The Most Important Things

This is one of the proudest moments of my life...

And tonight, Luke started the New Believers class at church. There is a separate class for parents. We are given tips on how to encourage our children in their faith. Two things really stood out tonight. Luke was given a box. It's just a plain cardboard box with a lid. His "homework" is to decorate the box. It's his spiritual keepsake box. We are to put different mementos in it throughout his life to mark his spiritual journey. I LOVE that! One of the reasons is to give him markers to look back on as he grows. I was saved when I was 7, just like Luke, and I had a period of doubt when I was 15. I couldn't remember much about my salvation experience because I was so young. The idea of the box is to give him things to remember this time by. Some ideas of things are his written testimony (which he is working on this week), the cup from his 1st Lord's Supper, etc.

The second thing that got my attention was the conviction of the Holy Spirit on how I am modeling Christ in my life to my children. They are learning from me what it means to have Jesus in their lives. What am I showing them? Am I modeling Christ when I yell at them? when I get aggravated at drivers on the road? when I lose my temper? when I don't pray as much as I should? when I neglect my Bible? when I'm easily frustrated? Lord God, restore unto me the joy of thy salvation!

And tonight, my sweet, sweet Sara prayed for some friends of ours who are leaving this week. They are moving to Indiana to become Home Missionaries. The kids and I got home from church after a reception sending the Hansens off. We sat down at the table to eat a quick bite and Sara prayed for us. "Dear God, thank you for the food, thank you for our family. Please help Chandler to be safe in Indiana. And please help them to tell everybody about Jesus. Amen." :)