Spring: Connecting with God

SPRING: CONNECTING WITH GOD

By David, Chelsea & Sarah Simon

Copyright © 2011 David, Chelsea & Sarah Simon

All rights reserved. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase additional copies. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, then please visit smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Smashwords Edition

Unless otherwise noted scripture quotations used in this book are from The Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV) © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society.

ISBN Smashwords Edition: 978-146599509-4

ISBN Print Version: 10-1468009907

ISBN-13 Print version: 978-1468009903

Consider using this book to lead a Bible Study.

Teaching ideas and other resources can be found at www.koshercopy.com

You might consider leading a Passover Seder during this study.

A Christian Passover in the Jewish Tradition

Available through www.koshercopy.com

With the Seder and instructions for leading the Seder.

SPRING: CONNECTING WITH GOD

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Chapter One - Created

Chapter Two - Early

Chapter Three - Passover

Chapter Four: -Hot & Cold

Chapter Five - Tradition

Chapter Six - Bread

Chapter Seven - Blood

Chapter Eight Agape

Chapter Nine - Eternal

Dedicated To God

Ephesians 3:14-19: For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:20-21: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

To those who through the years have mentored us, cared for us, taught us and guided us.

PREFACE

This book had it’s beginnings during the period of time I studied at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. It was during that period of time that several friends encouraged me to develop a Messianic Passover Haggadah. With the help of my pastor and a couple of friends, the Haggadah was developed, and I have been privileged to use this guide to lead Seders through the years.

During that time I thought about writing a book about Passover and including the Seder. I thought that this book on Passover would be my first (and maybe only) book. But that is not what the Lord planned.

In the spring of 2011, the Lord began putting tasks and opportunities in my path.

It was during this time that our church decided to pull out of our normal curriculum and develop something of our own. After much prayer and planning, I followed this path, and began to study, select and to write curriculum for our Sunday School. One of our lessons was on the Last Supper. The study material brought the thought to mind that to the disciples they were going to a Passover Seder, as they had done annually for their whole life. But for Jesus, this Passover Seder, the Last Supper was different. Within 24 hours He would be hanging on the cross.

At the same time as I preparing our lessons, we were also putting together a three week discipleship class in preparation for Easter. We used video driven material, The Crucifixion and The Resurrection by T.W. Hunt, which covered two weeks, and then we needed to find a third session. I felt led to do the Passover Seder, but not the one I normally do. This time I wanted to follow the final Passover of Jesus, which was held in the upper room in Jerusalem. This study challenged me because the Last Supper is not a normal Passover (see chapter 6). During this study I discovered several things that are part of this book.

My family challenged me to put the things I was learning into my book on the Passover. I prayed about how to do this. The idea for this book came together on a trip to visit my father. Chapter by chapter, the Lord showed me that I was not to write a book on the Passover Seder, but rather on how God desires for us to grow a relationship with Him. The Lord asks us to give offerings so we would look to Him in gratitude and thanksgiving with all of our heart. The Lord asks us to spend time with Him and to eat meals with others recognizing that God is a very present guest at every occasion. God wants us to recognize His presence. The Lord sent Jesus to us to call us away from honoring traditions and to show us how to recognize His presence and honor the Lord, the Creator of Heavens and earth.

At this time I expect three other books to follow this one: Winter: Enduring Hardship, Fall: Preparing for Harvest; and Summer: The Spirit and Growth.

I want to thank my daughters Chelsea and Sarah who have added to and refined this book and are co-authors. I want to thank my wife Denise who has encouraged me and given me the time to write.

I also want to thank Larry Jones, Brenda Allen, Jennifer Whitley, Johnnie Collins, Paul Hill, and Robert Jackson for reading the book, correcting mistakes, and encouraging me as I wrote.

And I want to thank you, the readers, who are adding to this book through your study and discussion. Please include me in the discussion by sending comments to www.koshercopy.com. The things you share will help in future writings.

A Passover Seder in Louisville, KY began the process of this book. Throughout the book there are references to Passover. If you would like to celebrate a Messianic Passover, you will find resources at the website: www.koshercopy.com.

INTRODUCTION

Several years ago in the spring I was traveling through the mountains on a business trip. We were discussing our work as we went around a curve and in front of us appeared a beautiful mirror lake with a mountain of dogwoods behind it. I called attention to the view to those with whom I was traveling. But they were so immersed in their conversation that they completely missed it. Sometimes we miss God in our pursuit of everyday life.

God desires a relationship with us. That is what this study is about. The study is also about not missing out on this relationship. Our relationship with God can be more rewarding that anything else in the world. Actually, our relationship with the Father helps us understand our world better. For God is the Creator. God knows beginning and the end. It is God who brings springtime and winter. But sometimes we fail to notice.

