[Mark Welch] Thank you, Mr. Clore. Very nicely done, really appreciated that. What a message in that song. I really, really enjoyed that a great deal, very inspiring. Well, brethren, the Blessing of Little Children ceremony, which will happen next week, is very rich in meaning. Not only are we asking God's blessing upon these little children amongst us, but we're benefiting as well from having this ceremony each and every year. How do you and I benefit from the ceremony?

We know that children benefit because they have God's blessing. God looks after them, protects them, watches over them. But this ceremony should also help us realize how precious little children are to God and how precious they are to Jesus Christ and how we need to be more like little children. And we also need to treat little children very well. It's rather easy to dwell upon and focus on the negative aspects of small children. Certainly, there are some negative aspects, millions of diapers, whining, incessant crying at times, super demanding, and sometimes even quite obnoxious. But, despite all the negative aspects, the positive blessings far outweigh the negatives. And, surely, Christ was telling us to dwell on the positive aspects of little children and emulate those characteristics that we may inherit the kingdom of God. We are to become like little children. Little children really are a blessing to us in many, many ways, both physically and spiritually. Much physical reward and many spiritual lessons may be experienced from observing and enjoying little children as we too become like little children.

Psalm 127:3 Scripture says, "Children are a heritage of the Lord."

This is something that we have inherited from the Eternal. To have children is a tremendous blessing. On the other hand, not to have children is obviously very difficult. And I know that some probably in this room have not been able to have children. And we empathize with you. We know that's very difficult, that's very hard, in fact, one of the hardest trials for someone to go through. You know, God gives us all trials. Some are harder than others, and I certainly believe that's one of the toughest of all. So really appreciate and respect those who are faithful and true even when God doesn't always answer the prayers in the way that we would like. We still have to stick in there and set the example for others. It is a reality. There were people in the Bible that weren't able to have children, and it was a tremendous trial upon them. So they are an inheritance, a heritage from the Eternal, something that God has given us. He says the fruit of the womb is His reward.

Matthew 18:3 Christ says, "Except you be converted and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven."

Except you be converted and become as little children. So they go hand in hand together. In order to be converted, we must become like little children in many of the aspects that we'll be going through today in the sermon. Otherwise, we will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of God. Turn with me to Mark 9. And this happened shortly after the disciples got into an argument about who is the greatest. Men and egos. Yes, men do have pretty large egos. I'll have to be the first to admit that. And they were having an issue with who's going to be the greatest in the kingdom of God. So let's go, let's look at Mark Chapter... Where am I? Mark 9. I'm in Matthew, no wonder that doesn't look right.

Mark 9:36-37 "Then Jesus took a little child and set him in the midst of the disciples right after this dispute, and when He had taken the child in his arms, He said to them, 'Whoever receives one of these little children in my name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives...'" wait, I'm sorry, "Whoever receives Me receives not Me but Him who sent Me," in other words, receives the Father.

Now, let's drop down a few verses now to verse 14 of Chapter 10, actually verse 13.

Mark 10:13-16 “Then they brought little children to Him that He might touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Though, on Jesus' side, He was greatly displeased and said to them, 'Let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them for of such is the kingdom of God.' Now, surely, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it. And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.”

So here we see that children indeed are very important to God. And Jesus, when Jesus saw how they were not allowing the parents, the grandparents to bring the children to Jesus, it said He was not just displeased, He was greatly displeased. That is not what Jesus Christ wants to see from any of us. He says, "Permit the little children to come unto Me. Forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God."

So why are little children such a blessing? Why should we focus on the positive aspects of little children? Well, today we're going to go through a number of reasons why it's so important for us to become like little children and to actually learn from observing, watching, and interacting with little children. First of all, little children grow quickly. I think Mr. Bouchette mentioned that in his sermonette. Little children grow very quickly, and we can learn from watching and experiencing them grow. It's amazing how quickly they grow. I remember not long ago that this little baby looks so tiny, so fragile and months later much stronger, healthier, bigger. It's just amazing how quickly they grow. And we should take note of that and ask ourselves, "How are we doing?"

