"A giraffe can kiss the clouds because it is long, and God is long," says Tori, age 6. Well, the Psalmist wrote that "with an outstretched arm" God's mercy endures forever. I suppose "outstretched" qualifies as long.

"God created the horse so people could ride on it," says Jacob, 7. "The horse takes care of its babies like God takes care of us." Yes, God nurtures us as a mare weans its newborn foal. Job wrote that God's "pails are full of milk" (Job 21:24).

Scotty, 6, likes cheetahs: "God created cheetahs because they are fast. God is everywhere, and He is fast."

You may think you're slick and fast, but at 70 miles per hour, a cheetah can run by you like you're standing still. You can never outrun God because as Scotty said, "God is everywhere."

It's hard to imagine how a deadly cobra could remind us of God, but Houston, 6, made the connection: "God loves everyone, even the bad animals."

Houston, this is the heart of the good news. The Bible says, "There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10). Ouch! We all are born with the venom of selfishness. Good deeds can never change our nature. In fact, we can easily become proud of our humanitarian efforts.

Only a new birth and heart given by God to those who trust the Lord Jesus as their savior can remove the poison of pride from our hearts. Then and only then can we show compassion to needy people without becoming proud of our goodness. Knowing God as the source of goodness causes us to act in true humility without seeking recognition.

"God created the zebra for their stripes," says Cade, 8. "The black stripes show sin, but the white stripes show washed-away sin." Courtney, 6, also chose the zebra but adds, "They whipped Jesus, and it hurt God."

The prophet Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would be "wounded for our transgressions" and "bruised for our iniquities." Also, he wrote, "by His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). Before Jesus was crucified, his captors whipped him. As for the color of sin, Isaiah wrote, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18).

Jeremy, 9, says the tiger reminds him of God "because he is a hunter, and God hunts us so we can become Christians."

"There is none who seeks after God," wrote the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. Like a stalking tiger in pursuit of its prey, God hunts us down.

"The Hound of Heaven" is how Francis Thompson described God in his now famous autobiographical poem: "I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;/ I fled Him, down the arches of the years;/ I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways/ Of my own mind; and in the midst of tears/ I hid from Him, and under running laughter.

"Up vistaed hopes I sped;/ And shot, precipitated,/ Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears,/ From those strong Feet that followed, followed after./ But with unhurrying chase,/ And unperturbed pace,/ Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,/ They beat — and a Voice beat/ More instant than the Feet /All things betray thee, who betrayest Me.'"

Think about this: God wants you to soar like an eagle. Memorize this truth: "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles" (Isaiah 40:31a). Ask this question: Are you soaring through life on God's updrafts of grace?

Listen to a talking book, download the "Kids Color Me Bible" for free, watch Kid TV Interviews and travel around the world by viewing the "Mission Explorers Streaming Video" at www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org. Bible quotations are from the New King James Version. To find out more about Carey Kinsolving and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 CAREY KINSOLVING

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