Praying for Aaron

I think that it's time I posted something on here about our dear little friend, Aaron. Aaron Robinson is not even 4 years old and has recently been diagnosed with cancer. I have been Aaron's Sunday school teacher for about a year. I saw this little boy almost every week. He's normal and healthy with his own strengths and weaknesses. Like every child in my class, I have learned what makes Aaron smile, and what makes him cry.
I was shocked to learn that he has cancer, but I am so glad to know that there are so many people who are praying for Aaron.
The Bible tells us that prayer is powerful. So right now, whatever you are doing, I would like to ask you to stop and pray for Aaron.
Now pray for Ben, his little brother.
And Barbara, Aaron and Ben's mommy.
And Damon, their dad.
And now pray for Aaron, one more time.
Thanks. I know God will use our prayers.

I See the Moon

Lately my niece has become totally obsessed with the moon. If we are together at any time, she will search the sky for the moon and ask me to join her on her mission. Once the sky-gem has been found, we sing "the moon song" together and follow that with a hug, a kiss, and and a verbal reminder of our love for each other. She is thoroughly convinced that the moon was made by God just for her. That this beautiful work of nature has the sole purpose of giving her pleasure and reminding her and I of each other's love. A few times at night, she has asked her mom to call me so she could tell me that she saw the moon and thought of me.
Her obsession with the moon got me excited about it. I find myself thinking of her more when I see the moon. I use the moon to teach her about light, shadows, the earth, and also about God, and about His love and power. Through the moon, and my Moon (my niece), God has showed me so much of Himself.
The Moon: Unlike the stars, the moon is very small, and completely dependent on another source of light, the sun. The moon, however, is very close and familiar. It is comfortable, and its surface is attainable. It reflects the light of the sun in such a way that we can appreciate its brilliance without being blinded by directly gazing upon its brightness. The moon, unlike the sun, gives us light within darkness. It does not fully remove the darkness, but merely helps us see through it.
In the same way, we as Christians can be moons to the world around us.
We: Although very small, and completely dependent on The Source of Light, The Son of God, are very close and familiar to the world around us. We are comfortable and attainable to the lost who are seeking answers. We can reflect God in our lives in a way that others, who are separated from God by their sin, can still see that He loves them. We, like the moon,are exposed to our Light Source constantly, but others only see Him once in awhile. They are otherwise in darkness. We can direct them to that Light.
I am not the first one to use this analogy. I am sure it has been more eloquently relayed, but this is what God has showed me through the eyes of a little girl who has been the moon in my life.

Heroes

" A hero cannot deny his destiny." Somehow, Hiro's words to Ando strike a cord in me. Every time he speaks about his calling and his heroic purpose, I get excited. But, it is not vainly that Hiro believes he is a Super Hero. He has a gift. This gift is the evidence of his destiny.
Like all my favorite Super Heroes, Hiro, Claire, and Peter from the show Heroes use their powers (their gifts) to save the world.
As much fun as it is to watch imaginary people with imaginary powers save the world from imaginary destruction, Super Heroes, at the end of the day, are just that: imaginary. No matter how awesome you think the Green Lantern is, or how often you sing the Batman theme, they cannot save you, or the world.
But let me suggest, once again, an unexpected image of spiritual things.
The Bible says that all Christians have been given the Spirit of the Living God. This God possesses powers that Super Heroes would die for. And He has blessed us with these powers. We call them Spiritual Gifts.
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit to another gifts of healing"[and here I imagine my friend the cheerleader] "by that one Spirit, to another prophecy," [like the painter, Isaac Mendez] "to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, ant to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit and he gives them to each one, just as he determines." (1 Corinthians 12: 7-11)
And I know right now you are sitting in front of your computer screen thinking, "Well, yeah, but Rachael... you can't take on Venom with the gift of discernment."
But you are wrong. You are looking at this from a temporal lens. My dear Christian, ours is not a battle of this world, or of Gotham or even Krypton.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12)
And like Batman we are equipped with a super armor. (Ephesians 6:13-18)
And not only that but we have been guaranteed of a rather favorable outcome. (Romans 8: 31-39) The love of God protects and empowers us as Spiritual Super Heroes. Even Quail Man can't stand against that.
So get out there and fight. Remember the word of the Japanese time traveler, "You cannot deny destiny."