WELCOME THE LITTLE ONES

“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes me… If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.” Mark 9:37,42

In his book “Too Small To Be Ignored”, Wess Stafford, President of Compassion International speaks passionately out of his own personal experience about the power an unkind word or a single act of cruelty and abuse has to destroy or seriously damage a young life. Facing the wrath of the boarding school superintendent because he had begged his mother not to send him back to a place that beat him and the other kids incessantly, young Wesley was now call to the front in a “special meeting” and told to stand on a chair facing his classmates.

“’Let me introduce you to Satan’s favorite tool,’ Mr. Edwards began. I looked up in shock. I felt my bowels begin to quiver. ‘Wesley has decided to serve Satan. He told his mother about what happens here, and now she is not able to do her important work here on the mission field. Satan has won,’ the man continued. ‘He used Wesley, and now there will be Africans in hell because of this boy you see standing before you.’” (I urge you to read the book for the rest of the story!)

Our Lord made it very clear how seriously God takes any act or words that would cause the little ones to sin. If we fear God, we will heed this warning with all our being. And if we take delight in that which God delights in, then we will compassionately welcome and bless these who are so precious to God. And we will do so, not only with our own grandchildren, but with all the children in our sphere of influence. To do so, is to do it unto our Lord.

FANNING THE FLAME
What do you see when you see the children of our world, not just your own grandchildren? Do you see the hunger for love and value? Do see children being taken captive by the Enemy through the empty deceptions of worldly attractions and religious hypocrisy? Do you see the children the way Jesus sees them and do you respond with the same indignation when you see them hindered from coming to Him?

Take the lead in your church to be the hands and voice of Jesus for the children. CGN can help organize an inter-generational retreat for parents, grandparents and grandchildren to talk about some of these issues. Choose to play in the game and not sit on the sideline. This is the final quarter, and it’s no time to head for the locker room.

GRANDPAUSE: “The only thing more painful than obedience is disobedience.” — Unknown

The Gift of Laughter

“Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.” Prov. 14:13

I love being around people who laugh regularly and robustly. I find myself laughing more when I am around them. These people seem to be able to laugh in spite of the circumstances around them. In fact, people who laugh easily seem to do so in spite of and seldom because of anything.

Many people are “if only” laughers. If only our finances were better, if only other people would treat me better, if only I had the same talent that other person has. “If only” people rarely laugh. “In spite of” people have learned to laugh regularly and heartily. If they can’t laugh, they at least know how to smile.

Life has plenty of “joy killers” that can rob us of joy and the ability to laugh if we let it. Grief and heartache are frequent companions in life. Yet, more of ANYTHING never made anyone more joyful. The Apostle Paul understood that. In the midst of terrible persecution, trial and imprisonment, he could still talk about joy and encourage others with these words: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil 3:4)

How will you encourage and model an “in spite of” attitude for your grandchildren that shows them it is possible to laugh and smile in spite of anything?