it’s His story…

At age 3, I knew Jesus was my friend and that He loved me.  We did go to church occasionally but not regularly from what I remember.  I don’t remember having any friends at church- we went with the neighbors who were our friends.  I don’t remember learning anything or even what we did.  As I got older and would go to different churches with friends, I only remember trying to stay awake while I was there- and feeling a little out of place because I had no idea what they were talking about.  As I remember all of these things, the one that sticks out the most is the fact that I accepted that Jesus was real when I was 3.  I didn’t ask how or why… I just did.  The faith of a child.  A seed was planted and it was 20 years later that the seed started to grow.  And all it took was someone to act like Jesus in my life- to love me where I was… no questions asked, no beliefs forced upon me, no expectations.  What’s amazing is that when I accepted Jesus as an adult, I just KNEW.  I didn’t know much about Him, except that He was real and He loved me and He wanted to be my EVERYTHING!  When people ask me why I believe, my reply is that there is no way tht I couldn’t.  My eyes were opened to see!  I pray that others would know Him that way too!  ESPECIALLY that kids would grow up knowing the Truth and never question Him!  Let’s plant the seed and keep it safe from harsh weather, water it, and take care of it so that it grows into a vine spreading all over the world!!!
Last Sunday in KIDZU we made thank you cards- while we were talking about who we could give them to (showing kindness), one of the kids said “God!”  He simply said that in order to get the card to God, he’d just have to attach it to a balloon and let it go up to heaven.  WOW!  I love the fact that kids are so matter-of-fact about Jesus.  They need no reason or explanation of why God exists or what He can do for them.  They just accept Him for who He is… and we can’t even wrap our minds around it all!

I know I talk about Madison all the time, but she teaches me so much and God really shows Himself to me through her.
Today when she got home from school, she wanted to sit outside on the patio to eat her snack.  She told me that the leaves were shaking because they were cold and she told them to huddle together because GOd told her to tell them that!
She makes me smile.  I am so amazed at how she sees God through everything and how she doesn’t question if He exists.  She just knows that He does.
Did you know that if people don’t embrace Jesus as their Savior before they reach their teenage years, their chance of doing so at all is slim?  The numbers are over 30% between ages 5-12, less than 6% for ages 13-18, and a little over 6% for 19+ (according to George Barna).  Wow.  I am one of those 6% because it wasn’t until I was 24 that I accepted Jesus Christ.
I remember going to Vacation Bible School when I was 3!  Is that possible?  I remember I had a yellow tshirt with the blue words “Jesus loves me” written across the front.  I remember learning the songs… Jesus loves me this I know… Jesus is the answer what a friend is He…  I remember singing them in the shower when I was 5 and we had just moved to Georgia.  I didn’t know much about Him, but I was obviously thirsty to know Him at a very young age and it stuck with me…. even when I didn’t go to church after that.  A seed had been planted…
More about that tomorrow. 

Do you remember your earliest memory of hearing about Jesus?

In KIDZU we just started new curriculum (252Basics) and it is amazing!  The kidz totally loved it and it was all just so exciting how it all happened!
We hand out these things called “GodTime” cards for the parents to do with their kidz.  It has 4 days worth of a Bible verse, discussion, and an activity.  This afternoon, my mom told Madison she wanted to read her something…
Back up for a minute…  when I first started watching the kids, Madison called my cross necklace a “church sign”.  :)  I would bring home the videos I used at church so that she could watch them and learn about Jesus.  Then I bought her a Bible stories book.  I am so amazed at how much she learns and wants to learn about God.  We have the most amazing talks!  It has gone from me initiating the conversations and wanting to read her book to her asking if she can watch the “church videos” or read her Bible.
So, tonight my mom told Madison she wanted to read her something and showed her the GodTime card we are doing in KIDZU.  The verse we sare studying all month is Luke 6:31- “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”  The first day you are supposed to make a heart and when you show kindness to someone in your family, you pass the heart to them and see how many times it goes around the family.  The first thing Madison did was write on the red heart she cut out… I love mom, I love dad, I love Hunter.  She showed kindness before she had even handed the heart to anyone!  The next thing she did?  She asked if she could do the devotional for the next day. 

Do you show kindness to others before you even act?