A while back I posted a series on being the Salt and Light of the earth and asked for submissions of examples of how your family lives as salt and light. My dear friend Sarah sent a great example I would like to share with you all.
"Our family has really adopted the neighbors that live on our court. There are 15 houses and almost all need God deeply. We try to keep an open home with kids always over to swim in the summer and a few events during the year where we invite our Christian friends and then our whole court. Yesterday night we invited everyone over for a Movie and Mingle night. We set up chairs and blankets in the garage and used a projector to show Charlie Brown Christmas which is fun, but still tells the true meaning of Christmas. Then we had a fire pit outside on the driveway with all the smore fixins. There were multiple kids out playing basketball at the edge of the street and the house was also open with toys, food, Christmas music and friends all around. We provided hot cocoa, apple cider and some fun treats then asked anyone who wanted to, to bring something to share. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and an opportunity for our neighbors to feel God's love through us. We also used a bunch of Christmas cards (I save all the ones with lovely pictures of Jesus) and we hung them on the wall right over all the food - Christ front and center. There were probably about 40 people who came to celebrate Jesus - good times."
--So clearly Sarah is not living in the deep freeze of Minnesota, but her family's example is exemplary and reproducible nonetheless. Sometimes we over think how to be Jesus to others and we overlook those living around us. Great job Sarah! So proud of you guys! Keep up the good work friend. Thanks for the example and encouragement for all of us.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Pray For Your Husband
Every man needs a Paul in his life, and every man will need to be a Paul to someone else. I am talking about the importance of relationships that mirror Paul & Timothy (New Testament) in our husband's life. Every man needs to be both a Timothy and a Paul. How?
1. Your husband is a Timothy when he is learning from a "Paul," a more mature man in the faith. I used to think that a mentor relationship meant you hunt someone down, ask them to be a mentor, meet on a regular basis, etc. I mean it can be but it is more. Our husbands need to observe men around them who consistently emulate Christ in all they do. Through prayer, this is the type of man your husband can use as a tangible example of Christ on earth (ie--an example of how to be a good dad/husband, how to be honest and successful, how to stand for the Truth, how to be Jesus consistently to the world). This occurs continually over a lifetime as our husband identifies the Paul in his life and watches him and goes to him for questions and is physically led by example through an open Bible.
2. Your husband is a Paul when he is a leader to another brother in Christ. It is important that our husband not to be a consumer who is constantly being served without giving of himself. Every man at every stage can come along side another and pray with him/for him/model Christ to him.
Holy God,
Thank you for my husband. God, I pray that you will raise up within him a passion for your Truth that is unquenchable. Show him a man that lives for You with his whole heart. May this man be more mature in the faith. May he display how to live as Christ as a husband, a dad, an employee/employer, etc. May my husband receive solid biblical instruction and advice from this man.In turn, may my husband grow, not to be more like this man, but more like You Jesus, more into your likeness.
God, as my husband grows, I pray that another man would be taking notice. I pray that to this man younger in the faith my husband would be a living example of Jesus. May my husband physically open the Your Word allowing You to lead this man.
Thank You my Lord that you never planned for us to go through life alone.
Thank You for others in the faith who have gone before us and can help us.
Thank You that your Spirit empowers us to help others.
Thank You Holy Spirit of the living God that You are ever with us, ever with my husband.
You are real and I love You and believe in You and Your power at work in this world.
Amen.
1. Your husband is a Timothy when he is learning from a "Paul," a more mature man in the faith. I used to think that a mentor relationship meant you hunt someone down, ask them to be a mentor, meet on a regular basis, etc. I mean it can be but it is more. Our husbands need to observe men around them who consistently emulate Christ in all they do. Through prayer, this is the type of man your husband can use as a tangible example of Christ on earth (ie--an example of how to be a good dad/husband, how to be honest and successful, how to stand for the Truth, how to be Jesus consistently to the world). This occurs continually over a lifetime as our husband identifies the Paul in his life and watches him and goes to him for questions and is physically led by example through an open Bible.
2. Your husband is a Paul when he is a leader to another brother in Christ. It is important that our husband not to be a consumer who is constantly being served without giving of himself. Every man at every stage can come along side another and pray with him/for him/model Christ to him.
Holy God,
Thank you for my husband. God, I pray that you will raise up within him a passion for your Truth that is unquenchable. Show him a man that lives for You with his whole heart. May this man be more mature in the faith. May he display how to live as Christ as a husband, a dad, an employee/employer, etc. May my husband receive solid biblical instruction and advice from this man.In turn, may my husband grow, not to be more like this man, but more like You Jesus, more into your likeness.
God, as my husband grows, I pray that another man would be taking notice. I pray that to this man younger in the faith my husband would be a living example of Jesus. May my husband physically open the Your Word allowing You to lead this man.
Thank You my Lord that you never planned for us to go through life alone.
Thank You for others in the faith who have gone before us and can help us.
Thank You that your Spirit empowers us to help others.
Thank You Holy Spirit of the living God that You are ever with us, ever with my husband.
You are real and I love You and believe in You and Your power at work in this world.
Amen.
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