It's amazing how much little kids can be like parrots. Minus the bright tail feathers (unless they get into the markers) and add a smarter brain. My toddler, right now, is apparently in the midst of learning new words and new concepts, so her repetition of EVERYTHING i say must be for that reason. And because God wants my attention.
Tessa has taken to telling me to "obey Tessa" - as in, I'm supposed to obey HER. I told her, "Mommy obeys God. You obey Mommy." So now, whenever she's fast approaching a disciplinary situation -- and she knows it -- she tells me, "You obey God!"
And I have to admit, sometimes that phrase comes just when I actually need to hear it.
Hebrews 3 was a great reminder to me of what happens when God's children disobey (don't listen) and have unbelieving hearts. The generation that left Egypt didn't see their Promised Land. Instead, after living 40 years of Continuous Walking with Just Enough (instead of milk and honey and rest) they died in the wilderness.
I want to believe God ... that He is God and that His promises are true. And when my heart choose to believe, then my soul obeys. When I give my toddler the option to obey or to have a spanking, she believes that good will follow if she obeys (aka, no spanking) -- so she decides to obey (most of the time!)
Lord, You know where I'm weak -- help me to obey You in those areas. Thank You for allowing me to be part of the House You are building (v. 6) -- don't let me crumble as I hold fast to the confidence and hope I have in You!
2 comments:
Ah, yes, out of the mouth of babes!!! Those times when I would say to you and Andrew -- mostly Andrew :-) -- "How many times have I told you..." God spoke almost simultaneously to me, "And how many times have I told you?" I sometimes wonder if God blesses us with children so we will hear him???
Anyway, unbelief and hardness of heart -- kinda like paper mache. In grade school, we would take newspaper, dip it in flour and water paste, and then apply it onto a breakable object, i.e. a balloon. After applying layer upon layer of paper mache, we would then let it dry. The balloon inside either broke or lost it air, leaving the paper mache hollow inside.
Unbelief and hardness of heart ... choices of turning away from God ... are like layers of paper mache, leaving us hollow and empty inside and crusty on the outside.
Verse 7 says, "TODAY you must listen to his voice." That indicates that we must listen/hear God each and every day. Lord, help us to keep our hearts soft toward you. Give us ears to hear you and a heart to understand. Amen.
Your child is one smart cookie!!! I love it when the Lord speaks to us through our kids. Never a dull moment when a child is around. =)
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