If you don't ask....

Let me just begin by saying that, for the past year, I haven't complained much (haha) about my little grandbabies, and Jamie and Daniel living on the other side of the world (well, in Duncanville and Midlothian to be honest). God only knows how many prayers I've sent up asking Him to make a way for the kiddos to live closer to us.

You see, with Matthew Sr. gone, it would be very easy for Jamie and Daniel to put Mike and I on the back burner; to place little priority on our relationship with Matthew's kiddos. We could easily be little more than strangers to our own grankids. It happens all the time; I can't imagine. But, thank God it is quite the opposite. We are so very blessed that Jamie and Daniel are standing in the gap that was left when Matthew went home to be with the Lord. The kids come to spend the night with us often, they call us and send us letters in the mail :) We thank God for every minute we have with them.

But, to have our little angels up in our neck of the woods is just what I've been asking God for. And, He's answering my prayers!! Jamie and Daniel are looking for a home in the area and I couldn't be more excited for them...and for us!!

Matthew loved his family so much. I know that he would want nothing more than for his kiddos to have close relationships with his side of the family. He would want them to learn all about their heritage so that they may pass it on to their children. Litte Matthew told me the other day that when he grows up and has a son, he is going to name him Matthew Garrett Butler, Jr. :) It would actually be the III but it would make us so happy if he did that. I had to laugh when McKayla announced that she was going to name her little girl McKayla Grace Butler, Jr. LOL

My son, in his efforts to encourage me to pray for all my needs, so often told me, "Mom, if you don't ask, you won't receive. And, when you ask, you need to believe God will answer your prayers!" So, this week, I was encouraged again. Lord, I will never stop lifting my requests up to YOU and I will wait patiently for your answers!!

Psalms 62:5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

Pass It On

Life is so short. Matthew always reminded me just how short. He would tell me that our lives here are just blinks in the eye of God.

So, when you take your last breath on this earth will you be remembered as a person who truly loved God and DEMONSTRATED that love to others? When you meet your Heavenly Father will He say to you, "Well done my good and faithful servant!!"

Are you living your life to please God? Do you invest time pursuing a relationship with your Abba Father by reading your Bible, praying, praising God, etc? Do you spend any time at all sharing Jesus with others and helping others on their journey through life?

OR, instead, do you spend your life in pursuit of money and material stuff that will only provide you with a temporary happiness?

It's easy to do. We are so bombarded with messages that make us think we HAVE TO HAVE the latest and greatest whatever to be really happy! But, when I'm tempted to live selfishly, I simply have to remember all of stories people have shared with me about Matthew in the last couple of years.

I knew my son loved God. I knew he loved people. But, I am blown away by the stories I continually hear about Matthew. Stories of how he gave away his last $5.00 to someone because they needed gas, stories of how he bought a total stranger lunch at the deli in downtown Garland and told them that he just wanted to bless them, and how he picked up a homeless man and brought him home to live with him and his family. Then there are the stories from the people he regulary visited in downtown Garland. One Garland businessman recently told me that whenever Matthew would stop in to visit the conversation would inevitably turn to Jesus and what the Lord was doing in Matthew's life at that time. I love hearing the stories. It only proves that God was so real to Matthew. He was alive and working in Matthew's life.

Matthew truly DEMONSTRATED his love for Jesus....especially the last several years of his life. I watched Matthew grow leaps and bounds spiritually as a result of the time he spent reading his Bible, praying, and worshipping God.

But, one of the most important changes in Matthew's life the last few years was that he began to realize the importance of having Godly mentors in his life. These men cared enough to invest their time in Matthew's life and to help him on his journey. They knew the importance of demonstrating their love to others. I thank God everyday for them!!!

I encourage you today to make a difference in this world; in the lives of others! Let people see Jesus through you. Demonstrate the love of God to the world! Pass it on!!