Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Aint No Half Steppin'....not Heatwave or Big Daddy Kane..... I'm talking about trying to be like my Jesus!

This is probably one of the hardest Blogs I've thought about.  I know it's something that someone needs to read because of the spiritual difficulties I have been having since I've started planning it out.  Satan does not want me to get this one out, but my Lord has me covered! 
Please pray before reading any further........


Martin Richard.

Is that name familiar?  It should be, it's been all over the media the past week or so.  Martin was the 8 year old killed at the Boston Marathon.  For many this is an awakening that we can't protect our kids all the time.  As bad as we want to keep our kids safe, truth is we can only do so much and then it's up to free will.  (no I'm not talking about that sect of Baptists either)

This has me thinking and wrestling with the what ifs and what should I's. 

Matthew 19: 13-15

Let the Children Come to Me
13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away. 
 
Jesus said LET THE CHILDREN COME TO ME!!!!!  As a Christ follower that has made a decision that This is soooo very real,  I have to introduce my children to my Savior!  I may not be able to protect them from all the evil in the world, but I can introduce them to a Loving, Just, King that provides Salvation for the undeserving and world scarred.  As a Dad my most important job is not providing everything my kids want.  As a Dad my most important job is not to make sure they make travel ball teams or attend every Scout meeting or make sure they have the most fashionable clothes.  My Job as a Dad is to teach my children as much as I can about Jesus Christ!  I have to help build the foundation that (if they are like me) the will leave and return to later to build upon.  The greatest thing I can do is teach my children Who to turn to for forgiveness of ALL of their sins.  I have got to do my very best to pass along The Great Hope, Jesus Christ to my children.  
If you have read my blog before, you know I don't sugar coat it...... and I can't do that now.  The greatest injustice we can do for our children is to NOT introduce them to Jesus and not teach them about His greatness and teach them about the Life that ONLY He offers.  Jesus offers everlasting life to everyone that is willing to accept Him as the Lord and Savior of their life.  
My wife and I have been working with our children since day one...... the reason?  because Christ is real and is The biggest deal in our lives and we want to pass that along to our kids.  We have family and extended family that reiterate this same belief to our kids...... At some point the kiddos will grow up and have to make the same decision we all do, but if we are not teaching them the Truth, who will?  The World?  MTV?  Public School?  The Courts?  Lawyers?  You can not allow someone else to be the main influence on your childs faith journey.  Start early and be true.  Live your life the best you can to emulate Christ......That last part would fit into the "do not hinder them" part, because if you aren't accepting it as True neither will they!
 
 
In closing please remember that with all the bells and whistles of this world distracting us from what we are really here for, None of the material things in life really matter.  They are nice to have but they will all return to dirt! 
 
Isaiah 40:8 reminds us
 
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.
 
 
God Bless you all,  Please pray for me and my family as we battle this world (with God's provision) and we will do the same for you.
 
Lee
 

Monday, April 1, 2013

April Fools!!!! Jokes on me!

Well today I stopped by a Bible bookstore to check on a book.  While I was there I simply mentioned a ministry that I'm involved with a couple times a year.  I told the associate about this ministry and that I was just wondering if they had an inexpensive, pocket sized New Testament.  After answering a few questions from the associate he walked over to talk to his manager.  Considering the ministry's budget is what ever I can scrape up I wanted to see what he could offer......Well he came back and asked if a full Bible that was compact yet not pocket sized would be okay for free.......Did you pick up on that last word?  FREE!!!!  I considered the price tag and exactly the amount of cash I had in my pocket, and decided his (or His) offer was better than what I asked for. 
The gesture was clearly also a message of "Yes, this should be added to this ministry".  I left there after a while with 46 very nice NKJV Bibles in tow. 

I got to witness some other ways that God blesses us today but I can't really talk about those.  The Bibles I can talk about freely.  I've learned that when you get involved with a ministry, and God is pleased, you get much more than you ask for.  Last time we went out on this "mission" God provided and abundance of Bojangles Biscuits and Coffee for the ministry.  We had a very modest budget but God put it on a  young mans heart to provide as much as he could for us.  Now while just inquiring about some cheap New Testaments, He provided a way to give more.

God is Good y'all!!!!

I hope you had a God moment today too!