This is a little old, but I'm finally getting around to writing it...
Apparently the desire for what we can't have begins young. At just 5 months old, I started noticing that keeping something away from Caleb, or telling him he couldn't play with it made him that much more interested in it. The remote control happened to be the first example of this. He would sit and stare at it (perhaps hoping I would look away and he could finally have at it), ignoring anything I did to try and distract him from it. I'm surprised that he would choose sitting and staring at it versus actually getting to play with something. I tried getting a toy remote control and apparently those are just no fun. I even found an old remote that is no longer in use and gave him that (I know, probably not a good idea); it appeased him for a while, but eventually wore out its interest too. At 7 months, he still however, is fascinated with the current remote control. What makes it different than the others? All I can figure is it happens to be the one we told him he can't have.
An entire slew of words come to mind with this, temptation, envy, covet, obedience to name a few.
Temptation is apparently something we must learn to fight from a young age. Obedience in all things is a lesson to be taught, not something we instinctually do. Caleb has much to learn. Now the temptation is the remote control, but who knows what it will be in 15 years. So much better for him, if we begin the lessons on obedience now.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
The Miraculous God, part two
Praising his Maker:
I ran across an amazing verse the other day...
"And Jesus said to [the chief priests] Yes; have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babes Thou hast prepared praise for Thyself'?" (Matthew 21:16)
Wow.
I had to go back and reread and reread, check it out in other versions, check out it's reference. Did it actually said God receives praise from the mouths of babies!?!?
Obviously this got me to rethink my little boy's jabbering. Could he, when he spends so much time talking to empty spaces, actually be praising the God they met in the womb?
Who knows, I can't speak jibberish, but I'm thinking the "goo goos" and "ga gaas" don't phase God a bit.
Caleb is experiencing everything for the first time. The wind, the rain, the rug, the curtains, all of it peak his curiosity. The dust in the corner seem to amaze him just as much as my first view of the Grand Canyon. I still find myself in awe of the God who created such a masterpiece. Maybe all that baby babbling is Caleb's expression of awe in the God who created such masterpieces as dirt, trees, and glass. Maybe its just part of that preordained praise.
I ran across an amazing verse the other day...
"And Jesus said to [the chief priests] Yes; have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babes Thou hast prepared praise for Thyself'?" (Matthew 21:16)
Wow.
I had to go back and reread and reread, check it out in other versions, check out it's reference. Did it actually said God receives praise from the mouths of babies!?!?
Obviously this got me to rethink my little boy's jabbering. Could he, when he spends so much time talking to empty spaces, actually be praising the God they met in the womb?
Who knows, I can't speak jibberish, but I'm thinking the "goo goos" and "ga gaas" don't phase God a bit.
Caleb is experiencing everything for the first time. The wind, the rain, the rug, the curtains, all of it peak his curiosity. The dust in the corner seem to amaze him just as much as my first view of the Grand Canyon. I still find myself in awe of the God who created such a masterpiece. Maybe all that baby babbling is Caleb's expression of awe in the God who created such masterpieces as dirt, trees, and glass. Maybe its just part of that preordained praise.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
The Miraculous God, part one
From the time my son, Caleb, was born, he's been captivated by corners, ceilings, doorways, and walls. When he was first opening his eyes and taking in the world, he chose to spend countless minutes looking at...nothing. When he starting smiling, he chose to show off those beautiful smiles to... no one. And when he started talking, he held conversations with... nothing, just space.
Still at 6 months, he often chooses to converse with the door, the wall, the corner, or giggle at empty space.
Now I've decided not to believe my son is chosing a conversation with air over a conversation with his favorite mom. How great it would be if he is conversing with angels or even praising the God that he met in the womb!
Conversing with Angels:
I'm no theologian; I've never even specifically studied angels in the Bible, so I won't pretend to be an expert. I'm even hesitant to believe in invidual guardian angels. I do know that angels are messengers, sent in the Bible to teach, comfort, correct, fight, annouce God's plan, and probably more. And being new to this world, even speaking a different "language", Caleb could use some comfort and teaching.
