Heritage

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward

As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. Psalm 127:3-5

The good looking guy in the photo is my middle son Andrew, and that lovely young thing he is holding in his arms is Eliana Jordyn, his first born child. She was born this morning at about 1:10 a.m. (Elvis' birthday, but we're hoping that one thing has nothing to do with the other). It was about as perfect a birthing experience as a young couple could have and Eliana is bright and alert and healthy as far as we can tell right now. We have also discovered that she loves being in her Dad's arms - Andy's a big guy (6' 5" 300 lbs. +/-) and so it must have been a pretty daunting sensation for the little tyke when he wrapped her up in his arms.

We're pretty much all about family, believing in recent years what we did not know in our younger years - that the family is the center of what God is doing in the earth and that it is through families that the Kingdom of God is best expressed through those watching. We have begun to teach our families that building a strong church does not necessarily build a strong family, but establishing strong, spiritual families will in fact build a strong church. We have five children and 7 grandchildren - with another due in July and every Sunday we can look around and locate them all - most of them somehow actively involved in the ministry. (Eliana doesn't have a job just yet - but soon..........). I don't say that to brag, rather as an awe struck statement of praise to the grace and mercy of God who has blessed us with more than we could possible deserve or even hope for.

I ache so badly for parents whose children have turned their backs on God. I cannot imagine that pain and I grieve for them. At the same time, I rejoice for little Eliana because I know she will not be hidden from the deep mysteries of God, but that her mom and dad will speak them to her in her rising up and in her lying down. Our godly heritage will live, long after Barbara and I have gone from this life - our heritage will live and our reward will flourish. For that today, I am profoundly grateful to the Living God, the God of all Flesh, the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob and the God of Michael, of Andrew, and Eliana!