Car conversations can be tough, huh? That's where I get all the thought provoking questions. And there is no where to go, except to keep driving and try to answer the innocent questions the best I can. "Why are all those flowers on the ground?" (referring to the cemetery). "I thought they went to Heaven." "Did God make the sky, the moon, the sun, the people, how did He makes us, does He know me? Is he here with us now? How can He be here and Heaven at the same time?" Shew mercy. I just keep pressing in and praying the Father gives me the words to answer His mighty Kingdom questions. Because some of those I don't even understand. How can He listen to my prayers at the same time as someone else? How does He know every single strand of hair on my head and also the one beside me?
When I decided to change the world with the love of Christ I knew I had to start at home. I couldn't get on my blog and write about how good Jesus is without teaching my children every single day. I knew I had to pour into the children at my public school. Which was a mighty job because I can't say His name, but I can surely show His light. I desperately want my students to see there is something different about me. I knew that I needed to be extremely intentional with every lesson I taught in my Sunday school class because those little sponges are eager to soak up all God's love. I had to teach truth, straight from the Bible, and in a way that they would relate to and understand.
Through all this small serving, I have begun to see how these children are teaching me. The other day, Ellie, my fiery middle child, showed me her finger where a Band-Aid used to be. She said God healed her. Yes, He definitely did. God cares about the paper cuts and splinters too. He cares so much for the big and the small things in our lives. Just rest there for a moment. Isn't that so powerful? A few weeks ago I taught a lesson on how to hear what God is saying. For many adults, like myself, that is hard. Not because He isn't speaking to us, it's that we are so distracted by the world that we aren't listening. They had all the right answers. God speaks to us through the Bible. God speaks to us in our hearts. God speaks to us when a friend shows they care about us. God speaks to us when we sing. My goodness, yes children, He does. My 'Bible Study Girls' and I had a big ahah moment one night that brought us all to tears as we discussed Jesus as our shepherd and we were His sheep. The very next night at church, I taught a lesson on sheep and one of my sweet boys said, "We are God's sheep." Without a single thought, he knew it. We complicate too much. He knew his small place in the mighty kingdom.
Children believe God is good. All the time. Even in the bad times, He is still good. Children believe God's love is enough. His grace is enough. Children believe in forgiveness. One minute my girls can be in the biggest cat fight and the next they are holding hands, skipping off to their next adventure. Children believe in the importance of relationships. They are eager to make new friends and spend time together. As we grow into adulthood, we make our lives too busy for real relationships. Have you ever been to Vacation Bible School? Children praise Jesus and dance like no one is watching. Children look at the sky and know that God painted it. And not only that, but they take the time to notice. Over the past few years, I've taken the time to notice God's handy work and it is refreshing to my soul to see His greatness and be reminded of my smallness.
These small children are our mustard seeds. We are planting the love of Jesus in their hearts at a young age. We nourish them on good ground and continue to care for them just as God called us to do. (Matthew 13:8) And as they grow they will become the trees in the Kingdom that will grow branches and they will show people where to find rest. The keeper and sower of the mustard seeds- I see now how Father planted one in me years and years ago. And as I freely dance like a child in His garden in the kingdom on earth, I see how it continues to grow me.
Kingdom work is hard, but His yoke is easy.
He is powerful, but He is gentle, like a small child.
He is the giver of strength, but I can do nothing He called me to do without Him.
He is the vine and His Father is the gardener. (John 15:1) He is pruning. He is nourishing. He is whispering His love. He's giving me silence so I can hear.
He's teaching me through the small.
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