Like a Child | God as Father

Mike Wilday May 9, 2025

Occasionally we ‘rerun’ a blog post. We are blessed to have a talented group of writers who are sensitive to the voice and heart of the Lord through the seasons of their lives. What they have to share is worth repeating! This is one such blog post. Enjoy!

It’s no accident that all four of the gospels begin with the revelation of God as a loving father to all of humanity. The exploration of the incarnate God, the journey of discovering Jesus, begins with the revelation of God as a father doting on his son.

The father child relationship is so important in my own personal life journey. The relationship I had with my father had a tremendous impact on my life. His emotional absence and the lack in our relationship has been a source of grief and great pain staining my belief about myself, and creating trauma that impacts the way I approach relationships with others. It interferes with the way I father, and opposes the way I even care for myself.

I know I’m not alone in this, so many people have been impacted by their relationships with their fathers, and yet that is the way God chose to reveal himself to humanity, and each gospel accounts this revealing of Jesus, his son. Matthew, Mark, and Luke, all describe the event of Jesus’ baptism. The first words we hear God speak in the New Testament are those of a doting father, who delights in his son. Imagine with me this moment: it’s been 400 years since God has spoken through the prophets, or revealed himself to his people. Suddenly, a prophet is revealed: some crazy man named John who wears camel skin and wanders the desert. He’s warning everyone to repent of their sins and turn to God.(Matt 3:2; Mark 3:4; Luke 3:7).

God, in all his power, and all that holiness, and all that expectation, reveals himself during Jesus’ baptism as a loving father; one who is well pleased with his son. This is so vastly different than the voice booming on the mountain side, accompanied with thunder and lightning and fire and smoke.(Exodus 19:16-18).

I love the juxtaposition of these realities as expressed in John 1:17: “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” Jesus, he explains in John 1:12, gives us the right to become children of God. This really sets apart the work of Jesus as he brings another revelation of the heart of the father. God, as is even portrayed in the Old Testament, is full of mercy, generous, kind, and loving. He can be trusted, depended on. He is one who heals, who speaks kindly, who loves to show mercy, who is patient, and long suffering. He is one who waits expectantly with a ring and a robe to welcome us home. He is one who leaves the ninety-nine to pursue the one astray. He is a father, who is avidly pursuing our hearts. He deeply longs to be in a relationship with us, his children. He is a good father who loves us. Take a moment to listen to this YouTube playlist of songs while considering these truths. I pray these songs bless you and minister to your heart as you consider how much the Lord loves you today. You are his dearly loved child. Rest in that today.

About the Author

Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and four kids. He loves Jesus, art, music, and poetry. He currently works as the Manager of Learning Technology Solutions for Los Angeles Pacific University and is passionate about adventuring outdoors.

Like a Child | God as Father

Mike Wilday April 12, 2024

About the Author

Like a Child | Bright Eyed Wonder

Mollie Havens March 29, 2024

“May we never lose our wonder
Wide eyed and mystified
May we be just like a child
Staring at the beauty of our King.”
-Wonder, by Bethel

Children look at the world in a different way than adults do. They are filled with curiosity. They have an innocence to them. They are not jaded nor judgemental. They take people at their word and trust them. This is how we should approach our relationship with Christ. We are to expect miracles from him, not question his capabilities. It is easy to ask little things of God. But, what about the big things? Think about a child before Christmas they have big expectations. They don’t ask for socks. They ask for bicycles. In the same way we should ask big things of God and believe Him for the impossible. As a child trusts their loving parents to give good gifts, so should we entrust our hopes to Him who delights in fulfilling the desires of our hearts.

Now don’t get me wrong. I am not writing about a prosperity gospel where God is a vending machine or a genie. It is not an ask and you shall receive relationship. Instead, it is a hopeful, trusting dynamic, where we place our faith in the one who knows the desires of our hearts and knows what is best for us and delights in giving good gifts to His children. Thinking back on my own journey of my expansion of faith, I remember asking God to nurture and grow friendships in Eugene when I first moved to town. Little did I know that he would build a strong support system around me and establish for me a new and rewarding life here. He blessed me with a community at CitySalt that is now like that of a family. I was given the joy of sharing a duplex with one of my now best friends, Jessy. Even when I did not know what to expect or seek out, God was faithful in answering my prayers beyond my wildest dreams.

