Promises, Pogo Sticks, and Magical Paper Books

As a little girl, I would listen to Donnie Osmond and Shawn Cassidy for hours at a time on my Holly Hobbie record player. Paper dolls and connecting the dots were lots of fun too. I was thrilled when I got my first pair of metal roller skates, overjoyed with my very own pogo stick, but hands down one of my favorite things of all were those magical paper books.

You know the ones I’m talking about. When you picked up one of these books and flipped through its pages, they were blank. Not very impressive at all. But, when you moved the yellow felt tipped pen that came with the book, back and forth, back and forth, over the blank pages, beautiful pictures would be revealed!

While sharing a scripture from the Bible with my children and one of God’s many promises to us, I couldn’t help but think again of those fun little books, and the treasures that would be revealed after I’d move my pen over the crisp white paper. I went on to tell my four children that the Bible is filled with promises that have been made to them, from God their loving Father, their creator. I went on to share that when they asked God into their hearts, they became His children. His promises were theirs now too. Every single one of them.

I reminded them of the fun little books that I loved as a child, that they too have now played with. I asked them to imagine God’s word as the blank paper and to take their imaginary yellow pen and move across His word and His promises, back and forth, back and forth, until they could clearly see their faces, and their own precious names written with God’s own hand, in each verse. They needed to know that it was each one of them, His children he was thinking of, when He made those promises.

Friends, your face and your name is there on each page and each promise too. God loves you so very much. His word and His promises are infallible, unbreakable and irrevocable. He longs to hold you close and whisper these life giving promises in your ear.

So what are you waiting for? Get out your yellow pen and start moving it back and forth across the pages of His word. Don’t waste another second, start revealing the treasures He has for you, today!

“God is not a man, that he should lie. He is not a human, that he should change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” Numbers 23:19 NLT

10 Responses to Promises, Pogo Sticks, and Magical Paper Books
  1. Marie Kelley
    July 29, 2008 | 9:27 am

    What an INSPIRATIONAL post!!

  2. Barbara
    July 29, 2008 | 10:18 am

    Great post Joanne! I just knew I was going to marry Donny. : ) Did you ever get the magazine, Tiger Beat? I loved the pogo stick and paper dolls …..you have stirred up memory lane for me. Thanks. I wrote about waiting also today …waiting on a turtle.
    May God shower you today with all many blessings! “B” His Girl

  3. elaine
    July 29, 2008 | 2:18 pm

    Great post, Joanne. I love the highlighted visual you bring to the promises of God’s Word. I need the reminder of his faithfulness in my life today. Thanks for sharing your heart. Thanks, also, for commenting on my son’s post. He is my heart, and I know that God is shaping him for his mighty kingdom purposes. Your the best!

    peace~elaine

  4. Starr
    July 29, 2008 | 2:37 pm

    Wow, Joanne. You just blow me away every time I read your words. You are such a wonderful writer and God truly does speak through you. He certainly used you to inspire me today! I had a Holly Hobbie record player too. I am embarassed to say, I still have my Shaun Cassidy albums. Don’t worry though, I don’t listen to them anymore!
    Love ya bunches,
    Starr

  5. Genny
    July 29, 2008 | 4:31 pm

    Loved this, Joanne! Beautiful!

  6. Angie
    July 29, 2008 | 4:43 pm

    I love that Joanne. Yes, I am diggin’ in His WORD for more truth to be applied to my life/heart/soul/spirit! I need all I can get—all I can soak up like a dry thirsty sponge.
    That’s the way my heart has felt in recent days. You have delivered a timely encouraging message—just for me.
    Love you girl!

  7. Mari
    July 29, 2008 | 4:58 pm

    Great post again Joanne! I loved those books, and my kids did too. What a great comparison.

  8. Alane
    July 30, 2008 | 1:12 am

    Great post Joanne, I loved those books too. They were so magical in my childish mind – love that imagry you created for us.

  9. Carol
    July 30, 2008 | 9:24 am

    What a great illustration. I’ll never think of those books again without thinking of the Bible. I loved those books, too!

  10. Becoming Me
    July 30, 2008 | 10:41 am

    Beautiful post