This week is my 20 year High School reunion! It is hard to believe it has been 20 years since I graduated, but as the old saying goes, "time marches on." For that last several months I have been getting emails upon email reminding me that this date was coming. I was told to mark it on my calendar. I was told to save the date. I was even told don't be the only one to miss out on your 20 year reunion. All that said, I'm not going! I know, your thinking how could you miss your reunion? The truth is I don't want to spend the money to go. These things have gotten so expensive that I decided I could spend my money better than at a reunion. I have to admit it would be fun to see some old friends and relive some old memories.
But the more I thought about reliving some old memories the more I realized that there is not much I did back in the late 80's that really means a whole lot to me now. Not that I didn't have fun or have good friends, but that was then and this is now. It is only what I do now makes a difference in the Kingdom. So I began to think about why we try to invest so much energy into the past when really our energy must be invested into the now so that it matters in the future.
Lately I have started asking my self what will my family look like in 20, 50, 100 years. Will what I have done now continue to make a difference in 100 years? You see, I believe that is where our focus should be. If I am doing what the Lord God has commanded me than I will have a generational vision. For most of us that is a hard concept to wrap our minds around, because it is always easier to look back than it is to look forward. And often times our pride keeps us from thinking about anyone else than ourselves. Truth be told that's what killing the family in the United States! We are more concerned about "me" than we are about "Him"! So we have to get back to leading our families so that when we are dead and gone the truths we have taught them will live on from generation to generation. You see, that is how you change your family tree.
It is an amazing thought to think that what we do now will impact generations 200 years from now. But it's true! If you are passionate about the things of God, teaching truths to your children, not settling for sin but loving the Lord God will all your heart, soul and mind then we can pass that down to the generations that follow. But it takes courage, passion, trust and obedience to bring about blessings in future generations of your family.
My dad use to tell me back when I was in high school, "remember who you are and whose you are". Those words have stuck with me. I want to remember that I'm a Kersh. I want to give the Kersh name a good name. But even more important than that I want to remember whose I am. I'm a child of the King. I more than anything want to give Him a good name. But I also want the generations of Kersh's to come to know that I worked to give God a good name and I want them to give Him a good name. My prayer is that God will burden you with that same passion for changing your family tree.
One more thing, developing a family vision is a new concept for most of us. So don't become frustrated or overwhelmed. Take your time and trust the Lord. He will give you what you need and encourage you along the way. Dads and moms, sit down together and plan your work and work your plan. Tell your family what you want to see happen their lives. Then be quick to never steal the glory from our heavenly Father. Remember it takes courage to change your family tree. So don't be afraid! Just trust and obey for there's no other way!
Paul Kersh
Family Tree Ministries
Monday, July 26, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Put me in coach, I'm ready to play!
There are a few things I have learned in my 38 years on this planet. 1. There are two kinds of people, those who like to relax on vacation with a good book by the pool or on the beach. Then there are those who have to see the worlds biggest ball of yarn in Timbuktu along with the jail that once held some masked gunman from some wild west town. As you might guess, not my idea of a vacation. 2. I have learned that bacon goes with anything! Bacon is a breakfast food, a lunch food and a dinner food. It is good with eggs, on a burger, wrapped on chicken and recently I discovered it was good on cupcakes. Yes, cupcakes! Go figure! So it must be true that bacon is a national treasure.
Finally, I have learned that life is very much like a game of baseball. In a game of baseball you play nine innings. Sometimes you are granted extra innings, but eventually the game will come to an end. So it is with life. You only have so long to accomplish your goals. Sometimes you may feel that you have been given extra time, but the truth is time keeps moving and eventually you run out.
In baseball you are surrounded by a team. Each team member has a different role. Only one person can do their job. A team can only have one pitcher on the field at one time. Each player must know their role if they are going to be successful. So it is in life. For a family to be successful they must know their roles. There can only be one leader of the family, says God's holy Word, that's the father. There can only be one help mate, that's the mother. Each member of the family has to know the game plan and work to that end.
