The Faith of a Child

The Faith of a Child

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know” Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)


When my oldest son was five, we had a Golden retriever/Brittany spaniel mix called simply "Bob" because he was the only one in the litter that had the body of a golden retriever but the stump of a tail that belongs to the Brittany spaniel. Because of his size, he became our oldest son's dog. My oldest boy loved that dog with all his heart. Bob was HIS dog.


We kept Bob in a dog run in the backyard. Since he was obviously a bird dog, we kept the gate to the run locked. Well, one night the gate was left unlocked and someone stole Bob. We were devastated.

One Sunday night, after two weeks of driving and walking the whole subdivision looking for Bob, I was putting my son to bed. We said our prayers and he turned that sweet face full of hope toward me and told me, "Mommy, I prayed and God is going to bring Bob home." My mother's heart broke as I tried to explain to a five-year-old that sometimes God doesn't answer our prayers the way we want Him to. But he was determined, "No mommy, God told me that He would bring Bob home." After several minutes of argument, I just told him, "Well, we'll see". The odds of him coming back were slim and none.

My husband and I decided that night to quit searching for Bob and calling the animal shelter because we had lost all hope of seeing Bob again and we didn't want to encourage what we believed to be false hope in our son. But every day when we would get home from work/school, my son would run to the backyard looking for Bob in the still empty dog run and thanking God in his nightly prayers for bringing his dog home.

For three days my heart broke for my young son and the disappointment that was most surely coming. I would try to lessen the disappointment I knew was coming by telling him over and over that sometimes God's answer to our prayers is not one we like. And every night my five-year-old son would say, "Mommy, God TOLD me that He was going to bring Bob back and He ALWAYS keeps his promises."

On the third night when I put him to bed, I was a little teary-eyed during our prayers because I had no idea how I was going to explain to my faith-filled son that Bob wasn't coming back. Seeing my tears, he patted my hand and said, "It will be okay, Mommy, God told me that Bob is coming back and I believe Him." I raced out of the room in tears as my mother's heart broke for my son. I purposed in my heart that I would make my son believe that there was no possibility that Bob was coming back.


The next morning was rushed so there was no time to talk to my son. My mind was divided between work and my son as I worried about what I would say to him when we got home and he found the dog run empty again. I tried many different approaches in my head as I worked because I didn't want him to be angry with God or think he wasn't important enough for God to listen to. Yet, REALITY told me that Bob was never coming home and my son needed to deal with that reality.

As we pulled into the driveway from the back seat I hear this squeal, "Mommy, Mommy, Bob is back! Bob is back!"

Before the car even came to a complete stop, my son was out of the car and racing to the backyard. I was in shock as I rounded the corner and, sure enough, Bob was back. In fact, he was back in the dog run with the gate closed and the lock locked! My son was jumping up and down screaming, "See, mommy! See, mommy! I told you God would bring Bob back!"

I stood there with tears streaming down my face, tears of joy, relief, and shame. Shame because I, with my "mature" faith, could not believe that God could do something as simple as bring back a lost dog.

Jesus says in Mark 10:15 in the Amplified Bible, "Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive and accept and welcome the kingdom of God like a little child [does] positively shall not enter it at all." Isaiah 11:6 states, "And a child shall lead them."

When I lose the faith to continue to believe as I wait for God's time, God reminds me of my five-year-old son who had the faith to believe that God cared enough about him to bring back his lost dog.

Shy or Ashamed?

To those of you who regularly read my blog, I have shown great restraint by not posting picture after picture of my new grandson. However, Max's parents had some professional pictures made and they are ADORABLE, if I do say so myself.

Just like any other proud grandparent, I am not bashful about showing off pictures of my latest grandchild. You don't even have to ask. I will ask you, "Have you seen the latest pictures of my new grandbaby?" If you say, "Yes," be prepared to sit/stand there a while. Thanks to my iPhone, I have l..o..t..s of pictures of Max to show other people. I am totally in love with Max (and Parker and Jennifer whose pictures are also on my iPhone) excited, and proud to show them off to friends and strangers alike.

We all have something we are excited about that we don't mind sharing with the world. I think of my oldest son who every time I see him is talking either about his job as an assistant principal or the U of M tigers (his favorite sports team). He loves his job and his tigers so he is not shy about talking about them to whoever, stranger or friend (must admit, I share the excitement about the tigers).

