influencing those closest to you

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Our son and I just returned from a trip that was just the two of us. Mostly we just took in the sights in the LA area of California, but we also took in some really cool conversation and moments we want to treasure.

This is one incredible kid. He is our youngest, and he has a personality that is developing. In face his sense of humor is getting stronger as his whit and wisdom. I am amazed by him in so many ways, and this trip proved this once again.

Several of our moments together will stick out to me for a long, long time. It was awesome to watch him enjoy some of the things that we saw. Some of the conversations we had were intense. They were even a little uncomfortable, but they happened. Even they went pretty well.

One of the things that stands our to me in the lives of young people is the way we let things slide. It is ok to compromise or to give in to pressure. Most have little or no good influence in our lives, and that is why we as a family asked an important question a few years ago. How can we influence our kids for God a little further.

We made some choices. One choice was this special trip when they were 13 years old. I am not the best at confrontation or of our hard conversations, but getting away, out of your comfort zone, there are ideas shared and motives examined that may be left alone.

I will treasure a lot of what we did, but I will most treasure the fact that I helped shape or sharpen my son as he becomes a man and continues to grow up.

I will also pray that some of the things we talked about will sink in. It is easy to follow the crowd or do what is comfortable, but I pray that my son will be a difference maker. I pray that he will pursue good. Purse doing good and not just being good. Pursue pushing evil aside and influence others for what is best and how God, our Savior and Lord, influences us.

How are you influencing the people closest to you?

Romans 12:21 NLT

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

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 ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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