I will admit part of my life is very connected to the tastes of a two 1/2 years old appetite. I am a proud parent of two wonderful boys who are 2 1/2 and 8 months old. My world as a stay at home Dad, Jesus follower in a simple church often collide in many different ways. I often find the prophetic word of God can come from the lips of my sons mouth as he discovers his world around him. Belive me there are times when the opposite is true also. The other day I was cleaning up (a endless task in my house) while Braden was watching a PBS show called “Its a big, big world”. 
In this show their is a sloth which sings a song in the end of the show. Part of the songs goes like this :
“I’m a big old sloth
I may be slow
But see my friends
Swing high and low
Come to the big world
It’s a big, big world
Come to the big world
Such a big, big world
It’s a big world
It’s a big, big world” 
At the end of the song the sloth puts his hand on the screen and then waves good bye. My son no matter where he is or how busy he is he runs over to the screen. He loves to participate by reaching his hand up to the screen placing his hand on the sloths hand and then waves good bye.
This reminds me that God has invited and invites us continully into full participation, and connection with him in his kingdom. Just like the Sloth he reaches out his hand as a invitation to join God in the here and now. He does not just send us out all alone he offers his hand to us and empowers us to be part of the work in the kingdom today. Do we run in enthusiasm to actively participate, connect with the living God in the Kingdom or community we live in our daily lives? Lets all run and reach out to the hand of God to shape and mold us to live in this big big world.
Matthew 5:43-48 (The Message)
43-47″You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
48″In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
