Then they placed granite on top of the wood to build the new lighthouse. 

• Jesus, the Rock of our salvation was placed upon a wooden cross. 

The Color and the Light - The Lighthouse Board regulated the color and the light patterns of each lighthouse so mariners could distinguish by day and by night where they were located. The area off the coast of North Carolina is known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic. The lighthouse needed to be tall enough to see and the pattern of the light flashes at night needed to reach out far into the ocean so mariners knew how close they were to the rocky coast. The intersection of the ocean currents caused many ships to go down, casting the ships against the coast. Having the lighthouse to guide the way saved many ships and lives. 

• The Israelites were guided in the wilderness with a cloud by day and a fire by night. It guided them through a wilderness they had not traveled before. 

The Fresnel Lens - A Fresnel Lens is made up of triangular prisms of glass. This helps the light to go farther. Lighthouse lights are white lights because they go farther than colored lights. There were 1000 triangles in the Lens made for the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. 

• Jesus is the Rock of our foundation. He is the Light of the world.  He is also our Savior on which the church is built. But, the members of the church are the ones commanded to take the gospel to the world. We are to reflect the Light in all we do. There is a world full of shipwrecked people out there who need the light of Jesus to safely guide them to salvation. 

Be the Light. 

Father, help us be aware of how we reflect your Light to others. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Hey Kids:

Are you going somewhere for a vacation? 

Have you researched the area, the possibilities?

How will your travels help you reflect the light of Jesus to others? 

Staying home this summer? 

There is always an adventure in our backyards. 

Kids' magazines are always looking for drawings and writings by kids! 

What will you discover this summer that you can share with other kids? 

How will you reflect the light of Jesus? 

The Old Rugged Cross

 

 

Everything is showing signs of spring - peach and apple trees blossom, daffodils and tulips pop up everywhere. Even the pine trees are sporting new growth. But wait! What is that I see?

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." 

This year Christmas may seem a little different for various reasons. Jesus is still the Light of the World. How will we make meaningful memories for our families that last a lifetime? 

Christmas blessings, 

Gail

Decorations on the Tree

 

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

Putting up the tree is often a family time filled with traditions - Baby's First Ornament, hand-made ornaments, and great grandma's Victorian ornaments. 

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 that show our families the true meaning of Christmas? 

Feral

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:27,28

 I love kittens. I love cuddling them and listening to their soft purrs telling me they enjoy being loved. My dad had a friend with a big barn. Feral barn cats were always available to any little girl in need of a kitten but feral barn cats are not trusting animals. I think they are a lot like people. I'd like to share a story of one of my kittens. 

You came to me in a shoebox from Patti’s barn. You were a feral kitten, afraid of your own shadow, and especially of mine. I held you on my lap as Daddy jerked the stick shift over the rough country roads. I turned you loose in a basement filled with greasy car parts, Mama’s washtub, and clutter. You made a mad dash for the cover of Daddy’s long workbench. I called, “Here Kitty, Kitty” and brought you a bowl of warm milk. You were tucked deep under the bench. I could barely see the white tip of your orange tail as you curled in the corner. “Here Kitty, Kitty.” You didn’t move a muscle. 

I wanted to feed you and give you a soothing rub. I longed to hear your kitty purr. For hours I sat and waited. Sometimes I spoke soothing words but mostly I just called, “Here Kitty, Kitty.” You must have been hungry. Late in the evening, your green eyes shone in the shadows as they peered out into the darkening basement. “Here Kitty, kitty.” You retreated to your corner. Perhaps tomorrow, I thought, as Mama called me to supper. I slipped out the door and left you to your own devices. 

