Childrens Corner
May the Peace of Our Savior Jesus Christ fill your heart with the spirit of thanksgiving- as we live in the blessing and light of the Holy Spirit in its abundant strength and power. May each day be a new day in our lives, within our hearts and souls- as we desire to serve you better Dear Heavenly Father. Help us to better live by your word, and guide us with the blessed joys of your salvation to those that are hurting and lost...that they may be filled with the Hope and Joy of your anticipated coming when we can sit at your side, and breathe the radiant rays of your glory in everlasting life.
In the Holy Spirit of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we all say...AMEN
These selections is dedicated to all the young children and youth of our communities churches, that they may grow each day in Gods light, in a new beginning; and that the Joys and Blessings of Our Heavenly Father may fill each one as they reach out to the lost and hurting of our communities.
Transformers
Fun days are the holidays, when we're out of school. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and Easter to name a few. These are times of celebration with twinkles in our eyes, as we sleep in perhaps, before the big feast of the holidays; rub-a-dub-dub, thanks for the grub! Time to spend with our brothers, sisters and family and more time to play! When the holiday ends, we frown at the thought of school again; eagerly we look ahead to summer vacation, play time once again! As the summer does approach, we're given a pass to the next year ahead; just as we grow in years at our birthday, we grow into a new grade and book of our life.
When I was a kid, I remember walking through the upper class hallways at school; and thinking to myself, that I never wanted to go there-everything seemed so big and hard. As a kid, I remember going to the movies with my family, and wanted to see the adult movies, that I couldn't see because I was too young. What a bummer, I would exclaim, being stuck with the G rated movies. I learned through the experiences, however, that as we grow-we get more things. As we grow, things seem easier than the year before. Perhaps we didn't want to reach the upper halls, but it meant more priveleges; perhaps we always wanted to be the age of seven, but it meant that we could never see the better movies.
Without Jesus in our lives, we can't get to heaven. Without going to school and learning how to read, we cant read our bibles; so things do work for the good. We don't grow overnight, unlike the kids who drink milk and suddenly grow; or popeye, who eats spinach and suddenly grows stronger. Our lives are more like the transformers, which piece by piece turn from a man to a bird, or man to a plane. I want to be like that bird or plane, and it was a creator that made that toy turn from a man into something that soars. Just as we learn to read in school, and then can read our bibles; and just as we read the bible and learn more about God and Jesus-we too are like the transformer, turning from who we are right now into something better. We can become like a bird or plane, and soar to new heights, with Our God and Creator of who we are.
I enjoyed "show and tell" days in school, when we got to show our friends the fun things in our lives. I used to show off my pet rock, that I named Popeye; and that pet rock could do anything I wanted it to do. The class used to laugh at me, and it made me feel down. When we talk to our friends about God, because we learned how to read the bible and listen to lessons; they may laugh when we tell them the story of how the rock made water when tapped with a stick. These same friends might like transformers, howver, which change from something cool into something cooler. How do we get our friends to believe us? I remember always giving my mom and dad a reason why I needed something; and then when they said no, I gave another reason. Being a christian ( Christ-like ) isn't easy, and yes we will face rejection; but just as we continued to convince our moms and dads of what we need, continue to tell your friends about God. Continue to tell your friends and others that you know, that they can soar like that transformer, that they can change just like that transformer! Continue to convince them that they can't get to heaven on roller skates, in a boat, on a bicycle or in every other way-except through Our Savior, who died for us! As we talk about God to others, our faith also will continue to grow as we learn new stories from the bible, to share.
Thankyou God for today, for being my Heavenly Daddy. Thankyou for my brother Jesus, who died upon the cross for my sins-but a brother that also came back from the dead and lives today-Jesus.
PSALM 1
Perhaps your chore at home is to water the colorful plants, so that they can grow; or maybe you've helped your mother and father in the garden..and you know that if you water and take care of these plants that they'll blossom and continue to thrive. However, if you don't feed your plants when they get thirsty-they'll wilt and die and the wind will carry off the remains as they crumble-never to be seen again.
Our bodies are just like that plant-if we don't take care of ourselves...if we don't brush our teeth-they'll fall out, and we'll be left with a gaping hole. If we don't drink milk-our bones will weaken until we can no longer do the things we want to or go to the places we need because they won't hold us up.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANKYOU FOR THE BLOSSOMING PLANTS AND ALL THE BEAUTY OF NATURE AROUND US. WE THANKYOU FOR LETTING US GROW-PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY-IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY IN EACH AND EVERY DAY.
Reading the Book of Psalms Chapter 1, I am directed to the "joys of those who do not follow evil mens advice or hang around with sinners and scoffing at the things of God." The next time you're on the playground at school-or hanging out with your neighborhood buddies and you come face to face with the town bully or even your friends-and they say "Do this or that"...remember the plant that didn't get watered and died.
You see, our lives and everything we do and hope to be is watered with our faith in God, and this faith will blossom and grow as we continue to lives by Gods word and to do good things for others. But when we sin, we dry up spiritually with God-and he can't take us to heaven if we're bad and wilted.
LUKE 24:13-35
We all enjoy and look forward to a promise, especially when there is a 250 percent chance that we're going to get whats been promised. However, it can feel as an enormous and sometimes overwhelming let down when we don't get whats been promised or expected. For example, when our girlfriend, boyfriend or long-distance relative sends us that "special package"-and we wait, and wait, and WAIT. Feverently anticipating the postman to be carrying that package or love filled letter, we watch and wonder as he makes the rounds-once again, with not a thing. Or perhaps, we're expecting our best buddy to stay for the night, and with great anticipation, we sit by the roads edge and look to the horizon for their appearance. I have done this many times, and when they are even a minute late, I would begin to wonder and worry.
We live with great expectations, Jesus lived with great surprises for those around him. One of these surprises came just after Jesus had died upon the cross for our sins, and after he had been buried...
Two disciples were going to the village of Emmaus-seven miles from Jerusalem. They were sad and gloomy, expressing doubt about the one who was to set Israel free. As they were expressing their doubts to a companion who had come along with them, they didn't immediately recognize the person they were walking with as the Promised One.
