Deuteronomy 11

Many years ago, a couple of my cousins from Wisconsin would come to Illinois to visit. They were about 10 years younger than I and we would have a good time visiting together. When it was bedtime, I would read to them from an English storybook that my Father brought home when he returned after World War II. The book had adorable pudgy-cheeked children and precious elves and even snow fairies!

I married about 10 years later and these two delightful girls were my flower-girls at the wedding. We really did not have much contact through the ensuing decades, other than some Christmas cards, attending the funeral of a beloved Aunt died, and receiving a wedding announcement.

On our trip last summer, we were going through Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin to visit friends and I contacted one of these ladies to see if we could get together for dinner as we journeyed through the state. Plans were made and we did so.

decoration at campsite — **Decoration at campsite in Rivers Edge Campground, Stevens Point, Wisconsin**

She contacted her sister and the next day both of them came to the campground for a visit and then dinner. We had a delightful time.

pool play area at campground — **Pool play area at Rivers Edge Campground, Stevens Point, Wisconsin**

To my astonishment, they asked if I remembered the stories that I read to them years earlier from that old English storybook. When I said that I did, they asked that I tell them two of those stories before they left the campground that evening. I was honored to do so, and we revisited the Pixie who stole a taste of pink ice cream and the Snow Fairy who disobeyed and became stuck on earth. Two adult women remembering life lessons that had been encapsulated in stories told decades earlier in their childhood, and me cherishing the time with them and recalling when the stories calmed them so that they could sleep in a strange house.

This past week we were working with come elementary school children and singing the song “The B-I-B-L-E, yes that’s the Book for me, I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E.”

In doing so, the children had fun singing at the top of their lungs, while the adults revisited the time in their childhood when they, too, learned the song. But far more than having fun, the song is imprinting the message on the children’s minds that the Bible is the Word of God and it is something that lasts, you can stand on its teaching because it is from Almighty God. They may not understand all that, but it is in their heads and hearts and someday, when they are older, they will remember its teaching, just like my cousins remembered those comforting stories.

The importance of teaching children the Word of God is a direct command of our God. For example, in speaking of the law and commandments of God as given to Moses, we read:

“You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

Deuteronomy 11:19

The Psalmist says the following:

“Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.“

Psalm 34:11

No matter our age or station in life, we all can say with King David:

“Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.”

Psalm 86:11

Snow fairies and Pixies are not real and the stories are not imbued with the imprint of the Holy Spirit of our God. However, Scripture is, and we have an obligation to our children and grandchildren to teach them what God says in His Word to guide them as they go along life’s pathways.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,“

Hebrews 12:1

This great cloud of witnesses refers to those who have gone before us, who paved the way so that we could know of God and of His Word. So, will your children remember when you read the Bible to them? Will your grandchildren remember that you told them the stories in the Bible? Will your family be able to point to you as a person who assisted them in understanding God’s Word? Are you paving their way through the Scriptures?

Father, teach us to do Your will and to tell the next generation about Your marvelous works in our own lives as well as in the lives of those who have gone before. May I spread Your Word as I live my life in witness to Your love, grace and salvation through Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.

I love going to the orchard and shopping at the farm store – getting apples directly from the orchard is wonderful. I always bring home a wide variety of apples, with all the differences in flavors and textures that await the first bite!

Carvers orchard 10-2016 - 3 — Carver’s Orchard – Tree loaded with apples!

I thought it would be fun to make applesauce. So, one day when my young grandson was at the house, I enlisted his help in preparing the apples. He used the peeler/corer/slicer, turning the handle while the apple rotated through the various blades that accomplished their purpose – this resulted in making the apple ready for the pot much faster than if we had done it by hand with a paring knife.

When one of the apples was completed, and it had stayed in one sliced piece – similar to a slinky – he took it and peered through the center hole saying: “Grammy, I have my eye on you.” I responded “I see you too!”

Apple - helper saying I have my eye on you — Looking through the slinky apple!

That little exchange reminded me of many scriptures in which God speaks of seeing us and, also its inverse, where we are reminded to look and see that which God has done. The Israelites were reminded that they had seen God’s work on their behalf and they should remember that and follow God with all their heart, mind and soul:

“For your eyes have seen all the great work of the LORD that he did.”

Deuteronomy 11:7 ESV

Then there are times when those of faith have asked that God would open other’s eyes. When Elisha and his servant were in the hills, surrounded by the enemy, the servant was fearful.

“Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

2 Kings 6:17 ESV. Elisha had faith because He knew God. He knew that there was no reason to be fearful because God had His angels surrounding them, protecting them, securing them for further work for His kingdom. After the servant’s eyes were opened, he too saw the protection and no longer feared as before. The servant could have said that which David said in the psalms:

“But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!”

Psalm 141:8 ESV

The security referenced by David is not limited to the Old Testament times. Our security in the Lord is reaffirmed in the New Testament when we are reminded that God sees His children and responds to their prayers.

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

1 Peter 3:12 ESV

Of course, we also have the scripture telling us about Jesus’ healing the blind as He went through the villages and cities during His ministry. See Matthew 20:30-34, for an example.

The same God who saw what was going on in the Old Testament, who sees what is happening with His children, who walked through the streets giving sight to those who asked of Him, that very same God is watching us today, in 2017. He sees what we are doing, He knows what we think before we take any action on those thoughts, in fact He knows what we are going to say before we even give utterance to those thoughts. Psalm 139:1-4. God is intimately involved with His children, on a level that is so deep and so personal that we cannot imagine it.

Today, let this be a comfort to you. Let this permeate your heart, mind and soul. God – the Almighty, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent Creator of the Universe – sees you and He wants to open your eyes so that you will see Him as He works His plan in and through you.

“Grammy, I have my eye on you!”

“Linda, I have MY eye on you!”

Oh, may I live and move this day in the full realization and assurance that God has His eye on me. May you do so as well.

Father, I praise Your name and thank You for Your watchfulness, Your protection, Your mercy and Your grace. I thank You for being with me even when I am unaware of Your presence. Open my eyes today so that I would see You and Your Hand working in my life and in others, for Your glory and honor.