Reminders

I ran across this photograph and was struck by how easy it was to find letters in every day objects.  Pull them together and there’s a meaningful word.  Christians are encouraged to pray, to speak to God directly.  Nothing stands between a man and his God except the man’s own lack of faith.

I like how it was put in Genesis:

then began men to call upon the name of the LORD. (Genesis 4:26 KJV)

Just the third generation, Adam, Seth, then Enos, and men began to call upon God.  Of course, Adam didn’t have to – God walked with him and talked.

And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day:

I can’t imagine what that would be like.  But it wasn’t enough for Eve and Adam to obey and keep.  Listening to the first temptation to come along, they cut themselves off from the Lord, and knew it:

and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. (Genesis 3:8 KJV)

We still try that hiding routine, afraid to come and face the Lord we sinned against.  Knowing our guilt and the punishment we deserve, we hide.  And, that’s ridiculous.

We can’t clear it from ourselves, and we understand that God is omniscient, so who do we think we are kidding?  There are constant reminders around us, just as that lovely framed saying reminds us. Short bits from the Bible find their way into our lives:

Hear the word of the Lord (peppered through 24 verses)
Seek the Lord (contained in 27 verses)
Keep my commandments (found in 13 verses)
My salvation (my favorite!)

That one’s found first in Moses’ song:

The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. (Exodus 15:2 KJV)

These are reminders to me, just as the world He created reminds me with its beauty and the awesome power of His immutable laws.  Every once in a while a reminder literally takes our breath away and we wonder if that moment can be matched.  Some time later, it is even overshadowed by another such reminder.

Babies, to me, are such awesome moments.  The miracle of humans who will learn, love, share with loved ones, for decades of their lives. So vulnerable, and such beautiful reminders of God’s love. Totally dependent on others for years, more so than other animals. Unique DNA from their very conception.  Discardable by worldly standards, yet the example of the kingdom of God.  What a reminder!

And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (Luke 18:15-16 KJV)