Good day dear friends. Let us be in a spirit of worship and prayer as we are aware of many great and significant needs in our midst. "Lord, bring healing and comfort, light and joy, peace and prosperity to those who are Yours. For those facing the great demands of today with little or no hope, bring to them the joy of your presence. In Christ Jesus, amen."
While having lunch yesterday in a popular restaurant, an Emmaus brother came and sat at our table and announced he had a "cute" story to share. This brother is a contractor by trade and drives a big truck and on the bed of this truck carries his dog. The day before while visiting a new customer, he drove onto their property and without warning ran over the customer's dog. The customer's wife home-schools three little boys, oldest 11, 8, and 4, who were all watching out of their picture window as this huge truck ran over their dog. The three ran out crying and this brother said he couldn't find a rock to crawl under. They brought out towels and sheets to keep the dog, "Sweetie Pie" warm and carried her gently into the living room. This brother's girlfriend told him to rush to an herbal store and bring back trauma oil to anoint the dog. He obeyed but not before seeing the youngest of the three, rush to a big Bible, hold it upside down, opening it and declaring, "There's gotta something in here for Sweetie Pie!" Thank God the story ends well with Sweetie Pie that evening running with their other dog after their owner's pickup as he went further into their property to feed horses.
Was it the trauma oil or the prayers of a four year-old child? You know my vote!
Children were important to Jesus as the Gospels proclaim. And it was in Mark 10:15 where Jesus declares, "Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." It is the innocence and trust of a child that blessed Jesus and caused him to share what he shared about God's kingdom. I shared in a sermon how our married daughter in making their move from California back to Texas struggled with so many decisions and declared it was no fun growing up and wished she could have stayed "little." I'm sure you remember one or more of those times when you said, "Why am I growing up?"
It could be during those times of maturity that we may just grow up and out of faith if we're not careful. The hard knocks of life and the many difficult decisions and challenges we face may make us feel weak and vulnerable, but Jesus would say that is precisely the time we say, "Okay, Lord, here I am, where are You?" And we know He's there.
Laurie Beth Jones shares in her book, "Jesus: Life Coach" her relationship with the Lord in which, when she feels she needs Him most, the presence of a ladybug serves as a visible reminder of the invisible presence of the Lord. She relates that even during a blizzard, when one would not expect any creatures to be out and about, as she rushed to enter in a rental car, there was a ladybug on the keyhole of the car.
I pray that our relationship with the Lord would reassure us today if not right now, that we are loved. We belong to Him and He's right here with us as we face the challenges of today.
PRAYER: Speak to our hearts right now, dear Lord. Let us quit being stubborn and too "mature" to be awed by the signs all around us of Your presence and power. We pray in Thy name, amen.
Have a blessed day,
e.v.
