January 11, 2009
Psalm 13

Joey: Gooood morning Martha!

Martha: Hi Joey! Umm… do you think I should be a piano maestro, a ballerina, or a kung fu movie star when I grow up?

Joey: Those sound like boring jobs – what do they have to do with bugs?

Martha: Nothing! That’s why I like them!

Joey: Well then don’t look at me! Why are you trying to decide that now?

Martha: I have an important life decision to make. Right now, I’m in ballet and piano lessons. But I just found out that they are doing karate lessons at school! So this morning I asked my mom if I could sign up.

Joey: What did she say?

Martha: She said I’m too busy to do all 3 and I have to pick 2.

Joey: So what are you going to pick?

Martha: I don’t know!! I’ve been praying about it all morning, and God hasn’t told me which one yet. What if I drop piano, but he wanted me to be a piano maestro when I grow up?

Joey: You expected God to answer you already?

Martha: I prayed for like 1/2 an hour while eating my breakfast! This is pretty time sensitive, I thought God would be right on it!

Joey: Well, maybe it doesn’t matter, or maybe God already knows that you’ll make the right decision on your own.

Martha: How am I supposed to know if I am making the right decision?

Joey: Well, the life that God has planned for you fits you perfectly, because he knows exactly who you are. If you don’t choose piano, probably he wouldn’t plan for you to be a piano maestro. If you’re making the right choice, maybe you won’t hear from God at all.

Martha: Oh no! I just want some verification here!

Joey: Well, God is our heavenly father, right? So think of it like this – say you brushed your teeth before you went to bed, what would your parents say?

Martha: Say? Nothing – I’m supposed to brush my teeth…

Joey: Exactly! And what would happen if you didn’t brush your teeth?

Martha: They’d make me do it!

Joey: Right! So, sometimes when you’re on the right track, God seems quiet. But if we listen carefully, we should hear him speak up when we’re getting off track.

Martha: So should I keep praying about this or what?

Joey: You can – but don’t forget to also thank God. You’re pretty lucky that your trouble is that you have to choose 2 of the 3 things you want to do! Lots of people can’t even have one.

Martha: God has been pretty good to me.

Joey: It’s like Psalm 13 – David was wondering why God wasn’t answering his question, but at the same time, he remembered how much he trusted God and how good God had been to him.

Martha: So David trusted that God’s silence was not because God had forgotten about him, so he thanked the lord for being good to him and for God’s unfailing love.

Joey: And don’t forget Martha, one of the things that you should thank the Lord for is your parents! You’re pretty lucky that you can talk to them about these things too!

Martha: You’re right Joey. I asked God to guide me, so I should trust that he will tell me if something is important. The Lord is good to me, and so I thank the Lord, for giving me the things I need, the sun and the rain and the apple seed, the Lord is good to me.

Joey: Johnny Appleseed?

Martha: Amen!

- zoe