Psalm 127 / by Keri Campbell

IMG_3695 As I sit and typing this post, there are many precious children here in our home.  When I consider the verse, “Children are a blessing from the LORD “,  I am almost in tears as I soak up this very present truth.

The children in my home are from across the globe.  That I know of, they are from the States, Australia, Norway and Korea.

They laugh. They cry. They get angry when they don’t get their way. They get hungry. They like sugar. They love to play. They are very silly.

They are all a bit sad to not be home.

A handful of them are NOT going back to the home they left. They are heading out to the place the LORD has called them.

All of these children love.

And, may I add, they love well.

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There is a bond with these children that has so easily formed.  With some of them the language barrier is thick and often funny. It amazes me the amount of time they can play together without fully understanding each other!

All of these kiddos have sat in “family meetings” and heard the phrase, “God is calling our family to (you fill in the blank)”. They have prayed with their families. They have dreamed with their families.  They have stepped out in faith with their families.

They have left the comfort of their home.  As an adult, can I confess…that’s a hard one?.?. ;)

And let’s face it, with about one month under their belts, it has hit home with a lot of them.

They miss their homes.

But God, He’s rich in mercy and rich in love.

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Here these kids have found other blessings from the LORD. Oh how thankful I am for all the little blessings running around this place!

Tonight it hit me that the blessings, the gifts described in this passage, they are not just for parents.

From the text, I gather that they are not to be dismissed by them either, but rather to be used.

As I read on in the verse, the writer goes on to say, “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, are the children of one’s youth.”

He likens children to arrows in the hand of a warrior.

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Google tells me that a “warrior” is “a brave or experienced soldier or fighter.”

Huh.

It’s so interesting that God’s inspired word likens children to arrows to be used by a warrior.

Let’s think for a minute about what an arrow is used for.

They are used in battle or as a weapon in defense.

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In my previous post I shared some of our current opportunities to lean in closer to the LORD. Right now we are very aware of the spiritual battle that is always going on. There seem to be times and seasons when we are more aware of this battle, but if I am honest, a lot of times we kinda forget .

Reading this scripture tonight, with a room full of arrows from all over the world, I am reminded to use them. To bring them into the fight. Not to dismiss them or act as if we do not have some sort of defense. Because the bible tells me that the man that fills his quiver with them is blessed. That he shall not be put to shame when he speaks with or other translations say “subdue” his enemies in the gate.

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I am not sure how many arrows a quiver can hold, but reading on I see that it’s the MAN that fills his quiver with them.

Wait, what?

Did you catch that children are a blessing from the LORD, meaning the filling the womb is from the LORD. But in verse 5 there is some sort of change that authorizes MAN to fill his quiver with them? (ESV)

“Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them.”

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I’ve never seen that shift until tonight.

I may be some sort of chicken, but my confession to you is that if I am going into battle I want to have as many weapons as I can get…

I am in a battle.

So are you.

Here’s the deal; I don’t have a quiver.

The good thing is, I don’t think I physically need one.

God’s word tells me later on in the book of Ephesians that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

If that is the kind of battle we are in, and children are like arrows in a warriors hand…

I’m gonna make sure I fill our home with them.

Our downtime with them.

Our dinnertime with them.

Our life with them.

Y’all, children are a blessing from the LORD! A blessing in this great and mighty battle that we are ALL in!

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When I picture a warrior with his pouch full of arrows strapped securely upon his body, I imagine the arrows to be packed in tightly together. Don’t you?

Which brings me to current revelation…all of the children packed tightly in this small home tonight are somehow in different ways heading out to battle.

Although it is noisy, there is peace. There is joy that is filling this place from floor to ceiling. Stresses are gone. Cares are forgotten. Life is full and it is good. The anxiety, the sadness, the worried hearts and cares that filled this room just a couple days before are gone. It honestly feels like a fight has been won. Victory has been had here and in the hearts of my children.

“In His presence there is fullness of joy.”

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I want to fill our every place, our every “quiver”, with children because I know that the LORD sees fit to use them in this battle that is constantly going on around us.  We fully include our own children as part of our missions team and know the LORD will use them as He sees fit.  If they are our own children, great! If they are children with from other parents, great! I trust my God when He says that they are a blessing. I trust Him in this truth as I have felt it myself tonight!

By the way, do you realize how far an arrow can go?

Thank you, LORD, for children. For my own and for the ones that are in this battle all over the world. You are a good and perfect God and you give good and perfect gifts. May we constantly be reminded of these gifts and include them in the battle…not just push them to the wayside while we attempt to war without the weapons you have placed within our hands.