Call to Parents

  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes 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 NKJV

Are you concerned about what your children are taught in school? Not just in public schools but in any school. We can't be there all day every day. So what can we do to help our children learn the values that will help them become Godly men and women?

We do have the weekends or some day when we are home. Let's explore ways that we can help our children know the ways of God. Yes, the first thing we can do is make sure we are going with them to a church where God's word is taught. But what else? 

Our scripture for today says that since the creation of the world, the invisible attributes of God can be clearly seen in His creation. When is the last time your family cut off all the technology and went outside? Have you spread a blanket and eaten a picnic under a tree in the yard? Have you lain there on the blanket and watched the stars? Have you listened to the birds and crickets and cicadas? Have you noticed the smell of honeysuckles, roses, and other flowers blooming? 

I discovered a wonderful book written for children of a variety of ages about William Bartram. His father was His Royal Majesty King George III's Botanist in the Americas. William, called Billy was always with his dad, exploring the countryside for plants and seeds that were unique to the Americas. His dad shipped the seeds back to Europe to study there. William began to keep a journal when he was eight. He drew pictures of leaves and labeled them with their attributes. His dad encouraged him to be as accurate as possible in his drawings so others could use his drawings in research. As he grew older, he traveled with his father up through the Catskill Mountains to Lake Ontario, then down to the coastal areas of NC, SC, GA, and Florida. At the end of his father's last trip William stayed to continue the work his father was no longer able to do. 

At the end of William Bartram's work, he had become a famous botanist, the father of PA ornithology, and ethnographer of the Native Americans of the Southeast. He and his father even discovered a tree in Florida that is now extinct in its native area but is grown in botanical gardens because of the work of the Bartrams. 

So how does all this relate to us and our families? William Bartram came from a family who taught him that nature teaches that we live in a divinely created universe. He would eavesdrop on his dad and Benjamin Franklin discussing the formation of mountains, the flow of the oceans, and the composition of stars. Had his father not included him in his work, William would not have been interested in such discussions or in continuing the explorations his father began. 

How can we keep our children close so they desire to know the God who created the universe? 

• Explore nature in our backyards, on short hikes, playing in the creeks and parks
• Find nature-oriented teaching that is Christian-based. Suggestion: Wonderfilleddays.com
• Vacation where truth is taught. Suggestions: The Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter

You may not be able to homeschool your children but you can explore with your children when you are home. 

Heavenly Father, help us to actively engage with our children in exploring your creation that they might know the Creator and Savior You are. In Jesus's name. Amen.

The Stranger

 

 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ~Deuteronomy 6:6,7 (NIV)

Some of my favorite books are illustrated with photographs. Nature is my favorite subject. Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick do a great job of capturing nature and children in both story and photography.  Sharing books with our children is a great opportunity for prime time and to teach lessons in easy almost unexpected ways.  

Stranger in the Woods was my first introduction to Sams and Stoick's books.The animals discover a stranger in their woods one morning. When did he come? How did he get there? Two children built the snowman to provide for the animals in the cold snow of winter. The animals are afraid. Who would approach the stranger first? Would the others follow? 

At first a few animals followed the chickadee to the stranger. They found food from the snowman's head to his toes. Their joy in finding food encouraged others to follow. They were filled and went away thankful for the stranger.

How had the stranger provided the food for the animals? From his red hat and outstretched arms. Even his nose was edible. Food at the base also provided for those willing to dig deeper. The children know the snowman will melt as the weather warms but they plan to provide for the animals until then. 

So how can we use this story to help our children understand more about the way we can recognize the Lord in our everyday lives? 

Jesus is the visible part of the trinity sent as our "stranger". He came to give himself for us with outstretched arms and a crown of thorns. He is the very breath of Life, the bread of Life and the Water of Life for all who will come to HIm.  

One of the children asked how long they would feed the animals. The other replied with visions of springtime when the earth would be renewed. Jesus promises us a time when there will be a new heaven and a new earth. A place where there will be no more tears. Until then He will provide for us. 

“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. ~Isaiah 65:10 (NIV)

Heavenly Father, thank you for providing salvation for us and supplying our every need. Thank you for your promise of eternal life in the new heaven and new earth. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Hey Kids:

What stories have you read that you can relate to a Bible story? Some are easier to do than others. Other stories by Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick would be good starters. Fairy Tales and poems are also easy to work with. Give it a try and let us know what you discover this week.

Watching the Invisible

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. John 3:8 (NIV)

Little goldfinches seemed to tumble across our drive like leaves tossed in the wind. One landed on the handle of an old plow. The yellow plumage glistened in the sunlight like gold coins. Its crown and wings were ornate with the black of onyx. Where had the finches come from? Where were they going? I marveled at their beauty as they fluttered off to other places.

Jesus told Nicodemus "You must be born again." Nicodemus didn't understand the Spirit. It was something he couldn't see or touch. Jesus used the analogy of the wind. Nicodemus could hear the wind and see what the wind did but could not see the wind itself. He couldn't know where it came from or where it was going but he could know the wind was there. 

