THE NEW EWE

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"

Luke 15:4-6

June 14, 2023

LIFE IN THE FOLD

I have planted a small garden this year. So far, everything is looking great; although the only things I've harvested are a few banana peppers and a couple cherry tomatoes.

The squash that I planted has grown and flowered and looks healthy. None of the flowers are producing fruit, so I began researching to find out why. I found that the flowers on squash are either male and female; and yes, you can tell the difference when you look inside the center of the flower. Only the female flowers produce fruit, but it takes the male flowers to pollinate the female ones. The male flowers tend to bloom first, with the female ones coming a little later. If you don't have enough bees, butterflies, or hummingbirds in your garden to help with the pollination, then you may have to do it by hand -- if you want your squash plants to produce. Just a little science lesson there for you!

Jon and I began checking, and at first, we only had male flowers. Then we found a female flower, so Jon used a small soft-bristle paintbrush to hand-pollinate it to make sure it will produce fruit. A couple days later, I found another female flower, so did the same. Hopefully, this will kickstart us getting squash in our garden. I am praying that both male and female flowers will begin to grow, and the bees and other insects, that God created to help naturally pollinate, will take over as God designed.

Genesis 1:27-28 says, "So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them and said, 'Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it.'"

Everything that God created was made for a specific purpose and for a specific reason. There is a reason why He chose to create both male and female. It takes both in order to create new life. If there were only males upon the earth or only females, then the population of the earth would never have multiplied. But God created both, blessed them, then gave the command that they were to be fruitful and multiply. It's through both man and woman the life has continued on earth since the time of Adam and Eve.

Scripture plainly states that God created male and female in His image; then gave them the instructions to produce babies (be fruitful) so that life will continue on (fill the earth). That was His design, His plan, and how He chose life to continue upon the earth for countless generations.

But that's not only how God designed humans so that life on earth will continue on. He designed male and female animals, so that they won't become extinct and will continue on earth through giving birth. That's how God created plants -- as I gave in the example of my squash.

During the days of Noah, when God was getting ready to destroy the earth with a flood, what instructions did He give Noah so that the animals would continue upon the earth and all would not be lost? "Enter the boat -- you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring a pair of every kind of animal -- a male and female - into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood. Pairs of every kind of bird, and every kind of animal, and every kind of small animal that scurries along the ground, will come to you to be kept alive."

God didn't just tell Noah to bring a pair of every kind of animal into the boat. He specifically said, "A male and a female". If Noah had brought two males or two females, then those animals would have become extinct upon the face of the earth. But he had to make sure he brought a male and female so that they could mate and be kept alive and produce babies... which would later produce babies... and on and on so that they would multiply upon the face of the earth again.

Noah and his wife, as well as his sons and their wives, had a responsibility to have children and repopulate the earth once again. That's why God told Noah to bring your wife, your three sons and their wives. He didn't just put Noah on the boat alone, or have him only bring his sons with him. Had that happened, then life on earth would have ended with Noah. Noah lived another 350 years after the flood; even though he was 600 years old when the flood happened. Nations were built from the children of Noah's three sons and their descendants.

God is so wise! He created a way for mankind to flourish upon the earth, generation after generation. He created a way for animals to multiply upon the earth through new births. He created a way for plants to pollinate, through male and female flowers, so that they bear fruit. His ways are always perfect!

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

One of the greatest commandments is to love. Jesus summarized all the other commandments as to Love our Heavenly Father with all our hearts, and second, to love one another as much as we love ourselves. He even told us to love our enemies.

There are no exceptions. Jesus didn't say "Love everyone, but not that group because their sin isn't excusable." He said to love even our enemies. That includes those who condemn all christians as hateful or unaccepting. No matter how hateful they may be toward us, Jesus commands us to love them back. All true christians live by that (or at least try to).

So even though Loretta and I don't like sin in our nation, we love people anyway. Our Heavenly Father loved us all (ALL) enough that He sacrificed His Son to give forgiveness to anyone who would repent. And if we love Him, and He loves each person we encounter, how could we do any different than to love them, too.

ON THE MENEWE:

Italian Meatballs

Place frozen Italian meatballs in a crockpot. Place about 1 cup of peach (or any fruit flavor) jalapeno jam on top, as well as chili sauce. Adjust amounts according to how much you want to make.

Cook in crockpot on low for 4-5 hours until ingredients are thoroughly hot. Stir, then serve.

You can serve these as an appetizer; or they are delicious with mashed potatoes or with rice.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

Recently, my niece's three older kids were all at church youth camp, leaving only the youngest daughter behind. One morning she hung out with me, because her parents both had meetings. Jovie told me that she kind of missed her siblings, but also was really enjoying the only kid at home with her parents. I have babysat Jovie many times over her 9 years of life. She is one of the easiest, most laid-back kids to watch!! She never asks for anything and is contented just hanging out with me. For the first time ever, I asked what she would like for lunch and she said she would like to eat at a particular place, but it was probably too expensive. I told her that was the first time in 9 years that she has ever asked me to take her some where, so I was happy for us to go! We picked up another niece (Jovie's 15 year old cousin) to go with us. It was the funnest lunch!! Even though the girls are ages 9 and 15, they are two peas in a pod and so much alike in personality. They had so much fun together and I had fun watching the two of them interact. Jovie made up an outlandish tale and Abigail asked questions and egged her on -- laughing at her and thinking it was so funny. What a wonderful day that made for a fun memory!

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred.

It breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness. - Corrie ten Boom

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org