As I think about my own outlook on God, I question if He wants to care for me, and if He has my best in mind. I do this at times, because I know what I have in mind for my well being and I wonder why God does not answer me the way I want him to. Why does he not fulfill my greatest imaginations for me and bring all I want to pass? I may never have the answer to these questions, but I have learned that God is always faithful. Our finite minds cannot comprehend all that God has in store for us. He may reveal it just one step at a time, like walking through a fog. Or he might welcome us into the vast expanse of an open field and open our eyes to his fresh beginnings. Other times there may be a veil that covers us as a hedge of protection and the truth may not be uncovered until we reach Heaven.

As a wise father or mother, Christ knows what is best for me even when I do not. And He will always look out for me and have the best intentions. He is in control and cares for each one of His children uniquely and equally. We are adopted into His family and made new in his image. He has great plans for us. All we are to do is listen to him, trust him and know him. As we walk in His ways and are obedient to him, He will care for us and guide us in ways everlasting.

In Mark 10:13-16 Jesus proclaims, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Children have a vast imagination. If they were asked to believe Christ about heaven they likely would. They are able to imagine and share Christ’s vision for eternity. They have a bright eyed wonder about the future. They are optimistic. And so should we be.

About the Author

Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

Like a Child | Through a Child's Eyes

Terry Sheldon March 22, 2024

I was gazing at our one-year-old first grandson the other day, and I just couldn't avert my eyes. Why should I? His deep baby-blues are just like his lovely mother Michaela's. Later I took an international poll and he was voted the world's cutest baby. Okay, I exaggerate. Just a little.

He's a brand-new human, fresh and lively, and there is something so captivating about a child's innocent face and his constant discoveries. I have to say that noticing a subtle resemblance to my son and me is a transcendent feeling.

As any new baby, he's outfitted with an open heart and mind. In between circling back to the security and warmth of his mother's embrace, he charges ahead - eyes, mouth and hands-first, exploring anything and everything. He looks at me with the same curiosity, and I am able to coax a toothy smile as he remembers my face and remembers that he trusts me.

I am so humbled by this.

With our own kids, fatherhood was of course all new and frankly, terrifying. How could Colby and I not feel the weight of this great responsibility? Our babies came without an instruction manual or even a warranty. Over time we adapted and learned, but in the process, we certainly made our share of mistakes.

People always say that grandparenting is all fun with none of the work. Yes, this is mostly true and I've never been a big dirty diaper fan, but there is more. As with any new season in our life, it's teaching time. As Beckham explores, I am doing the same. His first year in my life has been splendid and euphoric, but also deeply spiritual.

Maybe even a bit of do-over?

Don't get me wrong, I loved being a Dad, and I still do. But over the years the pressures of life took a toll, and I paid it. Thankfully grace abounds in our family, and if we humbly circle around and hang in there, Abba Father will continue His good work. With our grandson, in this heart of mine, it suddenly seems fresh and new.

Now I've found another little boy again, and it's me.

I watch my son Taylor as he works so patiently with Beckham, with a simple joy while staying deep in their moment. They both are trusting, tender, kind and funny - just like our own Heavenly Father. I am amazed and so pleased. And I'm taking notes.

How strange, it seems like role-reversal. They both are modeling fruits of the spirit in their new relationship, and it's affecting me in such a good way. Jesus was so right about letting the little children come to Him.

Mathew 19:14, 15
“Let the children alone", he said. "Don’t prevent them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.”

Who knew a one-year old boy could teach this old guy so much?

About the Author

Terry is a man in constant motion to explore new horizons. He has a thirst for new places and faces, and a deep love for the natural world - with a weakness for waterfalls and sunsets. All of this venturing out helps to both ground and inspire him, because it opens him up to people, with their vast, collective array of experiences, outlooks and responses.

