Test Me

2 Corinthians 13:5a says, “Examine yourselves to whether are in the faith; test yourselves.” 

 

Psalms 139:23-24a says, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me.” 

 

I need to examine myself daily; I need to welcome God’s daily examination of my heart. There is a test going on here. Where once, I thought my testing would end when I graduated from school, I was wrong. The testing occurs every day, and I need to welcome it. The exam keeps me growing daily. As long as I follow in the steps of 2 Timothy 2:15 maybe I can achieve an “A” on my report card. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 

 

School of Faith

We all have to go to school. Some graduate, get a job, and never look back for additional schooling. I have done the same. Yet, in reality, I am still schooling myself. I am in a life-long process of being in the “school of faith,” and it is built and developed by studying and reading God’s inspired Scripture. 

     Simon understood faith when Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 

     True, Jesus was there in flesh and blood as He talked with the disciples, but there was more to the question.

     Jesus replied to Simon, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” 

     I have never seen my Jesus in flesh and blood, but my "school of faith" declares he is my Savior, the only Son of God, who died on the cross and took my sins upon Himself to give me eternal life. 

     

Back-To-School

     It's here! Back to school time.  The store shelves are loaded up with all kinds of school supplies, parents already have the teacher's supply list, and free sales tax weekend is here.  Children are excited about their expectant new wardrobe with many being from the upper "designer end."  They have had their vacations and most are ready to get back with some of the friends they have missed seeing over the summer months. 
     Sitting in "A Friendly Shade" my memories of those years are about the summer months of checking out books from the library's Book Mobile which traveled through the countryside stopping for children to check out books for summer reading.  We didn't have computers, laptops, or IPads.  We entertained ourselves with jump rope and chanting games. 
    The jump rope chants went something like:

"Cinderella, dressed in yellow
Went upstairs to kiss her fellow
Made a mistake
And kissed a snake
How many doctors
Did it take?
1, 2, 3, 4, 5. . . ."   And we continued to count the jumps until it was missed.

"Janey and Johnny
Sitting in a tree,
K-I-S-S-I-N-G
First comes love,
Then comes marriage
Then comes Janey
With a baby carriage."   On this one we used a friend's name instead of Janey and Johnny.

"Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Turn around.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Touch the ground.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Touch your shoe...."

"I like coffee,
I like tea,
I'd like for (name of friend)
To come in with me."     It took perfect timing to jump in as the rope was being thrown. 

     Then there were other chanting games.  One that comes to mind is, "Red Rover, Red Rover, Let (name of friend) come over."

     In the early days things were different, but it was still back-to-school days, and kids were still excited about going back.