Kerry Hasenbalg

*If you would like a collection of 30 devotions written by Kerry, Steven Curtis Chapman, and others, you can order “Seeds of Change” from Shaohannah’s Hope at cost.  Perfect for group study. Order here >

*Listen to Kerry’s speech at the Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit III. Listen here >

Success in Humility

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!” –Philippians 2:5-8

Are we obedient to the death of self—the death of our flesh?

Jesus said, “If any man wants to follow me, let him take up his cross daily and follow me.” Every day we have a responsibility to die to ourselves, which means submitting our dreams, hopes, aspirations, rights, and ambitions for the sake of obedience to the cross of Jesus Christ.  The path of glory and victory for Jesus Christ went through the cross, and it began when, in humility, he made Himself nothing.
Are we humbling ourselves?

1.    Humility does not seek to solve the whole problem. Humility comes and gets its orders for each task from the boss, knowing that He knows best. He is the father to the fatherless, He is a good father and knows what is best for each one individually.  When we try to solve all the problems and help every orphan (our way), we are certainly out of order, and quickly become weary and exhausted. God’s yoke is easy and His burden is light.

2.    Humility admits that we need each other. We are each only one stone, and God dwells in unity.  Remember, God is at work building His temple, and we are to be about this business. Building up the unity of the body is central to Kingdom work.  We must drop our egos and our logos for the sake of unity.  Confess competition and jealous before the Father if this is a difficult one and watch God cleanse you and then use you to bless.

3.    Humility recognizes that we are weak and continually need a fresh filling of His Spirit. Let our cry be for more of His Spirit’s power! That we would desire it above all that is in this world.   More of You Lord and Less of me.

Are we silent enough to hear God?

We must stop our fleshly striving, and we must “be still” to hear God.  Elihu told Job that God chooses to speak to men when they are asleep so that they can hear him. Why? Because when we are asleep, we are the closest to being “still” that we ever seem to come. In the work of the church today, and even in the fields of the fatherless, there is simply too much noise, too much talking, and too much fleshly “doing”.

When we see God, we will be humbled.  And when we are humble, we will truly SEE God. Just as Job, who, in one of the greatest acts of praise after seeing God’s majesty, simply said, “I cannot speak!”   

The only way for the church to be successful in orphan ministry or any other significant ministry for that matter is for God to dwell in the work of His people.  God says, “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15).

For the sake of the little and lonely ones let us choose to humble ourselves and be still enough to here the Father's orders for each of His precious ones.  "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake."  

The Key to Success in Orphan Ministry

“For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” –Romans 8:13

Right before I got up to speak at an adoption and orphan care conference a few years ago, I asked the Lord, “What is the key to the church having real, Godly success in orphan work?”  And that morning God showed me a scripture in 2 Kings that I had never noticed before. I was not able to share it at the conference because at the time I did not even understand what God was saying.

A little background first: Elisha was the prophet who followed Elijah. Before Elijah was taken up to heaven, Elisha requested a double portion of the Spirit of God that was in Elijah, and God granted his request. Elisha went on to do great things throughout his life, and then he died. And then as I read this story in the Scriptures, I found something utterly amazing: “Then Elisha died and was buried. Groups of Moabite raiders used to invade the land each spring. Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the corpse into the tomb of Elisha and fled. But as soon as the body touched Elisha’s bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet.” (2 Kings 13:20-21).

“What are you saying God?” I asked, and I am humbled to say that it took me almost one full year to even hear what God wanted me to understand.  God finally helped me to realize that the answer to my question “What is the key to the church succeeding in orphan ministry?” is dead flesh! God’s power flowed through Elisha because his flesh was dead, and the Spirit of God resurrected another life.

We must reckon our flesh dead. “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain” (John 12:24).

It has been through my times when I recognized my failings and weaknesses, when I recognized the sin that blinded me and then repented before God, when I reckoned my flesh dead, that I experienced the power of God through my life to help the fatherless.

May we, like Elisha desire more of God’s Spirit above all things and may we also understand that we will likely be used most profoundly by God in our times of greatest weakness.  When we are weak, He is strong!  This way God gets all the glory – and that’s the point!  May we not fear the daily deaths to our flesh, for in recognizing God in them, we will experience Him.  And who knows, God may just use us to bring life to others.

Changed by the Orphan

(In recognition of November being National Adoption Awareness month, I will be posting blogs about orphan care and adoption throughout this month.)