He finds all of this fascinating and sees that it has encouraged the growth of something crucial in his Christian development: empathy and compassion toward his brothers and sisters on this planet.

Like a Child | Childlike Wonder

Jessie Carter March 15, 2024

Jesus obviously valued the attitude, humility, and perspective of children, shown when He said “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” But why?

Aside from the Sunday-School-answer of us needing to humbly acknowledge our childlike dependency on His saving grace in order to be forgiven and made pure, I think there is more. In order to appreciate Heaven (and not just the after-death aspect of it, but also being part of the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth), I think we need to see the world with child-like wonder.

Think about the first time you saw something that blew your mind when you were a kid. For me, that was probably Smith Rock State Park. I went to it with my family as a tween, and my jaw dropped at the grandeur. Over the course of my life, I’ve been lucky and privileged enough to see some amazing sights, including one of the actual Wonders of the World, Chichén Itzá. At times I’ve gotten to a point of being desensitized to them. Oh, look, another pretty mountain. Ho, hum. I’ve seen it happen in others, too. Several years ago, I drove my friend’s kids to their home in Montana after visiting their grandparents here in Oregon, and we took the scenic route. We hiked through the Painted Hills and stopped to see the Wallowa Mountains. But the kids weren’t impressed. They knew they had bigger, more epic scenes at home in Montana. They’d lost some of their childlike wonder. Note: I can’t blame them too much. After getting them home, my friend took us all to Glacier National Park there in Montana. It has been my favorite national park ever since then, and no scenery has topped it for me.

Currently, I’m blessed with the opportunity to show my family wonders they’ve never seen. Chris had seen many amazing sights around the USA when he was young, but for some reason missed most of them in and around Oregon. The kids had only seen a few neat places on day trips with aunts and uncles that have since moved out of the state. So I get to play tour guide, experiencing the wonder of places I’ve been before with fresh eyes while I see them light up as they take in the beauty and scale of a scene or landmark. And I remember what it means to enjoy a place as they run around and play. Why stand there and look at a redwood when you can climb around on its giant trunk and roots?

When I was younger, I lived for giant mountains, cascading waterfalls, or rocky landscapes smelling of sagebrush. I was disappointed if a vista or landmark didn’t meet my expectations. As I’ve traveled more and more, I have become more intentional about finding the beauty in everything. On my last big road trip, I drove through several states visiting friends and relatives. This included Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and the Southwestern states. After leaving Denver, I expected to be bored and sad that the mountains were behind me. Instead, I gazed at the wide horizon as I drove through endless green cornfields in Kansas, interrupted by the “Cathedral of the Plains” (a beautiful church in the middle of nowhere). I then reveled in century-old art deco architecture in Tulsa, Oklahoma before my friend there took me kayaking on a reservoir surrounded by every color of green tree. Texas had fascinating finds, too, but I’m running out of room to write. I haven’t even begun to discuss how interesting people are all over the world. But I think you get my point.

The beautiful world of scenery and humanity is only the beginning. Someday, we will soak in the grandeur of Heaven and God Himself. Until then, let’s practice seeing the world we’re in now with childlike wonder.

About the Author

Jessie is a novice writer, with several books in various stages and a blog about travel and the journeys of women. She is very excited to be a part of the CitySalt blog team. She has been blessed by a few communities of Christian writers that have encouraged her dream. She lives with her sweet husband, Chris, their 5 funny kids, and 1 fluffy cat in Springfield. She loves hiking and other outdoor and indoor adventures with her family.

Like a Child | In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…

Ruth Vettrus March 8, 2024

When asked to write a guest blog on the topic of being like a child, I have to say I got excited. Like really excited…like a child excited, which, if you know me, is kind of the norm. I love children and have long since identified with them in many ways. Height, humor, childlike voice, spontaneity, adoration of Narnia and hobbits, and even the size of my hands have been identified as “child” sized. Also having spent so many years with children in the classroom, I can safely say being with the kids is my favorite place to be, but bear with me for a second. A moment if you will… children have the advantage over us adults in so many ways, and it makes me so excited (as I said before) that Jesus loves the children. I mean REALLY loves the children. Which means the Father loves the children, and the Father has told us, his children, that in order to enter the kingdom of Heaven, we must change and be like children (Matthew 18:3). I’m super excited about entering (coming into) that space and place of heaven and his kingdom, so a command to change and be like a child? Check. What comes next?

