The Rock

 

and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18b

I found a new favorite children's book, If You Find a Rock , by Peggy Christian. It evokes so many memories of playing with our kids and grandkids, just finding rocks. 

Rocks you skip across lakes and streams. 

Rocks you climb.

Rocks you view life from.

Rocks you rest on.

A place to rest after a long day's hike or rest because it's sunny and warm, or rest just because it looks like a neat place to sit. 

All throughout the Bible the rock, or this rock depicts a picture of Jesus. No one wonder people, especially children are attracted to rocks. 

The Bible depicts Jesus as a place of rest, a firm foundation, the supplier of the water of life, the Rock of our Salvation and so much more. 

Rocks are one of the greatest gifts of creation to children. Maybe just to remind us and them of the Greatest Gift, Jesus Christ the Savior. 

Hey Kids:

What do you like to do with a rock? 

Do you stick it in your pocket?

      It may become your memory rock.

Do you skip it across the water? 

      How many circles does it make and how far does it reach?

Have you made a standing pile of rocks? 

      It may help you find your way or help you remember this specific spot when you return.

Does it look like an animal?

      Paint it up and use it for a paperweight or a gift.

Whenever you find a rock, whatever you do with a rock,  make it special.

Make it a memory of the Rock of your Salvation.

Use it to share Jesus with others.

      Tell the memory of your salvation.

       Know each time you share your salvation experience it reaches out to others, eventually reaching around the globe. 

      When you feel confused, know Jesus will show you the way.

      Like a paperweight, Jesus helps you keep life together. 

Look for the Rock!

Blessings,

Gail

Almost Heaven

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. II Peter 3:13

What's your image of heaven? Streets of gold? Mansions? Yes, the Bible does say those things, but are we missing the most natural of all images? 

When God first created the heavens and the earth, there was

• a beautiful garden
• no dying
• no tears
• no pain
• no heartache
• peace and fellowship in a garden with animals and God.

What about the new heavens and the new earth? (Revelation 21, 22:1-5) Besides the city with streets of gold and gates of pearl, there are

• gates open where people go in and out
• a river
• a tree with twelve different fruits
• no more curse, no thorns.

It sounds similar to the Garden of Eden. The Lord always gives us visuals of Himself and what He is trying to tell us. I think we search for those visuals whether consciously or not. Have you thought about your favorite place on earth?

In the 1870's Brewster Higley wrote "Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam and the skies are not cloudy all day." In 1971 John Denver sang, "Almost heaven, West Virginia." Both had their idea of heaven. 

Every summer and fall we take a trip to Cades Cove, TN in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's a quiet, peaceful cove with millions of visitors each year who come to view the scenery and the wildlife. Our favorite walk is a quarter mile to the John Oliver cabin (top). On the return through the tall grass and flowers, the mountains rise up from the floor of the cove like a quilt wrapping you in the cool of the day. 

The grasses are filled with butterflies and and the sound of crickets as people walk quietly by.

I love Spark's Lane where the road fords the stream and children build dams and skip rocks.

At the back of the cove, bears lazily lie in walnut trees watching tourist, watching them. Deer graze in open fields and along the woods edge. Visitors smile and point, speaking in happy whispers. 

Though there is no night in heaven, here on earth we still need a peaceful night's rest. Fireflies light up the night. Owls and insects sing families to sleep in their tents. And as morning arrives multitudes of birds sing in the dawn.

Have you thought about what heaven is like? Is there someone you are missing? Have you wondered what they might be doing today? 

I hope you have found a vision of heaven. We'd love it if you shared with us in the comment section. 

Hey Kids:

Have you ever wondered what heaven is like? 

Do you have a favorite place that makes you think of heaven? 

It might be your treehouse or just a favorite tree limb where you sit and read. 

Maybe it's a creek you play in or a beach where you run through the waves.

This week might be a good time to draw a picture of your idea of heaven. 

Perhaps you know someone who has recently gone to be with Jesus. 

You might want to add them to the picture to remind you of how happy they are to be in a place so beautiful, free from tears and pain. 

Blessings,

Gail

Preserving - Not a One Person Job

Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  James 1:22

The apples are ripening and the clan wants to come over. They're all fiends for apple jelly, so I'll be passing along the knowledge of how it's done. I've given them the recipe, but no one has followed it yet. That's okay because I love doing things together as a family. There will be jobs for the youngest to the oldest. That would be me. The youngest is only a few months old so he's in charge of entertainment. The kids love the apple peeler. The boys love to use a knife. We'll need people to measure sugar and spices and squeeze hot jelly bags of cooked peels. Someone has to put all the apple pieces in the crock pot for apple butter, and someone needs to wash jelly jars (thank goodness for a dishwasher). A great time will be had by all!

Preserving becomes a joyful job when everyone participates, but what about preserving souls? That seems to be only the pastors' or the Sunday School teachers' job. There's something wrong with this picture. If we merely listen to sermons, but never actually help do the job of soul winning and discipling believers, nothing will ever be accomplished. We are deceiving ourselves if we think we do the work of the kingdom from the church pew. It's more fun when we share the work and rejoice together in the accomplishments. 

Hey Kids:

Do you love all things apples? 

Is there someone in your family who knows how to make jams and jellies and fruit butters?

Offer to give Mom or Grandma a hand.

What does Dad know how to do? Grilling? Woodwork? Mechanicing? 

The Amish have a saying, "Many hands make light work."

We can all welcome help from others.

Pastors and teachers can also use your help. 

Is there a group at church you can join that reaches out to win souls and disciple them? 

Maybe there are kids in your neighborhood or school that can benefit from your friendship. 

Even a child is known by his doings...Proverbs 20:11 

May we all be doers of the Word,

Gail