YOUR FAMILY TREE

What does your family tree look like? You might have some branches that you show off regularly. Like my great great great etc. founded this town or invented this product or was famous for this reason. Jesus had some of that in His family tree. There are names like Abraham, David, and others who were "big" names recorded in Matthew chapter one. But most of us have those branches that we do not talk about as much because we find their actions to be embarrassing. In fact, we might have been made fun of or mocked because of a relative's actions. People might say, "You are a liar just like so and so," or "I am not hiring you because your relative was a thief, and you probably are as well."

Well, interestingly enough, Jesus had some of those in His genealogy. This is probably a good place to remind us that even the best of us have flaws. Even the "big" names that we mentioned in the last paragraph had their struggles. For example, Abraham lied (Genesis 12). In verse six, Matthew 1 mentions David but reminds us of him taking Uriah's wife, Bathsheba. Not David's greatest moment or the one he would want to be remembered by. Verse three mentions Judah and Tamar. Genesis 38 would remind us of their sin. Verse five mentions Ruth, a Gentile. Finally, verse sixteen mentions Mary who, even though she was righteous and doing what God said, was probably shunned and mocked as an unwed pregnant your woman. Then there was Joseph. Was he the father? Why else would he marry this woman? This is by no means an exhaustive list of the sins in Jesus family tree. We could mention many more.

Why would we mention these? Because Jesus was not bound by poor decisions by those in His family tree, and you are not either. So what if your great, great whatever robbed trains or rustled cattle. You do not have to do those things. Do not allow your family tree to determine who you are. Thanks be to Christ, you can have a new life. Go live it for Him.

Chris

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Let me be one of the first to wish all the mothers out there a Happy Mother's Day! I know days like this can be hard for some who have lost mothers, for some who have difficult relationships with mothers or for a variety of reasons that can make this day difficult. We also want to take time to celebrate those women who have given their lives to raise godly children. Tara once had a magnet that said something to the effect of: Mothers of boys work from son up to son down. How true that is. All the washing, doctoring, counseling, teaching, cooking, ect. that goes into raising godly children. You might wonder if it is worth it somedays. Let me encourage you that it is. Thank you to all you mothers out there.

I am reminded of Eunice (the mother of Timothy) and Lois (the grandmother of Timothy) (2 Timothy 1:5). There is some truth in the old saying that the one that rocks the cradle rules the world. Lois had rocked the cradle of Eunice, teaching her about God and Eunice had rocked the cradle of Timothy, teaching him about God. That had become a foundation in this young man's life that he had built on to become the man Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 4:17 as a beloved and faithful child of the Lord. Were there days Lois wondered if it was all worth it? Maybe. Were there days Eunice wondered if it was all worth it? Maybe. Do you not think if they read 1 Corinthians 4:17, they would have known it was? Or more importantly for them to hear the words from Matthew 25:23 spoken to Timothy, well done, good and faithful slave. There will be no questions of if it was worth it when spending eternity with your children.

Chris

FRIENDS AND FAMILY DAY

I hope you are excited about Friends and Family Day. This might be your last reminder before the big day. I hope you have made plans to be here, participate and bring some folks with you. Why have a Friends and Family Day? One reason is an opportunity to invite others. I know we should not need an event to invite people, but it provides a special opportunity to invite others. That is what Jesus did. Matthew 11:28-30 and Matthew 16:24-26 are examples of Jesus inviting people to check Him out and follow Him. He did not make anyone follow but invited them to follow. That is all we can do. When we are excited about what Jesus has done in our lives and know what He can do in others' lives, we should naturally want to invite other to "come" to Him.

How can I help make this day great? I hope you are and have been praying for this effort. God is the one who give the increase. Be prepared to sit in a different place (not grudgingly). Make a little more food than your crew can eat so the visitors can have some. Be excited about being here. Go out of your way to meet people you do not know or have not seen at worship. Maybe they have been members for twenty years and you feel embarrassed, but just be glad you have brothers and sisters in the Lord and talk to them next week, also. Help visitors find common interests with others. Maybe they live near a member or their son is in the same grade as one of the youth group kids. Try introducing them to each other. Sing. Some might say those are things we should be doing every Sunday, and they would be right. Let us make a special push this Sunday, but let us be about honoring God and encouraging others every Sunday.

I am exited about our Friends and Family Day, and I hope you are as well. I hope God will bless our efforts, and He will be glorified through them. Hope to see you Sunday with your friends and family!!

Chris