But we also have subjects that we are "shy" about sharing...family finances, family problems, our shortcomings and sins, our spiritual needs, etc. We just don't want the whole world knowing "our business." For many Christians, this list also includes sharing the gospel. We excuse ourselves from sharing our gifts or evangelizing the whole world as commanded in the Bible by saying we are "shy," I have done it for years by saying that talking to strange people is "not my thing." But that is not entirely true. I have been gifted with one of those faces that people trust immediately. I have heard life stories from waitresses, cashiers, people in line at the store, strangers I meet when I walk my dogs, etc. Yet in very few of these conversations do I ever mention God or the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Am I shy or ashamed? Jesus says that at the very least I am disobedient, "And so when they had come together, they were asking Him [Jesus], saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" He [Jesus] said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His won authority; but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

I am to start evangelizing in my hometown (Jerusalem), my county/state (Judea), Samaria (my enemies or people I don't like) and to the even to the remotest part of the earth. We feel okay on mission trips talking to people because we know that we probably won't see them again on this side of heaven, but when it comes to the people we know and, supposedly love, we feel "shy" and don't say a word for fear they will respond, "You're a Christian? I never would have guessed!" The closer people are to us, the scarier it becomes to share our faith because we CARE what they think.

Paul was not "shy," "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'But the righteous shall live by faith.'" (emphasis mine)

When I was first saved, I told everyone I knew and talked of God frequently with those I met. I was as excited about Christ as I am now about my new grandbaby. I told everyone, friends and strangers. But somehow, I lost that enthusiasm. In Revelation 1, the church at Ephesus had the same problem, "But I have this against you that you have left your first love." However, he told the church how to regain that love, "Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at the first; or else I am coming to you and will remove you lampstand out of its place- unless you repent."

I know that I need to repent because I am keenly aware from where I had fallen and go back to the excitement that I felt when I was a newborn Christian. The same excitement I feel about all my grandchildren.

So which is it? Are we shy or ashamed?

If You Can't Say Something Nice...

Belief in God, Family and Country. That is what most of the candidates for office in these mid-term elections want the public to believe about them, whether democrat or republican. It has become almost a mantra in every positive political appearance and ad that I have seen. At least, that is what they want you to believe....

My question is this, "How can you claim to believe in God and run negative political ads?" I don't know what Bible these politicians read, but mine tells me that you cannot believe in God and run negative political ads that border on slander.

Walk with me for a moment while we look at my statement that one cannot be a Christian or a Jew and run negative political ads. All quotes will be from the New American Standard Bible and will be in context. My favorite professors told me many years ago that a text without a context is a pretext. Since that is still true today, I will be quoting in context.

The first verse that caught my eye while researching the word slander was Psalm 15: 1-3: "O LORD , who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend." This verse tells me that (1) a believer does not slander, and (2) nor does he do evil to his neighbor. Who is our neighbor? EVERYBODY whether we are running for office or not.

As I continued down the list of references, I also found Psalm 50: 16-20: "But to the wicked God says, 'What right have you to tell of My statutes, And to take My covenant in your mouth? For you hate discipline, And you cast My words behind you. When you see a thief, you are pleased with him, And you associate with adulterers. You let your mouth loose in evil, And your tongue frames deceit. You sit and speak against your brother; You slander your own mother's son.'"

There is a whole political discussion in just that one verse. But let's stick to the topic at hand. A believer is not suppose to let his mouth loose in evil or allow his tongue frame deceit. I don't know about other elections, but this really applies to one candidate in the 8th Congressional district race. The candidate who is running the negative ads has just published a book entitled, "God and Politics: How Can a Christian Be in Politics?" This "gentleman" has released ads accusing his opponent of breaking the law and even though this man is a lawyer, he has not fulfilled his legal duty to report him. Hmmmm...me thinks there is something amiss here. Going back to the first verse, isn't he supposed to "walk in integrity?" Is there any integrity in slamming the other candidate instead of talking about what you believe in? Gives one pause to think...especially about his book.

