“Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
I don’t know about you, but yesterday was a real challenging Monday; the news was full of negative stories. Afghanistan and the crisis at our southern border snuffed out most updates on the Haiti earthquake and the foot of rain from Grace that dumped on those poor Haitian survivors. I’m trying to be positive and keep sharing something that will draw you and yours closer to Jesus in these times of trials. A devotion that I read online last week stated that God’s care of our planet includes people of all races, male and female, old and young; those in diapers unable to walk, those in jeans and sneakers running everywhere and those using walkers who can ‘run’ nowhere. We are all God’s children, no matter our age, our physical ability, our status in the eyes of this world, the color of our skin or the type of blood flowing through our veins.
God’s care includes and does not exclude. When infants and small children were brought to Jesus he didn’t say “take them away, I am too busy.” When I look at this photo of these children attending school at Petit Amis in Caredeux, I know that they would be welcomed by our Savior to sit on His lap, tug on His arm and share their love with Him who came to save us.
Our Savior, the Good Shepherd invites all of us to ‘come’ and be with Him here on this side of Heaven and also one day with Him in Heaven. Whether we are sitting in our comfortable home here in Normal or spent the rainy night huddled in a plastic poncho laying on the rubble of our home in Haiti, we place our faith in Him, lean on Him and call upon Him daily. I heard a favorite song this morning on Alexa, ‘Leaning on the everlasting arms’ by Elisha Hoffman that was published in 1887. It is such a wonderful reminder that there is a Savior to lean on, no matter who we are, where we are or what we have done; He is always there.
“What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms. What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms. Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms. Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms. What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.”
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay