Poetry by Layne

Love

The wind in my ear pointed your way
But the breeze was just a lie
The look in your eye was beautiful
But what is love?
Nothing worth a try.

If I were your lover,
I’d wade through the clover.
Over the fields before
The pathway that leads to your door.
Over the meadows,
To wait mid the shadows,
The shadows that circle your door,
For the heart of my heart and more.


How beautiful, a love without sighs,
Of laughter-full eyes,
And watch,
In the twinkle of stars
That sprinkle
The paradise over her door,
For the soul of my soul and more.


Layne-Michael

Read more!

Poetry by Layne

Friends

Friends are always there for you,
They care for you
They watch out for you.

Friends are always there for you,
When you’re feeling bad or down.
A smile?—Upside down they’ll make your frown.

Friends will keep your secrets,
What’s yours is theirs, what’s theirs is yours.
Friends will keep your secrets.

Friends are honorable, enough to achieve your trust
Enough to achieve your thanks,
Enough to achieve your blessings.
Honorable friends achieve your brotherhood.

Layne-Michael

Read more!

Shine (VBS)

Devotions For K-5th Grade

Last year's VBS, cleverly written by our own Connie Lannom, reminded us that we are part of a team—God's team. This was cleverly shown through a racing theme. Our kids and our wonderful volunteer leaders were all a part of Team S.H.I.N.E.

SHINE stood for...

S - start your engines
H - hear your spotter
I - invite others to the race
N - never give up
E - endure to the Finish.

The Gatekeepers learned what is known as a spotter. In NASCAR each driver has one.
He stands on the highest part of the race track, a part of the grand stand that is even above the crowd. Do you know what his job is? It is to look after his driver.
You see, if a crash happens the spotter makes sure that his driver knows about it and how he can avoid it.

"Crash a hundred yards ahead," he'll say. Then he will tell his
driver exactly which way to go on the track to stay out of harm's way.
Jesus is a wonderful and perfect spotter. As we listen to Him on this path of life He is able to tell us which way to go to avoid a horrible "crash."

What would you consider a horrible crash? Fighting with your brother or sister perhaps. Getting angry? Being disrespectful to your parents?

What would Jesus, your spotter, tell you? Walk away? Turn around? Don't go there you'll only get hurt.

Listen to your Spotter, He'll tell you where to go.

Read more!

Read Aloud Children's Story

THE SHEPHERD’S GATE
by Sharon Pearson


I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved… John 10:9a.


Squeak! Creak! Squeak! Creak!

Toby scrambled to his feet. What was that sound? Dry leaves and twigs dangled from his curly wool as he stepped out from under a tree.

“Mother!” Toby bleated. But she was too far away to hear him.

“Pete!” Toby bellowed.

The Shepherd had hired Pete to take care of the flock while he was gone. But Pete was not in sight.

Squeak! Creak!

Toby tilted his ear. Could it be the Shepherd’s Gate? Was the Shepherd returning?

Toby bounded across the field to the Shepherd’s Gate. But the bolt was tightly shut and nobody was there. Toby kicked a cluster of dandelions and hung his head. It must have been the wind.

When darkness fell, Toby settled into the sheep pen with his mother. The flock whispered back and forth about the Shepherd.

“He said he would come back for us when the days turn warm.”

“—to take us to the fields of Abundance...”

“It will be cooler there.”

“—and the grass will be thick and green…”

“—and the streams will never run dry.”

“He’ll lead us through the Shepherd’s Gate.”

“It’s the only way.”

Toby licked his lips and imagined tasting the thick green grasses of the fields of Abundance. He wanted to leave right away!

The next day as Toby walked with his mother, he asked, “When is the Shepherd coming? I’m tired of waiting!”

“He’ll return soon. The days are getting warmer.”

“I think he forgot about us!” Toby stomped through the dry prickly grass.

“The Shepherd always keeps his promises,” assured his mother.

Later that day, Toby went to look for Pete, the hired man. As he plodded across the field, he heard a strange sound coming from the far side of the pasture.

Clang! Chink! Clang! Chink!

It was Pete! He was striking the stone wall with his ax!

Toby raced to the far edge of the field.

Chink! Chink!

Rocks tumbled to the grass.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

Toby stared at the large hole in the wall.

“What are you doing?” he asked Pete.

“Making an escape route. Wild beasts are lurking on the trail near the Shepherd’s Gate!”

Toby’s eyes widened. “Wild b-b-beasts?”

“The Shepherd won’t be able to get past them. So I’m making another way out.”

“Are you sure He’s not coming? My mother said he—”

“If you wait for him, you’ll never get out of here safely,” puffed Pete. “I’m going to make sure the flock gets to the fields of Abundance. There’s more than one way to get there, you know.” He heaved his ax into the wall.

“More than one way?” Toby twitched his ears.

Crack! Thud!

