New Thanksgiving Tree!

John 15:5-8 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."


As we all prepare to gather together with our families this Thanksgiving, I Thank God for A Family Tree that is filling up with Branches of Believers....because God is Faithful!!

I wonder if you can relate to my life in Christ in anyway? You see, when I became a First-Generation Follower of Christ = A Christian, I began my walk with the Lord all by myself. But, God Is Faithful, and it wasn't long before He began to Bless my life with A New Family Tree! A tree that began to fill up with His Branches of Believers! 4 months after I became a Christian, my loving husband became a Christian (and it was the week before Thanksgiving when he gave his life to Christ, this is one of the blessings I thank God for, A Christian Husband that loves Him and loves me!)! It was amazing how God changed every relationship in our lives. As we began to learn how to share Jesus with others as His Witness, our family tree began to grow in so many ways! Did it happen quickly and overnight, NO it did not for us, as we also learned how to "wait upon the Lord & pray without ceasing"! But because of God's Faithfulness, He still keeps enlarging our new family tree! Our children have all become Christians and love God and we look forward to the next generation of believers that God Promises to reach as we strive to live for Him and share Him until Jesus returns or we go to live with Him in heaven forever!!

Below is a short picture of one of God's youngest witnesses, Josiah!!! He is one of my favorite role models in the Bible and I pray that his life will encourage you that God will grow His Family Tree through YOU, no matter what age you are and no matter what kind of family tree you were born into...God's Word says it best in Jeremiah 29:11-13; "For I know the plans I have for you,' "declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a FUTURE. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart."!!


Some of Josiah’s Family Tree

 Great-Great-Great Grandpa – King David 1 Kings 11:4, 1 Kings 14:8, Acts 13:22 (“…I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.”

 Great-Great-Grandpa – King Ahaz “DID NOT do what was right in the eyes of the Lord” 2 Kings 16:2

 Great-Grandpa - King Hezekiah: “Did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” 2 Kings 18:5-7

 Grandpa - King Manasseh: “Did what was EVIL in the eyes of the Lord” 2 Kings 21:2

 Dad – King Amon: “Did what was EVIL in the eyes of the Lord” 2 Kings 21:20


 King Josiah!: “Did what was RIGHT in the eyes of the Lord” 2 Kings 22:2


Meet Josiah: “he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord”
• God called Josiah when he was 8 years old...in Josiah’s day boys were considered men when they were 12 years old
• Josiah obeyed God 8-39 (killed at 39 by Neco, an evil king of Egypt), for 31 years Josiah obeyed God whole-heartedly (2 Chron.34:1)
• Josiah searched after God and had an open heart to God
• Josiah was a difference maker like his great-grandpa Hezekiah!
• Josiah cleaned out the temple of ungodliness and revived the atmosphere to following God’s Ways
• Josiah’s weakness and mistake that led to his death was to get involved in a battle that he had been warned against getting involved in (let God fight your battles!)
• Josiah made a difference for God because “he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord”!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_MyC6kJzPg&feature=related (Unfailing Love - Chris Tomlin)

Your Forever Family!

"In Christ we were chosen to be God's people, because from the very beginning God had decided this in keeping with His plan. And He is the One who makes everything agree with what He decides and wants. We are the first people who hoped in Christ, and we were chosen so that we would bring praise to God's Glory. So it is with you. When you heard the true teaching - the Good News about your salvation - you believed in Christ. And in Christ, God put His special mark of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit that He had promised. The Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will receive what God promised for His people..."!Ephesians 1:11-14

Think about a time when you felt like you belonged to a group of people. Have you ever thought about how special it is to be chosen by God and given "His special mark of ownership" when you become a member of God's Forever Family?!

(Inspirational Words from The Blessing by Gary Smalley and John Trent) "We all desire relationships in which we are accepted, valued, and wanted. We desperately long for this esteem from our peer group, but seldom experience the real thing. For the Christian, we belong, we matter, we have been accepted by God! No longer are we outcasts or second class citizens, we are part of His Forever Family when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior!"

Let's use these thoughts to dig deeper with God and answer a few questions just between you and The Lord:

• Describe what it feels like to be unwanted





• Describe what it feels like to be valued





• What are some Spiritual Blessings that we have in Christ?





• What is special about the truth that God specifically "chooses" us as His people?





• What does it feel like to be "chosen" by God when we accept Jesus as our Savior?