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” -Matthew 5:8

A friend of mine once asked, “Don’t you think if people personally experience the orphan, they will be transformed?”  Before I was able to answer with an affirmative response, God brought to my remembrance a number of instances when I have witnessed people experiencing orphanages and interacting with truly needy orphans, but who were left unmoved and returned to their lives seemingly unchanged. I suppose it is not much different than walking by beggars in U.S. city streets, giving nothing to them, yet spending hundreds on ourselves in nearby department stores—or times of retreat to a mountaintop or seashore where we completely miss the great majesty of God speaking through his creation because of our preoccupation with our own lives and issues.  How could we not have experienced God in these circumstances?

Just as the Word says that creation reveals its Creator, it also says that God is the Father of the Fatherless and that what we do to the least of these, we are doing to Him.  It is very possible to miss God and His majesty even when He is right in front of us. To return from the fields of the fatherless unmoved and unchanged is to have missed Jesus, himself.

The response that I actually gave to my friend was, “Only those who follow Christ along the Calvary Road to get to the orphan—walking in humility, willing to see their own sinfulness and frailty in light of God’s greatness, and are humbled by it—are those who will be changed by the orphan.”

I believe that the answer to my friend’s question lies in the scripture, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).  As we walk in this world, we often become spotted by its ways and are in need of continual cleansing by God. We must be ever willing to confess our sins to the One who promises to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, for He alone is able to purify and set our hearts right. Certainly, no human effort is able to make the heart pure. Only when we are cleansed by God are we able to see and know Him through the majesty of His creation and among His people. Through humility before God and continual confession of our sins, the eyes of our heart will be opened to see God, the Spirit will change us, and His power will be in us to actually affect change. The flesh must be dead, and it must be Christ in us that is our life. When we delight our hearts in God and walk in light of our need for Him, when we step out in faith seeking first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, then we shall experience God’s power and be transformed as we serve the fatherless. And He will get the glory. The Word says that He leads us in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 

If we are going to the fields of the fatherless to gain the respect of others, we have gone for the wrong reasons and will likely miss God.

If we have gone to find our worth, we have gone for the wrong reasons and may not see God.

If we have gone out of obedience to His leading, having our hearts cleansed by the blood of Christ, knowing our own need of God, we have gone for the right reasons and will be changed by the experience and used by God in the process! And the glory will be to His name!

Nashville Visit - Hasenbalg Family Update

Scott, the kids and I have been on quite an adventure over these last ten days or so.  First, we travelled from PA to Cincinnati where we met up with our four-family homeschool co-op (with husbands and kids) and together we spent two days visiting the Creation Museum and the Cincinnati aquarium. We had a wonderful time; the Creation Museum was awe-inspiring.  Although the shows at the creation museum were spectacular, we did however have a little problem at the planetarium show.  

Prior to our departure on this trip, my mother purchased light-up sketcher sneakers for Maya.  During the planetarium show, which is shown in a pitch black room, Maya insisted on kicking her seat.  And each time she did, her sneakers would light up causing all watching the sold-out show to witness unexpected and unidentified flashes of light in the heavens (which all were sure was a part of the show, All that is except those putting on the show.)  When we saw the "guards" coming for her, I quickly grabbed her shoe that she was swinging and pulled it off of her foot.  Well, needless to say, she was startled and immediately erupted in a scene of emotional devastation as only a three year old looking to embarrass you can (UUGGHH!!)...yeah, planetarium shows are not only supposed to be pitch black but also very quiet...One is only supposed to hear the soothing voice of heaven's narrator.  Scott quickly ran her out and missed the rest of the show.  So, the moral to this story is when attending the Creation Museum's planetarium show don't let your children wear light-up sneakers.

On the 9 hour ride from Cincinnati to Nashville our children were wonderful, we had them "plugged in" to the car DVD and I was able to read a book on Astronomy that I purchased from the Creation Museum cover to cover.  It was fascinating, answer-giving, and faith building!      

Since arriving it has been pretty busy but good.  We had a chance to catch up with friends and all the awesome folks of Show Hope ministry - what a truly wonderful team of people God has brought to this ministry.  

All of the SHow Hope girls got together Wednesday evening and we spent some time studying the Word and reading through one of my favorite books, Calvary Road. I tell you what, if you want to see a group of women you are a part of begin living in truth and light, I strongly recommend studying through this little book.  I have been a part of three studies using this book, Calvary Road,  over the years and I have never seen so many spiritual light bulbs go on as I have with it's teaching.  Some of my favorite concepts in the book are ones like :  You don't lose your peace with God over another man's sin, only over your own. And also, If the things we struggle with such as fear or hurt, reserve or self-consciousness are just faults or personality weaknesses then there is no relief, but if recognized and confessed as sins, which they are, we can take them to the cross for complete relief through forgiveness and the cleansing power of the blood.  Anyhow, it's a must read in my opinion!

