the one where i share words with my boy...

this weekend marks seven years. 

seven years since life stopped, jumped track and started down a new path.  seven years since several starting paying attention to God's plan.  seven years when everything that felt upside down and inside out began to turn toward someOne.  

it only seemed fitting to to dedicate a post...some words that have been stirring in my heart for many years...to my {step} son.  to the boy who may not call me mama, but the same boy who made me feel like a mama way before i was.  to the boy who was the main reason for things changing course.  the boy who is loved beyond compare by many...probably more than you will ever fully comprehend.

boy...you may never understand everything that happened when you were just a baby.  i don't because i wasn't there.  i only know what i've been told.  but, from what i've been told, glorious beauty was born from so much pain.  all praise to the One who can orchastrate redemption from such destruction.

allow me to share a few things that may help you stay on the narrow path...so you may never find yourself on a path that breeds nothing but destruction...


~your roots are planted in two places.  you are abundantly blessed with family {and extended family} who adore you.  this is no mistake.  it is part of God's plan for your life. 

'may your roots go down deep into the
 soil of God's marvelous love.' 

ephesians 3:17

 

 

 

~you are strong.  but not because of anything you do.  God has blessed with you with an incredible atheletic ability.  and He intends for you to glorify Him with that gift.  not yourself.  not your coaches.  Him.  as long as you are giving Him all the praise for your accomplishments, you will never grow weak.

'but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. 

they will soar on wings like eagles. 
they will run and not grow weary. 

they will walk and not be faint.'

isaiah 40:31

 

 

 

~you are entering into this awkward of stage of no longer little boy, but not quite a teenager.  they call it the tween years.  i'm not sure how to handle some of the changes that are coming.  but here is one thing i can promise you...popularity is a myth.  and always trying to be 'cool' will leave you empty-handed.  there is a large crowd of people that will steer you towards the path of popularity and parties and everything that comes along.  but trust me...seek Him and you will find the path to true happiness.  if you ever have to second guess or question whether something is wrong or a good decision, then you will know it is not from God.  be one of the few that find the narrow gate...

'enter through the narrow gate.
for wide is the gate and broad is the road

that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

but small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life,

and only a few find it.'

matthew 7:13-14

 

  

 

~don't ever trust the 'boys will be boys' mantra.  boys who follow Jesus don't get drunk.  boys who follow Jesus don't cuss.  boys who follow Jesus don't have sex.  boys who follow Jesus don't use drugs.  boys who follow Jesus bury His truth in their hearts and seek Him to direct their path.  boys who follow Jesus, follow Jesus.  not the world.  the world will lead you astray. follow Jesus and life will better than you can imagine.

'so here’s what I want you to do, God helping you:
take your everyday, ordinary life

—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work,
and walking-around life—

place it before God as an offering.
embracing what God does for you

 is the best thing you can do for him.
don’t become so well-adjusted

to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.

instead, fix your attention on God.

you’ll be changed from the inside out.
readily recognize what he wants from you,

and quickly respond to it. unlike the culture around you,

always dragging you down to its level of immaturity,

God brings the best out of you,

develops well-formed maturity in you.'

romans 12:1-2

 

 

 

~a strong work ethic will pay dividends in the long run.  if you view your work as your ministry and your boss as God, then everyday will be a blessing to do your job.  be it taking the trash out or walking the dog or helping your sisters or performing surgery or pitching the perfect game.  use your work to minister to those around you.  allow Him to shine through you in all that you set out to do.

'whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm,

as to the Lord and not for people,  

because you know that you will receive your inheritance

from the Lord as the reward.

serve the Lord Christ.'

colossians 3:23-24

 

 

~don't be tempted into laziness.  laziness will never lead to anything of value.  work hard.  play hard.  love harder.  if you put yourself last and others first, you will always be blessed.  you will find yourself exceedingly and abundantly satisfied if you seek to put everyone else first in your live. 

'the appetite of the sluggard craves but gets nothing,

but the desire of the diligent will be abundantly satisfied.'

proverbs 13:4

 

 

boy, there will come a day when you will have answers to questions that have stirred in your soul.  but always know that you are loved beyond compare.  that love for you is what caused a change of heart.  and love for you is what drove so many to seek Him in ways unimaginable. 

 

 

keep in stride with the One who loves you above all else.  walking with Him will never lead you astray.