Devotional - October 28th, 2020

Every once in a while, I run across something that makes me laugh out loud. Kind of like when you are looking at greeting cards and one is really funny and you find yourself laughing and people are looking at you like you might be dangerous. What tickled me this time was a collection of letters kids had written to God. Their logic makes perfect sense, and their innocence is precious. So today I thought I would share a few with you.

Jane wants to know...instead of letting people die and having to make new ones why don't you just keep the ones you got now? It makes perfect sense but think of who and what we would have missed if this was God's policy. Larry is much more practical. He says maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they had their own rooms. It works with my brother. No doubt there is story behind this letter to God. I would guess Larry and his brother do not see eye to eye. Peter asks that God please send Dennis Clark to a different camp this year. Maybe it is the competition. Perhaps it is bullying but this year Peter would like to go to camp in peace!

Neil doesn't quite yet understand the wonders of love. He writes, I went to this wedding and they kissed right in church. Is that OK? Ruth had a great compliment for God. She says I think the stapler is one of your greatest inventions! We don't know why she thinks that, but Ruth really likes her stapler. Robert has a basic question for God. He asks, I am an American. What are you? It is hard to explain being sovereign to young kids. It is even hard for adults to wrap their heads around just how big God is. And how exactly can He be with all of us...all the time.
A young girl named Joyce believes in the power of going to God in prayer. She just isn't sure about how God answers. She writes, God thank you for the baby brother but what I prayed for was a puppy. Donna is all about things being fair. She says we read Thomas Edison made light. But in Sunday school they said you did it. So, I bet he stoled your idea. This is the place where we give thanks for the hundreds of dedicated Sunday school teachers all over the world who teach truth to our kids and youth. Jennifer asks, Dear God in Bible times did they really talk that fancy? I am guessing the King James Version of the Bible is used in her house.

I love the way Elliott thinks. He says dear God I think about you sometimes even when I'm not praying. I wonder how many of us can say the same thing. Chris too thinks about God. He writes God, I would like to live 900 years like the guy in the Bible. I don't know many folks who want to live as long as Methuselah. Ginny likes to celebrate. She asks, please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now. Nan marvels at what God can do. She writes, dear God I bet it is very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only four people in our family, and I can never do it.  How many of us have ever wondered how God can love everyone in the world at the same time and hear all our prayers.

I have saved my favorite one for last. Some folks see God as distant, far away. He is, after all God. He is mighty and sovereign. If you read the Old Testament people think God is angry and vengeful. Even today many do not see God on a human kind of level. He is still distant for many. But not for Mickey D. Mickey writes dear God, if you watch in church on Sunday, I will show you my new shoes. How precious is it that this child wants to show God their new shoes? And what adult would even think of saying something like this to God. It is too mundane, ordinary. Except that God wants to be an integral part of our lives. If you have new shoes, show them to God. Got a new shirt or dress? Give a little twirl so God can see. We don't just have to go to Him with the big heavy complicated stuff. Those new things are a gift. Why not show Him?

These are just a few. I hope they made you smile, maybe even laugh out loud. We could use some of that these days. And if you have new shoes, let God know so He will see them on Sunday!

In His Grip
Pastor Matt W