Allegory

Imagine you were setting off on a journey to a fabulous vacation spot. Your host, the person who bought the land and built the home gave you specific instructions on how to get there. She even told you that it was the only way to get there because of the remoteness of the property and terrain surrounding it. To attempt any other way would mean that, at the very least, you would never make it to the vacation home. At worst, other approaches were life-threatening.

As you draw near to the island, you see the tiny cave that your host instructed you to enter through. With a glance at the lush jungle scenery on either side of the cove, it's stark, rocky appearance makes it look much less appealing. You decide that it can't hurt to get a feel for the island by sailing around it. You can always enter the cove when you come back around to it.

In sailing around, you notice that one side of the island is solid cliff walls. Well, that definitely would be too difficult an approach. Another side offered a flat rocky beach which would have been enticing, but sharp, jagged rocks peeked from the boiling surf close to shore. However, on the third side was a small, white-sand beach with crystal clear waters bordered by gorgeous plant life.

The idea starts to form in your mind that perhaps your host was incorrect. There might not be just one way to approach her home. In fact, she might have missed a more enjoyable journey to the home. You squint toward the island and notice that someone has cut a path into the jungle. Obviously, someone has traveled that way before. A seed of doubt remains as you remember your host's fervent insistence that the cave was the only way to arrive safely at her home.

But, you push that aside, thinking that certainly it won't hurt to check this harmless beach out. You can always hop into your boat and take your host's original route if this looks suspicious.

You land on the sandy beach and step out onto the warm sands, wiggling your toes in the beautiful surf. It feels so good here, You push the niggling doubt back to the recesses of your mind, insisting that your host must not have realized how great this area is. After a while playing and relaxing on the beach, you decide to check out the path. Having all but forgotten your original instructions to enter only through the rocky cave, you walk confidently into the comfortable path, admiring the beauty of the jungle surrounding it.

What you have not realized is that the path leads not to your host's luxury vacation home but to a village of natives who practice cannibalism. Their eyes are watching your journey as they anticipate their evening meal and your demise. The moment you stepped onto the path, you sealed your fate.

In a similar way, God made not only our eternal home but us as well. He says, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one LOrd, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all" (Ephesians 4:4-6)

There are many paths we can take in life. However, our very architect tells us that there is only one way to him and eternal life, and that is through His Son Jesus. All other attempts, however enjoyable for the moment, lead to death.

And, though the entrance through a narrow cave seems unappealing, once inside travelers experience a wonder land of jeweled walls and cathedral-like spaces and protection while on the journey.

Thoughts on Ephesians 4:1-3

Today I started reading Ephesians 4 and got stuck at verses 1-3. Paul writes, I "implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

There are several sections that immediately stand out to me.

1. "Walk in a manner worthy of the calling..."
We are called into relationship with God through Christ's death and resurrection and we are called to make known the opportunity for others to join in that relationship as well. The price that was made to make my calling possible was unmeasurably great. Jesus set aside the glories of heaven and his rightful authority there and came as a man to suffer what I deserved (death) in my place. To walk worthy of that price and calling, I have to be vigilant against growing complacent. I've been a Christian for almost 30 years, and I confess that it is easy to take that gift for granted. Lord, help me to recognize the miracle of the price that was paid so that you could draw me to yourself and never grow accustomed to that knowledge but wonder at it daily.

2. "Showing tolerance for one another in love"
This one stands out to me because of the use of the word "tolerance." That has become a bit of a bad word in Christian circles because it has been used to validate or overlook sin. However, in this case, Paul is talking about our relationships with other believers. I see a lot of intolerance and strife between many in the body of Christ. I have a goal to make my presence, both in person and online, one that is encouraging and peaceful, rather than one that stirs up dissension and disunity.

3. "Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace"
This is so active in tone. It is not merely a state of being peaceful, but one of continual watchfulness and heightened awareness of possible disunity. Letting the fruits of the Spirit within us work themselves out in such a way that we actively and purposefully preserve unity and peace among believers would help to bear out the phrase "They will know we are Christians by our love one for another."

An Epic Calling

As I read on in Ephesians, I am struck today not by a specific verse but the whole of chapter three. Listening to Paul describe the call on his life, I wonder if I have such a grand, sweeping, epic mission to complete. He makes statements like "my insight into the mystery of Christ which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men" (Eph 3:4-5). Paul says he is called to "preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ" (Eph 3:8) and to "bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things." (Eph 3:9)

God has called each one of us to a life and a mission. Do I see mine with such confidence and clarity as Paul sees his? Or am I marking time with mundane, but necessary, duties having little to no eternal value?

Can I see my role as a wife and mother as building up eternal beings and ushering them into the family and presence of God as grand, sweeping, and epic? Am I focusing on my efforts to be a part of a local church family and build, encourage, and lead others in this journey as a mission and calling?

