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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Children 10/27/2011
 
Without a doubt, God gave children as blessings. 

Are they blessings to provide us entertainment?  Are they blessings to bring us pride?  Are they blessings only for their obedience?  Are they blessings for their future ability to provide us monetary gifts?

Hmmm? 

Maybe their blessings because they offer us (as parents) opportunities to glimpse how God might look at us (people).  We need His love.  We need His discipline.  We need His patience.  We need His grace.  We need His teachings.  We need His provisions.  We need His law.  We need . . . . 

What honest parent, who looks within themselves, doesn't see God's desire for the lost in their baby's eyes.  Who doesn't sense a deep awareness of the need to nurture "a little one" toward Christ.

A parent recieves wonderful blessings to know that they can glimpse what it means to love one who has a will to choose.  They receive blessings when they live for Christ.  They receive blessings when they realize that they can't do it (parent) without the assistance of God.

What a blessing a child is when they, by their nature, teach us to rely on God.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
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Zig Ziglar, in his work, 5 Keys to  Igniting Motivation and Success, talks briefly about why so few Jewish men are in prison.

He states that Jewish fathers do three things with their boys.  Everyday they tell them that they love them by:

            1.  telling them "bless you"
            2.  telling them "I love you"
            3.  give their boys a big hug (sometimes a big kiss)

The work of Jewish fathers is extremely dramatic.  Zig talks about a prison minister in Florida named Billy Glass.  Billy mentioned of the 40,000 men in prison only 13 were Jewish.  Not 13000 or 1300 but a real 13.

One of the things that Billy found out among prisoners is that they hate their fathers. 

The fact is, dad's you have a stong impact on the future of your children.  Please take your role seriously and be humble before God.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
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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
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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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Scouting 06/25/2010
 
"For I (God) have chosen him (Abraham), that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him" (Genesis 18:19).

My son, who is 8,  and I are going on a cub scouting trip this weekend.  I, myself, followed the tradition of my dad who also went through the scouting experience. It is a good program for boys and I recommend it.  I am glad my boy enjoys being outside and learning new things.  I want to be a part of his life and help him as he grows.  Is this something God expects from every dad?  How involved should parents, especially dads, be involved in their children's lives?

Abraham was also expected to be involved in his family's lives.  Why?  Because God knew he (Abraham/dad) would naturally have an impact, whether good or bad, on the future development of his children.  Did Abraham play with his kids?  I am sure he did.  Did Abraham discipline his children?  Hopefully.  Did he show his family the love he had for his wife?  I believe so.  How much more important then did he take the responsibility of teaching his family about the love of God through "the ways of the Lord"?  It was imperative.

Should fathers/parents today be any less involved in teaching and loving their children in the "ways of the Lord"?  Absolutely not.  Please recognize your task and be about parenting your children in the Lord.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
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'Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.  Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!  He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate" (Psalm 127:3-5).

It's 11:00 pm and my little boy is sitting on my lap.  He is a handsmoe little guy who is full of energy, inquisitiveness, and bull-dogged attitude.

Wow!  Is it important to be a good dad to him and my other kids?  You bet.  In fact, God has given me a responsibility to fullfil.  As I understand my responsibility more and more I realize that he is my boy on loan from God.  One day God will ask me about my role as a dad for his children.

Parents need to be good gifts for the children that the Lord gives them.  The are precious people and moldable.  They are souls.  Pray daily for the Lord to lead you in such a way that your children will look to God for all things good.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
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"Then children were brought to him that he may lay hands on them and pray.  The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven'" (Matthew 19:13-14).

Children are precious to God.  There was a time in history when God destroyed mankind through a great flood.  I wonder how those people treated little children.

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