I've been talking to Ryder lately about praying, and how God really does listen and wants to speak to us too....
"I don't HEAR God, Mom," said Ry.
"Sometimes you can't hear God with your ears, but you can hear him with your heart. You can feel what He wants to say to you," I replied.
Tonight, (a few days since our last chat on the topic), Ryder said...
"Mom, God says he wants us to move back to California."
"Really?" I said. Part of me was trying to keep from laughing and the other part of me really wanted to hear what God was saying to my son! "So, what did God say to you Ry?
"He's talking, do you hear him, Mom?"
"Right now?" I asked, "I don't hear him."
"No. Mom...with your heart. Do you hear him talking to your heart? He's saying he wants us to move back to California!"
John walked in at this point and I caught him up in the conversation. John said, "I'd like that Ry!"
"Now we have to pray for Daddy to find a job in California...that's the only way we can move back there, so we can start asking God to give Daddy a job, so we can have enough money for our family to live." I explained.
After a minute or so of thinking, Ryder replies... "I know, Mom! Daddy can take all of our toys to California...that would be a job! Then, since Daddy already brought all our toys to California, we could just bring our clothes and things and ride in an airplane, since Daddy took our toys there in a truck. That would be a job for Daddy!"
By this point I'm laughing quietly, not wanting to distract him from anymore ideas and said, "That WOULD be a job, Ry...you're right! You have some great ideas, Babe. Why do you want to move back to California?"
"I miss my friends," he said, "I have SO many friends in California."
"Which friends do you miss?" I asked.
"Jacob and Anthony," he said with a sigh :) These are his buddies from birth that he has the most memories playing with since he was born. Not to take anything away from the wonderful friends he loves here in IL now too, but it's incredible to me how in the first 3 years of his life, he bonded so incredibly to those two friends. They are a part of regular conversations we have even now, a year after leaving.
Well, Lord? What do you think? Whenever and wherever continues to be my prayer...though CA does hold a special place in my heart for many reasons, since our family and (almost all of our) friends of 10+years call CA home...we'll see! Be in prayer with us, if you would! We would so appreciate your prayers for us hearing God's voice clearly about the place he has for us after this next school year...not just one but all 5. We BELIEVE He will answer us when we call to Him, just as we VERY clearly heard His voice calling us to IL a year ago, we know His plans for us continue through and beyond this season as well...we are in our "promised land"
Do I really think God spoke to Ryder tonight? According to Jeremiah 33:3, absolutely. "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." I now understand why Jesus let the little children come to Him, and asks us to have faith like a child...
"Did you hear God, Mom?"
When I'm too busy "holding the house together," God speaks to me through my 3 year old son.
"Not yet, Ry...but now I'm listening."
OH thank you for that precious story. I love the heart of Ryder and his desire to hear our Daddy's voice! May you all know and hear what He wants you to do in His perfect timing! I can just picture Ry each day listening for the voice of the Lord, wow the many things he will hear if he keeps up the pursuit. May team Murphy slow down too to hear exactly what God wants to do in each of our lives. Thanks for the reminder Burdetts. :)
I'm in tears.......precious.
Wow, those little ones sure are revealing! Thank You Jesus for toddlers! I hope Ryder is hearing God correctly on that subject!
...and by the way...that family picture is stinkin' adorable.
really, really sweet.