The Banquet Table- The Feast Awaits Us

"As you wait attentively in My Presence, the Light of the knowledge of My Glory shines upon you. This radiant knowledge transcends all understanding." December 25th- Jesus Calling,  (Devotional) by Sarah Young.

Several years ago, I received this vision while running. In light of the marvelous gift to us of our Lord and Savior Jesus, I thought it appropriate to share with you. As I was running that day the sky seemed to open up and on the canvas of my mind I saw the banquet table spoken of in the 23rd Psalm. "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup runneth over." -Psalm 23: 5. No verse encapsulates the blessing of our relationship with the Lord more completely!

The table was huge with many chairs on each side. It was abundantly supplied with every kind of sumptuous food imaginable. Fruits and vegetables, meats of all kind were placed upon the table. At each place setting there was a plate and a chalice awaiting it's invited guest.

It was as if I were a spectator looking on with a view of the entire room. I noticed two great doors at the end of the rectangular banquet hall. The doors were giant extending from floor to ceiling. So heavy they appeared that no man could open them. The doors would open periodically and I sensed that people were entering however I could not see them. It was then that I noticed the doors were being opened by two angels. One positioned at each door to grant entrance to those coming into the room.

As I looked to the floor, to my surprise, I saw the people who had entered the room lying on the floor. Seemingly unaware of the great feast prepared for them. They entered the great banquet hall only to choose the floor.  Not only were they on the floor but they had brought with them what appeared to be bags of food. Bags filled with rotten apples and bananas, rancid meats, decaying vegetables. Why had these people chosen to enter in and bring with them their own rotten food?

As I looked at the table again, I noticed the Lord sitting at the end of the table in the place of the host. His eyes had tears in them as He viewed His people in the great hall choosing to sit on the floor when the feast had been prepared for them at the table. Then slowly I began to see people rising from the floor and taking their place at the table. Choosing to leave behind what they had brought with them and coming to the table to partake of the feast prepared just for them. This was God's best!

As we celebrate the birth of our Lord, we also celebrate what His coming represents to us. He is the Shepherd spoken of in the 23rd Psalm. He is the One who prepares the table before us in the presence of our enemies. The One who anoints our head with oil. The oil that signifies the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The oil which refreshes and invigorates us to engage more freely in His service.

This year choose to joyfully receive what the Lord has prepared. He has prepared a feast of prosperity, provision and protection. The feast awaits!

God's Timetable

As a Christian, we have to remind ourselves on a regular basis, of things like,... 

my schedule is not my own. So often we forget this. Like when we were in New York City this past weekend. Alan and I were going to a church service which required our taking the subway. When asking for directions a man came over to help us. He quite earnestly gave us the best directions he knew. He even followed us down into the subway to look at the map making sure we understood the connections.

Alan had brought two of our books with us. One for the pastor at the church we would be attending but who was the other one for, I wondered? When I mentioned giving the extra book to the man that had helped us, Alan agreed. We sought him out at the station. When approaching him we introduced ourselves, told him we were pastors and that we would like to give him one of our books for his kindness. Upon taking it, he told us about himself. His name was Jay, he was 31 and he had just gotten a new job where he’d learned how it felt needing directions. His job was in sales and he had to deliver his products.

Being from Brooklyn all his life, he had trouble finding his way much beyond the New York City area that he was now servicing. He had just bought a GPS to use in his car. Alan boldly asked if we could pray for him. Jay responded affirmatively. Then Alan asked, ”what do you want Jay?” Jay said to do well in his new job and a good wife. So we began praying these things for Jay then and there. I could hear people walking past us and was aware that something very atypical was happening in the New York City subway. When we finished praying, we realized that something supernatural had also just happened. Something indeed was different about Jay. He was radiant. Glowing.  All smiles. He was encouraged. And so were we. 

