It’s that time of year when people are carving pumpkins and feeling fallish.
You may have already carved a pumpkin. The creatively chiseled creation just may be shimmering in the night on your front porch. If you live where the weather is cool, and it actually feels like fall, your glowing piece of art will last for weeks. But…if you live where it feels like summer still, like me in the Sunshine State, after a few days your chiseled creation now has the appearance of a funky formation.
No matter the weather, may you shine forever, when you combine pumpkins and Jesus, for reasons of brightness. (Okay, I TRIED to make a rhyme.)
Use these verses and thoughts for when you are carving your pumpkin:
Step 1: Wash Your Pumpkin
“Just like a pumpkin, we have an outside and an inside. People only see the outside, but God sees the inside.”
“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
Step 2: Carve An Opening In The Top
“We are all sinners. God wants to change our inside…to transform us…but the only way He can do it is if we become open to Him.”
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20
Step 3: Put Your Hand In And Pull Out The Insides
“God scoops out all the yucky stuff, the sin, in our lives. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, impurity, greed, and whatever else doesn’t please Him. Jesus was willing to get messy for us…He died on the cross to cleanse us from all our sins.”
I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Ezekiel 36: 25b-27
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Step 4: Carve The Eyes And Smiling Face:
“When you have been transformed by Jesus, you will have a new face and attitude. When all the yucky stuff (sin) is gone, you feel so joyful!”
My son, give Me your heart and let your eyes keep to My ways. Proverbs 23:26
Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect. Romans 12:2
Step 5: Add A Votive Candle To The Inside Of The Pumpkin
“If we leave the pumpkin as it is, it will just be empty and dark. We need God’s light inside of us to make us alive! When Jesus lives inside of you, you can glow! You will want to tell people about Him.”
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
“You are the light that shines for the world to see. You are like a city built on a hill that cannot be hidden. People don’t hide a lamp under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand. Then the light shines for everyone in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
When I was looking up these bible verse, I noticed some sermon notes off to the side. They said:
- Light exposes darkness.
- Light serves as a guide.
- Light is to be seen.
I pray that you will be a beacon of truth. Don’t shut your light off from the rest of the world. Let the Lord guide you each step of each day. Be seen and shine bright for Jesus. May the light of Christ radiate in and through you forever, not just a season.
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
Remember…with Christ, you are not a funky formation, yet His beautiful creation!
Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie
(I needed some visuals for when I shared this lesson with the AWANA group, so Cole and Emma were my models. We were up at the hunting camp. You can tell by the clothes and lighting that there was a pause for bow hunting. LOL.)
Holly had a carving evening with friends. As you know from previous journal entries, she loves sharks and all things ocean life.
Shine bright for Jesus.
#shinebright #shinebringforJesus #pumpkincarving #soakingupTheSon