Prayer of Thankfulness: Thank you, God for choosing us to be in Your Forever Family! Thank you for spurring us on by Your Love to share Jesus and Your Forever Family with others as Your Witness! Help us to remember that, no matter what we face in this world, we are CHOSEN by YOU and that YOU NEVER LEAVE US or FORSAKE US! Help us to see others, in the path of our lives, that are searching and needing their Forever Family & Your Forever Love! IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpXMnY_tO3M&feature=related (My Place In This World - Michael W. Smith)

God Wins!

God Wins Spiritual Wars, but my dear Christian friends, as His witnesses we ARE going to be in one spiritual battle after another...until Jesus returns! Today's picture is a picture of my mother and her brother (my 66 year old uncle) as I share with you one of the testimonies from their lives and mine!!

God shares specifically throughout His Word, "His Battle Plans for Believers", some key marching orders that we need to study and live out in order to be prepared to take our stand against the tactics and schemes of the devil! One reason that I am so excited about Gifted2Go is that Ephesians 6 is apart of this vital tool for women on the front lines that are sharing Jesus with others!

"Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand." Ephesians 6:10-12 HCSB

(The specific verses listed above, some of the verses that Gifted2Go are based on, gave me the battle plan that I needed as God strengthened me, clothed me with His armor so I could stand in against the enemies tactics, and equipped me with everything I would need to be prepared to stand for Him in Victory!)

Today I would like to share a personal testimony about a HUGE spiritual battle I was in and how GOD WON THE SPIRITUAL WAR when my mother went to be with the Lord after a very quick sudden death from cancer that was found after gall-bladder surgery. You must remember, as I have shared in previous blogs, that I am a first-generation Christian!! When I became a believer and follower of Jesus I began to witness to my immediate family the SPIRITUAL BATTLE began and much of this battle looked & felt like this: rejection, fear, emotional pain, nothing in common anymore, loneliness, burdened, brokenhearted, misunderstandings, and much more that every witness walks through as we battle "spiritual forces & evil tactics of the devil"! The exciting part of this testimony is what God does after every spiritual war, even if it takes YEARS...GOD BRINGS THE VICTORY...after every Spiritual battle we fight as His witness He brings THE VICTORY...it may not come about like we would like or the way that is the easiest, but the results are ALWAYS just like the cheer goes... V-I-C-T-O-R-Y...victory victory is our cry!!! It is my joy to share with you that after many battles and many tears, I had the privilege of leading and witnessing my mother come to the Lord on 2/15/92!! PRAISE YOUR NAME JESUS=VICTORY!!!! After many many years of fighting the enemy through love & prayer...GOD WON THE SPIRITUAL WAR!

Fast forward to April 3rd, 2009...my mother went to be with the Lord and at her memorial service I knew that she wanted me to share her testimony and that is what I did, by the Grace of God, but it was after much warfare because the entire room was full of extended family members and her friends that NEEDED TO BE SAVED!!!

The battle was intense the days before her memorial service, the day of her memorial service, and even today-the days after her memorial service and the battle looks like this from those that surrounded me that still need Jesus: distance, rejection, anger, accusations, lies, judgement, withholding of love, the lost & backslidden medicating their pain/grief with alcohol, darkness, confusion, the enemy actually trying to cut me off from my praying friends through lack of the ability to communicate by cellphone & computer networks that were down, so much more it would take an entire chapter to describe...fast forward to the memorial service where GOD brought His VICTORY...God led us to an anointed pastor & his wife, Brother Tony Lynn, through one of our praying friends in Michigan, Julie Scheving (Julie is a State Women's Evangelism leader in Michigan and she has recently had a stroke-one week after my mother's memorial service, please pray for Julie as the Lord keeps healing her) My mom had recently relocated to Toledo Ohio/Erie Michigan area to be closer to her younger brother, my Uncle Larry (and one of the biggest hearts desires my mother had was that my Uncle Larry would accept Jesus as his Savior)...as my mother's memorial service was being planned, the Lord laid it on my heart specific worship songs to be played (one of them can be heard at the bottom of this blog) and specific words to share as I opened up my mother's Bible and shared specifically from what she had written in it...as Brother Tony offered an invitation to accept Jesus at the end of my mother's memorial service. As Bro. Tony led everyone in an invitation to accept Jesus prayer, word for word, seated behind me my 66 year old Uncle Larry ACCEPTED JESUS AS HIS PERSONAL LORD & SAVIOR!!!!! All I could do was cry out to God with Persevering PRAISE and visualize my mother in heaven having one of the greatest prayers and desires of her heart answered by God through her death and her testimony being shared after MANY spiritual Battles...GOD WON THE WAR!!!!VICTORY VICTORY that's the Christian Battle CRY!!!!!!! The picture above is a picture of my dear SAVED 66 year old Uncle Larry pictured with my mother that is now rejoicing in Heaven for ONE dear soul that has been saved through her TESTimony!! I pray this blog and one of the worship songs that the Lord led me to share at my mother's memorial service will encourage you in the battle you may be in or may be about to enter...let us all remember that there is always VICTORY in JESUS!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6XcXQoSlPg&feature=fvst
(I Will Rise by Chris Tomlin)

