• Follow the Pumpkin Trail
This is the season to follow the Pumpkin Trail. What is the Pumpkin Trail? Well, it is the trail you follow to get a total makeover. Yes, the change in your life where God picks you out, cleans you up, puts a smile on your face and puts His light inside your life. Then He puts you, O Jack O Lantern, on the right trail…
Fall is that great time of year to share your makeover experience. It is that process of letting the light from the inside shine through to the outside. For children this season is a time of good and plenty, extra good food and plenty of candy. For me the Halloween pumpkin illustrates this mysterious makeover. It becomes visible for all to see, like inside out!
Here is an object lesson, right from the pumpkin patch, that maybe you could use this Halloween. May the Lord help you share with others, so they will follow the Pumpkin Trail, the place where spiritual makeovers begin?
Are you a Pumpkin Christian? by Barney Kinard
Being a Christian is just like a pumpkin! Let me try to explain…I brought this pumpkin here to help me illustrate what I mean. (Proceed to carve the pumpkin.)
First, God picks you from the pumpkin patch and brings you in from the field. The Bible says He selects us out of the world. We are in the world, but no longer of the world.
He then washes all the “dirt” off the outside that we received from being around all the other pumpkins. All the outside influences of our former life must be cleaned up. Old things are passed away and all things are become new.
Then, He carefully removes all the “yucky stuff” called “sin” out from the inside. Look at this! Yuk! Sin will not have such internal power. He then changes us from the inside out by the Power of His Word. That’s why it is important to go the church and learn about God’s Word.
He carefully removes all those seeds of doubt, hate, greed, and fear. He replaces them with the seeds of faith, hope and love. After Jesus is invited inside, you begin to experience the changing power of God’s love in your life.
Then He carves a new smiling face. Our countenance is changed by the power of His presence in our life. We then become so grateful. It can even show on our face!
Now we are going to light this candle inside. Look! This pumpkin now reflects the light from inside out. So too, when Jesus, who is called the Son of Light, lives inside of us, He shines through our life for all to see. We can let His light reflect through us to reveal His presence. “Let your light so shine before men that they may be able to see your good works and glorify your Father, who is in heaven.”
So you see, we Christians are really like this pumpkin! We will never be the same with Jesus inside of us. We can say like this jack-o-lantern, “Thy presence, my light!”
For unusual ideas for pumpkin artistry go to www.pumpkingutter.com
4 Responses to “• Follow the Pumpkin Trail”
October 20th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Good lesson, will have to try it.
October 8th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
Thank you! I am using this tomorrow in Jr. Church! 🙂
October 10th, 2011 at 4:35 pm
Where did you get that great “pumkin trail” picture??
October 10th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
I was traveling south on Highway 99 between Dinuba and Fresno somewhere, a few years ago. I saw it, stopped my car, jumped out, got the shot and went on my way. You want a copy?
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