PURPOSEFUL KIDS: No Greater Joy

Once on a Focus-on-the-Family broadcast, I heard a man describe how his relatives had prayed for their family for many generations. They pictured all of them—children and adults—with arms locked in an unbroken circle around God's throne. At the time I heard this description, no divorces had ever taken place, great and honorable work had been accomplished, and most importantly, every one that they knew of in the family were Christians.

Dave and I often pray 3rd John 4 for our family: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."  We want our children and grandchildren to not just walk with Jesus, but to be bright lights, always burning, in the part of the world they occupy. We name our children, our four sons-in-law, and now our four grandchildren one by one.

HOLY SPIRIT: Ain't Seen Nothing Yet Holy Spirit

When my children were young, we opened our Christmas presents on Christmas morning. The night before, however, I carefully chose one for each of them to open early. With eyes as big as quarters, they tore into the wrappings in one fell swoop and took in the gift selected just for them.

As joyful as the moment was, I always saw something more in their eyes. Gratitude mixed with, perhaps, a little disappointment.

GIFTING: What’s In Your Hand?

Twenty-six-year-old Tiffany Johnson moved from Minnesota to Denver to work with Youth With a Mission (YWAM). There she met twenty-three-year-old Philip Crouse, and they both became leaders at the ministry where their mission is "to know Christ and make Him known." Several years ago, they were both shot dead at their dormitory by an unknown assailant. Two other victims are still fighting for their lives.

Twelve hours later and some seventy miles away, four more people were also gunned down in the parking lot of New Life Church as they exited the morning service. Two of the victims died, Stephanie and Rachael Works, ages 18 and 16.  It happened in my hometown of Colorado Springs.

PURPOSE: Are We Only Dust In The Wind?

PurposeLESS Or PurposeFULL

All of us want to know our purpose. Old and young, rich and poor, persuaded and unpersuaded. We all want to know why we're placed on this earth. 

Since early times, purpose has been a central quest for mankind, but apart from God, the quest can yield dismal results.