ReFocus » Family

My Grandson is Walking

bdaws49 — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 01:15:56 +0000

Baby Grant is walking.

Alternative Fright Night Event for Christian Youth Groups and Churches! – DANGEROUS CALLING

bdaws49 — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:37:16 +0000

October.. a month synonymous with spooky, scary, and things that go bump in the night.

The lure of unhealthy things for youth to do during this month is staggering. But what if there was an alternative?

An alternative that wasn’t only something that the youth would be interested in, but also something that would be a blessing to them?

Look no further!

Cloud Ten Pictures is excited to offer Christian youth groups a brand new, fantastic feature film, DANGEROUS CALLING, that will be sure to draw the youth and create a great Halloween / Harvest “Fright Night” party for them.

DANGEROUS CALLING

For a full review, behind the scenes interview, trailers and photo gallery of DANGEROUS CALLING, go to this LINK.

We are inviting Christian youth pastors around the world to participate. Cloud Ten is already shipping the DVD package to participating churches and youth organizations anxious to give their young people something constructive and fun to do this Halloween / Harvest season.

A tense moment during the film DANGEROUS CALLING

Ground breaking, trail-blazing, and innovative Christian film studio Cloud Ten Pictures is taking the task of film-based evangelism to another level.

A drowning victim during another intense moment in DANGEROUS CALLING

Cloud Ten’s owner, Paul Lalonde spent many years as a youth outreach worker and is very excited about this opportunity. Here are some thoughts from Paul Lalonde, owner of Cloud Ten Pictures:

Any youth pastor can tell you, this is not always an easy group to reach in terms of entertainment. In fact, you don’t have to be a youth pastor or a teacher to appreciate that challenge – just ask any parent! … While fright night is not really an evangelical outreach per se, it is carefully designed as a very simple two-step process.

First and foremost we have to grab their attention, and that means putting something on the screen that they actually want to watch. Secondly, we want to make sure we present them with something worth talking about. Some powerful fodder for meaningful dialog afterwards. That’s really the key – talking.

Ever get that “sinking feeling?”

This is not a canned sermon – it’s food for thought packaged in an exciting edge of your pew thriller.”

With a nod to films like PSYCHO and MISERY, DANGEROUS CALLING is not your typical “church movie.” A new pastor in a small-town church stands up to a few controlling church members who oppose his new ideas for reaching the youth of the community, and he and his wife face dire consequences.

Pretty scary when the Pastor’s wife needs to hide in the church

So it’s a movie with a message about Church politics gone wrong, about the way Christian young people can often feel misunderstood within the Church, and for me this is a big one, about the importance of not taking ourselves too seriously.

For more information on how you can obtain the “Fright Night” showing of DANGEROUS CALLING in your church or youth group, contact: Cloud Ten Pictures Office Manager Jason Pearson at 1-888-684-5561 or email him directly at jason.p@cloudtenpictures.com

Jesus said, “I am the Resurrected Life.”

bdaws49 — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:39:52 +0000

“If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.”

What would a wife like to hear from her husband?

bdaws49 — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 15:56:48 +0000

I think that she would like to hear the following:

Thank you for the wonderful meal you prepared.

Thank you for taking care of yourself.

Thank you for the way you raise the children.

Thank you for all you do in our home.

Thank you for taking care of us when we are sick.

Is there any wife that would not like to hear this?

Let’s go further. I think that she would like to hear this also:

You are a great hostess.

You are the best mother in the world.

You are really smart.

You are the light of my life.

You are a great lover.

You are my best friend.

You are really a strong person.

You are beautiful.

You are the kindess person I know.

Is there any wife that would not like to hear this?

Let’s go one step further. I think she would like to hear this also:

I am ravished when I look at you.

I am overwhelmed by the fact that you chose me to be your husband.

I love you with all my being.

My love for you will never grow stale.

I get plum giddy when I think about you.

Is there any wife that would not like to hear this? Which one would a wife rather hear? There is no doubt that every wife and every husband would like to hear some gratitude, which is what the first group of statements are. But if you had to choose between the first group and the second group, every wife and every husband would rather hear the second group…that is praise. We love to be praised…it does something for our self esteem. But if you had to choose between all three groups, there is no doubt that we would want to hear group three. This is the expression of love and adoration.

Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.” One author puts it this way, “Thanksgiving gets you through the gate so that you are near God. It gets you on the property or premises so that God can give you His promises.” Praise gets you into His courts. The courts around the tabernacle and the temple was the place where major decisions were made. When we need to make major decisions, spend some time praising God. Remember, God inhabits the praises of His people. This way you are inviting His influence in your decision making.

But, let us never forget that as much as God loves gratitude and praise, He loves for us to worship Him. John 4:23 says, “The Father is seeking such to worship Him.” God wants your love and adoration.

Is your personal devotion to God, a ‘group 1’ level with just gratitude for what He does? Or is it a ‘group 2’ level with gratitude and praise for who He is? Maybe you have been thinking that that is enough. But God wants you to have a ‘group 3’ level with gratitude, praise and most especially worship, adoration, and love. How about your church? Which level is your church on? Ask God to teach you how to love Him.

I will be preaching a series of sermons at Poplar Springs Baptist Church in Flowery Branch beginning Sunday, March 25 through Wednesday, March 28. Also, I will be preaching in Bradenton, Florida later in the spring.

Thank you for your responses…it helps to know if we are sending relevant newsletters. Please keep us updated on your prayer requests. 1 Samuel 12:23 (NKJV)  Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.

We love you.

Billy and Sheilah Daws

Don’t Ignore The Elephant!

bdaws49 — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 13:35:48 +0000

Off With Their Heads!

bdaws49 — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 20:21:18 +0000

What Do You Do When Your Child Rebels?

bdaws49 — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 19:25:47 +0000

Dealing With Children Gone Astray

bdaws49 — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 19:23:29 +0000

What Does God Value?

bdaws49 — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 15:33:59 +0000

God’s Word is a deep reservoir of spiritual nourishment. Spend time with the Lord today. Talk to Him of all that you are concerned about. Don’t waste any day! Learn of Him and lean on Him!

God continues to tell me that His focus is the process which is defined as the ‘as we go’, or the ‘journey’, or the ‘day in and day out’ or the ‘daily living’. At the same time, my focus seems to always be the end which is the ‘final destiny’ or ‘the job’ or ‘the position’ or ‘the date’ or ‘the opening’. Guess who needs to shift their focus? God is enjoying the process because in this uncertainty we draw near to Him. I believe God’s favorite tool is a cloud. Recently I was reading from Oswald Chamber’s book, Still Higher For His Highest, these words, “…spiritual insanity must result if we push down barriers before our spiritual progress is ready for the revelation. Men will not wait for the slow, steady, majestic way of the Son of God; they try to enter in by this door and that door. The barriers are placed by a Holy God, and He has told us clearly, ‘Not that way.’ God grant we may accept His clouds and mysteries, and be led into His secrets by obedient trust.” Remember, the walk is a walk of faith not of sight. Our biggest opportunity to please God is when we are in the thick cloud and we choose to trust Him even when we can’t see anything ahead.

Part of the problem is that we don’t seem to value the same thing that God values. Let’s face it…most of us feel that most of our problems would be solved if we were financially secure. I recently did a word search looking for all the things that God values more than gold. I found seven things. So…what does God value more than gold?

God values wisdom which is defined as “seeing and responding to life’s situations from God’s frame of reference” Proverbs 3:13-15 reads, “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; [14] For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. [15] She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.”

God values understanding. Proverbs 3:13 says, “ Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding”.

God values knowledge. Proverbs 8:9-10 reads, “They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. [10] Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

Those with knowledge are able to collect, remember, and access information. They “know” the Scriptures. God’s word is literally “in them”. But, it is possible to have knowledge and lack understanding and wisdom; to have the facts, but have no clue as to the meaning or what to do next.

Those with understanding are able to abstract the meaning out of information. They “see through” the facts to the dynamics of what, how, and why. They are teachers. Understanding is a lens which brings the facts into crisp focus. Understanding produces “rules of thumb” or principles.

Those with wisdom know which principle to apply now. Understanding without wisdom can appear contradictory (Proverbs 26:4-5). For example, “He who hesitates is lost”, is a valid principle as well as: “Haste makes waste”. We see the truth of both. But which should we apply next? Those with wisdom know what to do next; they know which way to go. They do the right thing. In contrast, there are many who have great knowledge and understanding, but consistently do the wrong thing. Wisdom, in this sense, is the goal, and knowledge and understanding only have eternal value as they result in wisdom, or what we end up doing.

James 1:5 (NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. !

