The Morning Star

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 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:16,17 KJV

This past week, I enjoyed viewing the moon each morning with what appeared to be a star hanging near. I suspect it's actually a planet, though I researched and was unable to find a definite answer. The name of the planet is probably not important to this discussion. What I was thinking was how Jesus, God in flesh, through the church, draws us to Himself, that whosoever desires the gift of salvation may come to Him. 

How did a morning moon, a star and a rising sun bring me to that thought? There are three bright lights in the sky. The sun which is the brightest. The moon, a reflection of the sun and then the planets, also a reflection of the sun. Sure there are stars but these are lesser lights that have their own brightness. The sun actually rules our sky with its bright gaseous light. The moon is made of dust and so are planets. We like the moon and planets are made from the dust. Jesus took on the dusty form of man, yet reflected the Father. The church is also to be a reflection of the Father. 

No, I don't believe in astrology or any type of sun worship. What I am saying is that God's creation is there to remind us of Who is in control and what He has done for us. The moon and the morning star reminded me on my journey each day,  that I am to be a reflection of the Lord Jesus in the dark world in which we work and live. 

Hey Kids:

The weather is warming and spring is changing the face of the earth. 

What are you seeing as you venture out each day? 

I'm planning on having my kids use a hula hoop to study an area near their garden, discovering how many small things live and work in our gardens. 

They can discover what is good and what destroys the garden. 

They can see the balance or imbalance of an ecosystem.

Thinking more deeply about what they see, I hope they can relate it to what is good and encouraging their relationship with Christ, as well as what destroys their relationship with Christ.

How about you? Are you making discoveries this week you would be willing to share? Please comment in the box below. 

Blessings,

Gail

Gifts In Wind, Water, and White

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And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? Mark 4:39-40 

Ann Voskamp suggests in www.onethousandgifts.com, that we look for gifts in wind and water and white on March 12. Friday, the wind blew like the Lion of March. Trees whipped against each other scrubbing branches and waving away the birds. There is suppose to be rain tonight, turning to snow by morning. After weeks of spring weather, the snow clouds are gathering on this Saturday afternoon. The wind has calmed and the stillness of snow quiets the hillside. The smoke of the woodstoves drift low and slow through neighborhoods.  

Be still and know snow, the white covering of snow is coming. God is so thick in the stillness of the air, you can almost reach out and touch Him. It's a comforting, peaceful still. One that wraps you up in His arms and completely disarms you. The disciples were in the middle of a storm that  raged and winds that blew, but Jesus was at rest. When they called on Jesus, He immediately calmed the winds and the storm with the words, "Peace, be still."  

The winds may blow and the storms may rage, but God still speaks to calm our storms if we but ask. How is Jesus calming your storms this week? 

Hey Kids: 

Have you noticed how weather affects your mood, your thoughts, your actions? 

I've noticed a windy day makes my kids loud and wild, just like the wind.  

Rain is usually calming unless there's thunder and lightning. Then there's a tingle of fear in the air.  

And snow – snow makes us happy and peaceful and HUNGRY! Seems all we do is cook and eat between the sledding.  

As winter turns to spring there are lots of variables in the weather.  

Try keeping a weather journal.  

Be sure to include how the weather affects your mood and those around you.  

How can understanding the weather better help you understand yourself and your family?  

The Bible tells us to pray for one another. When the weather makes us or our family a little grumpy, don’t forget that the disciples had to ask Jesus to calm the storm before they sank. 

Blessings, 

Gail 

Who's Building the House?

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Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it:

except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.Psalms 127:1

I heard a woodpecker drumming today. It reminded me that woodpeckers, especially pileated woodpeckers, are the keepers of the forest ecosystem. The woodpecker's strong beak drills holes for nesting. After one use the hole is abandoned. Other birds and forest animals use the abandoned holes for their nests, dens and burrows. These birds and animals are unable to create the shelters they need to raise their young. They are dependent on the woodpecker. Without him, these animals would become extinct. 

God had Noah create a special home for his family and 2 of every kind of animal. Without the ark, no one and nothing would have survived.

God designed the home for the survival of mankind - a husband and a wife, joined together to create a home in which to raise up a family to serve the Lord.

Unless the Lord builds the home, the survival of the marriage and the salvation of the children become very unlikely. 

How are we as Christians, allowing God to build our homes?

Would you take a moment to share the way God is working in your home?

Hey Kids:

Ecosystems demonstrate how dependent we all are on God and His creation.

As the weather warms, you might enjoy watching an ecosystem near you at work.

Watch as a spider builds a web. 

How are they constructed?

What are they trapping?

What would happen if there were no spiders?

You might enjoy making your own pop bottle ecosystem to observe. I found a cool blog that will help you build an ecosystem using plants, water, rocks and fish. Hop on over to Layers of Learning and give it a try.

Blessings,

Gail