He Goes Above and Beyond

Yesterday, I spoke about the “exceeding abundantly” greatness of God. He goes above and beyond all we could ask or think – when we move out of the way – and let Him step into lives. I’ll tell you some more of those times in ours.

Our daughter was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as a baby after she had pneumonia many times. But then, God gave us above and beyond our prayers when she was completely healed. Now, I watch her in action every day – using her lungs – where the enemy messed with her – to sing and speak about the Good News of God everywhere she goes. I have a simple taste of what Mary, the Mother of our Lord, must have felt when her Baby Boy started setting the world on fire with His exploits.

Our son was born with club feet and today he’s run over 52 full marathons. But, beyond that, that little boy who had a spark of sales abilities from a young cub scout selling the most Scout-a-Rama tickets, took the “above and beyond” mentality to a whole new level as a man. He came up with ingenious ideas, aligned himself with those who have the ability to make those ideas become a reality. He recognizes “the God-factor” and if you were to ask him how he does it, he admits that the products/services he and his team deliver are simply the product of believing nothing is impossible with God.

And, me, a shy introverted girl, who had such low self-esteem in herself, met a multi-talented boy who already saw the “above and beyond” potential and brought out everything he saw in me and more. I’m here today to tell you – NOTHING and I mean NOTHING is impossible with God.

We were going down financially, but kept holding onto our faith and trust that God would turn it around for us. I’ll never forget the day when my husband boldly proclaimed: “I’m done with the lack mentality. It’s time for a kick-butt attitude. I’m going to speak to the developer and tell him I can help him get those properties sold. He audaciously asks for a 6,000 sqft home to market out of (and live) and BOOM – God did the above and beyond to take Ron’s faith and bold confidence to a BIG WIN for us and the developer. I wash you could see that gorgeous, thriving subdivision today.

I hope I don’t sound braggadocious about anything we did and do. I want the bragging-rights all spot-lighting the goodness and greatness of our God Who delivers on time – in His time and His ways if we let Him. Though we would like Him to more align Himself to our ways, when we let go and let God – He’ll do above and beyond in His time and His ways.

Why not let this be our year of boldly stepping out and taking some risks in order to go to a new level? What if we purposed to partner with God and His ability to go above and beyond with our thoughts and our prayers this year? To see the “above and beyond” made possible by a simple trust in God – the ONE Who with “Nothing is impossible”. Why not start now? Whatever it is you are believing for, take the limits off of our "above and beyond" God. Don't question Him or His timing. Be a risk taker - a true believer - you just might revolutionize and save a family, a business, a marriage, a project, a ministry, and a world!

Train Them in the Way They Should Go

From the very start of her life, our daughter was loud. I mean crying-out-loud loud. When she was a baby, she cried because she was a very sick baby and later when she realized she had a brother that loved to annoy her, she was loud with her shrills and squeals when he as much as touched her.

"STACI!" I'd shout to out-shrill her. "Please stop screaming! And, I mean now!" Later my husband and I heard her belting out the song "Jesus loves me this I know" in the bathroom in perfect pitch. We knew we had a gift from God on our hands. We could see clearly that God was up to something and what the enemy had meant for evil with a Cystic Fibrosis diagnosis, God meant it for good. (Genesis 50:20) She was soon 100% healed.

We were young parents who realized God had given us a great responsibility to cultivate the gifts that were in our children. We were praying parents who sought the Lord earnestly concerning His plans for our their lives. In time, He revealed our children's natural abilities to us. Ryan was a natural born salesman -- winning all kinds of awards for top sales in Cub Scout Scout-A-Rama tickets and other school fundraisers. We were his accomplices when we drove him door to door to give his sales pitch and I was his bookkeeper. And with our daughter's ability to communicate in song and word was enabled by parents who continued to do whatever we could to open up doors of opportunity for her.

When Staci was very young, she’d sing little songs on stage at our church and her school. She was in school musicals and the choir. At 12, she started winning talent competitions, landed TV shows and commercials. Our son gravitated to real jobs in sales where he thrived. They are both in those areas of life today.

We were taking our cues from scripture. Proverbs 22:6 gives specific instructions on developing the God-given potential embedded in every child. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." I believe that verse is meant for their life and spiritual purposes.

In essence, parents are responsible for investing in their children the love, guidance and structure that can one day produce a life fully committed to the Lord in all they do. As we lead them "in the way they should go" -- according to their unique personalities and natural giftings -- they will live fulfilling lives.

We need to imitate Eunice, the mother of Timothy, the apostle Paul's prodigy. Her godly influence on Timothy created an ironclad commitment that would seal his faith in Christ. Eunice's devotion to that challenge carved a place for her in biblical history, and Paul remembered: "the genuine faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and that I am persuaded lives in you also" (2 Timothy 1:5). Like Eunice, parents can help their children fulfill their purpose in life by intentionally nurturing them. Here are some ways I encourage you to nurture yours:

~ Pray with your children daily.
~ Demonstrate unconditional love, regardless of their failures or successes.
~ Shun performance-based acceptance, and avoid forcing your unfulfilled dreams on them.
~ Spend quality time imparting character-building traits that will stand against the toughest temptation.
~ Talk with your kids about their day at school, their homework and their future goals or aspirations.
~ Find opportunities to hone your child’s natural abilities. I promise you – they have those – painter, writer, talker/speaker, leader, singer, musician, etc.

Parents who are vigilant in their pursuit to raise kids who love God and who will use their gifts to serve Him are trusting God for the outcome. So the next time your child has their stuffed animals lined up and she is teaching them or your child wants to create a meal in your kitchen (no matter how many pots and pans they have out and how messy your kitchen is), don't stop them -- encourage them. Applaud them. A loving and devoted teacher or a master chef may be in their future. Only God knows what's in the making. We get to plant the seeds and water them – God gives the increase!