Can I do this? - Day 8

i remember standing outside the window staring at Parker when he was born and wondering, can i do this?  i remember standing outside the courtroom after my divorce hearing and wondering, can i do this?  i remember looking at a wedding ring for Heather and wondering, can i do this?  i remember holding Faith for the first time as my daughter and wondering, can i do this?  i remember holding Ethan looking at Parker and Faith wondering, can i do this?  i remember holding Emma and looking at Parker, Faith, and Ethan wondering, can i do this?  yet, somehow we always managed to do it and do it well....

some of you have been following this blog faithfully and wondered the same question....can i do this?

i will be honest with you...i have been asking this question for 2 years now....i have wrestled with God and myself and friends for so long that i even talked myself out of doing what God has called me to do...

today in church, Rusty our pastor, told us that we all have a mission and a ministry...

Matthew 5:13-16 tells us

"you are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled on underfoot.  You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do we light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

i am in no way a biblical expert, but i think what Jesus is saying to us that we need to pee or get off the pot...or as Rusty said, we have drifted away from our mission and ministry....

you say, how can i do this?  i am glad you asked...  You and Jesus are capable of anything...and i mean anything...

Challenge:

Take 15 minutes and write down what you and your family would like to do for God...

• it could be a mission minded project you and your family could do for someone with the holidays coming up.
• it could be a ministry you and your family could work on together.
• maybe you just want to start having a family night once a week in your own home with a devotion.
• maybe you are going to start praying with your wife and family daily....

these are just some ideas....just remember, everything you do, do it as if you are doing it for the Lord....

Next Challenge:

Take 15 minutes and write down how you will do it and what is everyones role.....

• your role as a leader
• your spouse(if applicable) will play what role???
• your kids(if applicable) will be responsible for what???

Your thinking the same question again and the answer is before you....now the fun begins....  its time to see if everyone in the house is on board and you can talk about what you have been doing for the past week on your own....its time to share what God has been speaking to you about as you have worked through this blog...

James chapter 2 tells us

"in the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead..."

this is where the rubber meets the road....

be sincere, be real, and be who God intended you to be....

if any of you would be so kind to help me out, send me your ideas of what you and you family are doing so i can use it as data for future action plans for other families...

justinpresley1977@gmail.com