The Childlike Question

Kids have such a purity to their comments. The filter isn't there for them, so sometimes the words may come out harsh or too silly to be sincere.

What I love is to hear their questions. Especially when the question is blurted out while others are talking. Sure the child should have waited, but in truth, his mind is so busy, he might have forgotten what he wanted to say.

Last Wednesday, I told the story of Hannah and baby Samuel. Kids love stories about heroes and they love stories about babies. We lullabied the baby doll to sleep so I could finish the story. Their sweet young voices showed a genuine sincerity to help the baby rest.

The hero of this story? Well, Hannah, of course. She asked God for a child, groaning from the depths of her soul. Eli, the priest mistook her sincerity for drunkenness. Hannah boldly told him about her prayer requesting a child and her promise to give the child back to God to serve Him. In faith, Hannah believed God would answer her prayer.

I told the children God spoke to Hannah and let her know He would give her a child.

A kindergarten boy who sat in the front row blurted out, "How did He do that?"

Wow! What a great question!

"Well, let's say you had a spelling test at school. You practiced with your mom at home and prayed for God to help you do your best. But when the teacher said, spell cat you couldn't remember the letters. You closed your eyes and suddenly the letter "c" popped in your head. You wrote down the "c" and closed your eyes again. Suddenly the letter "a" popped in your head. So you wrote down the letter "a" and closed your eyes again. Then the letter "t" popped in your head. You wrote down the letter "t" and looked at your work. God is the one who told you the correct letters to write."

He looked to the side as if thinking about what I said. Then twirled his fingers and said, "Oh."

Whether he fully understood, I don't know, but I hope he keeps asking questions.

God LOVES when we ask questions. He will always answer in the perfect way for us to understand. The more we ask, the more we show Him we are listening, learning, and interested in HIm.

So, let's ask some questions today. Maybe someone from our group will know the answer. Maybe God will show you the answer in another way.

Let's see. I'll start with my latest question I have been pondering. During the years David was running from Saul, he kept hidden with his band of sympathizers. This was no small group of men. What did they do with their days? They couldn't stay in one place and grow crops or Saul would have found them. What were they doing when not battling against the Israelite enemies.

Suzanne Woods Fisher - Overcoming the Fear of Failure

We've all had something fail. Maybe a school assignment, baking a cake, changing a car tire. Well that was my shortlist confession. There really is a mile long list that you don't want to hear. Talk about a quick drive to the blues. Even one negative comment in a barrel full of praises can take us down. Sigh. Why oh why do we remember the one negative one and forget the positives. You are not alone. We all do this. But there is a way of escape. Today, Suzanne Woods Fisher is going to share her story. The Fear of Failure “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you. Do not fear; I will help you” (Isaiah 41:13, niv). Years ago, before I received my first book contract, an editor returned a manuscript to me with the comment that the writing wasn’t up to her publishing house’s “caliber.” Ouch! That was a tough remark to swal...

A Memory Device For You

Photo Courtesy Recently I added a memory game to my week's activities. It all started when I listened to one of those fabulous sermons in church and actually took notes. Later in the week, I recalled liking the sermon and searched for the notes, but lamented when I couldn't find the piece of paper. I quizzed myself: What was the general topic? I racked my brain…good grief this was Thursday and a thousand other things had happened when I asked the question. After a cup of tea, visualizing where I sat in the sanctuary, and using every other means possible to remember the general topic I finally answered the question. The process to recall the rest of the good things said was an epic fail. Although I have since started using a notebook I have created a memory game. On Monday, at any point during the day, I try to say the following without the use of my notes: General topic of the sermon Main book of the Bible used Application p...

Laughter and Singing at the Homeless Shelter

It was a night to remember. A night to tell friends about. So I am... Fifty men, women, and teens rode in busses on icy expressways into the inner city. They poured out of the bus at a homeless shelter unsure where to go, what to do, or what to say. One led the pack through the main doors, pass security checkpoints, and on through winding hallways to a large room. At night, this room is filled, wall to wall, with cots, blankets, and at this time of year, cold homeless men, women, and children. On this evening before the night, hundreds of chairs formed straight rows and faced a platform. The fifty set up sound and instrument equipment. Singers cozied in the limited platform space. Instrumentalists tuned their instruments. A few residents poked their heads in the door. Intrigued, they came in and watched the first measures of several songs start, stop, start again. Microphone levels adjusted. The singers laughed. Chattered. The group stepped off to the side and...

The Storyteller | Mary Vee

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