Do you remember the first time you noticed that boy or girl? There was something about them that you just wanted to look at them or find excuses to “just happen” to be around where they were? You secretly found out where they lived, what they liked, and would phone them just to hear their voice, but hang up before they knew who it was. Whenever he or she walked by you felt all embarrassed in case they noticed. Then as time went by this first love faded until now it is only a memory.

Remember what it was like when you first heard about Jesus Love for you? I remember I was five when all of a sudden I understood. I was snuggled beside my mom who had been reading me the Easter story.  I was SO overwhelmed that Jesus would die for me and couldn’t imagine His suffering. I just wanted to be with Him. Nothing else mattered. Then as time went by this “First Love” faded. Sure I still loved God but there was so much to do.

For Dreams to Come True"

There was a temple standing in an open field and great light flashed out from the inside; it pulsed like lightning, yet was solid like sunlight. I knew this light was the glory of God.

The temple was so close, and I knew that if I wanted to I could go in and come into God’s Holy Presence.  Right in front of me I recognized different people from church. Everyone seemed very busy though and while everyone could easily see the temple and its light every head was bent downward and turned away from the light; each person was doing other things.

I heard one voice say, "I have to go to soccer practice." Another said, "I have to play with my Lego." I could see other people doing their chores, watching television, riding their bikes and eating. I was sure everyone could see the light if they wanted to -- even more sure that we all knew His glory was near.

There were even a few people reading the Bible and praying, but everyone kept looking down.  Each person seemed to have a wall of some kind between themselves and the place of God's presence. .

As I watched, suddenly my little girl lifted her head and SAW the temple in the field. She stood and walked without pausing toward the open door. As she drew closer to the light, a garment of glory formed and thickened around her; the closer she went, the more dense the light surrounding her became until she stepped in front of the temple and turned completely toward the face of God.

Oh! How jealous I felt. I wanted to go TOO! Then, at the same time I realized that there was nothing stopping me from coming closer to God -- nothing except all the things I wanted to do, and play with, that were more important to me than getting close to God.

Okay I thought, I WILL get up and go myself! But as soon as I thought that I woke up.

I was SO disappointed, I was So close. I cried “Why God did you let me wake me up?”

Instantly, I felt God speak to my heart. He said, "I will not have My loved one’s life fulfilled by a dream. If you want your dream to come true, you have to wake up."[i]

What do you have to wake up from? You too can get closer to God and walk through the door.  You can “climb onto His lap” listen to His heartbeat and as you listen you can hear His heart for the children in the world, for those that don’t know Him, for those that are hurting. You can ask Him what is on His heart for you to do, and how to be. Then you can crawl off his lap and do what he asks and come back and crawl up again. God wants you to obey Him but be careful that you don’t get so busy that you forget Him. In the vision some people were even reading their Bibles, but they didn’t notice that God was close by. So you can go to Awana, Sunday school, Kid’s club, sacred dance, Vacation Bible School, swimming lessons and then flop into bed at the end of the day too tired to let God speak to you and hold you close to His heart.

 TO THINK ABOUT:

1)       Just spend some time now and “climb onto his lap.”  Just enjoy God’s presence and let Him speak words of love to your heart.

2)      Ask Him to show you if you are just too busy and what He would have you do about it. Are you doing some things just to please others or because you always did it. Ask God to show you if this is the best thing for you to be doing.

3)      Think about how you can spend more time each day with Jesus, not just for this week but for always.

Dear God

How I long to love You better, deeper, more fully.  Teach me how to love You as best as I can in this life.  Let nothing get in my way. No more walls.  I want You, only You, all of You.  If all of my friends and family let me down, my hope is secure because I know You love me.  You will never leave me nor forsake me.  You will ever hold me by the hand and stand by my side.   I WILL fail, and do things that aren't pleasing to You  but   no matter how far I may stray, I will always find myself surrounded with Your love.  I  want to sink into your arms.  Just as the waters of the ocean cannot be measured, so I am am unable to measure or understand Your love for me.  So, in response to this amazing love, my heart cries out to You, "Oh, teach me to love You more!"  I don't care what this love looks like or where its path may take me, or what  I look like, as long as I am loving You with all my heart. You are my life and there is no other I desire to please.

 May the cloud of Your Spirit settle upon me.  May Your radiance be over my face.  May Your heart beat with mine...or rather...may mine beat with Yours.

How I long for the day when I will see Your face.  And until then I will run through any valley, I will endure any pain, I will go wherever You send me, so long as through it all I am loving You, my Savior. 

Prayer by Gabrielle Dutzmann, a girl we know, and who is preparing to spend her life as a missionary to China.