Not so much physically. Some of us do a pretty good job growing physically. I did at the feast. I have to admit I gained some weight at the feast. But I knew that was going to happen. I was prepared to gain a little weight. Hopefully, I'll take that off. But, more importantly, when we look at little children and we see the growth that they're making physically, let's think about how we're doing spiritually. Are we growing steadily? Are we growing quickly? When we first come into the church, I think anyone would agree that we do grow pretty quickly because so many new things are being introduced to us. We hunger and thirst after new knowledge, new truth, new understanding.

1 Peter 2:2 Peter writes, "As newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby."

So there's nothing wrong with the milk of the Word. In fact, when we're getting started, that's what we need. We need the milk of the Word. We need to study God's Word, drink in that sincere milk of the Word, that we may grow thereby. So everything that we're learning and understanding is helping us grow spiritually, but we must proceed onto the meat of God's Word, which will strengthen us and allow us to withstand all temptations. It will help us withstand all trials that come our way and the tests that God allows or that brings upon us. God doesn't tempt us, but He does allow certain tests to come upon us to see how we will react. So we should proceed with the meat of God's Word, being able to handle these things, because we've studied the Scriptures in depth, and we've written God's laws in our hearts and in our minds, and we've drawn strength from knowing God's ways and knowing His laws. And we're able to resist temptation, and we're able to draw nearer and closer to God and get from Him the strength we need during times of trial and test and adversity. We should strive for steady spiritual growth in our lives.

You know, most of us have leveled off. You know, we're not eating so much or drinking so much of the milk of the Word. Now, we're supposed to be applying these things, and there is a big gap between knowing and applying. It's not enough just to know. It's not enough just to read the Bible and know what's there, but we have to apply it in our lives, and it has to be a part of us, and we have to share it with others so that they may learn and grow as well. Let's go to Hebrews 5, where we will read a few verses here in regard to how some of the people during the time of when this Book was written. This was likely written by Paul and around sometime after 50 A.D. Don't know exactly all the details here, but it's very likely that was written by the Apostle Paul.

Hebrews 5:12-14 The writer says, “For though by this time, you ought to be teachers…” So he's obviously speaking to people of God, Christians, those who followed Christ, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God.” Because you're not applying it, you're not living by it, and it's clear that you don't quite get it. “And you have come to need milk and not solid food." We need to go back to the basics, and you need to start learning to apply these things in your life. “For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the Word of righteousness for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age. That is, those who by reason of use,” okay, there we get into the use, “by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil, and they choose to do good.”

They choose the good, not the evil, but to do the good, and they are practicing and applying it in their lives. That's what solid food is all about. So, you know, if you are falling way short in how you are living your life, your conduct, then you're not eating of the meat of God's Word. You need to dig deeper, study more, and pray more, and fast more, and draw nearer to God so that you'll have that strength. So the first reason children are such a blessing is that we can see through them how quickly they grow, and it encourages us to want to grow also. It should. You know, be mindful of the children that are growing around us and realize that you too should be growing. Secondly, small children are completely dependent, aren't they, on their parents, especially the infants. They are so very dependent on their parents to take care of them. So parents learn to sacrifice, and they learn to give to them. We better see our own dependency upon God who sustains this universe and gives us life each day ourselves. We need to realize that God gives us every breath. The reason we can breathe and live is because God designed the universe and the Earth and everything that works, all the science that works so that we can breathe, and He sustains our lives every day. We're the right amount of distance from the sun, and everything just works out perfectly because God is very, very smart. He knows what He's doing. And He set it up so... And we are completely dependent on Him continuing to do that. We should never lose sight of that. We should see our dependency upon God who sustains us each and every day of our lives.

Go with me to 1 Kings 3 where we'll read a little bit about King Solomon. King Solomon, when he first became king, he was humbled by the position, by the job, by the opportunity. Let's notice what he says here in 1 Kings 3:7. But this kind of reminds me of Saul, King Saul, who was small in his own eyes in the beginning, but it wasn't long before pride and ego overtook him.

1 Kings 3:7-15 "Now, Oh, Lord my God, you have made your servant king," this is Solomon speaking, "you have made your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore, give to your servant an understanding heart to judge your people that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to judge this great people of yours? The speech pleased the Eternal that Solomon had asked this thing, and God said to him, 'Because you have asked this thing and have not asked long life for yourself nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for your self-understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words. See, I have given you a wise and understanding heart.' So God gave him what he needed, 'So that there has not been anyone like you before you nor shall any like you arise after you. And I've also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So if you walk in my ways,'" and notice this, "'it is contingent on if you walk in my ways to keep my statutes and my commandments as your father, David, walked, then I will lengthen your days.' Then Solomon awoke, and indeed it had been a dream."