Who is on your prayer list that you are trusting God to bring SPIRITUAL VICTORY in their lives? NEVER GIVE UP!! Let's stop right now and PRAY for those in our lives that NEED JESUS as GOD SENDS HIS MESSAGE in WORDS & ACTIONS to point them all one step closer TO THE CROSS! IN JESUS' NAME..AMEN!!!!!

EVERY Christian is GIFTED2GO!

"..."I don't need you!" On the contrary..."
1 Corinthians 12:21b-22a (HCSB)


As we look at this picture of baby ducks, we see that one duck is different/unique/one of a kind and it is not in the group with the others...have you ever felt this way? Many people, especially Christians that your path will cross today, are feeling this way! The Good News is that God knew this would happen so He GAVE His Word to equip us in The Body of Christ. The truth is that EVERY Christian is able to learn how they are Gifted2Go and specific ways to make sure that they have opportunities to serve in their giftedness!

1 Corinthians chapter 12 is full of great wisdom about Spiritual Giftedness given by God. Please take some time to read this small but powerful chapter. The chapter begins (verses 1-11) with teaching about the uniqueness and the use of what God created through the different Spiritual Gifts that He has given to EVERY CHRISTIAN for specific purposes in The Body of Christ! The middle and end of chapter 12 teaches about the importance of each member of The Body of Christ working together and the importance of INCLUDING each one in the privilege of knowing Christ and sharing Christ!

This brings me to the point of my words today. In the last few weeks I have had many Christian women share with me how brokenhearted they are because they do not believe there is a place for them to serve in the local church. After much prayer God has laid it on my heart that there is a stronghold, a trap from the enemy, to DEFEAT the unique way that God created The Body of Christ to effectively work together with unity with each one serving God in the giftedness He created each one uniquely! If the enemy can not stop the local church, he sure will do anything he can to cause it to be fractured or ineffective...

Women that are in leadership roles in The Body of Christ must be very careful about decisions they make. It may be "easier" to get things done if the same women are invited to serve over and over, BUT what kind of message is that sending to those that may be new to the church, or those that are hoping to be invited/included to be a part of using their gifts to serve the Lord?

Questions are good to use as ministries are evaluated day by day, week by week, month by month, or year by year...There is an important question that leaders should ask themselves when organizing every evangelistic women's ministry gathering of any kind (purpose driven ministry). It is important to have a clear goal of a balanced ministry (Discipleship-Missions-Evangelism) in order to include EVERY gift and EVERY woman that is in The Body of Christ; this question could be something like this, "Have we invited every woman in our church (Body of Christ) to be a part of what God is doing, and what are some specific ways to make sure that everyone is included or recruited?" Balanced ministry leadership will lead to opportunities for every woman receiving the message that they are needed in some way to use their giftedness that is given by God for service!

Let's think about all the many things that need to be done at each gathering of women, here are just a few of the things that women can be asked to do: pray, teach God's word, reach-out to the unchurched or left-out and invite, encourage, organize, follow-up, name tags, decorate, make sure that The Good News is shared in someway at each gathering...and the list goes on!

The 12th Chapter of 1 Corinthians always reminds me of a city-wide event that God gave me the privilege to organize many years ago. In leadership preparation, I studied this chapter of God's Word and the rich text that helped me to take a huge group of women and help each one of them find their place of service, it was amazing to see how God took each gifted woman and found a place for them to serve! There was something for EVERYONE of them to do as each one of them as Christians has at least one gift given by God to SHARE and SERVE HIM with for The Glory of God...God raised up over 200 women to serve on the organizing team as this event was organized. And most of all many women came to know Jesus as their Lord & Savior and many Christian women experienced a life-changing touch from God's Word being shared!

