As a children's pastor, what do I dream? I envision a day when ...

I envision a day when all children know they are loved and accepted. They are loved and accepted by Jesus. Most children, even those who are in church every week, don't know or believe that anybody loves and accepts them just as they are. We must tell them, but most importantly, we must love them.

I envision a day when all children reach their full potential. They can experience their full potential by trusting Jesus as their Savior and Lord and by yielding daily to the Holy Spirit who lives within every believer. We must lead them to Jesus and challenge them to walk with Him in holiness, not only by what we say, but by the godly example we live before them.

I envision a day when all children have their deepest needs met. God longs to supply all their needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus, but many children go on seeking and experiment with the world's counterfeit illusions before they find the promises of God. At an early age we must introduce them to the Truth and be vessels that overflow with God's abundant joy and inexplicable peace before they are ensnared by the empty offerings of this world.

I envision a day when all children are treasured as gifts from God. Jesus thought so much of children that He became one. He did not see them solely as who they might one day be, but blessed them and dropped everything else to be among them. He spoke stern warnings and judgment upon those who might neglect, mistreat, or simply frown upon children. We must see children and give worth to them as God does.

I envision a day when all children are seen as a testimony of God's grace and love. Jesus used children to teach adults. In fact, he told them that unless they were converted and became like children they would not see the kingdom of heaven. We must realize that not only are children to be highly valued, but they can add value to adults who spend time among them and invest their lives in them.

Do you see what I see?