In baseball there are those times when things are not going as they should so you have to make a change. Bring in a new pitcher, change the batting order, move men around in the field or take a risk on the base paths to generate some runs. So it is in the family. If something is not working like it should then we need to evaluate what we are doing and see if we need to make some changes. We must not be afraid to change. If we are, than we are destined to remain in the cellar and never move up in the standings. Without making changes during the course of the game you will never reach the championship. The apostle Paul said, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." We are called to press on, to make the changes necessary that will enable us to keep on going. Changing what we do so that we take advantage of the time we have left with our families. Changing what we do so that our children are more advanced in their spiritual walk than we were at their age. Not be satisfied with the status quo, but take some risk to advance the runners and score more runs so that the Kingdom of God might be advanced. In other words, if God is calling you to change what you do, do it! If He is asking you to do something that might be scary or uncomfortable, remember that He is the manager! He is in control and He knows what is best. He is not going to tell you to round third base and head for home if He doesn't already know the outcome.
If we are going to change our family tree, we must get in the game. Take the Word of God as your game plan. Search it out and see how God would use you to change your family so that He might be glorified.
I know there are those time when it is our turn to bat and going to the plate seems scary. Maybe God has laid it on your heart that you are to home school! Maybe He is calling you to start a business! Maybe He is calling you to run for office! Maybe He is telling you to stop working so much and invest in your family! Whatever it maybe, it's your turn to bat! What are you going to do? Turn and run back to the bench. Or are you going to walk confidently to the plate, point at the pitcher and say "give me your best pitch." You will never hit a home run if never get up to bat!
Don't be afraid to change your family tree!
Paul Kersh
Family Tree Ministries
Finally, I have learned that life is very much like a game of baseball. In a game of baseball you play nine innings. Sometimes you are granted extra innings, but eventually the game will come to an end. So it is with life. You only have so long to accomplish your goals. Sometimes you may feel that you have been given extra time, but the truth is time keeps moving and eventually you run out.
In baseball you are surrounded by a team. Each team member has a different role. Only one person can do their job. A team can only have one pitcher on the field at one time. Each player must know their role if they are going to be successful. So it is in life. For a family to be successful they must know their roles. There can only be one leader of the family, says God's holy Word, that's the father. There can only be one help mate, that's the mother. Each member of the family has to know the game plan and work to that end.
In baseball there are those times when things are not going as they should so you have to make a change. Bring in a new pitcher, change the batting order, move men around in the field or take a risk on the base paths to generate some runs. So it is in the family. If something is not working like it should then we need to evaluate what we are doing and see if we need to make some changes. We must not be afraid to change. If we are, than we are destined to remain in the cellar and never move up in the standings. Without making changes during the course of the game you will never reach the championship. The apostle Paul said, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." We are called to press on, to make the changes necessary that will enable us to keep on going. Changing what we do so that we take advantage of the time we have left with our families. Changing what we do so that our children are more advanced in their spiritual walk than we were at their age. Not be satisfied with the status quo, but take some risk to advance the runners and score more runs so that the Kingdom of God might be advanced. In other words, if God is calling you to change what you do, do it! If He is asking you to do something that might be scary or uncomfortable, remember that He is the manager! He is in control and He knows what is best. He is not going to tell you to round third base and head for home if He doesn't already know the outcome.
If we are going to change our family tree, we must get in the game. Take the Word of God as your game plan. Search it out and see how God would use you to change your family so that He might be glorified.
I know there are those time when it is our turn to bat and going to the plate seems scary. Maybe God has laid it on your heart that you are to home school! Maybe He is calling you to start a business! Maybe He is calling you to run for office! Maybe He is telling you to stop working so much and invest in your family! Whatever it maybe, it's your turn to bat! What are you going to do? Turn and run back to the bench. Or are you going to walk confidently to the plate, point at the pitcher and say "give me your best pitch." You will never hit a home run if never get up to bat!