Let’s lean in and “listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will be changed- in a moment (a flash-NIV), in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet.” In the 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 passage, the apostle Paul is talking about the resurrection body, and uses the term “twinkling of an eye” or at least it was translated to mean that. What I want to focus on is the moment in which something happens. The definition of moment is “a comparatively brief period of time”. I love definitions and could spend all day unpacking all of the meanings of the word “moment” but I will stay on the one that means-instant. A fraction of a second. An amount of time that is considered minute. That's “Mine-oot” phonetically speaking. Soooo small. It means that Jesus says we will be changed that quickly, instantly.

Do you think you could see that quickly? Do you believe that you could see when that moment or instant happened and everything changed? A large part of my faith journey has been to try to isolate that moment in the bible. I love trying to figure out the instant things changed for the disciples when they were with Jesus. Let’s look at a couple stories and give it a try.

John 6:5-13
When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. (what a funny guy, giving tests to his disciples!) 7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” (yes, the children have what we need! haha) 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

Well, did you see it? Could you tell the moment things changed?? The actual instant the 2 fish became 5 thousand fish? The moment or flash of time that made 5 barley loaves, hundreds of baskets full of barley loaves?? Wow, ok me neither. Ok kids, let’s try another one…

John 2:5-9
His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.

Well?? How about now?? Water/Wine/Water/Wine? Slight of the hand? I don't think so. I’m not trying to insinuate that Jesus is using some type of cheap magic trick. What I would like to propose is that he is the truth and the truth is that we will be changed in an instant, and that the twinkling of an eye could be his eye when he looks at us with love. That love changes everything, even us whether or not we can spot it, watch it, feel it, or even understand it. I used to tell my foster son that he is the twinkle in God’s eye and mine too. Can we allow that twinkle or flash of light invade our worlds, knowing he loves us? Can we be like a child and in an instant allow Jesus to change things in our worlds today, tomorrow, soon? Will we allow the Kingdom of Heaven to be with us now? Could we be excited for the things we cannot comprehend, but be excited for the one who DID change everything in an instant?

About the Author

Ruth is a teacher who loves her family, friends, bending any ear about Jesus and spending time flying by the seat of her pants to far off places, and hopefully more soon!

Like a Child | In Awe of God Playing Hide and Seek

John Rice March 1, 2024

“And Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of God.’” Matthew 18:3

When I think of what makes a child a child, a lot of different and sometimes very contradictory things come to mind. For example, a child can be incredibly sweet and endearing, but they can also be very selfish and mean. They can show great love and give you undivided attention, but then they can turn around, totally ignore you and act as if you don’t matter at all. They can be playful and light-hearted and then, in the flash of a second, can turn and be moody and depressive.

So what was Jesus talking about when he said that to enter the kingdom of God, we must be like a child? Does he want us to be impetuous, unpredictable and lacking in self-control as children so often are? Or could it be simpler than that? Could it have less to do with our childlike personalities and more to do with his desire simply to be in a close, loving relationship with us, like a Father or a Mother? Maybe he wants to be for us like a good, good father who we recognize as our creator, our sustainer, our strength, our wisdom-giver… the one who loves us unconditionally? Does he simply want us to be dependent on him, like a little child is toward their good father or mother? I’m thinking this might be closer to the mark of what God is looking for.

Children generally love to play games, and an all-time favorite is Hide and Seek. It seems like sometimes God plays this game with us, his children. At times he seems to hide from us and other times he seeks us out. It seems we also try to hide from him at times and then at other times we seek him out.

Even as adults we are invited in the same way to look for God and to find him in sometimes the most unusual circumstances of our lives. Here are three examples, two that happened to two friends of mine and one that just recently happened to me.

