…whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”  Mark 10:15

“Presents?”

She is three years old, and today is her birthday party.

The house is full of people and laughter and babies crawling and toddlers toddling…

Off she runs to play….

But every few minutes she circles back to the presents in the corner of the room…

“Presents now?”

It’s clear what’s most important to her today.

She’d give up anything at any time to open her presents….

 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field…”  Matthew 13:44

Finally it’s time to open the presents…

She vanishes in a storm of paper and ribbon…

Watching her enthusiasm as she receives her gifts, I wonder…

Is that part of what Jesus meant when he said…

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”  Mark 10:15

One of the greatest presents God gives me is writing these posts…

But I don’t always rush toward it with childlike enthusiasm.

For instance this morning…

It was time to start writing, but my mind was filled with another very important thought…

“Just one more online game of solitaire… just one more… just one more…”

I was seeking a personal record for the shortest winning time…

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Matthew 6:33

I am so easily distracted from God and His true gifts.

Why is writing these posts such a great gift from Him?

Because while I write, I am totally focused on God and his presence….

His presence with us now and forever…

“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.  Hebrews 13:5

And that presence is the greatest present of all…

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16