Just Do It!

The unofficial end to the summer came this week with Labor day. And I for one am kinda glad it came. I love Fall! The cooler temps, the start of football, the change of colors, Fall is just a good time of year.

It seems that the Fall is a great time to start fresh. So with that in mind, I want to encourage you to start something fresh in your families. For example, maybe worship is something that you have done but only in the confines of the church building. Start fresh this Fall by doing family worship in your home. Dad you take the lead and spend a little time each night reading the Bible together. Spend time praying together. It doesn't' have to be complicated. It can be simple and short, especially if you are new to this. But in the words of our friends at Nike, "Just Do It!"

There are all kinds of ways that a family can start fresh. For instance, maybe it has never been a habit to tuck your kids into bed each night. Try it! Tuck them and pray for them each one individually. It's amazing what some of those nights will become. Some nights all you may get to do is tuck and pray. But other nights you may get to hear what they struggled with that day. Or you may get to hear the successes they had that day. One thing I know, your children for the rest of their lives will remember how dad or mom each night set on the edge of their bed and prayed for them.

Another way that a family can start fresh for the Fall is to start talking about spiritual things. If your life is like mine you get so busy with all the day to day stuff that sometimes simply acknowledging what God did today gets left behind. It becomes an after thought instead of the first fruits of our lips. Take sometime around the dinner table or in the car to talk about spiritual things. They don't have to be deep theological things. Just spend some time dwelling on God and what He has done. Look at his creation and give Him credit. Or tell a story about a time when you saw God's faithfulness in your life. Recount your family's spiritual heritage. Or if your family doesn't' have one, talk about how God is beginning something new with your family. With so much "junk" from the world having a high position in our lives, it is important that we take time to "Story about our Savior". Put Him where He belongs in our lives.

Finally, I think one of the best ways that we can start fresh is with our own personal spiritual growth. Make studying God's Word a priority. I have found that my greatest days of leading my family spiritually is when my own spiritual growth is in an upswing. The contrary is true as well. When I am dry and walking in a desert spiritually my family suffers.

There are all kinds of ways that you and your family can start fresh during this new season. So don't worry about what you have not done in the past. The past is past! But, look for ways that you can start again. Don't be afraid that your family is going to say, "but we have never done that before. Why are we doing it now?" Just tell them you are changing their family tree.

Don't be afraid to change your family tree!

Paul Kersh
Family Tree Ministries