Summer Solstice - A New Season

Summer Solstice - A New Season

A Time for More Pruning?

The sun is playing peek-a-boo this morning. On this first day of summer, the sun can’t decide whether or not it wants to usher in the warmth of summer, or remain in the two week stretch of what we, in Southern California, refer to as June gloom. Seriously, though, as Christians, we need to make transitions as well. And, sometimes these changes are difficult to make. While we are at a crossroads, we sometimes find ourselves resisting the change. We become indecisive or simply unwilling to step out in faith. As a result, our spiritual growth and depth of understanding remain stunted.

From time to time, we may struggle with the discipline and pruning that interferes with our relationship with Christ. Deep inside, we hunger for a deeper relationship with Christ and to be used as fruit bearing Christians. At times, we may backslide and become somewhat visually impaired. For some reason, we are simply unable to see the full picture. Or, we may be unwilling to let go, and allow God to redirect us. Each of us takes a different path of disobedience, so, naturally, every journey is personal and unique to the circumstances surrounding it.

Recently, I read Secrets of the Vine by Bruce Wilkinson, the New York Times bestselling author. Wilkinson thoughtfully takes the reader on the journey of the four levels of "fruit bearing." After reading Wilkinson’s book, I understood how God was using different situations in my life to strengthen my walk with Jesus.

As Christians, we may have read John 15 many times and been moved by the contents. Yet, we may have not really seen some of the analogies or thoroughly understood how this passage directly relates to our spiritual growth.

We know as Christians that we were created to bear fruit. See John:15:2
http://www.biblegateway.com 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.
http://www.biblegateway.com(Cross reference Matthew 21)

Throughout this book, Wilkinson uses examples to help us conceptualize and appreciate the language used in John 15. My favorite example is one which demonstrates how God’s discipline is similar to methods a loving parent might use. Wilkinson reminds us of how a parent’s disapproving look directed toward a child may be all that is needed for the child to cease misbehaving.

God, too, gently tries to use subtle means to help us see how we are creating distance in our walk with Him. If we are spiritually aware, we may stop in our tracks and see the mistakes that we are making. However, if we have distanced our relationship from Him by allowing worry and preoccupation with situations that we can’t currently change to become the focus of our thinking, we may fail to see the signs and continue down a path that will only bring sorrow, sickness and destruction.

Wilkinson uses Hebrews 12 to illustrate just some of the degrees of intervention that God uses. As I read Hebrews 12, I was reminded of some things in my life that require more attention. It’s so easy to focus on other things and be drawn away from the purpose for which Christ created us. However, we continually need to shift our attention back on Him.

Just as the vine needs the branches to bear fruit, we need to live consistently with God’s plan for us, in order to bear fruit for Christ.

On page 50, Wilkinson devotes a section to what stops Christians from cleaning up their act and then expounds on the joy Christians will feel when they make the changes and are once again living in sync with Christ.

Some people reading this book may reach page 50 and feel that God is not disciplining them; yet, they still feel alienated from God and can’t understand why. Don’t become discouraged. Just read the next chapter in this book, and you too, will be in for a real treat.

Enter pruning.....

Let’s revisit John 15: 2

Every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
See http://www.biblegateway.com

Again, Wilkinson uses an analogy to drive this point home. He compares the skills applied by an expert pruner with the pruning done by our Father. Just as the pruner removes dead or dying growth so that the sunlight can stream through to the fruit-bearing branches, our Heavenly Father seeks to remove the deleterious debris from our lives so that He can effectively use us to bear more fruit.

Is something missing from your walk with Jesus? Are you bearing any fruit? Do you wish to bear more fruit? If so, I encourage you to purchase a copy of Secrets of The Vine or borrow a copy from your library. I found page 66 to be particularly helpful in allowing me to discern whether I was in a season of disciplining or pruning. (Some of us can be undergoing disciplining and pruning concurrently.)

As a parent or teacher, you are in a position to help the children and teens in your life learn more about John 15. Bruce Wilkinson has also authored The Secrets of the The Vine for Kids. Although I haven't read it, the book has received excellent reviews and should be on your lists of books to borrow from the library.

Use the information found at the following links to also help you with your lesson planning:
John 15 Activity - PreK - Grade One
Final Preparations for the Disciples - Middle - High School
Living in this World Without Jesus Outline - Middle - High School
How to Draw a Grape - Elementary
Object Lesson - Sweet grapes or Sour grapes? - Elementary
I am the Vine Art Craft - Elementary
Botany Apples and Oranges Extension Exercise - (Growth Cycles) - PreK - High School
Again, I encourage to obtain a copy of The Secrets of The Vine. I hope that this book will be the blessing for you that it has been for me.

If you are wondering how this blog came to be, visit
Introduction

The Prodigal Son - Lessons Learned

Two Sundays ago, I heard a very inspirational message. I encourage you, when you have a moment, to listen to the final sermon on The Parable of the Lost Sons: - The Feast of Father

This is one POWERFUL message!!

