Truly, I say

Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, 

you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

My niece is very smart.  Now I know every aunt is going to say that but I am serious she is for four years of age!  Mike and Rachel brought the girls to the Worship for Tanzania a few weeks ago in Plainfield.  It meant a great deal to me all who were there to mark this new season but especially my family.  I have to say that when it is time for me to leave they are among the hardest to say goodbye especially my nieces and nephews!  But it means a great deal to me now that Bella is getting older for her to be a part of nights like this.  When next year rolls around and the Birthdays, gatherings, Christmases that I am not there she hopefully will have an understanding why/where I am in the world.  Bella made her way to me that night which made it all more special.  Little did I know how special it would be till the week after.  For those of you there you know that it wasn't your normal reporting/financial meeting but one of worship and prayer.  To my surprise a few days after the meeting as I left for Cincinnati this is what I found in my PO Box.  There was a fat business letter filled with drawings from my nieces.  One was a portrait of me and there were several others with kids along with a sun on top.  In the middle of the pictures was six dollars.  Of course I teared up right away.  I called to say thank you and get further tid-bits about the drawings.  All the kids in the pictures had frowning faces.  I was told that it was because they are hot!  Ok, well played!  Then, the pictures with just scribbles was Adelynn~ the baby.   My sister and brother-in-law are very good about teaching important things and money is one.  It was Bella's idea that she needed to send money to me for Africa!  I tell you it is the most precious six dollars I have ever held in my hand.  

The scripture words above never ring more true than in stories like these.  I think that is why I love working with kids so much!  Jesus challenges us to go back to the beginning!  By His grace we can and move about this Earth with a loving, pure, heart that responds in the moments to life with goodness.  Before fear and our prevention of future can fully set in at times for us adults.  Often because of the wear and tear of life the older we get we forget the joyous pure of heart the Kingdom mindset can bring when we are in Jesus!  Keep an eye out because children and their faithful responses remind us all the time if we let it!!

        

Prayer Points~

• May my niece never loose her powerful childlike faith and heart of giving as she grows up!
• Continued prayers for my funding to come in to meet the needed budget before I leave in January.