God? Is that you?

I've been studying in 1 Samuel this week, and have gotten stuck. Stuck, like, deep in thought, with a verse that just continues to penetrate my thoughts. It's this one:

"Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel answered, "Speak, for Your servant hears" 1 Samuel 3:10

I've gotten stuck on a different part of this verse every day this week. On Monday, it was "the Lord came and stood". Wow! Stood. I think sometimes I picture God ruling my life like a puppeteer...like high above me, looking down at me below. It blew my mind to picture Him coming and standing beside me when he speaks to me. What a precious visual image. Today, though, it's Samuel's response to the Lord's calling. As a mom, my mind drifts to my own children. Have I done enough to help them recognize the Lord's voice when He calls? Samuel had confused God's voice for Eli's to begin with. But, here, responds to the Lord Himself.

Our lives are busy. We are constantly running. Work, school, basketball, baseball, football, practice, church, choir, family dinners, friends. It's alot. Add to it all the other 'noise'. Video games, tv, ipods. I wonder if my children will be able to hear through all the noise when God calls. I'm instituting "Quiet Sunday" at my house. No laundry, no cleanup, no video games, no noise. I realize that our world is spinning fast, and all of these things are important. However, I believe that children need some down time to refresh and replenish. And, maybe I'm not doing enough to help them find it. I want them to know the difference in God's voice and the world's. I want them to realize that it's ok to not be connected to the internet all day, or playing a game or with friends. Some of my most precious moments with the Lord have come when I was alone and still before Him. I hope my children have those moments, too. But, it's also good for family time. Time that we can connect to one another and actually....talk!

I'm also impressed with Eli. I wonder if it was a shock to his system with he realized that God was speaking directly to young Samuel, and not through him. I think that God uses me to speak to my children at such young ages, but I recognize that He will also speak to them as they grow. John 1:30 tells us, "This is He of whom I said,'after me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me." I am taking it somewhat out of context, but I think that there will be a day when my children are 'preferred before me'. After all, I have prayed since before their births that God would use their lives in mighty way. I just hope to get a back seat to seeing it happen. Still, I think when the day comes that they don't need me anymore...it's gonna be a shot to my gut. Guess I should start praying now for wisdom on that day.

What are you studying? Talk to me about what you are thinking!