Horton Hears a Who, Do You?

 

Can You Hear Whos Too? 

For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[fn]

Wonderful are your works;

my soul knows it very well.

~Psalms 139:13,14

STOP! Hurry to your nearest bookshelf, library, or store. Get a copy before there are no more. Then slowly, carefully read each line. Is there anything vaguely familiar in the rhyme? 

Horton, whose elephant ears are very sharp, hears the tiniest voice calling for help. He can't see the person whose voice he hears. Some poor little person who resides on a speck of dust is crying out, shaking in fear. "He'll be blown in the pool. He has no way to steer." 

That speck is as small as the head of a pin. But you know "a person's a person no matter how small." Each and every one of us was once the size of a speck, a tiny human egg, as small as the head of a pin. 

Horton imagines who might be living on that speck of dust, "a family with children just starting to grow." The baby kangaroo agrees with everything his mother says. She's training her baby to have the same misconstrued values as she. But Horton keeps repeating "A person's a person, no matter how small." Even when everyone makes fun of him, he still stands for what he knows is right. 

Three monkeys jump on Horton's back. They could have been his friends, the government, or just pushy people trying to help. So they take the flower with the speck and give it to the vulture, who is to "kindly get rid of the thing." What? Kindly get rid? of the thing? Others say nothing is there, but now there is an admittance that there is something there.

So the vulture "hides" it in a field of other flowers. Horton feels more dead than alive. Think about that. Horton didn't agree to throw the flower away, but it's affecting him anyway. Finally, he discovers the flower with Whoville, still alive though shattered. 

The kangaroo says they live in a peaceable jungle. How can the world in which they live be peaceable when they destroy the smallest among them? How can Horton show them the truth? By getting everyone in Whoville to make a noise, shout, play music, and just make noise. The kangaroo still can't hear.

But not everyone who lives in Whoville is doing their part. When the mayor searches for the person, he finds him innocently playing with his yoyo at home. He's the one who is keeping the town from being heard. His shout, "Yopp!" is the needed extra sound to bring the message to the kangaroo. She changes her mind and her little roo does too. 

The Supreme Court has heard the case and sent it to the states. Many states are waiting for their own Supreme Court to make a decision while thousands of children die. Others have already decided to allow abortion and even infanticide. Our state leaders need to hear our voices now. Who is the last one to let our voice be heard? 

A person's a person, no matter how small!

Heavenly Father, please let the voices of your people arise and be heard by all the land so that the killing of our innocents will cease and healing can begin. In Jesus's name. Amen. 

Hey Kids:

Have you read Horton Hears a Who? Just who is a Who? I think you probably know the story of the Grinch. Little Cindy Lou Who lives in Whoville, the same Whoville Horton saves on the speck of dust. 

Though Dr.Seuss did not intend to present a Christian worldview, many of his stories have important messages that do present a Christian worldview. What other books by Dr. Seuss have you read? What were some of the messages? 

Every book has an underlying message.  I like to go back and reread books that I enjoy to make sure I got the author's meaning. What other books have you read with a Christian worldview?

God's Plan for Me

 

His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. ~Isaiah 9:6b

Every Jewish family probably knew the passage and longed for the coming of the Messiah to restore their land, but who had any idea it would happen the way it did? Do we have any idea how it happened? In the next few days, let's explore the reality of the miracle of our Savior's birth. Remember, your comments are always welcome.

Monday's Readings: Read the entire passage and let the Lord show you the verse(s) that will be significant in your life. The verse(s) I comment on are the verses the Lord had for me. That's why comments and sharing are significant, so we all may benefit.

      Luke 1:1-25 (vs. 6,7) Both Zecharias and Elizabeth were faithful to God. They kept His commandments, but it seems they were being judged by the community because Elizabeth was barren. She had no children. The people took it as a sign that Zecharias and Elizabeth were out of favor with God. Not true. God was waiting for the right time to use them both to demonstrate His power and to reveal His message.

It's hard to wait when we are discouraged and ridiculed, when people don't understand. But... we must understand, God has a plan. Whether the issue is children, husband, wife, weight, beauty, money, whatever, God is in control, and He has a plan for each of us.

Father, help me not to rush into things, but live by faith, knowing You are in control, and You have the best plan for me. In Jesus name. Amen.

