Proof

^Here’s some proof for the content of the last post.^

Seconds it took Henry to fall asleep tonight – 0

After a long day, Henry was ready for bed.  I have to admit, the silence has been nice for the past 45 minutes.  And the freedom to get some things done quickly.  I do miss my little bugger though.

Proof that God hears our prayers and has finished the work, amen!:

This morning Henry and I were in the living room – I had moved his high chair in there so he could eat breakfast while I sipped coffee on the couch (brilliant idea – first time thinking of it).  I was listening to a church message online, agreeing with God but crying out in my head at the same time.  Like, “Yes, God, I want to do that, but You have to do a few things in order for that to happen.”  God heard my prayer (for another post).

So, long day happens.  I am beginning to see how it might get easier as Henry ages because he will have a longer attention span, be able to communicate (I know this can be trouble too) and we can fill our days with more activities (like chores for him – ha ha).  At end of long day Henry gets a bath.  He’s not supposed to get bathed more than once a week because of his skin but sometimes a child just needs a bath more than once a week or once a day for that matter.  We finished the bath with massive whining to go along with the rest of the day.  I was trying to throw the last post on while he played with his toys in the tub.  It was rushed and pressured.  At least I have some what graduated from having to take the bath with him (he used to refuse to be in the tub by himself).  Dividing my attention is another story.  So we jump into bed to read the scriptures.  I have deviated from reading the Old Testament in order for the past few weeks because I just need to mix it up with some New Testament doctrine.  Well, tonight was not a warm-fuzzy-let’s-read-the-Bible-sort-of-feeling from the mother.  It was one of those God-give-me-the-grace-to-get-through-this-without-screaming and please bless it type of moments.  I thought I would read Acts 2, but once the Bible opened, turning the pages seemed liked too much work.  Luke 18 it was.  And God spoke to me.  Not a,”hey girl, get it together” wood shed type of speaking.  I did repent for my attitude before I began reading.  But God knows us, He formed us.  He did the work, and we have access to Him based on what He did not on how we act.  He paid for all of our failures past, present and future.  We just have to agree with Him on what He did and how He sees us.  He speaks. 

This is what I love about Luke 18:

Luke 18

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

¹ Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, ² saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. ³ Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ ⁴ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, ⁵ yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”
⁶ Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. ⁷ And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? ⁸ I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

******God wants to hear from me and he doesn’t mind when I don’t stop praying about a situation, problem, need, desire.  In fact, it blesses Him****

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹ Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ ¹³ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

**** As Pastor Schaller said in Wednesday Night’s message, it’s not my actions it’s the thought behind them.  AND, my actions don’t make me eligible or ineligible to go before the throne of God.  Jesus Christ’s blood that He shed on the Cross saved me, satisfies the Father’s justice AND gives me continued and moment by moment access to God.  AMEN!!! ******* 

Jesus Blesses Little Children

¹⁵ Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. ¹⁶ But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. ¹⁷ Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

***** Let me be as a little child***** 

Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler

¹⁸ Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
¹⁹ So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. ²⁰ You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”^[a]
21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”
²² So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
²³ But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

**** Some tough words to swallow.  Am I ready to be wholly God’s?  He bought me with a price, but I have to be willing to lay down my life to become wholly His.  We hold back so much.  ******

With God All Things Are Possible

²⁴ And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
²⁶ And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”
²⁷ But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
²⁸ Then Peter said, “See, we have left all^[b] and followed You.”
²⁹ So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, ³⁰ who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

***** It’s easy to get anxiety when your heart is towards giving everything to God.  Thoughts can enter your mind about raising your children, comfort, funds etc.  Choosing God is never the wrong choice.  Never.  God, I am holding You to this scripture :).******

Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection

³¹ Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. ³² For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. ³³ They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”
³⁴ But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.

*** No wonder they didn’t get it.  We can look back on it and still not get it.* 

A Blind Man Receives His Sight

³⁵ Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. ³⁶ And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. ³⁷ So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. ³⁸ And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
³⁹ Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
⁴⁰ So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, ⁴¹ saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”
⁴² Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” ⁴³ And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

***** I have been this so called dweeb (in the eyes of the Disciples) that can only see my need and only have strength to called out to Jesus.   I have been the jerk who have internally rebuked people who seem too needy all of the time.  I have been both of these people.  *****