Our schedule had been hijacked... by God no less. Even though we realized there had been a quicker way to get to our church service and we would now be late, this was definitely on God’s radar. It was a divine appointment. God loved Jay very much and He was going to do some things in his life. Jay was never going to be the same. It feels so good knowing you are in accord with God’s plan. I have thought and prayed for Jay a great deal since being home and we expect to hear from him again... either here or in the here after!

Collaborating with the Lord

Collaboration. Co-laboring. In marriage, collaboration is important because husbands and wives need to work together.... to be on the same page.... be in harmony and unity...as a team. However, what couples so often forget to do,  is to allow God's Holy Spirit to be at the center of the equation instead. How it should happen, is couples seek God first, then begin to dialog together as to how they believe God is leading them. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

We quite often run out ahead of God leaving the protective covering He has provided for us. Doing this frequently leads to our disillusionment with the mission we feel He has placed within our hearts. Running ahead of God can be mistaken for running with God. Yes, maybe God did give you a good idea, but did you let Him finish His thought or did you finish it for Him?

There is a great passage of scripture upon which we have meditated for years: Proverbs 16: 3 AMP - "Roll your works upon the Lord, commit and trust your way unto Him and He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will and so shall your plans be established and they shall succeed."

In your marriage, have you done what this scripture suggests? By allowing His thoughts to become our thoughts, we get the whole revelation of what God is trying to communicate to us. But it doesn't happen overnight! It takes time and careful meditation upon His word and listening for the Holy Spirit's wisdom regarding our situation.

Years ago we received a prophetic word regarding our ministry together for married couples. That we would be involved in instructing and guiding couples, leading them into God's will for their relationships. We received that word with gladness however it took many years for the fulfillment of that word. During those years God was at work in us causing our thoughts to become agreeable to His will. Now He has firmly established His plans in our hearts and we are fully engaged in doing His work.

Co-laboring is a "Third Cord" concept. We must train our minds to invite His Spirit into every aspect of our life; especially our thoughts. His ways are so much higher than ours that sometimes our minds get in the way of being able to grasp the significance of His thoughts. However, with time and careful attention to Him and His Word, we get the revelation He is communicating to us. The magnitude of His thoughts overwhelm our natural minds. As we invite the Spirit, His thoughts become our thoughts and we can see what was once hidden from us.

Here are some active steps to take to begin the co-laboring process:

• As a couple, come together in prayer seeking God's insight and wisdom. 
• Dialogue between yourselves as to what you're hearing from God.
• Spend time meditating on His Word as it relates to your situation. 
• Expect God to speak and receive confirmation from Him.
• Walk patiently in faith, thanking Him that His perfect plan will come to pass.

Restoration Spirit!

Jamie and I recently ran into a couple that we had counseled for several months back in the Summer of this year. They had been through some tough times together and he had recently lost his job due to a corporate downsizing. Their relationship had gone from bad to worse and they needed help.

Thankfully both of them had reached the point where they were ready to listen. If you counsel couples, you know what I mean! We've met with so many couples as I'm sure many of you have that are just getting their ticket punched prior to finalizing a divorce. One or both of them agree to come for a meeting just to say "there I've done it, it didn't work and now I'm leaving".

We counsel based upon the power of the Holy Spirit only and not with human wisdom. So during our first meeting we sensed that there were some significant hindrances from there backgrounds. He had come out of a household in which his parents never fought but stuffed everything. His father would simply walk away whenever there was a disagreement. She conversely had come from a home in which her parents fought incessantly. They basically never resolved disagreements but would follow each other through the house arguing. You see the problem when those two styles of conflict resolution meet.

The issue was really rather simple to resolve once the Holy Spirit had revealed the root cause of their problem. They were following the patterns set for them by their parents. In this case we were able to help them break the cycle of her aggressive behavior towards him and his "turtle" behavior of going into his shell. Communication was key in this as we helped them to communicate the way they felt without resorting to their past pattern of dealing with each other.

