Fighting for our FAMILIES!

I've been a Christian now for 2 years, 5 months & 5 days. That's awesome! I feel so great!! So alive!! Life is so different. My immediate family (parents, brother & his wife, grandmother) are all Christians too...infact, my dad and my bro were there when I met Jesus and they led me to Him. That was such a blessing! But, my sister and the rest of my extended family are yet to really meet Jesus and give Him their heart. I've felt God challenge me a few times about the fact that my family are not saved. I've felt Him challenge me on the fact that I'm here in Gosford serving Him...and it's where I should be...cause it's where He wants me...but do I do enough to save my own family, or am I completely just tied into saving the youth of Gosford...or who knows, NSW...WOO!! DREAM BIG!! ...But have I spent enough time sowing into my own God-given family and making sure they know the love of Jesus too? Or have I become a snobby Christian who thinks that she's better than her extended family cause she doesn't live the 'old way' anymore? Well, I love my family and I'd hate to think that's how I've become, but I can't help but wonder if when my name comes up in their conversations they think of me fondly or they think 'Oh...that's the cousin or niece who became a Christian and forgot all about us!...pfft...who needs Christianity?!'

Recently I was told about a couple who had been 'expelled' from their church. They belonged to the Jehovas Witness Church and because they didn't want to give 10 hours a week doorknocking, or go to church 4 times a week, they were kicked out of the church with a 'DON'T THINK ABOUT RETURNING' policy! Their parents on both sides are elders in the church and have also disconnected themselves from this couple and their 2 children. Not only have they lost their chuch family, but also their earthly, maternal family. Now, I don't want to say too much at this point about the way that the Jehovas Witnesses do things because I haven't honestly researched it enough at this point to say anything. However, I will say that whatever they are preaching it can't be the love of Christ because since when would Jesus turn His back on one of His children? And if we are to be Christlike, since when should any church have anywhere in any of their doctrines that at any point a person should be turned away from the chance to enter heaven and have a God-given family that loves them!?

I've been thinking lately about my own family and what I do or don't do to reach out to them. Just the other day I was chatting to my cousin on msn and I challenged him about getting to know Jesus. I was so excited that I talked to him about it because I've never risen to the challenge to speak out to my family like that. 'But you're a YOUTH PASTOR!' I'm sure you're thinking. Well, yes. But I still find it hard at times to share my faith. Not so much with youth at church or in schools or anywhere else. But mostly with my family. You see, my family knew who I was before. Especcially my cousins and uncles and aunties. I hung out with them drinking and smoking. They knew I was messing around with guys. They knew 'JODI - the party girl!' So now I'm completely different. I still love having fun...dancing...hanging out with mates...partying...just minus the booze, smokes, and guys! But they think I've been brainwashed. The change in my life has been a dramatic one. For them to see that came as a bit of a shock, I'm sure. I can understand that. But why do I shy away from reaching out to them? I can honestly say with all my heart that I would do ANYTHING...even give up my life...to see them in a relationship with Jesus. And yet when the challenge comes I rarely rise to it. It's such a challenge. It's one I need to respond to. If my family dies, they'll be going to hell. I don't want to see that happen. I want to see my family partying in heaven with me and Jesus! With the King of all Kings. The Lord of all Lords. I want to see my family set free from the clutches of the enemy!!

So, what am I going to do about it? I'm going to SCHEDULE time to talk to them. I'm not going to be too busy for my family. I'm not going to forget about them. I'm not going to give up on them. If my family...my parents...my little brother...had not shared with me the love of Jesus and the precious gold they'd found in Him then I would still be destined for an eternal life in flames!! My life would still be a mess. In the last two years I've not only found complete joy, peace, and happiness in the love of Christ, but I've had opportunities I never thought possible. 2 years in a row I went overseas. 3 months in USA and 3 1/2 weeks in Africa to serve the Lord. I never thought that would be possible. I still can't believe I've been. It amazes me everytime I think about it. I've had support from people when others have let me down and hurt me. I've had money turn up when I needed to pay a bill. I've had a phone call right at my lowest point. I've felt peace right when things were about to fall apart. I've recieved healing right before it was needed. God has NEVER let me down! Why then should I keep that to myself? I want that for the world! But more specifically, and more personally...I want that for my family. I want that for my cousins and their families. I want that for my uncles and aunties. I SO BADLY want that for my sister and her husband and their 2 beautiful little girls! I want that for my grandfather! I want to see my family fall for Jesus! Can you imagine what JESUS wants?

If you haven't reached your family...be BOLD! As the awesome Pauly would say, keep pressin in! Spend time with them. Call them. If you say you love them, show it...show them Jesus! Tell them about your encounters with God. Don't be afraid to do that! Tell them about Jesus. You know, the woman at the well...a sinner...met Jesus and He spoke into her life. The first thing she did was tell her friends. When they followed her back to Jesus He spoke into their lives too and they gave their lives to Him. But they said they did it, not because the woman had told them of Jesus...but because they met and experienced Jesus themselves!! All you have to do is tell them and bring them! Jesus provides the encounter...the experience! He changes their life! So...the question is...how badly do you want to see your family fall for Jesus?? What are you gonna do about it?