Personal Thoughts

I was playing an intense match of ping pong w/ my son and getting ready for our sweet little girl's birthday party this afternoon. This little girl intersected with my family's life about six months ago through the Greenville County Foster care program. She has deeply touched our family's life with her presence in our home.

To be honest, at first I was very resistant to the idea of bringing on more responsibility to our BUSY schedule and that is why I took the time to sit at the computer for a few moments to share what God has taught me through this experience with this beautiful child.

I was challenged through a quiet time in the book of James when he challenges followers of Jesus to not merely say they imitate their Lord but to literally DO things that He would do. He then gives us some stingin crazy concepts about what real relationship WILL consist of: We have to learn to keep our mouths shut when God leads us to, What we do personally with orphans and widows in their time of need will also define who we are inside as well. What externals are you allowing God to work out through you that is all because of His grace that is turning your world upside down?

Getting back to the sweet little girl that has been used by my Lord to teach my life important lessons on pure and undefiled faith. When I finally agreed with my wife to personally take responsibility for doing something in a child's life, it has been incredible what God has done in all of the Stroup family. I have to say that my amazing wife is the one that spear headed this experience but she was willing to wait on God's timing for all of us to be ready. Through her and her willingness give up even more of her personal time we have seen God change us and our kids.

God's promises are true!! If we learn to give our lives away, we gain it. He knows where the source of amazing fulfillment and joy comes from. I pray that you to will allow God to place an object in your life that drives you to give yourself away on behalf of what God gave away for your sake. For me and my family, it just happened to be in 2009 a precious little girl!!

Grace and Peace
Steve