Daily our local church Tarlac First Baptist Church (TFBC) has a two-hour livestreaming service to encourage the people in quarantine, Jen and I try to listen to it every day. Today, Bishop Frank spoke on training up a child the way they should live in a godly home. Bishop Frank said if the parents of the home do not live out grace, mercy, love and give a living example of what it means to be Christ-like, then teaching them the bible and taking them to cell group, youth group and church will not produce Christ-likeness in them. I can say yes and amen to these truths. I have even seen this in my own home. I do not like the dogs of our home nor the dogs of the neighborhood that bark all day and night to everything from people to cats, dogs toads. It did not help that the Tagalog word for dog is “aso”, can you see where I am going with this? My oldest step-son Gaius soon took on my attitude and verbal abuse of the dogs. It is one thing for me to deal with my complaining and murmuring spirit but to put that into another person horrified me. I quickly repented (changed my thinking) toward the dogs and how I spoke about them and to them. I also asked Gaius to forgive me and to change the way he thinks, treats and speaks to the dogs. Now the situation has not changed the dogs still bark day and night, but my heart is changing as to how I view the situation and how I react :) Small victories are wonderful!
So our lives in the home and outside the home speak volumes to people around us. I really believe our behavior impacts people more when they see us fail and then recover. Then to display I have a perfect life all the time as I walk with Jesus via the Holy Spirit. I am not advocating sin or failure! I saying we can be REAL with our daily lives.
About 7 weeks ago I think it was the last time Jen and I were allowed to go food shopping together. It seems we always go to the same food store, and also to the same checkout counter. I told you I love routine. :) The lady who scans our food said to Jen "Mam every time I see your American husband, he is so full of life and cheerful. How come?" She said, ”Well, he is crazy and also loves Jesus.” Wow that was a wonderful way to see that my light is shining. Matt 5:16 and I did not even know it. Jesus has come for us to ENJOY life everyday (John 17:3). Yes, even in lockdown. Yes, even when I do not like the asos LOL The bottom line is, Jesus loved me a very long time before I even knew Him, He loves me now just as I am, growing in grace, faith, and lockdown. Jesus is not disappointed in you or me, He is very hopeful that just today we will enjoy life, abide in Him and grow just a little closer to His likeness.
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Wendell and Jennifer Schultz
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