ALL MY *STARS*
*******

                                      

         God uses pictures from our past to reveal His Word in our present. When His time is right, the Holy Spirit brings them to our memory.
         As a young mother and teacher, I stood by my bedroom window, arms folded and leaning on the window sill. I was looking out at the night sky and telling God again, how much I wanted a daughter.
         I didn’t know then why it would not be good for me to have a daughter at that time in my life. But, since then, I have understood many reasons why God did not consider that would be good for me or her.
         In the mean time, God blessed my husband and me with two of the most beautiful little boys that any parents could ever imagine. They both grew up to be mighty men of God and still are a constant source of friendship and strength to me today.
         My desire for a daughter began with my desire for a sister. I had two brothers and desperately wanted a sister to even the odds of brothers I loved, but who enjoyed teasing me. When very young, I would pray for a baby sister even at Sunday lunch with company present. I can only imagine the look on my parents’ faces.
         God heard my prayers and after my two sons had each given me a grandson, then God sent my adorable granddaughter Sarah-Marie, who they say, looks a lot like me. Later, He sent three more grandsons. Sarah-Marie was more than enough to satisfy my present desire for a daughter. She and the boys all bless me beyond measure.

         But today, I sit in a place of more blessings to that answered prayer, than ever before, as He speaks to me through His Word.
         Children of God, who think God was only speaking to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, or Jeremiah, will miss divine guidance and encouragement when they do not allow God’s Word to speak directly into their individual lives and circumstances.
         It’s not pride in ourselves. We are not comparing our lives to be equal to the lives of the Old Testament saints, except that God loves us the same way He loves them and He will speak to us through His Word if we have spiritual ears to listen as we read.

         This morning, the Holy Spirit took me back to the bedroom scene of many years past, where I was leaning on the window sill and looking at the night sky. At that point, I began to see what looked like millions of stars in the heavens and God assured me that those stars represented my daughters; the many girls I taught in large physical education classes. I knew I loved them all like daughters. Even then, before I realized it, God’s love was reaching out through me to many hurting young girls who needed His Love.

      

         Years passed and more and more daughters and sisters were placed in my path.  I loved them all deeply, but something was still missing. As much as I loved my students, very few were able to understand my love and return it. They passed through my life as instruments of God’s training for all of us, then went on to live their own lives all over the world.
         However, as God taught me years ago, “With Him, there is always ‘Something More’.” That includes extended blessings He continually adds to our original blessings. We should expect this. His blessings are without number.
         Now, at this time in my life, God has provided me with the most satisfying mother-daughter relationships. These young women are closer than physical daughters because we are one in the Spirit as Jesus prayed for us to be in John 17.
         We share openly and honestly with each other. We sincerely care about each others’ needs and pray for each other. We see the Hand of God moving in each of our lives. We try not to meddle, but trust each other to hear from God for themselves.
         I feel that God has given me a bonus blessing in that these young women He has brought into my life during the last few years, show me the respect of knowing that I hear from God…as I expect them to do the same.

They are not only my daughters but also my sisters in the Lord. I am able to help them because they are mature enough and hungry enough to have ears to hear what the Lord says to them individually.

         I do not have to feed and clothe them in the natural, or even baby sit their children. (Ha) But God has given me the opportunity to pray for them, encourage them, and advise them about possible bumps I may see in their roads of life. This satisfied my desire for a daughter. Now, I have many.

         Not only daughters, but God extended blessings to me another way. I now recognize the many spiritual sons God has brought to me. As Solomon’s mother taught him wisdom, I see God allowing me to do the same thing for these young men. 
         When God presents them to me for the first time, I have an immediate overwhelming type of love and affection for them. It is very similar to the love I have for my natural sons who are also one-in-the-Spirit with me. Just how blessed can a mother of millions be?
         Thank You Father, for letting me see Your answer to my childhood prayer. Thanks for putting that desire in my heart even before I was born. Thanks for watering that seed and bringing it to fruition.
         So, as the Holy Spirit led me to Genesis 22:16-17, my spirit knew that God was not just talking to Abraham, but His Spirit, was also speaking to me. Why not? I am the SEED of Abraham. And more than that, the SEED of God. (I John 3:9).
         I claim the promise God made to Abraham because there was a specific time that I released both of my natural sons to God…as well as I know that my spiritual sons and daughters also belong to Him.
         So, this is the promise God gave me this morning. Perhaps you too, have many spiritual sons and daughters that God has entrusted to you to love, care for, teach, and direct. Look around you and ask God to help you recognize them. Read John 17 again.

THE WINDOW SILL PRAYER
(My Answer)

 

         The Lord said He swore by Himself, “Because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son (s), thine only son (s): In blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy SEED as the:

STARS OF HEAVEN.”                     
(Genesis 22:16-17).  

         That night, looking out the window, God had shown me more daughters than I could count. He keeps His Word and it does not return void. (Isaiah 55:11).
         “He telleth the number of the STARS; He calls them all by their names.” (Psalms 147:4). Surely He has named my STARS for me. TYL.

I COUNT THEM ALL TOO.

                               AND KNOW THEM BY NAME.

         ALL THE BEAUTIUFL DAUGHTERS AND HANDSOME SONS…EACH AS DIFFERENT AND INDIVIDUAL AS THE STARS.

[This article is dedicated to my spiritual mother…who took me under her wing and taught me how to love and teach others. Thank you Charlotte Holt as you see the multiplication process of your life and love. Gwen]