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February 23, 2008
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
God's Middle Name, by Russ Lawson
Children are always a source of wonder to me; they see things in such a
different light than we adults. My sister, Janet, shared this following
exchange between her and her 6 year old grandson Mason. They were in
the car going somewhere and Mason and his sister Sarah were talking
about God. Out of the blue Mason said, "Mamaw, What's God's middle
name?" She said she talked with him a while about some of the names
used to describe God in the Bible, but didn't know if she satisfied him
or not.
When she told me about this I immediately thought that she should have
told him it was Andy. Perhaps you've heard the story about the little
boy telling his mama that he knew God's name and that it was "Andy."
His mama asked him, "How do you know God's name is Andy."
The little boy said, "Because that's what it says in the song!" "What
song," she asked.
He replied, "The one we sing at church. It says, 'I come to the garden
alone while the dew is still on the roses. Andy walks with me. Andy
talks with me. Andy tells me I am his own.'"
Well, who can argue with logic like that! (Apologies to C. Austin
Miles, the writer of "I come to the Garden Alone"!)
Sometimes it takes a child to make God personal to us.
What is really wonderful is the simplicity of the way children approach
God. As an adult have you ever wondered how to address God. If you
listen to the prayers in your church, it's normally a very formal "Our
Heavenly Father ..." or "Our Father who art in heaven ..." There is
nothing wrong with addressing God in that way, but children want to
know God more personally. They are trying to figure out just who he is
and how he fits into their world.
As adults, we can sometimes overlook, or perhaps sometimes are afraid
of a personal relationship with God. We may fear him, or maybe it's
more that we deeply respect him, but often we don't see him as the
loving Father he really is! If we are ever going to have peace and
comfort in this life, somewhere along the line, we are going to have to
come to know God as someone who cares for us -- our loving Abba Father
(Romans 8:15-17). I'm not saying that we should show disrespect for
God, but how do you view him? Can you talk with him as a loving father?
Peter writes to encourage early Christians facing persecution with
these words:
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good
time he will honor you. Give all your worries and cares to God, for
he cares about what happens to you (1 Peter 5:6-7 NLT).
God really cares for us! Sometimes, however, it takes a child to make
God personal to us. How about stopping and having a word with your
Father who is in heaven, the God of the universe, and "give all your
worries and cares" to him!
---------
(c) 2008 Russ Lawson <rlawson@wclo.net>, Messages from the Heart
<http://www.mfth.net/aboutus.html>. All rights reserved.
RELATED LINKS:
* The Voice of Our Father
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200611/20061113_abba.html
* The Father I Never Had
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200506/20050614_father.html
* Safe With Dad
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200407/20040707_safewithdad.html
* Messages from the Heart
http://www.mfth.net/aboutus.html
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200802/20080223_middlename.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
CAPTIVATING: UNVEILING THE MYSTERY OF A WOMAN'S SOUL, by John & Stasi Eldredge
Many Christian women are tired, struggling under the weight of the
pressure to be a "good servant," a nurturing caregiver, passionate
lover, or capable home manager. What Wild at Heart did for men, this
book can do for women.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?251
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
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