Things are not as bad as they sometimes seem to be; and what we see or perceive in one moment becomes entirely different in the next. Although Jesus is no longer bodily with us, yet by the Holy Spirit we have fellowship with him as the greatest reality in our life. He has called us "friend" ( John 15:15 ) and, just like the disciples on the way to Emmaus, our heart is warmed along the way as he continues teaching us about all the things he has said and done.
Although Jesus is not with us in the bodily form of flesh, just look around you at the beauty of nature...when the autumnal trees in all their color and splendour blow, or when we look to the skies in the depth of star and planet...it is there that we see and receive the Spirit of God. With each breath that we take, with each heartbeat of celebration, we are reminded of Gods breath of life within each one of us...even though we may find times of trial and tribulation...God is there, and through Jesus and the Holy Spirit-the promise of Eternal Life.
Gods Nourishment...
Sam is getting mighty hungry; he was at the park all day playing ball with his friends, and then he went Roller-Blading in his neighborhood, and finally he got together with more of his friends and they played hide-and-seek. Boy, Sam is hungry, and tired too!
Do you like to cook? What do you like to make? Sam grabs a tall can of vegetable soup, PLOPS it into the pan and puts it on the stove. He stirs and stirs...stirs and stirs some more....and HMMM...the food is still cold. A while longer and still-nothing. What could have gone wrong?
Perhaps he didn't turn on the stove, and he checks, and sure enough.....Now the stove is burning and his food is getting hotter and hotter, and finally he can enjoy the nourishment of a bowl of soup and a tall glass of ice cold milk.
LORD, WE THANKYOU FOR THE FOOD WE EAT, FOR THE NOURISHMENT-AND FOR YOUR LOVE IN US.
It is very important to go to church and worship our Heavenly Father, as important as it is to go to school; but when you go to school you want to get good grades and use what you've learned away from school at home. And just as much as anything-God wants us to bring what we learn through his word in church and Sunday school into our home, with friends, and at school. We may not get a grade like you do in school-but you'll have a home in Heaven!
The Book of James tells us to do good works, do good deeds for others, and that'll keep our faith in Our Father alive...that's just like the soup Sam put in the pan on the stove...our nourishment of Gods word in church, but we are not fed yet. By helping our friends and neighbors we turn on the heat-and then we are fed with Gods precious gifts and a stronger faith in God.
NEED A SHEPHERD
Do you ever feel like a sheep? Sheep are notoriously dumb and rather dirty farm animals. Because they are not able to properly care for themselves, they need a shepherd. The shepherd does not blame the sheep for being dumb, nor does their dirtiness offend him. All of us feel dirty too. Our shepherd is the Lord himself. He has placed us in a safe pasture of his care. He loves us perfectly in spite of our imperfections. The next time you are tempted to feel dumb or dirty, remember that God shepherds you with kindness. He forgives the dumb things we do and he cleanses our dirtiness...
Lets look at Jonah, who was commanded by the Lord to go and speak out against Nineveh, and who subsequently went on board a ship to flee from the Lord. Sure, we can hide momentarily from mom and dad when we snatch a delicable cookie from the jar, but impossible is it to hide from the Lord!! When we are tempted in the many times that will pass us, when we want to hide...why not pray? Jonah ought to know. Who could imagine being swallowed by a whale. But "you listened to me...you answered my prayer." There are numberless problems in life that "swallow" people. Often the problem is so great that the victim even destroys his or her life. These too-common happenings tell us that human nature isn't strong enough for the battles of life. But, like Jonah, we give ourselves up to God once we admit we are sinful and weak. God, our shepherd, is able to help us with everything that happens to us.
We do not understand everything that happens to us in life...Jonah was angry when he finally spoke out against Nineveh, as they were turning from their ways and repenting. Jonah didn't want the city spared. And hearing Jonahs complaint...the Lord replied..."You are concerned about a vine that you did not plant or take care of, a vine that grew up in one night and died the next...in that city of Nineveh there are more than a hundred twenty thousand people who cannot tell right from wrong. Don't you think I should be concerned about that city?"
God once again-our unconditional shepherd..in ways we cannot comprehend, gives new life and meaning in those fearful and trying moments...PRAISE BE TO GOD.
GOLDEN RULE Matthew 7:12
Have you ever hung out with your friends at the playground and they see the shortest kid in the class walking around; your friends would say, "Hey theres shorty!" They would then call the kid names. Maybe you knew that kid...he might have been your best friend. Then, your friends grab some rocks and toss them at him. Were you ever pressured to join them. and you just didn't know which way to go? It's kind of hard, isn't it?
I want to teach you about the Golden Rule...you may have heard it before.
WHATSOEVER YE WOULD DO THAT MEN SHOULD DO TO YOU, DO YE EVEN SO UNTO THEM
Has anyone ever called you a name? You probably didn't like it very much...maybe you cried, because it hurt...so when temptation gets to you, and your friends want you to join...just think about if someone were to do that to you. Pray to God in these times, and ask him for help.
Remember in school when the police officer would come and teach you about drugs and how to say "no" because they aren't good for you...well, God wants us to say "No" when temptation knocks at our door because sin isn't good for us, God wants us to go to Heaven, a place that he has created for us and that my heart beats for. Remember the Golden Rule....Do unto others and you want them to do to you.
OUR JOURNEY PLANNED Proverbs 16:1
It was an early start to the day; we envisioned a four hour drive to the beach under the glorious ray of the beaming sun with the climax of an exciting and adventurous day on the seashores edge...frolicking on the white sand skirting the cool refreshing waters. Then, returning home, after filling our bellies with a scrumptious dinner and dessert. It was a day to be filled with cheer...
And as we set out from the confines of our humble home in the compact family car, picking out the license plates from every state and counting the number of striped lines painting the countries highways, intertwining one another in spaghetti like fashion, we fell fast asleep with dreams dancing through our heads of the mass of colorful seashells awaiting us.
