The Skin Horse (taken from "The Velveteen Rabbit")

The Skin Horse had lived longer in the nursery then any of the others. He was so old that his brown coat was bald in patches and showed the seams underneath, and most of the hairs of his tail had been pulled out to string bead necklaces.  He was wise, for he had seen a long succession of mechanical toys arrive to boast and swagger, and by-and-by break their mainsprings and pass away, and he knew that they were only toys, and would never turn into anything else.  For nursery magic is very strange and wonderful, and only those playthings that are old and wise and experienced like the Skin Horse understand all about it.
"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room.  "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse.  "It is a thing that happens to you.  When a child loves you for a very long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become real."
"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful.  "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."
"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"
"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse.  "You become.  It takes a long time.  That is why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.  Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby.  But these things don't matter at all, because once you are real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

Church In The Weeds

Just two little boys walking down this dusty lane... They came upon this old white house... With broken window panes

 

The paint was faded, the shine was gone... The grass had grown so high... Still they made their little feet, Go see what was inside.

 

They opened up the squeaky door and then it came to light... This must have been an old church house... Once upon a time.

 

Dirty, dusty wooden pews... A pulpit that still stood.... A Bible lay upon it... Though the pages weren't too good..

 

An offering plate and song books too... Were lying on the floor. They must have left this old church fast... The day they closed these doors.

 

And over in the corner... A piano was still there, It must have played a pretty tune... But I guess nobody cared.

 

So little Bill looked up at Tommy... And Tommy looked at Bill... Why don't we clean this old church up, and get these old pews filled?'

 

They took a rag and wiped the dust... To try and make things shine... And then they took the offering plate... And put in it their last dime.

 

They took a broom and swept the floor... And picked up broken glass... They got it all so nice and neat... And then they mowed the grass.

 

They lifted up the old church sign... And stood it by a tree.... Right down by that old dirt road where everyone could see.

 

They ran back home, to find Daddy gone but their Momma was inside.. Just to find her hurt again... Where Daddy had made her cry.

 

'Don't cry Momma, wipe those tears,' Little Bill and Tommy smiled... 'Cause we have a big surprise for you... Just down the road a mile.'

 

Hand in hand they tugged at her, until they made her run.... 'What is it Bill, Oh Tommy, just what have you two kids done?'

 

And then they came upon the house... Once hidden by the weeds... And there it stood a country church... Just like it used to be.

 

'But what is it, Mother? What's with your tears? We thought this would bring you joy.' 'Yes, but hush kids now and listen close... My two sweet precious boys.'

 

They both got quiet and stood real still... For the words they heard so true... Was Daddy praying in the church... With his head bowed on the pew.

 

'Forgive me Lord! Forgive me Lord! Though I'm not worthy of Your love... Shine down on this sinner man, sweet Salvation from above.'

 

'For I've been out in the world, you know... Living my life all wrong... Until I came upon this church; the place where I belong.'

 

'I never noticed it before... All those times I passed it up... I guess I wasn't looking, Lord.... Or maybe I was drunk..'

 

'Bless oh Lord, yes, bless oh Lord.... The one who made me see.. This little church that used to hide.... Behind all those tall weeds.'

 

And then he raised his head and stood... With his hands high in the air... To find two dirty, tear-faced boys.... With Momma standing there.

 

They ran up to him, hugged him tight... As their tears fell on the floor. 'Don't worry kids; I'm not the Dad, the one you've known before.'

 

Things are different for us now... So keep on those pretty smiles.. And let's go gather people in... To walk down these church aisles.'

 

Then Bill looked up at Tommy... And Tommy looked at Bill... 'Come on brother, let's get to work... To get these old pews filled.'

 

'For we need no special blessing.. For cleaning up this church.... 'cause, God gave us back our Daddy... And that's more than gold is worth.'

 

Sunday morning, pews all filled and smiles on every face... Especially two little country boys... The ones who found this place.

 

Though it was hid back in the weeds... And so far out of sight... Nothing's ever hard to find if you're walking toward God's light.

