Child-like faith | Kristi's Morning Devotional

July 6, 2020July 6, 2020

Wherever You Are

Yesterday morning we woke early and after our prayer time we headed out in search of donuts. It’s kind of a tradition. When we spend the night at our youngest daughter’s home we buy donuts on the last morning. The parents get to sleep in and we have donuts with our grandson and granddaughter.

When we arrived home our grandson, Sam, was sitting at the top of the stairs waiting for us. He knew where we had gone. I went up and found his sister, sitting quietly in her room, playing with toys. I asked Kristine if she was ready to come down and have donuts. She smiled from ear to ear and nodded her head. Downstairs we went.

We laughed and talked over donuts. The kids are almost 3 and 5. We talked of sparklers, fireworks, swimming and ice cream. All the things that are important to kids. After they had finished their donuts and were cleaned up it was time to play quietly while Momma, Daddy and baby sister slept a bit longer.

Kristine found a book for me to read, one I don’t remember reading before. It was titled “Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You” by Nancy Tillman. What a great book!

The story is about a little boy who goes many different places. The emphasized phrase on each page is “Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You”. I told Kristine that wherever she went my love would always go with her. When I said that, Sam spoke up, “Hey, Besta, Let me tell you something.” Ok “Jesus will always love us”. He sure will Sam. And with that Sam went back to playing. How great to have the perspective of a five year-old. No worry, just matter of fact.

Here’s a line from the book: “I wanted you more than you will ever know, so I sent love to follow wherever you go”.

Just like Jesus! His love could not be contained in heaven. He brought it to earth to follow us wherever we go and it never ends. The love of God is everlasting!

“Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ERV

Be confident of this, wherever you are God’s love will find you there. He promises to never leave us or abandon us. We can count on that!

January 29, 2020January 29, 2020

As A Little Child

We have all have noticed how innocent and trusting little children are. Those of us who have an influence in their lives are given a strict mandate not to lead them astray.

When Jesus was teaching his disciples He used a little child to convey His message. Children are the perfect example of trust. They will believe what they are taught. They are dependent on others. Jesus said it was very important that no one misdirect them or lead them in error.

“About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. ³Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. ⁴So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

⁵“And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. ⁶But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea” Matthew 18:1-6 NLT

The adults around Jesus were vying for greatness. Their motives were selfish and prideful. Jesus corrected them quickly and told them they needed to be child like in their motivation.

Child-like faith!

We would do well to learn from this example too. Its easy to be caught up in our own importance and our own abilities. The Father wants us to trust Him. He wants us to admit our need and to place our faith in His strength and wisdom. That’s where our greatest comes from.

Is there a circumstance in your life that’s too big for you to handle? Good. Come in child-like faith and let the Father take over.

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 4:16 NLT

September 11, 2019September 11, 2019

Be a Kid!

This morning I was remembering a friend of ours and his wife who had nine children. When we first met them they had seven children. The two oldest were in preschool with Kaci, our youngest. Later we learned that they also attended the same church we did.

What a happy family! It was always a fun time at their house – kids everywhere. Laughter filled the air. Each time we went over, the twins took great pleasure in making Dave their living jungle gym. Dave would sit down on the couch to visit with Brian and one child would be crawling up his legs while the other one was crawling down over his shoulders.

To be honest, it was a bit distracting to adult conversation but the kids were having a ball. They knew they were loved and they were important because they were being treated with kindness, affection and were given priority over the other things that were happening.

Each time I read about Jesus taking time to pray for and bless the children I picture it very similar to the way it was for Dave with Luke & Lizzie. Total joy and focus.

Jesus’ disciples seem to have been a bit annoyed that these parents were wanting Jesus to take time for their children. In fact, the disciples scolded the parents for taking up Jesus valuable time.

“Some people brought their children to Jesus, so that he could place his hands on them and pray for them. His disciples told the people to stop bothering him. ¹⁴But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and don’t try to stop them! People who are like these children belong to God’s kingdom.” Matthew 19:13-14 CEV

“Some people brought their children to Jesus so that he could bless them by placing his hands on them. But his disciples told the people to stop bothering him.

¹⁴When Jesus saw this, he became angry and said, “Let the children come to me! Don’t try to stop them. People who are like these little children belong to the kingdom of God. ¹⁵I promise you that you cannot get into God’s kingdom, unless you accept it the way a child does.” ¹⁶Then Jesus took the children in his arms and blessed them by placing his hands on them.” Mark 10:13-16 CEV

This event of Jesus blessing the children is recorded in the books of Matthew, Mark and Luke. It made an impression on all three writers. Jesus used what his disciples thought was an interruption in his busy schedule to teach a valuable lesson.

Be child-like. Accept spiritual things as a child, in simple faith!

As adults we have a tendency to analyze, rationalize and criticize when we don’t understand what we see or experience. Children accept things by faith and aren’t bothered by the technicalities.