Somewhere between point A and B, our trip rolled to an abrupt end with the SPUTTER-SPUTTER CLANK BANG! My father spelled out several words of disgruntle which would conflict with the theme of spiritual devotion. Not to end, the clouds filled over in their dark fury with vivid strikes of lightning and ferocious claps of thunder piercing the serene beauty and peace of this once pleasurable day...and thus, after repairing a single bolt and nut which held us over in the first place...we retreated for home.
Proverbs 16:1 tells us that "we can make plans, but the final outcome is in Gods hands."
When something doesn't go right in our day, how often do we moan and grumble....I'm guilty of this...when the chain fell off the bicycle a half a dozen times on my way to work on a dreary day when the wind was howling and raindrops pelted at me with a sting. My hands turned a greasy-gray which in turn took to my clean-pressed work shirt...not exactly my day. I was expecting a day filled with anything but turmoil in every direction that I peered. But, you see, the challenges we face from day to day, they won't last forever; and as we bear with it and one day look from our home in Heaven-what we encounter will resemble a tiny, minuscule grain of dust.
God provides for us, what we may face and tackle from day to day...we can learn from it with which to grow and help others in the paths of life.
LUKE CHAPTER 5
Remember walking through the park, taking in the fresh air and listening to the melodious songs of the fluttering birds; taking in the fresh fragrance of the colorful plants and flowers, being touched by the gentle breeze of the green, flourishing trees towering above. Remember running through the green luscious rug of grass, doing cartwheels and other tumbles...and then-you tumble across a smashed soda can and then an assortment of glass beer bottles and empty wrappers. Doesn't it tear you up...
God is hurt whenever we sin...he wants us to have a clean life-aiding one another and praising his name; but we, as humans, are not perfect and fall short.
The Book of Luke Chapter 5 tells us about a man who has a disease called leprosy and becomes an outcast. Nobody wants to hang around with him or touch him-but Jesus touches him and heals his disease. This man is very happy and praises God with all his heart...he thanks Jesus. We should thank Jesus too, for all he's done for us.
My chore at home was to take out the garbage on trash day-and I REALLY didn't want to because the trash and litter was dirty. But you see, the trash we take out can be recycled at places it goes to.
When we go to the park and see trash, we should take a second to pick it up and put it in a litter can....making our land a much nicer place to enjoy. In the same way, God wants to forgive us, and he gave his only Son...so that no matter what you, your friends, or the bullies down the road may have done-no matter how sinful and dirty, they will be forgiven. Pray with all you heart...
DEAR JESUS, THANKYOU FOR TAKING THE CROSS FOR MY SINS, THAT MY HEART WILL BE CLEAN AND FREE...AND WITH YOUR HELP, I WILL DO MY BEST TO FOLLOW IN YOUR WORD AND WALK IN YOUR LIGHT. HOW THANKFUL I AM TO YOU LORD JESUS CHRIST...AMEN
Be thankful unto him, and bless his name....Psalm 100:4
HOLY UNDERSTANDING WITHOUT A BABEL Genesis 1:1-10
Have you ever been to the big city with your mother and father, maybe it was mid-day under the hot glaring sunlight in lots and lots of traffic, or early evening as the sky lights turned on as the moon painted shadows amongst the TALL-GIGANTIC skyscrapers. Perhaps you had the opportunity to visit the insides of these skyscrapers which seem to touch the sky. Some are small and some are high as a hundred stories. I went on a road trip with my father one day...and I asked him where skyscrapers came from...and he told me about the first skyscraper that was built in the Book of Genesis 1:1-10.
The Tower of Babel was probably the worlds first skyscraper. Though we don't know exactly, it may have been almost 300 feet tall-the worlds tallest building today rises much higher than that, almost 1500 feet into the air or one-third of a mile-about the size of the fairy tale giant Jack in the BeanStalk. Skyscrapers today are made of steel and reinforced concrete; however, the Tower of Babel was made from bricks and straw. Even though it wasn't very tall compared to the skyscrapers today, the Tower of Babel was a marvel of construction...and it was that marvel.....which mankind following the flood, had built as a monument to themselves.
Well-God had something else to say about this, and as mankind was speaking the same language with one another at that time, thought it would be fun to give the people all a different language. Oh, did this confuse them so,...so much that they could no longer continue to build this HUGE tower, and they spread out across the land. Imagine how confused they must have been when they tried to talk to one another! I remember when my family moved to a different country in Europe...I didn't know the language yet; and the neighbors would talk to me like I was tri-lingual...it was difficult.
There is one thing that holds us together, however, regardless of the language barriers...that's the belief in Our Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit which can dwell within you and I...and there's an understanding that's universal...eternal loife through salvation, forgiveness of ones sins....Praise be to Our Heavenly Creator!!
TEAMS
We're all a team, and it doesn't matter what position you take...you can be Catholic, Jew, Protestant Methodist...and the list goes on. We all have one important thing in common...our faith and trust in God and his son Jesus Christ who died for us all on the beautiful and guiding cross---our light in all that we do.
It doesn't matter whatever team you're on in our world of great sports; whether you take the NFL, NHL, or NBA; you play to score points and win. But most of all, you work together and learn sportsmanship within your own team as well as your opponent. In the world of sports, you go through training to build your endurance and learn how to succeed.
When we're in church, at bible study, or on retreats and reading our bibles and daily devotions-we're building our endurance with God in our hearts with which to take into our communities and win the hearts of those that are lost and empty...to fill them with the Blessed Holy Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ. The days tick by as people sit around and ponder "What is our society coming to? " Drugs, homelessness, cults....."Whats going on?" Each day people are dying--it seems that these days, I have to pay an extra 10-15 cents for the newspaper because of the paper and print it takes to write the obituaries. Are they going to heaven, or the other way...thats what I ponder.
To ease this pondering, I praise God in whatever I'm doing, wherever I am going. I carry the word with me in my heart to spread and show others...don't leave it locked up in your heart. When I see that someone is having a bad day, I stop and ask them...."Whats up?" I pray with them, even if it's a silent prayer. Praise the Lord with all your heart...and show the light that is inside of you...we're all a team together on this sphere we call earth.
