Horton Hears a Who

 

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. 

Many of Dr. Seuss's stories have important messages with 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?

Life

Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 

~I Kings 18:37

January is Sanctity of Life month. The Supreme Court heard the case that returned the decision of abortion back to the states. Essentially, the decision is still up to us, the people in our state, our counties, and our homes. The decision overruled Roe V. Wade. But Roe v. Wade was not the first decision that needed to be overturned. When Elijah the prophet lived under King Ahab, the land was filled with the worship of Baal. In that worship, a fire was built in the idol's body and children were sacrificed on the hot arms of the god. 

It sounds absolutely inhumane, unthinkable, sickening. So is the killing of unborn children in the act of abortion. I won't go into detail. There are plenty of details available on the internet. Suffice it to say, we don't burn babies on the arms of idols anymore. We rip them to pieces straight from the womb. 

Elijah proposed a contest to see who was God, Baal or the God of Israel. When the people saw that Baal could not light a fire on his own altar, they looked to see God's power. When Elijah followed God's directions, fire came down from heaven consuming the sacrifice on the altar. 

And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God. ~I Kings 18:39

How long have we allowed the sacrifice of our babies? Since Roe v. Wade? How long before we desire spiritual leadership? How long before we pray to restore our hearts to worship God? 

Heavenly Father, may we cry out in repentance as the people of Israel did, declaring you to be God. May we plead for revival in our land. May our lives demonstrate the sanctity of life you have created. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Hey Kids:

Did you suck your thumb when you were little? Sometimes babies suck their thumbs while they are still in their mommy's tummy.

Did you know you could hear your mom and dad, music, and much more before you were born? 

What characteristics did God give you while you were growing in your mommy's tummy? Whose eyes? Whose nose? Whose personality? Who does Grandma say you are "just like"?

Just What Is Horton Trying to Say?

 

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 is 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 "that 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."

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 is making 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 speck on the flower 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, just make noise, but 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. 

Many of Dr. Seuss's stories have important messages with 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?

Finding Purpose

 

Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Jeremiah 1:5

January is Sanctity of Life Month. We wanted to honor life in some way at our church, so the ladies decided to make these little bunny washcloths for the Mommy Store at the pregnancy crisis center in our area. We thought, brunch, devotion, begin the project, should take about an hour and a half to two hours. Well... lol.

A great time was had by all! And we will be doing this again!

I felt the most important thought was how God knows us before we are even conceived. He has a plan for us. Though we may go against that plan for years, He is always taking us into places and situations that will lead us to Him if we stop long enough to pay attention. The women at the crisis pregnancy center have a child they did not intend, but God still has a plan for that child and that woman and the father too. Crisis pregnancy centers don't just take care of physical needs. They minister to the women's and men's spiritual needs as well. The whole point is to save a life and help each family seek God's plan for them all. 

I wonder how many of us know God's plan for our own lives. We may have been a Christian for years, but still haven't been able to discern God's purpose for our lives. God is a trinity. He works in threes. Think about the sun. From the sun ball itself comes heat and light, three things. Many things in nature come in threes. So do families, father, mother, child. But how do we know our purpose?

Many people tell us to pray about it. That's a start, but how do you know you are discerning the correct answer? Let's see, there's you, prayer and what would the third thing be? What about God's Word, the Bible? If the answers we think we get from God don't line up with His Word, then - wrong answer. 

Every teachable moment is multi-faceted. When a school teacher plans a lesson around just one standard she misses many standards and teachable moments. Part of the purpose of our Sanctity of Life project was mentoring our girls, in the Word and in deed.

Heavenly Father, help us search your word and listen as we pray for your purpose in our lives. Help us keep our eyes open for opportunities to serve others as we demonstrate your love through our lives. In Jesus's name, Amen. 

Hey Kids:

Have you ever taught someone younger than you how to play a game or build with legos? 

Never think you are too young to teach or too old to learn. 

Is mom trying to teach you to cook?

Is dad trying to teach you to build? 

Have you asked them to show you? 

God wants us to ask Him to show us the special purpose He has for each of us. If you will ask and then study His word, you'll find the answer. 

Mom reads the recipes and Dad looks at blueprints. Mom and Dad are our pictures of the way God's purposes work. 

 

No Matter How Small

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. Ger a copy before there is 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 "that 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."

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 is making 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 speck on the flower 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, just make noise, but 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. They are waiting to make a decision while thousands of children die. 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. 

Many of Dr. Seuss's stories have important messages with 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?

Wonderfully Made

 

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. ~Psalms 139:14 KJV

My niece, out playing in the snow with her sons, took close-up pictures of the snow on their hats. She obviously has a great camera to take such detailed pictures. Amazing that man can make a camera like that. Oh, I just said, “Man made a camera.” But what about snowflakes? Are they complicated? Simply put, they are snow crystals that enlarge and change shape as water vapor changes into ice without going through the liquid state. I wonder if the frozen fog would be snow formed on the trees.

It's amazing that God can make a person who is so much more detailed in every respect. The explanation of the making of a person is so much more complicated than that of a snow crystal. Scientists still aren’t sure why snow crystals grow with six sides and form symmetrically.  Explaining exactly how a person is formed is still a mystery too that scientists can only observe. That’s why this month is Sanctity of Life month. A time to stop and reflect on how precious each life is whether young, old, middle-aged or at the moment of conception. All life is precious and purposeful. Whether a person is a great statesman, a mom, or a mechanic, they each serve a great purpose. Using the talents God has given us to serve Him is an even greater purpose. God has given each of us something precious and holy, life itself. May we use our lives for His glory this year and always.

Heavenly Father, help us see the wonders of your creation with new eyes. Help us see ourselves and others as wonderfully made. May we cherish each life from the moment of conception to the last heartbeat of old age, realizing each person has a purpose that you have planned. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Hey Kids:

Would you like to learn more about snowflakes? Maybe even make a snowflake? Here's a great site.

Please let us know what you've learned about snowflakes. 

Maybe you'd like to share something wonderful you've learned about yourself as God's marvelous creation. 

Snowflakes

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalms 139:14 KJV

My niece, out playing in the snow with her sons, took close-up pictures of the snow on their hats. She obviously has a great camera to take such detailed pictures. Amazing that man can make a camera like that. Oh, I just said, “Man made a camera.” But what about snowflakes? Are they complicated? Simply put they are snow crystals that enlarge and change shape as water vapor changes into ice without going through the liquid state. I wonder if frozen fog would actually be snow formed on the trees.

Amazing that God can make a person who is so much more detailed in every respect. The explanation of the making of a person is so much more complicated than that of a snow crystal. Scientist still aren’t sure why  snow crystals grow with six sides and form symmetrically.  Explaining exactly how a person is formed is still a mystery too that scientist can only observe. That’s why this month is Sanctity of Life month. A time to stop and reflect on how precious each life is whether young, old, middle aged or at the moment of conception. All life is precious and purposeful. Whether a person is a great statesman, a mom, or a mechanic, they each serve a great purpose. Using the talents God has given us to serve Him is even a greater purpose. God has given each of us something precious and holy, life itself. May we use our lives for His glory this year and always.

Hey Kids:

Would you like to learn more about snowflakes? Maybe even make a snowflake? Here's a great site.

Please let us know what you've learned about snowflakes. 

Maybe you'd like to share something wonderful you've learned about yourself as God's marvelous creation. 

Never forget you are precious in God's sight.

Blessings, 

Gail