So let's ask ourselves, especially if you are a woman in leadership, "When is the last time you have been given the message "you are not needed" in The Body of Christ?" "What does that feel like?" and most of all "How can we make sure we have plans in place so that no one feels like their gift is not needed?" If we fail to plan we are planning on failing to fulfill God's unique way He created The Body of Christ to make sure everyone has opportunities to use the way that He has made every Christian GIFTED2GO!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAWeHo8E70E&feature=related (If We Are The Body by Casting Crowns)

"...each has his own gift from God, one this and another that."
1 Corinthians 7:7b

"So the eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" nor again the head to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, all the more , those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary..."
1 Corinthians 12:21-22

Let God Use Our Heads!

The picture in today's blog was taken by a photographer that is covering the college baseball team that our 23 year old son, Cody Jones, attends and plays for...this is a picture of the underside of his baseball cap that includes several inspirations in his life. Cody's inspirations: Phil 4:13 & Gal. 2:20 & C.M.T. (Coach Miller Time) Coach Miller was one of Cody's favorite High School coaches and Bible Study teachers from Hallsville High School-Coach Miller is in Heaven now from cancer...J.D. is in memory of Joe Daniel Brumble (our son's Marshall & Cody's favorite fishing and hunting buddy that is also in heaven from a tragic truck wreck)

Here is a testimony written by Cody about Coach Miller for one of his college classes:
"The bible says in James 1:12 “Blessed is a man who endures trials, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that He has promised to those who love Him”. I have endured many trials that I have gotten through by leaning on the Word of God. God has done many things in my life that I thought He could never do as I trust in Him and work at finishing strong in life. He has also shown me to thank the Lord for all of the blessings that he has blessed me with. It’s really awesome how the Lord works in the lives of people to draw them closer to Him. I had a coach in High School his name is Coach Miller. Coach Miller inspired me more than any other coach that I have had because he truly finished strong. A couple of years ago he was diagnosed with cancer and the doctors only gave him 6 months to live. Instead on lying down and giving up he went about everyday with a glow about him that I never understood. Coach Miller was one of the strongest Christians that I have ever meet and he lived it every day even knowing that he might not make it much longer. I went and saw coach 2 days before he passed away and I will never forget it. He could barely talk but he did not have to say anything. The look on his face said it all “Always trust in the Lord and everything is going to be alright” even though he passed away two days later he touched so many lives by the way he lived his life. Many athletes accepted Jesus through his witness on and off the field. Coach Miller finished his life as strong as anyone could and I will never forget him." (written by Cody Jones for one of his college classes about a movie they watched about perseverance!)

This picture of an evangelistic baseball cap is an encouraging inspiration about the power of a "non-verbal" witness...what are some other non-verbal witnessing tools that we can share? I will share 2 and would love for you to share some of your favorite:

1. Witnessing Booklet 2. Cross Necklace

Please share some ideas you have of non-verbal witnessing tools as we encourage one another to live an evangelistic lifestyle!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68q8y5nkdPo (Voice of Truth!! Casting Crowns)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vB59PkB0eQ (Facing The Giants!!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvrBQL8swLI (I Will Rise!! Chris Tomlin)

Christmas Parties With Purpose!

The film, "It's A Wonderful Life" by Frank Capra, tells the story of George Bailey and the Hope that is found in Life! Jaye Martin has taken this movie and created a party with a purpose; "It's A Wonderful Life" Christmas Party, shared in a way that provides an opportunity to "gently" introduce your faith & hope in Christ with others especially during the wonderful Christmas season! This "Christmas Party With Purpose" and many more for those of all ages can be found on this free download listed below as we look for creative fun ways to Keep Christ In Christmas!!! Here are the 4 great evangelistic Christmas Ideas & Parties for you to enjoy and share, each with great simple detailed step by step instructions that are found in this free down-loadable evangelistic women's leadership notebook. My prayer is that this will enriched your life in Christ in many specials ways like it has enriched mine!

http://www.namb.net/atf/cf/%7BCDA250E8-8866-4236-9A0C-C646DE153446%7D/2005%20HCLL%20NOTEBOOK.pdf (written by Jaye Martin, Director of Women's Leadership, SBTS)

The above download notebook is 51 pages full of awesome ideas and tools for anyone desiring to share Jesus in and through their lives! Here are the specific Christmas Parties With Purpose and the pages that you can find all of the fun simple step by step details for you:

"Christmas Traditions Home Decorating & Tour" can be found on Pages 37-41: Christmas decorating ideas that each have a purpose that all point to Jesus! You will LOVE these ideas can be used in many ways; for a Christmas home tour, personal home witness, personal Christmas focus on the real meanings of Christmas as you raise your children and/or desire for your home to point others to The Reason for the Season~Jesus!

