We Believe

How many of us truly know what we believe as we go to church, speak the name of Jesus and walk each day trying to be faithful to the cause of Christ. The news is so full of Christians being persecuted, but one story has really captured my heart and mind.  It is a story from Iraq and a story of families torn apart because they teach their children and others about the good news of Jesus.  The story I read told of children being asked to renounce their faith in Jesus and when they refused they were killed but the parents were left alive.  If a little child is not willing to turn their backs on Jesus to save their lives, what would we do? We have never really been faced with that choice in our western world.  Yes, I know you read about people being asked not to pray in public places or churches being attacked but these are all random acts.  I know that our leaders in government are trying to make laws that are prejudiced against Christians but these are not life and death situations.  What about the reality of what is happening in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine, Africa and many other nations.  They are experiencing life and death choices and many are choosing death over renouncing their faith and trust in Jesus. Heaven is their home when they die.  Praise Jesus!! The Lord has had us praying for the persecutors.  Have you thought about that?  We know that it is Father’s desire that ALL be saved!  So while we pray for those being persecuted, we pray also for the persecutors!! We pray for truth to be revealed and deception uncovered and God’s justice, God’s justice happen!  Several weeks ago we attended a local church and heard for the first time a song that has captured our hearts because it is what we believe and we proclaim it to the rooftops.  The precious worship leader leads us with great passion and truth and we watch people around the auditorium lift their voices in admission of what they believe.  Now I cannot promise you that when they walk out the doors of the church they live what they believe in their daily lives but during that moment on Sunday morning with like believers around them, they lift their hearts, lives and voices to make a statement of what they believe.  I can only pray that if faced with a soldier holding a machine gun or a guillotine ready to be used, that I along with every believer in the world would do what those children done and say NO, I WILL NOT RENOUNCE MY JESUS!! HE IS MY SAVIOR AND LORD! Below I have the link to the song WE BELIEVE!! 

Please listen and worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ, the SON OF THE LIVING GOD JEHOVAH.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtPmX7e_Rpw

Loving you and praying for you,

Charley & Karen

Heritage

Heritage – anything transmitted from the past or handed down by tradition, something inherited at birth, such as personal characteristics, status, and possessions. (World English Dictionary)

  So much has happened since my last posting.  I will attempt in our ’we love pastors blog’ to update you on our personal journey as well as our ministry journey.  The two are pretty well inseparable at this point in our lives as you will find out the older you get.  I believe the Lord desires I share with you a personal experience we had this weekend.  We know a precious family who began a family tradition of honoring their children when they reach their 16^th birthday. So far they have done this for 9 of their children.  They have 12 so only 3 more to go but we have had the privilege to be a part of several of these ‘coming of age’ birthday parties.  Each one has been unique and special as each child is also very special, gifted and anointed by the Lord for His purposes.  We are asked to pray and ask the Lord what to share with each child.  The most recent son brought forth the message of Heritage.  This young man has a Godly heritage but that is not always the case.  I want to share part of what we wrote and read over the young man being honored.

  Every person in the world has a heritage that comes from their family and they must choose whether to continue this heritage or change it.  Because we know this family, we know that they have chosen a Godly heritage based on Father’s Holy Word not only for the mom and dad but for them to pass on this Godly heritage to their children.  This son is at a place in his life where he must choose for himself. His mom and dad have chosen that ‘As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord ‘(Joshua 24:15). We asked him ‘What are you going to do with your freedom of choice?’ Are you going to choose to continue the heritage from God and your family that has been placed before you or are you going to change? We, Charley and I, made a decision on this day to continue to pray for this young man that he will seek the Lord with all his heart, lean not on his own understanding, in all his ways acknowledge Him that He shall direct his paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).  As he follows this direction, he will continue the heritage that has been set before him.  He will hear God’s voice and God’s blessings will overtake him (Deuteronomy 28:1-2).

  Take a moment for yourself to read these scriptures and reflect on the heritage you have enjoyed through your life and choose you this day who you will serve.  This opportunity to share this with this young man who has turned 16 gave us a moment to reaffirm our own commitment to provide and pass on a Godly Heritage to our own children and grandchildren.  That has been our joy through many years but today, June 9, 2014 we choose to continue that lifestyle of telling not only our family about Jesus but others about His amazing love for them.