bibs, bottles, and puffs for the Kingdom of God...

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Cultivating a Toddler's Heart for Christ...Continued

As Samuel and I were snuggling in my bed (while he stalled, not wanting to go to his bed), he held up three chubby fingers and said, "I like that picture of the cross. Three of them. One is Jesus, and these two are the bad guys."

My heart flipped over with love for this child, praise to God that Samuel is making sense of our lessons, and shock that he remembered that lesson from WEEKS ago! We read the Easter story a few weeks ago after Samuel requested the "cross and Jesus" story in our Rhyme Bible Storybook.

we love this for our devotions!

It was that evening that I fumbled around trying to explain Christ's death and resurrection and the plan of salvation to my 2.5 year old! I thought for sure that he learned nothing from that bumpy, all-over-the-place explanation. Evidently, I was wrong. Evidently, God still uses our bumpy explanations of His Word to accomplish HIS Will.

So, tonight, since I learned that he understands that Jesus was on the cross between two "bad guys," I took it one step further. I explained that, "this bad guy said, 'Jesus, I'm sorry for all the bad things I've done,' and Jesus said, 'I forgive you. You can now go to Heaven with me."...... (that's bumpy! ha!)

I'm sharing this to encourage you to not give up sharing Christ with your toddler. As I mentioned in the first post about reaching your toddler for Christ, God promised that His Word would never return void - it will always accomplish what He plans for it (Is 55:11) - like His plans for us to train up our children in the His ways (Prov 22:6). His Word won't return void...even when spoken to 2-year old ears. :)

So even if your Gospel presentation includes bad guys, chubby fingers, and heroes, take heart - SOMETHING will get through to their young hearts and minds. God's got this. :)


"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Gal 6:9)

Faith Like a Child

I was looking back on some notes I had written years ago, and came across this devotional note. I wrote it in March 2010, when this littlest chick was 3...she'll turn 7 this week (I'll have to admit I'm growing old one day, but not today!)

Samuel adores these girls!

Faith Like a Child

I had the privilege of babysitting my newly 3-year-old niece the other day. We were outside enjoying the spring weather when she looked across my front yard to the golf course in front of my house and very matter-of-factly stated, "I WILL play golf one day."

I've been spinning that statement over in my mind since she said it. Not only was her determination adorable, but it was also very encouraging. Here's why:

In 1 Timothy, Paul urges Timothy to "let no man despise [your] youth, but be an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12). Perhaps Paul meant "youth" in more ways than one. We often think of physical youth. What about mental youth? Even inexperience? Isn't it always the youth or the inexperienced that face situations with a fresh courage. When beginning a new job we often enter the office with a fresh outlook and hope for change only to be knocked back by someone with more experience and frankly, more pessimism (often disguised as "common sense").

My niece's determination is the perfect example of Paul's charge to Timothy. Taking her to a golf course now and trying to teach her how to play would be nearly impossible. Or would it? We never know until we try.

What if we all had the same "youthful" determination/faith? Jesus urged his disciples to have a "childlike faith." Simply put, we should have a fresh-faced, optimistic faith. Children do not look at circumstances and consider the risks or obstacles: they simply "go". We, as adults, tend to look at our circumstances and talk ourselves out of possibilities.

The next time we are faced with a seemingly impossible or even slightly difficult task, instead of considering all the negative things that COULD happen, let's stare it down and, with a childlike determination, tell ourselves "I WILL do this." Whether it be faith in trusting God with finances, losing weight, changing our career, giving of yourself to help someone else, standing up against gossip, or fighting to save a marriage - look at that problem, put your hand in God's and DO that thing together.