I couldn't see where my little goldfinches came from. They seemed to blow in on the wind. I didn't know where they were going. I just saw their beauty and wonder of the moment. 

When we open up our hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives we may not understand the work but we will know the beauty of a close relationship with God. 

What is the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart today?

Hey Kids:

What got your attention this week and made you stop and wonder in amazement?

Our children are incubating eggs. Several hatched out Thursday and Friday. A few are due to hatch tomorrow. 

The children are young and don't yet understand how chickens grow inside of shells. Maybe that's you too. 

As we were watching the new hatchlings we noticed an egg move.  We weren't sure so we watched more intently. 

Sure enough, the egg was moving. 

An egg that looked like any other egg was moving! 

We all look just like any other person but when God's Holy Spirit moves in our hearts others take notice. 

Can others see God's Spirit working in you? 

Ask the Lord how He can use you and watch what He will do.

Pruning for an Abundance of Fruit

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

John 15:5

Spring is coming on fast here in the Upstate of SC. This week my husband cut deadwood out of the apple trees. My garden was finally dry enough to turn under. The peach trees are blooming along the roadside. Everything is recovering from the dead of winter.

To get the best from the apple trees, the garden, and the peach orchards people have to be involved. God put Adam and Eve in a garden to tend it. He looked for a shepherd to be king of Israel. Many of Jesus' parables are about agriculture. In Isaiah 11:1 He is referred to as the Branch and in John 15, He is the Vine. Jesus says the Father is glorified when we bear fruit. 

To bear fruit we must be attached to the Branch. Sometimes there is deadwood in our lives that need pruning out. Pruning trees, tilling the ground, those are acts of kindness for a tree or a garden. Sure plants and trees can put down roots and still grow but not in the way they could or should. The tilling and pruning open the way for gardens and trees to grow and bear an abundance of fruit. Acts of kindness toward others can open doors of relationships where we can be the witness that bears fruit for God's kingdom. 

Father, help us examine our own lives that we might prune out those things that would hinder our witness. Help us replace the deadwood with acts of kindness that builds relationships and lead to opportunities for a witness. 

Hey Kids: 

What acts of kindness are you using to build relationships with others?

Here are some ideas:

• Help a neighbor clean up their yard after a storm.
• Bake some muffins or cookies for a sick neighbor.
• Sit with someone at lunch or recess who is alone. 

We would love to hear your ideas. Please share them in the comments below. 

Blessings,

Gail

The Stranger

All references in this post are from the NIV of the Bible

I'd like to do a different sort of book review today. Not only do I want to recommend this book but I also would like to suggest a way to use it as a family devotional. Some of my favorite books are illustrated with photographs. Nature is my favorite subject. Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick do a great job of capturing nature and children in both story and photography. Stranger in the Woods was my first introduction to their books. I'd like to take a look at Stranger in the Woods and see how our Sovereign God fits into "the picture."

The animals discover a stranger in their woods one morning. When did he come? How did he get there? They tried to answer these things themselves. Even when Jesus was grown and teaching, the people had a hard time accepting Him because they didn't understand where he came from. King Herod wanted to know where the new baby was, the one the wise men were searching for. The Pharisees didn't think Jesus fit the mold of the Messiah either. 

          When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he            asked them where the Messiah was to be born. Matthew 2:4. 

          They(the Pharisees) replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find            that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.” John 7:52

In our book, the animals are afraid. Who would approach the stranger first? Would the others follow? At first, people were skeptical about following Jesus. They questioned if any good thing could come out of Nazareth. Then they were afraid to follow because their leaders wanted to kill Jesus, even though by this time they were admitting that no one could do the miracles He did unless God were with Him. 

            Philip found Nathaniel and told him, “We have found the one Moses       wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathaniel asked.“Come and see,” said Philip. John 1:45,46

          Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member            of the Jewish ruling council.  He came to Jesus at night and said,         “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”  John 3:1,2

The animals in our book did follow the chickadee to the stranger. They found food from the snowman's head to his toes. They were filled and went away thankful for the stranger. Jesus is our" stranger" who has come to give himself for us, that we might have that spiritual bread and water for eternal life if we will only come to Him. 

          Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

Two children hidden in the bushes, watched the animals in our book. They were glad to be able to provide for the animals.  They didn't want the animals to worry about where they would find food. Neither does the Lord want us to worry. He wants to provide our every need. 

          So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:31-34

One of the children asked how long they would feed the animals. The other replied with visions of springtime, when the earth would be renewed. Jesus promises us a time when there will be a new heaven and a new earth. A place where there will be no more tears. Until then He will provide for us. 

“See, I will create
    new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
    nor will they come to mind. Isaiah 65:10

For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” 

Revelation 7:17

Look around. How is our Sovereign God providing for you today?

Noticing is half way to giving praise. You cannot give praise for that which you have not seen or experienced.

          These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:6,7

                                Blessings,

                                    Gail

Hey Kids:

What stories have you read that you can relate to a Bible story?

Some are easier to do than others. Other stories by Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick would probably good starters. Fairy Tales and poems are also easy to work with. Give it a try and let us know what you discover this week.