Hand in Hand!

 

Children – God’s great gift to mankind and yet sometimes the most frustrating job in the entire world.  Just when you think they are “getting it”, they start a whole new way of testing your patience. 

 

The terrible two’s give way to the trying three’s to the first day of school.  Next comes the drama of new friends, pre-teens, teen years, their first effort of driving, homecoming, and prom, just to mention a few.

 

Just when you think it’s almost over they need financial help for college and advice on when and whom to marry.  Are you depressed yet?  Here’s the truth though, no matter what, there is nothing in this world like the experience of taking your child’s hand when they are excited, nervous, terrified, happy, sad, etc.

 

It’s like they are saying that no matter what, as long as my hand is in yours its okay.  I trust you daddy, I love you mommy, I won’t always show it, but I want to spend the rest of my life hand in hand with you.

 

Today and everyday God’s hand is outstretched, reaching out to yours no matter whether you have just enjoyed success or have failed miserably.  He wants you to say to Him, God I’m a mess, I’m a wretch, I’m up and down, inconsistent and at times emotionally unstable but I’m yours and I want nothing more than to walk hand in hand with you all my life.

 

Written by Lance Osborn for the Parent Commitment Service 2013 at Tyler Street Church of Christ.

 

 

In His Presence - Part One

Zephaniah 3:17a For the Lord your God is living among you.

What does that even mean?  Do you picture God as the hoity toity one living on snob hill in the mansion that no one else can afford?  Or is He in the low rent apartments that are falling down?  Maybe He is next door to you in middle class America or in the upper crust sub-division.  What if He is the homeless guy that you just gave a look of complete disgust to because somehow he is below you, not worthy of a smile or a generous hand, or even a second thought?

Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'  Who was He speaking of?  He was talking about the needy, the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick, and the prisoner.  When you do something for someone you are doing something for God.

We like to think about God being with us when we need Him, but do we think about Him being with us when we are doing or saying something we shouldn’t?  Do we think about Him being with us when we are not serving others and doing for others what we would have them do for us? 

What if we lived every moment of every day with the awareness of God sitting next to us, walking beside us, loving as we love, living as we do, enjoying the things we enjoy, and watching us as we interact with our family, our friends, our co-workers and neighbors?

Would anything change?  Today and all week long make a decision to recognize God living among and beside you.  There He is, right there next to you, how will you treat Him?  Or maybe I should ask you (and me) how will you treat others "In His Presence"?

Lance