In the morning, the bowl was empty. I brought fresh milk. “Here Kitty, Kitty.” You turned as if to sniff the fresh warm milk wafting in the musty basement air. You padded to the edge of the workbench. I must have moved. You quickly retreated to your corner. There I sat again, waiting hour after hour. Sometimes calling, mostly sitting, just letting you know I was there. You crept to peep from under the workbench again. Gingerly you placed one paw into the sunlight streaming from a window onto the cement floor. I barely breathed. Then you ventured another paw. Your eyes never left me, questioning the safety of the open space. You crept out to the warm bowl of milk that by now was only lukewarm. Your tongue lapped into the milk but your eyes were on me. I smiled and reached to touch your ruffled orange fur. You skittered back under the bench. 

Another hour and you crept to the edge of protection again. When you came to the bowl, I sat still. I waited to hear a purr. When after a few slurps, your motor began, I reached out again to touch, not to rub but to touch. Just the light touch of my hand on your back sent you scrambling again. This time it took only a few minutes and you returned to the bowl. I tried again when you cranked up your motor. This time you allowed my hand on your back. You allowed the light rub across your head. Your eyes were on the milk. A trust, a bond that belonged to no one but the two of us began. 

You were a good kitty, using the tray of litter I placed near your hide-out from the beginning. You didn’t climb or scratch or destroy. Dare I let you into the yard? Only when I could put you into my lap and hear you purr because of us, did I trust that the door could be opened. 

You were a good kitty who came when I called. You caught the mice as your country mom had taught you. You scratched up trees to escape the dog or chase a squirrel. You wound around my tanned legs and rubbed your soft head against my hands. I fed you and played yarn-ball. You allowed me to dress you in doll clothes. I held you, read stories to you, stroking your fur, and listening to your purr. You were my kitty, and I was your person. We had bonded in a musty basement with a bowl warm of milk. 

God calls us coaxing us with tender love just as I called my kitten. In our heads we know we should respond but our human instinct is to fear and shy away. Often Jesus has to wait patiently for us to turn loose of ourselves and trust Him. 

Have you trusted Jesus as your Savior? Have you given yourself to His will? What are we waiting on? Jesus waits patiently with loving arms to hold us, feed us and calm all our fears. He longs to hear us speak to Him from our hearts. He longs to bless us from His word and bond our hearts together eternally.

Trusting Him for daily blessings, 

Gail

Bitter Water

And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: Exodus 15:25

In the midst of all the worry, confusion, and fear, where do we turn?

In Exodus 15:23 the children of Israel murmured against Moses. They had forgotten in just a few short days all that God had done for them in the crossing of the Red Sea and delivering them from Pharaoh. They wanted to blame Moses for taking them out of Egypt and the good life. Now, here they were thirsty and the water was bitter. Blaming Moses was their usual mode of operation. Moses, being at wit's end, went to God. God's answer is always the same. Cut down the tree and cast it in the water. 

What? How is that the same answer? Water - the one thing we all depend on for life, but when life is bitter, where do we turn? Some turn to distractions, entertainment, or anything to take their minds off of their troubles. Others turn to the bottle and try to drown their troubles or they escape into drugs. When there is nowhere else to go people finally turn to the cross. A cross made from the trunk of a tree where the Son of God gave His life for us. Do you see it is the same answer we are looking for? When things are hard people look to Jesus. Some only turn until the trouble has passed. Others truly mean business and repent of their sins, giving their hearts and lives to Jesus. Then the real journey begins. If you read the next few verses you'll see God's promise to take care of the children of Israel. He is the same God who will take care of us. 

Have you allowed the cross in your life?  Have you realized Jesus will give you peace of mind in the midst of trouble? The government is like Moses, they can only do so much, then it's up to us to let the Lord make our bitter lives sweet. 

Won't you share how God is giving you peace in the midst of the fear and chaos that surrounds us?

Blessings,

Gail 

The Gate

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 it's future inhabitants. Maybe in our modern minds, a better picture is a gate that keeps the lost locked in while we amble by on my 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 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 would 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.

What are ways we can consciously show love to those we meet along our path so we unlatch the gates of hell?

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.