God values His Word. Psalm 19:10 reads, “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”

God values a good name. Proverbs 22:1 reads, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.”

God values you and me more than gold. Isaiah 13:12 reads, “I will make a man more precious than fine gold.” This is where my self-worth comes from…God values me…wow!

God values the perfecting of my faith more than gold. 1 Peter 1:7 reads, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”

When we cry out for God to hurry up and let’s get to the end of this test or trial, God just sits there and takes His sweet time. Why? It is because His values are different…they are perfect just as He is. God values the process more than we do. For it is in the process, that wisdom, knowledge, and understanding are developed. It is in the process that our faith is perfected. “If I can stay calm, faithful, and unconfused while in the middle of the turmoil of life, the goal of the purpose of God is being accomplished in me. God is not working toward a particular finish–His purpose is the process itself.” Oswald Chambers

So…put down the crowbar and quit trying to force the door open. Let the process happen…wait on God…and at a point in time, the same thing will happen for you that happened to Peter who had an iron gate that stood between him and freedom: Acts 12:10 reads, “…they came unto the iron gate that leads unto the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street…” At the right time, God made the iron gate to open by itself! Mark 5:36 says, “Be not afraid, only believe.”

What do you do between the time your child rebels and the time he/she comes back to the Lord?

bdaws49 — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 15:37:06 +0000

God continues to use the life of George Mueller in our lives; he set as his goal to live in such a way that people would know from watching his life that you can trust God. Wow, what a testimony we would have if all of us lived that way; it would make evangelism so much easier and it would encourage the Body of Christ each day.

The question that some of you may be asking is, “What are you doing now?” God has given us a wide range of activity. We recently met with two pastors to offer encouragement. We are spending time at the hospital with a good friend whose wife is in critical condition. Also, we have met with several families who have believing children that have gone astray. I miss the preaching but have surrendered that to the Lord…if He wants that in my future, He will work out the details. I love what Oswald Chambers says, “If you will give God your right to yourself, He will make a holy experiment out of you— and His experiments always succeed.”

Last week we posed this question: what do you do between the time your child rebels and the time he/she comes back to the Lord? In looking at the story of the prodigal son, we have seen why the son left; and we have seen the father’s loving forgiveness when the son came back. But what do you do during the time of rebellion?

Sheilah went to a seminar years ago that dealt with this very issue. We don’t remember who led the seminar but one point stands out.

Truth + Space + Prayer + Unconditional Love = A Changed Life!

Lay the proper foundation of the truth of God’s Word.

Give them their space…let them take flight!

Continue in warfare praying.

Show them unconditional love when they return

This will result in a changed life.

St. Augustine is held in great esteem in Christianity. But he was not always saintly. He fell into a rebellious lifestyle and fathered a child out of wedlock. He was heavy into drinking. His mother was a virtuous woman by the name of Monica. Sometimes she almost despaired; but she was greatly comforted by a Christian friend who said to her, “A son of so many prayers cannot be lost.” Some time after that he was converted and went on to be one of the founding fathers of the church.

Max Lucado has said, “God has too much invested in a wayward believer to leave them where they are!”

If you have a child who is adrift and wandering from the Lord, meditate and pray the following scriptures…there is power in praying the Word.

2 Tim. 3:14-15 (NKJV)
But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, [15] and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 24:15-16 (NKJV)
Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;
Do not plunder his resting place;
[16] For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again,
But the wicked shall fall by calamity.

Proverbs 11:21 (NKJV)
Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;
But the seed of the righteous will be delivered.

Proverbs 12:7 (NKJV)
The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the house of the righteous will stand.

Isaiah 59:21 (NKJV)
“As for Me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.”

Jeremiah 31:16-17 (NKJV)
Thus says the Lord: “Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears;
For your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
[17] There is hope in your future, says the Lord, that your children shall come back to their own border.

Jeremiah 24:5-7 (NKJV)
“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge those who are carried away captive from Judah, whom I have sent out of this place for their own good, into the land of the Chaldeans. [6] For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; I will build them and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. [7] Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.

Psalm 23:3 (NKJV)
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Ezekiel 11:18-20 (NKJV)
And they will go there, and they will take away all its detestable things and all its abominations from there. [19] Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, [20] that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.

Prayer is the mightiest weapon in the universe. Use it to reclaim lost ground, tear down strongholds, and reclaim fallen believers.

We love you! Remember, you can trust God for God loves you; He is always right; and His timing is perfect!