And we don't need to go any further here, but, at first, Solomon was humble, and he realized he was truly dependent upon God, but it didn't take long before he started going astray. He started making alliances with other nations, and God said that the king of Israel was not to make alliances with other nations, and he started, you know, engaging in contact with foreign women. A little child doesn't have, what, 700 wives and 300 concubines. He didn't stay a little child very long. And so he went astray. And, no doubt, he reaped what he had sown, and the kingdom was taken away, and it was broken up after his death between his sons. So you know the story. But we should learn from these things and not be like Solomon, but we should continue to stay humble and approachable toward God.

John 15:5 Jesus Christ says, "I am the vine, and you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him bears much fruit."

Talking about spiritual fruit, we'll bear spiritual fruit if we abide in Christ, if we realize our dependence upon Jesus Christ and seek first the kingdom of God and God's righteousness, then God will take care of us. And we don't have to be anxious. We don't have to be worried or fear because God has our back and God will take care of us. "I am the vine. You are the branches. So abide in Christ." And Paul said, "My little children," he said this in Galatians 4:19.

Galatians 4:19 "My little children of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you."

So, to me, this is saying that Paul experienced a lot with the brethren that he was called to serve. You know, he had persecuted God's people. He had some of them killed. He was very repentant of his former actions. He repented bitterly and fully of what he had done. And then he dedicated his entire life to serving God's people after that. He says, "Of whom I travail in birth again." A birth can be a bloody process. I've been there. I haven't actually done that, but I've been there. My wife's done that a couple of times. And it can be a messy process. And I think he's saying, you know, "Life is messy. I will travail with you again through all of the life's trials and problems and messes that we get ourselves into." So it's a messy process to be born in the first place, and life continues to be messy as we're tempted, as we're tested, as we're tried, as we fall short, as we sit against God.

Paul was there for them through all of that. He would not leave them or forsake them either. Paul loved them like Moses. Moses was willing to lay his life down for the children of Israel. He was willing to be that example, follow the example of Christ who came later to set that example fully. But Moses was ready to do that as well. And we can be ready to do that also. We can also be willing to sacrifice our own lives if it comes to that. And Paul says, "I'm waiting until Christ is formed in you. You know, I'm in it for the long haul. You know, I am to be a servant of God, and I'm in it for the people of God and the servants of God, and I will travail in birth with you until Christ is fully formed in you as we mature and grow." Paul sacrificed greatly for the brethren. He refers to them here as little children, my little children.

1 John 2:28 “And, now, little children, abide in Him,” this is John speaking, the Apostle John, “abide in him, abide in Christ that, when He shall appear at His return, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”

None of us should be ashamed when we know Christ's return is imminent. We should anticipate that return because we know we've been faithful. We haven't been perfect, but we've been faithful, and we've been repentant, and we have a wonderful Savior who has forgiven our sins. He's there for us, and we shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet. When that trumpet sounds, we will rise to meet Christ in the air. Those who are dead will go first, and then those who are alive shall be changed. And we do not need to be ashamed as the return of Christ draws ever closer. The fact of the matter is now is our time to abide in Christ. Now is your time. You've heard me say this many times. This is our day of salvation.

Now is your time. You're not going to get another time. If you've been baptized, you've received God's Holy Spirit, this is your day of salvation. And if you're not yet baptized, I would encourage you to be baptized because it's the best state that you can be in to have the Holy Spirit of God to strengthen you and to help you, to guide you, to direct you. So it's really important that we understand now is our day of salvation and we are to become like little children now. Now is the time to become like little children, not later, right now. In Philippians 4, let's go to the Book of Philippians where we'll read a bit more from the apostle Paul here.

Philippians 4:10 Paul says, "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again. Though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity."

