A Pumpkin Carving Prayer

Our grandkids stayed with us during their fall break. We visited a pumpkin patch, and each child chose a small pumpkin to decorate with stickers and markers.

We also carved a bigger pumpkin using a "Pumpkin Prayer" to remind us of God's love and ask Him for help.

 

 

 

I found the prayer on DLTK.   It's a great website for children's crafts and activities.

 

As the pumpkin is carved, children ask God's help to learn about Him, see His love, hear His word, and tell others about Him. They are reminded Jesus removes their sin and forgives them. Placing the candle inside reinforces Jesus' light shining in them.

The "Pumpkin Prayer" is a simple and fun way to nurture a child's spiritual development. Blessings to you and yours this autumn season!

What "pumpkin" traditions does you or your family have?

 

First Friday: Praying for our Spiritual Leaders

 

"I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you

with knowledge and understanding."

Jeremiah 3: 15 (NIV)

 

 

Our spiritual leaders are gifts from God. These men and women prepare us "for works of service, so that the body of Christ my be built up" (Ephesians 4: 11-12). How often do we express our gratitude to those God has given us? 

 

October is "Pastor Appreciation Month." We can show our support and thanks to our pastors and ministry leaders by giving them a gift, performing a service, and  encouraging and praying for them.

 

This month's "First Friday" prayer is for our spiritual leaders.

 

 

Our loving heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of pastors. Thank you for their calling and their hearts to serve.

 

May our shepherds demonstrate holiness, meekness, patience, and gentleness. May the fruit of your Spirit be evident in their lives. Fill them with your wisdom. Increase their love and compassion for your people.

 

I pray your servants will devote themselves to prayer and to preaching your word. Give them courage to speak your sound doctrine and to correct those who contradict your truth. May they hold firm to your word.

 

Provide resources, strength, good health, healing, rest, and refreshment. Bless their families and protect them from evil. Keep them safe, and may they always find refuge in you.

 

Help us to remember that our spiritual leaders are human.  Help us to extend grace and forgiveness when we are offended. Forgive us for neglecting to appreciate and pray for our pastors. May we submit to those in authority, so that their service may be a joy. In the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior...amen.

 

 

What do you appreciate most about your pastor?

 





Togo- September Book of the Month

Togo, by Robert J. Blake, tells the account of the 1925 Serum Run from Anchorage to Nome.

A young boy contracts diphtheria putting the entire village of Nome, Alaska at risk of annihilation. Leonhard Seppala, a dog sled musher, is recruited to help transport beneficial serum that will stop the spread of the infectious disease. Seppala chooses Togo to lead his dog sled team. Seppala, Togo and the team contend with harsh blizzard conditions to receive the serum. But will they deliver the serum in time?

The book includes a map of the Serum Run route and epilogue. Togo is considered a hero, and his team was a vital part of the relay.

Togo was published in 2002 by Philomel Books. Togo received the 2005 Texas Bluebonnet Award. 

Cook-A-Doodle-Doo! - August Book of the Month

Cook-A-Doodle-Doo!

Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel

Harcourt Brace & Co.

1999

Big Brown Rooster, the great-grandson of Little Red Hen, is sick and tired of eating chicken feed. After finding his great-grandmother's cookbook, he decides to make strawberry shortcake. Although some friends are unwilling to assist, Turtle, Iguana, and Potbellied Pig are eager to help. Turtle reads the directions, Iguana helps, but gets mixed up. Iguana picks a flower instead of getting flour, and tries to beat an egg with a baseball bat. After Rooster completes each step, Pig is anxious to jump in and taste the cake mixture.  Will Rooster and his friends successfully complete the strawberry shortcake?

The page margins contain definitions of cooking terms and helpful hints. The strawberry shortcake recipe is included at the end of the story. My granddaughter baked the cake and sent me this photo. It looks delicious! 

Cood-A-Doodle-Doo! won the 2001 Texas Bluebonnet Award. It was one of my favorite books to read to my library students. I highly recommend sharing this book with a special young one in your life. Happy Reading!

Big Brown Rooster discovered his great-grandmother's cookbook. What's your favorite family recipe passed down to you? Mine is "Vanilla Wafer Cake" give to me by my first mother-in-law, Martha.

Remembering September 11, 2001

As I turned into the school parking lot, KSBJ's Susan O'Donnell reported a plane had crashed into New York City skyscraper. 

"That's weird," I thought, "How can a pilot not see a tall building?"

After dropping off my son, I pulled into a parking spot to review my lesson before heading over to Evelyn's to lead Bible study. My cell phone rang. It was Raeann, and she was screaming. Another plane had hit a NYC building.

What is going on?

America was under attack. 

When I arrived at Evelyn's, she said there's nothing she'd rather do that morning than study the Bible. We read the account of Noah from Genesis.  God made a covenant with Noah never to destroy every living thing as He had done.  The rainbow is a sign of His covenant promise. After Bible study, I returned to the Christian school where I worked as the yearbook adviser and librarian.

