My heart is overjoyed! I'm on my way to Albania and I couldn't be any more excited than I am now! It's my very first month on The Race. Ahhhh!!! And let me tell you, God has already taught me so much just in these couple of hours on my way to Amsterdam!
Sidenote: (I love the way God teaches me…He is so very patient with me and always teaches me with visual and hands on examples because that is the way He created me to learn. And then He continually reminds me until I get it.)
So the biggest thing that God has been teaching me for the last couple of months is that I have to, no I must, approach Him like a child. I must receive the Kingdom of God like a child or nothing else in my life matters. I can work at trusting Him, I can talk about living by faith, but until I come to Him like a child I am wasting mine and His time.
The Lord started teaching me this a couple months back when I read Mark 10:13-16 where Jesus rebukes His disciples for turning away children from coming to Him. In this moment, Jesus makes a very profound and pretty intense statement, "Anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it." Um yeah Jesus just said NEVER! So when I read that I figured I should ask God to show me just exactly what it means to receive the Kingdom of God like a child.
Guess what…God answered. That next week I went to Byler Ranch summer camp to direct the staff and…what do you know…spend every waking moment around children! Let me tell you , God blew my mind with the way these kids responded and acted in Gods power! In two weeks time we saw several salvations, kids being set free, children awakened to their calling and beginning to walk in it, and five physical healings! It was insane the way these kids reacted to the news that God loved them, Jesus gave it all for them, and that they could do the same things and even more than what Jesus did on earth! They simply heard it, believed it, and then walked in it. Simple as that…no logical explanation of why its not possible or doubt…they just did! Powerful stuff! I learned a lot about responding to God and approaching Him like a child first hand, and my guess is that He is not done yet!
When they told us what our ministry would be for our first month I was not surprised at all…we are working with kids at a kids camp! Yeah I know! What an amazing God!
But that's not all…when I got into the plane I say next to a young boy names Arnold from Uganda. I smiled and laughed to myself. God really knows how to prove a point! So I started talking to Arnold and at first he was shy but after awhile we were talking and playing UNO like old pals. I brought a pack of mini UNO cards for the trip and, after playing about twenty games straight Arnold finally had enough. When I went to go put away the cards God told me, "Give those cards to Arnold."
My response to God was, "Ok. Is there anything else you want me to give him?"
God asked me, "Why did you ask me that? Don't you want to have your cards for the trip?"
Taken aback by His question I thought about it and then said, "Well I guess I was so eager to give to Arnold because I know he wants them, he will enjoy them, and he's just so darn cute! I love him!"
Then God chuckled and said, "That's how I feel when I give to you. It's never a burden. You're my kid. I know what you want and that you will enjoy it. And you're just so darn cute! I love you! Don't complicate things. Just come to me like a child. Simple as that."
So HEY ARNOLD! Thanks for letting God use you to teach me how to be like a child and to tell me that I'm so darn cute 🙂
It's the same for you too! As you read this, I challenge you to ask God what it means to receive the Kingdom of God like a child. Because if you ask…He will answer. He's good like that! I can't wait to see what else He teaches me this month in Albania!
Thanks for reading. If you feel lead to give towards my mission click the SUPPORT TAB on the left side of the screen. I'm still in need of a lot of funds. But I know God will provide because He likes to give to His cute kids 🙂
Love you all!!!!