Our friend, Betsy, lost her teenage son to a motorcycle accident. Wracked with grief, she held fast to the Lord but struggled with depression and a sense of hopelessness. After her son’s funeral she took home the flowers that had been displayed at the Memorial Service. One was a kind of lily that usually only blooms in the Spring. But exactly on her son’ birthday in the Fall, the lily bloomed with one large, beautiful flower. And then, after that flower had faded away, the plant did not blossom again until exactly Easter morning and this time it had three beautiful flowers. Both of these bloomings held great symbolic meaning for Betsy, who received them as a message from God that she was loved, her grief was seen and that her son was safe now and with his Heavenly Father.

I have another friend who lost his wife about three years ago. In deep grief, he went about his days doing what he needed to do with work and with others in his family, but he missed his wife terribly. One day while walking downtown with his head lowered, he noticed a dime on the sidewalk. Without thinking much about it, he leaned down and picked it up. The next day he was walking again in another part of town and, looking down, saw another dime on the sidewalk! This was interesting. It was not a penny, a nickel or a quarter, but a dime. The next day the same thing happened…and this continued to happen daily for weeks. When he was telling me about this, he was absolutely convinced that these daily dimes were secret little messages from God, saying, “I see you. I love you. You’re going to be ok. Your wife is here with me and doing well” and expressing other sentiments like this. This was a grown, middle-aged, intelligent man with a successful business who was convinced that God was spreading dimes out for him to find across the city! To me this sounds like a childlike faith in a game of “God’s Hide and Seek”.

My story is a little bit similar. This last Thanksgiving, I realized I was heading down into a funk that happens often during the winter holidays. I know it was in large part due to missing my wife, but it had also been a seasonal occurrence for many years, even before I was married. I had a wonderful holiday with my kids and grandkids, but this funk was simmering in the depths of my soul. One day when I was feeling especially discouraged, I glanced at the clock and it read 1:11. I thought nothing of it. Later that day I glanced at the clock and it read 5:55.

The next day I looked up to find 3:33. Sometime the next day I saw 4:44. I went to bed early and woke up to see 11:11. The next day I thought I’d check my email and the phone opened to show me it was 2:22. This went on till after the New Year and it actually is still happening from time to time now.

I absolutely know how crazy this might seem to people, especially non-believers, but I was convinced after the third or fourth occurrence that God was shooting me a quick little reminder that he was with me, that things would get better and be ok, that my wife was with him and doing well. So every time I see the clock show a time like that, I just smile and say “Thank you, Lord!”

Just like a little child.

About the Author

John lives in Pleasant Hill with his dog, Gunnar, and a multitude of guests who enjoy the peace and beauty of the Cascade foothills. With three children and three grandchildren all living in Oregon, he is continually blessed with their company and the good food that always accompanies their get-togethers!

Like a Child | God Wants Kids Who Shout

Aaron Friesen February 23, 2024

Children are a picture of hope, joy, optimism and faith. Jesus invites us to reconnect with the child inside of us as we prepare to approach him, in a posture of trust and complete dependence. Join the CitySalt blog team as we consider how to take on the attributes of a child and rediscover these inner parts of ourselves.

As a parent of four, I often crave quiet. I sometimes get tired of all the noise that inevitably accompanies a house full of children. But God isn’t always on my side when it comes to noise. Sure, God is sometimes the God of silence and a still small voice, but at other times it seems God wants some shouting and yelling, even when the adults want quiet.

The Gospel of Matthew tells us that when Jesus finally arrived in Jerusalem and entered the temple, the kids started shouting, and the teachers who were there got very angry about what they were yelling.

Matthew 21:12-17 (NIV)
Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
“‘From the lips of children and infants
you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”

17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

Jesus’ presence in the temple that day was a serious disruption of the normal worship rituals as he turned over tables full of money, knocked over benches full of birds, and cured the blind and lame. Can you imagine the sounds: crashing furniture, coins hitting the stone floor, birds flapping and squawking, and the joyous yells of people being healed from lifelong ailments? Added to this cacophony were the shouts of children saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” It must have been quite the commotion!

