Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Little Monsters” – Thursday, 17 April 2014 - Scripture: Psalm 62:1-12

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Little Monsters” – Thursday, 17 April 2014 - Scripture: Psalm 62: For the Chief Musician. To Jeduthan. A Psalm by David.

1 My soul rests in God alone.

    My salvation is from him.

2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress—

    I will never be greatly shaken.

3 How long will you assault a man,

    would all of you throw him down,

    Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?

4 They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place.

    They delight in lies.

    They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly.

Selah.

5 My soul, wait in silence for God alone,

    for my expectation is from him.

6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress.

    I will not be shaken.

7 With God is my salvation and my honor.

    The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

8 Trust in him at all times, you people.

    Pour out your heart before him.

    God is a refuge for us.

Selah.

9 Surely men of low degree are just a breath,

    and men of high degree are a lie.

In the balances they will go up.

    They are together lighter than a breath.

10 Don’t trust in oppression.

    Don’t become vain in robbery.

If riches increase,

    don’t set your heart on them.

11 God has spoken once;

    twice I have heard this,

    that power belongs to God.

12 Also to you, Lord, belongs loving kindness,

    for you reward every man according to his work.

“Little Monsters” by Cynthia K. Stiverson

Our grandsons, ages 2 and 4, have a new game. They pretend one of us is the monster, and the monster is going to “get them.” I would be inclined to destroy any video of myself playing monster. Not a pretty picture. But seeing the faces of my babes light up, hearing their shrill screams and laughter—their excitement is worth it!

Isaac, the younger, prompts us to action, “Get you, Grammy! Get you, Grampy!” Then they run for cover to whichever adult is not playing the monster role. Aside from the not-so-pretty picture of being the monster, I get tired of playing the bad guy. When I see my little loves run into their daddy’s arms for refuge, I feel cheated. I want them to run to me, not from me!

That’s exactly the heart of our Father God. We run to our vices and other voices for help or comfort. All the while, God waits as a patient parent for His child to run into His arms.

Imagine if our “monsters” would witness God as our refuge. Perhaps they would get tired of being the bad guy and even consider trusting Him themselves.

Hymn for Today:

“Children of the Heavenly Father” by Caroline V. Sundell-Berg

1. Children of the heavenly Father

safely in his bosom gather;

nestling bird nor star in heaven

such a refuge e'er was given.

2. God his own shall tend and nourish;

in his holy courts they flourish.

From all evil powers he spares them;

in his mighty arms he bears them.

3. Neither life nor death shall ever

from the Lord his children sever;

for to them his grace revealing,

he turns sorrow into healing.

4. God has given, he has taken,

but his children ne'er forsaken;

his the loving purpose solely

to preserve them pure and holy.

Thought for Today:

“For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Romans 8:15).

Prayer Needs:

That the young people in Asia-Pacific will be called into full-time Christian ministry!

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