I find it interesting that just a short time earlier than this situation with the children, Jesus had used another child to teach his disciples about being humble and having a servant’s heart. Obviously, the disciples had forgotten what Jesus had said about children.

“After Jesus sat down and told the twelve disciples to gather around him, he said, “If you want the place of honor, you must become a slave and serve others!”

³⁶Then Jesus had a child stand near him. He put his arm around the child and said, ³⁷“When you welcome even a child because of me, you welcome me. And when you welcome me, you welcome the one who sent me.” Mark 9:35-37 CEV

Jesus had a compassion for all people – no one was of greater or lesser value in His estimation. He wanted his disciples to see that.

You know that I frequently use this verse in Hebrews when I talk about the Father and His desire to help us. I see this verse through the eyes of a child.

“So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:16 CEV

I have always imagined this verse like this. A small child comes running through the door calling “Daddy, Daddy. I need your help! My toy is broken; the neighbor kids are picking on me…Daddy help!” And it’s there, at the Father’s throne that I see myself standing in child-like faith saying “Daddy, I need your help” and He, my Father, has never turned me away.

God, the Father, is inviting us to be like a kid – take Him at His word, bring Him everything. He always has time for us!

August 30, 2018

Never Too Young

A few days back I received a message from someone who has been very dear to us for many years.

She reminded me of a time when Kim and Koy were younger and they spent the night with her step son. I had sent their children’s Bible with them. She was wanting to get a similar Bible now for her granddaughter.

I had to tell her that the specific Bible had I for the kids is no longer in print but I was able to recommend another version that I know of and have given to parents and their children in recent years. It’s called The Beginners Bible.*

I am so grateful for my early Sunday School teaching and I believe strongly that children are never too young to learn about God’s love and the amazing story of grace. The photograph above is one of my family when I was little. A local newspaper photograph came out to take our picture for an article in the Sunday edition. My parents raised us with the Bible as our foundation!

When I think of examples of children learning about the Lord I am reminded of Samuel. His parents sent him to live with Eli, the priest, when he was just a young child. Samuel heard the Lord call his name in the middle of the night and he responded with an open heart.

“Eli told Samuel, “Go to bed. If he calls you again, say, ‘Speak, Lord. I am your servant, and I am listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed. ¹⁰The Lord came and stood there. He called as he did before, saying, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel said, “Speak. I am your servant, and I am listening.” ¹¹The Lord said to Samuel, “I will soon do things in Israel that will shock anyone who hears about them.” I Samuel 3:9-11 ERV

But even before that, Moses gave instruction to the whole nation of Israel that they should tell their children about the mighty things that God had done to save them.

“Memorize these laws and think about them. Write down copies and tie them to your wrists and your foreheads to help you obey them. ¹⁹Teach them to your children. Talk about them all the time—whether you’re at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning. ²⁰Write them on the door frames of your homes and on your town gates.” Deuteronomy 11:18-20 CEV

King David was taught about the Lord when he was young; Abraham taught Isaac about God’s faithfulness and in the New Testament Jesus scolded his disciples for not letting the little children come to Him.

“Some people brought their small children to Jesus so that he could lay his hands on them to bless them. But when the followers saw this, they told the people not to do this. ¹⁶But Jesus called the little children to him and said to his followers, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people who are like these little children. ¹⁷The truth is, you must accept God’s kingdom like a little child accepts things, or you will never enter it.” Luke 18:15-17 ERV

Awww, Jesus was talking about childlike faith. We adults tend to rationalize, dissect and over analyze. Children accept things, that are passed their understanding, by faith.

It’s important for us as parents and grandparents to give our children good solid Bible teaching so that they grow into young men and women with a heart for the Lord. The book of Proverbs was written by King Solomon to his son. The whole book is filled with parental instruction based on God’s principles.

“Bring up a child by teaching him the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn away from it.” Proverbs 22:6 NLV

“Wisdom is a life-giving tree, the source of happiness for all who hold on to her. ¹⁹By his wisdom and knowledge the Lord created heaven and earth. ²⁰By his understanding he let the ocean break loose and clouds release the rain. ²¹My child, use common sense and sound judgment! Always keep them in mind. ²²They will help you to live a long and beautiful life.” Proverbs 3:18-22 CEV

One of the best things we can do for the young ones in our lives is to teach them God’s word. They need to know that God is a loving Father and He wants the best for his children. We teach and we pray. God will guide.

Lord, let your Word and Your love take on true meaning for our children. We pray that they seek You for the answers to life. Bless them, encourage them and keep them safe as they grow. In Jesus name. Amen

*I will suggest that you use a Bible that is geared to the child’s age level. The Beginner’s Bible. is for little ones but there are also Bibles geared to middle school age and high schoolers. This is one of those times I am providing you with a link to Amazon where you can find Bibles for all ages.