My dear friend Nyanja from Rwanda visited us since we've been here as well.  She the one about whom I have written in a number of past blogs - as she had been orphaned in the genocide and a decade later reunited with her family who had been wrongly imprisoned and since exonerated.  Anyhow, she came to visit us here in Nashville in order to introduce us to her fiance, Peter.  She is currently here in the States getting some additional training on orphan care and adoption for her work with vulnerable children in Rwanda and Peter is here because he is lecturing at Harvard on his break-through medical research.  Although it was a short visit we had a wonderful time. 

 The four of us, Nyanja, Peter, Scott and I actually attended a "guitar pull" at the famous Bluebird cafe.  Basically, there were four musicians sitting in a circle and about 100 people in the audience sitting at small tables all around them.  The musicians would take turns talking about their songs briefly and then playing whatever songs they felt like performing at that moment.  The musicians that night were Steven Curtis Chapman, Amy Grant, Rivers Rutherford and Ashley Cleveland.  It was so special for us to be there - thanks Steve for the tickets.  I can remember thinking a number of times throughout the night, I think I am the happiest person in this room, I just love this - and I believe God is pleased with what He is witnessing here tonight as well. The musicians were so honest with their words and music that night. 

It was especially neat for me to see SCC and Amy perform together considering that the last time I saw Steve and Amy Grant in the same room was at the funeral visitation of little Maria Sue Chapman.  On that sorrowful day, Amy came in the church, apparently gave some cookies she had brought to the people serving, and then sat quietly, alone, as hidden as she could be in that place, for what must have been several hours, and in that way paid her respect and sorrow to the family.  I remember thinking that day, Amy is a wise woman according to the Word...for it says that a wise man is found in the house of mourning.  Anyhow, it sure was good to see them together as fellow worshippers in a more joyful setting that night.  Amy actually played a song about birthmothers that brought me to tears and I am sure blessed Steve. 

Last evening, we attended a play by Thornton Wilder called "Our Town". Many thanks to the Chapmans for springing for tickets for all the staff!  The acting was superb and the script was really thought-provoking.  At one point the scene was in a graveyard and the dead were speaking.  And one "dead" actor spoke saying (and I am paraphrasing), "Why are the living so ignorant and blind, walking around so busily and never really seeing one another at all."  WOW - so painfully true! Let us all take time to stop and look at one another and really see each other as God would have us see one another.

And then this evening we had the privelege of screening the movie, "BLINDSIDE".  The movie was wonderful, absolutely wonderful! For those who don't know it's the story of Michael Oher the NFL football phenom who was "adopted" through a most unusual and miraculous set of circumstances. A must see!  Julia Chapman and Melissa watched the kiddos at the Barn during the movie  (thanks girls) and apparently Maya told Julia and Melissa that Satan is God's enemy and he has a bad magical wand and Jesus who is God's son has a good magical wand...hmmm might be time for a little Biblical chit chat.  

As for the in-between-time,  Maya and I have been playing together and doing lots of crafts - she is a hoot!  And Cole he has been very diligent to keep up with his Homeschool (allowance has been a new motivator for diligence and extra help around the house)...and well, he's been playing Wii.  We are staying in Emily and Tanner Richards place for our three weeks in Nashville since they are currently attending Bible College in Ireland (thanks guys) and they have a Wii in their home.  Well, Cole is thrilled seeing as I haven't broken down yet and purchased any kind of video type game system.  (not sure I want the continually begging-to-play battle in my home). He actually played so much boxing and tennis the last two days that his arms are too sore to dress himself.  I suppose you really can get exercise that way....They good news about Cole's new interests is that he has decided that Bibleman is his new favorite superhero, which makes me relieved that all is not totally lost. ha ha.

As for worthy news on the Home front in PA: My little brother Tommy got engaged to a great gal, Heather.  Both families are thrilled about it - the really seems like a right fit.  As for unworthy peripheral news,  I sure hope Cole's fish are still alive, last time we went traveling and we left my folks to feed the three fish, we arrived home to find the tank filled with three all together different fish.  Hilarious really!  