The brethren would also take care of Paul. It's a mutual relationship that the brethren and the ministry, those who are serving God and serving God's people are also in a sense served when they need it by God's people. That's the way it's supposed to work. It's a reciprocal, you know, we're to love each other. I am to love you and to lay down my life for you, but you have the same calling. You know, we're all in this together. We should lay our lives down for one another.

Philippians 4:10 "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again."

They did... Paul was sick at times. He was shipwrecked. He was beaten. He was stoned. You can bet that people were helping take care of him through all of that. And he appreciated that.

Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content."

In other words, he would have been okay. If no one would have laid a hand to help him, he would have survived because God was with him. But that doesn't mean he didn't appreciate the help that he was given. "I've learned how to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things.”

I have learned both to be full and to be hungry. I've been starving at times, and I've also been fully filled to the gills. And he experienced all of that and was grateful for that, for those good times.

Philippians 4:12 "Both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

So the context is it doesn't matter what happens. It doesn't matter what comes along because Christ is with me and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I can endure any trial, any test. Not to say it's going to be easy. And we certainly do need to be close to God during those times so that we will receive from Christ the strength that we need. Children learn to do many things through the help of their parents. We learn from Jesus Christ. We learn from God the Father. We learn from studying the Word of God and from applying the commandments of God in our lives. By producing the fruit of the Holy Spirit, we grow and learn. Well, children learn to do many things through the help of their parents. Children with good, solid parents learn to trust them. They learn to rely upon them.

We should be very protective of our children, and we should give them a good life. They listen to them, they follow their guidance because they've learned to trust them and rely upon them. And there are things that we can do as children or little to help develop that. When it snows this winter, and it probably will, if you have a little one, maybe you should get a little shovel and go out and shovel the snow together, or maybe you should let him put his hands on you as you shovel with the big shovel. But get them involved. Help them realize that they're important to you and that you expect these things from them, you expect them to grow up and to do the things that you do as a father and as a mother. Children oftentime rise to our expectations. If we don't expect much, we don't get much. Of course, children do have...they do have minds of their own at times, and there's only so much we can do, and there comes a time when they may go a direction that we're not happy with. But that's on them.

You know, if they go against the teaching and the instruction that you've given them, they'll pay a price for that. You know, I've always felt, you know, I know God loves them more than I do as a father. And if my children go astray, God will bring them back because God loves them. He loves them more than I do. And I know how much I love them. I know how much my wife loves them. And so I don't worry a lot about my children because I know God's there for them and God will bring them back like the song that Mr. Clore sang. God will bring them home. God will bring all of our children home to us. We do need to have faith. We need to trust and believe. And if the children have been taught well, they will return to that teaching one day.

I remember helping our son learn to ride a bike. Now, my son was very persistent, and I'll talk a little bit about that on another point, but, you know, you start out by holding the seat. You don't just throw them out there. You kind of go along with them for a while as they learn to pedal and try to keep their balance. You know, you're right there with them, teaching them, guiding them, making sure they don't get hurt, and just helping them understand what it takes to ride a bike. We can do that. So get more involved with children if you aren't as involved as you should be. There's time.

Number three, another reason we should watch our children and learn from them is that little children are basically very happy and full of joy most times. You know, they're very happy. They're full of joy. They're fun to be around. I'm sure that's one of the reasons that I prefer the company of children over you adults. I'll be quite honest, I really do. Because...I really do. I prefer the company of children. They're fun to be around. You know, they're uplifting. They laugh. They smile. They're excited. Not that I don't like being around all of you. I do. You once were children. But it seems like when we grow older, we forget some of the joyful things of life. We don't enjoy it as much as we could or maybe we should because we've allowed life to drag us down. And I like to enjoy my life, so I like being around children. It energizes me. That's how it works for me. But children are very happy. They're full of joy. Show you appreciate God and Christ by also being happy and joyful as a small child. You know, in their eyes, you're a small child. Be happy in what God has given you. Be happy in the blessings that God has given you. Don't look at things that you don't have. Look at what you do have. Appreciate what you do have. Be grateful for what you do have. Now, that means a lot to God, I believe, when we show appreciation and thanksgiving for what we have been given. And God will give us more. He'll pour out the richest blessings of heaven for us if we trust in Him, we believe in Him, and we walk with Him.

