From Ordinary to Overflow

It is God’s will that every ordinary Christian – and therefore, every ordinary Christian couple, and every ordinary Christian family – live a life of hope, joy, and overflow (Romans 15:13).

  • Hope – What is the hope of every Christian mother and father?

James Dobson says that his greatest hope for Christian families was to “help them build a foundation of faith that will sustain them through the trials of life and take them into the better world beyond.”

That sounds pretty good, right?

  • Joy – What brings Christian parents the most joy?

I asked my wife this question this question and she quoted 3 John 4 without hesitation.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth

3 John 4

I would agree, only to also add the joy – as grandparents – of watching our children now raising their own kids in that same truth.

Watch our Jam Day video here
  • Overflow

Jesus said, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38).

And Ezekiel wrote:

And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes… And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.

Ezekiel 47:9, 12

Let me ask you a question,

Don’t you want your family to have that kind of effect? Don’t you want your hopes for them to be fulfilled? Don’t you want to experience joy in your parenting?

God wants those things for you too. And the Bible says, “All things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23).

Say yes to God. Trust Him. Ask Him to take you on the most wonderful journey of your life, and He will.

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

John 15:16

Author: rpalazzo

Richard Palazzo has been following Jesus since 1985. He has been married to Theresa since 1978, and they have 5 wonderful, married children and (so far) 5 delightful grandchildren. They happily make their home in Lynchburg, VA. Rich & Terry home-schooled their kids through high school, with Rich teaching mostly Creation studies, World History, American History, Worldview Studies, Government , Economics and Bible (Theresa teaching everything else). Rich also taught classes to other families' children, presented at home-school conventions, and taught various church classes on Creationism, American History, The Bible and American Government, including "Understanding the Times," and "How Should We Then Live?" Rich also was a member of a team that taught "The Essentials of Discipleship." Rich and Terry were part of the Long Island LEAH home-school convention team from 2003-2010.