 

1-John 1:7 'we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.'

 

The Pumpkin Prayer

As I carve my pumpkin help me say this prayer; 

Open my mind so I can learn about You (cut the top of the pumpkin).
Take away all my sin and forgive me for the wrong things I do (clean out the inside).
Open my eyes so Your love I will see (cut the eyes out in heart shapes).
I'm so sorry for turning up my nose to all you have given me. (cut a nose in the shape of a cross).
Open my ears so your word I will hear (cut the ears shaped like the Bible) (triangles).
Open my mouth so I can tell others You are near (cut the mouth in the shape of a fish).
Let your light shine in all I say and do!  Amen  (place a candle inside and light it).

Thoughts for the day

Today is a new day.  A day of new beginnings. What are you going to do with your day?  You can choose to waste it, or let it slide by one minute at a time as the clock slowly ticks away.  Or, you can use each and every moment to lift up someone who is burdened, or hurting, or in pain.  Maybe you will be the answer to someones prayer today.  Allow the Lord to use you to lift the burden of another, this day, today.  Don't wait until tomorrow for we don't know that there will be a tomorrow.  Don't wait until this evening, because right now as you are meditating on these thoughts the Lord is  bringing to mind someone who is waiting to hear from you.  Don't wait.  Answer the call even now as you are hearing from the Lord.

THE EAGLE'S ENTRAPMENT

 

A great bald eagle sat in tranquil dignity on his lookout high above the valley basin. The last wisp of vapor had vanished, drunk up by the rising sun. The sharp eye of the eagle had clear command of every district of his realm.

Soon he launched majestically from his perch and sailed down over the jagged pine trees and gleaming lakes to his favorite fishing spot. When the eagle arrived, he noticed a slight change. A large rock had been placed near the shore. Since it was something new, IT WAS TO BE A SUSPECT OF DANGER.

He flew over it without stopping, and alighted on the top of a dead tree nearby. After a piercing scrutiny, he was convinced that the rock was a PROVISION FOR HIS CONVENIENCE. He sailed down and perched upon it. Then he saw a large fish lying on the grass. He considered again. If the fish had been near the water’s edge, he would have understood. But on the grass. . . well that was an uncommon situation for a fish to get itself into.

The wise eagle now peered SUSPICIOUSLY into the neighboring bushes. He scanned every grassy area and cast a sweeping survey up and down the shores. EVERYTHING WAS AS IT SHOULD BE. So he hopped down, clutched the fish in his sharp claws, and was about to fly away when he caught sight of another fish. AND YET ANOTHER, plainly, THE WILDERNESS WAS CARING FOR HIS NEEDS IN A MOST UNEXPECTED AND LAVISH WAY.

But, across the lake, the sharp eyes of a CUNNING TRAPPER studied every move which the eagle made. This trapper had been offered a large sum of money to CAPTURE an eagle alive. He was a CRAFTY AND EXPERIENCED TRAPPER, and he knew that the WISE MONARCH OF THE SKY WOULD NOT BE SNARED BY ANY ORDINARY MEANS.

On the following day the great eagle returned. He found that the supply of fish had been MIRACULOUSLY RENEWED. THIS PROVISION WOULD LIGHTEN HIS LABORS AND GIVE HIM MORE TIME TO SIT UPON HIS PERCH AND TO VIEW HIS DOMAIN. At every visit to his fishing spot he perched on the rock and devoured at least one fish before carrying a meal to his nest. HIS SURPRISE AND CURIOSITY AS TO THE SOURCE OF THE SUPPLY HAD DIED OUT BY THE SECOND DAY. Wild creatures quickly come to accept an obvious benefit, however extraordinary, as one of the PROVISIONS WHICH UNSEEN POWERS BESTOW WITHOUT EXPLANATION.

By the time the eagle had come to this frame of mind THE SILENT TRAPPER WAS READY FOR HIS NEXT MOVE. He made a huge, strong hoop-net and on a moonlit night, carefully dug the long handle into the ground at the water’s edge. He put it in an angle so that the hoop was almost level, about four feet from the rock. Having accomplished this, the CLEVER TRAPPER scattered fish upon the ground. Then HE DISAPPEARED INTO THE FOREST.