We always require that couples pray with and for each other in the counseling process and in this case we could see the power of prayer transforming their relationship. They told us that evening we ran into them of how it had been a turning point in their relationship. They were learning how to communicate with each other and understand the others point of view. The Holy Spirit was reconciling their broken relationship and deepening their love together.

It was great to get some feedback from them and to hear their story of renewal. The Holy Spirit is a restorer of the breach and is always ready to come and minister life to us if we will only ask Him and allow Him to work a miracle in our hearts!
Blessings,
Alan and Jamie

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

We went to help celebrate my (Jamie) brothers 50th birthday last night. On the agenda for the evening there was to be a roast of my brother, Charlie. I had planned to share, but everyone was enjoying the festivities so well that it got late. Being that I was recovering from a sinus infection partnered with laryngitis we needed to leave when the clock struck 9:30.

It was a shame to miss that part because I had prepared to share about my brothers younger years.  Few there new him during his boyhood years, but so often it shows you a glimpse into things to come. That night someone by the fire pit asked me if Charlie was always as creative as he is now. God designs us perfectly and scripture says that “He even knows us before we were formed in our mothers womb.” So I will share about him...

My brother, Charlie, is a great guy. He is creative, gifted, innovative, funny, loves nature and life and has favor wherever he goes! How’s that for near perfect. He worked for Southern Living (maintaining and designing gardens, and was Garden Editor) while in high-school then after college and all of his career until the last two years where he has stepped out in faith and begun his own gardening business at the Garden Gallery (shameless advertising).

As a young boy, at some point, my grandmother (who did not live in our town) spoke to my mother, expressing great concern of Charlie not having enough male influence in his life. At that young age he was surrounded by three older sisters and an “at home” mother, but a father that was on the road a great deal of the time.

My mother, was creative in her own right, and coupled with a limited budget and not wanting to make a significant investment until she knew something was going to “take,” sent Charlie down the street where we had a neighborhood lake. He took a long stick, a string tied to it and small safety pin attached to the string. You got it, a home-made fishing pole. I don’t even think Charlie used bait! And guess what he came home with? In less than an hour there was a commotion at the front door and in come the three musketeers, Charlie and his two buds, Ray and Ted Blackston. And there on the safety pin, Charlie had a brim about two inches long. Wearing an ear to ear grin, up until that day, I believe it was the happiest day Charlie had spent on earth.

At a young age, he exhibited tendencies to being a “real” mans-man. But my mother being a peace loving woman, didn’t feel right about buying toy guns for her little boy to play with. So what did Charlie do? Got a clothes pin, clipped a long unsharpened pencil in it and used it as a gun! Running through the house saying pow-pow, we quickly learned that there was “built-in” innovation and determination in this little boy. 

Any season you go to my brothers house these days, you will see the most unusual things exhibited in the most unusual ways. Creatively and beautifully he brings together rustic and nature. It is an adventure just walking through rooms in his house just taking things in. He is fearfully and wonderfully made because of the time that was taken to develop him. By his grandmothers concerns, my mother leapt to action. The intervention, introduction and development had been executed in giving him the ability to see and function in the world creatively. 

It is the same with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is there, scripture says, placed within us as a “down payment” when we become Christians. But unless it is developed or tapped into, we don’t experience it to the full. And as Charlie was determined, he pursued that “deep” need within him. Because it was in his DNA. The Holy Spirit is also part of our DNA as believers. We must be determined and pursue the Holy Spirit to fill that “deep” need that we have to find who we are, who we are to be and what the plan for life is. 

“A mans heart plans his ways, but the Lord directs his steps” -Proverbs 16:9

“And I walk at liberty, and at ease, for I have sought and inquired for [and desperately required],  Your precepts.” -Psalm 119:45 AMP

A Godly focus on marriage

Jamie and I believe that God has given us a specific message to deliver to the body of Christ as well as the anointing to have our message received by the Church. Both of us have come out of stable households where our parents have been in long term marriages. 

