Creation in six literal days video with Ken Ham part 5

Creation in six literal days video with Ken Ham part 4

Creation in six literal days video with Ken Ham part 3

Creation in six literal days video with Ken Ham part 2

Creation in six literal days video with Ken Ham part 1

Three days without food

Others first

Matthew 14 tells the story of John the baptist losing his head.  Jesus had a special connection with John.  They were family relation.  They leaped in their mothers’ wombs when they met for the first time- they were connected in the Spirit.  They were placed strategicly by God in their individual ministries.  When Jesus heard that John had been beheaded, He withdrew to a solitary place (vs 13).  He needed time to grieve the death of his close friend.  The crowds followed him to the other side of the lake (vs 13).  Then what?  Did Jesus tell everyone to leave?  Did he demand time to mourne the loss of John?  Was he more concerned with his own emotions than the needs of those who came to him for help?  Of course not.  When he saw the people, he had compassion on them and healed their sick (which took a lot of time and energy)(vs 14).  Next, when the disciples told him to send the people away, he performed the miracle of the feeding of the 5000.  Then immediately he sent the disciples in the boat across the lake.  After this is when he walked on the water. 

These miracles happened after a traumatic event in Jesus’ life.  He put his own problems and pain aside to take care of others.  Notice the order.  Deny self – then miracles happen.  Deny self - then  miracles.  What are you doing for others?  Do you need God to do a miracle in your life?  Then look to the needs of others and He will take care of you! (Seek first the kingdom, then these things will be added to you).

Name calling.

When my wife and I got married over 16 years ago, we had a lot of different outlooks than we have now.  Over the years, God and His word have changed our views on many things.  We have 4 amazing children and we are open to however many more God wants to give us.  We home-school.  We attend a church that is open to the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  We host a home church. Most of these ideas were not our way of thinking in 1992, but God had bigger plans for us.  Many of these lifestyle choices have come with verbal abuses and sometimes straight up persecution and mocking.  But we aren’t doing these things out of our own motives.  We have God-led conviction in all of these directives, which we believe are all Bible based.  Matthew 11:18, 19 NIV says: “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ’Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners”.’   But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”      When we follow God’s plans for our life, people will call us crazy or weird or extremeists.  But the Word says wisdom is proved right by her actions.  So I ask you, what are you doing?  Are you hearing God and obeying Him, or are you pleasing people by living up to their standards?  Jesus was called a drunkard and a glutton. What are people calling you?

STOP IT!!!

Stop it! I mean it! Don’t do it anymore! (I am preaching to myself.)  Am I talking about being a cubs fan? As tempting as that is right now, it’s impossible (genetic tendancies).  Am i referring to the bears? Heck no, they’re in first place! How about Notre Dame? 4 and 1….not bad.  No I am talking about doing my own thing. I have decided to stop thinking and start listening.  Yes, I can hear you all cheering with delight. What I mean is I am tired of trying to do  God’s will in my own strength and ideas. Jesus said that He did nothing except that which He heard His father tell Him.  That’s what I want to do.  So if we feel restless like we should be doing something, just remember: it is best to do nothing in our flesh.  We must be led by the Spirit so we don’t screw it up (like the cubs.)  Hear God and obey. It’s just that simple. So when your flesh wants to rise up and take over, say STOP IT!!!

Man-weekend

This weekend is man-weekend. My wife Marie goes to Joyce Meyer’s women conference every year. She leaves on Thursday and returns on Sunday. That means the Westafer boys stay up later than normal, play video games all night, watch movies, trash the house, eat only processed foods, and disregard all rules of etiquette important to females. Saturday includes the Notre Dame game……..UNINTERRUPTED!!! I get to drink all of my soda, without letting her have a sip. Then comes the inevitable time where we must blitzkrieg to clean up before momma comes home.

Ultimately, we have a lot of fun, sleepy eyes, and maybe an upset stomach from too much pop and bad food. But more than that we are reminded of how important Marie is to us. She makes sure we eat right, sleep right, keeps us polite, helps us remember the priorities-not the game. We realize anew how amazing she is at being mom and wife. We respect her influence on our family and love her for it. She brings civility to a band of boys that deserves a trophy or a plaque or something. And the closer her return comes, the more we can’t wait to see her again.     Love you Ree. Hurry home.

This is just a heads up: show your wife how much you appreciate her.  She deserves it!!!