Neither Bandits nor Bullies

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy..." I Corinthians 13:4a

"Cole, do you want to help me write something about God today," I asked.

"I'm not a Priest, but sure," He replied.

“What do you think are some of the important things people should know about God?” 

Cole said, "Well, first I think people should know why the bad things started here - things got bad because of Jealousy.  Satan Got Jealous of Adam and Eve.  He got jealous that we were made heads over this planet and jealous of how God loved the humans.  He thought that earth should have been give to the angels. So, He forced the serpent to lie to the humans."    

"Cole what do you know about Jealousy?" 

Cole said, "OK, so let's say you have a friend who gets a really big expensive toy. And then you want that toy because you didn't have a toy that was so big and shiny.  And maybe even your little toy is broken.  So, let's say that the jealous person gets so upset that he actually swipes it from you.  Remember that's what happened to me at that party.  That big kid got jealous of the light saber I had and he swiped it from me. Mom, that’s jealousy and it hurt me.  

"Cole, can you think of a time that you've been jealous?"

"Hmm., (he paused for a while) and then said, ‘I’m trying but I can't think of something right now. Can you?"

(I honestly couldn’t think of anything but I didn’t want to tell him that because I am acutely aware that all sins of the heart are common to all, some more than others, but not a single example of jealousy on his part came to mind.  Fortunately, he continued talking before I had a chance to answer.)

“Actually, Mom, I like when other people have nice things and I'm not jealous because I have nice things too. But if I lived in a drafty cabin and wore drabby clothes and had to clean the house all the time and if you were a mean mom, then I would be a little jealous of my friends who didn’t have those problems and I’d be kind of sad.  I would wonder why I had to end up like this.  But mostly I would just be a sad.  But if all those things happened I would pray to God and I would ask Him to give me a better house and make my mom kinder and to have clothes that aren't so drabby. But if God didn't fix these things, then I would be really, really disappointed, especially if it went on for many years.  Then, I guess I would be so sad that I would almost be jealous.”

“But still I don't think jealousy is my big bad thing ...Do you want me to tell you what my big bad thing is?"

“Yes, son, you can tell me what your big bad thing is” I said.

"When Maya takes me toys or says that I am cheating when I’m not, I have a hard time being patient with her.”

"Yep, that's my big bad thing”

I then asked Cole, “what do you think we need to do with the big bad things in our hearts, whether its jealousy or struggles of not having patience and grace for those who hurt you or wrongly accuse you? 

“I think we need to go to God for help, because if we don’t then all the bad will just grow and take over our whole body and we’ll become like a bandit or a bully or something bad like that.”

“Cole, do you think bullies are happy?”

“No, they are not happy, but sometimes I think they don’t know that what they are doing is so bad” 

“Yes, I think you are right Cole.  If we knew how much our sin hurt other people we probably wouldn’t continue to sin so much.”

“Cole, I want you to know why it is so important that we go to God to get help to love and forgive those who are not loving us well.  The answer is found in John 13:35.  It says, “Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciple.”

So basically, if God is our teacher and the thing that God is teaching is love then the only way that people will know that we are his students is if we love as he has taught us to love.  To love through patience and forgiveness towards others even when they are sinning against us.  To love even those who are jealous of us and try to swipe the things that matter to us, and even when they accuse us of bad things that we haven’t done.  You see, even then we need to choose love for the Lord’s sake – so that people will believe in the power of God’s love to change hearts.  Loving the unlovable are our great opportunities for showing the power of the love of God to a lost world! And if we do choose love then the big bad things inside of us won’t take over our hearts and make us into something unhappy that we don’t want to be. Not bandits or bullies (or depressed, self-pitying, controlling, hard hearted, suspicious adults) but God’s loving and joyful representatives in a sometimes jealous and hurtful world.

   

Others May: You Cannot

OTHERS MAY: YOU CANNOT
-by G. D. Watson (1845-1924).
 
If God has called you to be really like Jesus He will draw you into a life
of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience,
that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by
other Christians, and in many ways He will seem to let other people do
things which He will not let you do.
 
Other Christians and ministers who seem very religious and useful, may
push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans,
but you cannot do it, and if you attempt it, you will meet with such
failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.
 
Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their successes, of
their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such
thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification
that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.
 
Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy
left to them, but it is likely God will keep you poor, because He wants
you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence
upon Him, that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by
day out of an unseen treasury.
 
