BIG CHURCH WITH LITTLE PEOPLE

It is my opinion that I write about things that are a big part of my life.  Face it, our thoughts tend to wander towards the people and things we love.  Most of you my blog readers surely have figured out now that my God, my Savior Jesus Christ and my spiritual life are most important to me with my family being right there next with very little space between.   

The experience I’ve been pondering today happened at church yesterday.  Big church.  Of course, since the Children’s Choir sang my favorite, “Jesus Loves Me” and made me teary eyed as they often do when they sing this in their sweet littles voices, I was being blessed.  Yesterday was not my day to play the organ for the service so after the choir singing, I walked to sit at my regular spot about four or five rows from the back by the wall aisle.  I always try to choose my bench so that I am NOT sitting under a light.  The recessed lighting in our church can get very hot and I’m hot enough without having to sweat more.    Just sayin’…

After taking my seat, the visiting preacher began.  He had just started when I saw that one of the little girls from my Sunday School class had walked to my bench to sit with me.  She hopped up on the pew, pulled her dress over her knees, settled herself in, looked up at me and smiled with sweet expectation.  Ah.  I’m always sunk when they smile.    I quietly pointed to her beautiful sandals and we both smiled.  She’s pretty good at knowing what I’m meaning and being quiet.  Well, wasn’t but a couple of minutes, I noticed over to the left from the center aisle that another little girl from the class was coming to sit with me.  She took her place on the right side, we all three squeezed together (even though we were on an empty bench) and sat there quietly.  I never have any bag of tricks with me, just a purse and my Bible, and since I don't let anyone look in my purse, sitting with me can become pretty boring after a while.  It wasn’t long till one more little girl from the class came from the seat in front of us to sit with us.  As the sermon went on, little bits of whispering began and I shot my looks of “don’t-be-talking-in-big-church”.  Granted,  these little ones are pretty good in Big Church. 

Eventually the last one to join us got bored with no activity and went back to her seat in front of us.  One of the others got the Bible from the book rack, opened it and proclaimed, “There’s no pictures.”  I suggested quietly that she come and sit with the other child and they could look at my Bible, which had pictures.    There was a simple picture of the ark.  No animals, no water, and no Noah but an ark.  The youngest one said, “What’s that?”  The oldest said matter of factly, “It’s the ark.  Noah’s.”  Then the youngest looked at me and said, “We learned that in SUNDAY SCHOOL.”  While excited that she listened in Sunday School, I shushed them a bit but kept turning pages.  Then I flipped back to the front and there was one of creation—the galaxy—a moon and a starburst.  The youngest looked at me and said excitedly, “Whoa…FIREWORKS!”  It was all I could do to not laugh out loud.  I imagine when God created all that, it seemed like big fireworks.

So obviously, if the visiting preacher is reading my blog, I would implore him not to be hurt that I missed most of his sermon.  I can tell you the scripture but didn’t listen too well.  I’ve found today as I recall Big Church for me yesterday that I was getting a sermon right there on my pew from the little people. 

What if I came to church with smiling expectation of wonderful worship?   

What if I came to church having excitement as I would have seeing “fireworks”? 

What if I came to church with simple faith and desire to learn more of Him?

What if I came to church EVERY SINGLE TIME with the big assurance in my heart that “Jesus loves me, this I KNOW”?

What if I came to church ready to “Be still” and listen to what God has to say to me?

What a wonderful Big Church it would be!   Not only Big Church, but life itself. 

So yes, yesterday as I looked at those little hands and little feet with toenails painted, I felt all warm and fuzzy inside.   God doesn’t have nor require a bag of tricks,  He just wants true worship and love in us for Him and for others.  I also learned that “God’s little people are God’s BIG people sometimes.”  And don’t forget it!

And all God’s people would surely shout a loud, “AMEN!”

Just because....

...maybe someone needs to hear this today....from my favorite book, the B-I-B-L-E.

Romans 8:35, 37, 38, 39 says:

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
....

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."


AMEN!

SIMPLE JOYS (Part 1)

“simple” -- Not hard to understand and do

“joy”  -- A feeling of great happiness

I consulted Mr. Webster and his book of definitions for the these two words.  If you put them together you have simple joy.  Simple. Joy.  Of course, if you add an “s”, it’s a multiple of such wonderful things.  Simple joys.

My mind began to think of the simplicity of the meaning of the two words when combined together.  This was prompted by a gift to me from a sweet little girl.  The gift was a Willow Tree figurine of a girl holding an apron full of flowers.   With Willow Tree figures, there is always a title and a saying...this one was titled "Simple Joys" and said, "You are simply a joy in my life."

