When they catch it...

Hey Element Church! I love it when people catch what you're throwing. And no, I'm not talking about baseball, football or cow chip tossing. I'm talking about vision, leadership, example. I saw this lived out in one of my children yesterday and that REALLY excites me.

There is nothing more frustrating as a pastor or a parent (they can feel amazingly similar depending on what church you are in, lol) than the people you are leading not catching what you're throwing. Now, I know many a parent and MANY a pastor who get upset when people don't catch what they throw, the problem is that those same parents and pastors wouldn't catch it themselves if someone threw it to them. The parent/or pastor challenges the children/or people to do something, or be something, or go somewhere, etc. that they themselves won't or wouldn't do or go. Amazing how folks can see through that pretty quick. However, when people DO catch it, it's so cool to watch. Back to my child.

We got some snow on Sunday night into Monday morning that left a small but decent coating over the ground. I was at work and Sabrina was working around the house as Jonah headed outside to play. A few minutes later Sabrina poked her head out of the front door to see what the guy was up to and he was at our neighbors shoveling their driveway. He got it cleaned off as best he could then went to the next one. He then did the walks. He came back in and Sabrina said "What were you doing out there?" Jonah answered "Shoveling the neighbors driveways." She asked "why?" His response (I LOVE THIS) "There was snow on it." HA! I LOVE it. A few months ago I took Jonah with me to clean off some neighbors walks and drives. When he asked me "why?" my response was pretty similar. "Their is snow on it so we want to help!"

I don't know if Jonah would have done that on his own without first me throwing it to him. In the church it's the same thing. The people won't get out and serve unless we serve first. They won't love unless we love first. They won't live unless we live first. They won't catch it when we throw it unless we catch it first! And by the way, Element is catching it!

When they catch it...

Jeff

Proud Dad

There is nothing like the pride of being a parent when you hear something your child did, said, accomplished or learned that just makes your heart swell.

Monday, Mariah was attending pre-school as usual. They were talking about the story of Balaam and the talking Donkey from the Old Testament. At school Mariah was the only one in the class who knew the story when the teacher asked who knew it. The teacher told Sabrina that the other kids had no clue what the story was and Mariah knew it. I was so proud of her.

Each night (barring extenuating circumstances) we have family devotions around the dinner table. It can be pretty funny. We read through the Bible, one story at a time, out of a childrens Bible story book. Then each of us pray for someone we know. It's been such a joy to see our children become "prayers". I keep telling Makalah she's going to be a prayer warrior. She loves to pray it seems like. Sometimes we have to keep ourselves from laughing it is so cute.

I remember family devos as a young kid. At times I HATED it. I wanted to go outside and play. Turn on the boob tube or do anything but pray and read the Bible. Know what? Because my parents made it a priority it made me into who I am today. Influenced the way I parent. Because it helped me so much, I now know the value of it for my kids, even when they may not feel like doing it at the time.

I am so proud of my kids. Can they be a handful? Well, is there sugar in syrup? THEN YES! But seeing God in the little child is a beautiful thing. Jonah, as wild as he can be, has a gentle spirit. He's always concerned about other kids. Other people. Wants them to be included. He loves serving at church already and at the soup kitchen (when we make it). Anyway, this is getting too long.

If my heart swells when my kids do godly things, how must our God feel when we do things in His name? When we live for Him? Chase holiness with reckless abandon? Defend the defenseless and fight for the oppressed? When we stand for truth and justice? When we share our faith, pray, seek, love, hope? I have a feeling His heart swells too.

Proud Dad,

Jeff