Paul prays, "the He (God) would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth , and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God." (Eph 3:16-19)

I am coming to the conclusion as I think and type at the same time that if I stay filled with wonder at all God has done for me through Christ Jesus, I will more readily see the mission set before me to extend grace, kindness, love, and encouragement, indeed to extend Jesus, to others.

The Cornerstone of What?

I have heard songs and sayings about Jesus being the Cornerstone for as long as I can remember. I never really thought about the fact that I did not know for certain what He was the Cornerstone of. I kind of thought that He is the foundation and cornerstone of our lives as Christians. This morning I had a simple revelation when I was reading Ephesians 2:19-21.

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household,having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord"

Just before this passage the chapter is talking about how Jesus opened the way for non-Jews to join God's chosen people in His family. We were excluded according to the Old Testament law. There was argument, enmity, and war between the Israelites and those who were not Israelites. In the sacrifice of Jesus, both groups had access to God's presence, relationship, and family.

Two groups who could not get along were now a part of the same house. Jesus is the Cornerstone of that great house - His Church. We are fit together on the basis of what He did for us and can live in peace with one another as God's sons and daughters.

We were like a blended family whose children fight all the time. Then the head of the family, the father, does something so sacrificial in His love for the whole group, that they join together in gratitude and love for the one person, learning that all along they had more in common than they ever would have thought.

God's design for restoration and relationship is revealed yet again in this picture of a house where Jesus is the Cornerstone. We are His plan and purpose, the desire of His heart, the project He is building with His hands.

A Taste of What's Coming and a Return on Investment

I was reading today in Ephesians and the 13th and 14th verses in chapter 1 really jumped out at me.

"In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory."

God sealed us with the Holy Spirit as a sign of the inheritance that we can expect to receive (only through God's grace and kind intentions toward us). The power, help, comfort, and hope that the Holy Spirit within us gives is but a measure of what it will be like to be in the presence of our Holy God one day.

However, the benefits that we experience are not the only purpose of the Holy Spirit living within us. The Holy Spirit marks us as belonging to God. God says, "This one is Mine and will live in constant communion with Me one day, without the hindrances of this temporary world. In addition, God gets a return on His investment. The Spirit within us shines out at the world and draws people to His glory to give Him praise and become His children with this foretaste of inheritance within them as well.

What an amazing plan and treasure God has for us when we believe!

Teach Me Joy Giveaway

I just heard about this fantastic giveaway of Teach Me Joy Curriculum packages. It would be fantastic for homeschooling mamas or mothers of preschoolers. Looks really fun!

Click here for the details at The Crafty Classroom!

More info from the Teach Me Joy website...
Teach me Joy is a self-published early learning homeschool curriculum that has been brought to you by a seasoned teacher and homeschooling mom.

After extensive searching for the right preschool curriculum, Joy Bryant, the author of Teach me Joy Curricula, developed a program that would be easy to teach and easy to learn. Joy's programs give some wonderful tools to teach your preschoolers from home in a way that is AFFORDABLE! Her goal is to instill a love of learning while developing a valuable educational foundation.

Animal Play Preschool Curriculum for 2 & 3 year olds
•Detailed lesson plans in an easy to read format that includes Bible, Phonics, Math, Animal study and Music each week.
•Activities and Crafts designed to encourage creativity, motor skills, and make learning fun and engaging.
•Worksheets highlighting skills learned.
•Tips and teaching helps.
•Extra activity ideas for eager learners.
•Lists of books used and suggested books for reading together.

Fruit for Tender Hearts for K3-K5

•Detailed Helps and Lesson Plans for each area of study.
•Bible verses and stories that teach different “fruit” and character qualities.
•Introduction to letters & their sounds using a vertical phonics approach.
•Math concepts cover counting, number recognition, colors and shapes, measurement, ordering, and more.
•Weekly science lessons explore the body, nutrition and healthy habits.
•Worksheets and activities to keep learning fun and engaging.
•“Bigger Step” options for students who are ready to do some book work and are ready to read.
•Lessons targeting different learning styles.
•Weekly life skill suggestions.

Joy of Handwriting - Handwriting Curriculum
•Handwriting tips and instructions for younger and older learners.
•Reproducible worksheets for lower case and capital letters.
•Flashcards showing the cursive letter on lines on one side and teaching helps on the other.
•Blank “Story Pages” that include a picture and a place to write a story or just practice.

Judah's a star...

So, this week Judah looks at us and says,
"You know, I've been a star a lot of times!"
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, I won lots of trophies at the beautiful baby contest when I was little. I was in the Christmas kids' choir musical. My picture was in the Sonlight catalog. My picture was in the MOPS newsletter. AND, I'm gonna be in the Kids' Choir Spring Musical. See, lots of times!"
He sat back, matter-of-factly. I smiled and said,
"Yes, I guess you're right. You are a star."