AT CAMP
Have you ever been camping before? I used to go camping all the time, taking along Fluffy my stuffed bear, portable television, microwave popcorn, electric power cords and all the comfy cozy luxury items of living. But, occasionally, I DID go camping the old-fashioned way in a tent...and not in a soft plush twin bed, but on natures floor which she sometimes forgets to sweep. Now tent life wasn't for me, especially after a Boy Scout camping trip to the Big-Big hills of Germany when a farmers cow found its way into my tent; but imagine if you had to live at 102 Trailpath Lane in a tent all of your life.
In the bible times, Abraham and his family did-and these tents were made of goats and camels hair. The hair was woven together in thick, heavy cloth; and when this cloth got wet, the animal hair would shrink, making the tents nearly waterproof. Imagine making this kind of tent. Chances are, if you lived in the bible days, ou would've needed help from your family to make this kind of tent.
These tents were quite big too; for everything the family owned had to fit in it. When a group of shepherds camped together, they often pitched or set up their tents in a circle. The leaders tent would be pitched in the middle of the circle, and he would stick his spear in the ground outside his door to show that he was in charge.
God created our home here on earth in its abundance of life, a home that we're helping to build--me and you---spiritually; and the symbol of our Lords everlasting love and to show you that he's our one and only Creator-the big boss in the sky. He has our lives engraved in the palms of his hands....the symbol of Our Blessed Holy Cross which Jesis died upon for our salvation and eternal life in Heaven.
WITHOUT AID
Have you ever gone for a walk at night in the cool crisp autumn air; and remember looking up at the multitude of bright stars...you probably made shapes out of them, the constellations. It's kind of hard to see the stars during the day-but did you know that the stars are always there. The autumn air, the air we breath, I've always wondered what it looks like-it keeps us alive...I see food and water....the air is invisible, but is always there. However, there are some things like gases that'll take the air from somthing, or us if we're not careful and without air, something dies.
Our God is ever present; just as the stars-and he is always around us- just as the air you and I breathe. God is our breath of fresh air whenever we encounter stressful situations-when we've been working hard. The stars light up the night sky...whenever things seem dark in our lives, when we go to God....he will light up our lives.
God is invisible, we can't see him...but he's always there around us; he can see you and me. Even when you think you're well hidden reaching into the Kool-Aid powder or for some of those cookies and you think noones watching...or so you think...Gods watching.
Sis is that gas which will suffocate our lives...we may not die physically as you would with lack of the air we breathe...but spiritually you're in trouble. Our faith will strengthen with first-aid. Have you ever cut your finger, and with a little soap and water, and a colorful band-aid, our wounds heal? Jesus is FIRST in our lives, and above all ele; he died for you and me. Realizing that you made a mistake and saying "Jesus, I'm sorry for my sins, please forgive me and help me to do better"...that'll revive your faith and spirit. There's nothing like walking through your daily life in Gods light-praising our Lord with songs and cheer...breathing Gods life and spirit for us...
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE.....
When I was six-going on seven...when I had a quarter and thought I was the richest kid in town, when I would brag about staying up until eight-thirty and all my friends would go "WOW" and their faces would light up as they reached out to touch me...I wanted to be a construction man. I couldn't erect a tinker toy set for more then three seconds without it collapsing into a pile of splinters-but I wanted to be a construction man. What do people use to make buildings out of? What are the shapes of the buildings?
I was the only child in our family...if I broke a vase on the top of the colossal fridge that I envisioned holding a pot of scrumptious cookies, I could only blame it on the cat or dog when it broke in my hands---but the Ten Commandments say "Don't lie"....Do you know the Ten Commandments?
The Ten Commandments help us to grow closer to God, and they help us to be a good leader in our school and in play. I wanted to be a school teacher, which meant that I had to keep my grades up in all my studies. When I didn't understand something I coldn't get discouraged....I couldn't give up...I had to ask my teacher or mom or dad, or God for help. God will never give up on us-he wants to help us.
DEAR JESUS, HELP ME TO BE ALL I CAN BE...TO GROW AND TO KNOW YOU....I LOVE YOU, JESUS.
For a time, I wanted to be a doctor...I would wear my toy stethoscope, reflex hammer, and pretend needle and go after the cat---I learned that he has claws! I told my mother that she had fallen sick and needed to lay down for four days---"yeah, the whole house to myself!" She still took care of me. Have you ever been to the doctors office? What did you see? We all get into disagreements and we all do things that we shouldn't have done...we're all human. Maybe you didn't clean yuor room or you didn't wash the dishes, or take out the trash...Perhaps you yelled at someone, or called them a name. God is our band-aid. Sin scars us---but if we ask God to forgive us, our scar will be healed. Remember when you cut your hand-your mother and father looked after you...God looks after us.
God knows the hairs on your head, he knows the number of cookies you eat, he sees you day and night. He see you at school, at the playground, and even at night when its dark and you hear many different sounds that scare you. God is our guiding light, and with God in our heart-we can smile and be happy, and in times of uncertianty, we can still smile and look to God...he's always with us. What do you do when you feel lonley? When yuo're scared? Happy?
THANKYOU DEAR JESUS FOR BEING MY LIGHT...IN DAY AND NIGHT. THANKYOU FOR WATCHING OVER ME AND MY FAMILY. JESUS...THANKYOU FOR BEING IN ME...
Whatever you want to be in life...yuo can do it...a fireman, policeman, pilot, or teacher...Whatever you want to be, because Jesus lives in you and he died for you and me.
DO YOU HAVE POWER CELLS.......
I don't get along with the dark...no, the monsters don't bother me-just the splitting headache from the four inch beam that I went smash into as I ran from the telephone which blared through the serenity of the evening air; but instead of the phone, I snatched up the television remote control and slamming it toward my face....went OW! Accidentally switching on the television with the push of a button-the telephone company on channel 2 is advertising their hottest plan and heralding "hello" as I say "hello, is anyone there?"...all the while the phone is still ringing that I haven't answered.
It's kind of hard to work in the dark-no matter how hard you try. Sure, get a flashlight...but whenever I do-the batteries crawl to a halt. And have you ever gotten batteries for something-why isn't there a one size fits all....I need a AA here, D there, AAA with this and a C with that. You need one, perhaps...they don't just sell one- you have to buy a dozen and loose the rest under the dust so that the next time you need a power supply, you buy more.
