Titus 2:7 “in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us”.

As we have begun this journey I have felt God really speaking to my heart. I love when you hear people talk about the “still small voice” of God, it is amazing!

But recently I feel more like Job, not in my trials but in the way I’m hearing God, Job 37:2 “Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth”. I’m hearing Him shout His word to me. The only problem is I’m kind of like our children; He has to tell me more than once before I get it.

I am so blessed beyond belief. I have an amazing fiancé who will be my wife in just a few weeks, I am blessed by all of our children, I have a good job and my health. I am lacking nothing. Everything I have had been made possible by God, yet at the slightest sign that something isn’t going my way I’m guilty if complaint. I’m guilty of worry and I’m guilty of not seeking God first.

Paul is trying to get the point across here that “outsiders” (non-believers) should be able to look at us and see a difference. They should be able to see our actions and hear our words and know that we have something the world doesn’t, God Almighty!

So if the outsiders should be able to see that there is something different, then our children should be able to see it crystal clear. Right? At times I would be afraid to ask them. I know that I am trying, every day I am trying to show our kids Christ.

I love when I start to see this coming out in our children. Just the other day out of nowhere Tyler asked me if he could help mop the floor. I wasn’t even cleaning at the time, he just wanted to help me. No, he didn’t give all of his toys and clothes to orphans or do are all of his birthday money, but it was a simple act of kindness and love.

Likewise a few dad ago we were in a convenience store and an elderly lady dropped her purse and was struggling to try and bed over. While a young man stood right behind her watching, without batting an eye Emily jumped to the rescue. She cheerfully knelt down picked up all of the woman’s belongings and with her cute little smile, handed the lady her things.

Now I’m not saying this is the only time our children have done something nice, they do nice things all the time. This is just one of those instances where there hearts shown through without any motivations at all, they became servants. It brings my heart so much joy to see this coming out in them.

One thing I’m learning is to celebrate the small everyday victories. Every day of this life is a battle. That’s why Jesus said to take up our cross “daily”, and to ask God for our “daily” bread. Like a great pastor friend of mine once told me, ” sometimes you have to pick up your cross hour by hour and minute by minute”. At times you can’t even think about making it through the day but just focus on that minute then the next.

When in writing this, it’s not because I am an expert at doing these things, it’s because this is my reminder, my “to do list” of sorts. It is a letter to myself telling me, be an example to others, pick up my cross and to be a servant. As Paul said I need to show myself as an example, an exams that I can show to our children and each other and “outsiders”.

“Heavenly Father,

Please grow in my heart a servants spirit. Let me serve Ingrid, our children and others. Help my deeds and my actions and my words be an example of your love to all who are around me. Please allow our children to see this as it grows in me and let it be caught by them.
Give Ingrid and I the wisdom we need as we pick up our crosses daily and raise our children to know you love you and serve you.
Thank you so much for her love and for our children’s love and for what you have done in bringing our family together.
In Jesus name
Amen”