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Every summer many families affected by disability are blessed at a Family Retreat, and you could serve as an STM and make a difference in their lives.

Although the Church is filled with messy people, God designed it to work in such a way as a family coming together and caring for one another. When we are adopted into His family, we need to plug into a local church family to live the Christian life united, loving our brothers and sisters.

The sour person says that life would be great, if it weren’t for all the people. That saying illustrates that while God loves us and Jesus died for us, it can be challenging to bearing with and encouraging those who require attention and help. It’s almost like being in a family. And that’s where we finish our study titled, “Family Matters” in 1 Thessalonians. Pastor Jeff helps us to see Jesus’ heart through Paul’s words in loving and leading those members that God seeks to minister to. So join us in 1 Thessalonians 5 for an encouraging time in Sound Doctrine.

As we come to the end of our time in the book of 1 Thessalonians, Pastor Jeff Johnson gives us a behind the scenes look at Pastoral ministry. Both the motive, method, and spiritual warfare that pastors experience in our churches today. And how God calls us to honor those who lead in the church of Jesus Christ. It is a part of the Christian’s call to live peacefully with one another. So join us for the next few moments as we join Pastor Jeff in 1 Thessalonians 5 for our study titled, “Family Matters” in our time in Sound Doctrine.

It is no secret that God has given gifts to the church. Among them are those who are called to serve in the body of Jesus Christ. And while scandals throughout distant and recent memory have tarnished some of those who claim to represent God, Pastor Jeff reminds us that there are many still faithfully serving Jesus. And God is calling more of those who will take heed to the call to come and  serve the Lord. With more on that, let’s join Pastor Jeff in 1 Thessalonians 5 for our study titled, “Family Matters” for our spiritual encouragement in Sound Doctrine.

In your family, can you speak truth? A good friend will tell you the truth. Sometimes families are afraid to speak truth. But other than God these people know you better than anyone. And they are supposed to be your best friends helping you become more like Christ. Who better to speak truth? What about this: Give them permission to gently point out sin in your life. Not in a critical or condemning way, but compassionately because they love you. It may be awkward, but when done softly for your good, why would you turn it down?

How to preserve peace amid trials w/ Caroly Miller Parr

Family should take care of family, right? I think the principle applies to more than just our physical family. In Luke 7 in the Bible Jesus takes great compassion on a widow. She’s lost her husband and her only son, which means she is in trouble financially but Jesus cares for her. We should have that kind of concern for one another. I’ve wondered, what if we, the church, stepped in with money and provision for the needy in our spiritual family instead of asking the government to? Well, care wouldn’t be cold. It would be bathed in love.

Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and it’s something I will never forget. I was at one of our Joni and Friends’ Family Retreats last year, and I was sitting across the lunch table from Susan, a single mother with two kids with disabilities. This woman looked so tired and she looked sad – which to me was odd, because it was the first day of the retreat. Susan wasn’t even sure how she came to be at Family Retreat. It wasn’t the sort of thing that she would normally do, bring her disabled kids to a Family Retreat, especially with a week off from work. Things were hard back home and I could tell this woman was full of lots of resentment and some questions, as well. The next morning at breakfast, Susan seemed a little more relaxed, more with-it. She had this somewhat surprised look on her face as she glanced around the dining hall. Usually, she would be anxious, she told me, not knowing where her kids were or who they were with. But at the retreat, she found herself just beginning to let go a little. Susan really liked the volunteer we had assigned to her two children. And now, over eggs and bacon, she was flabbergasted – even a little grateful – that she could take a few deep breaths and just talk to someone. Like me. The next day we found ourselves talking more. There was something different about her countenance and I could tell that she really enjoyed the morning devotional time and the worship. That afternoon we sat at lunch together again and she told me in a soft voice and with wide eyes, “never, never have I experienced anything like this. I’m a new person!” I found out later why she said that. She really was new. She had opened her heart to Christ in the woman-to-woman session earlier that day. From then on out, there was no more resentment and even her weary countenance seemed to be lifted as she began networking more closely with the other mothers. Susan is just one single parent. She’s just one of many parents who are raising not only one child, but two children with disabilities. It’s a hard haul for women like her, and it’s why I’m so hoping that many more “Susans” will be coming to Christ at this summer’s Joni and Friends’ Family Retreats—we’ve got four new retreats we’re holding and that totals over 50 this season. So we’re able to accommodate many more special-needs families, many more kids with disabilities and their parents; parents like Susan. And it’s a good thing. Single moms like her really need to know that Jesus Christ cares and that His people care, too. Our Savior says in Matthew 11, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Sometimes He’ll not only give rest, but He’ll give fun and fellowship, new friends, and a chance to know Him better at a Family Retreat. This summer’s retreats are already filling up fast, in fact we’ve already closed one or two retreats, so if you know a family who has a disabled child or an adult, if you know a couple who have a disability, then you only have a short time to let them know about this year’s retreats. You can learn more details at joniandfriends.org, and if there are financial needs, we have scholarship funds available. Let’s make certain that families like Susan’s hear and experience the love of Christ no matter what the disability! Again, get all the details today at joniandfriends.org. If you are in the world of “snail mail” (that’s okay, many of us are) you can always write us at Joni and Friends, P.O. Box 3333, Agoura Hills, California, 91376. Oh, and by the way, if you have a prayer request, let me know on our radio page and our Joni and Friends staff will lift up your need before the Lord. God bless you today, and thanks for listening to Joni and Friends.

w/ Van Smith, Esq