Jamie’s mother passed away a number of years ago having been diagnosed with MS in her early thirties. We witnessed her Dad’s loving care for her during her slow decline in health until her eventual death. His love for her was and will always be a picture of God’s love for us demonstrated through the life of one of his faithful followers. 

I think that is part of the reason God has chosen us to speak His word concerning marriage. You need to understand that most spouses of MS patients leave their mates. In view of that statistic, it is particularly significant that Jamie’s Dad didn’t leave but provided the majority of her Mom’s care for over 20 years. It has been a powerful picture of their love for each other and God’s plan for how we are to live together as husbands and wives. 

Today the divorce rate in the U.S. stands at 50% for first marriages and 65% for second marriages. Even higher for a third or fourth marriage. The biggest reason for divorce? There are many but all tied to one general theme; “We just couldn’t get along.” And our children have born the brunt of our unfaithfulness to our mates. Today, 85% of kids with behavioral problems and 71% of high school dropouts come from fatherless homes. Children from single parent homes are more likely to have teenaged pregnancies and suffer a host of emotional and behavioral problems.

If this were not bad enough and it certainly is bad, the divorce rate in the church is the same if not worse than in the general population. We make all the same excuses for why we can’t get along and then have the audacity to bring God into the mix and say “God doesn’t want me to be unhappy.” I can hear the voice of Jesus saying “you are badly mistaken, have you not read in my word that I hate divorce?”

Please hear me in what I am saying and what I am not saying. I am saying that divorce is much to prevalent in our society. We are casual in our commitment to each other when we should be married for life. I have even witnessed pastors in their zeal to focus on evangelism say that marriage is unimportant in relation to bringing people into the Kingdom. What heresy! How many people have been turned off permanently by the ungodly ways in which we have treated out marriage mates?

What I am not saying is that there is never a legitimate reason for divorce. There certainly are and we must never encourage someone to remain in a dangerous or unhealthy relationship where their own safety or health is put at risk by the sinful behavior of a spouse. 

What we need is a godly focus on what God considers important. We need to put our own selfish desires away and ask for forgiveness. Jesus responded when asked by the Pharisees regarding divorce. “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way.” 

Power Potential

This week at church we had guest speaker, Robby Dawkins (The Finger of God, Furious Love), come and speak. It was one of those times when we’re called to a place outside of our comfort zone. He reminded us that Jesus, more often than not, ministered to the UN-Churched, whereas most of us in church, minister in the most obvious place, Church. The place where we won’t standout. Less awkward. Less conspicuous.

However, Robby stretches us to look for those around us when in public places, especially in dark places when there is a need. Why? Because the enemy already thinks he has won those lost types into his kingdom, and there is less resistance. Less warfare. Robby reminds us that God really loves those less lovely types. We encounter less warfare with these types than when ministering to a Christian. There is more resistance with Christians because of his fear of the power potential. 

These lost, dark types need reaching as well. That is what Jesus modeled. He ministered to the sick (physically and mentally), maimed (crippled, blind, etc), prostitutes, tax collectors (dishonest business men), adulterers, etc. The next day, I was in Target and the little, old lady in line in front of me was saying how badly her toothache was. I knew what God was up to. The question is, was I up for the challenge? 

I was reminded of Robby’s comment to obSERVE where there is need around you. She definitely had need. So after my purchase I caught up with her and asked about her tooth. Then I asked to pray for her to be healed. She thanked me afterward telling me the pain was gone. It was a moment that ministered to me more than to her because I was obedient.  It was a win-win power moment 1) for me, but more importantly, 2) for her as she was reaching her “power potential” by recognizing The Healer of her body and her life and 3) for growing the kingdom of God.  

What God Wants for Your Marriage

Today we spoke at our church on What God Wants for Your Marriage.  Since we want everyone to know that the Holy Spirit is the key to resolving our relational problems, that was the focus. One of the things that the Holy Spirit had dropped into our understanding this month was that it is kind of like when you are in a crowded, noisy environment, yet you are still able to hear your cell phone when it goes off. And other people look at you in amazement that you actually heard it, asking how in the world could you hear that?

