By Joe Widick
This is the second installment on notes from kids to God.
“Dear God,
I think the stapler was one of your greatest inventions.” Ruth M.
I am so thankful that the loving God that you and I serve is also a powerful and might God who is in complete control of his wonderful creation. The great “I AM” was able to speak his beautiful and wonderful creation into existence. There was no taking parts from one place or another and “inventing” something. I remember the firs time I saw the Atlantic Ocean. It was so much grander than anything I had ever seen. I was in awe by its sheer volume and beauty and power. There was nothing like it in West Nashville. The creeks I waded in and the Cumberland River that I fished in were seemingly insignificant compared to the ocean. Great ships loaded with oil or food or merchandise make long journeys across its vast surface. Fishing vessels, working near the shore or hundreds of miles at sea, harvest its rich provisions; lobster and crab, tuna and swordfish. Beneath its churning surface is a storehouse of wealth of all kinds, some still undiscovered. The psalmist writing in Psalm 104 recounted the great works of God in a lofty hymn of praise. He used the “great and wide sea” as an example of God’s creative power and wisdom (Psalm 104: 24-25). He said that the Lord rules over all the “innumerable teeming things, living things both small and great” that inhabit the oceans (vs. 25). The psalmist referred in poetic terms to the ocean as the playground of Leviathan, a giant sea monster that God “made to play there” (vs. 26).
That first glimpse of the ocean for me revealed waves that came crashing in on a beach . The surging ocean, both life-sustaining and dangerous, points us to the greatness of our God. He is an awesome God in His works. He is unlimited in His provision, and generous in His bestowal of all kinds of life. Can we with one voice praise God and say Lord, truly Your works are magnificent! There would not be enough paper here at the church building to list all of the mighty things that He created to sustain us in this life. I am also thankful that he gave man intellect so that in their time a stapler could be invented. “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command…” Hebrews 11:3.
By Joe Widick
Once again I have run across an email that has made me think of something’s that I could share with you. They were notes to God from children. Each one was cute and most often very funny. As I read through the list it began to dawn on me that there are lessons that can be learned from these simple thoughts. For the next few weeks, my intentions are to present one of these thoughts to God from children and try to develop lessons that will be meaningful. I think the thoughts of the children will bring a smile to your face. I will put the letters in this article just as they were written.
“Dear God;
Thank you for the baby brother but what I prayed for was a puppy” Joyce
I wonder that as adults we are often like Joyce when we pray to God. We find ourselves praying to God and we pray for a specific thing. Often times in our prayers we will even be so bold as to tell God how he ought to answer. We may even reach the point where we beg and plead. Maybe God answers exactly the way we wanted. Maybe not. I wonder if God would have ever had something better in mind for us. Would our approach to God be better suited to say “We trust your will to be done, knowing that you know best in all situations.” Phillips Brooks, an American clergyman from the nineteenth century said; “Pray the largest prayers. You cannot think a prayer so large that God, in answering it, will not wish you had made it larger.” Do we ever reflect on the statement Jesus made in the upper room to his disciples; “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13). That sounds like a wonderful promise to me. Even though we may pray for one thing, we must always remember that in His infinite wisdom God knows what is best in each and every situation. Years ago when I was about to graduate from High School, I wanted a car. I felt that I had earned it, after all I was a high school graduate, getting ready to go to college. I knew everything! My parents gave me a watch. I was terribly disappointed then. Now I look back and realize I didn’t know everything. I wasn’t ready for a car even if my parents could have afforded it. I am thankful that they knew what was best for me. I know that my God knows what is best.
By Joe Widick
I have spent part of the past week putting together a power point presentation for Veterans Day. In getting ready for this presentation, I spent a great deal of time looking at pictures from each of the world wars and all the wars afterwards that American soldiers have been involved with. I have read countless quotes and thoughts written by people, everyday people about war and the atrocious things soldiers have and continue to endure. There is no way that I have even come close to understanding the many acts of heroism and valiant efforts of those who make up the armed forces.
On December 4, 2007, a 19-year-old soldier serving in Iraq saw a grenade being thrown from a rooftop. Manning the machine gun in the turret of his Humvee, he tried to deflect the explosive—but it fell inside his vehicle. He had time to jump to safety. Instead, he threw his body over the grenade in a stunningly selfless act that saved the lives of four fellow soldiers. This almost unexplainable act of self-sacrifice may help us better understand why the Bible tells us that there is a kind of love that is more honorable than having great knowledge or faith. Take time to re-read I Corinthians 13:1-3.
This kind of love can be hard to find. It was the apostle Paul that more people care for themselves than for the interests of Christ. (Philippians 2:20-21). I would guess that is part of the reason he was so grateful for Epaphroditus, a co-worker who he could present as an example to other as well as us. “Welcome him (Epaphroditus) in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me” (Philippians 2:29-30). How could he do this? What was his motivation? If we think we could never put our own life on the line for others, Epaphroditus shows us the first step with his selfless example. Such love is neither normal nor common, and it doesn’t come from us. It comes from the Spirit of God, who can give us the desire and ability to feel for others some of the inexpressible affection God has for us.
I salute our men and women who defend our freedoms daily. I also salute those who do so much for others spiritual welfare. They truly our soldiers, soldiers for the Lord.
By Joe Widick
It is finally over! The November elections have been held. The candidates that have been elected will now have an opportunity to do the things that they have been promising to do for some time. We will now go back to our normal commercials on TV and radio until the next barrage of political ads.
When people say with a sigh, “promises, promises,” it’s often when they have been disappointed by someone who failed to keep a commitment. The more it happens, the greater the sadness and the deeper the sigh. One wonders if it is even worth listening to all the promises that are made. Question: Have you ever felt that God doesn’t keep His promises? Be honest with yourself. It is an attitude that can subtly develop over time.
Do you remember Abraham the Father of the Faithful? After God promised Abraham, “I will make you a great nation” (Genesis 12:2), twenty-five years elapsed before the birth of his son Isaac. It was interesting to note that during this period of time Abraham questioned God about the fact that he had no children, so how could he have a great nation. The questioning of God’s promise reached the point that Abraham resorted to fathering a son through his wife’s handmaiden Hagar. Yet through the ups and downs God kept reminding Abraham of His promise to give him a child, while urging him to walk faithfully with Him and believe.
I imagine that many of us have been disappointed at one time or another by a politician who failed to keep his promises. Maybe the failed promises touched you in a very personal way. The disappointment probably deepened. When you and I claim one of God’s promises in the Bible, whether it is for peace of mind, courage or provision of our needs, we place ourselves in His hands and on His schedule. We need not get anxious as Abraham did. As we wait, it may at times seem as if the Lord has forgotten us. But trust embraces the reality that when we stand on a promise of God, He remains faithful. We can be confident that the assurance is in our hearts, and the timing is in His hands. We understand that all of God’s promises are backed by His wisdom, love and power. For that we can praise Him forever and ever.
God has promised us that one day He is going to send His son back to claim His own. I believe that promise, I hope that you do also
By Joe Widick
Wednesday Night Out meals are held every 2nd and 4th Wednesdays beginning at 5:30 pm. Sign up online HERE.
By Danielle Gray
Ladies of all ages are invited to attend WINGS each first Tuesday of every month at 6:30 pm. This is a wonderful time of fellowship and Bible study. Watch the bulletin for the listing of where we will have class each month.
