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Gilbert & Stephanas talk about the Haiti Earthquake
and Jesus at a party...
Stephanas: Good morning boys and girls, good morning Gilbert.
Gilbert: Good morning Stephanas, good morning to all.
Stephanas: Gilbert, I'm sure glad we can be together today.
Gilbert: Yes, so am I.
Stephanas: but I don't feel like talking about Jesus at a party, do you?
Gilbert: I know what you mean, Stephanas. Because of the
terrible earthquake in Haiti
and all the suffering there, it just doesn't seem right to talk about a happy
party, does it.
Stephanas: No it doesn't. Gilbert, do you think the people in Haiti will
get the help they need to make things better?
Gilbert: You have seen the pictures on TV who are crying out for help.
Stephanas: Yes, and it makes me so sad that they are not getting all the
help they need.
Gilbert: I am sad too, Stephanas. But you need to know that help
is arriving even as we speak here today, and more help will be coming soon.
Stephanas: Yes, I suppose you are right, but it still hurts to think
about the ones who, you know....
Gilbert: The ones that no one could help. Like April & Judd
Larson's son Ben who died in the earthquake.
Stephanas: Yes, I'm so sad for them, Gilbert. I wish there was
something I could do to help.
Gilbert: Well, Stephanas, there is something you can do.
Stephanas: There is? What can I do? I'm little and this is
so big.
Gilbert: Stephanas, you believe in a great God, don't you.
Stephanas: Yes I do. But what can I do?
Gilbert: My little friend, you can pray that God will be with those
who mourn, to comfort them. You can also pray that God will strenghten
those who survived and give them aid to help rebuild their country and their
lives. And, you can give what you can to help - even if it's just a
tiny amount. If everyone gives a little, with God's help, our little
will do alot.
Stephanas: I can pray. Yes. I can do that. And I can
use some of the money I was planning to spend on myself to help the children
of Haiti.
And if all of us do just a little, with God's help, our little will do alot.
Gilbert: That's the spirit, my little friend.
Gilbert: Yes.
Stephanas: I still feel sad.
Gilbert: As you should Stephanas. When bad things happen we all
feel sad.
Stephanas: But it's good we can be together.
Gilbert: Yes, and share our feelings.
Stephanas: And pray and talk about what we can do to help.
Gilbert: yes, that's what we do as God's people. Stephanas, did
you see the pictures of the children in Haiti singing?
Stephanas; yes, they were singing some of the songs that I learned at
vacation bible school. Songs about God's great mercy and love.
Gilbert: Do you know who taught them those songs?
Stephanas: No, Gilbert- who taught them to sing like that?
Gilbert: Missionaries like Ben Larson. Ben loved to sing.
Stephanas, when I heard those children who had lalso ost their families
singing, I thought of Ben. You see, Stephanas, even death doesn't stop
us from singing. God raised Jesus from the dead and be promised the
same for Ben and all the people who trust in his promises. That's what
Jesus showed us when he went to a party at Cana
and turned the water into wine. Even when bad things happen, and we get
robbed of our joy, God will do something through Jesus to bring joy back to
our lives.
Stephanas: Thanks Gilbert. I'm still sad about Ben and the
earthquake, but I know God is with us, that we can pray and ask for God's
help, and that we can give a little to help, and God can take our little and
do alot.
Gilbert: Loving God, hear the cries of your children in Haiti.
Reveal your presence in the midst of their suffering and use our gifts to
help them. Help us all to trust in your promises of hope and life so that
sadness will not rob us of joy. Come quickly to bring aid so that all who now
suffer may know peace and joy again. Strengthen us in this time of sadness
with the hope we know in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Amen
Stephanas: Thanks Gilbert.
From: January 17,2010
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