. . . . . . .  A letter to a child , from Jesus.

Dear Friend,

Oh! My ambitious apostles! They didn’t think I heard them arguing as we were walking along the road—but I did! I waited for a quiet moment and popped the question: “What were you arguing about along the way?” (Mark 9:33). No one answered…. I knew they had been arguing about which one of them was the greatest. They were competing for recognition—for being number one in the group. I told them that to be my follower meant that they must be willing to serve others. They didn’t seem to understand why I did things like curing the sick, preaching, and teaching about a new way of life. I wasn’t doing these things in order to become famous, or to have people say how great I was. Somehow, my apostles completely missed my example of service and love.

To be my follower means to be kind and thoughtful of others. It means to look out for others when we feel like looking out only for ourselves. If we make God our “Number One,” everything else will take care of itself. Remember—we are all God’s children. If we love God, then we will love each other.

Your friend,

Jesus

Jesus Loves Me

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. “         - John 3:16

“The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying, “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore , with loving kindness, I have chosen you. “      - Jeremiah 31:3

I’m a Sinner

” . . . .  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”      - Romans 3:23

” We are like sheep have gone astray. We have turned every one to his own way : And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity (sin) of us all. “      - Isaiah 53:6

I’m Saved

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life : and he who does not believe the Son  shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. “       - John 3:36

For you are all sons of God through faith  in Christ Jesus . “        - Galatians 3:26

For the secret to happiness . . . . . . . call Colossians 3:12-17

In danger . . . . . . . call Psalm 91

In discouragement  about work . . . . . . . call Psalm 126

- When in sorrow . . . . . . . call John 14.

- For how to get along with others . . . . . . . call Romans 12:3-21.

- When you want peace and rest . . . . . . . call Matthew 11:25-30

One day , I decided to quit. I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality  . . . I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. “God”, I asked, ” Can you give me one good reason not to quit ?” His answer surprised me . . . . “Look around”, He said. ” Do you see the fern and the bamboo ?” “Yes”, I replied. When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor, yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing  came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said, “In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.” But I would not quit. ” In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit. He said. Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and insignificant   . . . .  But just six months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.  It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give  any of my creations a challenge it could not handle. He asked me, “Did you know , my child that all the time you have been struggling , you have actually been growing roots ?” “ I would  not quit on the bamboo, I will never quit on you.”He said, “The bamboo has a different purpose than the fern. Yet, they both make the forest beautiful.” “Your time will come”, God said to me. “You will rise high.” “How high should I rise?” I asked. ” How high will the bamboo rise ?” He asked in return ? ” As high as it  can ?” I questioned.  “Yes”, He said. “Give me glory by rising as high as you can. I left the forest and brought back this story. These words  help us see that God will never give up on us. Never, never, give up. Don’t tell the Lord how big the problem is, tell the problem how great is the Lord.

Jesus said:

“Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks will receive, and anyone who seeks will find, and the door will be opened to him who knocks. Would any of you who are fathers give your son a stone when he asks for bread ? Or would you give him a snake when he asks for a fish ? As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more , then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who asks him!”

Matthew 7:7-11

 God’s Protection in Times of Trouble

The Lord is my light and my salvation;

I will fear no one.

The Lord protects me from all danger;

I will never be afraid.

When evil men attack me and try to kill me,

they stumble and fall.

Even if a whole army surrounds me,

I will not be afraid;

even if enemies attack me,

I will still trust God.

I have asked the Lord for one thing;

one thing only I do want:

to live in the Lord’s house all my life,

to marvel there at his goodness,

and to ask for his guidance.

In times of trouble he will shelter me;

he will keep me safe in his Temple

and make me secure in a high rock.

So I will triumph  over my enemies around me.

With shouts of joy I will offer

sacrifices in his Temple;

I will sing, I will praise the Lord.

Psalm 27:1-6

Praise the Lord, my soul !

All my being , praise his holy name!

Praise the Lord, my soul,

and do not forget how kind he is.

He forgives all my sins

and heals all my diseases.

He keeps me from the grave

and blesses me with love and mercy.

He fills my life with good things,

so that I stay young and strong like an eagle.

The Lord judges in favor of the oppressed,

and gives them their rights.

He revealed his plans to Moses

and let the people of Israel see his mighty deeds.

The Lord is merciful and loving,

slow to become angry and full of constant love.

He does not keep on rebuking;

he is not angry forever.

He does not punish us  as we deserve ,

or repay us according to our sins and wrongs.

As high is the sky above the earth,

so great is his love for those

who honor him.

As far is the east  from the west,

so far does he remove our sins from us.

As a father is kind to his children,

so the Lord is kind  to those who honor him.

He knows what we are made of;

he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 103:1-14

You are the people  of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you  has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just a the Lord has forgiven you. And to all these qualities, add love, which binds all things together in perfect unity. The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And to be thankful. Christ’s message in all it’s richness must live in your hearts. Teach and instruct one another with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts. Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as  you give thanks through him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:12-17

I am listening to what the Lord God is saying;

he promises peace to us , his own people,

if we do not go back to our foolish ways.

Surely he is ready to save those who honor him,

and his saving presence will remain in our land.

Love and faithfulness will meet;

righteousness and peace will embrace.

Man’s loyalty will reach up from the earth,

and  God’s righteousness will look down from heaven.

The Lord will make us prosperous,

and our land will produce rich harvests.

Righteousness will go before the Lord

and prepare the path for him.

Psalm 85:8-13

Paul wrote about his own physical pain :

But to keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the  many wonderful things I saw, I was given a painful physical ailment, which acts as Satan’s  messenger to beat me and to keep me from being proud.Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked Him to take it away, But His answer was: ” My Grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when we are weak.” I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection  of Christ’s power  over me. I am content with weaknesses , insults, hardships , persecutions  and difficulties for Christ’s sake . For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a place of safety in times of trouble.

Those who know you , Lord , will trust you; you do not abandon anyone who comes to You.

Sing praise to the Lord, who rules the Zion! Tell every nation what He has done !

God remembers  those who suffer; He does not forget their cry, and He punishes those who wrong them.

Psalm 9:9-12