On the Sunday's I don't preach I have the blessing of leading the worship service.  I love this - mostly because it means I get to do the children's sermon.  Today's sermon was about starting over and being given the opportunity for new life in Christ not just once, but everyday.  So I had the kids line up like they were going to run a race and then I kept stopping them right after they got started.  It was just perfect the way it worked out.  I asked them if they thought starting over was easy - and they decided that it wasn't.  Then I asked them what they knew about Jesus - and one of the gals took the microphone and said something like, "Jesus gives us lots of trys - and we get new trys when we need them."  I realized that she got it - they all did.  Then we prayed together and the same little gal said thank you to Jesus for giving us new trys and letting us do things.

Why is it so easy for little kids to be Jesus  - I think it's because it's simple and easy to grasp the idea that they are loved and cared for.  As adults we sometimes have a hard time just letting people love us and recognizing that when people give to us they are blessed too.  Jesus wasn't a control freak...I wonder why I have to be?!?

So today I met Jesus in the kids I love (and am loved by) at church. 

I also met Jesus today in a phone conversation with a friend.  I sometimes wonder if I make sure the special people in my life really know how special they are to me.  It's hard to express it (and maybe it's weird) but I just wish I had the words to let people know much I appreciate them.  So this is my goal for the week - to make sure the people I appreciate know it!

Have a great Monday everybody