I remember waking up to the radio alarm one day to the refrain, “Hello country bumpkin, how’s the frost out on the pumpkin?” My wife and I laughed and laughed at such words to be awakened with. In this season of the fall harvest when pumpkins seem to spring up everywhere, I think about those days of innocence, those days when our biggest concern was the frost on the pumpkin.

At this time of the year our nation celebrates Halloween’s many activities, which includes carving out pumpkins and sitting them on the front porch steps. It has become a family tradition for millions of people. Yet very few use the bounty of the pumpkin for food.

One year at this time we had so many real pumpkins on our porch, fake pumpkins in the flowerbeds, and even giant blow up plastic pumpkins in the front yard that we earned the title, “The Pumpkin house,” from the neighborhood kids. But we didn’t eat a single one! (Pumpkin, not kids).

Now here we are again in the fall season when these orange spheres show up in front yards like dandelions on a summer day. We surround ourselves with this beautiful bounty as decoration but the food within we discard on newspaper.

The Bible says,

“Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee” (Psalm 116:7 KJV).

Are we enjoying the bounty?

The poet John Greenleaf Whittier, who was born in Massachusetts in 1807, wrote:

“The Pumpkin” (1850)
Oh! Fruit loved of boyhood! The old days recalling.
When wood-grapes were purpling and brown nuts were falling!
When wild, ugly faces we carved in its skin,
Glaring out through the dark with a candle within!

Back in the olden days, a carved pumpkin was placed on the family hearth to keep evil spirits from coming down the chimney and into the home to do their dastardly deeds.

Today, in homes across America many have replaced this use of the carved pumpkin with the Bible. Now bear with me a moment. We set the Bible out on the coffee table, enjoy its beauty, and yet rarely pick it up. We know that it holds a bounty within, yet we don’t feast on the rich food of the word when it’s sitting right here in front of us. We dust it, and display it with pride when visitors come, yet how many times, like the pumpkin, does it end up just sitting on a newspaper?

The food within the Bible nourishes our spiritual man within, yet we are starving ourselves and allowing the spirits to enter our homes through the modern-day chimney, the television. Now that’s scary. Wouldn’t our fore-bearers be aghast if they could see us today? We might call them superstitious for trying to ward off evil spirits with a carved pumpkin, but what would they say about us for not even trying?

The wonderful bounty of the pumpkin awaits the pies, while the life-giving food in the Bible awaits our eyes. This season, when you see the pumpkin carved so ingeniously and sitting on the porch, remind yourself of the Bible written so divinely and sitting on your table. It has a candle within which will never go out and will keep every evil spirit at bay.

Inside the Bible it says,

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105 KJV).

So hello, County Bumpkin! How’s the frost out on the pumpkin? Hello, modern rival! How’s the dust out on the Bible? Happy Feasting!

Gods word, the Bible, teaches us to seek Him while He may be found. Yet we have been beset with so many self induced distractions that our mind is mis-occupied with everything but God. Even faithful church goers, who have our one hour dose of faith on Sunday morning, thinks of Monday almost the entire time. Once, when I was frustrated with my busy life, A friend of mine told me to just sit quietly and reflect on my cup of coffee, how it tastes, what it looks like, how it smells, and nothing else for ten minutes. I tried it and it works. It’s like a ten minute vacation from the concerns of life. My mind was clear. Now take that time, reflect on the Lord Jesus, what He looks like, how His Presence makes you feel, what He has done tor you, and so forth. Your ten minute vacation will bring you the peace and clarity that you need and are looking for. Father will give you the happiness and peace of the Kingdom of God.

“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.” (Luke 12:21,31-32)

Silence…is golden? Really? When God sits and listens for the prayers from His children, so many times all He hears is Silence. Why? I’m perplexed. I thought that with as many Christians around the world that Heaven would be bombarded with prayer. God gave me a vision of the situation. He showed me the earth. I saw gaps, big gaps all over the globe with little or no prayer. Some of these places are barren of prayer because the people, who are praying are really praying to false Gods. Other barren places are there because of lack of faith and belief. We must fill our place, our gap, with prayer.

Jesus called a man to follow Him and spread the gospel of the Kingdom of God, but the man wanted to take care of personal business first. Jesus knew if the man went back he would stay and not accept the call. The Bible relates the story…But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

How many of us heed the call to serve yet put it off and then fail to serve. Some may say, “ You know, I’m not sure if it was the Lord calling me. What if it’s just something I wanted but it was just me, not God calling?” 

Or, “What if I’m not able to accomplish what He’s asking me to do?” I firmly believe that if you have a doubt about your calling, do it anyway and God will bless you. Jesus told His Disciples that even someone outside the group, ie. not called, doing miracles in Jesus name was to be accepted. Anyone not against is for us, and acceptable. God will enable you even if you feel inadequate. Many who love the Lord serve Him out of that love. As we grow in our relationship with Jesus, the doubts lessen and faith becomes resolute. Serve Him with joy!

Many people have awaken on a rainy Monday morning only to be filled with dread feeling yucky. We drag ourselves to the coffee pot, get to work and wish the day was over already. Then there are some people who spring out of bed with a song in their heart and bask in the excitement of another day with new opportunities for success!

It was just such a rainy Monday, when I myself was not basking, that suddenly I heard this sound coming from outside my window of birds singing. It was beautiful. You’d thought it was a sunny day, not a 55 degree fall day with wind and rain outside. 

After some quick research, I learned that the rainy environment brings worms closer to the surface and also bugs come out to dry themselves, so this is a happy buffet for the birds. They chirp and sing to let other birds know that dinner is served. In the Bible we read the words of Jesus as He explains that God provides and takes note of even a sparrow falling to the ground. He cares for the least of these. How much more does He care for you? (Matthew 10:29-31)

So instead of starting that cold, dreary rainy day with dread, realize that your Father in Heaven is aware of you and takes note to care for you. Put a smile on your face, a spring in your step, and seize your opportunities. Claim your day!

Click the link below to hear and experience the birds.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwj8wLC3iMT6AhVFGVkFHZX7C2QQ3yx6BAgOEAI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DBz7C9hVmoQ4&usg=AOvVaw3esiCNXcINigNA7dFZdY12

The Bible in Luke chapter 9 details the event in Jesus‘s life when thousands of people were following him to hear his message, and be healed. At one point the disciples came to Jesus and told him to send the people away for food and lodging because they were hungry and had no place to stay in the wilderness. But Jesus turned to his disciples and said the most perplexing thing. He said “you feed them.”

Unsettled they replied, “But we have only five fish and two loaves and there are 5000 men out there.”

So Jesus took what they had, five fish and two loaves, prayed over them, broke them into pieces and enabled the disciples to feed 5000 men plus the women and children who were with them. He could’ve done it in many ways but he chose to use his disciples to do it and he blessed what they did with the provision to do it. When you see a need and the Lord puts it upon your heart to help someone, even though it seems impossible, depend upon him to enable you with the ability to do what he’s called you to do. Then do it!