The Gift of Blue

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. II Timothy 3:15 KJV

It came wrapped in old newspapers, over-wrapped in white tissue. The bag was a simple brown gift bag, a Mother’s Day gift from my son and his wife. His wife had created this gift on her potter’s wheel, adding a perfectly curved handle. She glazed it with a sky blue, overlaid with a brown that gave the appearance of rain on a winter pasture. Around the rim the blue puddled and thinned into clouds. Inside, were the whirls of her hands on the wheel, glazed with tan and white of melted snow (or maybe it was a mocha with melting whipped cream). Either way this gift was more than a blue mug.

Someone long ago had shown the gift of turning to another, who in turn showed the gift to another, until my daughter-in-law was given the gift. Each in turn had used their gift to share their hearts in the pottery they created. An old gift made new in the sharing.

My granddaughter showed me her pinch pot, her first receiving of the old gift, so proud as she gently held it in her tiny hands, cupped like a nest to cradle a precious egg. Precious hands filled with the old gift that will once again become new with the life she will put into the pottery she turns, leaving her prints along the sides.

Christmas brought a brown gift bag with white tissue covering newspaper. As I gently held the gift unfurling each layer, little brown eyes glimmered with anticipation of the acceptance of the gift. An ornament, impressed with little fingers, fashioned from clay with a stocking shaped cookie-cutter, glazed red.

As a potter shapes the clay and leaves his/her imprint on the piece, so God instructs us to train our children, to mold them in the ways of God. Though they may not always follow, the imprints of the Truth upon their hearts cannot be erased.

Paul told Timothy that from a child he had known the holy scriptures that were able to make him wise unto salvation. Take it from Timothy’s mother and grandmother. Pass along the gift of the knowledge of scripture that leads to salvation.

 

Won't you join the conversation of how you and your family pass along the Gift of scriptures to your children?

 

Blessings,

Gail

 

Skittering verses Flying

Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. I Corinthians 10:33

While driving along a back road, a little unidentified bird skittered across the road in front of me. I wondered, why didn’t this bird fly? It would have been quicker and easier, it seemed. Though I couldn’t distinguish the type, I knew it wasn’t a killdeer who would normally run instead of fly. What was wrong with this bird? Was he too afraid to risk flying? Was he hurt? It didn’t appear so. His wings were neatly folded against his sides. It was not the time of year for young birds. This had to be an adult acting like an immature bird too afraid to fly!

Then I thought, do I sometimes skitter through life situations when I should be mature enough to fly through with faith? Paul tells the church at Corinth he fed them with the milk of the word and they hadn’t grown. He couldn’t give them the meat because they still acted like infants (I Corinthians 3:2).

I want to be a mature Christian who acts in a way that demonstrates the love and peace and concern for others that Christ demonstrated. Paul understood the scriptures. He understood the customs of the Jews and Gentiles. Paul’s desire was to reach people by whatever means possible. That is my prayer as well. I want to know the scripture, understand the cultures of the peoples both young and old that I come in contact with that I might be able to reach them through means they understand. I want to try the wings of faith for the salvation of others.

What Does It Take to Get the Prize?

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

Eric Carle is one of my favorite authors. I love The Very Hungry Caterpillar who eats too much, tries to do better and then seemingly dies but becomes a butterfly- a new creature. Isn’t The Very Busy Spider great in that the fly hangs around and hangs around until hanging around in the wrong place gets him caught in a web that costs him his life. Eric Carle has so many life lessons in such simple stories.

The other day, I was reading Pancakes, Pancakes to my class. It seemed the boy in the story was going to way too much trouble just for a pancake. When he asked his mom for a pancake for breakfast, she said he had to cut the wheat. When he took it to the mill, the miller had him help thresh the wheat. When he finally got home, he had to gather eggs, then milk the cow, then churn the butter. Then he had to tote in firewood. All this for one pancake? I think I would have gathered the eggs and fried a few. But this boy had something we all need. He had perseverance. No matter how hard the job or how long it took, he kept working until he was able to achieve the prize – a pancake! There was also an extra sweetness when he reached the goal. Mom had strawberry jam in the basement for the pancake.

Paul tells us that he presses toward the mark. He has a goal to reach so he can win the prize. He realizes that he has a high calling from God in Christ Jesus. We know God has a purpose for us to accomplish in this life. If not He would take us to heaven as soon as we were saved. He has a high calling in Christ Jesus for all of us. Paul’s life wasn’t easy. He was shipwrecked, chained, and beaten, but that didn’t stop Paul from preaching the gospel. He had that quality of perseverance. He took his calling seriously. No matter what happened he would achieve the goal and win the prize of heavenly rewards.

I have lots of unfinished stuff in my life. I have crochet projects that need finishing, paintings in progress, stories that stop in the middle, and clothes that need folding just to name a few. I wonder how often have I given up on something God intended me to finish for His glory? What am I missing out on? If I can’t seem to get through the little things how will I handle the major problems of sickness, or finance, or death? With God’s help we will persevere.

Got any stories of God’s help in persevering? Won’t you leave a comment?

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