Like a Child

He sat down, summoned the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.” He took a child and stood him among them. Then he put his arms around him and said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me” (Mk 9:35-37, CJB).

People were bringing children to him so that he might touch them, but the talmidim rebuked those people. However, when Yeshua saw it, he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me, don’t stop them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Yes! I tell you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it!” And he took them in his arms, laid his hands on them, and make a b’rakhah over them (Mk 10:13-16, CJB).

What are You talking about here, Jesus? Children are many things. What qualities of children make us fit for the Kingdom of God? They are selfish, demanding, foolish, lacking self-control, disobedient, self-willed, etc.Wow, as an adult, I can be all these things without trying. These qualities don’t seem to be unique to children. They are things I still fight to overcome. Obviously they are not the qualities you desire. So what is it about being a child that I have lost or am in danger of losing?

Children love unconditionally (they can’t help it, even when their parents/caregivers hurt them). They are open to receive, defenseless, small, full of wonder and excitement, curious, teachable, and ready for fun. Yes, I can see that these qualities are in danger of being lost in me. I have to fight to keep them. Without Your help, my heart closes, I put up defenses, and my love becomes very conditional. I feel like I should be “big” enough to handle life on my own. I lose the wonder and excitement of each day. I become focused on what I already know - and bored with life - instead of wondering what adventure is around the next corner.

Rescue me, Lord! Though there is a beauty in “growing up,” there is danger as well. Break through my grown-up shell and reach my heart again. Help me to approach life, parenting, marriage, and every aspect of my life with the humility, curiosity, and wonder of a child. Open my heart to receive Your love. Teach me to enter Your kingdom like a child.

Historic Moment

I'm having my first morning devotions in our new home! The tea is steaming, the sun is rising out the front windows, birds are beginning to wake, my family is still asleep, and the shadows on the walls and furniture are changing as the light outside grows gradually brighter. The first person I want to greet is my Beloved, the one who created my being and knows my thoughts.

Ha! The children are apparently caught up in the delight of the morning as well, for they just appeared with big smiles on their faces, ready to begin a new day. I sent them back to bed for a few more minutes, reminding them that they wanted me to wake them by playing piano for them, so now they are waiting for the first tinkling notes to summon their reappearance.

I had better finish my Bible and prayer time, or they will descend again and this time will be over almost before it's begun!

O Lord, You have examined my heart

and know everything about me.

You know when I sit down or stand up.

You know my thoughts even when I'm far away.

You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.

You know everything I do.

You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.

You go before me and follow me.

You place Your hand of blessing on my head.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too great for me to understand!

Psalm 139:1-6, NLT

It's Simple, Really

Most mornings, when I get up to spend quiet time with the Lord, I have no great, inspiring thoughts to share. I have been pondering this for a few months. It seems like the flow of "things I just have to say" has become a trickle. My journal has seldom been written in for the past couple of years, and this blog has been posted in only occasionally. At first I thought it was having two babies in one year, but now, almost three years later, things haven't changed much. Maybe it's being a mom to six little ones. Perhaps it's just a season. Whatever it is, I don't think there's anything wrong ... in fact, I feel that the Lord is teaching me to be more present in the everyday with my husband and children. And that, as my mother could tell you, is a good thing. Even as a child I was more in tune with my inner life than with things going on around me.

But I am not discouraged from my commitment to quiet time. I can still tell the difference between when I "do it" and when I don't. Even when all I do is get out of bed, plug in headphones to the computer, wrap up in a blanket on the couch, and let the Word of God wash over me from Daily Audio Bible and The Prayer Room webstreams, I can tell the difference. I can feel that I'm more ready for the day, more at peace, more focused, and much less stressed. I'm like a nursing babe, receiving nourishment from my Heavenly Father who loves me, holds me, and fills me. I don't need to be aware of what He's doing in me. I just need to come and eat.

Jesus said unto them, "Come and dine" (John 21:12).