Soon, I will have a new child given to me and my wife by God. 

What do I pray for this child? 

Well, I pray the same as I pray for my other children. 

"God, help my children to grow physically healthy, mentally healthy, socially healthy, and, most importantly, spiritually healthy.  God, help them to look to You for all guidance and truth.  Help them to give You all the credit for all the blessings they recieve and all the talents that they are given by You."

May God help us all to be humble before Him

The Lord's humbled . . .
John A. Reeves
Add Comment
 
Five Years 02/19/2011
 
It is about 5 years now since my first wife passed away with cancer.  I have noticed that my irratibility factor has fluctuated much during the last few weeks.  It is interesting how cyclical pain can be on a yearly basis.

Now, I have the opportunity to assist another person who has just lost their spouse to illness.

One might think that five years are enough healing to "get over" the loss of a loved one; like, a spouse.  Not for me.  I am touched everyday by thoughts of happiness and sadness.  I pray God uses me to assist in the stuggle for others who are and will be confronted by such challenges.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
1 Comment
 
 
I am always amazed at how imperfect I am.  Not that I ever think I am perfect; rather, how could God ever use me when I constantly struggle with my own imperfections. 

Thank God He can even use someone like me who continues to need to rely on Him for help with my imperfections.

The Lord's humbled . . .
John A. Reeves
Add Comment
 
 
Hello everyone

I wanted to share an e-mail my boss sent out to our work staff.  In it he, basically, shares how important it is to have Christ shared to others.  God has been a wonderful blessing to me and my family.  I am happy to glorify God through the kind words of another.  Thanks Nathan.

Yesterday at Greenlawn church there was an unusual event. The sermon was on testimony and witnessing.  After a brief introduction many Greenlawn elders came forward with prepared cardboard signs.  Each sign held by each elder [. . .] had their sins or struggles written on one side.  They presented this to the audience in silence one at a time from the center podium.  Then they flipped the sign over and written there was the change God had done in their lives.  For me, it was a powerful example.

The preacher then asked everyone in the pews to pull out a comment card and do what the elders had done.  We were to write struggles and what God had done on opposite sides of the card.  We were supposed to do it right then and the service paused for five minutes.

Some of the girls in cottage [. . .] and John and Crystal Reeves sat behind my family and I during the service.  I had kept on eye on the teen girls, as always, and noticed that, as always, they were drawing pictures and reading books and writing notes.  One was studying her softball playbook. They do this respectfully, but generally unaware of the sermon.  They are teenagers.

However . . . apparently the elders action got their attention.  I was able to read one of the girls notes afterward, offered freely.  On the "Struggles" side of the note it said 'don't live with parents'.  On the "What God has done" side it said 'God gave me two godly foster parents who love me'.
 
In case anyone forgot, what we do here matters greatly.  We do it in the shadows it seems, and get very few pats on the back or big awards or recognition.  Jesus tells us "Then your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."  I have a hunch that the secret rewards will be worth the wait.
Add Comment
 
Family 12/29/2010
 
The older I get the more I believe that it is not about the "things" in life; rather, it is about the people in life and what they do with their "things".  Everything seems to be heart-drivin.  If one has a heart whose priority is first-of-all the aquisition of things then their people relationships may be lacking.  If, however, a person focuses on family first then how they perceive the use and aquisitions of things will definately be utilized difterently.  Remeber, be humble before God.

"Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For the Gentiles seek after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.  Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble"  (Matthew 6:31-34) 

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves  

 

Add Comment
 
 
God and Christ used my dad to make a great inpact in my life.  I am so greatful that I had the training from a person who knows what it truly meant to be "without God".  The article that illustrates this is called "A Lifestyle In Christ:  A Brief Story"

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
Add Comment
 
Brotherly Love? 10/18/2010
 
"Cain spoke to Abel his brother.  And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him " (Genesis 4:8). 

Hmmm?  Are you a Cain or are you an Abel?  How does God see you in your relationships with your . . . ?

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
Add Comment
 
 
The book of Jude lays it out nicely.  It says in singleness of clarity that Christians need to "contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3).

Contend means to fight.  Fight for righteous clarification and understanding from those who teach the word.  Fight against those who attempt to destroy belief in God.  Fight against hypocrisy of all Christians.  Fight against liberalism of the word.  Fight against ungodly secularism of our leadership.  Fight against legalism of faith in Jesus.  Fight against greed.  Fight against sexual perversion of all kinds that are spoken in Scripture.  Fight against those who would destroy the true teachings of what it means to have faith in Jesus Christ.  Fight against stupidity that permeates an immoral and "politically correct" people.

Read the book of Jude and understand how "the lord's humbled" can fight "for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3).

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
Add Comment
 
 
"He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him"  (Colossians 2:15).

Jesus triumphed over the dominion of Satan.  Jesus gave gifts to men.  Jesus loves His people.  Jesus shows fruits of His victory.  (see, the article Roman Triumphal Procession).

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
Add Comment
 
Consume Jesus 07/24/2010
 
So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.  For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.  Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.  As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.  This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever" (John 6:53-58).

Some people have studied this passage and use it for teachings about the "Eucharist/Communion/Lord's Supper".  But the context doesn't attribute these teaching to deal with worship specifically.

Jesus is stressing the importance of consuming Him; that is, His teachings, godliness, and lifestyle.  If we truly choose Jesus and follow Him we will have everlasting life.  So, consume Jesus and be humbled before Him

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
Add Comment