The religious leaders in the temple didn’t like the children shouting in this way, and they expected Jesus to do something about it. Whether in the temple of Jesus’ day or in the church of our day, children are often told to be quiet in religious spaces. But not Jesus. Instead of telling the children to be quiet, Jesus silenced the religious leaders. He told them that it is the children who have it right. Far from inappropriate, their shouts of praises are what this moment demanded.

The religious leaders and the children are both witnessing the same thing. Jesus is doing “wonderful things (v.15).” Yet it is only the children who know how to respond appropriately. They are the ones in the story who know better. How can that be? I have a few ideas…

Children are ready to celebrate good things.
You don’t have to teach a child to celebrate or shout. You don’t have to teach a child to sing or dance. You have to teach them not to. Adults help children learn cultural rules about when and how it is appropriate to celebrate, but when cultural rules are getting in the way of real authentic celebrations, it is often the kids who are the first to challenge the rules. This is what was happening in the temple. Jesus was healing people who needed healing. He was also exposing systems that were taking advantage of people. The children could recognize that this was a moment to celebrate, and regardless of what the adults were doing they were ready to shout “Hosanna” in the temple at the top of their lungs.
Children are sensitive to unfair power structures.
Children often seem distracted or unaware of what is going on around them. As a dad, I’ve done my share of telling my kids to listen up and pay attention. The truth, however, is that children are quite aware and attentive to many things, just not the things that I want. One thing that children seem to be hyper aware of are systems or situations that are unjust or unfair. Children are aware of their dependence on adults for the things that they need, and because of that they are also very aware of how systems of power are working or not working for themselves and others. Children are especially good at exposing rules that aren’t really working the way they were intended. When power structures hurt or neglect other people or treat some people unfairly, it is often children who will be quick to notice and to want to do something about it. I wonder if that is one of the reasons the children shouted in the temple. Perhaps they were sensitive to those who were not being taken care of in the current system, and they were hopeful that Jesus was going to do something about it. They were right!
Children ask lots of questions.
Children, by nature, are extremely open and flexible in how they process the world around them. That is how they learn so much so fast. They are full of questions and curiosity about the things that they don’t understand, and they are constantly assimilating new information. I can distinctly remember all four of my kids going through a phase where they asked “Why?” all the time about everything. As annoying as that might have been at times, it is one of the great gifts that children give adults: a moment to stop and ask why about our unquestioned habits. Through their questions, children often reveal underlying goals and hidden motives, inconsistencies, and hypocrisy. I wonder if this natural proclivity to ask questions and to seek out better answers helped the children in the temple to be excited about the new things that Jesus was bringing in a way that the religious authorities were not.

If God’s kingdom is about letting God’s light shine in the dark places of our lives to help us see things that need to change; if God’s kingdom is about being open to the new things that God wants to do in us and through us to make the world better; if God’s kingdom is about stopping to celebrate goodness wherever it is found; if God’s kingdom is about all these things, then is it any wonder that Jesus placed a child in their midst and said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3, NIV)

About the Author

Aaron is a passionate seeker of God and truth, and he enjoys encouraging others in their own pursuits of the same. He especially likes to think about how God is at work in the most ordinary and mundane aspects of our existence. He loves going on adventures to new places with his wife, Heather, and four kids and his perfect day would involve an excellent cup of coffee (or two!), a hike to somewhere beautiful and serene, and some good conversation over a pint at a warm pub. He currently serves as an adjunct instructor at Portland Seminary and co-leads the CitySalt Kids’ Ministry along with his wife, Heather.

Occasionally we ‘rerun’ a blog post. We are blessed to have a talented group of writers who are sensitive to the voice and heart of the Lord through the seasons of their lives. What they have to share is worth repeating! This is one such blog post. Enjoy!

“May we never lose our wonderWide eyed and mystifiedMay we be just like a childStaring at the beauty of our King.”-Wonder, by Bethel

CitySalt Church

Celebrate Goodness

“May we never lose our wonder
Wide eyed and mystified
May we be just like a child
Staring at the beauty of our King.”
-Wonder, by Bethel