Tuesday Readings: Luke1:26-38 (vs 38) Mary believed the angel and wanted to follow God's plan. But did she have any idea the hardships it would bring? I would think the first thing she might have done would have been to tell her mom. Have you ever wondered how Mary's parents figured in the story?

Growing up in the '50's and 60's, we sometimes saw teenage girls "disappear". You know, Aunt Sue or Cousin Jane, who lives in Somewhere, was sick and needed the girl to help out a little while. Six to eight months later, the girl reappears. Did you ever wonder why the angel mentioned Cousin Elizabeth to Mary? Could it be that Mary's Mom and Dad sent her to the distant hill country because they couldn't believe Mary's story? I'm sure they didn't want their daughter to be the talk of the community. Why did Elizabeth hide herself? Could it be that if she had told them she was expecting in her old age, the people would have deemed her the crazy old lady?

Father, help me to be like Mary, willing to follow You no matter the hardships that come. In Jesus name. Amen.

Wednesday Reading:
      Luke 1:39-56 (vs. 49).  Mary saw how great a thing God had done for her - her salvation, allowing her to be the mother of the Savior, the Messiah, and providing a friend in Elisabeth who understood.

When things seem overwhelming, and I'm sure Mary was feeling overwhelmed as she traveled to Elisabeth's, look for the great things God is doing in your life. Remember He has a plan for you just as He had one for Mary and Elisabeth.

Father, thank you for all you are doing in my life. Help me to cultivate the good things and not destroy the joy with doubts and complaining. In Jesus name. Amen.

Thursday Reading:
      Luke 1:57-80 (vs 74,75) At the birth of John the Baptist,  Zecharias called to remembrance the promise God had made to Abraham, the promise that God would deliver Israel from the hands of the enemy and they would serve God without fear in holiness and righteousness.

We who are Abraham's children by virtue of the new birth in Christ have the same promises. He will always be with us. We should serve Him without fear, trusting that He is in control and knows all we face. Isaiah 41:10

Thank you, Lord, for being in control. Thank you that we can trust You to handle every matter. Help me remember "No Fear" in Jesus name. Amen.

Friday Reading:
      Matthew 1:18-25 (vs19,24)   Joseph thought to put her away privately. In a day when an engagement was almost as binding as a wedding, Joseph wanted to break the engagement without causing her shame or endangering her life. Mary had gone to Elisabeth's. All this seemed a good way to solve a "problem," but God had other plans.

God sometimes interrupts our lives to bring about the best plan. Though Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were going to face ridicule all their lives, it was the best plan for the entire world. God loved Mary and Joseph, but He loves us, too. We needed Mary and Joseph to carry out God's plan. We need to rise from our sleep and let God use us in this our day - for such a time as this  (Esther 4:14).

Father, help me to know how to humble myself so You can use me to further Your kingdom. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of Your plan. In Jesus name. Amen.

O Beautiful Star

                  And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. ~Matthew 2:12

Poinsettias are a common Christmas flower, but I often wondered why. The "flowers" are actually bracts. The small yellow centers are actually the flowers. Most poinsettias are red, but some are white or pink. So why use this flower from Mexico as a Christmas flower? 

Every culture has its legends to make a point and help the people remember the stories they represent. And so it is with the poisettia. In Mexico, the people tell the story of a little girl who wanted to bring something to the Christ child. The child was poor and had no money to purchase a gift, so she picked a bouquet of weeds. When she laid them before the Christ child, they turned into beautiful red flowers. In Mexico, the poinsettia is known as "Flores de Noche Buena" or "Flowers of the Holy Night". 

The shape of the poinsettia reminded the people of the shape of the Star of Bethlehem that led the wisemen to the house where the young child was. The red of the poinsettia represents the blood that Jesus shed for our sins, and the white represents his purity. I think the yellow flowers in the middle could represent a crown for the King of Kings. 

Matthew tells us that the wisemen went home a different way. So should we leave in a different way when we encounter Jesus as our Savior. May you know Jesus as Savior this Christmas season. 

Father God, help us demonstrate changed lives because we have encountered Jesus. The wisemen never forgot that special meeting and so may we never forget the time and place we came to Jesus repenting of our sins, seeking salvation. In Jesus' name. Amen.