Some think they can work well with no problems in the dark-the same ones that claim the telephone pole jumped to the path of their car.
God switched on the light for us as we stumbled through humanity..he set us free a vessel of hope that we may see Our Father in Heaven....the vessel...Jesus Christ. The cross on which Jesus bore the pains for our sins is like the battery which connects one pole of your flashlight to the light bulb at the other. At one pole, when yuo try to illuminate the dark area-all you'll hear is the click of the flashlight....and it's still cold. Before I took our Blessed Savior Jesus into my life, I thought I had it made in life; but when I fell, boy, was I feeling miserable. But my pastor, my friends who taught me about Jesus and his life, they helped to insert the Power of God and his saving grace-the batteries into the light of my life...which has burned stronger and stronger since that day.
And as we know, our power supply on batteries, they need a recharge now and again-Prayer and Praise to Our Father and Savior Jesus Christ. It can be silent, it can be in harmony with the churc choir or music, or.....as in my many instances, as you're bicycling or walking down the road with your radio spelling out..."Blessed be the Name of the Lord" Jesus truly is the reason to be blessed and celebrate.
A BIRD...A NEED OF LIFE...Phillipians 4:19
Remember when you tore a hole in the bottom of your pants while at the playground or you played hide-and-seek for a long time and wore out the soles in your shoes? When the days wre getting shorter and you lost your coat at school a few days earlier and were cold. You asked your mother or father for what you needed...and they usually got it for you. They care for you and they love you. They want to give you what you need so that you can do and feel your best in whatever you do.
We used to go shopping alot at the store and I would run through the tyo department and grab every toy I could think of that my friends had and that I wanted. I bolted down the aisles to my parents and cried..."Can I have it?"....."Can I Can I?" The usual response was "No"---but our parents still care for us and love us with all their heart.
God also cares for us and if we need something we can go to him-if we are not feeling well....if you have a tummy ache or cold; or for your family. When the kids at school make fun of you for not saying something bad or doing something that'll get you in trouble...or when yuo're tempted to reach into a cookie jar, pray to God for help. God loves you all, he loves you and me, the whole world.
Sometimes God says "No" when we ask him for something. This isn't because he can't give it to us, but he knows we have asked for something that isn't good for us. He loves us and wants the best for us.
MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED. Phillipians 4:19
I remember when I was seven years old, I found a baby bird that had fallen from its nest and my grandmothers house. It was a tiny bird with blue, light fluffy feathers, and it made a quiet chirp. He had tried to fly with the other birds and didn't quite make it, he was still too young. His legs were hurt and I wanted to keep him.
I ran inside the house and told my mother what I had found, and asked her if we could keep him..."God can I have a bird?" We couldn't keep him, however, and the next day brought the baby bird to the animal hospital. I cried and cried, but you see...the bird was wild and it may carry disease and germs that are bad for you or I. God didn't want anything bad to happen to me. About a week later, I came home from school and found a small box sitting on the kitchen table with my name across the top. I quickly tore open the box and found a small fluffy parakeet with small beady eyes, and a quiet chirp. He was mine to keep....and I was happy.
DEAR GOD, THANKYOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME.....
EACH OF US WITH PURPOSE........Psalm 12:1-3
Everybody knows the stories of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and of the Ugly Duckling. Both of them were downhearted, thinking that they were not much good, when actually their "time" had not yet arrived. If you wanted soft wood, a willow tree or poplar grows quickly. But if you want the hard wood of the oak, it takes time.
All of us do not sense our greatness or our power at the same time in our lives. Some of our greatest inventors were considered stupid by their teachers, and some of our greatest political leaders were failures in their early lives.
I recall the story about an eagle that had been taken from its nest by a farmer when it was young. He clipped one wing so it could not fly away and put it with the young chickens. It soon felt right at home with the chickens; it ate chicken feed and acted like a chicken.
One day a visitor stopped at the farm and chanced to see the young eagle with the chickens. "Hey, where did you get that eagle?" he asked. "What is it doing with the chickens?" "Well" the farmer replied, "maybe he was an eagle once, but he's a chicken now! He's been living with them so long, he even looks like a chicken. Even with his wing grown, he'll never fly again."
"Thats where you're wrong my friend" said the visitor. "Once an eagle, always an eagle. I can get him to fly."
The farmer agreed to let him try, so the visitor caught the eagle. He held the eagle in his hands and talked to it. "You are an eagle. You belong in the sky." Tossing it as high as he could in the air, he shouted, "Fly!" But the eagle floated down to the earth with such a terrific FLAP! And once again ate food with the chickens.
This was a challenge to the visitor, so the next morning he put the eagle in a sack and carried it up the mountian, determined to toss the eagle from the highest point of the cliff, if necesarry, to make him fly. When taken from the sack, the eagle felt the wind of the mountian heights, caught the brightness of the sun, and saw itself high above the valley below. It struggled free from the visitors hands, spread its wings, and went off the cliff. Now the eagle knew it was an eagle, and although it lost its height at first, it started to circle and gradually rose higher and higher into the sky. It never returned to the farmers yard to live with the chickens again.
I am convinced that God has a plan for each of our lives. His plan is buried deep within us. Some people discover the plan sooner than others, but when we do discover what the plan is, then we take off into the blue and become a part of Gods great plan. We find our part in the great plan by doing our best every day and keeping our eyes and hearts alert, so we can learn his will for us.
Consider the world around us. Do you think it just came into being by accident? The universe was created by God and you are a part of Gods design. Every one of us is important to God. The bible says that not a sparrow falls without Gods knowing it. If we were made in Gods image, don't you believe that God wants us to win?
Who are you? Each of us knows not only who we are, but also to whom we belong. Why are we here on earth? What is our main purpose? Do your parents own you as their car? Of course not! You bear their name but everything they do for you is to help you grow up to be yourself. To whom do we belong, if not to God? And if we belong to God who has a plan whereby even the stars stay in the courses, would he not also have a plan for us? Close your eyes and think...
