Children and God

 

It was the dawn of color television and the Howdy Doody show, Ed Sullivan, poodle skirts, saddle shoes, drive in theaters, the jitterbug, jukeboxes and candy buttons on paper. The milkman delivered to your door and the family doctor still made house calls. Women stayed at home, wore aprons and cooked Maypo for breakfast. It was convertible cars, the polio vaccine, home perms and Alaska became a state. It was Elvis, Mickey, Uncle Milty and American Bandstand. We caught pollywogs and fireflies, played hopscotch and jumped to Double Dutch. It was the magical time of childhood wonder and innocent discovery.

> Childhood seemed, then and now, not to be unlike any other child's.

 

> Adults have little understanding of the influence they have on the lives of young children. In many ways, we become imprinted by those who are the strongest personalities in our young lives. It is said from birth to four are the years that set us on the course of who we will become. I am sure my mother, grandfather, Mother Carmichael were strong influences in my life. 

 

> There were a few struggles for our family and within our family. All families struggle with internal and external relationships. We learned give and take. My brother and I were close as children, but on one occasion, our tempers were so riled that we threatened each other with knives. Grandfather stopped that little drama before it turned tragedy. The next day, we were trying to defend each other against a common enemy. We grew through all of it.

 

> Back then, God was the invisible friend I talked to and the subject of Bible stories at church. My life was about friends, school, fishing, parakeets and dress up. Children are truly blessed to have their own world and a direct line to the ear of God. Children are on God's priority list. Need prayer? Ask a child to intervene for you.

 

 

 

> We are tested daily. The greatest trial in my first ten years was overcoming not having a father. When a parent leaves or gives up a child, that child's small world insists that this is their fault. Children take these huge burdens on themselves and create guilt and blame. Until he left, I was Daddy's girl. After he left, I craved male attention. This had a huge affect on my life for many years to come and is still a small part of my emotional baggage. He left an unfulfilled hunger inn each of us. My sister and I yearned for the paternal presence that is the role model for a girl's choice of male relationships. My brother just wanted a father's guiding hand and approval for a "Job well done, son."

 

> A huge part of my character is defined by my mother's heart. It cannot be explained any other way - example is a great teacher. What do we know of giving, if not witnessed by us of those we admire? What does anyone know of compassion without suffering?

 

> I believe that God listened to me from the first time I called on Him; wishing upon a star in the night sky. He hears every word from the lips of a child. Let me say here, there have been a few times when I felt lonely, but I cannot remember any moment when I felt alone - not ever.

 

> There are no coincidences, no accidents in God's perfectly ordered universe. Everything in the life of a believer happens for a reason. As you continue through the reflections of my life, you will see why I have come to believe this way. Our lives come together in the end for a purpose.

* God is on His thrown and all is right.

Onward Christian Soldiers

This message is not directed to any reader in a country that oppresses Christianity.  God does not condone putting your life at risk.  You are created for life and life more abundantly.


Does the world see you as a Christian?  A follower of Christ?

Are you selfish, thoughtless, impatient, rude, confrontational?  Do you wear a cross around your neck and grumble at the sales clerk?  Do you have a fish decal on your car and honk your horn at every little offense?  do you say grace at home but not in restaurants?  Do you gossip and cuss?

If you are going to wear the cross, display "I am a Christian" decal, hang images on the walls of your home or carry your Bible for everyone to see, you had better be walking the walk; not just talking the talk.  The world is watching us. 

Awhile back, I wrote in this blog about saying grace in public and got lots of praise for speaking out on this subject.  I wonder how many of the people who praised me for that actually do it themselves.  I seldom see people saying grace in public - even after I published that writing.
  I live in a very small, rural town with a church on every corner.  We have an annual day of prayer at the flag poll in the park.  We have an annual prayer breakfast sponsored by our Ministerial Alliance.  We pray at every Bible Study and church meal.  There is prayer before and closing every Sunday school class.  Our churches have prayer weeks that open their doors for people to commit to an hour of prayer.  Our churches preach prayer from the pulpit.  Why do I not see more public personal prayer/grace over meals?  Is it just reserved for church?  If we pray in church and at home, why won't we pray in public?

Are you hung up on the parable of the man who prayed openly, bragging to God with pretty words?  This was an example of self righteousness - not an example of how we are to live our lives as a light to the world.

Even if you are in a place or a situation that might put you in physical jeopardy, you can always think a silent prayer of thanks to your Lord and Savior.  No one can take your thoughts from you.  There is no mechanical detector for mind reading.  How many of you, right now, are cheering what I am saying and will go out to lunch, in a public place, and NOT say grace?

