Jax's Tail Twitches by David Powlison

 Jax's Tail Twitches

Jax's Tail Twitches is part of the Good News for Little Hearts series.  Each story in the series focuses on a real-life issue while entertaining children with cute animal stories of hope.  Jax's Tail Twitches is written to help children deal with anger.  Jax's tail twitches when he gets angry.

Jax's family is a family of squirrels living in their own tree.  It's time to gather acorns for winter, so the whole family needs to help.  

The day begins with Jax and his brother, Caspian, racing to the kitchen for breakfast.  Jax becomes angry at Caspian for tripping him so that he can beat Jax to the kitchen.  

Later on, while the family gathers the acorns from their tree, another squirrel family, the McNuffles, shows up and begins gathering acorns from Jax's family's tree.  Papa Squirrel doesn't want to share his acorns with the McNuffles because the rule book says that each squirrel family must gather acorns from their own family tree.  

While Papa and Mr. McNuffle argue over sharing acorns, Jax and Caspian race about.  Baby Jolie takes a leap and lands in Papa Squirrel's acorn bag, scattering the acorns all around.  Then Mama Squirrel remembers that her dinner is burning.  

When Jax's family returns to their nest home, they are all angry for different reasons. Jax realizes that they are all angry because they didn't get what they wanted.  

Jax's Tail Twitches by David Powlison

Jax's family members agree that they are all angry over selfish reasons.  Papa Squirrel reminds his family that the Great Book says that anger does not produce the right and good life God wants us to have.  They all agree that they acted in ways that were not right and they need God to help them with their anger.  They need Jesus to forgive them and show them each where they were wrong.  Then, they bowed their heads to pray.

The story wraps up when both squirrel families meet again at the bottom of the tree to finish gathering food for the winter.  They admit to each other where they were wrong and they all ask for forgiveness.  Then, they share a meal and food for the winter.

Jax's Tail Twitches is a sweet story that teaches children that we all get angry from time to time, but when we do get angry, it is important to ask God to show us any place where we are wrong.  Then, we need to ask for forgiveness both from God and from the person we might have wronged in our anger.  

The back of the book offers two helpful resources for helping families help their children with anger.  There is a section called "Helping Your Child with Anger."  This section has 9 points of advice for parents to help them help their children with anger.  

Jax's Tail Twitches by David Powlison

At the very end of the book, there is a section of pocket Bible verse cards that children can cut out and carry in their pockets.  When they feel angry, they can pull the cards from their pocket and read them for encouragement through times of trouble when they might feel angry.

Jax's Tail Twitches by David Powlison

You can get your copy of Jax's Tail Twitches here.

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Jax's Tail Twitches by David Powlison

The Fall of Man (Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel)

The image of Cain and Abel is my own photograph taken at the Creation Museum.

The Fall of Man

Today, I'm reading Genesis, chapters 3 and 4.

As and adult, I am drawn to particular parts of this story that I didn't think much about as a child. In a church ladies' Bible study, I was drawn to Genesis 3:8.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8

It was the first part that got our attention. Adam and Eve recognized the sound of God walking in the garden. It occurred to us that this was a common sound to them. They must have been accustomed to walking with God in the garden in the cool of the day . . . walking WITH God here on Earth. What an amazing custom of fellowship with God they must have enjoyed . . . until they disobeyed Him.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.

They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. - Genesis 3:1-8 

In my Bible, I underlined a key phrase and a key word in the passage above.  Eve saw that the fruit was pleasing to the eye and it was desirable for gaining wisdom.

We are not so different from Eve.  Oh how those words snare us today just as they snared Eve back in the Garden of Eden.  Not everything that is "pleasing to the eye" is pleasing to God.  Just because something is desirable doesn't mean it is God's plan for our lives. 

Another thing that, for some reason, never caught my attention until more recently is found in Genesis 3:21. I don't know why but I always thought that Adam and Eve made their own garments after they allowed sin to enter into their lives. We learn in Genesis 3:21 that God Himself made garments for Adam and Eve.

The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. Genesis 3:21 

God loved Adam and Eve. He loved them before their rebellion and He loved them after. Adam and Eve's actions resulted in negative consequences, the fall of man, but God still provided protection for them.

When our kids disappoint us, we must love them like God loved Adam and Eve.

When our kids disappoint us, their actions result in negative consequences perhaps in the form of punishment, but we still provide for them because we love them. God loves us in the same way that we love our children. When we disappoint Him, we suffer negative consequences, but He continues to love us and provide for us.

Cain and Abel

If you grew up in church, you've probably been reading the story of Cain and Abel since you were a child.  Cain and Abel were brothers, sons of Adam and Eve.  Abel kept flocks.  Cain worked the soil.  Cain and Abel both brought an offering before the Lord.  Abel offered the firstborn of his flock and God was pleased.  Cain brought an offering, but God was not pleased with Cain's offering.   Cain became angry because God found favor in Abel's offering, but not his own so Cain killed his brother, Abel.