I WILL LIFT MY EYES TO THE HILLS, FROM WHENCE COMETH MY HELP. MY HELP COMETH FROM THE LORD, WHICH MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH. HE WILL NOT SUFFER THY FOOT TO BE MOVED; HE THAT KEEPETH THEE WILL NOT SLUMBER. Psalms 12:1-3.
CARRY THE TORCH
"Well, I go to church every Sunday...and well, yeah, I messed up kind of badly during the week-called my friends names, cheated on my math test-but...I'll pray to God and he'll understand!"
God could make a rock on your school playground speak for him, but he prefers to work through someone who loves him and knows him. When you go to school and learn all about fractions, adding and subtracting in math class; or when you learn how to write sentences in English class...you in turn use this in your daily lives when you want to send grandma a a letter thanking her for that new racing car on your birthday, or when mom sends you to the grocery store. We have to do the same thing with the lessons and stories we hear about in church, because Gods wants us to be happy and he also wants us to be a life-preserver, reaching out and saving our friends and those who may not have the Lord Jesus in their hearts.
Remember when you touched the glowing, red hot stove top, or when I was a kid-I stuck my tongue on the freezer ice and got kind of stuck...well, we learn not to do these things again! When we do something wrong in our lives....we all make mistaakes...we ask for forgiveness and then we learn not to do that thing again. Learning from our mistakes helps us to help others...so you see, God could make a rock, a tree, or anything imaginable speak to him...but the rock pretty much sits in one place for years and years-pretty dull life! But the Lord can use us, if we have faith and trust him.
Its kind of hard to walk with your head facing the ground; I remember riding my bicycle looking down at my chain-and SMASH! Right into the rear of a pickup truck! Oh buddy, did I split-I thought the policeman was going to stop me for going to fast; but I did something wrong, I should've stopped and said "sorry." The old gentleman who owned the pick-up truck saw me and came to my house...and in the same way, we can't go far looking down; and if we do crash, if we fall...God will come looking for us before the evil devil can get to us. When we look up to God...we'll really start going places and Our Heavenly Creator will dwell deep in our hearts.
MAY THE LORD JESUS BLESS YOU AND FILL YOUR HEART WITH THE JOYS AND WONDERS OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT. MAY HE GUIDE YOU IN PEACE IN YOUR DAILY WALK IN LIFE AND ALL THE UPS AND DOWNS THAT WE ENCOUNTER....AMEN
PROVERBS 18:10 A COLOSSAL CASTLE
Have you ever seen a castle-or pictures of one? Remember in the movies when the knights were being sought after, and although they wore the heavy armour-plated dress and the arrows seemed to bounce off them, they ran for shelter and saftey of their fortresses, and from there they fought back. The walls of the castle withstood the bombardment of boulders and other projectiles and the warriors eventually retreated.
I lived in England as I was growing up...a place where many wars were fought- where many real knights in shining armour battled warriors and ran to castles. We had the opportunity to see these colossal castles up close and inside. Many had a single entrance inside to the top and from there you could see far out into the horizon and beyond...the knights could see what was coming and could prepare themselves for battle.
Proverbs 18:10 tells us:
THE LORD IS A STRONG FORTRESS. THE GODLY RUN TO HIM AND ARE SAFE.
Remember when you were scared of those strange noises at night and you ran to your mother and father, or something scared you at the carnival and you hid behind your brother and sister and said kind of quietly...."you go first." God wants us to do the same thing with him...he wants to be our fortress in times of worry or trouble-and a pillar of strength on which we stand-on which to look at Gods creations, reach out and touch Our Heavenly Father.
If we stray from the fortress, we won't make it far-we'll fall, we'll die spiritually.
There's only one door in...there's only one key. Jesus died for us on the cross which he laid for our salvation...this is our shining key. A prayer in our hearts for his light in all that we do opens the door to this fortress.
When the kids at school or in your neighborhood make fun of you-when things just don't go right for you-go to God, go as high as you can in this fortress and you'll see far beyond what you thought to be so stressful.
THE LORD IS MY ROCK...IN WHOM I WILL TRUST...Psalm 18:2
PROVERBS 20:24
Have you eever taken a LONG road trip that you'd thought would never end with your mother and father? The surroundings are so different-you have no idea where you're at- and it's getting dark. Worse than all, your mother and father have taken a wrong turn somewhere-OOPS, and now you're really lostr! You start asking mother and father, "Are we there yet?" And they exclaim, " No, we're lost, we took a wrong turnh somewhere!" Then the bickering starts amongst mother and father.
"I told you so!"
"Well, you didn't want to take the map!"
It goes on and on, and you're getting TIRED and BORED..." I have to use the bathroom-I'm BORED" you cry out.
I took a train trip once...and it's different when you're on the train, because the train is GOING to GO where the railroad tracks lead; and as it does, whizzing by all the cities in between, skirting the coastline, cutting through mountian passes- it'll eventually come to your destination...where you're EXCITED AND HAPPY to be. You didn't have to worry about taking a detour or getting lost by train, you could relax and enjoy the scenery; you could freely move around without having to stop frequently.
Our life with God works in the same way- you pass through problems...tough days at school, family disagreements, pressure from the kids down the street...but with the Lord Jesus in our hearts- we pass on by. We know where we're going with God...with God you won't get lost- we're on the tracks to our Heavenly home.
If someone doesn't have Jesus in their hearts, they run into problems and become stuck, they can't find a way out. When you do something wrong, perhaps you stole a cookie from the cookie jar or made fun of a classmate at school,, or said something you shouldn't have...you'll get lost too, but through the Blessed Cross on which Jesus laid for our sins, we have a way...
LORD JESUS, FORGIVE ME FOR THE THINGS I HAVE DONE. I LOVE YOU JESUS...AND WITH YOUR HELP, I WILL TRY MY BEST TO SERVE YOU BETTER. COME INTO MY HEART WITH YOUR WARM BLESSINGS.
