RE: [allaboutfamilies] All About Families Newsletter August 26,2006

Thank You for sharing this

I’m passing it forward to share with others & will have it printed up as a reminder to me

Hope that you all are having a Blessed Day

Love Your Sister in Christ & Fellow Stander

Theresa

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Dorothy [mailto:mimi@chatlink.com]
Sent: Saturday, August 26, 2006 3:09 PM
Subject: FW: [allaboutfamilies] All About Families Newsletter August 26,2006

 

This was a good question for me, today, and I thought I'd share it with all of you, too.  

Mikal Frazier, the marriage and family counselor mentioned after Jim's article was the lady who first recommended Ed Wheat's book, LOVE LIFE FOR EVERY MARRIED COUPLE.

Love and prayers,
 

----------
From: Norman Bales <nlbales@allaboutfamilies.org>
Reply-To: nlbales@bellsouth.net
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 12:58:14 -0500
To: allaboutfamilies@welovegod.org
Subject: [allaboutfamilies] All About Families Newsletter August 26, 2006

All About Families Newsletter
August 26, 2006
Norman Bales, editor

CONTENTS

JUST VISITING
FEATURE ARTICLE
TREASURE
by ³Mr. Jim²


JUST VISITING

³Mr. Jim² is our son. He serves as the children¹s minister for a large church. He works hard to help those children follow Jesus. He doesn¹t
see children¹s ministry as substitute parenting. He views it as an opportunity to provide resources for parents to help their offspring make Jesus the center of their lives. Sometimes parents and church workers send mixed messages. We say that Jesus is the center of our lives, but we act in a different way. Jim challenges all of us ­ parents, children, husbands, wives, grandparents, even single persons to take a careful look at the things we value.

Norman

* * * * *

TREASURE
by ³Mr. Jim² (Jim Bales)

In this summer¹s Vacation Bible School we talked a lot about treasure.
We tried to make it very clear to the kids that ³Jesus is Our Greatest Treasure.² It sure has made me think, though; do I behave as though Jesus is MY greatest treasure? How about YOU?

Think with me for a minute. What do we do with our most valuable possessions? We buy insurance. We store them in a safe place. We run to
the bank to make a deposit. Each month we check our statements to make sure they appreciate in value. We show off every chance we get. We have them appraised by an expert.  Bottom line:  We focus attention on our most valued belongings. That¹s what makes things valuable in the first place; other people focus attention on and desire them, too.

So I ask myself, ³Where is my attention focused?² Where¹s yours? I know I spend an enormous amount of time ³working for the church,² but am I focused on Jesus? I know plenty of people who spend hour upon hour volunteering and serving selflessly in the church and in the community.
Our family commitments are overwhelming at times.

What¹s your motivation? Where¹s your focus? If I¹m being honest, I¹m not sure I can always say I¹m doing it with Jesus in mind. Can you?

So what do we need to do to focus attention toward our greatest treasure? Prayer is great ³insurance² against the obstacles that
threaten our treasured relationship. We certainly can find more value every time we check God¹s ³statements.² Are you ³showing off² your
passion for Jesus and not just going through the motions of service? Do you consult any ³experts² in the field to help you understand the value of a relationship with Jesus?

Here¹s the other bottom line. These are all things we do when we have earthly possessions that we value.

If we aren¹t exhibiting similar behavior (or better) when it comes to Jesus -- is He really our greatest treasure?

What do you value? Where are we going to focus attention this week? My mom always says, ³The proof is in the pudding.² The Bible says
it this way, ³For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.² Matthew 6:21

* * * * *
If you have questions about marriage and family relationships, you can "ASK THE COUNSELOR." Address your questions to Mikal Frazier. Her address is <mikalfraz@aol.com>

ADDRESSES

Southern Hills Church of Christ
9080 Southwood Drive
Shreveport, Louisiana 71118
(318) 686-2190

E-mail:
Norman Bales: nlbales@allaboutfamilies.org
Ann Bales: Ann@allaboutfamilies.org
Mikal Frazier: <mikalfraz@aol.com>
Jim Bales <jbales@prcoc.org>
Web: <http://www.allaboutfamilies.org/>
http://www.sohills.org

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