Run, Run as Fast as You Can

 

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: I Peter 5:8

 There are probably still a few of these left around your house. You probably read or told the story to the children while they nibbled on the leg or bit off the head. But have you thought about how much we are like gingerbread men? 

The little old man and woman were childless so they decided to make a gingerbread boy. Different stories will have different ways of creating the eyes and buttons and jacket but at the very outset, the gingerbread boy was determined to run away. He even made fun of the little old man and the little old woman and all those who tried to get him to stop along the way. Where was he running to anyway? 

Then the fox entered the scene. He didn't act like he wanted to eat the gingerbread boy. He seemed helpful. He was going to get the boy across the river that otherwise would have melted the cookie boy. The deeper the fox went into the water, the farther up on the fox, the gingerbread boy had to ride until — the gingerbread boy had to ride on the fox's nose. When all finally seemed safe, the fox flipped his snout causing the cookie to go right in his mouth. End of story. But is it?

Almost from the time we are born we try to run away from our Creator and all those who would try to stop our running. Where are we going anyway? We laugh and make fun of those who try to warn us not to run to the world. Sadly many allow that old sly fox to trick us into thinking the best life is the free life, the life to live as we please. Then when the things of this world have taken their toll, we are left defeated, addicted, or worst of all dead. 

As we enter into a new year let's evaluate where we are headed. Are we running in the wrong direction? Will we turn around like the Prodigal son and return to our heavenly Father? He's waiting to receive us with open arms if we will only turn and run to Him. Look again at the picture of the cookies. The gingerbread men are holding their arms wide open. They are not in running motion. Maybe they too are trying to tell us to open our arms and hearts to God and return to Him this year.

Heavenly Father, help us open our hearts and minds to you in the coming year. Lead us in Your way. Direct our path away from the things of the world that daily seek to devour our lives. In Jesus's name we pray. Amen.

Facing a New Year

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11

Sometimes it seems all hope is lost. It's just too hard to believe things will change or ever be alright again. We're too young or too old. May as well forget it. But is anything too hard for the Lord, our Promise Keeper? 

From the time I was a young teen, I knew all I wanted was to be a wife and mother. I was very good in school. The other kids were surprised I had no interest in college or a career. I had no dates until I was 20. I knew before we dated that this would be the man I would marry. At 23 we married and immediately started our family. In 4 years time, I had 3 children and the doctor told us our children were so large (10+ lbs) I wouldn't be able to carry another child to term. I was heartbroken. What was happening to the dream and what I thought was God's plan for us? 

When God told Abram to leave his homeland and his relatives, He promised to make Abram a great nation (Genesis 12:1,2). Abram was a young man with a young wife. Surely it was hard for them to leave everything and everyone behind and seek a new land, but they were young, adventurous, God-fearing, and God believing.

God believing - that was the key to the promises God made to Abram. Abram was different from other men, even from his family. Abram's nephew traveled with him but soon even he left Abram for the riches of this world. 

God blessed Abram with cattle. He took care of Abram and Sarai no matter what they tried to figure out for themselves because God had made a promise. Abram appreciated all God was doing for them but there was one promise he didn't see how God was going to keep. God had promised Abram a son. God had changed their names to Abraham (father of many nations) and Sarah (princess) but Abraham was 99 years old. He laughed that a child would be born when he was 100 and Sarah was 90. When Sarah found out she laughed too, but God's answer was "Is anything too hard for the Lord"  Certainly the Creator of the Universe is capable of anything except a lie. He cannot lie (Titus 1:2). At the appointed time Isaac was born to the couple old enough to be great-great-grandparents. 

Why did God choose Abram and Sarai? Why did He wait so long to give them their promised child? God said:

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. 

Genesis 18:19

It was hard for Abraham and Sarah to wait. It was hard to stay faithful but it was all part of God's plan to prosper them and prosper us. We may be waiting for a mate, or a child, or healing. We may question what God is doing, but know that He will never leave us or forsake us. His plan is the best plan. 

When my oldest child was almost four, he started reading environmental print. I decided he needed to learn to read. I bought material and over the course of the next year or so I taught him. I taught his brother and his sister. I went back to school and finished a degree in Early Childhood Education. I got a full-time teaching job when my oldest left for college. So I was a stay at home mom for them.  For over 20 years I have taught 30 to 40 children each year. They don't forget me. They speak to me in the halls. They come back and visit me when they are seniors. They bring their children to me to teach. As I near retirement I see the Lord has filled my home with many more children than I could have ever born. Children I nurture and bring up in the Lord if only for a few hours for a few days. When my husband retired he became a bus driver of all things. God's plan is always the best plan. We just have to be patient. 

What are you waiting for? 

First, know you have turned from your sins and given your life to Christ (Romans 10: 9,13).

Then look at your mentors and the gifts God has given you. Are you musical, artistic, construction minded, or do you love cooking? 

Know God has great plans for you. 

Wait on the Lord. Ask Him to show you how to use the talents He has given you. And yes mothering is a career and a talent that girls should never be ashamed of. 

Blessing while we wait on God, 

Gail

Changes in the New Year

And the winner is ... Kathy Van Wormer. Kathy if you will email me your address, I will mail your copy of With All Due Respect right away.

Since I didn't post last week, I wanted to give away one more book. Please be sure to subscribe by email in the top right hand corner for an opportunity to win this week's offering. 

Perhaps the New Year will bring changes - major changes into your family life. Your child may be going off or returning from college. You may be helping plan a wedding or you may be looking at military deployment in your child's future. When my child graduated from college, she moved 5 hours away to her new job. At least she had a job, but she was out of mom's arm reach. We never want to control our children's lives - just guide them, so we say. 

Guidance for them and us. That's why I want to introduce you to my friend Edie Melson's book, While My Child Is Away. I met Edie at a writing conference several years ago. Her teachings have been an invaluable resource for me. 

Edie says "The most powerful thing you can do for your child is to pray." Edie has prayed for her children through childhood, college, deployment, and now as adults. Her book offers prayers for your children, yourself (we all need prayer), and devotions for parenting. No matter what stage of life your child is in, covering them in prayer releases them from your control into God's care. You will find yourself praying right along with Edie, finding God's peace as you release the care of your child to Him. 

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

James 5:16

Prayers,

Gail

Hey Kids:

Are you still working on that fruit bowl? This week would be the fruit of peace. 

How can we produce that fruit of peace?

Perhaps it begins with prayer. 

So what do we pray for? This may be your list on the piece of fruit this week.

We could begin by praying for ourselves. 

James 5:16 says confess your faults. Could we confess our faults to Jesus and then ask our friends and family to forgive us? That's tough. That's why we need to pray and confess to Jesus first, so He can give us the courage to ask forgiveness of others. 

We could pray for one another.

Is there someone who is sick or sad that needs your prayers? 

We could pray fervently.

Don't let your prayers be repetition. Talk to God like you talk to a friend. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Pray often.

We could pray for righteousness. 

First, have we confessed to Jesus that we are sinners and asked His forgiveness?

Then we need His help to live like Jesus. You may have heard it called living Christ-like lives. 

Jesus says praying in this way will get a lot accomplished. It will also give you peace of mind that you have done your best in giving yourself and others to Jesus' control. 

Praying for you. Please pray for me.

Gail