Has Our Axe Head Flown Off?

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.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. ~Psalms 127 KJV

Many years ago a small congregation outgrew their meeting house. The young men decided they would go down by the river and cut logs to build the meeting house bigger. 

Listening to the Call

 

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

~Proverbs 20:11 KJV

Have you ever played “Mother, May I”? "The mother" tells each child what to do to get to her. ("The mother" can be anyone, not just girls.) "The mother" asks each child, in turn, to perform butterfly twirls or bunny hops, take giant steps or baby steps. To win, the child must obey "the mother’s" directions and remember to ask, “Mother, may I?”.

In I Samuel 3, God literally called Samuel. Samuel thought Eli, the priest, was calling him. Eli trained Samuel to learn obedience, to take care of the tabernacle, and to serve God. God called Samuel three times. Each time Samuel got out of bed and went to Eli. He never yelled to see what Eli needed. He never ignored what he perceived to be Eli’s voice. Samuel went to check on Eli’s needs. Finally, Eli realized it was God calling Samuel. He told Samuel to answer God in this way; “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” When God called Samuel for the fourth time, Samuel answered God as Eli had instructed. God could have called anyone in the nation of Israel. He called Samuel because Samuel’s heart was prepared to listen and obey.

 Samuel made a great difference in the nation of Israel because of his willingness to obey God rather than please himself. Samuel first had to learn as a child to willingly obey Eli. We may already be adults but if we haven't been trained or discipled, we are still children in our walk with Christ. We all want to make a difference, leave our mark, change the world. God can choose anyone. God wants to choose you. Prepare for the job God has for you. Listen and obey those God is using to train you.

 “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” ~I Samuel 3:10b NIV

Are you allowing yourself to be discipled? How is the Lord speaking to you? 

Father, help me listen to those you are using to train me to be your disciple. Help me listen for your calling that I may make a difference in the time and place where you have placed me. In Jesus's name. Amen. 

Hey Kids: 

Samuel practiced obedience so when God called him he was ready to answer.

Read I Samuel 3. 

What were some of the ways Samuel allowed himself to be trained for God's service? Perhaps these were some of his jobs.

• fill the lamps with oil.
• trim the lamp wicks
• dust/shine the items in the tabernacle
• help Eli in preparing the showbread
• coming when Eli called realizing Eli was old and blind. 

How will you learn to obey your parents so you will be willing and ready to obey God's call?

Morning Glories

 

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. ~Proverbs 4:18 KJV

I don't like morning glories. They sprout up everywhere in the garden. They twine up the tomato cages, the bean poles, and the outside fencing. I can't keep ahead of them. Did I say I don't like morning glories? Until I saw a piece about how "the light shines within." (Whoever wrote that please forgive me for not crediting you. I went back and looked and couldn't find the piece.) 

But back to my point. Morning glories shine from within! I never noticed that. They come in a variety of colors. They grow in gardens, along roadsides, and some people plant them on purpose. As a child, I liked to find the unopened blossoms and pop them. When I found out my neighbor bought seeds for her flower bed I almost fainted. Then I saw that piece, "the light shines within." God never created anything without a purpose, not even morning glories. 

Why would the Lord create a flower to look like a light shining from within? Insects and bugs of all types are drawn to light. Flowers need bugs for pollination. If the inside of a flower that provides food for insects looks like a light all the better for both the bug and the flower. The pollinated flower can produce seeds for more morning glories. That's a good thing when you consider we should be like morning glories. 

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  

~II Corinthians 4:6 KJV

We have the Light within us when we repent of our sins and allow Jesus to come in. We are a new creation made to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God. We are to be morning glories, shining our lights and drawing others to Christ. The more we share Christ, the more seeds we produce from those who also allow Jesus to be their Savior. They too become morning glories. We grow in God's garden popping up everywhere, shining among the people of the world. Seeming obnoxious to those who don't realize God's goodness but so important in shining the light for all the world to see. 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify Father which is in heaven. ~Matthew 5:16 KJV

How are others seeing the Light of Jesus in you?

Blessings, Gail

Hey Kids:

What are you discovering about the creation that you can apply to your own life? 

Have you heard the cicadas that are emerging loudly declaring the glory of God?

Have you noticed how many kinds of pollinators are drawn to flowers? 

Are there birds performing rituals and building homes for their families?

How do you see nature allowing God's light to shine? 

May I recommend this book? It's a little different from the song you usually sing.