I really don't like sarcasm as a means of humor. It seems, though, that I resort to sarcasm two times a year: Christmas and Easter. Easter has passed and I let it go for a week. But my goodness, how Easter has changed! You'd think the news that Someone had come out of the grave would be all-consuming. Jesus died, didn't He? A Roman soldier attested to His death by plunging a sword into Jesus' side as His limp body hung on the cross. His disciples validated His death, too, by taking His body down from the cross, wrapping it in cloths for burial, and then putting it into a tomb.
But Jesus had said He'd rise from the dead in three days. The prudent thing to do to prevent any such hoax would be to guard the entrance. So the Jews asked for a guard and the Romans sent a detachment of soldiers for a three-day stint, and placed a seal over the entrance.
But we know that after three days the seal was broken, the stone across the entrance was rolled back, and the tomb found to be empty except for the grave clothes. Hallelujah! What an exciting story. A mystery. How could it happen?
Now, hop with me from this awesome tale to a bunny that distributes eggs for children to find.
I don't hate the Easter Bunny. He's cute. But that's only half the story. Real decorated eggs aren't sufficient anymore. We have plastic eggs that open, so there must be someone to put something inside for the child to discover. The Easter Bunny, perhaps? These various-sized plastic eggs can be filled with jelly beans, peeps, candy kisses, or money. In our family, this year's top amount was a $20.00 bill.
For a child, how does that compare to Someone rising from the dead - Someone you can't see, play with, eat, or spend? My, what we've done to Easter.
Insightfully yours,
Paulita
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
An Ornamental Shrub?
What joy can there be in untangling stickery berry vines in the fall, pruning thorny rose bushes on a midwinter's day or coaxing a less than abundant summer garden to grow? Even an avid gardener finds some drudgery in his usually enjoyable hobby. However, weary muscles, dry hands, and dirty fingernails are soon forgotten when he discovers God's truths clothed in nature's exhibits, along the path or among the rows.
Jesus taught His disciples many lessons using parables from earthly things. During the times when my hands are busy in potting mix or pulling weeds and my mind is free, He teaches me, too. Undoubtedly you've made similar discoveries -- some, perhaps, that have meaning only for you. Here is one just for me.
When we lived in the East Bay area of California, we planted two kinds of grapes: Concord and Thompson Seedless. Both grew well over the top of the fence and looked healthy; however, only one, the Concord, bore fruit and did so year after year. Each winter we faithfully pruned both grapes so they would produce fruit the following year, but one remained no more than an ornamental fence-cover. After several years, we finally took it out.
Jesus said,"I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." (John 15:1-2, 5)
Periodically I ask myself, "Am I one who bears fruit for the Father, or am I just an ornamental shrub?
Insightfully yours,
Paulita
Jesus taught His disciples many lessons using parables from earthly things. During the times when my hands are busy in potting mix or pulling weeds and my mind is free, He teaches me, too. Undoubtedly you've made similar discoveries -- some, perhaps, that have meaning only for you. Here is one just for me.
When we lived in the East Bay area of California, we planted two kinds of grapes: Concord and Thompson Seedless. Both grew well over the top of the fence and looked healthy; however, only one, the Concord, bore fruit and did so year after year. Each winter we faithfully pruned both grapes so they would produce fruit the following year, but one remained no more than an ornamental fence-cover. After several years, we finally took it out.
Jesus said,"I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." (John 15:1-2, 5)
Periodically I ask myself, "Am I one who bears fruit for the Father, or am I just an ornamental shrub?
Insightfully yours,
Paulita
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Listening to God in my Garden
For Christmas last year my daughter and son-in-law gave me three raised garden beds. They sit atop legs that make them about waist high for me. No more hands and knees, but I can still tend a garden.
I've dug in the dirt since I was a kid. After the stress of a school day, my greatest relaxation was to make roads and villages by myself in the backyard dirt.
That grew into wanting to clean out my mom's iris beds and cut off the suckers around the roses, but not to pull out dandelions from the lawn.
When Bill and I married, we planted gardens wherever we lived. Working in the garden became "playing in the yard" again. My hands were engaged and my mind was free to listen to God teach me, like He did His disciples, from earthly things. My strawberry plants became analogies of the life He wanted me to live.
