If you plan to carve a pumpkin this month with your kids or grandkids, here’s a great pumpkin carving idea that may turn this activity into a memorable Christian learning opportunity.
It’s important to take the time to do an activity like this with our children. As parents and grandparents we are the leaders of our children…the best ones to use every opportunity to show kids just how much God loves and cares about each and every one of us!
Being a Christian isn’t always easy, but God’s love covers and forgives our sins and makes us shiny and new all over again. We all need to hear this important lesson everyday.
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Imagine that each of us is like a pumpkin that is going to be carved into a jack-o-lantern…
God picks us from the pumpkin patch and brings us in from the field. The Bible says He selects us “out of the world”. We are in the world, but no longer of the world.
Jesus said, “As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.” John 15:19 NIV
Just like a pumpkin, we have an inside and an outside. People only see the outside, but God sees the inside as well.
The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 AMP
God washes all the "dirt" off the outside that we received from being around all the other pumpkins. All the outside influences of our former life must be cleaned up.
The next step is to carve out an opening in the top of the pumpkin…God wants to change us inside, but He can only do it if we are “open” to Him.
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Revelation 3:20 NLT
God carefully removes all the "yucky stuff” in our lives called "sin" from the inside. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, impurity and greed. Jesus was willing to get messy for us…He died on the cross to cleanse us from all our sins. He changes us from the inside out by the power of His Word.
Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. Ezekiel 36:25b-27 NLT
It is important to be part of a church and to be taught and learn God’s Word. Your countenance (face) is changed by the power of His presence in your life. Jesus carves for you a new smiling face. All the yucky stuff (sin) is gone and you feel changed and happy.
O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways. Proverbs 23:26
We are then so grateful it even shows on our face! Finally, God puts His light inside of us to shine for all the world to see.
“I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 NLT
Conclude with a prayer, asking the Lord for help to be a shining light in a dark world.
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. ~ Deuteronomy 11:18-21
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If you have a story or testimony that you think might bless others,
I invite you to send it by email to me (Kenneth Kersey) at godsotherways@me.com.
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