The season is pretty much over but we thought we’d go apple picking anyways. We went with one of her buddies from our Sunday neighborhood children’s meeting and they had a blast! We went to Riley’s Farm in Oak Glen. They have a little colonial village where they have tours for schools and maybe on weekends. We got to see the action since there was a tour going on when we were there. The school children heard about the different smiths, made candles, learned all about the cider press and played some games back in the day. It was good for our kids to not be cooped up in the house, be able to roam around and be kids (without us having to say no you can’t do that constantly): kicking up dirt, throwing rocks and just plain getting dirty! Oh, and we had to try the apple cider and 5 lb apple pie!
As I was considering our day and how the kids mostly loved just running around and not the apple picking itself I was reminded about God. Our children being young just wanted to pick any apple: small, big, old, fresh, with holes, without holes. To them it was the picking that was fun. Just grab one! Then I thought how us moms were encouraging them to choose the biggest, fullest, greenest, freshest, not filled with hole apples. This took time for us to find the RIGHT one so eventually they lost interest and ran off. Picking a few apples was good enough for them. Being careful to choose just the right one was not in their interest. But what about God? He chooses people. He chooses sinners. He chose you. He chose me. It is not a mistake. He considered much and chose us. Ephesians 1:4 says, “Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blemish before Him in love.” He knows the ones whom He has chosen. We do not. He was very careful in His choosing. We may think He chose the good ones, the smart ones, or the upright ones. These ones are definitely some of His chosen but so are the naughty ones, the unlearned and the sinful. Actually, I may consider myself in the previous category but the more I spend time in His word and in His presence I realize I am all of the above. Yes, I may be good but I am also naughty. Maybe not outwardly but you know what is within. You and God know what is within. So for those of us who have received the Lord Jesus as our Savior into us we know we are chosen. If you have not you may wonder “Am I chosen?” It’s interesting that God chooses but it also requires our cooperation. We may be chosen but if we do not exercise or use our will to actively make the decision to receive the Lord Jesus as our Savior simply by praying, “Lord Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross for me and saving me from my sins. Thank You for coming into me as my life and everything. I believe into You and receive You!” then we will never know that we were chosen. However, one day it will happen. So, why not sooner rather than later?
5 lb apple pie!
And this is all 2 adults and 2 3 1/2 year olds could eat.
Sweeter and Sweeter 