“There! That ought to be wide enough.” Pete wiped his brow. “I’m going to get the flock.” He gathered his tools and strode across the field.

Toby wondered if the flock would listen to him. He knew his Mother wouldn’t. She would wait for the Shepherd. But what if the Shepherd never returned? That meant he’d be stuck here...probably forever...fending off wild beasts...or maybe even worse—having an empty stomach! He would never get to taste the sweet grasses of the fields of Abundance if he stayed. Toby walked to the opening and peeked through. A trail lead down to a bubbling river. Clumps of green grass grew along the banks. Toby’s mouth began to water. He stepped slowly through the hole and plodded forward.

At that moment there came a rustling sound down by the river. Toby froze. A dark form emerged from a cluster of tall reeds. It was a wolf! Toby turned and scrambled back through the opening. He saw Pete in the distance and sped after him.

“A wolf! A wolf!” shrieked Toby.

“Save me!” he bellowed catching up to the man.

They watched the wolf slink through the opening.

“I’m getting out of here.” Pete cried. He pushed Toby aside and dashed across the field. Toby tried to follow him, but he tripped on a tree stump, and rolled under bush. A sharp pain pinched his right front leg.

The wolf licked his lips and bounded after the hired man. In a panic, Pete cut through the field toward the tall stone wall bordering the pasture. He scrambled quickly up the side jamming the toes of his boots into the crevices. He had almost reached the top when the wolf sprung through the air and bit the leg of his pants. The cloth ripped and the wolf fell backwards. With a last mighty pull, the hired man mounted the wall and quickly slid over.

The wolf turned and headed to the far side of the field where the flock huddled near the Shepherd’s Gate. He plunged toward them with a snarl.

“Baaaaaa! Baaaaaa!” they hollered, scattering in every direction.

Suddenly a loud voice rang out above the noise and confusion.

“Wolf! Bother my sheep no longer!”

The wolf spun around to face a tall man holding a shepherd’s staff. His fur bristled. The man quickly hooked the end of his staff around the animal’s neck and flung him over the wall.

At the Shepherd’s gate, the flock huddled together. The Shepherd stroked their heads to calm them. He called each one by name.

Then he asked, “Where is Toby?”

“I don’t know,” Toby’s mother answered weakly. “When I saw the wolf, I called and called—“ she began to sob softly.

“I’ll find him,” said the Shepherd gently wiping a tear. Then he walked with long strides toward the opposite end of the pasture.

Toby’s heart pounded as he watched the Shepherd approaching. What was he going to say? What would the Shepherd think of him? He dragged himself out from under the bush and tried to stand on his injured leg, but fell back into the mud with a smack.
A moment later the Shepherd was beside him.

“Hello Toby.”

“H-H-Hi,” stammered Toby.

“Are you okay?”

“I d-d-don’t know.”

The Shepherd knelt beside him. “What happened?”
“I’m sorry,” said Toby looking down. “I—I—went the wrong way.” He began to cry. “Pete made a hole in the wall and—and will you forgive me?”

“I forgive you,” said the Shepherd.

“I was afraid that you might not come back,” sniffed Toby.

“I always keep my promises,” said the Shepherd.

Toby noticed blood on the shoulder of the Shepherd’s cloak. His hands were covered with scratches.

“—but the wild beasts—they didn’t stop you?”

“There is nothing—not even wild beasts—that could ever stop me from coming to you.”

For a brief moment their eyes met. And Toby felt a great love. Suddenly he didn’t care if he ever went to the fields of Abundance. He just wanted to be near the Shepherd.

”Are you ready to leave for the fields of Abundance?” the Shepherd asked.

“I’ll never make it.” Toby’s throat tightened. “I hurt my leg and I can’t walk.”

“You don’t have to travel by yourself,” said the Shepherd. “Will you trust me to carry you there?”

Toby nodded. The Shepherd gently picked him up and cradled him in his arms. He carried him across the field to the sheep pen. He gently rinsed the mud out of Toby’s wool and tenderly bandaged his injured leg. Then he placed him under his arm and walked across the field toward the Shepherd’s Gate. Toby’s mother ran anxiously to meet them.

“Toby! I’m so glad you’re safe!”

“The Shepherd found me!”

“What happened to your leg?”

“I tripped on a tree stump,” he answered as the Shepherd set him down so his mother could nuzzle him. “I tried to go to Abundance by myself. I’m sorry, Mom.”

His mother whispered, “If you would be more patient about things, you wouldn’t get yourself into so much trouble.”

I’ll try to be better,” Toby whispered back. “Now that I know the Shepherd always keeps his promises!”

Toby looked at the Shepherd. “Are we going to leave right now? Like right at this moment?”

The Shepherd looked lovingly at his flock. “Follow me,” he said. And placing Toby high on his shoulders, he led the flock through the Shepherd’s gate.

Squeak! Creak!

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:9a, 11-15

Read more!