Child Like Faith

So I did it, I have officially joined the blogging world! I feel like there is so much that has been going on in my life... It's really crazy. At different time, throughout this semester, one of my friends suggested I write things down as they happen. Right now I feel this urge to write this blog I am not even sure why... Maybe someone needs to hear what I  have to say... to which I say bring it!

It's snowing outside right now! For those who don't know me I LOVE snow! We have gotten so much snow here! So yeah, I like snow a lot, so much so that I will go run and play in it like a little kid for no reason. Tonight I am walking back to my dorm with two of my friends, and I give one of them my keys, phone, and I.D. and I tell them I that I NEED to go run and jump in the snow.

When I run out into the snow, I have this sort of freeing sense. The world just kind of falls away, and I stand in awe and absolute wonder of the snow and of God! Then I start praying! It just came so naturally. I told God how much I know that HE has called me into Youth Ministry! I love that he has called me, and I know that he has used different experiences to reassure me of this. But tonight when I am talking to God, I just talk to him like I would a friends, and I tell him how much doubt I have! I tell him that I know He has called me! I KNOW He has called me! There is no reason I should doubt.

So after I talk to him I run back to my friends. I have this goofy little hop as I walk. My friends just laugh at me. I continue doing whatever hop thing I was doing. And I think about why I am acting weird (which for me is normal). I realize that it's because I have so much joy I don't know what to do!

This joy that I have is amazing! I love it! When I talk to my friends, I tell them that the joy I have is not me and they tell me... Exactly it's not you!

The only way that I can explain this joy that I have is by comparing it to a child on Christmas Morning. On Christmas Morning as a child, I would always run to see what was placed under the tree for me. I would then be so excited I would run back to my parents' room and wake them up. I would drag them out into the living room so that I could open presents. I would tear through the paper to see what I got.  I would be so excited because there was something specifically for me! The funny thing is I probably couldn't tell you now what gifts I received when I was younger. Most of them probably were given to others...What I do remember though is that child-like joy that I had.

As Christians, we are to approach our faith with a child-like quality. In Matthew 19:14 it says "but Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.'" When I look at that verse, to me it means that we are to come before God with a sense of  innocence, trust and sincerity. 

What I am realizing is that, I have the ability to come before my creator with my child like faith. I have to make a choice though whether or not I choose to have the faith of a child.

In chapel on Friday, the speaker talked about how our identity is shaped by the view we have. We either think we are sinners and we are not worthy, and as such we complain to God and make ourselves seem more merciful than God. The other option is thinking that we are royalty. Thinking as such means that we know God cares. We willingly show him the dream or goal that we have and he tells us to go bigger! One thing that really stuck out to me from her message was that risk is directly related to trust. What I mean by that is the idea that if you trust someone, you will take risks, however big or small. 

What God has been teaching me this week is that I need to trust him with everything I am, with everything I have. I need to be willing to take risks! He has also been teaching me that child like faith is good! He is teaching me that my joy is not only okay but it's amazing. He has been teaching me that my love for nature and his creation is awesome! I mean if I can go outside for not even five minutes and all I can do is stand in awe of the beauty God has created... When I can be so caught up in that beauty, I can't talk (as you can tell by this post I like to talk... a lot!)  it's amazing!

So I'll leave you with this: What way can you trust God more? In what way can you draw closer to God and the child like faith we are called to have?

God Bless,
He has made you beautiful!