The Lord may let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hidden
in obscurity, because He wants to produce some choice fragrant fruit for
His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade.  He may let
others be great, but keep you small.  He may let others do a work for Him
and get the credit for it, but He will make you work and toil on without
knowing how much you are doing; and then to make your work still more
precious He may let others get credit for the work which you have done,
and thus make your reward ten times greater when Jesus comes.
 
The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and
will rebuke you for little words and feelings or for wasting your time,
which other Christians never feel distressed over. So make up your mind
that God is an Infinitely Sovereign Being, and has a right to do as He
pleases with His own.  He may not explain to you a thousand things which
puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, but if you absolutely sell
yourself to be His love slave, He will wrap you up in Jealous Love, and
bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the
inner circle.
 
Settle it forever, then that you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit,
and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or
chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem
to use with others.  Now, when you are so possessed with the living God
that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this
peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management
of the Holy Spirit over your life, then you will have found the vestibule
of Heaven.

Children Behaving Badly

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

 Raising children sure does teach a great deal about our own relationship with the Lord.  Naturally, it is difficult to really grasp how it is possible for a parent to love all their children equally, or more specifically how they can love us when we are misbehaving as much as they love our siblings who are behaving well. 

However, raising my own two children, who are about as different as night and day, has already taught me that it is absolutely possible to love my children equally and also to love the one who is misbehaving just as much as the one who is behaving well - even while they are actively disobeying.  Love is not conditional!!  I am really, really learning how it might be possible to really be loved by God even when I am not obeying; because I really, really love my children even when they are behaving badly.   

But when they are, it sure can be trying on the nerves and one's patience. Not to mention it is heartbreaking to discipline our children when we so want them to grasp the reality that obedience leads to greater blessing.  My youngest chooses to challenge us quite often.  Apparently, I was similar as a child (at least according to my mom).  It was me who apparently took her to the bookstore to buy books on raising a strong-willed child.  And she so kindly gives me the credit for leading her to the Lord...well, she actually says "DRIVING" her to Lord.

This morning Maya was really choosing disobedience....she was busy leading her father to the Lord, I suppose.  She actually suffers with CWS (Chronic Whining Syndrome).  And dad had had just about enough her symptoms.  She was in time-out and it wasn't working as well as normal. With Scott's permission, I stepped in to help poor ol' dad who was quickly wearing out- I called her upstairs to have a chat.  She just turned three and I thought perhaps we could begin the reasoning process now at this age. 

We spent about ten minutes talking a length about her behavior and her heart attitude and the importance of her apologizing to her daddy.  After some time I said, a'Maya, what do you think would  pleased your daddy and the Lord?  She said, "To obey and to listen."  Then I said, "Maya I think we should give daddy something to make him happy, like an 'I'm sorry' and better behavior in you, his little girl."  Maya said,  "I really want to give him some of my princess toys instead." 

"But Maya don't you want to give him something he really wants?" I asked

"Yes." she said. 

Well what do you think he really wants? I asked

"He wants me to listen." She answered

"So, can you go downstairs and start listening to your daddy and not whining and disobeying? We can pray and ask God to help you do that if you'd like."  I said

She answered, "No, I don't want to do that, it's too hard, I just want to give him some of my toys and princess stuff."

So, yep, there it is....me - us - before God.  He asks us to obey, to listen to Him and His direction in our lives (perhaps to love our neighbor or friend who has hurt us...to forgive...not to repeat a matter, not to get offended, to trust him in the dark times.)  And yet, we so often, just like Maya, say, "That's just too hard, I would rather just give him something else.  like Maya we choose to give up something....time or money to make it better.  I can't apoligize to the person I have hurt the most but I can give my money and time to charity... I can't stop with addiction or this lifestyle, but I can go to  church or volunteer.  Yes, all these things are good but what is God really asking of us today?

Maya and all of us would do well to remember that God's Word tells us that "It is better to obey than to sacrifice."  God wants our obedient lives more than anything else at all - we are His children and He, like a good parent, knows so well that obedient children receive more blessings (like joy, grace, and peace.)  We can not earn God's love - He loved us perfectly when we were furthest away in our disobedience.  Obedience is about getting near enough to that love in order to access the grace, joy, and strength we so desperately need.   

I don't know about you but I have felt left in "time-out" stewing and whining in self-pity, not wanting to do that one thing he is asking of me, all the while with Father lovingly and patiently waiting for me to "give up" and come to him humbly, so that He can tell me the good plan He has for me his daughter this day...And tell me how very much He has loved me all along.

