"To offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example" (2 Thessalonians 3:9).

Brooksyne and I really enjoy a commercial for Jif Peanut butter on TV. Perhaps you've seen it.  A little girl is sitting with her dad making a peanut butter sandwich. She watches as he spreads the peanut butter and then folds the bread in half.  With an inquisitive look she asks him why he does it that way.  He answers, "Because that's the way my dad always did it."  "That's silly" she replies.  But then goes on to imitate her dad's way of preparing his peanut butter sandwich before taking a bite out of the middle of the folded bread. Her dad looks on with a smile. That's a powerful illustration of how we pass on our example from generation to generation.

My dad passed away eight years ago but I have so many wonderful memories.  He loved his wife and kids and worked hard to provide for his family. He was a great example to me in so many ways and I even recognize more as I get older.  To this day I recall special teaching moments in which I realize he was showing his care, although I didn't necessarily recognize it at the time or more than likely I took it for granted. Now I do the same with Ester.

Here's my favorite photo of my Dad as a grandpa. He's holding Ester when she was a baby and they both have a great smile. This was taken fifteen or sixteen years ago. To this day Ester has the photo in her room and although my Dad was her first grandparent to go to heaven she still has fond memories of him!

Paul, along with Silas and Timothy, wrote the daily passage.  I purposefully selected a portion of the text that is really at the heart of what parenting and ministry is; "To offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example."  Today may we all remember our God-given call to model our faith and provide an example to our children and all whom we may influence!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

Brooksyne's prayer: Heavenly Father, only You can fully measure the depth of love we have for our children.  We will do all that we can to help our children make good choices and build a solid future.  But, Lord, You've made them with individual personalities and wills that allow them to charter their own path as they grow into adults.  Though we no longer decide for them we ask You to lead them.  Though we cannot make them follow in our ways we can live in such a way that they want to follow in our footsteps.   Though we cannot always provide for their needs we know that You will supply for all their needs.  Over the years our parental role changes in our children's lives, but our love for them is unending and our pleading in prayer for their needs will never cease. Thank You for being the supreme example of a loving, caring Father to us, Your children.

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Last week I shared a photo of a wooden plaque a friend of mine had made and many found this interesting. I made these into cards to distribute as a witness aid and also as a desktop image you can use on your computer.

Instructions on various ways of using this image, along with other desktop photos.

Here is the sheet of business card sized cards  You can place these on heavy stock and cut them or better yet purchase ready made perforated business card sheets.

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Ester has been Spike the cactus the last several night at our church's VBS!