Christine Collier for her writings in the July editions.

Eunice Matchett For her writing in June Edition

Robin Clifton for her writing in the May Edition.

AMETHYST (TRUUS) CLIFTON and Robert Jasper Clifton for their Art.

                     Smoky Comes Home

written by Eunice Matchett

            Jimmy jumped up and down.  He clapped his hands together.  “Can we keep her, Mom?” he asked, looking up at the sodden wet, little black kitten she was holding.  It began to shiver.  “See!” he exclaimed, “it’s freezing, we have to take it home!”

            “Mom shook her head.   “We can’t,” she explained.  “It’s not ours.”

            “But they let it out in the rain,” Jimmy argued, “they can’t want it.”

            “We don’t know that,” Mom reminded him.  “And what does the bible say about judging people?”

            Jimmy dropped his head.  “We’re not suppose to.” 

            “That’s right,” Mom agreed.  She looked at the house beside them.  “Let’s start here.”

            They rang the front door bell. 

“The elderly woman who lived there shook her head.   “No, it’s not mine.”  She scratched the kittens chin and it began to purr.  “Cute little thing, isn’t it?”

            Jimmy smiled happily as they walked away from the house.  “If we can’t find its owners, can we keep her?”

            Mom nodded.  “But don’t get you’re hopes up.  Someone has taken very good care of it.”

            They knocked on the next door.  A young woman opened it.  When she saw the kitten, she reached for it. “Thank you,” she said, holding it close to her face. “She ran outside when we were leaving for doctor’s.  Trevor’s been praying all morning that she’d come back!”

“Who is it, Mom?” someone using badly pronounced words called from behind her.

“I’ll be right there,” the lady answered.  She turned back to Mom and Jimmy.  “Please come in,” she said, “Trevor would love to meet you.”

They stepped inside.  The lady walked across the living room to where a boy sitting in a wheelchair.  “Look what these people brought for you,” she said.

Trevor’s eyes got big.  His head bobbed up and down and he laughed happily.  He looked at Jimmy.  “Thanks” he stammered, “I thought Smoky was gone.”

            The kitten jumped onto Trevor’s lap.  It rubbed its face against his face.  Trevor laughed and laughed.  His hands shook badly but he tried to pet the kitten. 

            Jimmy looked up at Mom.  “The kitten knows him!”  He exclaimed.  It’s just like in the bible where it says that the sheep know their master.”  

            “And who is the master?”  Mom asked.

            Trevor banged his hands on the arms of the wheelchair.  “Jesus!” he declared excitedly.  “He heard me and got you to bring Smoky home!”           

            “That’s right,” his mom agreed, “He knew how much Smoky meant to you.”

PUZZLES Who am I? Read Matthew chapter 1 to 3

 fell in the form of doves and lightning above him? Matthew 3:16 

he wore for us? Born to Mary and Joseph? Hint Mathew 1:16

DEVOTIONAL

Pumpkins’ Future

© January 2001 Toni Parker

I am a big white seed, sitting on the table amongst the other seeds.  We are dreaming of our future.  The first seed said, “When I grow up I am going to be the sweetest pumpkin ever.”

            “Well, when I grow up I want to end up in a pumpkin scone,” said the next one.

            “Well I not going to be eaten,” I said most sure of myself.

            “Oh?  What are you going to do, just rot,” teased the remainder of the seeds.

            “I am not.  I’ll show you!”  I yelled.  I had my plans going around inside me.  “I m going to grow into the biggest pumpkin ever seen, I am going to the show.”  I could feel the pride causing my husk beginning to swell.

Well the big day was happening, I felt myself being pushed into the ground.  It was time to show them just what I meant.  I huffed and puffed and puffed.  Finally, I could feel my first sprout pushing through my hard white husk.  “I got to find light.  I got to get out of this pressure from the ground” I whispered.  I could feel the ground tightly choking all my efforts.  I knew, for me to achieve my dream.  I had to work hard, right from the beginning.  I had to push my roots out fast.  They had to dig there way into the best ground before the other seeds found it.