So being around children can be very encouraging. It can be very uplifting. I remember many times that our grandchildren and our children were just jabbering away and smiling incessantly, laughing, having a great time. And I wanted to be a part of that. So oftentimes I would drop everything to go spend some time with my kids. We would go out and play ball. I wasn't a minister who neglected his children. I saw that as a super high priority for me. And so I did spend a good bit of time with my kids. And we homeschooled our kids, so I was around. We could go out, take a break, and we did. And we loved it, and I loved it. It was great.

God is a joyful God, and He wants us to be joyful also. Joy is one of the fruits of God's Spirit. It's listed right after love. God wants us to be joyful people. Notice the joy that a child often has and strive to be more joyful, strive to be more carefree. Don't take life so seriously. Life is short. Enjoy the days that God gives you. Be grateful for those days. Be thankful. In Matthew 6, let's go there, Matthew 6:25, and, of course, this is the Sermon on the Mount, and Christ has a lot to say in the Sermon on the Mount. Very important instruction for us. And, basically, I think I'll just summarize this and not take the time to read it all. But God is telling us, and Christ is telling us, to not be anxious. Don't be anxious. Don't worry about everything. I will read a little bit of it.

Matthew 6:25 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you'll drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?"

And we in this country really haven't had to worry a whole lot about that, have we? You know, most of us haven't had to worry about clothing. We haven't had to worry about... We give clothing away. We have more than we need. We haven't had to worry about food. So why should we be bogged down with a lot of worry? You know, we have so much that we've already been given.

Matthew 6:26 He says, “Look at the birds and notice them, how they don't sow or reap, but I take care of them.” God says, “How much more will I take care of you?”

Put some faith and trust in me and know that I've got your back. I will take care of you. Walk in faith. Trust Me. He goes on to say in verse 32.

Matthew 6:32-34 "For after all these things the Gentiles seek," you know, they worry about all these things because they don't have that relationship with the God of Israel, with the God of creation. You know, they don't have that same relationship, but we do have. And so we shouldn't be burdened by all these worries and all these things that weigh us down constantly. "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

There's plenty of trouble in today. I don't have to worry about what's going to happen tomorrow. Let's just deal with things as they come, and let's learn to be content with whatever comes. We'll deal with it with God's help, and we're going to be okay and go in faith.

All right, now, principle number four. What else? What do we learn from children? They are innocent and free from deceit and guile, little children. Now, when they get older, they learn to be deceitful. They learn some guile because human nature is there, and, eventually, it rises, and Satan will tempt them, and they'll make wrong choices at times. But as a little small child, they're very innocent. They're free from deceit, free from guile. We should all strive for innocence and genuineness and to be more like little children. What was Jesus Christ against most of all? You know, if there was one word that you would pick out, what word would you pick? What was He against most of all? I think a lot of us would say hypocrisy. Hypocrisy. Christ was death on hypocrisy. Matthew 23 is all about hypocrisy.

Go back and read it sometime, the entire chapter. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites." You know, God does not like to see pretenders. He does not like to see actors when it comes to His truth and His way of life. He wants to see someone who is genuine, who is real, someone you can count on, someone you can put your trust in, someone that you know will be there if you ever need help. They're not going to leave or forsake you either because they've become like God. And that's the kind of friend you really need to find. And there are people like that out there, so look for them. Scripture says don't put your trust in mortals for in them is no help. That's the general thing, but for God's people, that needs to change and be different. We need to be able to depend on each other. We need to be able to count on each other. And when we don't, shame on us because we're not becoming like little children.

Little children are free of that deceit and that guile and that hypocrisy. Children learn to mistrust if they are dealt with in certain ways, if they're lied to. For example, you know, it always surprised me watching Andy Griffith. I never realized it, but the man lies to his son on a very regular basis. That can't be healthy. It could be funny for a show, but if you ever go back and watch some of those Andy Griffith shows, notice how often he's lying to Opie. Opie's innocent for the most part. You know, he's an innocent kid, and yet his dad is lying to him to cover things up and, you know, whatever reasons he has for his lying. But don't do that to your own children. Tell them the truth. We need to be able to let people into our lives a bit more. Oftentimes we're too closed in. We shouldn't have to be that closed in, not if we're dealing with faithful people. You know, faithful people share things with each other, and it's a better relationship when you can have that openness and not be concerned about someone rumor-mongering about you if you share something with them. You know, don't gossip. Be faithful.

