Planting by the Signs?

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: Genesis 1:14

Saturday I planted potatoes and onions. The calendar said Saturday was a good day to plant for underground vegetables. Tuesday is suppose to be good for things that bare above ground. I remember an old radio announcer who always gave the signs and for what the day was best, even good days for fishing. Long years ago many farmers planted by the signs. I'm not sure that's what the verse in Genesis is referring to but perhaps. 

People judge times by what signs they think they see. Like today our country is in such turmoil with drugs and terror and immorality. Many are losing hope that things can change. Jesus never loses hope. May I share another verse. 

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. John 4:35

Jesus disciples wondered that Jesus would talk to a Samaritan woman. This woman was not just a Samaritan, which in their eyes was bad enough. Jesus knew she had been married five times and she was not married to the man she was currently living with. Even the Samaritans had rejected her or she would not have come to the well alone. Jesus still saw hope in this woman. When he took time to witness to her, she believed on Him and she went back to the town and told them about Jesus. Jesus then had to explain to his disciples that the people were ready to be saved, they just hadn't heard the gospel. In two days time the entire city had received Jesus as the Messiah. The woman and the people had some knowledge of the gospel, but no one had loved them while hating sin.  

We do a great job of hating sin, but are we failing in the love department? The fields are ready for harvesting. At the time of the Revolutionary War, America was in the same moral decline it is today, but great people of God got together to pray and revival began to take place. Two Great Awakening periods took place in America and England in the 1800's. 

This week while hating sin, take a step back to show some love and prayerful concern for those who need to hear the gospel. We are ripe for a Great Awakening in the 21st Century. 

Praying for a Great Awakening,

Gail

Hey Kids:

Planting is a great time to see how food grows more food. 

A potato is just a potato until you place it in some soil.

Place a layer of soil in a large flower pot.

Add a potato on top and cover with soil. 

Place it in a sunny location and keep it watered. 

When the leaves appear, scrape back the soil to find the potato.

You will likely find a mushy, stinky, rotting potato with roots extending into the soil. 

As the potato plant grows the old potato will vanish and lots of new edible potatoes will grow on the roots. 

We may look good on the outside, but like the potato, we are pretty stinky sinners. Jesus can give us the change that will make us into strong Christians with a new purpose and life. We can grow into strong Christians and take the gospel to our friends and family, growing more Christians with every witness. 

I Am Not Ashamed

photo by pixebay

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:16

This rusty old blue truck with a blue tick hound dog in the back was pulled up in the shade of the Ingles store Saturday afternoon. The day was hot for April. A young farmer in overalls and a straw hat was bent over the side of the truck pouring a bottle of water in a pan inside the bed. The dog waited a bit, then he started stealing sips from the bottle. The farmer seemed to be so caring to the dog, like the stories you hear of a faithful old friend. I wondered why the dog was so hot and so in need of water. Had the farmer been up town shopping for spring items and left the dog in the truck. Had he been in for groceries? Maybe they had been out in the FENCE area training and stopped just to cool. Did it really matter? What mattered most was the intimate moment between the man and his dog, right there in plain sight, not ashamed. I wanted to ask for a picture but the moment was so intimate I didn't feel comfortable breaking in, though the farmer probably would have been glad to show off his dog. I didn't want a dog show. I wanted to capture the relationship. 

Intimate, unashamed, in front of the whole world, that's what I want my relationship to be with Christ. I don't want an in your face religion; just a natural, comfortable relationship that others would want to share. A relationship that others would say, "Isn't that sweet how she leans on and depends on her God." I almost just wrote "God," but I thought no, "her God" demonstrates a more intimate relationship, a natural, real relationship that only comes from working together, riding together, resting in the shade and soaking in a cool drink of water together. 

Keeping up with my busy world often interrupts my intimate relationship with my Savior. I would like to stop and ponder how to make my relationship more focused on Him and less on me. How about you? 

Blessings, 

Gail

Hey Kids:

What kind of things do you like to do with your parents? How do you address them?

Jesus called God, Father. He said we could become the sons of God. What a great way to think about our relationship with God. He is like our earthly fathers, dads, papas, however you address your earthly father.

An idea to begin a closer relationship with God could be to make a list of things you enjoy doing with your dad. Before you can call your dad, Dad, you must first belong to him. 

Do you have a time and a place you remember asking Jesus for forgiveness? Did you ask Him to save you so you could be part of His family? 

Do you enjoy talking to your dad? What do you talk about? Do you talk to him in public?

Do you think Jesus would enjoy hearing about those things too? 

What kinds of activities do you enjoy with your dad? Do you hunt or fish, read books, play games? 

How can you involve Jesus in those activities?

When does your dad make you feel safe? Do you ask for his help?

How does your dad make you feel loved? Do you tell him you love him?

Have you ever thought Jesus might enjoy your asking for things?

Do you think Jesus would like to know you love Him?

Maybe a good start would be to stop... right where you are and begin a conversation with God.

Resurrected and Alive

photos by pixabay

⁹ 

You care for the land and water it;                              

    you enrich it abundantly.

The streams of God are filled with water

    to provide the people with grain,

    for so you have ordained it.[d]

¹⁰ 

You drench its furrows and level its ridges;

    you soften it with showers and bless its crops.

¹¹ 

You crown the year with your bounty,

    and your carts overflow with abundance.

¹² 

The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;

    the hills are clothed with gladness.

¹³ 

The meadows are covered with flocks

    and the valleys are mantled with grain;

    they shout for joy and sing.

Psalms 65:9-13 NIV

This week has been a busy one for us. As I slowed to begin to rejoice in the Easter season, I began to see all of creation coming alive around me. It seemed to have suddenly gone from the dead of winter to bursting forth with life! Trees are blossoming. Tulips and daffodils are blooming. A pair of geese were searching the neighborhood watering spots for a nesting place. 

God tells us that creation has cycles to show us about Himself. The stark images of trees, sleeping bulbs, and dry seeds all give us the appearance of death. It seems all hope is lost, but suddenly with the warmth of the sun, life springs forth with buds, and leaves, and flowers and fruit. What appeared dead, is now bursting with life. 

Are not our lives just the same? Our dead lives, our dead souls, our dead works suddenly become alive when Christ enters in. Christ gives our lives purpose, our souls eternal life, and our works are no longer selfish, but fruitful witnesses for Christ. Yes, life will have rough spots, just as the summer will get hot and hard. These will be times of growth, times to help us through when the showers of blessing seem scarce. But in the end of our days, the autumn of our lives, we will see the fruits of Christ in our lives. 

May the resurrection of Christ bring hope and purpose to our lives.

Blessings, 

Gail

Hey Kids:

We often hear the analogy of living in darkness as being a life without Christ and without purpose. 

Let's try an experiment to see how darkness affects seeds and plants.

Place a damp paper towel in a plastic sandwich bag. 

Place 2 or 3 seeds on the towel and close the bag. 

Tape it in a sunny window. 

You have created a mini greenhouse.

Now do the same with a second bag only this time place the bag with the seeds in a dark place, maybe under a cabinet. 

Keep a daily journal noting the changes occurring in each bag.

How are they the same/different?

How do you think a life lived in darkness, without Christ, is the same/different from a life lived with Christ at the center?

Discuss your results with your parents and other kids. 

Do you know someone who needs the light of Jesus to shine in their lives?