The Best of Times...Meeting His Appointments

The Best of Times...Meeting His appointments Mark 9:36-37

Patricia Ann: Originally posted 07/22/2021

Mark 9:36-37

"And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 'Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.'"

God calls children a true gift and a blessing, and they are. Children are filled with joy, love, innocence, and laughter — all things that adults can lose sight of as they grow older. But it’s also our job to make sure we cherish these gifts in our kids and nurture their faith as they become adults themselves. This is God’s will — and nothing proves this more than the many Bible verses about children.
The lines of scripture about children also provide us with a guideline on how to raise them. God suggests that they need discipline and to honor their parents, but it’s only because he wants them to succeed in all that they do. Just as Jesus obeyed his heavenly father, our children on Earth should follow in his footsteps. Then, they will be filled with hope, faith, and love — and live eternally in heaven with the Lord. (Jackie Frere)

I want to share with you one of the best appointments that our Father in Heaven has sent me on.  It happened from April 2017 to July 2018, but It all started on January 8, 2009. God had seriously been tugging on my heart, trying to get me into full submission to Himself, so that He would be able to accomplish the plans He has for me, and those whom He knew He would have me to meet in the coming years.  

I was seeking.  I was seeking to find just the right counseling program, as helping people had been placed in my heart since childhood. 

I didn't feel worthy.  I had been divorced and so broken that I thought the I could be of no real use to God.

I did hear Him loud and clear one day, when He said that my brokenness was exactly why He was calling my name.   That made me think and it comforted me, even making me feel special to Him.  This world we live in can be so critical of every little thing that does not meet the religiosity of the times that we live in.   

This led to January 8, 2009.  As I searched for an online school to study Christian counseling, I was led to a website that had an informational video. The end of the video showed a white dove that appeared and flew upward to the sky.  I suddenly found myself in tears.  I was sobbing and as I walked across my kitchen toward the front door, I stopped and raised my hands towards heaven and told God that  I heard Him. I would go anywhere and do anything that He wanted me to do.  Then, in another "suddenly", I felt what I can only describe as an ignition, a poof  like when a lit match ignites with a source of fuel and a fire starts. I knew in that moment that I had just given up my "self" and God had full control of my life.  God had taken me at my word.  I was no longer mine, but His.  My life began to change that day.  

I hungered for more of God.  He placed scripture in my mind and people in strategic paces to teach me the things I would need to know.  As the seeds that he planted in me grew, I changed more and more. God was preparing me for the future, to accomplish His plans to assist in  bringing some of His precious lost ones back unto Himself.  He never did tell me how hard it would be at times, or how blessed it would feel at the same time.  I just knew that I would go where He leads me.  I never thought to question Him.  I just walked in obedience.  He has always made a way for me to get to the appointments.  

Fast forward to April 2017.  God made a way for me to purchase and open a vacant church in a small town.  What I thought would happen while we were there, didn't happen,  but the blessing that I received has far exceeded anything that I could have imagined. 

I discovered that it was all about the children.  We learn in Matthew 18:3 ..."Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. '"   Prior to purchasing the church, I had been given a vision of a young boy about 11 years old.  He had dark, curly hair and tanned skin.  I pondered the vision for quite some time.  Who was this boy, I wondered.  And why was I given the vision?  All I could do was wait and see.   

It didn't take long for us to notice the children that lived near the church property. We had actually been warned about them by several adults in town.  

As it turned out, the adults wouldn't step foot in the church, but those children, that we had been warned about...those beautiful children were our appointment. What a blessing it was as they slowly warmed up to us and we began having sing time with them.  What a blessing it was that they loved and knew the  old time hymns. Their voices in perfect pitch, as they sang to God from their heart...His heart.  The joy of childhood laughter has to be music to God's ears.  As each child with his/her own personality and favorite songs got to take turns singing with the microphone and choosing which songs to sing next, I know God smiled down and His presence filled the room.  

Wouldn't you know ...one of those children was a  boy of 11 years with curly dark hair and tanned skin.  His smile was warm and his heart was full of love and kindness.  But in the beginning, that God given inheritance of his,  was hidden behind curse words and some destructive behaviors.  I remember the day I was so frustrated as he followed me down the road on his bike yelling obscenities in my direction, perhaps trying to offend me.  There was also the day that some children came in to the church and let my parakeet out of his cage, never to be seen again. They were a tight knit group, as none of the children would tell what had happened.   

And then I heard God say, "Play with the children."  So lawn darts and croquet became a fun time for us, or even taking walks around town, just talking and listening to what they had to share.  I felt so blessed when they would come over and want to go to the church to sing, or take a walk or ask for something to eat.  They often said we were like grandparents and that was fine with us.  

The joy of the Lord was ever present in their smiling faces.  Sometimes we had to wipe their tears and we would talk about what  had made them sad.  I must say that Jesus is so in love with the children...these children.  These children, with singing voices that reached to heaven blessed us immensely.  

I had originally thought we were sent to share God's word with the adults in the town, but seemingly lacking in joy , love, innocence and laughter, that the children freely give, many of the adults refused to come inside the church doors and missed out on the blessings of God and the children. 

As adults, I think we must be willing to also learn from children as they  sing the Lord's praises and spread his wisdom willingly and without fear.

Our appointment there ended after a year and a half.  I know that God sent us to love His children, singing praises to His Name, in His House and it was Good.  It was the best of times, meeting His appointment.  

My prayer for today is that God continually reigns in the hearts of these children...His Chosen ones.  May their love, joy, innocence and laughter continue, as they grow into relationship with Him.  May those old time gospel songs remain on their lips and in their hearts, so that on any day they readily open up in praise and song to our Father in Heaven.  Father God, I ask that you bless them each and every one with your guidance and protection throughout their life and may they receive and operate fully in your calling on their life.  

Thank you, my Lord, for allowing me the pleasure of sharing who you are with your precious little ones.  From Glory to Glory, we serve.  Amen.

God calls children a true gift and a blessing, and they are. Children are filled with joy, love, innocence, and laughter — all things that adults can lose sight of as they grow older. But it’s also our job to make sure we cherish these gifts in our kids and nurture their faith as they become adults themselves. This is God’s will — and nothing proves this more than the many Bible verses about children... (Jackie Frere)

Psalm 139:13-14

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

Proverbs 22:6

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."

Psalm 127:3

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward."

2 Timothy 3:14-15

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."

Isaiah 54:13

"All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children."

Ephesians 6:1-4

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother' (this is the first commandment with a promise), 'that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.' Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. "

Matthew 18:2-4

"And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'"

Mark 9:36-37

"And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 'Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.'"