Your ear has to become trained to hearing that sound. You can do that with the Holy Spirit. You can train yourself to be alert and attentive and to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit over distraction.

Distraction is just insignificant noise designed by the enemy to do just that... confuse, distract, and to keep you crazy-busy. Tune it out so that you can receive the significant. That being the guidance and counsel of the Holy Spirit. Proverbs says, "... a wise man hides himself from evil, while the foolish man blindly forges ahead." The Holy Spirit will lead, guide and protect you away from destruction if you ask Him.

A Time to Heal

 In Ecclesiastes, The Preacher writes: "To Everything there is a season, and a time for every matter and purpose under heaven." After the latest revelation of wrongdoing and cover up, this time at Penn State University, I'm left to wonder what season are we in?

Is this a time to speak or a time to keep silent? Apparently officials at PSU felt it appropriate to keep silent and not to speak. How many of us when confronted with evil will simply look away? I'm asking myself the same question. When we encounter wickedness how do we respond? Do we take a stand and say enough or do we shrug our shoulders and say something like "you know the culture we live in."

Perhaps this tragedy will result in people making a decision to get involved, to not turn and look the other way. If any good can come from this, perhaps it is that some other vulnerable children somewhere will not have to endure years of torment, guilt and shame because someone close to their situation decided that enough was enough.

As a people, we must come to grips with the garbage that we allow to pass for acceptable behavior. We've been far to tolerant of people's aberrant lifestyles that result in death and destruction for them and those close to them. When will we stop kidding ourselves and embrace the absurdity that a perverted sexual lifestyle is not only wrong, it violates God's laws and the just penalty for that wrong will be enforced.

I hope and pray that this will be a turning point for our country. That we will turn from our wicked ways and seek out the one true God and ask His forgiveness.

Praise for the Proverbs 31 Woman

The 31st! Our founding Fathers practiced the spiritual discipline of reading the Bible every day. Many of them ,Pastors, would read the Proverb corresponding to the day. Today is a great day to praise the Wife that God so graciously provided to you.

Proverbs 31: 10-12; A capable, intelligent and virtuous woman- who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls. The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of honest gain or need of dishonest spoil. She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.

Let her know today how much she means to you and the blessing that her life is to you and your children! I know my wife is the Proverbs 31 Woman, she resides within all of our wives waiting to be called forth by her husband.

God's Glory

We just got back from doing a marriage conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Our drive was gloriously “breath-taking.” And when I say this, I mean it not simply as an expression, but as a true physical manifestation from “taking in” an extra-ordinary view of color, like that from a jewel box. I’ve often heard people being interviewed in life-after-death experiences, express that color in heaven is not the same as the color we know here on earth. As an artist, I look forward to experiencing it, because I can’t imagine it any more beautiful than what I experienced this past mid-October weekend.

Something about the leaves’ fall color being back-lit by the sun makes me think of stained-glass windows. I had to lean my head back on the headrest just to take it all in. God’s presence is affecting me this way too. Unlike any other time, God “awe-inspiring” experiences are the norm. I am beginning to see Him more and more in the little things, as well as big ones. God is in everything. His fingerprint is everywhere around me. Even when bad things happen, instead of focussing on the bad, now I see or anticipate the good that is coming. Because without the bad, God could not “show off” what He can does best.

I love the scripture, “What the enemy means for evil, God means for good.” And also, when Jesus’ disciples asked, why the man was blind? Was it because of his sin or that of his parents? The answer. “Neither,” Jesus answered. “It is so that God can show His glory through miracle-working power.” What better reason? Then Jesus spat on the ground, made clay, spread it on the blind mans’ eyes and sent him to wash in the Pool of Siloam- which means Sent. When the man came back, he could see.

