Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Conference time!

Things have been getting a tad busier around here as we get ready for our next conference.
Thankfully, instead of the 20 hour trip it took to get to our first conference.....this will only be 5 minutes away.
Our theme this year is.....You Are Special!
My sister will be teaching some of the great stories found in the book of Judges.
And I will be doing object lessons for the children.....teaching them about the God who chose us!
And I will also be teaching on the lives of some great people
from our wonderful Christian heritage.
I am sure that most of you know the incredible story of George Washington Carver.
He was such an incredible man of God.....no small peanut in God's kingdom. :)
And in a world where no one wants to give anything away for free (yes, even great truths that God gave them to share with His people) Mr. Carver gave away all the incredible secrets God shared with him. He could have lived the life of a millionaire....and yet he chose to give freely as he had been given freely to.Here is a tidbit from his life.
As a young man he found that he was in real need of a pocket knife. And knowing and trusting that God cares even about the small things....that night before he went to bed he shared that need with God.
During the night he had a dream that he was running down the rows of the watermelon field..... when all of a sudden he found a watermelon that had been cut open. One side was eaten..... but stuck in the other side was a black handled pocket knife.
Waking the next morning...before he had even had time for breakfast.....he took off for the watermelon field. Running down the rows just like in his dream.......he found the watermelon as it had been shown to him by God. And yes, there also.... was the black handled pocket knife.
Yes, God cares even about the little needs. :)

And then I will tell the story of Jim Elliot......I know we all know that.
If you don't.....it is a must!Here is a new one for me...didn't know this story.
Ever heard of the Cadbury bunny?
I am sure you have tasted the Cadbury chocolate if you are a chocolate lover like me.
Anyway, did you know that Mr Cadbury loved the Lord?
And not only did he love the Lord...and invent great chocolate....but he raised children that had a passion for the Lord and sharing the Lord with others.
One of his daughters was Helen.At the age of 12 she became a Christian and wanted to follow in her dads footsteps....not in the chocolate business.....but in sharing the good news to those lost.
In the late 1800's there were not a whole lot of small Bibles available. And so to be sure that her friends would not think she was making up the words in the Bible....she carried her 5 pound Bible to school and kept it in her desk. She led several of her friends to Christ and they started a little group called...... The Pocket Testament League. They then would sew pockets onto the front of their dresses to carry little Bibles her dad gave them. And to show how serious they were they signed little cards promising to read their Bibles everyday and share Christ with others.....using the Bible they carried always in their pockets.
Now her walk with God was not all Chocolate and roses. :)
In college she became influenced by professors and decided that maybe she wasn't as sure of God as she thought she had been.
She walked away from God for a period...... but was brought back when her father died of diphtheria while in Israel with her and her mom. He knew her faith was floundering and took her there in hope that seeing the streets where Jesus walked.....might respark that fire that had dimmed.
During the pain of this loss.....she walked straight back into the arms of Jesus.
Later when she married....... The Pocket Testament League was revived.
It traveled around the world and still is in action today.
Pretty cool don't ya think?
What a powerful woman of God she was!
If you would like to find out more about what they are doing, you can go here.....T.P.T.L


I was reminded the other day while talking to a friend that sometimes our children will wander off the straight and narrow.
They will hear the ways of the world calling.....and sometimes follow.
But just like Mr. Cadbury......we are to pray and remain a constant reminder to them of the Love of our Father. God has chosen us to be His representatives here.
He has a marvelous plan for all of us.
Even if we step off the path......He is still faithful to put our feet back where they belong.
I was watching a secular movie the other night and heard someone say something that just hit me.
"Sometimes a man runs into his destiny on the road he took to avoid it."
Boy has that been true in my life!
BUT
He who calls you is faithful,
who will also do it (1 Thes. 5:24)

HE IS FAITHFUL!

Thanks for listening....I hope your faith has been encouraged!
Mine has. ;)

See ya'll on the other side of the conference.
Go with Jesus!
He loves you and so do I.

9 comments:

Denise said...

Wow, very inspiring sweetie.

SunnySusan said...

That was neat...thanks...I did know about the Cadbury family

I am still enjoying our summer here...it is July fry....sweltering

pam said...

Pretty cool. As for our children we can only help God build the foundation and pray, pray, pray...it's always good that they grasp that relationship as their own, not the faith of their parents and often that seems to take a season of trials...but His Word goes forth and will not return void....speak it into them, pray it with them. He is faithful. I've seen many stray and so far they have all come back to Jesus...just not a fun thing for parents to walk through. Blessings on the conference...all His best...may His Spirit prepare the way.

Fitter After 50 said...

I am too familiar with Cadbury chocolate and not so much with the story of the family behind the chocolate. I'm sure you will enjoy your conference and I expect that you will learn a lot from the children too. :)

Myrtle said...

What a beautiful dream that George Washington Carver had and knew it was the Lord speaking to him. God has spoken to me many times in my dreams. I knew my mother was going to be with the Lord before she went to the doctor. God had given me a dream. I sit here with tears spilling down my face because I know that God hears us and speaks to us. I have a scripture to share:
"For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed, then He openeth up the ears of men, and seateth their instruction (Job 33:14-16)."
Your Sister in Christ by His matchless grace, Annie

luvmy4sons said...

Greatly encouraged. Thank you sister! I read George's story to my children years ago but they still remember him. What an amazing man! I knew everyone you spoke of except the Cadbury's. And her story DID encourage me today. Blessings sweet sister. He is faithful...faithfulness has been big in my mind lately too! Hugs!

Shirley said...

Thanks for sharing those stories...
I love to hear stories like that..
and you, my friend, sound just so
enthused about the conference and teaching...that is just wonderful..
God will bless you. You do lift my spirits...I so love your posts.

Hugs to you.

Mary said...

Sharon,

Hey Girl, it's been a long time since I've had a chance to visit.

Enjoyed the Cadbury story. I had never heard it before. George Washington Carver was a great man. I was talking to the boys about him just the other day.

Hope all is well with you and yours.

Blessings,
Mary

Grace said...

Hi Sharon, I enjoyed reading your post. May you have a blessed Sunday tomorrow. :)