On the following morning the mighty eagle sat on his lookout. His intense gaze swept the vast, shadowy basin. For fully half an hour he watched in regal stillness. Then he lifted off his perch and flew leisurely to his fishing spot. As he drew near, he was puzzled and annoyed by the ODD STRUCTURE which had been erected above his rock during the night. He at once checked his flight and began soaring in great circles. Higher and higher he flew, trying to make out WHAT THAT STRANGE OBJECT WAS. He could see, however, that the fish were there as usual. At length , he satisfied himself that no hidden peril lurked in the nearby bushes.

He descended to the nearest tree top and spent a good half hour in motionless scrutiny. He little guessed that a solitary figure, equally motionless and far more patient, was watching every move from a thicket across the lake. At the end of this long watch the eagle decided that a closer investigation was desirable. He flew down to the sandy shore WELL AWAY FROM THE NET. He found a fish which he devoured. Then he found another. This one he carried away to his nest. He had not solved the mystery of the strange structure overhanging his rock, BUT HE PROVED THAT IT WAS NOT ACTUALLY DANGEROUS.

When the eagle returned an hour later, THE NET LOOKED LESS STRANGE TO HIM. He even perched on the sloping handle. THE STRUCTURE SEEMED QUITE HARMLESS. He hopped down and looked with keen interest at the fish lying under the hoop beside the rock. He reached out with beak and claw and clutched the fish and quickly hopped back. The eagle repeated this cautious procedure at every visit throughout the day.

But, when he came again on the next day, THE EAGLE HAD GROWN ONCE MORE UTTERLY CONFIDENT. He went under the net WITHOUT HESITATION OR APPREHENSION and perched UNCONCERNEDLY on the stone in the midst of the banquet.

The next morning, about an hour before dawn, a canoe SLIPPED UP TO THE SHORE about a hundred yards from the net. THE TRAPPER stepped out, lifting the canoe from the water AND HID IT IN THE BUSHES. Then he began to make some important CHANGES IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE NET. First he tied a strong cord to the rim of the hoop. Then he ran the cord to the ground, under a shallow root, and into a nearby thicket. He pulled on the cord. THE NET BENT DOWN UNTIL IT COVERED THE ROCK. When he released the cord, the net rebounded to its former position. After satisfying himself that all was ready, he BAITED THE TRAP WITH THE USUAL FISH AND CREPT UNDER THE THICKET. There he waited in perfect STILLNESS through the chilly hours of the breaking day.

At last there came the sound of mighty wings in the still air above him. The TRAPPER watched as the eagle landed on the sand next to the rock. THIS TIME THERE WAS NO HESITATION. The great bird, for all its wisdom, HAD BEEN LURED INTO ACCEPTING THE STRUCTURE AS PART OF THE ESTABLISHED ORDER. He hopped right under the net, clutched a large fish, and perched on the stone to enjoy his meal. At that moment the eagle sensed a SHADOW OF MOVEMENT IN THE THICKET. His muscles tightened for that instantaneous spring into the SAFETY of the air. BUT BEFORE HE COULD MOVE, THE LARGE NET CAME DOWN ABOUT HIM WITH A TERRIBLE SWISH.

An intense struggle ensued between THE BIRD AND THE NET – BEATING WINGS, TEARING BEAK, CLUTCHING TALONS. But soon the mighty eagle was HELPLESSLY ENTANGLED IN THE MESHES OF THE UNYIELDING TRAP.

Questions for reflection:

1. Who does the trapper remind you of?

2. What qualities did the eagle have that should have helped him overcome the temptation?

3. What were the ways of the trapper?

4. Why do you think satan has to trap us?

5. What kinds of tricks/traps does satan do to us to get us to sin?

6. Why does he have so much perseverance?

7. How crafty was the trapper in his devices?

8. How do we have victory over the trapper?
Ephesians 6:10-18
The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints

AUTHOR UNKNOWN