Kodak Moment

 NOAH- THE PRAYERS AND LOVE OF A SON.

Dear friends,
“out of the mouth of Babes…”

I guess you could call this a “Kodak moment” for me this evening. Pretty personal and sweet of the Love of Christ to me through a little boy’s love and concern for me… I just wanted to share it with you….here goes…

“…PLEASE PRAY WITH ME.”- Noah
TONIGHT SEVEN YEAR OLD NOAH, asked me if I would pray with him. So together we knelt by his bed and his assignment from AWANA’S a Christian group like the boys scout but emphasis on Scripture memorization, etc., was to pray for a missionary, a friend, teacher, someone in his home . He in his prayer thanked God for me because I “answered his questions.”- I never realized I had! He also chose to pray for his grandparents my Mom and dad

PRAYING WITH SENSITIVITY
When he got to the point of praying for my parents he prayed “Lord please save granny and granddad before…..” He paused. I looked at him and he at me and he went back to praying ever so gently…..” before they die.” “I didn’t want to hurt you by saying that ” he said as he explained his pause before mentioning the words ..”before they die.” I though how sensitive and sweet and thoughtful of this little 7 year old boy the Lord has blessed us with. Would that I was as sensitive to the feelings of others!!

DECORATING WITH A PURPOSE – to SHARE JESUS
LATER ON WE WERE JOINED BY Mary and her twin brother, John Keith in Noah’s bed room On the wall Noah had “decorated” it with Christmas lights he had formed into a manger and in the center a big cross made of green and red Garland, and on his window we had written at his request “Happy birthday Jesus.” He told me if anyone came to his room he could tell them about the cross… Anyway, he was lying on his back on the floor as I SAT IN a chair, Mary his nine year old sister was cuddled up in Noah’s bed and John Keith her twin brother sat at the foot of the bed as I read Matthew 14.

A CHILD’S QUESTION LEADS TO AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROCLAIM JESUS.
At the end of the chapter it says that those who “touched” Jesus were healed. Noah asked “how can we touch Him.” I spoke to him about prayer and how many years ago when I was very sick the Lord “touched” me. Noah knowing I have some not too good days physically asked me if I would pray about a specific health problem I have- for the Lord to heal me….it turned into a great conversation about the Lord’s Faithfulness to me and our family as He has met us over the years in various ways. I was able to relay stories of His faithfulness to us.

“….YOUR SO OLD!”
LATER ON THAT EVENING, there was a knock on my study door, Noah came in and was teary eyed, and by the time he sat on my lap he was in tears. “I don’t want you to die,” he said. I assured him I was not planning on it ANY TIME SOON!!! I asked him why he thought that?….” because your sick and your so OLD!!!”. I guess to a little guy I am pretty OLD!!. Again it turned into another opportunity to speak to him of the Lord….

BE ALWAYS READY WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES
How sweet his love and sensitivity displayed when praying for my parents….. I am reminded of the verse in Deuteronomy 6:6….”and you shall teach diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you SIT in your house, and when you WALK by the way, and when you LIE down and when you RISE up.” The context is that Israel were to teach Gods Word to their children…. in Formal settings and informal…always ready to turn the conversation around to Him and His Word and faithfulness…. tonight the Lord afforded me such with a little boy, whose love, sensitivity, questions and tears were from a heart of love and affection…

The Bible says “Children are a blessing from the Lord” …and tonight on my knees I thanked Him for the lessons he placed before me though a little 7 year old….

1. BE CONSIDERATE
2. BE PRAYING
3. BE READY TO TESTIFY of Him. Buy up the opportunities to turn to Him and tell of Him and His Personal Faithfulness in my life and the life of our family
4. BE VULNERABLE- Ready to share for the ones you love
5. BE THANKFUL FOR HIS LOVE THROUGH to you through others and being “touched” once again by His love through a little boy….
6. BE LOOKING for opportunities to share- even as a little boy had in mind when “decorating” his room!

THE LOVE OF A SON
But most of all I was “touched” by the love of a son for his Father. And I though of another Son, the Eternal Son and His Loving Heavenly Father who also was touched by the sensitivity and love of His Son.

Tonight like the Heavenly Father I could say in a different context – that my son Noah had brought great Pleasure to me and enter into fellowship with My Heavenly Father who once said concerning His Son, “This is My Son in whom I am well Pleased.” Tonight in a precious way, I too felt the pleasure of a son, and entered into fellowship with the Father…. Even this “OLD” dad is not too old to be touched by the love of a child

HOLD THAT YOUR GOD IS FAITHFUL.
One of my desires as a dad, and I shared with the three children tonight is when they grow up and look back to have good memories of their daddy. So often I want to build memories when I do things for them… but tonight Noah built a memory in my heart that has touched it deeply with the love of a child…. Indeed that was my “Kodak moment” captured and treasured in my heart. Perhaps it won’t mean much to you, perhaps it will be an encouragement to you, that your children have heard you and the WORD OF GOD you have deposited in their lives be it years ago-will not return void- so Hold on to God’s Promise- He is Faithful…to do today as He did years ago “touch and heal” the sin-sick.

No matter where your child is spiritually you have a Great Physician who loves your child and will pursue him or her …and can make them spiritually whole. In his latter days of ministry, Hudson Taylor missionary to China would preach “Hold that God is Faithful.” Many a dark day in my own life that phrase has been of great encouragement and strength to my own walk and I encourage you to meditate, appropriate that truth to you and your child

God bless and encourage you to buy up the opportunities He places you in and may the Love of Christ permeate those whom you speak to of Him.

In His Love,