Dream and play again

Have you ever noticed how imaginative kids are? They have an amazing ability to create and play, with so much enthusiasm.

They tell stories of flying pigs, unicorns and other strange animals; super hero’s, cosmic battles and princesses. Seeking all kinds of weird and wonderful they find the fun and adventure in everything–really, they expect nothing less.

They make instant friends with any young person that comes their way. The expectation is, Well of course you want to join in the fun… Everyone is welcome. They love and laugh simply and fully, without conditions. They enjoy being who they are.

Kids are wonderfully adventurous and mostly fearless. Especially under the watchful eye of loving parents, who eagerly encourage them, giving great confidence, spurring them on.

What changes in adulthood?

We have failed a few times. We have been laughed at more than a few times. We have been misunderstood, embarrassed, put in our place, rejected, and we have felt the icy cold pressure from our peers to conform. It’s stifling.

Our creativity, innovation, playfulness, adventurousness, and courage to step out and do something different is stifled by the fear of man.

We should not fear man at all. Not when we have a loving Father who Created everything we can see. He is Strong. Powerful. Awesome. Beautiful. Generous. Loving. Compassionate. Encouraging. Faithful. And He is heavily invested in our success.

With our confidence and hope in Him we are free to throw off all the limitations of fear and be free to dream again. He wants us to enjoy life. Enjoy the ride with Him. Be a little more kid-like and playful.

He wants us to have courage to believe the dreams He has put in our hearts.

We are never too old to dream or play; or live the life we want to live. We just have to believe our loving Father is encouraging us on. He wants us to have a long, fun and adventurous life with Him. He wants to fulfill every dream we have. He wants us to enjoy who we are. He knew what He was doing when He created us. Trust Him!

Do we love because we get something in return?

God’s love for us is unconditional. He loves us without expecting anything in return. We don’t have to do anything. He just loves us. Perfectly. Fully. Without end. And gives Himself perfectly. Fully. Abundantly, more than we need.

We, however, put all kinds of conditions on love. We get choosy about who we love, how we love, why we love, how much we give and commit to people. And it usually concerns what we get in return, or our tendency to pick favorites. We chose who will and who will not, get our love. We put all kinds of very wrong conditions on people.

Jesus said when we put conditions and expectation on our love, we are no different to a person who lives their life without Him, Matthew 5:46,47. We live our lives unchanged by His love.

Then Jesus said, Grow up! We belong to God’s kingdom and should show that maturity in mind, character, integrity and love, Matthew 5:48. We are greatly loved and forgiven. Go do the same.

Imagine if we, the Church, started to love all people the way God loves us. Accepting people for who they are. The way they are.

Imagine if we determined in our hearts to be a true expression of God’s love here on the earth. Aggressively loving, instantly forgiving and always overlooking faults.

Imagine if we gave so generously without expectation of getting something in return–loving, giving and commitment with no strings attached.

Imagine if we determined to always give honor, respect, dignity, and really look to serve others and prefer others.

We would change the world.

Jesus spent the best of Himself giving to us and we can follow His example.

If we spend the best of ourselves loving and giving to others, God will make sure we never go without. He is faithful and will meet every need we have, Matthew 6:33.

Related posts:
Love breaks all barriers
Aggressive love
Love is the ultimate law

Simplicity is a wonderful thing

There is great freedom in living our lives simply before God. Uncomplicated. Free to love and free live.

Our simple faith in Jesus, followed by our simple obedience, ensures we will be content in life.

Not simple as in unlearned, or lacking in mental capacities, but simply uncomplicated, unwavering faith in God… God said it. I believe it. 

Without that simplicity we will live lives of discontent. Often with frustrated and confused emotions. Small things will tend toward major crisis. Our lives can become full of drama, depression, instability, insecurity. Strain in relationships is typical.

Without that simplicity we have a hard time accepting the place God has put us. We don’t understand it. Don’t want to stay there when it gets hard. Trying to figure everything out on our own, chaos starts to rule in our heart and thinking. We can get spiritually very sick.

The problem: a lack of trust in God’s goodness, His integrity and His love for us.

God loves us. He is faithful. We can trust Him.

We are completely loved by God and because of His grace, completely forgiven of everything.

We can stand confidently before Him free to be completely open and honest. Allowing Him to probe and examine out heart.

That’s how we get uncomplicated all-out honesty before Him and allowing Him to work in our heart.

He wants to build into our lives simple trust, simple faith, simple hope, simple love.

Let Him, it’s a wonderful thing.

Related Posts:
Children simply believe
Trusting God’s will for our life
Control freak