Terrorists had crashed passenger planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. A third hijacked plane crashed into the Pentagon. The fourth hijacked plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field. The Twin Towers collapsed as many Americans watched on television. People hurried to churches to pray. Prayer meetings were held all over Houston and across the nation. At our home church, we watched President George W. Bush address the nation. We prayed for the victims, the church in New York City, repentance, and peace. President Bush proclaimed Friday, September 14, as a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance. Our Christian school secondary students met to pray in the sanctuary, while the elementary children prayed in their classrooms.  In President Bush's address to Congress, he said, "Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done."

*****

 

Surrounded by stained glass and maternal family members, I sat in the sanctuary of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, the church of my grandparents, Anna and Louis. It was the place where they dedicated their babies to the Lord, and later, were confirmed. That particular morning was the tenth anniversary of the 9-11 attacks. Being in a house of worship brought me comfort. 

Over and over, I reflected that this was my grandmother's church. This is my mother's home church. And then, the Holy Spirit's reminder..."This is where your spiritual walk began." With that realization, and the horrific memories of September 11, 2001, the choir began to sing "Jesus Loves Me", a familiar childhood Sunday school song. I was undone with emotion.

How sweet the Lord to orchestrate my days and take me back to my spiritual roots on that day of remembrance. I quickly jotted down my memories of this spiritually significant morning. I did not want to forget. 

I never want to forget. 

 

I never want to forget what happened to our nation that tragic September morning. I never want to forget the images and the stories that emerged from the rubble. I never want to forget that our first responders run into the danger when everyone else flees. I never want to forget the sacrifice of our military men and women and their families.  I never want to forget the company of godly women who met that morning to study God's Word and pray. And I never want to forget that God is good. He is faithful to His promises and loving to all He has made. 

 

God bless you and yours, and God bless America. 

What are your memories of 9-11?

Hope for Blue Houston

 

 I joined thousands to remember and celebrate the life of Harris County Deputy Darren Goforth who was murdered at a gas station. I didn't know Deputy Goforth or his family, but I wanted to show my support for them and the law enforcement community. I went to pray, and to stand against evil. My friend, Beth, and I sat in the midst of blue...law enforcement officers in front of us, behind us, beside us. It was a solemn, sacred, holy experience. We were reminded evil will not win. It was a message of hope and healing. Please remember our law enforcement officers in your prayers.

Father God, thank you for our law enforcement officers who risk their lives to protect and serve our communities. Bless them with wisdom, discernment, favor, and good judgment. Keep them under your shelter of protection. Give these men and women strength and courage as they face danger. Protect them from harm. At the end of their shifts, may each officer return home safely. Protect and provide for the needs of their families. Bless them with good health and prosperity. 

Loving and gracious God, you are near to those who are brokenhearted and crushed in spirit. As Houston mourns the loss of Deputy Darren Goforth, comfort his grieving family and the law enforcement community. Surround them with your love and peace. 

Lord God, heal our nation. Restore civility and respect for authority. Help us, Lord, to live in peace and unity. Remind us to support and encourage those who wear the badge.  Deliver us from evil. I offer this prayer in the name of your Son, Jesus, the Light of the world, and the Prince of Peace. Amen.

Make a Change

I was like a plant lacking deep roots and fertile soil. My relationship with the Lord was shallow and dry. I attended church, but failed to include God's Word in my daily life. At thirty-three, I needed to make some life changes. 


My friend, Carole, told me about Bible Study Fellowship.  Trusting her advice, I visited a local class. BSF uses a four-step approach: daily questions for the week's lesson, discussion groups, teaching lectures, and lecture notes.  I committed to study God's Word, and completed "Life & Letters of Paul," "Life of Moses," "Genesis," "John," "Israel & the Minor Prophets," "Romans," and "Matthew." 


Bible study changed my life. I began using discretion about what I watched on television and listened to on the radio. I read more books by Christian authors. Watered by His Word, my relationship with the Lord grew deeper. My love for God and His word increased. I prayed more effectively.  My faith grew stronger.


Our teaching leader, Sandy, taught us BSF was our training ground. We were there to study, learn,  and teach others.  After BSF, I led Precept Ministries' Inductive Bible Studies using the steps of observation, interpretation, and application with the Bible as the main resource. Later, I participated in studies written by Beth Moore.


Second Timothy 3: 16 tells us "All Scripture is God- breathed and is useful for teaching, convicting, correcting, and instructing  how to live right."  God desires that  His People are equipped for good work (2 Tim. 3: 17).


Commit to study God's Word in your church or community. Invite a friend to join you. Set aside time every day to examine Scripture. Begin each session with prayer asking the Lord for direction and understanding. Put God's principles into practices. It will change your life.


I'm returning to BSF to study Revelation. What will you commit to study?