Last night our family started to read the gospel of Mark.  Each of us took turns reading from Scripture.  Afterword, we talked a little, had a prayer, and hugged each other on the way to bed.

There are benefits to studying the word with your family.  (My oldest two children are 9 and 10 years old.)

Improve reading skills.
Improve study skills.
Improve family structure.
Improve dedication to God's word.
Improve relationship with God through an obedient faith in Jesus Christ.

We love our children.  Yet, we know that if God isn't first in their life, because of our lack of teaching, we have done a disservice to God as parents.

Remain humble before the Lord.

The Lord's humbled
John A. Reeves

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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.
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The Ark 01/03/2011
 
The biblical story of the world-wide flood crosses many ancient cultures in this world.  It was a time of great evil against God when people did what was right in their own eyes (Genesis 6: 5-6).  Yet, everyday, people need to be aware of a "flood" that may end their time - death itself.

When people die then, according to Scripture, their eternal fate is sealed.  How important is it, then, for people to choose God now instead wait when it is too late?  Teach yourself and others to be humble before God.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
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Burning Bush 10/12/2010
 
"And the angel of the LORD appeared to him (Moses) in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed" (Genesis 3:2).
 
God sure knew how to get Moses' attention.  Isn't amazing how God has reached people in the past.  Yet, all people have a burning bush in front of them - even today.  It is the cross of Christ.  Did God get your attention.  If so, then proceed to do the things He wants you to do in life - lead people toward the promised land and out of slavery.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
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"Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 'Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.'  But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.  He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish.  So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD" (Jonah 1:1-3). 

If you have ever studied the book of Jonah then you know of the difficulty Jonah has in carrying out the commandments of the Lord.  Have you ever had similar failings in following the commandments of God?  Have you ever wanted to "run away" from godly tasks.  Please humble yourselves before God in all ways.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
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Why I Write 05/07/2010
 
"For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10).

Jesus had a mission.  His mission is the mission of all His followers - to seek and save the lost.

About four years ago my first wife died to cancer.  I have never felt so much pain and loss.  Fortunately, I know with whom she put her faith and trust.  So, in that respect I am happy for her.  Yet, I still feel the pain.  (See my article on God, Do You Love Me?).

Yet, imagine how Jesus feels when those whom He loves reject Him.  Does He feel loss?  Absolutely.  Does He feel pain?  Undoubtedly.  Does He allow people to choose?  Without a doubt.

I write because I know the hope there is in an obedient faith in Christ.  I write because I feel pain of loss.  I write because I know Jesus desire.  I write because I want all to know God through His Son - Jesus.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
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"He [Jesus] entered Jericho and was passing through.  And there was a man named Zacchaeus.  He was a chief tax collector and was rich" (Luke 19:1-2).

The government, during the time of Jesus, was very oppressive to many of its peoples.  It believed in taxation without representation.  It was common practice for Rome to use people of one particular ethnic group to be tax collectors to people with similar ethnic backgrounds.  The Jewish people were no-less different.

Zacchaeus was one such tax collector.  He was a Jewish tax collector to the Jewish people for the oppressive Roman government (cf. Luke 19:9).  Therefore, Zacchaeus, and other such tax collectors, were considered traitors and sinners among the common people (cf. Luke 19:7).  They were considered part of the government oppression rather than "those" who did a responsible job.

The tax collector was commonly known to be corrupt.  They were usually known to tax beyond what was required which they would use to "line-their-own-pockets" (cf. Luke 3:8).  However, Zacchaus was a man searching for something beyond treachery, oppression, and government kickbacks.  He wanted hope, help, and Jesus.

Zacchaes wanted to show fruits of his repentance by offering to pay back those whom he defrauded (Luke 19:8 cf. Matthew 3:7-9).  He sought to change his life and Jesus recognized his true heart.  "And Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to his house, since he also is a son of Abraham.  For the son of man came to seek and save the lost'" (Luke 19:9-10).

There are people in this world who defraud, lie, cheat, and steal.  They will be judged accordingly.  However, it is these people that Jesus also came to save.  Are you the Lord's tool?

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
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Get The Word Out 03/24/2010
 
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

Jesus is the "Word" that needs to be heard.  Let's get the "Word" out!

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