The Day The Lord Went to School

                                                                                                  

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat

and a little child shall lead them.” Isaiah 11:6 (NKJV)

My daughter, Chrisi, was making me a cross, during Art Class in elementary school, to attach to the zipper of my Bible cover.  She cut many pieces of cross-shaped construction paper, glued them together, making a ¼ in. thick cross. She punch a hole at the top and in bold letters, printed PTL down the long side.

Each day she returned to Art Class, dipped the cross into varnish, then hung it up to dry. The first day someone asked her, “What does PTL stand for? Is that your mother’s initials?” Chris replied, “It means Praise The Lord.”  The next day in Art Class, as she was submerging the cross in varnish, again someone asked, “What does PTL stand for?”  This went on for every art session.

The last day, as she again dipped the cross in varnish and hung it to dry, which by now was thick, and glossy golden amber brown, and extremely attractive, she was asked, “What does PTL stand for.”  Chris entire work table chorused, “PRAISE THE LORD”.

Who said, God’s not allowed in school?

There are rules about prayer and other religious activities in our schools that we abide. Our responsibility is to teach a child the way he/she should go, and he/she won’t depart from it wherever they go. 

I pray our children will be little sermons by what they do, and they won’t need to preach.

Lord Jesus, Give your angels charge over our children no matter where they travel. Thank you they are ready witnesses. Use us all to our fullest potential to glorify you.  Amen

©2012 Lois Gosley

The Choice of a Lifetime

…choose for yourself this day whom you will serve… (Joshua 24:15) NIV

I asked my three and five year old granddaughters which flavor of ice cream they wanted. I offered them vanilla, strawberry, or vanilla with strawberry topping. Evidently these options were more perplexing than I thought. They left the room to discuss the issue in private before making a final decision.

As they grow, I hope to expand my granddaughters, ability to examine the possibilities presented to them and make good decisions. In fact, it is my desire to teach them that above all else there are three life choices that once resolved and acted upon will direct the course of their entire lives.

First, make the choice to follow the one true God. When that decision is clear in one’s mind and spirit, all other steps that are taken in life revolve around His teachings and His assistance.

The second choice involves the persons and perhaps one particular person with whom we spend the time God has given us.

The third choice also requires direction from our Lord. That is, yielding to the occupation we are called to and the work He has for us.

Many choices will present themselves in the journey of life. Sometimes the world and the flesh seem to cover life-changing possibilities in a fog of deception that prevent us from making the best choice. If our first decision is to follow Jesus, He will be there with us to clearly see what is the best decision for us in every instance.

Father God, be with all of us as we face the many important choices in our lives. Help us to find our way to You and Your choices for us.

© 2012 Christy Struben

 

 

Roots

If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it. Genesis 4:6b (NIV)

A news story captured my attention recently—not that it was unique: a young man gunned down in the street, another young life wasted. But was it really a waste?

His mother’s response captivated me. Of course she grieved for her son and desired justice; but her son had loved people so she determined to show love, even in the cloud of darkness that must surely have threatened to engulf her. She would not allow hate to take root in her heart.

Their story made me ponder. Why do we do what we do? There are many things I have never done and probably never will do; things like taking a life, committing fraud, or robbing a bank. I have, however, thought evil of others, lied, and coveted. It made me realize that no matter how insignificant or horrifying a sin might seem, its root is the same.

My thoughts wandered to another story. A Father’s Son hung on a cross. Was His Son’s life wasted? He loved too, crying out for His Father to forgive—but forgive whom? Did He plead for those who physically nailed Him there, or me? After all, He sacrificed Himself for my sin so that the seed of righteousness could take root in my heart and produce the fruit of the Spirit.

Lord, comfort and bless the woman who lost her son. Let Your love shine in her situation, touching even the hardest of hearts. Help us follow her example, weeding out those things that threaten our faith. Help our roots go deep and water them with your word so we will grow in truth.

© 2012 Katherine A. Fuller

Evacuate!

With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away." Genesis 19:15a (NIV)

Hurricane Irene was on its way up the east coast. The news media warned the people living on the eastern seaboard to evacuate Ocean City as well as neighboring towns. Many heeded the warnings and left all they owned, but about 300 people stayed in the face of danger. Some did lose their lives, partly due to reluctance to leave all possessions behind.

The angels of God warned Lot and his family to leave Sodom and Gomorrah because the cities would be destroyed. Lot took his wife and two daughters and escaped just as God reigned fire down on the twin cities. Against the warning of God, Lot's wife looked back, desiring the things left behind, and she became a pillar of salt.

Today, God uses people to warn us when danger approaches. We have the television and the radio to announce warnings so preparations can be made before danger arrives. God also forewarns us from His Words in the Bible. He uses our conscience to warn us of sinful decisions. He helps us change our direction from dangerous steps we might have made to ones that are safe on our journey through life. Reading the Bible sharpens our conscience and assures us that we are going in the right direction.

Heavenly Father, help Your children heed the signposts and warnings You give as we journey through life. Amen.

(c) 2012 Evelyn B. Ryan