Don't be afraid to change your family tree!
Paul Kersh
Family Tree Ministries
Monday, July 12, 2010
It's Hard to Eat Jello with a Fork!
It has been a few weeks since my last post. I have been gone on a mission trip to Brazil. We saw God do some great things on our trip. It was amazing to see Him show up and show out. It truly was a great trip.
There were several things I learned while away. There were also some things God reminded me of, for instance, it's hard to eat jello with a fork. I know, I know, you are asking why were you eating Jello? Good question. But the truth of the matter is I was eating jello and I have no good excuse. They had no spoons so I was using my fork. Here is what I learned while trying to eat jello with a fork. It can be done but it is not the best way of doing it.
Isn't that the way we live a lot of the time. We are doing things that are not necessarily wrong, but it just may not be the best way of doing things or the best that God has for you.
I know many good parents who are raising their children the way their parents raised them. Now, there may not be anything wrong with the way they are raising their children it just may not be the best way that God has for them.
The same is true with many churches. How churches do church may not be bad, but it may not be the best. So here in lies our problem. How do we know God's best? We must go back to the Word of God and see what He has to say about what we are doing. If that means church, then Pastors you need to look and see if what is happening in your church matches up to what the Word has to say. If it doesn't, get rid of it. I know sometimes it's hard to get rid of that "sacred cow" but it must be done if you want the best.
Parents, if you want to raise extraordinaire kids instead of ordinary kids than you must change your family tree. Don't go do the same thing your parents did even if it is good if it doesn't' match up to God's best.
So starting today I've decided that my children should get God's best. That must start with me. I have to invest in them. I have to put my selfishness aside. I have to serve them Jesus. I have to let them see Jesus in me. I have to make God's Word as important to me as any sports event or hunting trip or worldly possession I might have. Falling in love with Jesus with all my heart and all my soul and all my mind must be the most important thing in my life. If I do that I won't be eating jello with a fork, but I will be washing the feet of my children and serving them the creator and Savior of the world. And that is the best thing I could give them.
Don't be afraid to change your family tree. So stop eating jello with a fork!
Paul Kersh
Family Tree Ministries
There were several things I learned while away. There were also some things God reminded me of, for instance, it's hard to eat jello with a fork. I know, I know, you are asking why were you eating Jello? Good question. But the truth of the matter is I was eating jello and I have no good excuse. They had no spoons so I was using my fork. Here is what I learned while trying to eat jello with a fork. It can be done but it is not the best way of doing it.
Isn't that the way we live a lot of the time. We are doing things that are not necessarily wrong, but it just may not be the best way of doing things or the best that God has for you.
I know many good parents who are raising their children the way their parents raised them. Now, there may not be anything wrong with the way they are raising their children it just may not be the best way that God has for them.
The same is true with many churches. How churches do church may not be bad, but it may not be the best. So here in lies our problem. How do we know God's best? We must go back to the Word of God and see what He has to say about what we are doing. If that means church, then Pastors you need to look and see if what is happening in your church matches up to what the Word has to say. If it doesn't, get rid of it. I know sometimes it's hard to get rid of that "sacred cow" but it must be done if you want the best.
Parents, if you want to raise extraordinaire kids instead of ordinary kids than you must change your family tree. Don't go do the same thing your parents did even if it is good if it doesn't' match up to God's best.
So starting today I've decided that my children should get God's best. That must start with me. I have to invest in them. I have to put my selfishness aside. I have to serve them Jesus. I have to let them see Jesus in me. I have to make God's Word as important to me as any sports event or hunting trip or worldly possession I might have. Falling in love with Jesus with all my heart and all my soul and all my mind must be the most important thing in my life. If I do that I won't be eating jello with a fork, but I will be washing the feet of my children and serving them the creator and Savior of the world. And that is the best thing I could give them.
Don't be afraid to change your family tree. So stop eating jello with a fork!
Paul Kersh
Family Tree Ministries
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)