"It's A Wonderful Life" Christmas Party can be found on Pages 42-43: This evangelistic party is based upon Frank Capa's film "It's A Wonderful Life" starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. This party of fun and hope has been used to provide opportunities to "gently" introduce individuals to your faith in Jesus Christ as you also send a message of hope and availability to those needing to know more about where your Hope comes from! There is a step by step party planning guide that you will LOVE! I can already smell the popcorn:-)!

"Happy Birthday, Jesus" Christmas Party can be found on Pages 44-45: This evangelistic party is planned with young children and their parents in mind. The party host/hostess are your children or any children's ministy. You and children of all ages will LOVE the fun party planning simple guide as a Christmas atmosphere is enjoyed by all!

"Jesus Cake" Celebrations can be found on Page 46: You will LOVE this edible witnessing tool as the fun simple baking directions are listed for a wonderful evangelistic dessert! What a great tool that helps us all keep Christ in Christmas and keeps the message of Christ coming from our kitchen:-)! You can share this cake with family, Christmas gatherings, co-workers, neighbors, delivery people, anyone..... as we share The Greatest Gift~Jesus through this evangelistic edible GIFT~"Jesus Cake"!

Happy Birthday Jesus~Welcome To Our Christmas As We Share You With Our World!! AMEN!!!!

Welcome To Our Christmas Jesus~Welcome To Our World!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogWRU29J78I (you will love this song!)
Happy Birthday Jesus!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQyXWllz5Ao (you will love this song!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oar123wgUH4 (you will love this song!)

Re-Main & Re-Connect!

Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me." John 15:5 (HCSB)


"...Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for all of us share that one bread....Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s Glory."1 Corinthians 10:17, 31 (HCSB)

Happy Thanksgiving!! There are many reasons why Thanksgiving is such a special part of a Christian's life! Our lives are humbled and full of gratefulness as we count our many blessings and thank God for everything that comes straight from the hand and heart of our Lord and Savior! God teaches us daily how to live with an attitude of gratitude! Thanking God for every good and perfect gift that is from above!

As we look at pictures of "circles of people" gathered around a Thanksgiving Tables "Giving Thanks", let's think about another reason that Thanksgiving is important in the life of a believer...

I would like to share something that God has on my heart this Thanksgiving... there is a unique trap that our post-modern generation is vulnerable to falling into! Christians of today may be vulnerable to falling into the trap of "Disconnection"...a feeling of distance from God and disconnecting from others!

God has called me to continually examine my own life in Christ and carefully follow His Call to share Jesus with others and encourage my sisters to do the same as I pray for and encourage others through the gifts He has given me. I thank God for the ways that the Lord keeps me sensitive to some of the warfare that the enemy is using through our post-modern technology and lifestyle against us in The Body of Christ! Some of these traps are unique to the modern high tech busy world we live in.

I may take the next few weeks after Thanksgiving to specifically dive into some of the specific ways we are disconnection in our lives so for now let's just examine our lives and ask God for His help to stay close with God and others...

As His Evangelistic Concerned for Others Gifted2Go Believer: Re-Main With God!

1. Take Some Silent Time With God & Listen To What He Is Personally Saying To You!
2. Take Some Time To Re-Connect With God And His Still Small Voice!
3. Take Some Time To Thank God For Every Blessing You Have! What are some specific ideas you could share with others on Re-Connecting with God when you may feel distant from Him?

As His Evangelistic Concerned for Others Gifted2Go Believer: Re-Connection With Others!

1. Take Some Time And Ask God To Help You Re-Connection With Others!
2. Take Some Time To Write Down A Re-Connection With Others Simple Plan!
3. Take Some Time To Re-Connect With Those That Are Close To You & At Least 1 New Person That Needs Jesus! What are some specific ideas you could share with others on Re-Connecting with people?

Re-maining & Re-connecting with God and Others will take some honesty, confession, vulnerability, expression, courage, and many more EMOTIONS may come over you for His Glory....for example; in order to re-connect through the telecommunication business that I serve in, there are daily "trouble tickets" that we troubleshoot until re-connection is accomplished.

As we re-main close lose to God and connection is accomplished with others you can look forward to community (fellowship)...just like the picture of a thanksgiving banquet table that is not "fit for a king" but is "Full of The King of Kings" as another "Happy Thanksgiving" is enjoyed by All for His Glory! AMEN!!