Click on
The 5/31/09 Sermon

If you can't access it, visit GSPC Sermon Archives and click on the May 31st sermon by Dr. James R. Wilson

So that you can fully appreciate the message, point your browser Return of the Prodigal Son Picture and study Rembrandt's painting. Pay close attention to the pastor's frequent references to it.

Dr. Wilson has a unique gift of painting vivid pictures with words. As he reads Luke 15, we become immersed in the Word. Throughout the sermon, we are reminded of the expectation that the father felt, as he awaited the return of his beloved son. Dr. Wilson points out certain elements of Rembrandt's painting so that we can more fully appreciate the faith expressed by the father. And, as you will hear, the father took great pains to plan for an elaborate feast for his son. He trusted that, in time, his prodigal son would eventually return.

We need to be reminded that our Father has faith in us as well. Shortly, I will be posting more about the disciplining and pruning that God does in a Christian's life. God is always there, patiently waiting, as we learn from our mistakes and run back into His arms.

By listening to Dr. Wilson's message, you may be inspired to provide a series of lessons about The Prodigal Son to your children.

Below, you will find links to PreK-6 and secondary level lesson plans, crafts and other resources about The Prodigal Son.

Prodigal Son Craft

Parables: The Prodigal Son for Beginning Elementary

Lessons Learned from the Prodigal Son - Elementary Level

Free Sunday School Lesson for Children - Prodigal Son

The Rembrandt Teaching Project

http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0215473/van_rijn.htm

Grace in the Arts:Rembrandt Van Ryn:A Protestant Artist

Creative Lesson Planning - A Look at Renaissance Art


I hope that this is a blessing to you!!

The Metamorphosis of the Butterfly

The Metamorphosis of the Butterfly - Our New Life in Christ

I was a guest at another church this past December, and was intently listening as the minister spoke about Mary, the mother of Jesus. He reminded the congregation of the sense of wonder Mary must have felt, when she received a visit from Gabriel and was told that she would be the mother of the Son of God. The minister then recounted how he has often seen that same sense of amazement expressed by his grandchildren. He recalled that recently, on one particular evening, he was holding his small grandchild, and she was gazing up toward the sky, her eyes filled with wonder.

Spring and summer provide an opportunity to really look at the beauty of nature. God’s world, once again, is brimming with color, aroma and the feeling of new beginnings. Children are full of curiosity, and through them, we can revisit the majesty of each season. By listening and learning with them, we can reestablish our own sense of wonder. Below, is just an example of a lesson idea that you may want to consider using.

The metamorphosis of the caterpillar into a butterfly is applicable to one who accepts Jesus as his or her Savior. Before making that important decision to follow Jesus, we, too, are similar to caterpillars. We are incomplete.

Before the caterpillar becomes a butterfly, it must go through a series of life stages. You can read about these changes by visiting Butterflybushes.com The most dramatic stages of the metamorphism occur and culminate in the chrysalis. As you read about all of the life stages of a butterfly, by clicking on the link above, think back to your own Christian journey. As you have discovered, we, too, made many transformations before we decided to follow Christ.

Eventually, what emerges from the chrysalis is a beautiful butterfly that spreads its wings and begins a new life. As Christians, we, too, are encouraged to spread our wings and live a new life in Christ by glorifying God with all of our being.

Once the caterpillar is transformed into a butterfly, its transformation ends. Conversely, a Christian’s transformation continues to deepen and expand, as we study the Word, fellowship with other Christians and generously use our spiritual gifts for the benefit of the body of Christ.

The metamorphosis of a butterfly is a particularly engaging topic for children. A butterfly unit study, in conjunction with Biblical lessons about being born again, can serve as a powerful witness to just what God can do. By visiting Butterflies you will locate some aids to help you as you prepare your lesson.


Visit the links listed below, for more butterfly related lesson planning:


Bible Butterfly Crafts


Butterfly Activities


Butterfly Vocabulary


Butterfly Activities for PreK – Grade 2


Butterfly Activities for Grades 3 – 6


Butterfly Fun Facts


Butterfly Pictures and Activities for Matching Card Exercises


Create Your Own Butterfly or Other Nature Related Reading Books
and

Create Your Own Butterfly or Other Nature Related Reading Books


Periodically, Sharon Jeffus provides art related workshops for children and teens. One of workshops includes lessons from Animals in the Garden. Lessons Five - Artsy Animals in the Garden .

“Children learn about insects like butterflies and bees that you could find in a garden. We look at master artists Monet, Hagemeister, and Renoir. We make a garden picture and learn about radial lines, patterns, and symmetry.”

Visit the Visual Manna website for more information.

The following Bible memory verse for children, pictured with a colorful picture of butterflies, is from Bible Memory Verses

Therefore if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature:
old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.
~II Corinthians 5:17