Healthy strawberries produce luscious berries in the summer. Then they send out runners that root down into the soil and become new strawberry plants. The beautiful delicious berries are like the fruit of the Spirit seen in a life devoted to Jesus - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The runners show me the reproduction of Christ's life in others as they watch believers live and bear testimony to Him.
I have never seen strawberry plants that don't evidence life in both ways, but notice the order: first come the ripe red berries, then the runners and new plants.
Insightfully yours,
Paulita
I've dug in the dirt since I was a kid. After the stress of a school day, my greatest relaxation was to make roads and villages by myself in the backyard dirt.
That grew into wanting to clean out my mom's iris beds and cut off the suckers around the roses, but not to pull out dandelions from the lawn.
When Bill and I married, we planted gardens wherever we lived. Working in the garden became "playing in the yard" again. My hands were engaged and my mind was free to listen to God teach me, like He did His disciples, from earthly things. My strawberry plants became analogies of the life He wanted me to live.
Healthy strawberries produce luscious berries in the summer. Then they send out runners that root down into the soil and become new strawberry plants. The beautiful delicious berries are like the fruit of the Spirit seen in a life devoted to Jesus - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The runners show me the reproduction of Christ's life in others as they watch believers live and bear testimony to Him.
I have never seen strawberry plants that don't evidence life in both ways, but notice the order: first come the ripe red berries, then the runners and new plants.
Insightfully yours,
Paulita
Monday, April 8, 2019
Five Things I Want My Children to Know About God
Wouldn't it be marvelous if we had a magic pill to give our kids to insure they'd always make the right choices?
We think we'd like them to absorb all of our experiences together with all our knowledge and go on from there. But as a study of history reveals, nearly everyone seems to start at square one and learn for himself.
Square one?
If you had it to do over again,what would you list as essentials to impart to your children? What can you teach your grandchildren, your Sunday school class, or the children you babysit?
1. I would want them to know there is a God who created them and the world in which we live. He is knowable and communicates with those who seek Him. I would want them to know God loves them very much and made them to have a relationship with Him. His love for them is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It doesn't change because of what they do or think. God is dependable, trustworthy and good, and they can learn about Him in the Bible.
I would teach them to talk to God by letting them hear me talk to Him in prayer. Because God wants them to know and depend on Him, I would help them thank God daily for food, clothes, shelter, and family. I would teach them to ask God for wisdom when they don't know what to do, and for help to do what they must. I would rejoice with them when our prayers are answered.
God is knowable. (Revelation 3:20)
2. I would want them to know God never tempts them to do wrong. Satan does, and though God will not allow them to be tempted more than what they can handle, (I Corinthians 10:13), He expects them to stay away from certain situations and to run from others. He expects them to take a stand for what they know is right.
The Old Testament is filled with stories of people's responses to temptation, and tells the consequences for both good choices and bad. Examples are
Achan, when he was tempted to steal
Elijah, when he was tempted to quit
Balaam, when he was tempted to earn wealth and fame the wrong way
Joseph, when he was tempted sexually by Pharaoh's wife
Cain, when he was tempted by jealousy to kill his own brother
I would teach these stories to my children so they can recall them later when they are tempted in similar ways.
God never tempts us to do wrong. (James 1:13)
3 .I would want my children to know how to be forgiven. No one leads a perfect life, and God knows when we sin. When anyone wants to be forgiven, he needs only to come to God and tell Him, what he has done. The Bible says God will hear his prayer, forgive him and make him clean again.
God is willing to forgive our sins. (I John 1:9)
4. I would want my children to know how to discover God's will for their lives. Since there is no substitute for a thorough knowledge of God's word in order to know what God wants us to do, I would see that my child attended Sunday school every Sunday. As a family we'd go to a church camp where we'd have fun together and talk about what we'd learned.
I'd present local opportunities to put God's word into practice. We could choose a child to help at Christmas, donate clothes, books, and toys to the poor, feed and give blankets to the homeless. Each activity would connect to Jesus' commands concerning those less fortunate than we.
As the children got older, I'd encourage them to know where to find what God says in the Bible about friendships (Psalm 1), God faithfulness (I Corinthians 1:9), their thought lives (Philippines 4:4-6) and who to marry (II Corinthians 6:14-16). I would encourage them to ask for wisdom (James 1:5) and to rely on His promise to lead them (Proverbs 3:5-6 and Isaiah 30:21). I would want them to know God has all the answers, and He doesn't play games with us - He wants us to know the answers, too.
