Lessons from "littles"

  "When my little son was about ten years old, his grandmother promised him a stamp collecting album for Christmas. Christmas came and went with no stamp album and no word from Grandma. The matter, however, was not mentioned, until after his friends came to see his Christmas presents. I was astonished, after he had listed all the gifts he had received, to hear him add, "And a stamp album from my grandmother."

  After hearing this several times, I called my son to me and said, "But George, you didn't get a stamp album from Grandma. Why did you say that?"
  With a puzzled look on his face, as if I had asked a very strange question, he replied, "Well, Mom, Grandma said, and that is the same as." Not a word from me would sway his faith.
  A month passed and nothing else was said about the album. Finally one day, to test his faith and because I wondered in my own heart why the album had not been sent, I said, "George, I think Grandma has forgotten her promise."

  "Oh no, Mom," he quickly and firmly responded. "She hasn't."

  I watched his sweet, trusting face, which for a while looked very serious, as if he were debating the possibility I had suggested. Soon his face brightened as he said, "Do you think it would do any good for me to write Grandma, thanking her for the album?"

  "I don't know," I said, "but you might try it." A rich spiritual truth then began to dawn on me.

  In a few minutes a letter was written and mailed, as George went off whistling his confidence in his grandma. Soon a letter from Grandma arrived with this message:

          My dear George,

             I have not forgotten my promise to you for a stamp album.

             I could not find the one you wanted here, 

             so I ordered one from New York. 

             It did not arrive until after Christmas, and it was not

             the right one. I then ordered another, 

             but it still has not arrived.

             I have decided to send you thirty dollars instead 

             so that you may buy the one you want in Chicago.

         Your loving Grandma.

  As he read the letter, his face was the face of a victor. From the depths of a heart that never doubted came the words, "Now, Mom, didn't I tell you?" George "against all hope...in hope believed" (Romans 4:18) that the stamp album would come. And while he was trusting, Grandma was working, and in due time faith became sight.

  It is only human to want to see before we step out on the promises of God. Yet our Savior said to Thomas and to a long list of doubters who have followed, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29).

   ~Mrs. Rounds

(published on Feb 18th in Streams in the Desert a long time ago 

but meant for me to read today)

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On Feb 18, 2014 I prayed this prayer:

Oh God, I'm scared...not scared of not having a home, 

not scared of not having stability, not scared of not having

support...

but scared of missing Your voice, scared of missing

Your hand, scared of missing Your direction, scared of falling

for something that may be disguised as You but isn't You.

Thank You for Your Holy Spirit that is alive in me.

Thank You that as Your sheep we can hear Your voice, 

as our Shepherd. 

Oh God, I praise You that You never leave.

You are there for me.

Please remind me that You are here.

As the last 2 years played out, I did get scared.

   ...scared of not having a home, not having stability,

       and not having support.

   My flesh failed again and again and my doubts and

       fears spoke louder than my faith.

It's so easy to let difficult circumstances strip us of the very perfect provision 

and protection that God promises us. 

I'm praising God today for Grandmas, for timeless truths and the fact that He never forgets His promises!

   What about you?  What are you trusting and/or struggling to believe?