Tag: grandson

My Reflection

The other day, I was on the phone with Andros, my 5-year-old grandson.  I may sound biased, but the sweet boy is so smart.  He knows the most unusual facts and uses words that usually come from adults.  As we FaceTimed, I told him, “You know, Andros.  You’re so handsome!”  And he replied, “I know.”  I giggled and retorted, “How do you know that, buddy?!”  Without skipping a beat he said, “Because I look at my reflection!”  Well alright then!  Not only is he witty but he’s coming at me with the big words!

The truth is, he IS handsome!  And how does he know that?  Because his mom and dad tell him.  Because his Mimi and Grandpa tell him.  His Gigi and Pop Pop tell him.  He recognizes that the people who love him most would never steer him wrong.  What they tell him about himself is truthful.

Why do we have such a hard time recognizing that what God tells us about ourselves is true?!  He is our Heavenly Father, the Creator of us all.  He says so many wonderful things about us.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” –Ephesians 2:10 (emphasis mine)

“Know that the Lord is God.  It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.” –Psalm 100:3 (emphasis mine)

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” –1 Peter 2:9 (emphasis mine)

These are just a few examples in the Bible that say we are special to Him.  Yet, we often look down at ourselves.  We struggle with feelings of not being enough, not being a good mother, wife, friend, co-worker. We recognize all the flaws and forget about the facts.

We are chosen.  We are redeemed.  We are loved.  We are set apart.  No matter how we may feel about ourselves, we need to recognize that our Father tells us TRUTH and that truth is that we are His.

I pray that we stop listening to the lies of the devil that tell us we aren’t worthy and lean into God-breathed scripture that tells us our identity is in Christ!

~Erin

Photo Cred: Amanda Jones Photography

Are You Hungry?

It was quiet.  Almost too quiet.  I was working in my office while McKenna and Andros were visiting from Florida.  While McKenna was in the living room, I’d seen Andros walk into the kitchen.  He’d been holding a couple of toys and I could hear him playing, pushing the stool around the room.  And then….silence.  When I decided to peek my head around the corner, I couldn’t help but giggle and grab my phone for a quick picture.

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Caught in the act!

 

Andros had moved the stool over to the counter and with great stealth, had managed to step up to grab his contraband!  He had in his little arms the large tub of toddler drink mix and an empty bottle.  He was taking it to his mother in a desperate attempt to get a little extra treat!  He was thirsty and hungry, but more importantly, he simply wanted it.  He loved the taste as it was a sweet indulgence and couldn’t wait to get some more.

We should be that way with the Word of God.   The book of Jeremiah is the story of the prophet who told of Jerusalem’s impending destruction because of the lack of repentance to God.  In it are not only the words that Jeremiah prophesied but also the prayers he spoke to his Heavenly Father.

Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts. –Jeremiah 15:16

Several times in the bible God, scripture, and the growth through study are identified as Living Water, milk, and solid food.  In Isaiah 58:11, he speaks of the Lord as a spring of water that does not fail.  In John 6, Jesus talks about being the Bread of Life.  In Hebrews 5:12-14, the author describes spiritual development as starting out on the milk but needing to move on to solid food in order to mature in your walk with God.

Jeremiah was crying out to God that He was devouring every word God was speaking to Him, letting them become the delight of his heart.  He was allowing God’s conversations to penetrate his soul.  It wasn’t just lip service.  He took what God was saying and used it as fuel to ignite the joy that God gave him while preparing for a heavy responsibility of prophesying to a nation that didn’t want to listen.

What a great example of a man who trusted that God would not only provide him the joy he needed during his life but also the sustenance needed to deal with a difficult season of life.  I pray that we can always look to the scriptures, God’s words, as a way to fill our hunger!

~Erin