To balance this discussion I also searched the word "slander" in the New Testament and found these words spoken by Christ in Mark 7: 20-23: "And He was saying, 'That which proceeds out of the man is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.'" Wow! Even Jesus was against believers saying negative things about other believers! In fact, taking one part of one sentence in an entire article and making it appear to have been the emphasis of the ENTIRE article is deceitful, is it not? These candidates project evil thoughts into the minds of the voter and it is up to the voter to find out the truth. However, candidates know that the vast majority of voters will not bother to check and can be influenced by what they tell them is true. There is also a pride issue here. The one running the negative ad is trying to elevate himself above the other candidate as his ad states, "Dear Lord, I am glad that I am not like this sinner here." Sound familiar.

Even though there are many more references to slander in the Bible, let me close with Ephesians 4: 29-32: "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has also forgiven you."

Negative campaign ads put out by believers against other believers definitely qualifies as many "unwholesome words." Further, I never saw a negative ad that EDIFIES the other candidate. In fact, the whole point of the negative ad is to destroy the reputation of the opponet. And the last verse tells us to be kind to one another. I have never seen a kind negative campaign ad.

A political analyst said on the news last night, "If a candidate spends all his time talking about the other candidate, it is because he has nothing to say about himself." I whole-heartily agree!

Hey you candidates out there! My mom taught me, "If you can't say something nice, then don't say anything." Wouldn't campaign season be so much more tolerable if the candidates would listen to their mothers and to God and stick to issues instead of focusing on slander and innuendo?

Not Complaining or Surrendering

After my morning devotional today I was playing solitaire until I was able to have my morning tea and wake up enough to continue my day. As I lost game after game after game, I began to complain to myself about how the cards were being dealt (Yes, I talk to my computer and you do too. You're just too ashamed to admit it!). After a few more losses, I decided I would quit complaining and just play.

As soon as that thought popped into my head, I realized something. There is a world of difference between not complaining and surrendering! In the video, Larry has decided not to complain about the hairbrush, but he never really let's go of the fact that he wants his hairbrush back. He just decides not to complain anymore. It is gone and there is nothing he can do about it.

Job felt he had a right to complain when he says, "Therefore, I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul." (7:11) I must admit, if anyone has a right to complain, it was Job.

But God does not want us to complain. James tells us, "Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves be judged; behold the Judge is standing right at the door." (5:9) So I decided this morning not to complain. But that's not what God wants.

My husband likes to talk to the other drivers when he is behind the wheel. I have asked him time and again not to go off on tirades about other drivers because I am the one who has to listen to all that and I didn't do anything. Well, he stops complaining...out loud.

That is what Ido with God. Instead of surrendering I decide to "not complain" anymore about my trials and tribulations. I "man up" and in doing so, decide to be a martyr. How many times have we gone to church with our world crumbling around us and someone asks us, "How are you?" and we answer, "I'm just fine (sigh). How are you?" never allowing that brother or sister to help carry our burden?

Now if I would surrender my burden, I would "let go and let God" to use an old cliche. Whether I like what God is allowing in my life or not, I TRUST God (there's that word again, trust. Can you tell I have trust issues?) to bring me through so I just sit back for the ride while trying to learn what it is God has to teach me.

Sit back for the ride? Yes, because we all know we aren't driving. God is totally in control. And even if we were driving, we have NO control over where we are going.

Jesus taught us all we needed to know about surrender in the garden. In Matthew 26:39 we hear, "Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.'" Then He continues (after waking up the napping disciples), "He went away a second time and prayed, 'My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done.'"

Jesus KNEW surrender. He didn't like what was going to happen. He knew he was about to be subject to excruciating pain, crucifixion, and bearing the sin of the whole world which would cause His Father to have to turn away from Him. For the first time in His life, Jesus would experience loneliness. But He repeats, "may Your will be done."

I do a lot of complaining and a lot of "deciding not to complain." My "favorite professor" told us that if God takes the time to say something more than once, He wants you to pay attention. Jesus' prayer of surrender is in all FOUR gospels. That's plenty for me. As of today I think I'll start listening.

Until today, I have been like the bumper sticker, "God is my co-pilot." I think starting today, I'm going to make an effort to make God my pilot and I will just go along for the ride. I won't do it perfectly, but I have to learn to surrender sometime. Better now than later because I am not promised tomorrow and I want to please my Heavenly Father.