Cousins' Week - Yea, tho I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

Of course, one of the things we HAD to do while the grandkids were here was a trip to the local donut shop!  On the way, we got stopped by  a    L   O    N    G     train!

 We counted how many cars and there were well over 100!  We were stopped quite a while.

Druber's Donuts!

 On the way home, we made a stop at Dillons to purchase a few groceries.

Al had them guess how much $$ it came to.

Sophia, who shops often with her mom, came within $2!

 At home, we got in the "shepherd's fold".

We reviewed Psalm 23 and talked about vs. 4.

"I will fear NO EVIL!"  Imagine!!

I had read this analogy, can't remember where, but it was good.  If we had stood close enough to that train this morning and it's shadow had passed through us, it wouldn't have hurt us!  Not at all.   It is but a mere shadow.  Now, if we had got hit by the train, that would be altogether different, wouldn't it.  

Making shadow pictures

When we die, it is but a shadow, because in reality, as Christians, we do NOT die, but rather we step into God's presence. Like walking from one room into another!  .

 The sting of death is gone!  Christ took the "hit".

Hit "by the train" when He died for us.

What amazing love!

We talked about what heaven might be like with the kids.  We told them the story of Calvin, someone we know who experienced death on the operating table, and then came back to life!  What an amazing story he had; what joy and rapture he felt!  He didn't really want to come back, but the Lord wasn't finished with him here yet.

 

Shadow tag

 We walk THROUGH the valley.  Not around it.  We will all face hard and difficult times.  We all die (unless He comes again!)  We talked about some of the hardships the kids have experienced.  Their own valleys.

 "Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort us."
Dangers lurk in our journey in this life.  We need to walk close to the Shepherd who will take care of us.    He is with us even when there is distress, calamity or trouble.  Psalm 46:1

          God is my HELP,
                 God is my PRESENT help.
                          He is a VERY present help.
                     He is a very present help in TROUBLE.
                THEREFORE WE WILL NOT FEAR.  Ps. 68:19

The rod is used to drive off the predator.  What predators do sheep have?  Coyotes, foxes, wolves, bears, wildcats like lions and mountain lions.  Papa shared his story of a predator that was attacking their sheep when he still lived at the farm.  One night Al's Dad told him and his brothers to get their rifles.  One climbed the silo, another the shed and then one on the barn and waited for the culprit to show up.  The sheep did not make a sound, but they began to get restless and bang against the gate. (Jesus, the Lamb who was slain for us, also was silent before His accusers. Mark 14:61)  That night, the boys shot the one who had been attacking the sheep.  It was a dog from a neighboring farm.



Satan is a roaring lion seeking who he might devour.  We need our Shepherd's care!  Satan's greatest aim is to lure us away from the Lord Jesus.  He will use whatever means to keep us from following Him.  He wants to ruin you.  He speaks lies to us.  "Did God really say.....??"  "Does God really care about you?"  "You are nothing to Him."  On and on it goes.  We ARE in a spiritual battle!

One purpose of the staff is to snag and snatch a lamb from a precipice, to draw it close to the Shepherd.   The Shepherd desires to rescue us.   Some people do not want to be rescued.  They think they can take care of themselves.  Do you know sheep can't take care of themselves?  They NEED a shepherd, and we do too!

We need His presence,
               His protection,
        and His discipline.

 Kobi is a little dog that could have used some discipline!  He was tearing up toilet paper and all kinds of things, chewing on the door stop and what not!  Silly puppy!

Later that afternoon, we went to see the movie Aladdin in Wichita.  A "diamond in the rough" that needed some learning too.  God is at work in each of our lives.

Cousins' Week - Christmas at EtCetera

After lunch, we had the children draw names.  We were going to have a summer Christmas gift exchange!  We gave each child a $3 limit to purchase gifts at EtCetera!

 Since we live on the south side of town, going downtown often means waiting on trains!

EtCetera even had Christmas trees set up!  Perfect for what we were doing!

The kids tried to keep it a secret who they were buying for.

 "Oh Nana, this is beautiful!"

But I'm sure Eli wouldn't want that!

 When everyone had picked out what they wanted, Papa took them out to the car while I had the clerk bag everything up.

Another train on the ride back. 

 Supper was at Braum's!

 We drove home and noticed boomer clouds (what we call thunderstorms).

 Raining west of town.

It began raining at our home too. 





With some thunder.  I LOVE a Kansas thunderstorm!

One by one, the kids came downstairs where I was and they told me what they had picked out, and for whom.  They picked out a Christmas sack and put their items in the bags.

 Claire had Elijah's name.  She had purchased him a nice Wilson tennis racket, a shirt, a book and a stuffed dog.

 Eli happened to have Claire's name and he got her 2 horses, a Barbie and a doggie purse.

Emeri had Sophia's name and  got her several things, like a mug and used candle!

 Hannah had Emeri's name.

Hannah's goal was to purchase as many things as she could with $3, which included hangars for a penny a piece!

 Sophia had Hannah's name and gave her sister many "useful" things.

What a riot this was!  Many laughs and lots of fun!

We've done a similar shopping trip, where we have given each child a certain limit and we go through the grocery store and pick out our own dinners.  It is fun and teaches the kids the value of money.

Cousin Week - Paths of Righteousness

This day with the grandchildren, our lesson was from:

Psalm 23:2-3 New International Version (NIV)

     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
      He refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for His name’s sake.

It was a good day to walk on the path by the college.

God has a path for each of us, the "Halacha" or "way to walk" marked out for us.

Sometimes we need the encouragement from a friend.

At times the kids complained about how long it was.

Our own "halacha" may seem weary and long.

 At times, we aren't sure which path to take.  

Your own ears will hear Him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.  Isaiah 30:21

Kobi was getting mighty thirsty.  He was so happy to find a stream to refresh himself in!

"He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul."

 Thirsty souls of men and women can only be satisfied by God. 
"I AM the Living Water" Jesus said.  Drink deeply!

 He sure looks funny!!  But he was cool!

 We need to stay on the path.  If we would have gone off here, we would have fallen down a cliff.  Keep your eyes on the Shepherd who will lead you.  

 His Word is a "guardrail" for us, protecting us.  

 As sheep have 4 chambers and regurgitate their food, chewing on their cud for a long time, we need to "chew" on His Word.  

(later we watched the video of the Regurgitator. That is pretty incredible! but gross!)

We need to meditate on what He is saying to us.  Think of it, over and over (regurgitate) Listen to what God has to say.  Obey Him and follow Him.

 At times we may need to help "pick up" one who is weary.

When we got home, Kobi needed a bath!  Doesn't he just look pathetic?  We can look pretty pathetic too, but God "washes" us with His forgiveness!

Only the Shepherd can help sheep be free of anxiety.  Sheep cannot lie down when they are upset or frightened.  Sheep will only lie down when they are content and at peace.  The Lord tells us that we should be content in Him and not to worry.  He WILL take care of us!