With that came the thoughts of my 2 and 3 year old Sunday School class end of the year party yesterday.  Of the eight children in the class, six will be “promoted” up to the next class in a couple of weeks.  My Helper and I will miss them so much but it’s the circle of life and they are ready for more advanced learning.  We are grateful for the two that will remain and the one that will join our class.  We pray for growth and more also as the year progresses. 

As the thought of simple joys continued in my mind, I thought back to the time I first began teaching Sunday School.  The mother of one of my current students was one of the little ones at that time.  This picture is one taken of that class and me.  Thirty-three years ago.  Uh huh.  I would say that makes me “experienced” but truthfully, it just makes me simply old.  I was wearing one of my two favorite maternity dresses.  Uh...one of my only two maternity dresses.   Do you recognize two of these little girls as two of our church moms today?

The ability and chance to build a foundation and teach Jesus was a simple joy then and is a simple joy to me now.

Looking back on the pictures that were taken at the party yesterday, I decided a picture is again worth a thousand words so I’ll allow you the ability to decipher other simple joys from children.  They are endless.  Endless.  And what better way to live than in a world with endless simple joys?

Blonde hair with eyes of blue and a sweet smile.  I actually heard my name called today after church as I stood on the sidewalk and this little one's car was stopped as they were leaving.  The back window was down and she was waving to me to say goodbye.  I walked over, kissed her on the forehead and told her I love her.  She replied, "I love you too."  Simple. Joys.  

Playing on a playground....an upcoming new 2 and 3 year old class member.  Simple joy.

The smile of a  little one as she swings.  Simple joy.

A proud "Look at me!" from an adventurous one.  Simple joy.

The fun of up, up, and away, looking as though standing in the air, and a smile of sheer delight with braid in her hair blowing in the wind.  And don't forget the purple shoes. Simple joy.

"Take my picture on the slide".  "Can I see?"   Simple joy.

Playing together.  Simple joy.

"Push me Aunt Christi!"...and a "my turn!"  Simple joy.

Fun time with a dad.  Look at that face on that little guy.  Pure simple joy.

"Whee.........!"   A late arrival but a fabulous swinger!  Simple joy.

All together.  Simple joy.  In most cases.

"Watch me!"  Simple joy.

Young friendship.  Simple joy.

Wet sweaty hair and rosy cheeks from playground fun.  Simple joy.

"Hide and Seek Scavenger Hunt" instructions....2 and 3 year old style.  Simple joy.

Listening intently.  Simple joy.

Searching.  Simple joy.

Finding.  Simple joy.

Goody bags from the "finds".  Simple joy.

And of course, the privilege of thanking the Lord for blessings.  "God our Father, God our Father, we give thanks, we give thanks.  For our many blessings, for our many blessings.  Amen.  Amen."   Some really get into the prayer, some peek, but then again, haven't we all peeked at one time or another?  Yet God still hears!  And surely He smiles because God loves pray-ers and peek-ers.   Simple. Joy.

 

Whispering secrets?  It's a girl thing.  Simple joy.

Ice cream sundaes after delicious pizza.  Simple joy.

Sprinkles.  Simple joy.

M & M's.  Yum.  Simple joy.

 Little children.  Squeals of delight.  Trust.  Even tantrums at times.  All in all, the future of our world lies in these little bodies.  Teaching them, talking to them, and loving them are just the colorful sprinkles on my ice cream sundae of life!

Simple. Simple. Joys.

A LITTLE REFLECTING....

Well summer is closer to the ending than to the beginning.  You won’t hear me say I’m sorry about that.  I love fall season and the cooler, colorful time it brings with it.

Part of today’s sermon scripture was taken from one of my many favorite passages of scripture—Philippians 3: 13, 14 and it goes like this:

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

I do love those Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians books of the New Testament.  And I love that scripture—it was yellow in my Bible, meaning I have read it often and marked it as special.   

As I prepare in this present time to “reach forth to those things which are before”, I try to pray for guidance for what “those things before” will mean to me.  I know that life holds a lot of things that cause us pain and discomfort physically, mentally, and emotionally.  Life can dish out some doozies, or so I like to say.  As I age, too, I say I am rarely surprised at anything any more.

Reflecting on the unknown future, I find comfort and confidence that no matter what comes my way, I will have the Lord there with me giving me strength and courage to face it.  The Pastor today talked about how one should grow and if one is 70, they should be more grown spiritually than they were at fifteen.  I know that is the truth and pray that if the Lord will that my 49 year walk with Him continues,  I will continue to grow in his grace, knowledge, and love.   With spiritual age comes wisdom and experience….I look forward to wisdom and experience, don’t you?  I can try to do my part in the process!