A Fathers Love

On March 1, 2010 God sent a precious gift to Colleen and me. His name was Jack Michael Bowers and he was 6 lbs, 13 ounces. Words can not express the pure joy that overwhelmed me that day when I saw my little man for the first time. As much as I adored and loved him that first day, it’s only multiplied each and every day since. In my mind I constantly think, “Is there anything as precious as the love of a parent, or in my case, a father’s love?” I never thought I’d get so giddy inside from seeing him smile from ear to ear while fixing his eyes on me, even in a crowd, or hearing him cry out, only to be still and calm in my arms as I pick him up, or to see him simply being content with me by his side.

The more I’ve thought about this whole experience, I can’t help but think about the relationship of this experience to God’s Word. Now, more than ever, I really get what Jesus was saying in Matthew 18: 3-5:

3) And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4) Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5) And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.

The innocence of my sweet little Baby Jack is exactly how God wants us to be towards Him; fully trusting in Him as the Father. When we do that, we feel that quiet peace and joy that a child feels when with their parents. As Jack does with me, God desires for us to be filled with all the fullness and joy as our eyes continually stay on Him. God wants us to cry out to Him when things aren’t seemingly going our way and for us to just “be still and know that He is God” and trust Him. God wants us to be okay in all circumstances, knowing He’s by our side. He wants us to have the humility of a child….like Jack.

There’s one other point I’d like to make about the relationship of our little miracle and God’s Word. Every parent knows the love they have for their child. Could you sacrifice your child so that someone else might live? God did……

Shane Bowers

The Jordan Stones

Well it’s starting to warm up here in Georgia. I’m gonna miss the winter. I know most people look forward to spring and summer, but I’m a winter lover. I love the cool temps but do love the things that come along with spring and summer. As I look back at the winter time and look forward to the summer, I’m reminded to always think of what God has done and look forward to what He is doing so that I have strength for today. Or better phrased, a record of God’s faithfulness in the past combines with hope in a better future for one end: to equip us for the present.

I once wrote a paper for college called “The Jordan Stones.” The paper was based on the times that God told the children of Israel to build piles of stones in places that God did things so that future generations would see the stones and ask what they were for then prompting the adults to remember and tell the stories of how God moved in big ways for them. This year has already received some “Jordan Stones” in my book. Many of you that come to our shows have heard about us being in Haiti when the earthquake hit in January. You’ve heard Shane and Shaun share of the things God did and there were so many. It was truly an amazing time! One that sticks out to me was told to me later on after the trip. Our Holt rep., Chris, was just mentioning in passing that every time she had been to Haiti on a Trip with missions organizations and brought artist that they had stayed in Hotel Montana in Port-au-Prince. This was the first time that she came and we stayed in another hotel!! Incredible! I’m reminded once again that God is in control and it still brings tears to my eyes to think of how God was watching out for us because that hotel was completely destroyed. Many Americans lost their lives in that hotel. My parents often times would share with me the time I was a baby and how I managed to get the baby gate open that blocked the stairs going to our basement. I then went down about 15 stairs in my walker with no side railings only to be found by my mom completely unharmed and upright in my walker on the basement floor.

I share these things with you only to encourage you. God is and incredible loving Father that has great plans for us. When external circumstances press in, family strife, job pressures, financial worries, global concerns, think back to how God has been faithful to you. Remember the “Jordan Stones” in your life to gain hope for the future and strength for the present. Paul became frustrated with the people of Corinth in Acts 17 and had to be reminded by God that He was at work there even though Paul did see it in the present. God is always at work around us we just have to open our eyes to see sometimes. I hope that you can view all the distractions of your day from the perspective of eternity. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever!! TRUST HIM!