By the way, Craftsy.com is a great community for learning all kinds of skills from gardening and canning to quilting and tailoring clothing; wood working, photography, baking (even gluten free!), drawing, knitting, cake decorating and more. There are many free tutorials and patterns available and even a few free classes, but the paid classes are the key feature. The great part is that they are always available (not just for a year), and you have access to the teachers and fellow classmates so that you can get advice when you encounter a problem. I’ve found it a very useful means for building skills. Plus, they have some great sales on classes over the course of the year, so I watch for what I want and seldom pay full price. Joining is free, so you can sign up and take advantage of the free classes to see if this is for you!
If you’re a homeschooling family Craftsy could come in very handy! I would have loved having something like this when I was in high school to add to the curriculum we were using! There are some courses (especially in the art and photography sections) that I’d obviously not recommend.
If you don’t know what the challenges are about, please read the first one. :-)
Are you enjoying the challenges? I’m finding it quite…well, challenging, but in a good and sort of exciting way. I’ve made a long list of possible challenges, so it’s also interesting to decide which ones I should use each month.
This month’s challenge is a little different. The point in this one is to get us to expand our local horizons a bit, to learn a little more about our own local area. If you have kids, grandkids or nieces and nephews old enough to enjoy the challenge you choose to do, I recommend you take them along and expand their lives too. You could also do this with a friend or your spouse or, in some case, with your pet. The more the merrier. :-)
Here’s the challenge.
--------------------------------
Explore a road or street you have never been down before.
And/Or
Visit a shop, park, cafe or a small museum that you have never been in before.
--------------------------------
When I was a kid my dad would every so often say, “Let’s go on an explore.” Sometimes he would do this spontaneously when he saw a road he wanted to investigate and he had an idea where it ended up. Other times it meant he was going to take us somewhere that he had been recently where he found something interesting. Occasionally it was a longer trip that took up more of the day and a picnic lunch was involved, or maybe eating out somewhere. It was always more or less exciting, though sometimes I felt a little uncertain about it as I got older, being a rather unadventurous type myself. :-) But, in retrospect I know it was good for me, and I saw some things that were really neat and even awe-inspiring. Our family found some favorite places due to his eagerness to “explore”.
I remember some of them well.
Sailor’s Pines near Croton, Michigan was breathtaking. It is an old growth forest of white pines that is privately owned, but the public is welcome to come and see this living history. [Photo from Plants Amaze Me.] We found violets blooming there in autumn!
Camp Newaygo Wetland Trail near Newaygo, Michigan was a favorite destination because it was close and not overly long. We took friends there more than once. [Photo from Plants Amaze Me.]
I don’t remember for sure who first found the Roane County Park near Harriman, Tennessee, but it became a favorite place for my family to go when we lived near there. My husband and I had our first date there. (I like Texas, but I do miss that park.)
My dad and mom were also inclined to explore some shops and try interesting restaurants. I remember a few places, including an amazing toy store in Michigan, some great restaurants, Indian and Asian shops, and a fascinating small town museum. Then there was the Roy Rogers Museum that we used to visit when we lived in California. Lots of great memories. :-)
In March 2014 my husband and I explored some of the country roads in our own local area. One that was a little farther afield was really interesting. After growing smaller and smaller and rougher and rougher, it opened out into a nice street with a number of large modern houses on it. Those people are probably not bothered by a lot of unwanted traffic out at the end of that country road! :-) (See photo at the top of this post.)
We also accidentally turned onto a dirt road right behind a water truck, which, as it turned out, was going to spray the road! Yuck!
This is what our car looked like when we got home. At least we got a laugh out of it. :-)
So get out there and do a little exploring this month, if you’re up for the challenge. You may find a treasure, some great memories, a great “special spot” for repeated visits, or a funny story. :-) Even if you’ve lived in an area for a long time you may find some little nook you never knew about before. If not, you can share something you know about with family or friends.
Enjoy!
Ecclesiastes 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
Attribute n. - a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something.
Since this month starts with the remembrance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it seemed like it would be appropriate to think on the fact that God is the living God. As I said at the beginning of this series, these are not going to be in depth doctrinal studies. This one is somewhat simplistic, but hopefully it will help us get a better grasp of what it really means to serve the living God!
