Covenant Church

Dad married Mom in 1937. She was 16. He was 21. As a young couple they moved to a textile village in NC. The owner of the factory where Dad worked came to him one day and said: "Lonnie, you need a home." Dad explained his desire for a home but shared his financial inability to make it happen.

"How much do you need?" the owner asked. Dad explained that even though he could do the work, he would still need $1500. The owner loaned him the money and asked Dad to pay it back as he could. When the house was built the owner told Dad he needed a well and loaned $300 for the well...a total loan of $1800.

Dad and Mom moved into the frame house with their growing family. A couple of years later Dad and Mom sold the house, paid the balance of their debt, and with profit bought 33 acres for $600 in Ashe County, NC. The old house had been in a flood. It was scrubbed with boiling water and lye soap---inch by inch.

In time Dad milled lumber and built a new house on the farm. In the early 1950's they sold the farm for $11,000, which was an unthinkable high price for land to that point in time. Dad tithed profit on the farm, paid the realtor, and bought land in China Grove, NC.

Why do I write you about my family history? Because I am weary with a spiritually-minded generation that too many are ambitious for a supernatural sign of where they are to be super-heroes in Kingdom work. There is an ungodly inclination of "God has something BIG for me to do!" No need to invest. No need for hard work. The assumption is divine promotion will come without investment.

"Me" is so over-emphasized. Me is focus. Me is the hub. Me is the center of the universe. Me is supposed to be coddled and petted, powdered and puffed. Me dictates styles of music and volume. Me is entitled to Me, above and beyond, in preference to---even heaven is supposed to yield to Me's idiosyncrasies.

I think a lot about Dad. He is with the Lord. Mom is still here. Dad indentured himself as a servant about age 14 to be able to finish high school. He worked multiple jobs--at the same time--after marriage to provide for his family and be able to pastor small churches. He denied himself many pleasures for the pleasure of serving others. He improved church properties every place he and Mom served as the pastor's family. He was always welcome to go back after leaving a church as its pastor. He built friendships for a lifetime and eternity.

A servant heart. A servant heart invests in the Kingdom. A servant heart chooses not to be selfish, but caring, loving, and to offer willing hands.

A servant heart builds strong relationships with love and gentleness.

A servant heart seeks out opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others.

Take a good look at your life. Examine your servant heart. Do an analysis of how you use your time. How much of your time is devoted to caring about bringing others to Jesus? How much of your time is devoted to serving Jesus...by bringing honor to His Body---the Church? Measure what you do for your immediate family and measure how much you invest in others beyond your immediate family.

Then ask yourself a question: What if Jesus had preferred his own family? What if he had stayed in Bethlehem working in a carpenter's shop. Read again what He said about who His family is...it includes you...every person who will take up the cross and follow Him is part of His family.

Invest your life carefully...the dividends will have eternal results.

Much love...

Pastor Bare

"...and he that winneth souls is wise" [Proverbs 11:30b].