I believe that as we age we so often let culture, expectations, and fears keep us from believing in and experiencing the Miraculous God, the One who spoke through a burning bush, directed Israel with clouds and fire, gave John an amazing vision, wrote on the palace wall in Babylon, and sent angels to speak to countless men and women. We grow to believe in and rely on ourselves rather than the God who made us. In fact, this was the ultimate problem with Noah's time, with Sodom and Gomorrah, with Babylon.
My son is not manipulated by this world. He would not think to be afraid of angels in the corner speaking comfort to him. If he saw one, he would only think to grin, babble, laugh, or talk with them. So maybe he is. He has not begun to believe that he is in charge, so he would not hesitate to give praise to the God who truly is in control.
Those times I allow the world to influence me, I've missed out on what God has wanted to show me. I don't think many would argue that point in their own lives. We have to be available if we want to be taught.
In my almost 30 years, I can think of one time when I've experienced the Miraculous God, unfortunately I am usually too distracted with the world. Why, when the Miraculous God is so amazing, do we chose instead to let fears and distractions keep us from Him?
I love the book of Daniel because it describes a man who managed to keep distractions at bay and experience the Miraculous God. Lots of people say those experiences only happened in Biblical times, not today. I disagree. They happen today, but only to those setting themselves apart, not following the culture of man. The majority of us aren't willing to do this, and so we miss out on so much that God wants to show us. The same was true of Daniel's time, most people then missed out as well. Daniel describes some of these..."Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, while the men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves." (Daniel 10:7)
I have often heard people say they don't mind if God keeps angels around them, just as long as they don't become visible. Honestly, I've thought this at times too. But do I trust God or not? The same God that taught the Sermon on the Mount, carved the tablets in the presence of Moses. Why would I trust the first and fear the second? I do not want to dread the Miraculous God.
Still at 6 months, he often chooses to converse with the door, the wall, the corner, or giggle at empty space.
Now I've decided not to believe my son is chosing a conversation with air over a conversation with his favorite mom. How great it would be if he is conversing with angels or even praising the God that he met in the womb!
Conversing with Angels:
I'm no theologian; I've never even specifically studied angels in the Bible, so I won't pretend to be an expert. I'm even hesitant to believe in invidual guardian angels. I do know that angels are messengers, sent in the Bible to teach, comfort, correct, fight, annouce God's plan, and probably more. And being new to this world, even speaking a different "language", Caleb could use some comfort and teaching.
I believe that as we age we so often let culture, expectations, and fears keep us from believing in and experiencing the Miraculous God, the One who spoke through a burning bush, directed Israel with clouds and fire, gave John an amazing vision, wrote on the palace wall in Babylon, and sent angels to speak to countless men and women. We grow to believe in and rely on ourselves rather than the God who made us. In fact, this was the ultimate problem with Noah's time, with Sodom and Gomorrah, with Babylon.
My son is not manipulated by this world. He would not think to be afraid of angels in the corner speaking comfort to him. If he saw one, he would only think to grin, babble, laugh, or talk with them. So maybe he is. He has not begun to believe that he is in charge, so he would not hesitate to give praise to the God who truly is in control.
Those times I allow the world to influence me, I've missed out on what God has wanted to show me. I don't think many would argue that point in their own lives. We have to be available if we want to be taught.
In my almost 30 years, I can think of one time when I've experienced the Miraculous God, unfortunately I am usually too distracted with the world. Why, when the Miraculous God is so amazing, do we chose instead to let fears and distractions keep us from Him?
I love the book of Daniel because it describes a man who managed to keep distractions at bay and experience the Miraculous God. Lots of people say those experiences only happened in Biblical times, not today. I disagree. They happen today, but only to those setting themselves apart, not following the culture of man. The majority of us aren't willing to do this, and so we miss out on so much that God wants to show us. The same was true of Daniel's time, most people then missed out as well. Daniel describes some of these..."Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, while the men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves." (Daniel 10:7)
I have often heard people say they don't mind if God keeps angels around them, just as long as they don't become visible. Honestly, I've thought this at times too. But do I trust God or not? The same God that taught the Sermon on the Mount, carved the tablets in the presence of Moses. Why would I trust the first and fear the second? I do not want to dread the Miraculous God.
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