praying for my kids

This week I spent with some of our partners in ministry celebrating what God has done in the past and what He is going to do in the coming days. During a message Sunday night, Danny Akin, President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, said something that hit my heart in a big way. I want to share that and my conviction with you.

First, I remind you want God did in our home back in August. We began having family devotions. This grew out of the 40 days of Prayer for the Children that www.childrenscup.org does each year. I know that Dave & Jean Ohlerking along with their son Dan has some great rewards coming from heaven for their work with kids around the world. But they influenced my family by helping us hear from God almost every day. For that I am so grateful.

Sunday night God reminded me that I have this churning inside of me for my kids to walk with God and to impact the world for Him. But a question struck me and honestly blew me away. Would I be OK if God calls my kids to be missionaries? Would it be OK if they move to Africa or Japan or some other places thousands of miles from us? Yeah, my kids are real young. Yet my heart sank. I have been praying for my kids, but I have not been laying my kids at God's feet for Him to do whatever He wants with them.

Friends, this is huge. How many times do we hold back because we are uncomfortable? How often do we miss being who God wants or being where God is working because we are not comfortable? If I miss something, that is one thing. Get this. I don't want my kids to miss anything. My heart cries for them to experience a move of God and to experience God in greater ways than I have. Do you get that.

I have to start praying. Julie has to start praying. "God, use our kids. They are yours. However you desire and whatever you want, our kids belong to you." Not an easy prayer, but I am starting to pray it. Will you join me in praying for your kids?

Here are some God thoughts that come to mind:

Luke 18:16 (NLT) --- Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.

Deuteronomy 11:19 (NLT) --- Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.

Proverbs 22:6 (NASB) --- Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

3 John 1:4 (NLT) --- I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.

I long to see my children lead people to God. He gave us kids and grand kids. They bring us lots of joy and even some pain, from time to time. But what are we doing to lead our kids to know God and to go where He calls them to go? Are we being examples? Did our kids see Jesus in and through our lives?

It is time to start praying for our kids.

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you

why is it Good Friday?

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Day 8 in Cuba

We have just come off and incredible weekend, and it is day 8 of the mission trip in Cuba. Thank you to all who have been praying for this trip, the mission team and the impact it will have on those we serve. Please don’t stop praying. Last week Alex and I served with a mission team in the mountains of southern Cuba. There were several challenges, but God gave us safety, provision and opportunity to serve some of the sweetest people I have ever met. No running water… sporadic electricity generated by a small, logo dammed up river, no transportation other than animals, limited food sources and more. These people love the Lord and sharing their faith with others. Over the weekend we made our way back to Havana. On Friday our vehicle broke down leaving us on the side of the road for several hours. We then boarded a bus and rode 14 hours. We arrived safely and even got some rest. Sunday was so, so good. We visited two partner churches. In the morning we were with one church that

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