Pick up your Toys...Pick up your Toys...Pick up your Toys!!!

"Take with you your only son - yes, Issac whom you love so much and go to the land of Moriah and sacrifice him there ... The next morning Abraham got up early ... and took with him his son Issac" Genesis 2: 2,3 TLB

Written 4/18/95

It is very frustrating for a mother to have to tell her child to do something over and over AND over again. I am forever saying "Courtney, Pick up your toys. Pick up your toys...Pick up your toys!!!" Obeying is such an easy thing to do. I told her "If you'd just obey me the first time I wouldn't get frustrated, you wouldn't get into trouble, and everybody would be happy!

I know God gets tired to having to tell us over and over "Pick up your toys. Pick up your toys...Pick up your toys!!!" When we hear God speaking and we know it's Him, obey the first time and we won't get into trouble and everyone will be happy, including ourselves. It's a joy to obey God and it's such an easy thing to do!

I've Heard the Wind Blow Before

"So when you talk to God and vow to Him that you will do something, don't delay in doing it..." Ecclesiastes 5:4 TLB

Written 2/23/95

Courtney and I were the way to church Wednesday night and she asked me if I was supposed to keep the "baby" class that night. It was my night to keep them so she began to beg, "Please, can I stay in there with you, I PROMISE I'll be good, just let me stay in there, I PROMISE I'll be good...” We've had this experience before and she is not always "good" when she stays with me in the "baby" class. I told her "You know, I've heard the wind blow before!"

God has heard our wind blow before many times. We PROMISE, if you do this God, or if you'll get me out of this God, I PROMISE, I'll be good. If we promise God something, let's not just let it be the wind blowing!

A Real Friend Loves You No Matter What!

"There are 'friends' who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24 TLB

Written 2/22/95
Courtney was telling me about her day's events at school. One of her friends had told her "If you look at Dannon's picture (another friend of Courtney's) I won't be your best friend." I told her not to worry, that a real friend loves you no matter what! If she is a real friend, it won't matter.

Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. No matter if we're good or if we fail, He loves us. He is a real friend. He loves us, no matter what!

Isn’t There Something You Need To Tell Me?

This one made me think of Ralph's Sermon this past Sunday ...

"But the Lord God called to Adam, and said to him, 'Where are you?'"
Genesis 3:9 Amplified

Written 3/30/95
Bedtime again and Courtney wants chocolate! She brought a bowl full of "kisses" to me and asked if she could eat them! "No", I said, "It's to late for chocolate and you'll be up all night if you eat them now. Go put them back in the kitchen." She went running down the hall to put them up (I thought) and I proceeded with my nightly chores. A few minutes later I asked her to come help me do something. She came running to me not saying a word but reeking of chocolate! I asked her "Isn't there something you need to tell me?" She shook her head no -- mouth still shut! I asked again, "Isn't there something you need to tell me?" She opened her mouth and, of course, it was full of chocolate I told her to put up the rest of the chocolate and not get any more, but I thanked her for not lying to me.

God knows when we've been in the "chocolate", but He wants us to come to Him anyway when we've done wrong. Don't try to lie to God; you "reek of chocolate"!

I Can't Take My Eyes Off the Road!

"... And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying 'Lord, save me!' And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him and said to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt'."
Matthew 14:29-31 NASB

Written 2/2/95
Driving to school, Courtney (sitting beside me) said, "Mommy, look. Is there something on my chin?" I told her, "I can't take my eyes off the road, and we might run in the ditch and have a wreck!"

On our Christian road we can't take our eyes off Jesus or we will most certainly "run off the road" and "wreck" our lives. "Keep your eyes on Jesus" and you can't help buy stay "in the road!"

Didn't I Tell You Not To Do That?

"Stay always within the boundaries where God's love can reach and bless you."
Jude 1:21 TLB

Written 1/27/95
I know Courtney sometimes thinks I'm just "blowing hot air" when I tell her not to do something. The truth is I'm trying to protect her. Just last night I told her not to take her juice out of the kitchen, but as children will do, she did it anyway. A few minutes later she came and told me "Mama, I'm afraid to tell you, but I spilled my juice on the carpet." I said, "Didn't I tell you not to do that, now you're in trouble.” Another time I had told her not to stand on the furniture, but of course, when I was out of the room, she and a friend tried running up and down on the couch. I heard a big "thump" and a loud "scream". She had flipped over, head first, onto the end table and into the floor. I told her the reason I had told her to stay off the furniture is so she wouldn't get hurt, not so she couldn't have fun.

God gives us rules to live by, not to just "blow hot air" but to protect us, to keep us from getting in trouble. He can see if we "run on the couch" we're going to fall or if we "take the juice out of the kitchen" we're going to get into trouble! When we do fall or get in trouble He will say, "Now didn't I tell you not to do that?" Let's remember that God's rules are not to keep us from having fun - they are to protect us!

Isn't This Exciting!

"As for me, my contentment is not in wealth but in seeing You ... And when I awake in heaven, I will be fully satisfied, for I will see you face to face."
Psalm 17:15 TLB

Written 1/27/05

A certain children's television celebrity was in town to meet the children and to sign autographs. Courtney wanted to go, so we took her. Courtney and I stood in line TWO HOURS to see the celebrity (it's amazing what a parent will do for their child, which is another lesson in itself!) We were almost up to the stage where the celebrity was and I said to her, "Isn't this exciting, but you know what's more exciting?" She said "What?" I said, "When we get to meet Jesus!" Her eyes grew wide; she smiled and said, "YEAH, I know!"

It's hard for me to understand how people can get so excited over celebrities here in this life. They'll wait for hours to see a celebrity, but make excuses for not going to church, worshipping, serving, reading God's Word, or seeking His will. If we are Christians, we are guaranteed that we will meet the greatest of all one day... Jesus! That should be enough to make a non-Christian want to be a Christian! Now that's exciting!