Celebration for Sapphire! - Part 2

 

Now just look at you! You ain’t got “pumpin’ power”, Girl!

“Blessed Birthday”, SAPPHIRE!

Only a teacher could concentrate like that! Now what?

Pinocchio? Absolutely! You ARE Pinocchio!

They’re not breathing!

Will the Birthday Girl ever have another birthday? Pinocchio is determined!

No man, Sirrka! You’re off the mark!

Go away! You funny lady!

Okay! Now it’s your turn to laugh! I’m headed in your direction.

3 out of 4 – success! Hey, Sirrka, if I were you, I wouldn’t display that remnant of your pink balloon – and you look so pleased with yourself!

Come on, now Sapphire, how many balloons did you pop with those candles?

Sapphire is now very serious. She’s preaching! An excellent mini-sermon on her favorite lady found in the Bible – Hannah!

After the fun and games and a birthday party, we sat down to hear what the Lord had to say to us. Our challenge today – What work can we do for Jesus? We sat beside a bubbling and rapidly flowing stream, even as Lydia and her ladies did, and heard the Word of the Lord. What service did Lydia do for the Lord? She opened her home to Paul and Timothy, after Paul preached to them, and shortly afterwards, Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten and imprisoned. God sent an earthquake and delivered them; the jailor and his family accepted Jesus as their Savior, and Paul and Silas returned to Lydia, where once again she made her home available to these travelling missionaries.

Then turning to John 21:1-14, we listened to Jesus calling to us to cast our nets on the right side of the boat, and we were reminded that the disciples caught 153 fish. We cannot fish in any waters that we choose. Jesus will choose the right place, at the right moment, and in the waters of His choosing, where He has a huge catch waiting for us.

Our first question – “Are we willing to fish for Jesus?” If so, we must seek God’s face to place us in the waters that He has earmarked for us. Only once we obey Him, will He command us to “Cast your net on the right side”. “Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fish, an hundred and fifty and three . . . .” (John 21:11) 

And so, our dear Sapphire, we praise God for bringing you into our midst and for what you mean to us.

This is Joan (extreme left) emailing to Ann, second from the left, who had been ill for awhile: “Are you alright? Do you need ANY kind of help? Lifting, shoving, cooking, packing, cleaning, changing light bulbs, polishing, wiping, dusting, sweeping, moving, singing, laughing, loving, praying . . . . we are here for you!!!!!” Ann’s husband’s response to that was, “Yes, let her come. We need someone like that!”

It’s so typical of you Sapphire – always reaching out to people. How true of you, the Scripture found in Luke 8:2-3 and 24:1-10 “. . . . Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward . . . .  provided for Him from (her) substance”. . . . . and she was one of the women who went to Jesus’ tomb bringing spices that they had prepared; she was committed and faithful!”

BLESSED BIRTHDAY PRAYERS from your fellow Jewels!