My wife and I are excited about the new addition to the Wilmoth family! My youngest son, Todd and his wife Courtney have been blessed with a wonderful bundle of joy: Shiloh Michael Wilmoth! He's a cutie! He was 5lbs 11 oz and 18 inches! He was a month early but all is well! This probably means he will be early to church services, school, the job and all appointments the rest of his life! HA!!
We have now five grandchildren (3 boys and 2 girls)! They are all under the age of three! It's going to be exciting at Christmas to see all them anticipating the gifts etc!
But for me, I'm anticipating them receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost (with the evidence of speaking in tongues) and being baptized in the name of Jesus! That will be the greatest gift they ever give to me: The joy of having family live for God!
John said it like this:
3 John 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (KJV)
As a parent my children walking in truth is my joy!! In my life I have learned that I want to try and bring about joy for my life! I want to be a parent and grandparent that is not relying on church and it's ministries to be the first line of defense for the salvation of my children. I love the children's and youth ministries of Hope Center but I realize that it is my parental responsibility to train and lead my children and grandchildren! Listen to the words of the the Lord as He speaks to Israel:
Deuteronomy 6:1-7
1Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:
2That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son (Grandchildren), all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
3Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.
4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
5And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (KJV)
This instructs us that the parents who call themselves the people of God have a responsibility to teach their children and their grandchildren! In fact he says in verse four: There is no retirement from teaching your families! You must do it all the days of your life!
Father's & Grandfathers: Lead your families into the spiritual things of God! Parents & Grandparents: Let your children and grandchildren have memories of hearing your voice in prayer being lifted up at your home! Let them see parents and grandparents participating in the worship service, giving in the offering, praying in the alters and supporting the Pastor's preaching and teaching by living what the Pastor preaches! Use Godly correction with love and teach them the ways that a One God Apostolic Pentecostal lives (A Spiritual life of prayer, devotion, sacrifice, hunger for restoration of the early church in your local church, separation from the world and it's cultural, and serving others)! Don't lay that responsibly upon the Children's Ministry director, the Youth Pastor, the Pastor or other leaders in the church! Remember: It's your joy that is on the line!
