I Pray the Lord My Soul to Keep

I was fussing at Myles today.  He had done something wrong and tried to hide it only to have mom discover the hidden deed.  As his punishment, he had to clean up the mess he'd made and take the trash out.  Where we live, the dumpster is a bit of a walk, even for a newly minted 10 year old.

It was getting dark when he left with the trash.  We are on the upper floors of our building, so it is my habit to stand on the balcony and watch over him as he walks to the dumpster, especially if its dark out.  The first time he went by himself, he asked me to do this (not that he had to).  Today, as I yelled 'I'm here.  I've got you.' from the balcony,  he answered 'It's okay, Mom.  When you can't see me, I've got God. I'll be ok.'


Psalm 121

 ¹I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

 ²My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

 ³He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

 ⁴Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

 ⁵The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

 ⁶The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

 ⁷The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

 ⁸The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Yes, dear boy.  I know you do.

Out of the Mouths of Babes...

Not long ago, I was fretting over a financial matter.  More month than money, as usual.  Bad planning will lead to bad thoughts.  I was sitting at the table, trying to stretch a dime into a dollar when Myles walked up on me.

Myles - Mommy, what's wrong?

Mom - Oh, I'm just worried about getting all this paid for. <<dropped my head in my hands>>

Myles - But Mom, why worry?  Doesn't God always provide for us? <<walks away and goes back to playing>>

Father, thank you for a lesson in pure, expectant faith.

Philippians 4:19

 ¹⁹But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Snuggle into the Fragrance

John 12:3 - Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

I don't always wear perfume.  I did this morning.  As Myles gave me a hug, he paused to enjoy the aroma.

Mom - That's my perfume you smell, Sweetie.  Don't hug too tight or you'll smell like me all day.

With that, Myles looked up at me, and then burried his face in my sweater to 'rub my smell' on him. 

Myles - I like smelling like you.

As I enjoyed that small moment and was thanking God for being his mom, I thought about Mary anointing Jesus. 

I thought, 'Do I love Him enough to want to smell like Him?'

Christ in All Things

The other day, Myles found a piece of rambling rose vine in our backyard.

Myles - Mommy, look. (he twisted it into a circle)  Its got thorns on it, like the crown of thorns Jesus wore. We should put this up in Sunday School to remind us of His crucifixion. (he continued to twist the vine into shape)

Sunday School teachers of the world, you're doing a good job.  Be encouraged.

Mark 10:14 (King James Version)

But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Quality Time

Myles - Mom?

Mom - Yes, Myles?

Myles - When are we going to spend some quality time together?  You know...just you and me?  It's been a long time.

I wonder how often the Holy Spirit is asking this question?

Psalm 63:1-8

 ¹ O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
 ² To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
 ³ Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
 ⁴ Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
 ⁵ My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
 ⁶ When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
 ⁷ Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
 ⁸ My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

Do You Like Going to Church?

Mom - Myles, do you like going to church?

Myles - Yes.  Why do you ask?

Mom - Why do you like going to church?

Myles - I think its fun for our church family to get together every week, don't you think?

Hebrews 10:23-25

	Hbr 10:23		Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;)
	Hbr 10:24		And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
	Hbr 10:25		Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Through His Eyes

Jesus said "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for such is the kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 19:14).  Apparently, we have alot to learn from children.

My Pastor is particularly fond of the messages I post on Lifeline that include statements and conversations from my son, Myles.  For a small child, he has alot to say, especially when it comes to things about the Savior.  So, Pastor suggested that I start letting Myles have his say through his own blog (with mom's help, of course).

So, here it is.  I'm reposting an entry from mom's blog, Lifeline, where Myles' insight plays prominently, to kick this off.   Welcome to Through His Eyes.  This will probably be one of the last messages mostly from 'mom' on this blog. 

May the Lord bless us all through this journey.

Monday, November 9, 2009

What Does God Call You?

1 Samuel 3:1-4

1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.

What Does God call you?

My son and I were having a conversation about names. We were talking about how different people in your life may call you by different names.

For example, family calls me by my ‘pet’ name while almost everyone else calls me by my first name. My mother almost exclusively uses my middle name. As a matter of fact, as a kid, I knew I was in trouble when she used my first name. True for anyone else?

Some people have given me completely different names. I’ve been called everything from Stevie to Steffie and from Stacy to Yolanda (Yolanda?). But my son asked me a beautifully simple, profound question: “Mommy, what does God call you?”

I was driving when he asked, so my answer wasn’t very considered. I told him God can call me anything He wants, just so long as He calls me. But the question stuck with me all day.

What does God call me?

You know things about people based on how they call each other. Intimate friends and family have names that only they are allowed to use with each other. In the military, people address each other based on rank, even if they happen to be close friends. People who have been with Mr. Obama for years now call him Mr. President.

Names are important, but how you’re called can be even more important.

I don’t remember every word my child has said, but I remember when he first called me “Mommy.” It was more than a name. At that moment and from then on, I became something more in his life than just the person who changed his stinky diapers. I was different than anyone else in his life. I became “Mommy” with all that the title includes.

I used to work with an adoption agency and we held special ceremonies to celebrate when the adoption was final. One of the high points of the ceremony was when the kids would write their new name on the wall in a demonstration that they had become part of a family. They had a new name and having that name would forever change their lives.

What does God call me? He calls me:

Chosen, peculiar, royal and a priest
1 Peter 2:9 - But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Sanctified and justified
1 Corinthians 6:11 - And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

A Son
1 John 3:1-2 - Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

His
John 17:9 - I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

Loved
John 17:23 - I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

And He calls me healed, precious, victorious, blessed, prosperous, protected, finding mercy, blameless before Him, and so much more.

These are the names God calls me...and you...and all who believe on His Word.

What does God call you?

Ephesians 2:18-19

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Peace.

- Sis. Stephanie Robinson

Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA.

Feel free to share this message. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com

Fellowship Church
455 HWY 138 Suite C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor