A Little Boy's Explanation of God!

It was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dutton, who lives in Chula Vista , CA . He wrote it for his third grade homework assignment, to explain God.' I wonder if any of us could have done as well ?
[ .... and he had such an assignment, in California , and someone published it, I guess miracles do happen ! ...]



EXPLANATION OF GOD:

'One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth.

He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.'

'God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off.'

'God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.'

'Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista ... At least there aren't any who come to our church.'

'Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God.. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K..'

'His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore.

He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important.'

'You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.'

'You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy,and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!

Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.'

'If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids.'

'But...you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases.

And...that's why I believe in God.'

Who has it?

During our study of the Revelation, we have discussed the city of Laodicea. It was an important city along a major trade route. Laodicea was renowned for its beautiful black wool and its medical school that specialized in ailments of the eyes. People traveled over great distances to be treated by the physicians there, and the salve they prepared was sought after all over the world. It would seem that Laodicea had it all. Fame, fortune, and prestige; who could ask for more?
But Jesus knew about the real Laodicea. This is why He sent this message to the Christians living there:

Revelation 3:17-18 ESV For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

This message must have stunned these readers. How could Jesus be talking about them? How can He think they would be poor with all of their wealth? Or blind with the salve sought by all for the eyes? Or naked with the beautiful black wool they made? But yet that is exactly what Jesus tells them. But He also gives them the solution! He knows that they have problems in their lives that only He can solve. He wants to make them what they already think they have made themselves.

What would Jesus say to us here today? What would He say about our character, accomplishments, position, pride, and attitudes? What would He say about me?

I know what He would say. The truth, for only Jesus can see the real me. Not the “me” I want the world to see. He sees me. He knows me.

He knows all of us. We can fool everyone around you, but Jesus knows the real you. And He knows what we really need. We may not know what each other needs. But we know who does, and that is Jesus. We will make us rich spiritually, give us beautiful clothes to cover our naked emotions, and heal the blindness of our souls.

The Laodiceans needed Jesus even though they didn’t realize that He had everything they needed. Today we need Him as well. I have Him and want to grow closer to Him every day.

Jesus loves us. And He cares so much for us. And I do too. Let’s continue to grow closer to Him together. I love you!

Happy Valentine’s Day

Love is one of the most written about, longed for, and misunderstood of our human emotions. That love that two people have and experience for a lifetime is a precious gift from God. It goes way beyond a physical attraction or connection. It is a love “until death do us part”. Someone once summed up this kind of love in a few words:

"Love starts with a smile - Grows with a kiss - Ends with a tear."

Those words may express the tender feelings behind the composition of a beautiful poem by George Matheson, "O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go." He did not say specifically that he was rejected by the woman he wished to marry, but he expressed his sorrow as he wrote: "I was alone in the manse, the night of my sister's marriage. Something happened to me which is known only to myself and which caused me the most severe mental suffering. The hymn was the fruit of that suffering. It was the quickest bit of work I ever did in my life. The whole work was completed in five minutes." (June 6,1882)

O Love that will not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in Thee;

I give Thee back the life I owe,

That from Thine ocean depths it's flow

May richer, fuller be.

O light that followest all my way,

I yield my flickering torch to thee;

My heart restores its borrowed ray,

That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day

May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,

I cannot close my heart to thee;

I trace the rainbow through the rain,

And feel the promise is not vain,

That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,

I dare not ask to fly from thee;

I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red

Life that shall endless be.

The story behind George Metheson is a classic. Eldest child of 8, he graduated from the University of Edinbourgh with a degree in the classics, logic and philosophy. He was also engaged to be married, but when his fiance learned he was going blind, she broke the engagement. He was totally blind by age 20. He went on to become a pastor. It's yet another reminder that God's love never leaves us, no matter the circumstances we endure on this earth.

This beautiful poem was put to music by Albert L. Peace and is # 334 in our songbook. Tell the one you love “I love you”. God loves you and I do too.