His eyes were bright, wide open. It was apparent, he could hear his voice.  Although so young, not even two months old, still he was drawn to this voice, drawn to the sound of pop’s voice.
I held Baby Jay in my arms as the construction continued at Gran & Pop’s new home.  Swaying back and forth as we do whenever we hold a small baby, rocking our bodies, gently swaying as we watched Pops work, content to just watch, filled with joy, just to be near him.
When the work was complete for the night, and when Pops stood in the yard talking; Baby Jay continued to turn his small neck, leaning toward the sound, drawn toward Pop’s voice.
“Did you notice that,” I voiced, surprised that Baby Jay was so attuned to Pop’s voice, even though Baby Jay was so small.

That action caused me to pause, to wonder—

When do we begin to hear our Father’s voice?
When do we recognize God’s voice above the incessant chatter found in this world?
How do we drown out the world and seek God?
Why should we even try?
Why should we care?—&
What benefit, if any, exists in straining our necks, as we turning our heads to hear God better?

These questions are perfect for today?
These questions should cause us joy, not turmoil.
These questions lead us to search for our LORD, seeing our need for Him more and more.
My sister and brother-in-law are building a new home.  Gran & Pops…..a beautiful homesite and soon-to-be dwelling that makes each of us feel as if we have stepped into the Smoky Mountains.   When we stand in their future kitchen and when we cast our gaze in the direction (out the kitchen windows) we are immediately relaxed.   We are immediately at peace.  Hopeful for many days to come when we will continually enjoy this home.
That’s where we have been this week, Baby Jay and me.
That’s where we were, the day Baby Jay recognized and turned his head toward the distinct sound of Pop’s voice.
And not only Baby Jay.
Also apparent was Clementine’s rush to be near “her Pops.”  Despite who came by to visit, still her eyes became just a little brighter, just a little more excited when “her Pops” was there.

Today……We can learn so much from children and their Pops.
Yes, today we are taught by two children who cannot yet read, who have not yet learned how to write their own names, BUT who immediately know the lyrical and beautiful sound of POP’S VOICE. 
“How’s my boy today?” Pop’s asked Baby Jay as he smiled at the little baby held in my arms. “And there’s my girl,” Pop’s said as he turned his attention toward Clementine when she ran over to where ” her Pops” stood.

We are to be just like these two beautiful ones…..gleeful to be near our heavenly Father, expectant and rushing to be near Him, so excited that we intimately know Our Father.

In order to know God, we must first intimately and personally KNOW HIM.
Although we can hear about God, although we can experience His love for us, and even though we can learn more about Him…..Truly, we cannot REALLY KNOW GOD UNTIL WE SEE THE LIGHT, UNTIL WE ACCEPT THE SON OF GOD INTO OUR HEARTS, AND UNTIL WE RECEIVE HIS AMAZING GRACE AS OUR OWN.
ONE-TO-ONE. 
PERSONAL.
GOD & ME.
GOD & YOU.
ONE-TO-ONE…..NOTHING SEPARATING US.

This requires our Belief.
This requires our Confession. 
This requires our Acceptance. 
This requires our Devotion.
This requires our Time.
This requires our Faith.
This requires our Trust…..that God Is Who He Says He Is.
Help us LORD, to seek You every day….“In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice.
In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch”  (Psalm 5:3).
Most definitely, there is just one Salvation, one Hope, one God who ever deserves our trust.
Then, We Are Permanently Adopted.
Then, We Are HIS.
Then, We Become HIS CHILDREN. 
ADOPTED BY HIS SAVING GRACE. 

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,  even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast”  (Ephesians 2: 4-9).

We Are HIS.
God Loves Us.
God’s grace saves our soul from an eternal separation and rescues us so we may be seated with Him in His presence…..forevermore. 
Thank you, Baby Jay, for reminding us how much we crave God’s voice and presence. 
Thank you, Clementine, for showing us how to run up close to God, desiring to be carried within God’s arms.
Thank You, for reminding us Whose Child We Are.
Thank You, God, for providing Jesus Christ, the Only Way we may come to know You.
Thank You, Jesus, for dying, so we may be free, for resurrecting to new life, from the grave, so we may live in newness of life.
Thank You, Father God.
May we accomplish whatever You lead us to do today for You, as we gleefully walk beside You, within Your presence.
Help us never to wish to run away,
Help us never to attempt to strive through a day apart from You.
It is because of….Your Love….&….Your Mercy….&….Your Grace….GOD….that we become Your Children……YOURS.