P.S. Please know that I have not written much on this blog of late because I have been too busy holding on for dear life on this roller coaster called life and trying to trust God with the many ups and downs that have come our way recently.  I have chosen hope and trust most days - not all days - but most.  For those of you who are walking through valleys just now, I guess to you I want to say I am sorry for your pain as well....I wish it didn't have to be as it is -  and I encourage you to choose hope and trust this day yourselves.  I hope to write more often....I'd like a straightaway instead this continual up and down just to collect my thoughts. But the truth is, we must take what comes (all the while praying).  So,we will see what He has planned. But for now I wanted to just drop a note to say hello old blog friends of mine.  

Faith of a Child

"Anyone who will not receive God's kingdom like a little child will never enter it." Mark 10:15

While Cole and I were spending some time sitting on the couch reading the Bible together during homeschool yesterday, Cole said, "Mom, excuse me, can I tell you something?" 

"Sure, go ahead son" I said.

"It's just that I love reading the Bible together, it makes me feel so happy and warm inside...I think it's because these are the real words of God...It feels so amazing!"

Later he continued by saying, "When you were taking Dad to the airport on Sunday and I went to Noah's church, I had the same feeling inside.  While we were singing, I closed my eyes and I could see Angels around the church?  Not with my eyes...they were closed, but with my heart I could see them all around me. Mom, I think they are always all around us."

"Cole, that is really wonderful." I said.  And inside I felt my own sense of peace as he spoke.  Because I needed that reminder myself.

"Mom, please don't tell people who might laugh at me.  I think it might be strange to other kids since I only feel them in my heart." 

"Son, I don't think it's strange. I think it is wonderful."

WOW, how wonderful I think it is to see and hear my son sensing the presence of God and His heavenly hosts.   My son's faith is building mine.  For He is reminding my worn-out and tired soul that it is right to hope and see with our childlike eyes of faith... for in this shall come the renewing our hearts and our minds.

I am really grateful that God has called me to homeschool.  I am so grateful to be chatting with my little ones about such things "along the way."  It is so good for my soul!

"The Lord is Our God.  The Lord is the one and only God. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your strength.  The commandments I give you today must be in your hearts.  Make sure your children learn them.  Talk about them when you are at home.  Talk about them when you walk along the road. Speak about them when you go to bed.  And speak about themw hen you get up.  Write them down and tie them on your hands as a reminder.  Also tie them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses.  Also write them on your gates."  Deuteronomy 7:6-9

When should we talk of the Lord to our children?  All along the way!  Thank you Lord!

Children Seek God

And they asked Jesus, "Do you hear what these children are saying?" "Yes," Jesus replied. "Haven't you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, `You have taught children and infants to give you praise.' " Matt.21:16

My cousin’s son, Rocco, circa age 4, was traveling by car with his grandparents through a neighboring town.  On the way into the town, Rocco stuck his head out the window and yelled, “Hellooo Jesus!”  His grandparents asked why he had just yelled out the window and he said, “Because we just passed God’s house and I wanted to see if he was at home.”

The Ministry of the Unnoticed

"Blessed are the poor in spirit." Matthew 5:3

"The New Testament notices things which from our standards do not seem to count. "Blessed are the poor in spirit," literally - Blessed are the paupers - an exceedingly commonplace thing! The preaching of to-day is apt to emphasize strength of will, beauty of character - the things that are easily noticed. The phrase we hear so often, Decide for Christ, is an emphasis on something Our Lord never trusted. He never asks us to decide for Him, but to yield to Him - a very different thing. At the basis of Jesus Christ's Kingdom is the unaffected loveliness of the commonplace. The thing I am blessed in is my poverty. If I know I have no strength of will, no nobility of disposition, then Jesus says - Blessed are you, because it is through this poverty that I enter His Kingdom. I cannot enter His Kingdom as a good man or woman, I can only enter it as a complete pauper.

The true character of the loveliness that tells for God is always unconscious. Conscious influence is priggish and un-Christian. If I say - I wonder if I am of any use - I instantly lose the bloom of the touch of the Lord. "He that believeth in me, out of him shall flow rivers of living water." If I examine the outflow, I lose the touch of the Lord.

Which are the people who have influenced us most? Not the ones who thought they did, but those who had not the remotest notion that they were influencing us. In the Christian life the implicit is never conscious, if it is conscious it ceases to have this unaffected loveliness which is the characteristic of the touch of Jesus. We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring."

Written by Oswald Chambers, taken from My Utmost for His Highest