07
Dec '20
The Power of Serving with Your Children
07
Dec '20
As parents we are always looking for ways to “teach our children” a lesson. Whether it be why we pick up our room, why we don’t eat candy before dinner, or why being thankful for what we have is so important.
We as humans can get so stuck in our own selfish ways. If it doesn’t please us or help us in that moment we aren’t satisfied or happy. In a world that bombards us with self-gratification everywhere we turn, it is so hard not to follow in those ways and get stuck in a pity party rut.
The hard truth: life is not about us.
God calls us to be servants.
If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all. Mark 9:35
Wow, what a challenge for us as humans and parents as we teach and guide our children to live a Godly life while serving those around us. We can all be challenged to serve more, give more, and have less. It is a life lesson… so don’t be discouraged!
Use those “teaching moments” to steer your children to the word of God and what it says about serving others.
Each of you should use whatever gifts you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10
This season I encourage you to help your child serve or bless someone else.
It may be something simple like writing a note to a neighbor or an elderly person, baking a sweet treat for a friend, packing a shoe box with goodies to send to a child in need, or buying presents for a family who can’t afford them. Use this season of Christ’s birth to teach and share the love of Christ by serving those around us. Your children are watching you. Practice giving together and the message is even more powerful.
Blessings on you and your families this Christmas season!
Author:
Faith Kids ministry lead
Read more...
27
Apr '20
We Have a Choice
27
Apr '20
We have all been hit in some way, shape or form from fallout of COVID-19. Whether it be financially, socially, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually; we can all relate to those areas being affected in our lives. Just like anything else in life though, we have a choice on how we handle those areas affected.
Many things are out of our control, but how we choose to respond is within our control.
I’ve found the easiest way to justify or make excuses (at least at the time in my head) is to blame someone or something else for my problems. Or if something doesn’t go the way we like at work, home, or whatever area you want to apply it to, it’s easy to point the finger and think in our head, “If I was in charge this wouldn’t have happened”, or “I could do a better job than that person”.
While sometimes these statements may be true, we still have a choice on how we respond. It is no different to apply when it comes to the current situation in our world and more specifically our country. I continue to hear the blame game from everyone and everything I read. Sure, things could always be done better.
We as citizens of this country – and more importantly as Christians – have an obligation to be in prayer for the situation and for our all of our leaders. We also are called to be thankful in all situations.
So instead of complaining about our current situation, let’s all try to focus on being thankful. Thankful that no matter what, no one can ever take my relationship with Jesus from me. I am thankful that he is always in control because Heaven and earth are filled with his glorious presence.
Isaiah 6:3 “And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
We can’t run the world better than God. Even if we think he is mismanaging things, we can’t know what He knows or see what He sees. He calls us to live by faith and not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we live by faith, not by sight.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
This is a call to acknowledge His sovereignty by being thankful in all situations. With everything going on in the world, it’s not easy. But we can choose hope, choose gratefulness, choose to fix our eyes on Jesus.
Through all the seasons – through it all – He is faithful and if we are Christ-followers, we are secure in His everlasting arms. Let this song minister to your heart today.
Author:
Worship Leader, Faith Assembly
Read more...
20
Feb '18
The Ultimate Do Over
20
Feb '18
People often use these phrases…
I wish I could do ________ again!
If I only had another chance to do _________.
Today, it’s… I want a Do Over!
I remember when I was on the 6th grade basketball team. I got to start the second half of the game. We all lined up for the tip off and I got the tip. I dribbled down the court for a layup… and missed! My teammate Tommy came to my rescue and got the rebound.
Then he told me I was shooting at the wrong basket! Boy, did I want a do over!
Remembering this experience caused me to think of God and His amazing love for all of us- no exceptions.
God sent His only son to be a sacrifice on our behalf. Through His sacrifice- and our acknowledgement and repentance of sin in our lives- we would have salvation thru the Lord Jesus Christ. This is our do over!
Acts 2:21 says
And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord (talking of Jesus) will be saved!
This is the ultimate do over for us. But thank God the reality is this:
God extends do overs to us every day.
Knowing this, shouldn’t our goal be to be more like Jesus every day? I know we will fail at times, but our heart’s desire should be to live like Jesus every day.
Proverbs 21:2 says
Every man’s way is right in his own eyes but the Lord weighs the heart.Psalm 63:8 says
My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.
Every day our desire should be to…
Thank God for every breath we take
Thank Him for every blessing we receive
Thank Him for every obstacle we experience
Worship Him for every do over His love allows us.
I know this: our God is not a liar.
He has promised He would never forsake us, especially in those times when we have failed Him.
He has promised He would never forsake us, especially in those times when we have failed Him.
He is there lovingly and graciously forgiving us, promising to give us a do over. Thank you Jesus!
How many times has God graciously given you a do over?
Take a moment right now to thank Him for his mercies- new every morning- and His unfailing love that sustains you through each new day.
Author:
Ken Drew
Loving husband, dad, granddad and Elder at Faith Assembly
Read more...
21
Nov '17
Thankful In All Things
21
Nov '17
Well, it’s that time of year again!
We gather with family, eat more than we should, laugh and talk around the table sharing memories…
what a wonderful effect celebrating Thanksgiving can have on us.
Many people, including myself, will reflect on the things in their life that they are thankful for:
Our spouse
Our children
Our parents
Our siblings
Our children
Our parents
Our siblings
Our jobs
All the necessities of life
and the list
goes
on…
I know as Christians we want to be thankful, but at times people or circumstances can make it difficult to accomplish.
Lord help us!
Colossians 3:15 says,
…and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you are called in one body, and be thankful.
Psalms 100: 4-5 says,
…enter His gates with thanksgiving and to enter His courts with praise, be thankful unto Him and bless His holy name.
God calls us to be thankful in all things, at all times, because of His great provision and love for us.
His care covers us, sustains us, and carries us through challenges in life that call us to thankfulness.
When we look at how He provides for us, we see His hand of provision through
every circumstance that faces us daily.
I want to encourage us to look at the things we encounter every day and give thanks for all the things the Lord is doing in our lives.
Let’s try every day to think of things to honor the Lord, allowing us to give Him thanks for all things.
It is amazing how the Lord works!
I started this blog last week just to find myself challenged to be thankful every day. This week has been a real test for me, but with God’s grace I am bound and determined to practice thankfulness continually.
With God’s help, you can too.
Author:
Ken Drew
Jesus Follower, Husband, Father, Grandfather and Elder at Faith Assembly
Read more...