molding little soldiers

"You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." (2Ti 2:3 NKJV)

Whatever else God has gifted them to be, I want my children to be soldiers. Call me a doomsayer, but I have to acknowledge that the culture is getting progressively more anti-Christ (meaning its philosophies as displayed in art, music, politics, and behavior). This is the atmosphere for which I am training my, I mean God's, children (He's the Owner; I'm the steward).

I have no idea what the future holds. I absolutely loathe to contemplate it. I am very happy to stick my head in the comfortable sand and concentrate on the happy trivia of daily life. But that's not reality, and once in a while, I have to face it.

If God's timetable allows, my children will inhabit a society that continues to grow hostile toward the truth of Scripture. They will be told there are other ways to heaven, not just One Way. They will be bombarded with depraved behavior in the public square. They will face a growing deception among those in religious corners. They will have to stand up to overwhelming odds.

It's enough to make a parent start to panic. But the Father above has promised us that we can be "more than conquerors." He said He would never leave us, that His Spirit would always be with us to guide and teach us what is right. He said that we can have peace because He has overcome the world.

Those are the words I must teach my children. I must instill in them a trust in His character and love. I must read them the Scripture and pray with them and for them. I must catechize them in the principles of faith that apply to every generation and every culture. I must permeate their consciences with Truth so deception will never gain a hold. This is the training camp for making little soldiers.

I know I won't do a perfect job. I'm human and my efforts won't be adequate. That's the point where I ask the Father to take over, to bless my best, and to keep His hand over the little soldiers I am putting in His care.

"Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments." (De 7:9 NKJV)

"But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children." (Ps 103:17 NKJV)

"The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him." ( Pr 20:7)

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." ( 3Jo 1:4)

I have uploaded three new video clips of Narrow Way on their blog -- two are from the concert in Salem and one is, well, just go check it out. www.nwbluegrass.wordpress.com

Photos from the Schenectady, NY Convention

assimilating life

I read a lot. I write a lot. I'm an "under the surface" sort of temperament. I love to find out "why" things are a certain way, particularly as it relates to relationships with others and my walk with the Lord.

As I devour the insight of others who articulate their discoveries so well, I find myself trying to assimilate all I've ever read into my life. That's a daunting task. There are so many levels, layers to living. Processing all that information and keeping it in my perspective is not something I have found myself doing perfectly.

That's what I love to imagine about heaven. I'm also a "heaven thinking" sort of temperament because I believe it is a real place and I'm going to live there someday. I want to know about it, think about it, especially when the future on earth seems so riddled with confusion and fear. No, I don't delight in doom and gloom; I want to believe that the world will last 100 more years and I'll be looking through scrapbooks with my grandchildren (which will make all that saving of keepsakes seem more worthwhile!) But I know enough about the Bible and am cognizant enough about world events to know that they may not happen. So, keeping heaven real is my way of continuing to plan for the future.

Those books I want to write; maybe Heaven has authors; I believe giftedness is in the soul-we'll just trade earthly expression for heavenly ways. Why would God strip us of His image in us?

The family vacations we want to have; we'll just spend time together seeing some really new sights.

The things I enjoy--shopping, reading, photography, etc; I'll just exchange them for something better.

I know that whenever someone talks or writes about heaven, people start getting freaked out. Does she have a premonition? Why is she saying all this? Nope, haven't seen any visions. Don't want to.

I just look forward to all the great things heaven is going to be. Like, getting back to my opening statement, a new understanding of the great truths I try so hard to grasp here. Put all the eye-opening books, all the soul-enlightening sermons, all the "ahah" moments when someone communicated deeply with you together and you begin to see just a glimmer of what heaven will be like. The vast libraries of God's knowledge will be opened to us. We will see, understand, and finally assimilate. Now, that sounds like a fun eternity.

niagara falls

Our family ministered at a Regional IHC in Schenectady, NY this past week. On the way home, Friday, we went to Niagara Falls. Duane and I had been there previously, but our kids had not. Now, winter isn't the most comfortable time of year to visit, but it was beautiful. When we crossed back over from Canada and stopped by the American Falls, it started snowing and we about froze standing there while gallons of icy water plunged by us. It was quite a sight.