(Jamie) My eyes have been opened to see the miracle-working power of Daddy God in my own life. In our marriage; my health; and our children! I know He is always up to something good. That is what the Bible says, “For You (God) are great and work wonders (miracles)! You alone are God!” -Isaiah 86:10. I guess you could say, God has made a Believer out of me. Once you have experienced His miracle, you see things in a very different light (so to speak). My perspective on life is now back-lit by the glory of the Lord. It is awe-inspiring, breath-taking and down-right amazing!

Invest!

Lately the Lord has been speaking to me this word- Invest! At first I was thinking in terms of our finances as I manage our investments in stocks, ETF's, options and such. But the Lord directed me to meditate on my relationship with Jamie.

Since it was Valentine's week and we had just been through a very busy three months with a foster baby in the house. A hectic work schedule in addition to writing our second book and speaking engagements. We decided to take a few days off and go to a B&B secluded in North Georgia mountains.

There while hiking, the Lord was speaking to me about investment in my relationship with Jamie. Relationships take time to develop. The best ones are based upon a mutual investment of time. As we spent hours together hiking and talking, having quiet dinners together and intimate time we were able to reconnect and share our thoughts with each other.

We had both quality time and quantity of time together. Relationships need both of those things to thrive. At home, we may be together in the same house but involved in different projects and responsibilities. We've found over 26 years of marriage that we each have a unique perspective on things that is God given. As we come together and share that perspective, there is wisdom and understanding through the Holy Spirit.

Jesus had both quality time and quantity of time with His disciples. Pouring into them day by day the wisdom, knowledge and understanding of the Father. His loving care for them is evident throughout the scriptures. With teachable moments he used situations to illustrate what the Kingdom of God is like. Instilling Kingdom principles and preparing them for what was to come.

It's the same with our relationship with our spouses. We spend time together developing intimacy. Knowing each others heart and strengthening the bonds of relationship for the challenging times that come to all relationships.

We've discovered three ways to invest in our relationship:

1. We pray together daily. We attack the issues confronting us in prayer together. It is a daily exercise in faith for us. Several years ago our son was diagnosed with a learning disability. His teachers wanted to label him as "LD". We would not allow it nor did we receive it. We dedicated that issue to prayer believing that God was healing him. Each year as he was tested in school, his scores improved. By the time he graduated from high school, he was on the honor role and taking college level courses. Now in college, he is in the honor society and a nursing scholar. Praise God for His faithfulness!

2. We spend time together away from the everyday responsibilities of life. We do this three times each year. On our anniversary, we take a trip together then two other times we set up at least a long weekend to spend away together. If you have young children, it is essential that you have time away from them to focus on your relationship with each other. Leave the cell phone off and the laptop restricted for use only once a day. Turn off from work!

3. We spend time studying the Word together. We each have a God given perspective on the Word so it is very valuable to read and study together. Use what works for you, we use the daily bible as a starting place then we read other passages as the Lord directs. We read proverbs daily choosing the proverb corresponding to the date.

All great relationships are tested and they stand the test of time! Investing in your marriage relationship has great rewards in the here and now and for eternity. Our prayer for you is that you spend the time to truly make your relationship great. Invest!!!

A Godly marriage- pass it on!

May the blessing of the Lord be your strength in 2011.

Jamie and I celebrated my parents 56th wedding anniversary last Friday night. Along with Tommy (my middle brother) and a note from Dixon (my older half brother), who could not attend. We each took time to celebrate what my Mom and Dad meant to us as kids and now as adults. Each of us talked about the Godly heritage we'd received from them. They are both strong Christians putting their faith into action. As children, Mom and Dad took us to church each Sunday and instilled in us the Christian values that we embrace today.

