Hold My Hand

"The steps of a man are established by the Lord; and He delights in his way. When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; because the Lord is the One who holds his hand."
Psalm 37:23-24 NASB

Written 6/16/94
Courtney is forever saying "Mommy, hold my hand". Even if I'm right there with her and watching every move she is making, she feels more secure if she can feel my hand guiding her.

Even though we know God is watching us, and is always there, we still feel more secure if we are holding His hand and feel Him guiding us. All we have to do is say "Father, hold my hand".

Are We Almost Home?

"And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place...For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes...And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many. And because of lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold... and then the end shall come" Matthew 24: 6, 7, 11, 12, 14 NASB

Written 3/10/04
There are many days when Courtney and I are on our way home from school and she asks, "Are we almost home?" I point out to her the landmarks (or signs) that indicate we are almost home..."There is the store that is close to our house” and "There is the school where we turn into our street."

We also have signs that show us we are almost home. Just read the newspaper or watch the news...earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, wars, etc., etc., etc. God is telling us "Children, look for the signs, you're almost home!"

I Want To Be Like You

"For who He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son..." Romans 8:29 NASB

Written 3/10/94
Courtney and I were talking and she said, "When I grow up I want to wear your clothes" and "When I grow up, I want to be like you!" What a compliment to me!!

We also have an example to be like. God's word says that we were created to be conformed to the image of Jesus. As we "grow up" as Christians, we should tell Jesus "I want to be like you!" What a compliment to Him!!!

Just For You

"Compose new songs of praise to Him...sing joyfully"
Psalms 33:3 TLB

Written March 7, 1994
Courtney is becoming quite a songwriter. She makes up words, which may or may not make sense and puts them to a tune that may or may not be recognizable. This is "quite" a sound until she says "Mama, was that good, it was just for you!" then it is the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. I know it came from her heart, just for me.

God looks at us this way. When we do something for Him and say "This is from my heart, just for you,” it is beautiful to Him no matter how it sounds to others because He knows it is out of our love, "just for Him!"

Only One Way

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'." John 14:6 NIV

Written 1/94
The other night Courtney wanted me to paint her fingernails. I went to her room and the toy box had "exploded" all over the floor. I told her to pick up the toys and I would paint her nails. But, being three years old, she tried every way to get her nails painted but the only way I told her. I finally told her "There's only one way to get what you want!"

That's the way people are with God. They say they want to get to God, yet they try every way but the only way He has told us we can get to Him. With Courtney, the only way she could get her nails painted was to do what I said. With us, the only way we can get to God is through what He said, faith in His Son Jesus.

Stars & Rewards

"... For he was looking forward to the great reward that God would give him.."
Hebrews 11:26 TLB

Written 1/5/94
I was having trouble finding consistency in getting Courtney to do what she was supposed to do, such as picking up toys and clothes, not eating enough, not wanting to brush her teeth, not wanting to go to bed, etc., etc., etc.!!! I decided to try a new approach. I made a calendar to hang on the wall in her room and each day she can earn a star to obeying certain rules. At the end of the week, if she earns a star everyday, we go and get some kind of reward (the first week was a trip to the Disney store). Once Courtney learned the pleasures and rewards of obeying, it became a joy to her.

The same is true for Christians, once we learn who we really are in Christ and the rewards of obeying, and then it will be a pleasure to obey and will become a natural thing to do. We then obey because we want to, not because we have to and in the process earn "Stars and Rewards."

I love Courtney as she is, even if she doesn't obey. God loves us too, even if we don't obey, but we won't receive the "Stars and Rewards."