Bread Enough to Feast On

Today's lessons... God-given, in perfect, child-sized bites:

DETERMINATION:
Today my children and I talked of David and Goliath and my heart cried...
Lord, make me like David.
May I not only faithfully step out on the battlefield, but even after I know my foe is defeated, may I also cut off the head of my enemy, declaring to all that I am not longer under the oppression of such an aggressor. May I be dedicated to public victory!

1Sa 17:23

As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it.

1Sa 17:45

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

1Sa 17:46

This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.

1Sa 17:47

All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

1Sa 17:48

As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.

1Sa 17:50

So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

1Sa 17:51

David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.

DETERMINATION:
We talked of Zacchaeus and my heart cried...
Lord, make me like Zacchaeus.
May I know my limitations and do what ever it takes to get above my obstacles and make every effort to see you and not miss You. When you call my name, may I also respond like Zacchaeus, repentant and eager to just be right with you above all else.

Luk 19:1	Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.
Luk 19:2	A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.
Luk 19:3	He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd.
Luk 19:4	So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore‑fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
Luk 19:5	When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”
Luk 19:6	So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
Luk 19:7	All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’ ”
Luk 19:8	But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
Luk 19:9	Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.
Luk 19:10	For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

DETERMINATION:
We talked of the parents bringing their children to Jesus and my heart cried...
May I be so bold as to bring my children to sit on your lap despite what others may say.

Mat 19:13	Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
Mat 19:14	Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Mat 19:15	When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

DEDICATION:
We talked of football and watched highlights on TV and my heart cried...
Lord, make me like a flag-bearing cheerleader.
May I run into the stadium of life, jubilant and smiling, giving all my effort to exult You, holding your banner up high that Your Name might be displayed with joy and glory.

Exd 17:11	As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.
Exd 17:12	When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.
Exd 17:13	So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
Exd 17:14	Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”
Exd 17:15	Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner.
Exd 17:16	He said, “For hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord. The Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”

Isa 49:22 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: "See, I will beckon to the Gentiles, I will lift up my banner to the peoples; they will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders.


Lord, thank You for little lessons that carry me through my day. Each of these lessons, though discussed individually and in unrelated ways, teaches and emphasizes what I long to have in my life. May I be determined and dedicated to You alone, just as Your Word teaches us that David, Zacchaeus, the Godly parents, and Moses were dedicated and determined to follow and live for You alone. Write these qualities on my heart and on the hearts of my children, make them the method of my walk. Thank You, Father. You, and Your Word, are so good. May You be exalted.

With Love, Amen.

Snippets

Play with your kids throughout the day,
I find you get more done that way. ~ c.s.

That I may fulfill this little snippet I came up with one day,
Lord, hear my prayer:

Lord, let me be a child,
with my children.
Let me play and enjoy,
marvel and wonder,
stop and examine,
listen and learn,
turn and repent,
cry and be comforted,
guided gently by
Your hand along the way.

May I learn to be a child
while my children are still children.
That we may grow together
in the knowledge of You.

May we be joined in this life
through mutual experiences
of Your grace and love,
with great thanksgiving.
For these are the seeds
I wish to sow in the fertile ground
of these youthful hearts.

Make me a little child Lord,
that I may be Yours.
Change me daily, fill me with joy,
with ears to hear and eyes to see
that I may guide those that follow me.
And in your shadow may we rest,
for only there are we safely blessed.

Make me a child Lord,
only Yours.
Embracing Your teaching
upward, higher, ever-reaching.
Needing, wanting, You provide.
Lord, may I leave behind my pride.
Childlike, lowly, much to learn,
fill me Lord, with Your fire to burn.
Lower, lower, higher still
with Your presence, all of me fill.

Make me a child, Lord
innocent and sweet
for all of my desires
You promise to meet.
Nothing have I meaningful to teach
save Your ever-loving hand to reach.
Guide us, carry us, train us still
so that our purposes me may fulfill.

May I be a child Lord,
a little girl with laughter,
may I know the freedom of
a daughter of The King.
Teach me to be just like You
for All in all, my Dad is able.
Bring us to Your wedding table.

