"Smiles A Mile Wide: A Vision of My Father's Childlike Heart"

This past summer, when I was in Kenya with 23 of my friends from Newhope Chruch (Durham, NC), I was privileged  to spend several days in Kiria, Kenya, a village at the base of the Aberdare Mountains in the highlands area of central Kenya.

Every morning, when we would roll into Kiria, the kids in the village would literally come out of the woodwork and, with such abandon, run toward our bus with smiles a mile wide and both hands waiving wildly.  I still cannot get those images out of my mind—mind you, not that I would ever want to!

During one of my many mornings, that week, when I was up early and out by the fire, I heard God speak into my soul a Word that has touched me so deeply that it is hard for me to even describe the feelings it still brings forth—more than six months later.  This, my friends, is what I heard...

"Dave...yes, I AM your Father, and you have begun to really know and to experience me as your Father.  And, while it is true that I AM your Father and that I have a Father's Heart, I also have a Child's Heart.  Did you know that?  Dave...I want you to know THIS this about Me:  I LOVE being around you, and I love it when you come to see Me and when you just want to be where I AM.  Just like the little children, who run toward your bus each morning when they see you and your team approaching the village, I feel the same way about you when I see you come out into the living room every morning to be with Me or when I see you turn toward Me at different points during your day.  I AM always just so happy to see you.  With your every approach toward Me, if you will look closely, You will see Me—just like those little children—running toward you with smiles a mile wide and both Hands waiving wildly.  THAT is how glad I am to see you and to know you and to be a part of your life and to have you be a part of Mine!"