On Tuesday night, we had the enjoyment of having my nephew and his family camp out in our backyard. They were doing a trial to see if Mom, Dad, and the kids could all fit in a four-person tent and if the kids could sleep through the night in a tent. They want to go camping later this summer. The kids are 6, 3 and 19 months. It was a bit chaotic, but it worked! We all sat around the fire pit cooked hot dogs for dinner and smores for dessert. The kids got glow sticks for the twilight just before bed and got to take them into the tent. It was heart lifting to hang out with these kids and watch them run around carefree, undeterred, not a worry on their minds. They did not care about politics, viruses, and the world as we, adults, know it.
These babies who are well cared for,
loved to the moon and back, and trust that they protected in every way. In
other words, they are a child of God. No
matter who you are, your age or your affiliations, it is comforting to know that
you are a child of God. God keeps a watch
over you and is ready to listen whenever you need to talk with Him, just like a
parent. God made each and every one of
us unique, precious, perfect, and beautiful in His image. He is your biggest cheerleader and is there for
every step of your journey. When you
give your self to God, you become a child of God. You are well cared for, loved to the moon and
back, and trust that you are protected in every way. In this time of social distancing, political
divisiveness, and societal change, it is a difficult time for everyone. We need to remember that we are all a Child
of God and not alone in this crazy world.
Psalm 139
1 O Lord, you have
examined me, and you know me.
2 You alone know when I sit down and when I get up.
You
read my thoughts from far away.
3 You watch me when I travel and when I rest.
You
are familiar with all my ways.
4 Even before there is a single word on my tongue,
you know all about it, Lord.
5 You are all around me—in front of me and in back of me.
You
lay your hand on me.
6 Such knowledge is beyond my grasp.
It is so high I cannot reach it.
7 Where can I
go to get away from your Spirit?
Where can I run to get
away from you?
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there.
If
I make my bed in hell, you are there.
9 If I climb upward on the rays of the morning sun
or land on the most distant
shore of the sea where the sun sets,
10 even there your hand would guide me
and your right hand would hold on to me.
11 If I say, “Let the darkness hide me
and let the light around me turn into night,”
12 even the darkness is not too dark for you.
Night is as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.
13 You alone
created my inner being.
You knitted me together inside my mother.
14 I will give thanks to you
because
I have been so amazingly and miraculously made.
Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this.
15 My bones were not hidden from you
when
I was being made in secret,
when
I was being skillfully woven in an underground workshop.
16 Your eyes saw me when I was still an
unborn child.
Every
day of my life was
recorded in your book
before one of them had taken place.
17 How precious are your thoughts
concerning me, O God!
How vast in number they are!
18 If I try to count them,
there would be more of them than there are grains of sand.
When I wake up, I am still with you.
19 I wish that
you would kill wicked people, O God,
and
that bloodthirsty people would leave me alone.
20 They say wicked things about you.
Your enemies misuse your name.
21 Shouldn’t I hate those who hate you,
O Lord?
Shouldn’t I be disgusted with those who attack you?
22 I hate them with all my heart.
They have become my enemies.
23 Examine me,
O God, and know my mind.
Test me, and know my thoughts.
24 See whether I am on an evil path.
Then lead me on the everlasting path.
