Little boy lost

I first saw them as I was sitting in my vehicle in the parking lot. Father and son walking toward their car. The tiny boy was about the age of mine, and was beautiful with his sweet light colored curls and impish smile. His father stared blankly ahead. The careworn face, dishelved hair and dirty clothes suggested it had been days at best since he had seen the clean end of a washcloth. They walked closer and approached an old, beat up car parked close to mine. The inside was littered with trash, cigarette butts, and clothing. The door was opened and the little boy was carelessly tossed inside along with the purchases made from the store. No child restraint... not even an attempt at a seatbelt. The man paused outside the vehicle for a moment, and the tiny boy stuck his head out of the window to say something... perhaps to ask a question? Profanity and anger spewed forth from the father's mouth- met with a look of terror on the face of the child. His sweet, dirty little face crumpled into tears as his father looked away and lit up a cigarette. I tried to smile a reassuring smile at him through the glass, but he never saw me. Every fiber in my being wanted to throw open that door and enfold that tiny creature into my arms and murmur sweet words as I held him close. The very thing which I, of course, could not do. As they sped away, I prayed for him. Prayed that somehow, someway, this little boy would find Jesus. That against all odds, he would know that he is loved. That someone cares for him more than anything. I prayed that he would find a light in his world, and that someone would point him to THE way. I thought of my own sweet 3 year old boy. I thought of how he is tucked in at night with kisses and stories and prayers. I thought of how he hears "I love you" many times each day. I thought of how he has a mommy and daddy that love him more than anything. I thought of how he has someone that cares about his safety and welfare. I thought all of these things and wiped more than a few tears from my eyes.
I don't know why I witnessed that scene today. I know it has bothered me more than a little. I know it has made me think of all of the sweet innocent children in our world that suffer every day, right at our own doorsteps. I don't know why it happens. I don't have the answers. But I do know that there will be a little boy, an older boy, and young man and then a grown man that I will pray for every night when I look at my son.. and I will pray that he finds the truth.
Happy Monday and
Much Love,
Jennifer

Monday rant

** I usually try to keep things "light" here, but had to write this. Any unkind/snarky comments will be promptly deleted. Thanks ;)

There is something that has been bothering me lately. It has stemmed firstly from seeing signs and billboards around town for different churches, and the things they said. Signs for some protestant (and some non denominational) churches that say things and send messages like we'll help you find " your OWN way" or YOUR own particular path to God, and come here so you can feel good about yourself because you are a "good person". I'm not quoting exactly here, but you get the idea. Secondly, it has stemmed from talking to others in the community who are switching to some of these other churches because they are "softer" on sin, and they make them "feel better" about themselves.

This bothers me greatly. Do we serve a God that winks at sin? There is only ONE path to God- there is no such thing as "your particular path". Should we come out of a church service feeling great about ourselves every week? Should we say... I'm really not such a bad person, look at all the things Mr./Mrs. X does? Should only the facets of God's mercy and grace be preached?

By all means NO! We serve a HOLY God and a just God. Our God IS mighty to save, our God IS love, his grace and mercy ARE beyond comprehension.... but we are never to make light of our sin. We must never forget that our sin is what separated us from God, that it is the hideous thing that nailed our Savior to the cross. We are not good. We are depraved sinners in need of a Savior. We are not "good people" that go to church to be affirmed that we are "okay". We go to worship a mighty God. A just God. A holy God that does NOT make light of our sin. Our sin separates us from him, breaks our fellowship from him, and rocks us into complacency... and straight into the arms of the world. I have an acquaintance that left one particular denomination to go to another because they were more accepting of his sinful lifestyle, and he felt "better" about himself.

I love it when I hear sermons that convict me. I NEED to leave church not feeling "great" about myself every week. I need that to grow. I need that to realize that I am totally dependant on Him, and that I need him every hour of every day. I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I am not a good person. No one is good enough to satisfy a holy God. I am not in need of my own particluar, customized path to God. I need the one true path. We all do.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14

Happy Monday and
Much Love,
Jennifer

Imprints

Just now, I was listening to my son over the monitor talking to himself before he fell asleep for his afternoon nap (the monitor is actually in the baby's room, but is so sensitive it picks up sounds all over that side of the house!!) He sleeps with a giant Pooh bear, and has lots of great conversations with him before he drifts off to dreamland. Today the conversation went something like this
A: "When I tell you to do something, you do it. Right then. Do you understand me, Pooh"?
A:(in high pitched "Pooh" voice) "Yes Ma'am mommy, I will be your sweet boy"
A: Very good, Pooh, you have to mind mommy and listen to what she says
A: (Pooh voice) I know dat mommy, I have to obey my mommy and my daddy
A: That's right Pooh, If mommy tells you to sit there, you sit until mommy comes to get you
A: (Pooh Voice) "But I don't want to"
A: Well, you have to because I said so
A: (Pooh voice) I re-wy don't like I said sos, they make me bery sad.

This "conversation" he had with Pooh bear was actually an exact transcript of the conversation that he and I had we while out to lunch (with others) today. Whether or not he acknowledges it at the time, he listens to every word I say.... and remembers it. My life, my words, and my deeds are reflected in this little, moldable, sponge of a boy and he bears my imprint. The things I say and do are all observed and mimiced by him, and therein lies a tremendous responsibility.

That being said, where does MY imprint come from? Am I spending enough time in the word and on my knees everyday that he sees Christ in me... even as small as he is? What image does he see in my life? Does he see someone that absoutely delights and rejoices in him as our Father does in us? Does he see a mama that is too busy trying to adhere to her schedule and have a "perfect" house ... too busy to play with him? Does he see a mama that is constantly disciplining him? Does he see a mama that loves him unconditionally?

I hope that the imprint I leave on his life is the imprint that Christ leaves on mine. May this daily spur me on to spend more time in the word, more time in prayer and more TIME investing in the lives of my little ones than worrying about any "to do" list.
Easier said than done, isn't it? Especially when we start comparing ourselves and our lives to others. You know Mrs.___ that always has the perfect house, and cooks gourmet meals, or always looks perfect, or is amazingly organized, or... you fill in the blank. Want to know what my response has been to lately?? SO WHAT?? Big deal! I don't know her heart, I don't know what her walk is, and I don't know what the Lord is saying to her. But I do know what he is saying to me. And that is all I ever need to worry about. I need to worry about my imprint of Him. Becoming more like Him. Being made into His image. Those are the things of eternal value.
May the imprints we leave on the lives of our children, and those around us be the imprint and the image of Christ.
Col. 3:10... and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the IMAGE of its Creator. (emphasis mine)
Happy Wednesday and
Much Love,