They passed on to us the Godly heritage of a great marriage. Founded upon the rock of Jesus Christ. Because of their faithfulness, we enjoy the blessings of a great marriage. Not that it was all due to them but the heritage they passed on to us has been critically important in shaping our relationship. We are in turn passing on that heritage to our children. Where they will have the benefit of two generations of marital success. They'll pass it on to their children and their children's children. Each generation benefiting from the one before.

Psalms 61:5 AMP- For You, O God, have heard my vows: You have given me the heritage of those who fear, revere, and honor Your name.

Psalms 119:111 AMP- Your testimonies have I taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

These two scriptures speak eloquently of the importance of heritage. As David cried out to the Lord "You have given me the heritage of those who fear, revere and honor Your name". He understood the significance of that heritage being passed on to his children and the impact that Godly heritage would have upon future rulers of Israel. David had some issues as we all know however his great redeeming quality was his ability to connect with God and worship Him as Lord. What a wonderful heritage to pass along to future generations, the ability to hear from and connect with God.

As Christians our heritage is one of great promise and blessing as we become partakers in the covenant which the Lord made with Abraham. We are heirs and joint heirs with Christ in the inheritance that is eternal life. Perhaps you have read the passage below regarding the Godly heritage of Jonathan Edwards contrasted with that of another man:

Jonathan and Sarah Edwards had ten dedicated, godly children. A study of their 729 descendents over five generations showed that 300 were preachers, 65 were college professors, 13 were university presidents (this was in the days when colleges and universities were godly institutions), 60 were authors, 3 were congressmen, and one was a vice president. By contrast, the ungodly Mack Duke and his brother married sisters, and the study of their 1026 descendants over five generations showed that 300 died an early death from wicked living, 140 spent an average of 13 years in the penitentiary, 190 were prostitutes, and 100 were alcoholics.

Our prayer for you is that the seed of Godly heritage planted within you would be passed down from generation to generation. May it produce Godly men and women who would serve the Lord all the days of their lives. May it bear fruit in the form of Godly marriages which pass the test of time. Make a decision to pass on the heritage of a Godly marriage. It will have eternal significance to the husbands, wives and children that come after you. After salvation, it's the greatest gift that you can give to those you love. Pass It On!!!

Pass It On!

Jamie and I celebrated my parents 56th wedding anniversary last Friday night. Along with Tommy (my middle brother) and a note from Dixon (my older half brother), who could not attend. We each took time to celebrate what my Mom and Dad meant to us as kids and now as adults.

Each of us talked about the Godly heritage we'd received from them. They are both strong Christians putting their faith into action. As children, Mom and Dad took us to church each Sunday and instilled in us the Christian values that we embrace today.

Coming from challenging and differing backgrounds, they both drew on the strength of their Christian faith. Mom was the youngest of three sisters born in North Birmingham to my Grandfather, who we think may have had only a third grade education. He was a good business man having started several businesses over his lifetime. He was less of a family man, being married 5 times that we knew about. His last wife was the Grandmother that I knew.

But each Sunday he would take his three daughters to church. He would drop them off and pick them up after services. My grandfather never attended himself, but knew that his daughters needed that Godly foundation. He was a wise man to give them what he'd never himself had.

My dad also grew up in North Birmingham in difficult circumstances. Never knowing his father, who died when he was a young boy, but having a Godly mother, Olive Wood (our daughter Hayden's middle name, Olivia, is from my grandmothers name). She instilled in him a love for Christ that has been the guiding principle of his life.

They passed on to us the Godly heritage of a great marriage. Founded upon the rock of Jesus Christ. Because of their faithfulness, we enjoy the blessings of a great marriage. Not that it was all due to them but the heritage they passed on to us has been critically important in shaping our relationship.

We are in turn passing on that heritage to our children. Where they will have the benefit of two generations of marital success. They'll pass it on to their children and their children's children. Each generation benefiting from the one before.

Make a decision to pass on the heritage of a Godly marriage. It will have eternal significance to the husbands, wives and children that come after you. After salvation, it's the greatest gift that you can give to those you love. Pass It On!!!