The processes of learning to walk and learning to talk are key parts of a child’s development. Our youngest child has a good grasp of walking and is now beginning to form words beyond the basics of ‘Mum’ and ‘Dad’. This process amazes and inspires me. I liken it to the journey I have been on with God. The journey has involved learning to walk and talk with Him.
Children learn to walk by holding an adult’s hand. This involves the child trusting that the adult will guide their steps and hold them if they trip. The Bible puts a big emphasis on the importance that God places on children. In Matthew 19:14, God’s son Jesus says to his disciples,"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these".
The Bible also teaches us to be like children in our journey with God, to trust in Him. God knows us well and reminds us to have the simple trust of a child. Matthew 18:3 “And he (Jesus) said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”. Little children are trusting and unpretentious.
Learning to walk and talk (pray) to God involves being trusting, open, honest and frank as a child would be. There are a number of tools to help guide our steps and pray with God. They include reading the Bible, meeting with groups of people who believe in God, listening to Christian music etc. I am constantly challenged about relating to God in a wholly trusting and unpretentious way, just as my own child has complete trust in me.
Don McLean
Assembly of God
Monday 30 November 2015
"Everything changes"
Dr Anthony Levatino has practiced obstetrics and gynaecology since 1980. As part of his medical training, Dr Levatino was taught to do abortions, including late-term abortions. Levatino estimates he carried out up to 1200 abortions. While he was performing abortions, Anthony and his wife were experiencing difficulty conceiving a child. They decided to adopt and within a few months they adopted a baby girl they named Heather. About the same time they conceived a son, and their family was complete. In Anthony's words, "We were perfectly happy".
Life was good until 23 June 1984. At 7.25pm they heard a screech of brakes. They ran outside and found Heather lying on the road. She'd been hit by a car! They did everything they could for her, but she died in their arms. Dr Levatino says, "When you lose a child, your child, life is very different. Everything changes. It's not an embryology course any more. It's your child you buried." He continues, "I couldn't think about abortion any more ... I started to realise - this is somebody's child. I lost my precious child, and now I'm taking somebody's child, and I'm tearing him right out of their womb ... I began to feel like a paid assassin. And so I quit."
He says he knows God was working in his life long before he changed to the pro-life position. A Christian lady told him, "Jesus loves you, and this is not what He intended for you." She was always kind and respectful, and eventually the message got through. Dr Levatino became a defender of LIFE. He says to pray for those who work in the abortion industry. Patience in prayer is necessary because conversions take time. And reach out to them in genuine friendship. Tell them, "The Lord loves you." Intellect and reason can't change people, but God can. He's always searching for His sheep, and sooner or later His love prevails!
Julia Martin
Life was good until 23 June 1984. At 7.25pm they heard a screech of brakes. They ran outside and found Heather lying on the road. She'd been hit by a car! They did everything they could for her, but she died in their arms. Dr Levatino says, "When you lose a child, your child, life is very different. Everything changes. It's not an embryology course any more. It's your child you buried." He continues, "I couldn't think about abortion any more ... I started to realise - this is somebody's child. I lost my precious child, and now I'm taking somebody's child, and I'm tearing him right out of their womb ... I began to feel like a paid assassin. And so I quit."
He says he knows God was working in his life long before he changed to the pro-life position. A Christian lady told him, "Jesus loves you, and this is not what He intended for you." She was always kind and respectful, and eventually the message got through. Dr Levatino became a defender of LIFE. He says to pray for those who work in the abortion industry. Patience in prayer is necessary because conversions take time. And reach out to them in genuine friendship. Tell them, "The Lord loves you." Intellect and reason can't change people, but God can. He's always searching for His sheep, and sooner or later His love prevails!
Julia Martin
Sunday 8 November 2015
Taking the stress out of Christmas
So it is the end of October and where has this year gone? For some time now the retail world has been preparing for the season ahead and Christmas displays are popping up everywhere.
This has caused excitement for those who love anything and all things Christmas, all the way to complete outrage and even protests against the retail stores early Christmas displays and advertising.
For someone like myself who has visited both ends of this spectrum I now enjoy the excitement that indicates Christmas is on its way. Far from the stress and agony that once came with worrying about having enough money to pay for Christmas, having enough time, the right presents, and whatever else needed to be done or bought.
So being somewhat discouraged with the Christmas hoopla we decided we needed to make Christmas more about the things that make it special. So as a family we have started celebrating our own version of advent throughout December, we have a wreath with candles and home-made advent calendars that not only contain treats for the kids but activities and challenges as well. We write Christmas Cards together, sing Christmas Carols, make gifts for others, light candles, read bible verses, and even act out the Christmas story as a family. As we have done this we have created family memories and traditions and found ourselves discussing the true meaning of Christmas.
We find that not everything goes to plan, you can never plan for tired, grumpy children (or parents for that matter) but we plan anyway, and early. It does help and by focusing on Jesus and the hope, love, joy and peace that Christmas represents these things have replaced what once was Christmas stress. The Christmas presents are a bonus.
“Merry Christmas”
Angela Thomas
(Wairoa Rock Church)
Published in The Gisborne Herald 31 October 2015
This has caused excitement for those who love anything and all things Christmas, all the way to complete outrage and even protests against the retail stores early Christmas displays and advertising.
For someone like myself who has visited both ends of this spectrum I now enjoy the excitement that indicates Christmas is on its way. Far from the stress and agony that once came with worrying about having enough money to pay for Christmas, having enough time, the right presents, and whatever else needed to be done or bought.
So being somewhat discouraged with the Christmas hoopla we decided we needed to make Christmas more about the things that make it special. So as a family we have started celebrating our own version of advent throughout December, we have a wreath with candles and home-made advent calendars that not only contain treats for the kids but activities and challenges as well. We write Christmas Cards together, sing Christmas Carols, make gifts for others, light candles, read bible verses, and even act out the Christmas story as a family. As we have done this we have created family memories and traditions and found ourselves discussing the true meaning of Christmas.
We find that not everything goes to plan, you can never plan for tired, grumpy children (or parents for that matter) but we plan anyway, and early. It does help and by focusing on Jesus and the hope, love, joy and peace that Christmas represents these things have replaced what once was Christmas stress. The Christmas presents are a bonus.
“Merry Christmas”
Angela Thomas
(Wairoa Rock Church)
Published in The Gisborne Herald 31 October 2015
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