The phrase “the living God” shows up numerous times in scripture. Perhaps it is best remembered because of its appearance in two well known Bible stories – David and Goliath and Daniel in the lion’s den.
1 Samuel 17:26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
Daniel 6:20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
God is the living God because, unlike any other god, He has the power to create life; not just animal life, but a living soul.
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
He is the living God as opposed to the idols of the heathen. He is able to do what He wills, and He is able to satisfy and to respond.
Psalms 115:3-8 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
Psalms 42:2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
Psalms 107:8-9 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
As the living God, He is able to exercise His authority upon earth and upon the nations. He is able to judge, and He will!
Jeremiah 10:10 But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
Genesis 18:25 …Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
He is the living God and because of that, He is able to give us eternal life through His Son.
Matthew 16:15-16 He [Jesus] saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Because He is the living God, His word is living, eternal and it gives eternal life.
John 6:66-69 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Philippians 2:15-16 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life…
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. [The word “quick” here indicating alive, as in “the quick and the dead”.]
As the living God who has given us eternal life in His Son, He has the reasonable right to make certain demands upon our lives.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 Corinthians 6:16-17 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Ephesians 4:17-18 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
He is not only the living God, He is the God of the living. He is the God of those who have received life from Him spiritually. Those who have died without salvation in Christ are eternally dead. Those who are alive on this earth and have not believed on the Lord Jesus are spiritually dead and He is not their God. Those who are physically alive or dead in Christ have His eternal life and He is their God because they are “the living”. Is He your God? Are you alive by faith in Jesus Christ?
Matthew 22:31-32 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
The Lord Jesus, as the Son of the living God, has that eternal life in Him, but He willingly laid down His life to bring us eternal salvation. Because His life was supernatural, He had to power to not only lay it down – die on the cross – but to take it up again – to rise from the dead. That He would choose to do this for poor sinners such as us is mind-boggling. Yet, it is true!
John 10:17-18 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Luke 24:1-7 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
In conclusion, I want to focus just a little on that phrase “Why seek ye the living among the dead?” There are so many that are seeking God in dead places:
in dead works (both keeping of the Law and following “standards” and rules of mankind); in dead religions that do not have the truth; in the dead world with its sin-sick cultures; in a dying creation that is groaning for redemption (Romans 8:21-22); in health plans and diets that are meant only to sustain the dying physical body.
Where are you seeking God? Are you seeking the living God? There is only one way to find Him, and that is through His living Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
If you are a child of the living God already, are you living daily like someone who has a direct connection with the source of true life, or are you still looking for satisfaction in the deadness of this present world? We need to think on the fact that He is the living God, the Only living God. We need to keep the wonderful fact of our relationship to the living God in our minds – to remember that it is through the death of Christ that we have this amazing LIFE. This will cause us to strive to show forth that life of the living God in our own lives, it will remind us of what it means to die to this world and live unto Him.
Romans 6:9-13 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
1 Sing, choirs of new Jerusalem, your sweetest notes employ, your sweetest notes employ the paschal victory to Him in songs of holy joy, in songs of holy joy, in songs of holy joy!
2 For Judah's Lion burst his chains and crushed the serpent's head, and crushed the serpent's head; Christ cries aloud through death's domains to wake the imprisoned dead, to wake the imprisoned dead, to wake the imprisoned dead.
3 Triumphant in his glory now to him all power is given, to him all power is given; to him in one communion bow all saints in earth and heaven, all saints in earth and heaven, all saints in earth and heaven.
4 All glory to the Father be, all glory to the Son, all glory to the Son, all glory to the Spirit be while endless ages run, while endless ages run, while endless ages run.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Here is the true story of a group of Hutterites in Montana who began to search for satisfaction outside of the traditions of their works based religion. What God showed them was that eternal life in the Lord Jesus Christ was the only satisfaction worth having. This is what the Lord Jesus came for, and why He died and rose again – to give life and to give it more abundantly!
Please notice how the traditional Hutterites who were not born again leaned heavily upon their traditions, their own ill-informed ideas and even superstitious ideas of what would happen to those who left. Matthew 15:8-9 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
1 Peter 1:18-21 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
[Sadly, the whole documentary is not here, but it’s enough. It appears to cut off just before the ending.]
