VBS Through Older Eyes

By Mallory

In June, I worked at my church's Vacation Bible School (VBS). It was fun, as always, but exhausting. The kids seemed really into it and, believe me, they were very LOUD and EXCITED all week (until they were tired... and restless... and antsy!) But good times were had by all, and I had fun reminiscing about the days when my brother and I were little and we went to VBS.

This year our theme was “Rome;” the week centered around Paul's imprisonment and the underground church. Every night the kids learned a Biblical lesson summarized in a short statement like “God's love changes us,” "God's love saves us,” etc. One night the lesson was “Nothing can separate us from God's love.” On stage, our children's minister asked the kids if sickness or death or pain could separate us from God's love. As the kids shouted “NO!” in enthusiastic unison, I couldn't help but think about how hard it is for even adults to grasp this idea.

Click to read more ...

How Is Your Battery?

By Pat

A few weeks ago, the battery in one of our cars died. Instead of buying a new one, my husband found one we had bought a couple of years ago and had never used. It had been sitting in the garage and had been moved from one spot to another, so he thought it would just need to be charged in order to be usable. He hooked it up to a battery charger, and for several days it sat, connected to the charger, but it never regained its full power. Something inside the battery just wasn't right, and all the charging in the world wasn't going to fix it. We ended up having to buy a new battery. This whole episode made me see that, at times, I can also be like that old battery. I can charge myself daily with Bible reading, devotionals and prayer, but if there's something inside that isn't receptive to the charge, meaning my HEART, it just isn't enough. So every day, I ask God to "create in me a new heart and renew a steadfast spirit with me," as David did in Psalm 51:10. If my heart is right, I can receive my daily charge and have a much better walk with God.

Showing Mercy For One Another

A good friend of mine sent this story to me awhile back. Whether it is true or not isn’t important, it still makes you think about what you would do if you were on either side of this situation. The story strikes a nerve for me, because I was one of those kids who was mercilessly picked on as a kid. I never wet my pants (thank God!), but there are many things that can happen that can cause the same ridicule from other kids. I once spent two hours hiding in the coat closet in 4^th grade because of something embarrassing that happened on the playground. This was after the kids had teased me to tears before we even went back inside.

Click to read more ...

Blessings

By Pat

You've blessed us in so many ways
It's hard to count them all;
The sun and moon, the stars that shine,
And creatures great and small.

The flowers in the summertime,
The glistening winter snow.
The magic of the hummingbird
That dashes to and fro.

The power of Your majesty,
Your love that never ends.
The precious bonds of family,
The love of treasured friends.

My Lord, I give you thanks today.
My heart is filled with praise!
I want to walk like Jesus walked
And follow in His ways.

I pray to feel Your spirit, Lord,
In all I say and do,
And help me to remember, God,
All glory goes to You!

Let Go

By Pat

My littlle grandchildren, ages two and four and I were outside playing the other day. They were hauling something around in a wagon, but as one was pulling, the other was on the other end, pulling the wagon in the opposite direction. The child who was holding the handle, attempting to pull it properly was yelling "let go!" As I watched them I saw that the wagon had made no progress at all, and it occurred to me how Jesus must feel sometimes. He tell us in Matthew 11:28-30 that He will carry our loads if we bring them to Him, so we as Christians are all too happy to do just that. I don't know about you, but I have a real problem sometimes letting go and allowing Jesus to do what He does best. I make His job harder by hanging on. It would be so much easier for Jesus to handle my burdens if I would simply let go, for He surely doesn't need my help! I can almost hear Him telling me, gently and lovingly, "Child, let it go. I've got it". What a comforting thought! Help me, Lord, to LET GO!!