Thursday, November 18, 2010

Overwhelmed For Families

From time to time I get a bit overwhelmed. Sometimes in a good way, sometimes not so good.

Lately...not so good.

I am really burdened for so many of the families in our church and community who are struggling in so many ways. Nearly everyone is struggling financially. Many are struggling in their marriage for various reasons. Some are facing difficulties with their children. It seems that our families are under serious attack right now.

In talking with many of these families I have tried to encourage them with God's Word. That is the only source of strength that I have found. In it we can find words of hope, encouragement, strength, and direction. In those meetings where things seem so bad and I have absolutely nothing to say, I am so glad that I have God's Word to go to. I am learning that His Word is really all I need and exactly what our families need.

So What?

I want to ask you to pray with me for our families. Pray for men to be real, Godly, men and lead their family the way God intends. Pray for women to be the Godly women of Proverbs 31. Pray for children to honor and obey as the Bible teaches. And pray that God will save our families so that we can be a safe place and a beacon of hope for a dark world.

Start with yourself and your family then begin to pray for others you know. Let's ask God to do something amazing in our families and ask Him to start with yours.

Will you join me in praying for our families?

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Family Ties

Remember that show? Michael J. Fox was brilliant. The oldest sister was good looking. The dad was kinda weird. The mom was mostly the voice of reason. And the theme song...well if Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams were singing it, you know it was amazing. (What would we do baby, without us?)

Here comes an obvious statement: TV life and real life have never been, and never will be, remotely close to similar. Obvious, I know, but it needs to be said. Our family life will never be like any of the families we see on TV, especially not like the older TV show families (though some would argue they more closely resemble some of the more Modern Family types.).

Even though the above obvious statement is true, we all still tend to learn from and even emulate what we see on TV. The result is nothing short of catastrophic because none of us can handle every crisis that comes at our family in just 30 minutes including commercials.

So you and I have to learn from a different source, a better source, a tried and tested source, if we are going to experience God's Best in our Family.

This week we start a new series called Family Ties. I am really excited about it and believe that God is going to use it to help many families get in on His Best. I am praying that God works in such a huge way over the next few weeks that our families, church, and community will never be the same because we take the Truth of His Word and apply it to our lives. I am believing that God is going to dramatically show up and make some drastic changes in our lives. I am counting on it.

So What?

I want to ask you to pray with me. I want to challenge you to pray for your family. I want to challenge you to ask God to show up in your life first and then in the life of your family. Will you open your heart to what God wants you to do to help your family get in on His Best? Give it a shot and let me know ow it goes.

Sha-la-la-laaaaa.