MasterCard Moments and Influence

Praise Be To God The Father and Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Had an amazing weekend that was highlighted by 2 "MasterCard Moments!"

On Saturday, I was able to catch some of R's Futbol Match! The halftime whistle had just blown and as he was walking off the field during the break in action, he caught my eye and sprinted straight towards me, leaping into my arms for a hug that I will replay in mind for ages to come!

On Sunday, Jeffrey and I went to go and pick up Sweet Eyes from the nursery...as we walked in, the door swung open...Like a crowd at a Thanksgiving day sale, all the kids busted out of the door in full sprint! Of course, one special champ stood out among the group, it was Sweetness! As we made eye contact she came sprinting straight towards us, jumping into my arms with a BIG 'ol smile that could light up the sky!

Wow! As I think about these moments, I think of Influence. If you were to ask me what Influence looks like, I would say it looks like your nephew in his soccer uniform and your niece in her sweet sweater-like green dress, sprinting towards you and jumping straight into your arms!

This is not to brag on my part at all, what I am saying is that Influence is based on relationships. Time Invested relationships instead of time obligated relationships. I am Blessed by God Almighty to be able to spend so much time with them and it is my Prayer that I am influencing them in The Name of Jesus Christ!

They have Influence on me probably more than I have Influence them. They have totally changed my out look on relationships and how important they are to human survival. And it is only because of the time we spend together, the rich time we spend together, that reactions such as seeing someone and wanting to sprint and jump into their arms occurs!

R and Sweet Eyes, thank you for these "MasterCard Moments!" God-Willing, I Pray for many more! I am extremely Blessed that we have this type of sprint-jumping-hugging relationship!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 journal:

Thankful: For Sprint-Jumping-Hugs! For Blessed travels and Health, G's emceeing of Miss MSU Pageant, his "team" travel to see the Dogs on Homecoming and for each and all's endeavors and opportunities! For Mom being courageous in her new job! It's Amazing how God opens up opportunities and Leads us into new Promise Lands on a daily basis! Harooh!

Joyful: For the opportunity to Influence and to be Influenced by our God-Ordained Family!

Prayerful: To Influence others for Jesus Christ! For the development of "Nuby" and His Healthy Birth! To have sprint-jumping-hugs with him! For W's carrying and delivery of "Nuby as well as their recovery!" I Pray to witness each family give "Nuby" a huge hug and kiss on his birthday! I Pray For Jeffrey's "Spartan-Leadership" with his family and his ministries and his school, Church-Planting, Ordination, book writing. For Sweetness and her "15 Month Birthday! continuing to grow in life and being a source of God's Light!" For Dad's opportunites and Faith, Mom's new opportunities and Courage, for G's Lion Chasing and Discovery, J-Lo's School and Work and Peace, and for R's and S's joy and discovery of life each new day! For Phil and Mary's healing and work! For a Blessed wrap up of October with the costume-soup party, a God-Ordained November and Thanksgiving celebration, and a December to wrap up an Amazing 2008 by celebrating the Birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Christmas Day! Then... to live a Dangerously Faithful, Trailblazing, Risk-Taking, Christ-Following 2009 as we God-Willing welcome in the New Year with family, food, football and fun! For Andy, Jefferson Jesus, & Mathias to become leaders of men, representing Christ and raising their villages and people out of poverty and into the destiny they have been created to live through Jesus Christ! For my interview and God-Appointed acceptance into Medical School!

For unspoken Prayer Requests!

Just Say The Word Lord, To God Be The Glory! In Jesus Name! Amen!
Goo'day mate!