A story of a new start with God!
My big round pumpkin shows me God gives us a clean heart.
He will forgive our mess-ups. He offers a new start.
The slime that fills the pumpkin, all stringy slipp’ry goo,
reminds me of my insides before God makes me new.
I scoop the mushy gushies like God cleans out my sin,
When He says “I forgive you,” I smile a great big grin.
Come look into my pumpkin: he is all clean inside.
And outside he is wearing a smile that’s big and wide.
God’s love is like a candle that shines from iside out.
It’s beaming deep within me, and so I now can shout.
To glow like my big pumpkin and have a nice clean heart,
ask God to please forgive you. You’ll have a brand new start.
By Mary Manz Simon
Matthew 5:14–16
14You are the light of the world. A city located on top of a hill cannot be hidden,
15nor do they light a lamp and place it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it shines on all those in the house.
16In the same way let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Dear Readers, This delightful story, “The Pumpkin Gospel ” can be found in boardbook style on Amazon and at Christianbook.com for your children and grandchildren.
extensive damage and loss in its wake which is still ongoing. We were not prepared for a pandemic and all of its loss. Loss of loved ones, jobs, connections and vacations to name a few but the biggest has been loss of control. I am glad to know that our God is in control and nothing is a surprise to Him.
because they had extra time. What we learned is that we all have too much “stuff” lurking in various places in our homes. Many of my friends have “down-sized” and I know I have way too many hoarded treasures, my husband labels “junk”. There is nothing wrong with being comfortable or owning nice things but when do we say, “enough”?
picture of what needs to be or can be done. Acceptance changes our perspective from what I can’t do or don’t have to being thankful for all I have and looking for new opportunities. We can’t actually go very many places but we are grateful for our neighborhood and take walks to enjoy the flora and fauna around us. We have played more board and lawn games. It’s important to be mindful of the good things and enjoy life everyday.
Disbelief, Fear, Heartbreak and Shock were just a few of the emotions they were feeling. Rabbi, healer, miracle worker, they believed Jesus was The Messiah! The band of friends had just celebrated Passover together. It couldn’t possibly be real – it didn’t make sense – but they watched with their own eyes as the soldiers nailed Him to a cross like a vile criminal!
But as they approached the burial site they were shocked to see the stone had already been rolled away….
us…such odd sayings! He wanted us to pray together but we were so tired we fell asleep. Judas betrayed our Lord! He was one of us, we trusted him, how could he? Peter wept bitterly because he watched Jesus as He was beaten and even denied knowing Him, just as Jesus had predicted. It couldn’t possibly be real – but they had watched with their own eyes as the soldiers nailed Him to a cross like a vile criminal! All their hopes and dreams in Jesus Messiah were destroyed. It was Saturday and everything was wrong.
tomb just before Sabbath began. Saturday was the blackest, saddest, most hopeless day. Early the next morning a few women, who had loved Jesus dearly, gathered to go to the tomb and properly prepare His body for burial as was tradition. There had been no time the night before and it was the least they could do. They wondered how they would move the stone sealing the grave and if the soldiers would give them grief. But as they approached the burial site they were shocked to see the stone had already been rolled away….
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