I remember the story as a simple one from childhood but this story is far more complicated.  Jealousy is not a simple matter.  Jealousy breeds resentment. It causes us to lose control of our emotions.  Left unchecked, it can cause us to lose control of our actions too.  Jealousy changes people.  Jealousy resulted in murder in the case of Cain and Abel.  Jealousy can result in the same today as it did then.  

What does the Bible say about jealousy?

Put me like a seal over your heart,
Like a seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
Jealousy is as severe as Sheol;
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
The very flame of the Lord. - Solomon 8:6

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. - James 3:14-15

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant. - 1 Corinthians 13:4

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. - James 3:16

Pay close attention to this next verse.  Paul did not sugarcoat the consequences of a jealous heart in his letter to the Galatians.  He places jealousy in the same category as immorality, sorcery, drunkenness, and others.  Read the last part of this verse carefully.  Paul warns that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. - Galatians 5:19-21

This doesn't mean that you will lose your salvation or go to Hell if you felt jealous over a situation yesterday.  Remember that we all guilty of sin (Romans 3:23).  The danger is when our lifestyle indicates that we are living a life without conviction and repentance.  We know believers by the fruit they bear.  

You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. - Matthew 7:16-20

Cain suffered severe consequences for his sins.  God told Cain that the ground would no longer yield crops for him.  He would become a wanderer on the Earth.  

Even as God revealed His punishment for Cain, He showed compassion for Cain.  Cain was afraid that whoever found him would kill him, but God told Cain that anyone who killed him would suffer vengeance 7 times over.  Then, God placed a mark on Cain to protect him.  Then, Cain left God's presence and wen to the land of Nod which was East of Eden.

If jealousy is something that you are dealing with right now, I urge you to hand the situation over to the Lord.  Let Him have it all.  

If you are not a believer, then I urge you to go back and read Galatians 5:19-21 again.  Then, know God loves you and wants you to know Him.  Learn more about how to receive Jesus and know God personally here.

This post is part of my Coloring Through Genesis Series.  I'm using my new Beautiful Word Coloring Bible.  I love it because it leaves plenty of space for notes and I enjoy coloring the pages.  I look forward to using this Bible as I continue through the book of Genesis.

 

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The Fall of Man (Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel)

Read all posts in the Coloring Through Genesis Series here.

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20 Encouraging Scripture Cards for Deployed Military Men and Women (Living Through Deployment Series)

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Today begins a new series here on Abundant Family Living.  My son has been in the Army National Guard for 7 years now, but today, things changed.  Today is the day he reported for his first day on active duty status.  OPSEC guidelines (Operational Security Guidelines) prevent us from sharing dates, times, and places so I won't be revealing those here on the blog until or if ever a such time is appropriate, but when the time arrives, this will be the second time I've lived through a deployment.  The first time began in 1992 when I watched my husband, a young US Marine, head for Somalia.  At the time, I was  pregnant with my son who will deploy at a time and to a place unnamed for now.  I've known this was coming for a long time so I thought I would handle this pretty well.  After all, I've done this before so I can do it again.  Let me tell you though.  No amount of time this side of Heaven and no amount of previous military family experiences could have prepared this mama's heart for watching her son prepare to head for the dangers of a foreign land to fight a so-far 17 year war.  My heart is breaking into a million pieces along with many other moms, wives, husbands, children, and all sorts of people who love these brave men and women.

This ornament is available here.

I have been thinking about what I might be able to send with my son to help encourage him in his faith during this long span of time away from his family, his home, and his church.  I know that I could never bear this calling - this high calling - chosen by God to be the wife and mother of two brave military men - without a firm foundation of faith.

There is an old saying that says, "God will not put on you more than you can bear."  My friend, my partner in the bearing of heavy burdens, this is not true at all. 

For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead. - 2 Corinthians 1:8-9

God does allow us to be burdened more than we can bear.  In fact, according to 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, He allows us to be burdened EXCESSIVELY more than we can bear so that we will not trust in our own strength but in God.

I've decided that one of the things I want to send with my son is a stack of cards.  On each card will be a Bible verse of encouragement.  Each verse is intended to help him gain wisdom, knowledge, and understanding as he endures certain weaknesses.  If you have a loved one deploying or you have a loved one enduring a different kind of hardship, perhaps these cards will help your loved on too.  In fact, I will be creating two stacks, one for my son and one for me.  I know that I will be enduring all these weaknesses too.  We all do from time to time in our daily circumstances.

I want to share these with you.  I'll be offering them for free right here in this post.  The only thing I ask is that, if you want to share them with someone else, you will refer them back to this blog post.

20 Encouraging Scripture Cards for Deployed Military Men and Women

Simply right click.  Then save to your computer.  I will be printing these out on card-stock in the 4X6 size.  Then, I'll write a personal message to my son in my own handwriting on the back of each card.  

If your Military family member needs a whole Bible, here are some which are geared to specific branches of service.

Read other posts about living through deployment here.