Memories

As I gathered with my family to celebrate my mother's life and her faith in the Lord, I realized how extraordinarily blessed I have been with parents and family who believe in the Lord. I came to know Christ through the testimony and witness of my parents. It is hard for me to imagine what my life would have been without them pointing me to the Savior. This past week has reemphasized the significance of a Christian home. As a church, I pray our ministries will help parents and family continue their God-given calling to share the love of Christ with their children. Don't miss the blessing!

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (NIV)

5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Sonship

"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." Romans 8:15-16 (NIV)

Sonship--I've experienced this as a son, but never as a father.  So, this verse takes on a whole different meaning now.  

   Whatever happens in life, I don't ever want Meyer to be afraid to come to me.  Right now, it's hard trying to figure out what it is that he needs or wants, and I have to try my best to meet his needs.  But one thing that I'm noticing is that he's beginning to know who I am.  When I pick him up and say "Hey, little man, Daddy's here."  He seems to recognize my voice and calm down.  He's learning that his daddy is going to try his best to meet his needs.  And, just being near to me, he's learning what it means to be my child.  He's learning that he no longer has to be afraid of this strange and scary world when I pick him up.  Comfort is coming.  

   It's the same with your heavenly Father.  You don't have to be afraid of Him or of this strange and scary world.  But none of this is possible without the sweet moments of just spending time together.  The more time Meyer spends with me, the more he learns that I will try to bring comfort because he is my son and I am his father.  With you and your heavenly Father, the more you spend time with Him, the more His Spirit will testify with your spirit that you are His child, and comfort is coming.  

Oh my loving Father, thank You for making me Your child. Help me to know You, love You and live for You. I need You to guide my life. AMEN 

Supply List

While shopping for our backpack giveaway, I found the lists from school to school and grade to grade varied greatly. Some wanted glue sticks, some wanted no glue sticks; some wanted pink erasers, some wanted pencil-top erasers; some wanted any color dry-erase markers, some specified they wanted black ones. A quick look down the Walmart aisles could be overwhelming with the massive selection of the various folders, binders, pencils, etc. You could buy lots of supplies, and still be lacking. Without having the correct list, your child could show up at school woefully ill equipped.

Similarly, there are all sorts of religions and philosphies in the world. Some say you can become like God, some say you must have enough good works, some say you come BACK again to live on the earth after you die, and the list goes on....and on....and on! You could 'buy' into any number of ideas, but your soul would still be lacking and as stated above--woefully ill equipped.

Thankfully, God supplies us with the perfect list for what we need in His word. And His list is complete. Deuteronomy 4:2 states,  "Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you." Proverbs 30:5 says, “Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him."

As I compared the lists to those I got last year, I saw that school supply lists change from year to year. But Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever! (Hebrews 13:8, NIV).

Cool! All we need, never changing, and available to us anytime! It doesn't make sense to look any further!