I have always loved children, always knew my most favorite role would be to be a MOM someday!! Because of my love for children, I just love spending time with them and can’t get enough!...Being in the presence of children is absolute heaven for me! They simply amaze me!...Whether I’m looking into the eyes of my friend; Stephanie’s infant son Emerson or chasing my friend; Joanna’s 3 kids’ (Eden, Joshua & Josiah) around the yard or even going down the slide with my friend; Kelli’s little girl Grace. They're the very essence of pure joy!
I remember when I was visiting Kelli and Grace and I was going down the big slide with Grace on my lap. Somehow we went down the slide way too fast and her leg or hand somehow got squished up against the side of the slide and she got hurt. I of course felt terrible and little Grace shed some tears but after her tears dried she was ready to try it again. I can tell you I didn’t feel the same way in fact I was scared to go down that slide again! Me a 29 yr old scared and her a 2 yr old not scared at all! It’s hard to fathom at times how resilient children are…no fear…ready to try things again…to take risks…to take on the world. It makes me wonder how as adults we got from there to here!
I remember when I was visiting Kelli and Grace and I was going down the big slide with Grace on my lap. Somehow we went down the slide way too fast and her leg or hand somehow got squished up against the side of the slide and she got hurt. I of course felt terrible and little Grace shed some tears but after her tears dried she was ready to try it again. I can tell you I didn’t feel the same way in fact I was scared to go down that slide again! Me a 29 yr old scared and her a 2 yr old not scared at all! It’s hard to fathom at times how resilient children are…no fear…ready to try things again…to take risks…to take on the world. It makes me wonder how as adults we got from there to here!
Because we were once children unafraid of anything yet now as adults due to experiences, trials & tests we’ve endured, past hurts & broken hearts we've gone through…We are now at a place where we know fear all too well, so much that we’re fearful to try things again! Especially if they didn’t work out the first time or we got burned or ended up looking like a fool. And taking risks!?! – Forget it!! I know for me there are days I don’t feel like facing the world because I am afraid I won’t live up to its expectations of me …let alone trying to take it on!
But children have such a "gift for life" at their young age before their zeal is zapped or their dreams are dashed or they find that only story books have “happily ever after” endings and that super heroes really don’t exist. They trust with everything that they're, these children also have a child-like faith!!…The same faith we used to have and the faith GOD calls us to still have…a faith not shaped by the evilness of this world and what we believe GOD may or may not have allowed and could possibly have stopped.
Mark 10:13-16 “People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them."
But children have such a "gift for life" at their young age before their zeal is zapped or their dreams are dashed or they find that only story books have “happily ever after” endings and that super heroes really don’t exist. They trust with everything that they're, these children also have a child-like faith!!…The same faith we used to have and the faith GOD calls us to still have…a faith not shaped by the evilness of this world and what we believe GOD may or may not have allowed and could possibly have stopped.
Mark 10:13-16 “People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them."
So is it possible after going through years and years of tests, trials and tribulations and our faith being shaken in unbelievable ways to still come to our Heavenly Father as little children do and trust and love Him as if we’d never been hurt, never let down, never abandoned?? Because the sins that have been committed against us by other people are not GOD’s fault…it’s just free will! Though the valley’s we’ve walked may have seemed lonely and dark…He was with us the entire way…never leaving our side...crying with us all the way! If anything He felt abandoned by us! I know that might be hard to believe and even hear…I do truly understand as I have walked through many lowly valley’s - that at times I've felt I have walked all alone and it’s been hard!
I have gone through the worst trials/tests/tribulations in the last 3 yrs out in the desert than I have the 26 yrs prior and my question mostly has been “WHY?” “If you’re a just GOD “why” didn’t you stop what happened?” “Why, did you allow me to be hurt?” “Why, didn’t you rescue me?” Those are tough questions to ask our Heavenly Father who we know is all powerful and completely capable of saving us! And these questions are even tougher to try to answer and when answered are we truly satisfied with that answer!?!…Most times we’re not!! I hear the question, “Why do bad things happen to good people” asked a lot. The problem with that question is this: “When did we become good people?” We are born into sin into a fallen world we aren’t good …we are deserving of death!
I have gone through the worst trials/tests/tribulations in the last 3 yrs out in the desert than I have the 26 yrs prior and my question mostly has been “WHY?” “If you’re a just GOD “why” didn’t you stop what happened?” “Why, did you allow me to be hurt?” “Why, didn’t you rescue me?” Those are tough questions to ask our Heavenly Father who we know is all powerful and completely capable of saving us! And these questions are even tougher to try to answer and when answered are we truly satisfied with that answer!?!…Most times we’re not!! I hear the question, “Why do bad things happen to good people” asked a lot. The problem with that question is this: “When did we become good people?” We are born into sin into a fallen world we aren’t good …we are deserving of death!
Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Only by the grace of GOD are we given the gift of eternal life that him laying his life on the cross paying the ultimate sacrifice for our sins…the only sacrifice that could be paid for our sins.”
Romans 4:25-5:2 “He was delivered over to death for our sins and then was raised to life to put us right with God. By faith in this, then, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”
God does not promise us a life of rainbows and roses…but of trials and tests! 1 Thes 3:3 “None of you should turn back because of these persecutions. You yourselves know that such persecutions are part of God's will for us.”
Acts 14:22 "We all have to experience many hardships," they said, "before we enter the kingdom of God."
1 Pet 4:12-13 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”
Deut 8:2-3 “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you... to teach you that man does not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
2 Tim 3:12 “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” To be a follower of Christ is indeed a life filled with trials, tests & tribulations! Even scripture says it’s our destiny!!...
1 Thes 3:3 “So that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know that we were destined for them.”
2 Tim 3:12 “Persecution is inevitable for those who are determined to live really Christian lives.”
1 Pet 1:6-7 “This means tremendous joy to you, even though at present you may be temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials. This is no accident--it happens to prove your faith, which is infinitely more valuable than gold, and gold, as you know, even though it is ultimately perishable, must be purified by fire.”
James 1:2-4 “When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, don't resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance.”
2 Tim 1:8 “Accept your share of the hardship that faithfulness to the gospel entails in the strength that God gives you."
James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
Amen, Bethy!
ReplyDeletePraying He continues to give you grace to "glory in your sufferings"
Yes, He often draws us into deserts to teach us dependence upon Him.
I am glad to see you blogging and sharing encouragement in Christ. You've always had a knack for writing. Keep it up as you are able and so inspired.
Love you!
Jo ~ thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog, comment & say the sweetest most encouraging words. Your blog encouraged me to start this one. Thank you for that. I can't wait to try out your new recipe and after seeing you successfully tackle house projects I know I have the courage to do the same. Kiss E, J, J & Baby C for me :) I love all 6 of you!
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