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Ephesians 3:17b-19 – And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (NIV)
Last Christmas, Ade was four, and she was obsessed with watching the movie, The Grinch, over and over again, even after Christmas had long since come and gone.
The Grinch's heart was changed as he witnessed how all the evil which he had committed against the people of Whoville, by stealing all their Christmas decorations and presents, was not enough to deter them from gathering together on Christmas morning to celebrate with joyful singing.
The thing that fascinated her about the Grinch was that his heart grew bigger, which turned him into a loving individual from the mean old Grinch that he had been. Over and over, she stated that his heart grew bigger, and he became nice.
Her absorption with this story gave me the opportunity to tell her another story: the old, old story of Jesus and His love — a love which has the power to grow our hearts bigger and turn each one of us into a more loving and kinder person, too. And you know what? She got it, even though she was only four! It excited her to think and know that God is able to live within us, help us, and continue to change us our whole life through, as we simply ask for His help through Jesus.
The Whos were a living witness to the power of love, which is exactly what God calls each of His children to be as well. When Christians allow God to continually grow their hearts bigger and bigger in love, others take note, an action which in God's time has the power to bring them to know and embrace the old, old story of Jesus and His love for themselves.
In light of this, may each of us continue to yearn and pray for ourselves and others, that being rooted and established in love, we may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Prayer: Father God, we thank You that in Christ, we are indeed new and better creations — wonderful creations able to tap into the power and fullness of Your love, through the Holy Spirit within us, thereby allowing us to be Your ministers of reconciliation to all those around us. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
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Thank you.
Dear Lynne,
So beautiful.
What a wonderful story! May our hearts grow bigger. Thank you.
Thanks, Lynne, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. Blessings.
Thank you for your lovely devotional and may God bless your little family.
A cartoon witnessing to a child… one more example of God’s creativity in sharing His message!
How wonderful that you could talk to your granddaughter as you did. Do take care and stay safe. Merry Christmas.
Amen! Wishing you and yours a most joyful Ghristmas. Thank you for the important, worshipful messages you send us.
And Ade is very fortunate to have Lynne Phipps for a grandmother who could tell her the “whole” story.
Thanks and Merry Christmas, Lynne.
Dear Lynne,
We enjoyed your story about the Grinch and the personal application was very powerful and inspirational.
We hope that your weather is less severe now.
Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Lynne, this is a beautiful testimony of faith in Jesus being passed on to your granddaughter. Your devotional inspires me to be more intentional in sharing with my grandchildren more of Jesus and His love — “a love which has the power to grow our hearts bigger and turn each one of us into a more loving and kinder person.”
Every blessing in Christ Jesus.
Great message Lynne,
I must admit I haven’t seen The Grinch. A few years ago a friend thought I needed to see the Grinch and The Elf and dropped the CDs at my place. It was very kind, but I didn’t watch them. It just isn’t my thing.
I loved your story about your granddaughter’s love of this story and why. The analogy makes great sense and the importance of growing our hearts. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Lynne! Your devotion today brought back memories of Sunday School where we sang the children’s song, “Deep and wide, deep and wide, There’s a fountain flowing deep and wide”. God’s love IS deep and wide!
May your Christmas be merry, and may your home know peace, joy, love, and hope as we head for a brighter New Year!
Blessings!
(ON)
Dear Lynne,
What a beautiful story you have related! It is such a delight when our little children become enthused to hear the stories of Jesus and so heartwarming to hear them sing out with enthusiasm Sunday school songs. So wonderful that your grandchildren have you right there with them, to share and guide them through explaining the love that Jesus has for them. Blessings for your writings which are always so special and very encouraging.
Hi Lynne
Remember the Scripture which tells us a child shall lead us. Your granddaughter caught the love in what happened to the Grinch, and it was easy for her to accept that the love of Jesus can grow in our hearts. Little children understand and find it easier to receive and know that the love Jesus can grow bigger and bigger in our hearts. Now if we adults could just become like little children and allow the love of Jesus to grow bigger and bigger in our hearts.
Lynne,
Your precious granddaughter showed the capacity children have to grasp onto and interpret special things. What a delightful application in your devotional. God’s love is powerful beyond description.
Dear Lynne:
Thank you so much for your enjoyable devotional. It reminded me of an experience with my grandson.
He was four years old at the time. He rushed through my door, excited to be at Nana and Papa’s cottage. He said, “Hi, Nanna! I’ve got a prize for you! (He meant surprise.) He continued, “I got a song to sing for you!”
I rushed to my office and got my mini-recorder and asked him to sing. He announced, “Daddy teached me!” Then he continued, totally changing keys throughout the song: “I’m a blood bought, born again, child of the King! I been baptized, sanctified, and this is why I sing! I’m so glad Jesus came, gory (glory) to His name, I’m a child of the KING!!!”
He had a grin a mile wide. I told him that was amazing and asked if he knew what all those big words meant.
“YES! Nana! They mean that I asked Jesus to live in my heart, and that He lives inside me FOREVER! Daddy helped me when we were saying my prayers!”
What an amazing gift we are given when our children and grandchildren all live for our Lord Jesus!
Your devotionals are always heart lifting and educational.
Keep writing for Him!
Oh Lynne, how I appreciated your message!
I found the following part especially powerful:
“When Christians allow God to continually grow their hearts bigger and bigger in love, others take note, an action which in God’s time has the power to bring them to know and embrace the old, old story of Jesus and His love for themselves.”
Thanks for such a wonderful reminder!