When I was very young I remember my mom and dad taking us kids to church. No matter what, we went to church. Maybe they didn't realize it then, but that godly foundation they were laying in our lives served to give us the strength we would need to survive our formulative years.
Don't you like that word "formulative" in my case that is another word for the years I was doing STUPID things that I was taught not to do. The problem as I see it in today's world, is that the children aren't being taught right from wrong. We were! And I thank God and my parents, grandparents, and neighbors for teaching me.
Friend, you may not think your having much of an impact on the people around you, or that it is a big thing when you are working with a bunch of roudy two and three year olds in Sunday School. But let me tell you my story.
After years of going the wrong way fast, God blessed me in spite of my stupidity, and gave me my beautiful wife of 27 years now. I didn't deserve her then, and don't now, but she is my gift from God. On our wedding day, on March 23rd, 1985 I recieved a card from a lady who had been my Sunday School teacher when I was about 2 or 3. Honestly, I didn't remember the story she told me, but I certainly do now. In a precious hand written note that I still have to this day she shared a memory of a day in Sunday School when she was teaching a simple lesson. She said that the topic of the lesson was sin in our lives, and how sin in our lives is kind of like weeds in a garden, they need to be removed by the hand of the Master Gardner. She said I came to her that morning and told her I had sin in my heart and wanted it removed, and she prayed with me.
My point is this. God uses simple people to do eternal things. Mrs. Thacker touched my heart with a memory she held dear in her heart, that I had long forgotten.
Let me encourage you today, no matter what it is that God has you doing, do it with all your heart. Whether you are a Sunday School teacher, a Pastor, a pianist, or if you are the person who cleans the church. Do it with passion and love for the Father. You don't know how many lives are being touched right now because of you. But God knows.
I am greatful for my godly heritage, even though for years I lived anything but a godly life. It was that foundation, that I was able to stand on, when at the age of 32 Christ called my name and I said "Yes Lord, I recieve you as my Savior and King"
Be encouraged today God loves you far more than you could ever imagine. Oh, you say there are weeds in your garden! Then let the Master Gardner remove them and watch how the Fruit of the Holy Spirit will flourish in your life.
Until Next Time:
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I
do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on
toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in
Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13-14
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