All right, let's go on to the next point, number five. Little children are loving, cuddly, and affectionate. Have you ever noticed that? They're loving, they're cuddly, and affectionate. No wonder I like to be around little children. Is it any wonder? They're loving. They're cuddly. They're affectionate. They're wonderful. Express your love to God and Christ. You know, I had a little thing that I started with my grandkids. I guess I didn't do this much with my children, but for some reason, it came out with the grandkids. And I called it Boom Boom the Baby. We're going to go boom boom the baby. Sounds kind of bad, but what I would do is take the baby, the baby might be a year and a half old or two by then, and I would take him up and say, "We're going to go ahead and boom boom the baby." So I would take him, and then I would grab him, and I would thrust them down on the bed. And while I was saying boom boom the baby, they loved it. They loved it. They couldn't get enough of it. And even my grandkids, even the youngest ones still would love that. He's getting a little too big now, but they do like the tickle time. We do have tickle time, and I make them scream loud because I tickle them hard, but they like it, and it's fun. They enjoy it, so do I. I mean, everyone's different, I suppose. Maybe that's not your thing, but it works for me. They're cuddly. They're loving. They're affectionate. Express your love to God and Christ. Let them boom boom the baby. They want to have fun with you, too, Christ and the Father. You know, try to develop a relationship that you can think of them in terms of real, genuine. You know, they're loving beings. They would probably love to boom boom the baby. I don't know exactly how that works but something to think about. Be flexible. Be adaptable. Have a sense of humor. Learn to love others. Go for the gusto. Enjoy your life. It is too short.

1 John 3:18 Under this point, "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but let us love in deed and in truth."

Let's put it into action. We are to be known by the love that we have for each other. Are we not, as true Christians? That's how we're supposed to be known. Do we have that outgoing love and concern for one another? By watching little children, we can learn to be more loving, more cuddly, more affectionate in a Godly way. That's a good thing.

Okay, sixth principle in regard to little children, they're wholehearted and persistent. Now, I mentioned my son learning to ride a bike. Well, that little guy, I bet he wrecked his bike about 50 times one particular day because he was determined to be riding that bicycle before the day was out. And he would come in every few minutes, "I just got seven pedals." He would count how many pedals before he crashed. Then he'd come back a little later, "I got 12. I got 17, 25." He was up to like 40 pedals, which that was huge in one day. He was very persistent, even though he was crashing his bike. I think he was in the yard in the grass where he was learning to ride because I wouldn't want him out on the concrete crashing that many times. But he was very determined. And kids can be like that. They're wholehearted. They're persistent. Xander was like that when he was out on the boat, you know, fishing with his dad and with me. When the boat was streaming along, he would grab a hold of a pole, and it was cold, and the wind was blowing in his face.

And I just remember seeing him just up there, ahold of it. He was loving it. He was very determined. He wasn't hiding down in the little cabin area. He was right up there, and he was loving every bit of it and enjoying it. And then when we went fishing, he didn't want to quit. We went down at the end of the Homer Spit, a place called Land's End. And we were fishing for hours, and he didn't want to leave. And we caught a few fish, but it wasn't a lot. But we caught this big, ugly Irish Lord. Do you know what an Irish Lord is? You should look it up if you don't. Google it. They also call them uglies, because they are edible fish, though, although we didn't eat it. We sent it back into the ocean. But, anyway, it was a lot of fun that day. He was very persistent, wholehearted in that. We should also be wholehearted and persistent. Again, there are many scriptures that would apply to this. We don't have time to go to a number of them.

So let's go on to our seventh point. They are reachable and teachable. Little children are reachable. They're teachable. You can reach them. So make sure you're reaching them when they're little, helping them grow and understand God's way more perfectly. Show them the way. They're reachable and teachable. They love to have you read to them, don't they? Children have a...they have quite a capacity to be read to. Now, people say they don't have much of an attention span. Well, I don't know about that. I mean, I know kids that'll sit for hours. In fact, they want to fall asleep while you're reading to them. They don't want you to stop until they're asleep because they enjoy it, they like it. They're very teachable.

