Who’s influenced your life in a major way? As a child, my kindergarten teacher was a huge influence for me. The things that I remember about her was the kindness she showed and her loving spirit. There is no particular instance that this jumped out at me, it was just her. It’s interesting how I remember this about her when I was only 5 years old. Her voice was always calm, her touch was always gentle, and her face was always full of joy. I will never forget the way she influenced me. Jesus was so evident in her walk.
What kind of influence would you like to be for those around you? We were created in the image of God, unfortunately we can choose to act like it or not. When Jesus comes to live inside of you, you are called to live a life that displays His love for His people. It is my passion to influence people to want Jesus and live a lifestyle that exudes His love. Knowing Jesus is the first step. The next step is what being involved in the church is all about, continually growing in your walk with Christ. Are you influencing people for Jesus? Can people see Jesus in you?
Volunteering is just one avenue to influence people for Jesus. Serving as Jesus served, loving as Jesus loved, and caring as Jesus cared. Are you being who God has called you to be?
My dear grandmother…God rest her soul! She never got mad; at any thing, at any one, for any reason! She also never put her needs before anyone in her world. She also read HER bible so many times that she had many over the years. Upon her death last year, all I wanted was HER bible so I could remember the feeling I got knowing my grandmother never stopped praaying for me…even when I was unworthy of her prayer(in my eyes I was but never in hers). She also dedicated her life to servitude…her husband, her church and her family. Her sermons were always preached with service and not words. I loved her then and miss her now for she was my influence when my mother needed to be hospitalized. In honor of all mother’s as we approach this upcoming Mother’s Day, I challenge you all to spend some time with Sherry and my wife, Leslie, two of the best mother’s God could have possibly blessed the world with.
To anyone who still can tell their mother they love them, do whatever it takes to bury any past issues and get this done before they go on ahead and you then don’t have the chance.
God will honor your effort and bless your soul!