You do not have to stand up and impose it on everyone in the place.  You do not have to speak it out loud.  You do not have to use glorious, poetic words.  Even a group of you can bow your heads in silent prayer as an example - let the world know there are Christians among them.  You are not expected to make a spectacle of yourself.  God will make your actions known to those whom He wants to notice.  You speak volumes with quiet humility.  Christians are non aggressive warriors.  Our actions, appearance and public behavior are our weapons.

Beyond grace in public, what else are you doing for the world to see you as set apart?  Take a test:  Stand in front of a mirror.  Are you clean or unkempt?  Do your cheeks show under your hem line?  Does your neckline expose your naval?  Is your tee shirt dirty and full of holes or satanic images?  Are your clothes so tight that your cellulite is visible underneath?  For goodness sake!  A Christian is supposed to stand out - not blend into the world.  The Bible tells us we are set apart.  Everywhere you go, you are a representative of heaven and the glorious world to come.

Now, don't get your panties in a wad.  I am not against tattoos, piercings or jeans in church.  Jesus accepts you as you are.   Everyone is growing at a different pace.  The Spirit deals with each of us as we are ready.  There are many churches and individuals out there doing great work reaching those people who are uncomfortable in the traditional church setting.  Jesus went into places to commune with people that society and the pharisees looked down on.  People will never be reached if we look at the book by it's cover.  In church, we are preaching to the choir.  The need is outside the church and you have to reach people on their own turf.

I am saying:  m o d e s t y.   Most of us come to the point of our spiritual growth where we want to present ourselves as clean and neat in appearance.  We represent the kingdom of God.  We are the bride of Jesus Christ Himself.  What sort of example do we set when we smoke, drink and wear short shorts?  When I went into the Native American community, I dressed down so as not to offend BUT I maintained a certain standard as an example. Paul said: "I am all things to all people".
Story:  Years ago, I was at a Christian celebration for the day.  We were in skirts and heels with the men in suits.  We broke for lunch and a group of us went to a fast food restaurant.  It was noon and it was busy.  There was a long line waiting to place their order.  When we walked in, all eyes turned to us.  We did look a little out of place among the tee shirts and sandals.  We took our place at the end of the lines and the waters parted.  I promise you, people stood aside to let us order ahead of them.  I have never witnessed anything like it.  I have never forgotten that.  People in that restaurant assumed, from our appearance, that we were special in some way.  

We cannot be respected unless we first show respect to ourselves.  Plain and simple, our appearance is a matter of self respect.  There looks to be so little today.  A lot of people do not look like they respect themselves so it is easy to discount them.  This should not be.  I truly believe that Jesus did not go around in sack cloth.  He was given expensive gifts when he was an infant (gold, frankincense and myrrh).  Many believe he owned his own house in Cappernaum.  Why would the Roman soldiers, at the cross, gamble for his robe if it was not of quality?  There is a verse that says it was made of one unbroken thread.  He was a Hebrew teacher who wore his prayer shawl - what the woman with the issue of blood touched.  Jesus was not a slob.

Do you offer everyone a smile or a scowl?  This earth is a battle ground.  Satan goes to and fro seeking who he may devour.  He is the enemy.  What are we doing to fight him and his tyranny?  I am not talking about taking a gun and making a public statement.  Violence is not of our Lord Jesus.  I am talking about the quiet personal strength that God supplies when we do His work.  Being a helpful, joyful, determined ambassador for heaven is doing the work of your Lord.

Are you aware of your surroundings?  Are you open to helping a stranger?: the woman struggling with loading groceries, returning a shopping cart for someone, moving a cart away from the path of traffic, picking up a piece of trash or hundreds of other little gestures.  Are you patient waiting in line?  Are you a patient listener?  Do you encourage where there is negativity?  Are you actively seeking opportunities to show yourself to the world as an example of something (or some place) better?

God wants others to want what He has given us.  How can they if we show how rude, grouchy and unhappy we are with all our complaining?

The end of the age is closer all the time.  We are Christian soldiers in this world today; the salt of the earth that makes life taste better.  More of us should be quietly and humbly fighting this battle.  Let's show the world the good side of Christianity.  Let's show others our joy so they will want what we have.  Bring your inner peace out of you as a testament to the world.  Let's be fishers of men in our own little corner of life.  Let's show others that we have a life they need and make them want it by being the "nice people".
Amen