Lights of Wonder

I spent part of the afternoon with my youngest grandson. (Did you see how I needed to smugly differentiate BETWEEN my grandsons?) He is seven months today, and is at that delightful stage where each moment is filled with new joy, discovery and wonder. He smiles and laughs most of the time — I like to tell him that he’s probably never met anyone who didn’t love him.

Sometimes I think this is what Jesus meant when he said (in Matthew 18:3):

Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

I would imagine it would be a great joy and delight to the Holy Spirit if we approached each experience in life like a 7-month-old (at least, when we weren’t tired, cranky or needing a diaper change).

Kathy and Rachel were off shopping, and so I spirited little Davothy (as I call him) off to my office. As it began to get dark, I turned on the Christmas lights over my window, and we stood at the window and looked at the lights. I let my young grandson grab the string of lights a couple of times, but I set my face like styrofoam (I’m too much a softie to set my face like granite) against putting them in his mouth.

For a long time he and I just stood as he looked at the lights and admired their beauty. I mostly watched his face and experienced his wonder vicariously, which was a considerable joy and marvel to me. How can I be so blessed as to hold my daughter’s son in my arms? How can I love him so much when I’ve only been with him three times, and his life has been so short?

My youngest grandson thinks the world is his plaything.

My youngest grandson thinks the world is his plaything.

These are the sort of good things I’m on the lookout for, this year. God has been so good to me — placed me in a godly family, and then allowed me to build my own generation, and now I am still alive to see my children’s children! When I think of David Timothy’s future I am so hopeful and joyful, it helps me forget (for a little while) what a mess our sin has made of this sad world.

One of the most famous verses about the value of having lots of children can be found in Psalm 127:

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

In these times, we are going to war (whether we like it, or not) as soldiers of Christ, in a spiritual battle that is becoming very real to many of us. How delightful to have a quiver full of children and grandchildren to confound the enemies of God in the gate!

Tim

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The Best Is Yet To Come

About a week ago I was driving somewhere and heard a song on the radio by Ben Rector: “The Best Is Yet To Come”. As I listened, I resonated to these lines:

It’s been the kind of year I’d be fine if I forgot
But I’ll never forget it as long as I live and that’s saying a lot
The wildest menagerie of unfortunate crazy things and now its all over
So raise up your glass here’s to brand new beginnings
And leave in the past all the things that are ending
‘Cause tomorrow will bring us a new morning sun
My friends I believe that the best is yet to come

Not a particularly deep or spiritual song, but it made me think about the sour way I’ve been looking at events in this country in the past year. As I consider the birth of new grandchildren and the joy of seeing them grow and learn and (with considerable effort on the part of their parents) becoming better little humans and lovers of God, I realize that the unstoppable grace of God continues in His work in many ways. Sometimes He is subtle, and sometimes His arm is there for everyone to see, but as I remember my faith, I can confidently affirm that the best is, indeed, yet to come.

So I plan to restart this online journal in a more hopeful, faith-full way, highlighting the good work that I see God doing in His sovereign will. After all:

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

— Hebrews 11:1

Tim

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