When I took the train ride with my mother and father, I noticed that the train never stopped until we had arrived home...it used to worry me, because we always had to stop in our car for stop lights, stop signs, yield signs, and other cars when they had their lights on. In the sleep of the night when everyone was tucked in, when everything on the train was real quiet...I could hear the clickety-clacking of the train. Now, whenever our car went clickety-clack, that meant something was wrong with it and if we carried on to where we were going, we were going to stall...I thought we were going to get stuck in the middle of nowhere on the train.
You see, there were so many different things that made me wonder and worry...but I didn't have to. God is different from us; there are many things that happen in our livesw and we wonder and worry- but God has our life planned. He knows everything about us, he loves us. Remember tearing a piece of paper and it wouldn't heal back together like a cut on your finger...OOWW! God loves us and wants the best in us all. Keep moving forward when things don't go right for you, Gods with you-and he'll help to make things right...Let your faith flow with him...Let your faith and heart flow....
PROVERBS 12:19
When I was in the sixth grade, I was at the age where I thought I could pull the wool over my mother and fathers eyes-especially when it came to school, where I was really bombing it here and there...not very Christianlike. But, I thought I had it made-my mother and father were busy in their separate careers and when they would ask:
"Timmy, did you have and homework?"
"Oh no" I'd reply-scrubbing out eight pages of math for the grandeur of playing at the park for an extra hour.
I rememver once, calling a classmate a naughty name over a pencil eraser that thumped off my head-the teacher was upset to say the least, not hearing the thump-but hearing those expletives come barreling out of my mouth; so, homeward bound I was sent at the end of the day with a note from the TEACHER! It was pinned to my shirt prompting laughter from the school bus load of kids. At the time I thought-"What bone head would ponton home with a note like that in clear sight for mothers and fathers to happily see and exclaim..."Oh, Timmy What fancy colors!" My behind would've been all sorts of fancy colors! So off came the note and into the cracks of the bus seat in the form of a paper airplane.
Lies, cheating and all sin willl eventually be revealed-even as you bask in the thought of, "Ha, I got away with this or that!" Let me tell you, when you think that noone knows...when you think you're hidden like a child sneaking cookies from the jar...God is everywhere and he's watching.
My mother and father took up square dancing-a great form of entertainment for couples a few nights a week; my mother and father were definitely a couple-and say...so was my teacher and class aide who were also married. I didn't realize the later couple went dancing and intermingled with mom and dad until late one night.
"Timmy?"
" Yes mom" I replied.
" Do you have any homework?" and they seemed to stretch ANY quite a bit, however, I took no hint, still half asleep.
Well-well, mother and father happened to learn about that book report due the next day and the three pages of mathematical equations I so happily forgot; needless to say, I was awakened rather quickly...homework became a more rigid priority from that day forward.
"Truth stands the test of time; lies are soon exposed." Proverbs 12:19
PROVERBS 20:26
You and a small group of your buddies are out on the town one Friday evening after the school bell has stroked for the last time-heralding in summer vacation. Searching for all the hot parties in town, your pal Moe gets a little thirsty and proposes that you all stop at the next convenience store for a refreshing drink.
Arriving at the small supermarket-deli, everyone flocks for the soda cooler, and you grab your favorite lemon soda and make for the register to make the purchase.
"What are you doing?" exclaims your pal Moe.
You reply, "Paying for my soda."
He motions toward his pocket, "Why pay, freak!"
He pressures you into stealing, too, but you have your reservations. You think you'll fit in and do the same..ignoring the high tech camera equipment thats been eyeing you all along. Calm and collectedly, you all make for the front doors.
"We didn't find what we were looking for" you all exclaim, pushing through the electric doors..into the arms of the store detective.
What follows is a call to mother and father...and oops, mother and father are away for the weekend. One of your buddies decides to list off all the four letter words he knows to the officer as he arrives to do the report. You're all carted off to the police station, and what was an otherwise enjoyable weekend, is now spent behind iron bars.
Society punishes theft by fines, community service, probation...meaning you can't go out and do the things you want to do during those hot summer months, and possibly jail. The bibles tells us in the ten commandments, "Thou shall not steal." But stealing ins't the only crime in todays society, there are many others in which the devil has a grip on us.
We all want to go to Heaven, and what we envision Heaven to be like can't become reality in our lives if we sin and don't ask for Gods forgiveness. Remember getting pricked with the doctors needle and you thought it hurt...the wages of sin are far greater than that needle prick.
"A wise king stamps out crime by severe punishment" Proverbs 20:26
We have a chance, through a blessed sacrifice of life by Jesus on the Holy Cross, that our sins may be forgiven...we don't have to face the punishment that may come on the day of judgement if we ask Jesus to come into our life-if we sin, we ask for forgiveness and help to avoid that sin with Our Heavenly Father guidance.
Now children...this doesn't mean that you can go and pull your mothers hair, or scribble in marker on the walls and won't get in trouble. Your mother and father would have a few choice words for you, and may send you to the corner without the accompaniment of your favorite action figure...but you can pray to God for his guidance and help to avoid what you did in the future...and he'll help you...God answers our prayer....AMEN
LUKE 15:1-10 Lost and Found......
I used to sleep with Bernie, my favorite stuffed turtle...wherever I went, my turtle was at my side. When it would thunder and lightning and pour down rain-SPLOOSH-I held Bernie in my arms; I heard a WOMP from my closet once, and I was SCARED!! Bernie hid under the warm comfy-cozy blanket with me-and then, mother would come in with a tall glass of milk and sing to me a happy song, but "Bernie needed some milk too" I would insist.
The time came when my family made its first big move to a far-far away place-have you ever seen England on the map? The movers came and boxed all our stuff- what a circus; and then, soon after, we boarded a BIG airplane. I was SCARED...I used to throw paper airplanes and they would tumble to the ground in a heap, so I couldn't understand how a giant tube of metal would stay aloft, weighing several tons more than my flimsy paper airplane.
We landed in England and found a house soon after-everything was different. I had to sleep in new surroundings with a variety of sounds-BUMP, CLANG, CLONG, BUNK, and BONG. I was SCARED, and looked frantically for Bernie, and I searched-and searched-and searched! I couldn't find him! OH-NO!
I cried and CRIED-tears drenched my new shirt pictured with a turtle and brilliant blue sea-water. Mother and father bolted up the stiars and held me in their arms.
