Every Sunday evening the Link family gathers in the family room to have a little "family worship" time. We sing (some of us), dance (zeke and Reese), thank God, read God's Words, and look in our "Incredible" box (an old game box of the "Incredibles", the movie) to find a verse to memorize for the week that will help make us "incredible". Well, this Sunday we decided to switch things up a little and go to the Kalamazoo Nature Center to celebrate "Pure Maple Syrup Days". For those of you who don't know me, I am a HUGE fan of pure maple syrup. Everything about MY "sweet nectar from heaven" (Rob's "sweet nectar" is Mt. Dew......not nearly as "pure" ) causes me to worship my God, hence, the trip for "family WORSHIP".

I see God and His words throughout the complete history and process of PURE Maple syrup.

"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings." Prov. 25:2

Hidden inside these special Maple trees is this wonderful little treasure of 2% sugar. A treat, hidden that was discovered and passed down from one generation to another (may we make sure we are passing down our "discoveries/treasures/ experiences with God to our "next" generation.) This huge, mysterious God has given us and still has for us so many little hidden "treasures'. It is to our glory to search for them and find them. Don't hate the search. See it as an adventure. Every day is a new day to discover something new, something hidden that He is waiting for us to find, something new about Him.

The process of making PURE Maple syrup is AMAZING. Did you know it takes 40 gallons of sap to make just 1 gallon of "the treausure." Never again will my children waste one little lick of the PURE stuff.(forget manners- they'll be licking their plates clean at the Cracker Barrel )Keeping in mind this process and all the labor, all the hours that goes into making this syrup truly makes it so precious.

Are you aware of the process that went into making YOU pure? Do you know ALL that Jesus had to go through in order that you would be able to be called, "Without blemish, and free from accusation"? It's much more amazing than 40 gallons of sap. It's much more precious- Him giving up his life for yours. May we never, ever, ever take it for granted! May we search it out until we completely understand (if we ever fully can?) all that He did for us on the cross.

Now, for the word "PURE".

PURE- free from impurities;full strength;complete;
thorough; without faults;containing nothing inappropriate

'How can a young man keep his way PURE? By living according to your word." Psalm 119:9

"Your eyes are too PURE to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong." Habbukuk 1:13

"Blessed are the PURE in heart, they will see God." Matt.5:8

"Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept PURE." Hebrews 13:4 (because God is sooooooo good he wants His children to have "FULL STRENGTH" in the bedroom)

"Keep yourself PURE." 1 Timothy 5:22

"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we wil be has not yet been made known. But we know that WHEN (not if) he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him PURIFIES himself, just as he is PURE." 1 John 3:2&3

"If we walk in the light, as he is in the light we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, PURIFIES us from ALL sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and PURIFY us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." 1 John 1:7-10

"By one sacrifice he has made PERFECT FOREVER those who are BEING MADE holy." Hebrews 10:14...................we are in the "process" of becoming PURE- full strength, perfect, as delicious and wonderful, to God and people, as PURE MAPLE SYRUP.

May I encourage you to LOVE that which is PURE. Imitation cannot compare! God is soooooooo good. He DEEPLY DESIRES you to have what is BEST!

"If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the BEST from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." Isaiah 1:19

May I encourage you to welcome and engage the purifcation process. Accept what Jesus has done to make you pure and then do your part by purifying yourself, keeping yourself pure, and confessing your sin that you may be pure. When I left the sugar shack where everyone had a sample of the "treasure" I saw many cups thrown in the garbage with still a lot of syrup in them. I couldn't help but cringe at the waste and the seemingly lack of appreciation for all that went into making the syrup. May I encourage you to not "throw away" Jesus and all he has done for you. You are soooo deeply loved. Blessings from Bombadil. May your soul be watered and may you water another's soul.. And may you eat some PURE MAPLY SYRUP today and ENJOY! Kristy Joy Link