Psalm 86:11 Says, "Teach me your way, Oh, Lord, and I will walk in your truth."

Teach the children how to walk. Let them walk in truth.

Psalm 25:4 "Show me your ways, Oh, Lord. Teach me your paths."

Psalm 25:9 It says, "The humble he guides in justice, and the humble he teaches his way."

So we should be humble and teachable and reachable, which leads us to the eighth principle. Children, little children are very believing and very trusting. They will believe what you tell them, and they will trust that you're telling them the truth, and they will trust in you. If you are trustworthy and you don't do anything to show them otherwise, their trust will grow, their belief in you will grow as a parent. It's important to be very trustworthy to our children. You know, follow through on what you tell them you're going to do. You know, don't tell them something and then not keep the promise. That will break their trust. Do whatever you have to do to keep the promises. Keep the trust.

Psalm 112:7 Speaking of God's children, "They will not be afraid of evil tidings. His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord."

That's the way we're supposed to be, steadfast, trusting in the Lord, trusting in God, having that faith that we talked about earlier.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose hope is the Lord for he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river and will not fear when heat comes. When adversity comes, he will not fear, but its leaf will be green and will not be anxious in the year of drought."

Again, God will see you through every trial. We don't need to fear. And then the last principle, number nine, little children are very forgiving and forgetful. And they don't always forget. Some things they remember quite well, but they are very forgiving and forgetful when it comes to being offended. You know, the Scripture says that nothing shall offend us as true Christians. Little children are pretty good about letting nothing offend them. You know, they get over things quickly. They don't carry grudges. They're very forgiving, typically. I know, with my cousins, we could be beating up on each other one minute, and 20 minutes later, we're laughing and having fun and doing something else. Kids have that capacity, you know, to being mean and nasty toward each other but then to get over it. And maybe it's better if they say, "Hey, I'm sorry for smacking you in the face." That makes it easier to get over. We should admit when we've wronged someone. It makes it much easier to get over, to forgive someone. When we're unwilling to admit that we didn't handle things well, that we didn't handle things properly, then it's more difficult. It takes longer. But with God's help, we'll get through that. You know, we won't... There's two things that can happen. One is a root of bitterness will develop, and you'll become very bitter toward someone who's hurt you, someone who's wounded you, or you will learn to forgive and learn to go on, make the best of it, and realize it's not the end of the world. Those things happen. I think we've all been treated poorly at times, haven't we? All of us have gone through that. You know what I'm talking about. But we have to get beyond that. We shouldn't be easily offended. And even when it's a very hard trial, we need to put our hearts and minds on God and seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and not be concerned about others and what they may need to learn. So that's the ninth point. Little children are very forgiving. They're forgetful. We can be forgiving. Couple scriptures that go along with this.

Colossians 3:12-15 "Therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another." Many of these are the fruits of God's Holy Spirit that we're talking about here. As the elect of God, we are to produce the fruit of God's Holy Spirit. "And if anyone has a complaint against another person, even as Christ forgave, so you also must do."

It doesn't give us an out. It doesn't say, no, I know they've wronged you and you can hate them for the rest of their lives, and you can badmouth them, and you can talk against them. That's not what the scripture says. It says, instead, forgive. "But above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful."

Ephesians 4:31 "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil-speaking be put away from you with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God and Christ forgave you."

And remember, the Bible says that we will be forgiven in the same manner that we forgive others. So we're only hurting ourselves when we refuse to forgive. You know, we're only hurting ourselves. So, with God's help, you'll be able to forgive. And remember, all things do work together for good somehow. Even though it may not look like it at the time, it will work together for good if we approach it... It says, "For those who love God and are called according to his purpose, you know, they'll be able to see through it, and they won't let something like that take them down spiritually."

So, in conclusion, little children are truly a great blessing from God. We are to become like little children if we are to be in God's kingdom. Little children grow quickly, and they grow steadily. We should grow spiritually in the same manner. They are dependent upon God, and they look to Him. They are very happy and full of joy. They are innocent and free from deceit or guile. They're loving, they're cuddly, they're affectionate, they're wholehearted, they're persistent, they're teachable and reachable, they're believing and trusting, and they're forgiving, and they're forgetful. So let us all become like little children, and let us all enjoy God's warm embrace.