The search was on.  Living underground was very dark, my roots had to go by feel.  I felt that we were living in very rocky condition.  I tried to keep hold of me dream, but with each dead end I was getting very disheartened.  My heart was breaking.

Day by day, I was getting tired.  I could no longer search, if this dream was going to be a reality; I had to start to put my energy into my pumpkin that was for the show.  However, without finding the good nutrients, it wasn’t look good.  “I’ve got to be close,” I cried all I wanted some good vitamins to make me grow, “Is this such a big ask?  Come on!”  With one last burst, I put all my energy into both ends.  I huffed and puffed.  “Arghh!!  I think I burst a seam.  No!”  I felt my root around a bit, “ I did it!  I did it!  I made it.”

“What have you made?” asked the seed beside me.

“ I finally hit the right stuff to make me grow, I found manure, lots of beautiful manure.”

“Where?”

“Follow my roots,” I whispered quietly, but I knew that I big head start on the rest of the pumpkins.  So it didn’t concern me much they were headed in my direction.

Now I was able to concentrate on my pumpkin.  I had to be crafty though for this to work.  “It’s got to be hidden from the gardener or he’ll eat me first,” I thought searching myself to find the best place to have this pumpkin hidden.  “Hmm...I have grown into a nice vine.  Haven’t I?”  I thought this actually is the first time; I looked around above the ground.  I had spent all my time searching underneath.

I chose a nice spot which was partially buried with mulch, well hidden my leaves.  I began to work hard again.  I pushed through my flowers.  Now I have to wait for the bees to find my lovely flowers.

This was no fun waiting for the bees to find me.  I began to huff and puff again.  I really worked hard to make my flowers to release their pollen.  “It’s working!”  I thought staying very still so that it will land on my flower.

It did!  I was now a germinated plant.  All I had left to do now was sitting back and watch myself grow, with lots of short burst to ensure.  I kept growing big but I didn’t want to be seen to soon by the gardener or I’d definitely end up for dinner.  I didn’t want that.

            I’d huffed and puffed, then rested.  The warm sun was shining down onto my green leafs when I felt someone rustling my leaves.  “No it’s the gardener!”  I cried.  He had a pair of cutters in his hand.  “No, leave me alone!”  SNIP!  MY DREAM WAS GONE.

            I felt very sad watching my pumpkin headed for the house.  “I never grew that one for your table,” screaming around my head.  I just sat there staring at the door where I seen my dream went.  I just sat there every part of me crying.

            Suddenly the door opened “There’s him again!”  I snapped seeing the gardener standing there.  “Hang on!  What’s he holding?”  I thought straining my eyes to look closer.  “My baby pumpkin!  What’s he done to it?”  I thought.  The gardener was heading this way so I’ll get to see my baby.

            My baby was sat down beside me, while the gardener went to pick some beans from the next plot.  “Baby…  What has he done to you?”  I whispered.

            “He’s entering me in the animal category at the show,” beamed my baby.

            “Your going to the show?”

            He gave himself a gentle roll.  I knew that was a YES.

            I felt so proud watching my baby being carried away by the gardener, but I couldn’t help but chuckle seeing him with Alfalfa hair and carrot rings for eyes.  Capsicum for his mouth, Beans for his leg, Peas for his arms and zucchini halves for ears.  “It wasn’t really my plans for him, but he did go to the show.”  I beamed proudly

            TODAY’S THOUGHTS—

            The Pumpkin’s is still in its seed form, yet it has direct idea on where it wants to go when he grows up.  When are a seed not even began to form into a baby our mummy’s belly.  We have our future mapped out by God.

Unlike the pumpkin seed feeling, its way through the dark, alone! We have God to walk shining his light into our life, showing us the best way.  He will always give us the nutrients we need to grow.  We don’t have to search…  It’s all written in his bible.

            God is waiting to nurture us and teach us, we will never tire like this pumpkin because Jesus has already done the work for us.  He promises to carry our trouble.  He is a loving God.

            We can have high hopes like this pumpkin did…. Through whom can we reach our highest Dreams?  Would you agree with me that through God we can aim higher than we could on our own?