Due to a Thanksgiving mini-blogation, this post will be my last post for November 2009....new blogs will still be posted from my blogging buddies as the Lord leads (Happy Thanksgiving Blogging Buddies)...see you again December 2nd...I Thank God for each and everyone of you!You are a blessing and inspiration "ECO:Gifted2Go" praying friends!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good."! Psalm 107:1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2_IZZNjdas (giving thanks with a grateful heart!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB1yDv9_N1k (draw me close, Lord!)

an extended family

This picture is some of my extended family beside my parents and I. In our short first meeting, I enjoyed their company and learned from my mom's cousin. I think it is important to remember to love our families by blood as well as our church family. How powerful of a witness of God's love would it be, if we, as believers, acted like a family?

One of my favorite pictures of the church is in Acts. Acts 4:32 (NIV) reads, "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had." The group in Acts seems to be a family that is ever-present and happy to help.

My professor yesterday inspired me to think... beyond programs or other borders, we can help each other build a church and a family life that encourages a life led out of love for God. In class, we talked about ideas such as high school guys mowing a widow's lawn, a single helping a new student find a grocery store, or a youth pastor e-mailing parents advice on positive music to play.

How can we help others see how to live out of God's love at home and in our church family?

[A special thanks to Dr. Jones and Dr. Stinson for their inspiring thoughts. To read about this, I suggest Deuteronomy 6, Ephesians 4, and Perspectives on Family Ministry: Three Views by Timothy Paul Jones (Editor) (released this October).]

"...if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." (Josh. 24:15)

This is a picture of my daughter, Kristi. (I could not figure out how to get pictures on this computer from when any one of them were little :).) Family evangelism must begin with parents who are believers. Joshua nailed it when he basically said "evangelism begins with 'me.'" So....HOW can we share Christ with our children and other children?

• Pray!
• Be an example in the home on a daily basis (this does not mean be perfect, but ask for their forgiveness when you don't handle things well)
• Treat each child as an individual.
• Help the child see Christ as a living person and not a rigid theology.
• Look for opportunities to plan seeds about the Gospel. Some advice on this is:

*Have consistent family devotions (as you can - DON'T BE LEGALISTIC WITH THIS)

*Spend some time with them before they go to bed. This is when they are often most receptive.

*Model how Scriptures can help day-to-day situations

*Tell your children how Christ has changed your life and how He affects it daily.

*Show your child how you handle failure.

*Look for opportunities to ask probing questions that will help you discuss the message of the Gospel.

Leaders: Encourage Your Moms to be Evangelists

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 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. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” (Deut. 6:6-8)

As leaders in our churches, we need to constantly put before the young moms the commission they have to share Christ with their children. As a mom of four, I know that it is easy to feel that your whole day is filled with wiping up spills, changing diapers [my husband and I bought diapers for ten years straight], cleaning up the same mess over and over, and washing and folding clothes all day. It feels sometimes that it is like walking on a treadmill every day without ever getting anywhere.

BUT we need to remind them that we are to use every opportunity to teach them about Christ. When the person and work of Jesus is clearly and logically presented, children are instinctively drawn to Him. Evangelizing our own children should be of paramount importance to all Christian parents. Christian leadership and nurture should begin in the home. This is a privilege and a HUGE calling. Let us pray for the moms in our churches, encourage them to rise to the challenge, and help them catch the vision of the impact we can have on the world through our children’s walk with God and their obedience to the Great Commission!

Another Lesson from Jochebed: The Task of Evangelism for Mothers

Last week we looked at Moses' mother, Jochebed, and the courage she had (fueled by FAITH IN GOD) to put him in the basket in the Nile River and then how God blessed her in return by giving her the chance to be his nursemaid. (See Exodus 1 and 2). This opportunity gave Jochebed about two and a half years to teach Moses about God. She had about a thousand days with Moses, and she needed to be sure to make each one count.

God has given us as mothers the important role of teaching our children about Him. Deuteronomy 6:5-7 gives us two main guidelines for training up children:
1) Love God more than anyone or anything
2) Teach God's Word

What are a few suggestions of how can we do this?

* See motherhood as the greatest place of ministry, position or power that we could have.
* Live lives that reflect Christ (we cannot give what we do not have ourselves).
* Take advantage of the 'little moments' we have to teach "as we go".
* Partner with God. We are vessels with the God of the universe to help us mold our children's characters.
* Let our children join us in making our homes a light in our neighborhoods.