Forbid Them Not

Matthew 19:13-14  "Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.  But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

Tomorrow night our church will begin it's annual Vacation Bible School.  I happen to love VBS.  It is truly a highlight of my year. 

Back when I was a kid, Toys 'R' Us became the most popular children's store around.  They had a slogan that said, "Toy 'R' Us, where a kid can be a kid."  I have never forgotten that slogan or the jingle that went with it:

"I don't wanna grow up, I'm a Toys 'R Us kid. There's a million toys at Toys 'R Us that I can play with. From bikes to trains to video games at the biggest toy store there is. I don't wanna grow up cause if I did, I couldn't be a Toys 'R Us kid." One of the reasons I love VBS is because the week is all about the kids.  It is the one week out of the year that they can come to church and just be a kid.  They don't have to worry about church being boring, (let's face it - it is sometimes to a kid).  All they have to concentrate on is being a kid.  Jesus loved children.  His words tell us everything, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for such is the kingdom of heaven."  I am excited that I get to pastor a church that loves children and VBS as much as Jesus did.

God Bless the USA

Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”

I want to take a brief moment today to talk about our wonderful nation.  On July 4, 1776 our forefathers declared our nations independence from England.  At that time, America was just an idea. No one knew for sure if the idea would even work.  Was being independent from England the secret to America’s greatness? Having our independence may have been part of it, but it was and is not the reason for our nation’s successes. Throughout the years, it has been our nation’s dependence on God that has allowed us to live the most blessed country this modern world has even seen. 

I believe today, that this principle can also be applied to our lives as Christians.  While, our nation as a whole may not be continuing on a path of righteousness, it does not mean we that Christians have to follow the path of the nation.  If God is willing to bless a nation whose God is the LORD, then it is reasonable to think that He will also bless an individual whose God is the LORD. 

In order to be a Godly nation, it requires having a Godly people.  As we take today to celebrate our nation’s independence from England, may we not forget that we must continue to declare our dependence upon God.

May God bless you, and may God bless the USA.  Happy 4^th of July!