“God speaks to us through the Bible.... God reveals the divine will concerning faith, ministry, how we live, how we treat other people.... Sometimes God speaks through the Word into a situation or choice we need to make.” –Nancy Thomas, Fruit of the Vine

Query: How has God spoken to you through the Bible?

Now I Lay Me Down

Our moldable armful,

new lumps of baby boy,

bumping my shoulder

and missing his mother

with calf moan and kit call,

is sharp-joint wolf-pup

flesh, alive on the bed.

Arms punch and legs spring

from puddle to picnic ground,

sandbox to garbage can.

Don’t hug me!

Lift me high to the ceiling!

Drop me hard on the bed!

What am I now? A bag of oats?

Spill me over the covers!

Back arched, he kicks off sleep,

his sneakers, his brown bear,

and my fumbling hold

on the flubbering first

sweet-breath years of his life.

Does Jesus bite fingers?

If Jesus were here

I would ask him to thumb wrestle.

Bring in my dump truck please!

Don’t close the door,

and don’t leave me!

Beneath blue bathing eyes,

his chin snaps to end the romp.

Tell Mom to check me.

Maybe she knows

where the stairway to heaven is.

Bring me a glass of water.

Now I lay me down.

–Jeffrey Johnson, This Will Be a Sign