The LORD knows me...

Here's another story with my protag Milly. :)
It's based on Psalm 139.

                 Milly has no sisters.  So when she heard that Auntie Jess had a baby girl she was excited.  She made a card with red flowers, purple butterflies, and the words “Welcome baby Anna” in big letters across the top.  She hopped down the stairs, out to the van with her family, and even through the parking lot to the hospital.  Stopping only when her father said that inside the hospital might not be the place for bouncing up and down.  When she finally met Anna she was amazed.  She had ten perfect little fingers and ten perfect little toes.   She lay there sleeping her chest rising and falling; her pink rosebud lips twitching into a smile.  And when she finally opened her eyes they were as blue as the sky.  Milly was in love.

                Leaving the hospital she chattered nonstop about how much fun she and Anna were going to have. 

                “...and she’ll play with my barbies, and I’ll teach her ballet, and I can paint her nails...”  Milly continued as she looked out the window at the passing cars.

                “Could you stop talking?”  Eric, her older brother asked.  “I can’t even hear the radio.”

                “But aren’t you excited about Anna?”  Milly asked as they drove down their street.

                Eric rolled his eyes.  “Nah, she’s just a silly, stinky baby.  Why would I care?”

                Milly’s eyes grew wide with shock and then narrowed in anger.  “She’s not silly—you are!  And—and I wish you had never been born!”

                “Millicent, you apologize to your brother right this minute!”  Her mother said as they pulled into their driveway. 

                “Fine!”  Milly yelled.  “I’m sorry!”

As soon as the van stopped she jumped out, stomped up the stairs, slammed her bedroom door and threw herself on her bed.  It was only a few minutes before she heard a knock at her door.

                “Come in,” Milly said.

                “Milly, we need to talk.”  Her mother shut the door behind her.

                “I don’t wanna talk.”  Milly stuffed her face into her pillow.

                “Listen, what your brother said was wrong.  The Bible is very clear that we are all wonderful in God’s eyes—precious because He created each and every one of us.  Eric felt sorry for what he said and apologized.”

                “I already apologized to Eric.”

                “Yes, but I don’t think you meant it.  You know in that same part of the Bible, Psalm 139, God also speaks about God knowing everything about us—even our inmost thoughts.  God knows whether you have truly forgiven Eric and whether or not your apology is sincere.”

                Molly sat up her eyes big with fear.  “That sounds scary...God knowing everything about me.”

                “I think it can be...when we are running from Him.  But for those who believe in Him it is a comfort.  There is nowhere you can go or nothing you can do that God doesn’t know.  He is, and always was present.  Even when Anna was inside Aunt Jess God put her together and knew everything about her.  He even knows what is in the future for both her and you.”

                Milly thought about this, her legs swinging over the side of the bed.  Finally she asked softly, “Mom, if God knows everything, do you think He knows that I felt bad even as those mean words about Eric came out of my mouth?”

                “I’m sure He did.”

The Believer is Tested and Blessed

Here is a children's message featuring my young protagonist Milly.
I presented it today at church. :)
The story talks about the passage in Genesis 22: 1-18

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“So how did it go today?” Milly’s mom asked as they sat around the dinner table.

Milly shrugged her shoulders, “I think I did OK on the spelling test.  There were only a few words that I didn’t know.”

“I’m sure you did fine.”  Her mother dished out some corn onto her plate, “You did take some time to study.”

“I hope so,” Milly said.

After dinner, Dad told the story of Abraham and Isaac on the mountain in the book of Genesis.

“God tested Adam’s faith.” her father started the story.

“Adam had to have a test?” Milly asked her eyes going round with the thought of Abraham getting stumped on some of her spelling words.

“No, not that kind of test,” her father said chuckling.  “No this was a test to see if Adam would obey God in all things.”

“I know how to spell that O-B-E-Y,” Milly said.

“Very good, now let your father finish the story,” her mother said.  Milly sat back in her chair trying hard not to fidget.

“God told Abraham to take Isaac, the only son that God had given to him and Sarah, to the land of Moriah.  There he was to kill Isaac and offer him as a whole burnt offering.”

“God asked him to kill his only son?” Milly couldn’t help but shout out.  Her older brother rolled his eyes and looked at his watch.

“Yes Milly, to test whether or not Abraham would be obedient.” Her father answered.

“Did he do it?” Milly whispered.

“Yes, he did obey God.  He took Isaac to the mountain with some wood and when his son asked where the offering was Abraham told him that God would provide an offering.  They built an alter and laid the wood on it.  Then Abraham took his knife and was about to kill his son...”

Milly covered her eyes gasping in horror.

“Don’t worry,” her father said quickly, “ just as he was going to kill his son the angel from God told him to stop.  He had proven that he would give anything...even his only son for God.”

“But what about the offering?” Milly asked.

“Ah, God did provide one.  A male sheep had gotten its horns caught in a bush so Abraham went and got it and offered it as a whole burnt offering.”

“That must have been a very hard day for Abraham,” Milly said.

“Yes,” her father agreed.  “and for Isaac as well.  But do you know what?  God blessed them promising them descendents and land.  Through them all nations would be blessed.”

Milly thought so hard that lines appeared in her forehead, “But then Dad, why is this story in the Bible?”

“Good question,” her father’s face broke into a grin, “well, first we can look back on this story and see how God’s promise to Abraham did come true. Which means what Milly?”

“Ummmm, that God keeps His promises?”

“Exactly right!  Second we can see that when Abraham obeyed he was blessed.  Showing us that when we obey God then we are blessed as well.  And finally, this story is a picture of another Father who gave His only Son for our sins...”

“Oh, oh, I know it’s Jesus!” Milly said jumping up and down in excitement in her chair.

“Yes,” her mom said with a smile, “and because of him there is no need for anymore sacrifices.”