God has a purpose for each life. (Jeremiah 29:11)
5. I would want them to be assured of God's continual presence with them. Just as I would never disown one of my children, so God will never disown those who belong to Him. (Romans 8:38-39). As a loving Father He may discipline them or He may make them wait for His answers, but He always works for their good, not for their detriment or deprivation.
God never deserts us. (Hebrews 13:5)
Although I can't give my children or my grandchildren a magic pill to insure their wise and mature decisions, I can provide these five keys to help them open the door of faith. In my Bible I have written my children's names beside I Thessalonians 2:19-20. "For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy."
Insightfully yours,
Paulita
We think we'd like them to absorb all of our experiences together with all our knowledge and go on from there. But as a study of history reveals, nearly everyone seems to start at square one and learn for himself.
Square one?
If you had it to do over again,what would you list as essentials to impart to your children? What can you teach your grandchildren, your Sunday school class, or the children you babysit?
1. I would want them to know there is a God who created them and the world in which we live. He is knowable and communicates with those who seek Him. I would want them to know God loves them very much and made them to have a relationship with Him. His love for them is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It doesn't change because of what they do or think. God is dependable, trustworthy and good, and they can learn about Him in the Bible.
I would teach them to talk to God by letting them hear me talk to Him in prayer. Because God wants them to know and depend on Him, I would help them thank God daily for food, clothes, shelter, and family. I would teach them to ask God for wisdom when they don't know what to do, and for help to do what they must. I would rejoice with them when our prayers are answered.
God is knowable. (Revelation 3:20)
2. I would want them to know God never tempts them to do wrong. Satan does, and though God will not allow them to be tempted more than what they can handle, (I Corinthians 10:13), He expects them to stay away from certain situations and to run from others. He expects them to take a stand for what they know is right.
The Old Testament is filled with stories of people's responses to temptation, and tells the consequences for both good choices and bad. Examples are
Achan, when he was tempted to steal
Elijah, when he was tempted to quit
Balaam, when he was tempted to earn wealth and fame the wrong way
Joseph, when he was tempted sexually by Pharaoh's wife
Cain, when he was tempted by jealousy to kill his own brother
I would teach these stories to my children so they can recall them later when they are tempted in similar ways.
God never tempts us to do wrong. (James 1:13)
3 .I would want my children to know how to be forgiven. No one leads a perfect life, and God knows when we sin. When anyone wants to be forgiven, he needs only to come to God and tell Him, what he has done. The Bible says God will hear his prayer, forgive him and make him clean again.
God is willing to forgive our sins. (I John 1:9)
4. I would want my children to know how to discover God's will for their lives. Since there is no substitute for a thorough knowledge of God's word in order to know what God wants us to do, I would see that my child attended Sunday school every Sunday. As a family we'd go to a church camp where we'd have fun together and talk about what we'd learned.
I'd present local opportunities to put God's word into practice. We could choose a child to help at Christmas, donate clothes, books, and toys to the poor, feed and give blankets to the homeless. Each activity would connect to Jesus' commands concerning those less fortunate than we.
As the children got older, I'd encourage them to know where to find what God says in the Bible about friendships (Psalm 1), God faithfulness (I Corinthians 1:9), their thought lives (Philippines 4:4-6) and who to marry (II Corinthians 6:14-16). I would encourage them to ask for wisdom (James 1:5) and to rely on His promise to lead them (Proverbs 3:5-6 and Isaiah 30:21). I would want them to know God has all the answers, and He doesn't play games with us - He wants us to know the answers, too.
God has a purpose for each life. (Jeremiah 29:11)
5. I would want them to be assured of God's continual presence with them. Just as I would never disown one of my children, so God will never disown those who belong to Him. (Romans 8:38-39). As a loving Father He may discipline them or He may make them wait for His answers, but He always works for their good, not for their detriment or deprivation.
God never deserts us. (Hebrews 13:5)
Although I can't give my children or my grandchildren a magic pill to insure their wise and mature decisions, I can provide these five keys to help them open the door of faith. In my Bible I have written my children's names beside I Thessalonians 2:19-20. "For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy."
Insightfully yours,
Paulita
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