I had the opportunity to be part of the very first virtual choir at Mile Straight Baptist, the church where I serve as Worship Pastor. It was so refreshing to hear the voices in the choir and to see their faces worshipping our God.
Even though we are not able to sing together side-by-side right now, we can still worship together and lift His name on high!
I hope you enjoy the Virtual Choir of Mile Straight singing “Worthy Of Your Name”!
So what is TRUE greatness?
You can ask 10 people this questions and receive 10 different answers back in return.
I just got finished reading a book entitled Raising Kids for TRUE Greatness by Dr. Tim Kimmel. Dr. Kimmel is the founder of Family Matters Ministries and is a Bryan College graduate. He is an award-winning author of Grace Based Parenting, Why Christian Kids Rebel & Little House on the Freeway.
Kimmel begins the book by say,
A person can be successful without coming close to being truly great. And wouldn’t we all rather aim our children toward true greatness?
I believe that every parent would want their children to be truly great! The problem is that people have looked to the world to gain their definition of success instead of looking into God’s Word. The world defines success by the following:
By the world’s standards, if you have these things, then you are successful. It does not matter the cost or what it takes to get there. But this is so contrary to what God’s Word teaches us. Dr. Kimmel explains that “according to Jesus, if we want our kids to be truly great, we must first teach them to be servants.”
Matthew 20:25-28 says, “But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
God’s goals for our children often run counter to the default mode of the human heart.
Dr. Kimmel’s definition of TRUE greatness is this:
TRUE greatness is a passionate love for God that demonstrates itself in an unquenchable love and concern for others.
Sounds a whole lot like the two greatest commandments – doesn’t it!?!
Why do we dream such small dreams & expect so little from our children? Why do we assume that we have such limited capabilities as parents? Why do we assume that great people have to be the exception rather than the rule when it comes to our efforts as parents? Why don’t we think that our children can ever take rank among the truly great? Worse, why do we sell God’s bigger plan for our lives so short?
It makes so much more sense to raise your kids to live faithful and effective lives on earth and then leave the breadth of their success up to God.
Be watching for more blog post about Raising Kids for TRUE Greatness!
I would like to invite you to join Mickey Rector & myself for Parenting Essentials on Facebook LIVE every Wednesday at 12 noon. Parenting Essentials is a broadcast filled with practical advice to help parents train and disciple their children. Visit the Mile Straight Baptist Facebook page to watch!
Last week was very bitter-sweet. No, not because it was the last week of 2014. No, last week was very bitter-sweet because it was the last week that one of my best friends and I would work together in our current ministry positions.
For the past sixteen year, Clifford Suddeth and I have worked hand in hand at Mile Straight Baptist Church. Clifford served as our Executive Pastor & Youth Pastor, while I served as Worship & Children’s Pastor. He joined the staff in 1998 & I in 1999. We have served through some great times and we have served through some hard times, but through it all he has remained a great friend and a faithful servant of God.
So how could this last week of us working together be sweet? Well, I am glad you asked!
This is why – Clip, Mary & Isaac Suddeth have answer the call to “go into all the world” and become missionaries. Just how awesome is that!! They will primarily be serving in Latin & Central America.
For the past several years, Clip has had a heart for discipleship and to reach & teach those who know Christ but don’t have a full knowledge of HIM.
There is an incredible need to teach and disciple pastors, and God has given us the opportunity to be involved in His kingdom through this ministry. We are honored to serve God by serving pastors, their families, their churches, their communities, and ultimately the world.
Clifford Suddeth, II
As much as I am going to miss working with Clip and having Mary & Isaac around, I know that God has some great work for them to accomplish for HIS glory.
I am asking you to pray for them as they begin this incredible journey! To find out more information about what they are doing, you can visit www.thesuddethfamily.com.
jasonlsneed.com 