"Whats the matter Timmy? they exclaimed. If I were called Timmy by mom and dad today, I'd be worried about that-but "I can't find Bernie! I can't find Bernie!"
Inky, one of our fuzzy cats, followed behind...he didn't mind a warm hug as mother put me under the warm, comfy-cozy covers with hopes that Bernie would soon be found.
The next day came and went, and I was SAD...still no sign of Bernie; and the next, no Bernie. I was HURT and SAD. Then, as I was sleeping soundly under my comfy-cozy covers with dreams of Bernie, there came a loud WHIR-WHIR-WHOMP-WOMP! I peered out the heavily frosted window to see the moving truck with all our stuff. As the day progressed, I stodd alertly at the trucks side-NOTHING and NOTHING; tick-tick-tick went the clock, sweeping away the hours. As the boxes came pouring off the truck, one after the other, Bernie was nowhere to be found-and I was sad. But then, as the last peice of furniture flew off the truck, there, in a lonely corner was SMALL, GREEN BEADY-EYED turtle. It was BERNIE!! My day was really brightened up. I was HAPPY as a cat with a mouse...I jumped up and down and flew through the house with JOY...Bernie was here!
As I was exploring our new home and neighborhood, with Bernie tagging along in my arms, I noticed something shiny glaring at my eyes from the sidewalk. "Was it a bottle cap?" I asked Bernie. "Was it a precious stone?" I got closer and reached down to pick it up-a QUARTER...and whats more...a new, shiny quarter; wenty five cents in the English country-side.
I thought I was rich, and BOLTED home, jumping up and down screaming "Mommy, Mommy...Look what I found!" And you know what? They were happy too; and with this new fortune, we all went to the store for some ice cream cookies.
Jesus tells us a parable-a story about a farmer loosing a sheep from his flock, and how when he's found it-he rejoices with JOY and EXCITEMENT. This is found in Luke 15:1-10..along with another story about a woman who looses a coin. She sets out to find it, and then, when she's found it-rejoices and is very HAPPY and EXCITED.
When we turn to God and let our hearts flow with peace and joy, when we praise his name in all that we do-God will have found a home in our heart where he wants to be and is VERY-VERY-VERY HAPPY...just one person. So lets thank him and Praise his name today for being our light in all that we do, and hope to be. Sometimes our friends need help, and those around us-reach out and give them a pat on the back, pray for them...let them know that God loves them...and just like a doctor, he wants to heal them and make them feel better.HE WANTS TO BE HAPPY.....Amen
SINFUL GOO-POISON STEW ( 2 Kings 4:38-41 )
How to make something bad into good? Peas, mashed potatoes, and fish sticks were our family delicacy for quite a while....I'd down the fish-sticks in the bat of an eye, followed by the mashed and gravy; the peas, however, had to go. I swore up and down that we needed a dog, secretly knowing that I could feed it the green zesty morsels that would freeze to my plate; the cats had nothing to do with the peas nor the fish. So there I was stucked with Creamed Pea Pie, Pea Alamode, Pea in a Stuffed Pod and Pea Delight. Are you getting hungry? It may be a good thing, as I wasn't....until they met the ketchup.
I'm Tim, I'm a ketchup addict. Here was my problem-ketchup on everything that could possibly move from the dinner plate. It was another pea, mashed and fish stick night; I had vowed not to eat the peas. Somehow, however, midway through the meal-the ketchup from my fish sticks sort of oozed across the grooves of the whipped mashed potatoes and touched the peas. Quickly and without warning, the peas vanished under the scrumptious goo of ketchup. And then, it happened....the impossible! A shovel-full of mashed and in the disguise of ketchup, a pea! Then another, and another! Close to the last scoop of delicacy, a pea of green happened to slip from the folds of the spoon dressed in the delightful zest of ketchup...and then, I had realized that something I thought to be so bad, so balh, had turned into something good.
Within the second book of Kings, we are reminded of how something bad was turned into something good...
2 KINGS 4:38-41
"When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land..."
A famine...a lack of something which causes turmoil or disaster. It could be a lack of rain, lack of crop-or we're living in famine with the lack of righteousness in our communities.
"Once, when the guild prophets were seated before him, he said to his servant, "Put the large pot on and make some vegetable stew for the guild prophets."
Elishas servant, who served Elisha and tried to meet Elishas needs, was asked to make something good. Now you may or may not think that vegetable stew is good if you don't have the taste for a particular vegetable; but we're assuming that it was a delightful and refreshing sight to the guild prophets.
" Someone went out into the field to gather some herbs and found a wild vine, from which he picked a clothful of wil gourds. On his return he cut them up into the pot without anybodys knowing it."
One of the servants, who was sent out to gather the herbs, by mistake brought back some poisonous plant. We are reminded that sin can enter our lives when we're least expecting it; and when we're not cautious, the devil will jump at the chance to destroy something good...
" The stew was poured out for the men to eat, but when the began to eat it, they exclaimed, "Man of God, theres poison in the pot!" And they could not eat it"
There was poison-if yuo can picture a skull and crossbones, something bad that could cause death. There's sin in the world around us, and although we may try to be good and upright for God, sin can kill you and I. However, as first aid can remove that poison, there is hope as we stumble and fall; when we think it's all over...
"Bring some meal, Elisha said. He threw it into the pot and said, "Serve it to the people to eat!" And there was no longer anything harmful in the pot."
As the meal cleaned away the poison, Jesus-Our Lord and Blessed Savior can clean away the ugly word of sin from our lives, which in Gods molding hands, are something good.
1st Peter 2:24-25 sums it up...
He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you have gone astray like shep, but have returned to the shepherd and gaurdian of your souls."
MAY THE PEACE AND JOY OF OUR SAVIOURS OUTSTRETCHED HANDS FILL OUR HEARTS AND SOULS AS WE DESIRE TO BECOME STRONGER SERVANTS IN FAITH TO THE ONE CREATOR ALMIGHTY WHO MOLDED AND SHAPED OUR LIVES, WHO CREATED EACH ONE OF US IN HIS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