Blessings,

Gail

Christmas Excitement

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

Until this year, I always told the entire Christmas story in one sitting. Then I thought about my blog of the Giving the Twelve Days of Nativity. Hmmm. This might be a good idea for the children I teach or the children in our homes. 

Most of my students think Christmas is only about Santa and presents. I can teach Bible stories from a historical perspective, so I decided to do Christmas a little at a time. Here's my plan.

Day 1: Bring out the stable, Mary and Joseph and a few stable animals.  Introduce Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem. Trouble at the Inn (Define Inn). Bedding down in the stable. Demonstrating using dramatic play. Place the pieces in dramatic play. Allow the children to retell only this bit of the story.

Day 2: Bring out the shepherds, sheep, hillside, and angels. Retell the beginning of the story, then add the birth and shepherds' visit (Define manger). Add these pieces to dramatic play. 

Day 3 or in a few days: Bring out the wise men and camels and a small box to make a house (Matthew 2:11). Retell the story while I play with the pieces. Include their visit to Herod (I didn't have castle blocks but that would have been a great addition) and the reason they did not return. Add the pieces to dramatic play. 

In the telling of the story, I included that we give presents because the wise men gave presents to the baby Jesus. Sometimes adults who doubt the story of the wise men, ask me what happened to the presents. Many of my children have unemployed parents. I include that when Mary and Joseph and Jesus got to Egypt, Joseph had no job. Selling the expensive gifts that a child could not play with would have provided them with the money they needed to survive until they could return to their home. 

Every day children chose to play with the nativity set in dramatic play. They scattered out the pieces, built oasis and shepherd fields, and brought visitors to the baby. There was lots of excitement and learning about the true story of Christmas without Santa that I hope they never forget. 

Hey Kids: 

Do you have a nativity set that small children can play with? 

Can you help teach little ones about Christmas? 

What can you share about the true meaning of Christmas?

A New Day Full of Grace

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. II Peter 3:18 KJV

There it was, the sky peeping blue through the pink of dawning clouds. The sky as old as creation, yet new every morning. A new day full of grace for my family and my community from my Savior. And what is grace? Grace is an undeserved gift. It is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). God’s grace is the sacrifice of His only Son. His desire is that we grow in grace and in knowledge.

As a teacher, I learned about Bloom’s taxonomy. It is a hierarchy of learning. At the bottom is knowledge or remembering. You know, read, study, memorize, but it doesn’t have to be boring when we restate them as searching, discovering, remembering. It’s like a treasure map. Once we are able to recall facts we can comprehend and gain understanding. We can ask questions. Why do we need a Savior? Why did God send His Son? Why are we so loved? When we understand, we can apply that knowledge. First we apply that understanding for our own salvation. Then, we can show love to those who may seem unlovable. Grace toward others is the application of the knowledge of God’s love.

Father, help me to gain knowledge of You through Your word, hiding it in my heart, that I might recall it to give grace to those around me. Lord, those seem like big words. Please, just let me be the hands and feet of Jesus today. Amen

Hey Kids:

The season of love is upon us. Red and pink hearts are everywhere, but what is love?

Love is a gift, most likely an undeserved gift.

The greatest gift is God’s only Son sent to die for our sins, a gift none of us has ever deserved.

If you have repented of your sins and asked for forgiveness,
you understand you have received an undeserved gift. We often call it grace.

There are so many around us who do not know of God’s grace, the gift of His Son.

They feel hopeless and helpless.

We hold their hope.

Jesus commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel.
Part of reaching others is meeting their needs so they are able to hear the gospel.
We are to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Make a list of people you know in need. Here’s a start.

• A kid at school who needs a friend.
• Elderly in the neighborhood or at nursing homes.

What can you do?

• Sit with the lonely kid at lunch.
• Make Valentines for nursing homes or hospitals.
• Weed a garden or plant flowers.
• Take a covered dish to someone who’s sick.

Acts of kindness open doors for the presentation of the gospel.
Be sure to enlist the help of your parents.
Remember, God gave them to you to help you grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord.