Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. ~ John 14:6

My grandson is playing high school football this year. I'm beginning to learn more about the game by following his number across the field. He's a defensive end, but the ones I'm noticing besides him is the running back, the guard, and the tackle. The running back follows behind the guard and the tackle who open up the way for the back. If either of them fails to do their job or the running back fails to follow the plan then the man with the ball is flattened by the defense who is always looking for the weak spot in the line. 

By now you know I don't know much about football but I do know a lot about the One who guards my soul and tackles any problem I come up against. 

When I was about my grandson's age Jesus called my heart to follow him. I've tried to let Him lead the way ever since. When I fail to follow his life plan for me I end up flattened by what Satan throws at me. There is no weak spot when I follow the Lord and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I will make it to the goal - heaven -  because I repented of my sins to follow Jesus many years ago. 

Heavenly Father, please guide our days. Help us follow you regardless of how hard it may seem because you have the best plan. May we depend upon you to open up the way through each day and give you the praise for what you accomplish through us and in us. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Hey Kids:

What's your favorite game or activity? Football? Basketball? Chess? Band? Every activity, even cooking, has to have a plan, a direction, for the best results. 

The next time you participate in an activity, try to think about how it relates to your spiritual life. 

By the way, our football team begins and ends each game with prayer, not to win but for the safety of each one involved. Prayer is always an important part of following Jesus. 

A Mother's Day Cake

 

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.                                                                                   ~John 14:6 KJV

I’ve got this pretty good pound cake recipe I like to use for Mother’s Day because it goes well with fresh strawberries. I say pretty good because it has a good texture and flavor, but to make it Mad Dog Pound Cake I have to add the boiled syrup. I pour the syrup over the cake and in the middle. It sits and soaks and mmmmmmmmmmm. With the first bite, the syrup is running out the corner of your mouth and dripping off your chin. Of course, that’s an exaggeration but it sure seems that good.

Our lives are a lot like a pretty good pound cake. Most of us would say we are pretty good people, but is pretty good, good enough to get us into heaven? My pound cake totally changes when the syrup is poured over it and into it. The syrup can’t be removed and no one would want to scrape it off. No one wants the cake without the syrup once they’ve tried it. Jesus said no one comes to the Father but by Him. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). We can’t get to heaven or be a true Christian without first coming to Jesus. When our lives are covered by His blood and filled with the Holy Spirit, we are totally different people, fit for the kingdom of God. Only Jesus makes us good enough. Like syrup, once we’ve experienced salvation, there’s no going back to the old pretty good person and no one would want to.

                                        Have you allowed Jesus to pour over and into your life?

If you'd like a recipe for Maddog Cake, subscribe by email in the box at the top right and leave a comment below. 

Happy Mother’s Day.
Gail

Hey Kids:

Have you ever tried to make a recipe and it "flopped"? Once I used the wrong kind of flour in my cake recipe. It overflowed into the oven and created a horrible mess. 

I just used self-rising flour instead of plain flour! Not a big deal, one would think.

What would happen if I had put in salt instead of sugar? The cake would have to be completely thrown out and started over!

Our lives are like recipes. 

God has the recipe for us. We just need to read and follow His plan.

Romans 3:23 says For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Somehow we all manage to add that sin "ingredient" into our lives.

Now, how do we fix the problem? We can't, but God can!

Romans 10:13 says Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Happy Mother's Day

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

I’ve got this pretty good pound cake recipe I like to use for Mother’s Day because it goes well with fresh strawberries. I say pretty good because it has good texture and flavor, but to make it Mad Dog Pound Cake I have to add the boiled syrup. I pour the syrup over the cake and in the middle. It sits and soaks and mmmmmmmmmmm. With the first bite, the syrup is running out the corner of your mouth and dripping off your chin. Of course, that’s an exaggeration but it sure seems that good.

Our lives are a lot like pretty good pound cake. Most of us would say we are pretty good people, but is pretty good, good enough to get us into heaven? My pound cake totally changes when the syrup is poured over it and into it. The syrup can’t be removed and no one would want to scrape it off. No one wants the cake without the syrup once they’ve tried it. Jesus said no one comes to the Father but by Him. He is the way, the truth, and the life. We can’t get to heaven or be a true Christian without first coming to Jesus. When our lives are covered by His blood and filled with the Holy Spirit, we are totally different people, fit for the kingdom of God. Only Jesus makes us good enough. Like syrup, once we’ve experienced salvation, there’s no going back to the old pretty good person and no one would want to.

Would you be interested in getting the Maddog Cake Recipe? Just follow by email and leave a comment.  I'll be glad to send you the recipe. 

Happy Mother’s Day.
Gail

Hey Kids:

Have you ever tried to make a recipe and it "flopped"? Once I used the wrong kind of flour in my cake recipe. It overflowed into the oven and created a horrible mess. 

I just used self-rising flour instead of plain flour! Not a big deal one would think.

What would happen if I had put in salt instead of sugar? The cake would have to be completely thrown out and started over!

Our lives are like recipes. 

God has the recipe for us. We just need to read and follow His plan.

Romans 3:23 says For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Somehow we all manage to add that sin "ingredient" into our lives.

Now, how do we fix the problem? We can't, but God can!

Romans 10:13 says Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

It's Too Late to Build a Boat Now - Or Is It?

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. II Peter 3: 9,10

We are feeling the results of Joaquin here in the Upstate of SC. Our talking about the weather always begins, "Have you built your boat yet?" It's not just wet yards and flooded sidewalks. Creeks and rivers are out of their banks. Roads are closed and the deluge continues. But one day next week there will be sunshine and rainbows. I know this because God's promise when He sent the rainbow, was to never flood the earth again. He didn't say He wouldn't destroy the earth again, just that next time it wouldn't be water. 

Noah didn't build an ark in a few weeks or months. It probably took over a hundred years. During that time he was warning the people of the destruction to come. His great grandfather, Enoch even prophesied the flood when he named his son Methuselah. One of the meanings of Methuselah is that "when he is gone judgement will come." Methuselah died the year of the flood. Methuselah's son was Lamech and Lamech named Noah, whose name means "rest". The earth did have rest from wickedness when the flood came, but until that time a family spent hundreds of years trying to warn people to turn from their wickedness and seek God. God was not being slack by asking that family to preach hundreds of years. He was being longsuffering, merciful, not will that any should perish. We don't know if anyone listened during those hundreds of years, but we do know when Noah and his family entered the ark, all that were to be saved were inside.

God is not being slack now. I'm thinking we may be the ones who are slack. We are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves. Who are our neighbors? We are commanded to love one another. Are we in fellowship with the Christians around us? We are commanded to love our enemies. How's that work? Though we speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, we are nothing. Charity - love in action. How are our actions demonstrating love? God is not slack concerning His promises. When He comes He will destroy the earth with fire. We have no idea how long that will be. So even if it takes hundreds of years, will He find us working, loving, warning the lost of the day of destruction? 

Even as Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech and Noah worked hundreds of years preaching the coming destruction, so must we be diligent in telling others that destruction is coming and there is only one way out. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by Him. 

Blessings on your work in Christ this week, 

Gail

Hey Kids,

Do you know what your name means? Have your parents told you why they chose your special name? Who are the people in your family who have sought to serve the Lord? How did they accomplish that service? You might want to do a little family history research this week. You may be surprised at the wonderful things you discover. Please feel welcome to share your discoveries with us.