Even before the beginning of time God has loved us and He has sought to build a relationship with mankind. Even before the Lord said, Let us make man in our image, we were in the mind and the heart of God. He desires to care for us and for mankind to connect with Him. God is close to us and desires us to recognize and respond to His presence through our praise, thanksgiving and witness while we walk on this earth.

As humans we often live in a self absorbed world that is isolated from the reality of God’s existence. When we live the self absorbed life we miss so much of what God has for us. This world is made for our enjoyment. God has created so many beautiful things for us to see and places for us to explore. As we see and explore the new things of this world it should cause us to open our mouths and hearts in praise to God. It is for this purpose things were created: God loves and wants us to respond to Him in love.

Spring is all things new. Trees are producing new leaves. Fresh flowers come up every day. It must have been like that in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were privileged to live in a world where it was always spring. Each day they discovered new things: animals, plants, rivers, plains, mountains and the stars of the heavens. But the best thing was being able to walk and explore the Garden with the Lord the Creator who made the whole world. Can you imagine these conversations as Adam marveled at the new beauty he saw each day?

After a long hard winter we look forward to spring. Farmers sow garden plots. Spring holds the promise of warm weather which means an end to cabin fever. In the olden days armies went to battle in the spring. Spring holds many stories of salvation from famine and from battle. It was in the spring that Abraham saved Lot. Spring was also the time when God brought Israel out of Egypt. Spring is a time of renewal for gardens, relationships, and life. Spring can be a very busy time as life starts anew.

Sometimes in spring we get caught up in all of the busyness. The business world begins moving faster. Schools begin to work on programs they will share at the end of the year; and this is in addition to preparations for end of year tests. Farmers spend time tending the dirt rather than enjoying the beauty of the world around them. Our schedules, work and traditions can become more meaningful that the Lord who created everything for us. It is sin when we fail to notice God. We need to set aside time in the spring to enjoying the beauty of the earth and the Freshness of God.

God desires that we enjoy the spring. One of the pictures of spring is the lambs coming out of the fence and beginning to graze in the fields. The sheep do not have to worry about when to come out of the barn, because there is a shepherd who cares for them. The shepherd leads them to the greenest pastures. The shepherd knows how to judge the calendar to bring his sheep to the best fields. The lambs have nothing to worry about because the shepherd guards them. Shepherds and sheep have a relationship. The shepherd knows the sheep by name, and each sheep responds. Earthy shepherds remind us of Jesus, the Great Shepherd who came to care for us. Spring is lambs in the care of the Shepherd.

Spring is enjoying a relationship with God. God pursues this relationship. God shows us His creation. God calls us when we are distracted. God provided His Son Jesus the Shepherd when we were far away. God calls us to Himself. And God asks us to tell others of this wonderful relationship so that they might understand why it is always spring when you are with God.

~~ Contents ~~

Chapter One: Created

Spring is the time of year when new growth abounds. I am constantly amazed whenever I drive through town or walk down the street and see new life, witnessing first-hand the beautiful creation God has given us to enjoy.

Spring is my favorite time of year, so it’s not surprising that I have a garden. I plant lettuce, tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers and squash. Some of my favorite flowers are daffodils, crocus, tulips, and hyacinths; redbuds, forsythia, and roses. I enjoy the brilliant yellow early in the spring. Later spring brings shades of blue, purple and lavender. Late spring produces white daises and several colors of roses. I love the variety of colors I observe in this season.

As I drive down the roads I have always enjoyed the fresh green leaves coming from the trees. Recently I have observed and enjoy the different colors in the buds which make trees look like they are flowering, or showing off autumn leaf colors.

Spring is a beautiful time.

* What is your favorite season of the year? Why?

* What do you most enjoy about spring?

Abundance of Spring

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - John 10:10

God wants us to have an abundant life. What is your first thought when you think of the word abundance? Society teaches us that people who live an abundant life are super-rich mansion-dwellers, have a personal jet, nice car, and even the latest iPod; but the way the world views abundance is not real abundance.

Something to notice about people who have it all materially: many aren’t happy. Think of all the scandals you know of that involve the most famous of celebrities. If all we care about in life is acquiring money and possessions to enjoy for ourselves and show off to others, we end up never satisfied; there is always that latest version of the iPad we don’t yet have! God wants us to have a relationship with Him - the abundance He gives is that of purpose and peace for we are made for much more than ourselves. Consider these scriptures: Consider these scriptures:

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. - John 12:24

Every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. - Psalm 50:10-11

God gives us a life full of variety, no matter how many material possessions we own or what our social status might be. God has created the trees: