Phil,
A great story, just one more example of how He is there for us and wants us
to turn to Him when we are troubled. It warmed my heart when I read this
story.
Virgie and Lady Hoshi
----- Original Message -----
From: "Phil Scovell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2007 9:15 PM
Subject: How Big Is God?
> How Big Is God
>
> By Phil Scovell
>
>
>
>
>
>
> He was 8 years old. He had been complaining his stomach hurt
> during school and was unable to eat his lunch. Other signs had
> been peaking out of his young personality and emotions, too, but
> now they were beginning to be displayed physically.
>
> After he entered my office, I moved and sat down on a ledge
> which allowed me to approximate his eye level. He was nervous and
> moved around in his chair as THOUGH he were uncomfortable.
>
> I talked AIMLESSLY with him for awhile about various things
> before approaching the subject of school. Eventually I said, "I
> hear you haven't been feeling well in school."
>
> "Yeh, I guess so," he said and fidgeted in his chair.
>
> "You weren't able to eat your lunch today because you felt
> sick?" I asked.
>
> "Yeh," he answered with no embellishment.
>
> "How were you sick?" I questioned. "Was something hurting?"
>
> "My stomach," he said and he wiggled.
>
> "What about your stomach?" I wanted to know. "Was it upset?
> Did you feel nauseated?"
>
> "Not really," he said vaguely.
>
> "Did your stomach hurt?" I said; already knowing the answer
> from what I had heard earlier in the day.
>
> "Yeh," he replied.
>
> "Have you felt sad lately?"
>
> "Yeh, I guess so," he confirmed.
>
> "About your mom being gone?"
>
> "Yeh, about that."
>
> "You know your mom is safe and with other Christian people
> and is doing very well, don't you?"
>
> "Yeh, I know that," he answered.
>
> "But you are still worried about her AND MISS HER I bet?"
>
> "Yeh, I am," he admitted.
>
> "She'll be able to start coming home on weekends pretty soon
> from the drug home. You know that, don't you?"
>
> "Yeh," he said as he moved some things on the desk.
>
> "So do you think that maybe your stomach was hurting because
> you were missing your mom?"
>
> "I don't know," he answered.
>
> "It would be ok if that was it," I assured him. "What were
> you thinking about when your stomach hurt like it did?" I asked.
>
> "My mom."
>
> "I see. Well, I'm not surprised. She has been gone for
> awhile and I know you miss her a lot. I want you to know that it
> is ok to be concerned about her and I understand why your stomach
> hurt. Sometimes our own thoughts and feelings cause us to hurt in
> our body about things. Did you know that?"
>
> "Well, I guess so."
>
> "Well," I said, "It's true so it wasn't wrong for your
> stomach to hurt and it isn't wrong, or bad, for you to miss your
> mom. Everybody would feel that way."
>
> He said nothing but continued moving around in his chair as
> he tried finding things to do with his hands.
>
> "Is it ok if I pray with you?"
>
> "Yeh," he replied.
>
> "Ok. Let's just pray for a minute."
>
> "Lord Jesus, there is an 8 year old boy here who misses His
> mom and his stomach has been hurting because he hasn't seen her
> for awhile. He is worried about her, you can understand that
> Lord, and I am asking you if you have anything you want him to
> know about his mom and where she is right now?"
>
> After a few seconds of silence between us, he responded by
> saying, "He said that He will take care of my mom and that she is
> ok."
>
> "Did you just make that up?" I asked, "or what?"
>
> "No, I heard it."
>
> "Heard it where?"
>
> "I heard it sort of in my thoughts," he answered with
> confidence in his voice.
>
> "Well, that's good then," I replied.
>
> "Lord, Jesus?" I continued, "Is there anything else you want
> him to know right now?"
>
> "He said He knew I was missing mom but He was with me, too,
> and even at school."
>
> "Does that seem true?" I asked.
>
> "Yeh," he replied, "it does.
>
> "Where did you hear these words?" I asked.
>
> "I heard them in my head like I did the first time," he
> answered.
>
> "In your thoughts?" I asked.
>
> "Yeh. In my thoughts," he confirmed.
>
> "Great," I answered.
>
> "Lord Jesus? Anything else that you want him to know right
> now?"
>
> Silence.
>
> "I don't hear anything."
>
> "Do you feel uncomfortable or afraid or scared or sick or
> anything at all right now that isn't like you normally feel?" I
> asked.
>
> "Nope. I feel ok."
>
> "Nothing bad?"
>
> "Nope."
>
> I explained to him in basic child terms what he had heard was
> the Holy Spirit the dwelled inside of him and that what he had
> heard was from God. I explained that whenever he felt bad or
> scared or worried about his mom, or anything else for that matter,
> to let his teacher know or to tell me or someone else and they
> would be happy to pray with him. He said he would. It was over
> in less than 20 minutes and he left my office.
>
> My grandson was living with us while his mom was in drug
> Christian rehab. The ache in his heart was more than I could
> imagine, although, I had some idea since my dad died when I was 11
> years old. I was concerned he was beginning to responded
> physically to the pain and loneliness he felt but as I questioned
> him, he seemed quite confident that he indeed had heard the Lord's
> voice speaking to him. He never had the problem again. Soon his
> mom, my daughter, came home to live.
>
> Question. how big is your god?
>
> Answer. Whatever you believe.
>
> Question. How big is your God?
>
> Answer. As large as your mouth.
>
>
> ["15. And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch
> them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
> 16 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.
> 17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the
> kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein."
> (Luke 18:15-17).
>
>
> It Sounds Like God To Me.
> www.SafePlaceFellowship.com
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