Finding the Trinity

  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Romans 1:20

Ahh, Autumn, my favorite time of the year. Leaves, mountain apples, pumpkins, and cooler weather, what could be better? We often use pumpkins to explain the plan of salvation to children (See Pumpkin Time). But that is not the only thing we can learn from the beauty of Autumn. 

What do we find when we cut open an apple or pumpkin or practically anything? On the outside is the skin. Just inside is the flesh. At the core of the fruit, we find the seeds. Did you notice the trinity?  Seeds that are most often thrown away are the heart of the fruit itself. Those seeds will produce more plants and fruit just like the parent plant. Even the seed is a trinity. The outer coating, the food store inside, and the embryo that contains the leaf.  

It seems so hard to understand how God is a Trinity yet He shows us daily through His creation. He shows us how we too are created in His image. We have a body, a mind that thinks, and a soul that is eternal. The soul is actually the heart of our being. Have you ever thought about how we feel things? We say "my heart is broken." when there's nothing wrong with our heart, it's our feelings, the core of who we are. God, too, is a being who thinks and yes, who feels. Love is a feeling. God showed us His love by sending His only Son to die in our place for our sins. 

When we show our children what it is like to be a Christian we are instilling in our little seeds the understanding that will reproduce itself to the third and fourth generation. In contrast when we distort or confuse or don't recognize the importance of instilling Christian doctrines in our children we still teach them. We teach a lack of importance for the things of God. That too will reproduce itself to the third and fourth generation. 

Take a walk with your children today. Notice the beautiful sun coming up or setting. Notice the light, how it colors the sky, or brightens the day. Feel the warmth of the sun. What a delight to enjoy another trinity God has created for us to know more about who He is and the love He has for us.

Autumn blessings,

Gail 

Singing in My Head

 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Have you ever listened to a baby "sing" himself to sleep? There were no words and very little tune, just the sweet soft "la, la, la" of sleep. 

Often I wake in the night with a song in my head. Not the kind that gets stuck and rambles around forever like "Baby Shark" but the Lord's songs of rest and peace and even strength. Where do they come from? I haven't listened to the radio before bed. The alarm isn't going off with music. I'm not dreaming, — just singing. Or is it me?

The Lord says He will joy over you with singing. In this troubling, disquieting, crazy time we live in, could it be that the Lord is singing over me peace and rest? Is it His singing I hear? Whatever has awakened me, the voice of singing calms me, relaxes me, and I drift off to sleep again. 

Often I find myself singing in the day. When the TV is off and the house or garden is quiet I notice there's a song in my head. Sometimes I begin to openly sing but more often I just enjoy the music while I clean or pull weeds. I rest in the Lord knowing He never leaves me or forsakes me whether in the day or in the night. All I need to do is Be still and know that He is God and He joys over me with singing. 

What song is the Lord putting in your heart and mind this week? 

Be blessed.

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Ephesians 5:19

Gail

Autumn Rainbow

 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Revelation 4:3 NIV

When we went out on the playground, the children wanted to know if they could go on a leaf hunt. In just a few minutes they returned with handfuls of leaves. As they sorted, they began to form an arc. We were studying a unit on colors and it was spilling over into their play. They were creating a rainbow with leaves. Yay, teacher! But more importantly, I saw the connection between God's creation and His promises in His word. 

The first rainbow in Genesis was to remind Noah that God would never flood the earth again. It was beautiful. Even now when a rainbow appears we point it out to others and take pictures to share on social media. Rainbows fascinate us even though we understand how they are made with sunshine and water droplets. 

Have you ever seen a complete rainbow? Once when we were on the Blue Ridge Parkway I looked down through the leftover clouds of a storm and saw a rainbow make a complete circle. The last rainbow is in Revelation. It encircles God's throne. Its beauty creates awe of God and His throne. It's a reminder that God is a promise keeper. He takes care of us in every situation whether on earth or in eternity. He has power and to Him belongs all glory. 

This has been a tough year with COVID and all that it has entailed. In our area, there have been lots of rainbows. God has tried to remind us that He is a promise keeper and He is in control even when it looks like the world is spinning out of control. This past month there was a Day of Prayer and Return in our capitol. There were clouds and even a clap of loud thunder just as there is thunder and lightning around God's throne. 

God is listening to our prayers. Are we listening to His pleas? Are we repenting of our neglect of Him and His word? Do we serve Him with our lips but serve ourselves with our actions?  God is our promise keeper. He will see us through if we return to Him. He reminds us with His rainbow that He is still watching and still caring. He is still in charge.

May your life be filled with rainbow reminders,

Gail