Sun, 23 Jul, 2006 FAMILY

'Family is the anchor, keeping us grounded, supporting us, and allowing us to stay focused. A healthy family sustains us while giving meaning to our endeavors.' T. D. Jakes*

HOLD ON PLEASE KEEP READING--------

Okay lets be honest he did say a healthy family. Only most of us don't know what that is. We might have been raised in one but even then it was probably not our birth parents. So what do we do, to whom do we turn to. Who do we carry on conversations with about our hopes and dreams and goals.

Yes, most assuredly God is there and He hears us and He talks to us and that is the most important thing. Whom though do we turn to, that we can trust to go to, about the important issues in our life's. This is not easy and we have to be careful, the wrong person can turn our goals into mud. We need someone that we can go to that will listen, will comfort, and encourage us in our life's plans.

This is where you have to stop, look, and listen. If you do not feel comfortable talking to your Pastor, well you are in the wrong church. Your Pastor is supposed to be someone you can talk to and ask questions of. He is supposed to be there for his congregation. Your church members are supposed to be your church family. Oh yes, you will find a Uncle Bill there who is going to talk about anything he hears, and Sally well we don't want to talk, but she has more problems then I do.

But if you take your time you will develop relationships and you will find the Granny or in my case it was an Aunt Helen who will be there for you 24/7. What we loved about Aunt Helen is you could tell her anything and she gave the best advise, you never heard her repeat anything. It was only years later we learned she had memory lost, so as soon as you walked away she forgot the conversation.

The point is if you take your time you can find that extended family that will be closer then blood relations. We are a part of God's family and just as we have many different personalities, you will find someone that you can bond with, just take it slow.

Until God blesses you with that family we are here for you, ask any question and we will answer you. And even if you have that family sometimes we have questions that we are uncomfortable telling someone we know, we are here for you. Maybe you are just lonely or dissatisfied with the answers that have been given to you. Then go ahead and write us. Now, please understand, we don't have all the answers, but we know that God's word, the BIBLE DOES. That is where we go to for our answers and relief from the stresses of life. GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU, rECJ/LJG

*T. D. Jakes is preacher, author, motivator, and entrepreneur. This quote is from his book 'The Great Investment.' In it he explains how the triad of faith, family and finance is the cornerstone of a life of moral success--success based on God's plan.

Family is supposed to be what keeps us grounded, being there for us all the time through the good and the bad. Family is who upholds us while giving meaning to our efforts.