Crayons, blocks, books and markers,
may they make us ever sharper,
keener still to look for Thee
for with Your glory we will be.

Let me be a child Lord,
resting in Your arms,
fully dependent and delightfully stable.
Father guide us, as You are able.

Luk 2:40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

Luk 9:47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him.

Luk 9:48 Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all-he is the greatest."

Luk 18:17 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

My I grow with my children in wisdom, and may the grace of God be upon us. Thank You, Father. It's good to know You.

Help me to remember what it's like to look up to the counter-top.

Amen.

Sunrise Skinny Dip

I had the privilege to rise early and walk the beach while on family vacation. I was supposed to go with a friend, but found myself walking with the Lord instead. What started out as lonely became intimate; one on one time with God. I walked and walked, led on by praise and worship music. On that almost deserted beach, I sang out loud and praised the Creator of this most majestic beginning of days. The sun slowly rose over the ocean and I sang and walked basking in the glory of the sunrise. Guided by the music, I loved Him and lifted my hands towards heaven, becoming refreshed and closer to Him with every step. I prayed over those who passed me and watched in wonder as the houses that stood as sentries to this new day glowed, seemingly from within, with the brilliance of the sun's rising. With fiery red and pink and glowing gold, they shown with the glory of the Lord, reflecting what they were simply witness to.

The Lord showed me that I, too, am such a witness. Simply a house on the hill overlooking the vast expanse of ocean, watching, waiting, for the Son's rise. Able only to reflect what is shone upon me and lighted gloriously from within by all that is radiated from the rising of this new dawn. His mercies are new every morning, and we are the temples of the Living God. Houses on the beach, the place where land and water meet like the temporariness of this life and the ongoing expanse of eternity. It is on this ridge, this place of interaction and relationship, that we stand as witnesses to His great new mercies. Lord, may we reflect your Glory with unmasked brilliance and see ourselves as simple as transparent glass.

Onward I walked until it was time to turn around and retrace my steps. Walking now, back toward my family and loved ones, towards interactions with the world and those in it. Returning with the brightness of the sunrise reflecting in my heart. I praised Him and prayed that He would go with me. Lord, give me new eyes, holy words and thoughts. Back I walk, wishing I could only walk towards Him and not have to return. Return I must, but thankfully I go with a heart filled with the joy of praising Him with both heart and voice. Something remains, lingers in my heart, though. Something, a lesson, is missing... what is it...?

I walk back, encountering more people as the morning matures. A couple that passed me in the other direction earlier is long ahead of me. I see them now, in the water, frolicking with reckless abandon. They are giddy with refreshment and free in their play. They are enjoying a morning swim curiously more than normal. The man rises up and dives into the water exposing his nakedness. Startled, I look away and laugh! How childlike and exuberant. How funny and free! Eyes averted, I look down the beach and notice a pile of what looks like, rags. Here's my lesson, THANK YOU, LORD! They've left their clothes behind.

I leave, on this beach, with this new dawn, my own filthy rags of deeds and self. I bathe instead in Your glory and righteousness, Lord. May I walk onward, towards those you have placed in my life. Returning freshly washed, bathed in joy and praise and intimacy with the Creator. The author of this day and of each of us. Our stories written like waves on the shore. Tide lines, marked and remarked with each new day. Lord, may I sparkle with droplets of saltwater. May I be decidedly different after spending time with You, Father. May I leave my filthy rags on the beach and return renewed and refreshed, clothed in righteousness! What a skinny dip! And how fun.

Eph 4:22	You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
Eph 4:23	to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
Eph 4:24	and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Jam 1:21	So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the message God has planted in your hearts, for it is strong enough to save your souls.

May we each remember to daily skinny dip in the pleasure of Your presence Lord. May we come naked, laying aside all that may come between our communion so that nothing may separate us. And may we return refreshed with the taste of saltwater dripping from our lips, in our hair, running down our bodies, and with sand freshly between our toes. May there be no part of us that is not touched by You. For it is not in our own understanding, but in Your power, for Your glory, that we are transformed into Your image. Thank you, Jesus.

With all the love You have given me today and everyday, Amen.