My Heritage

I have thanked God many times for my Christian ancestry over the years. My sister has delved into our geneology and has gotten back in one branch of the family almost to the late 1700s, and throughout those years, God had placed an ancestor with a strong Christian witness that blessed us through those years. There is a small little log church in West Virginia that was started by my great-great-great grandfather who donated the land to be used for only church services. It had a loft to watch for Indian raids while the services were being held. My grandfather was well-known throughout the area in which I grew up in West Virginia for being the best and most liked preacher in the area. I was 2 when he passed away, but his children blessed my life so much. I had an aunt who took me to Sunday School and church every Sunday, and another aunt who was a missionary in faraway places. She would come home for a visit to see her family and gather all the children around her to tell Bible stories. My own father did not come to know the Lord until after I was married, but when he did accept Christ, he then became a lay pastor for many of the small churches in our area and was well loved and respected by so many. I have felt that God placed these people into my past so that I could be guaranteed a future of my own with the Lord.

In God's Word, He tells us we have a far greater heritage. In Psalm 119:111, the psalmist tells us: "Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart." Without God's Word passed down through the many many ages, where would we be? God's word is a lamp unto our feet, our hope is in his word and his promises, his word is our delight, our guide. "How sweet are your promises to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth." (vs. 103) Our ancestors believed in the word so strongly that they passed down the word throughout the ages to us who believe today. God's Word is the only thing that will last forever in heaven. God's Words will not pass away.

Let's make a greater concerted effort to remain in God's Word this year---His Word will bring life-changing thoughts and actions that will revolutionize our lives--make us different in our attitudes, will transform our minds to be more Christ-liike.
"The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and atittudes of the heart." (Heb. 4:12)

Read the Word---there will be many blessings in it for you in 2007!
Sandy