Thirty-one years ago this month, my paternal grandmother went home to be with the Lord.  Her name was Lota Swafford Weston.  We just called her Mama (pronounced Mam’-ah).

Mama was quite an amazing lady.  She raised three sons who were all successful in their different fields of endeavor.  The oldest became an outstanding coach.  The middle son became a successful businessman.  And the youngest, my father, became an accomplished musician and minister of the gospel.

Mama assisted my grandfather in their building business in Springfield, Missouri.  She drew the architectural plans for the houses, kept the books, and paid the bills.  Together, they built houses all over the south side of Springfield and did amazingly well for themselves.

One of the things I remember about Mama is that she was an incredible cook.  Oh my goodness!  Her potato soup with cheese and real bacon bits was a favorite.  I especially remember her pot roast and ham-n-bean dinners.  Don’t forget the cornbread!  Her dessert specialties were rhubarb pies with fresh rhubarb from the backyard garden, and pumpkin pies during the holidays.

Exactly when Mama came to faith in Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior I am not sure.  With my parents involved in ministry, I spent most church services sitting with Mama.  She made sure I learned how to behave in the house of God!  When she worshiped, I worshiped.  When she prayed, I prayed.  When she opened her Bible, I opened mine.  When she went forward to kneel at the altar (which happened most Sunday nights), I was right there kneeling alongside her.  While I could not always understand her words, I knew her favorite was “Jesus” because she said it over and over.

Like most families, the Weston family went through all the ups-and-downs of life.  But through it all we knew that Mama was home on her knees storming the gates of heaven interceding for us.  If we ever had a problem, all we had to do was call or go see Mama.  We knew she would pray.

Mama has been in heaven for many years now.  She passed shortly after Sheri and I were married.  I look forward to seeing her again.  I look forward to introducing my children and grandchildren to her.  Most of all, I look forward to seeing the One she taught me to love and serve as a child.

Be an influencer for Jesus.  Set the example of faith.  Live in such a way that others can see and follow you through the hills and valleys of life, directly into the home of the Lord.

That’s what Mama did for me.  When I see her in heaven, the first word I want to say is thanks!

​Pastor Todd Weston

Hope is one of the BIG little words of the Bible.  It’s just four letters long and yet so powerful.

It’s been said that a person can live about 40 days without food, about 3 days without water, about 8 minutes without oxygen, and about 1 second without hope! 

Proverbs 13:12 was written by Solomon who experienced his share of disappointment in life (read Ecclesiastes 2:1-26).  I believe every human being can relate to Solomon’s observation, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.”  

Hope deferred!  That punch in the gut feeling.  Hope deferred!  The wind just went out of your sails feeling.  Hope deferred!  Knocked down by disappointment, wondering if you have what it takes to get back up on your feet again.

So what do you do when that which you hoped for doesn’t happen?  

• Someone else gets the job or the promotion
• The promised raise never comes through
• The relationship doesn’t work out
• The medical test results come back wrong

First of all, take a step back from the situation and ask yourself if that which you were hoping for is within God’s will for your life.  Sometimes we hope for things we shouldn’t hope for.  Maybe God didn’t want you in that job.  He has something better.  Maybe the relationship wasn’t His will.  God sometimes closes doors for our own good.  Think about that.

Secondly, understand that God can use disappointment to develop character in our lives.  Disappointment reveals character.  It can also develop it.  Hope deferred presents the opportunity to trust God when you don’t understand.  It presents the opportunity to grow in faith in the midst of heartache.  Hope deferred provides the opportunity for God to make all things work together for good in your life as a believer (Romans 8:28).  Hope deferred is a test.  Don’t fail it.

Thirdly, let the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing (Romans 15:13).  As long as we have God in this life, we have hope!  As long as we continue believing, our hearts will be filled with joy and peace for with God all things are possible!  We can rejoice in confidence that with God in our lives hope deferred will eventually give way to desire fulfilled.

When hope is deferred and disappointment hits hard, do what David did in Psalm 42 and quickly turn to God.  Continue to place your hope in God.  Keep on praising Him in spite of it all.  And you will find Him to be a very present help in time of trouble.
​
Pastor Todd Weston

It’s been nearly two years since I had a heart-to-heart talk with my doctor.  Things were starting to get out of control.  It’s not that I was in any immediate danger, but I was going in the wrong direction and picking up speed.  At the end of 2013, I was forty-pounds overweight and most of my numbers were well into the red zone (it’s a little unnerving when you see a skull and crossbones on your medical report!).  

I will never forget my doctor looking me in the eye and saying with conviction, “Only you can change it!”  It’s amazing how five words can change your life.  

I decided then and there to take control of the situation.  Along with a modified diet, I began a regular fitness program of running, weight-lifting, swimming, and biking.  As the months passed by, the potential health issues disappeared with the unwanted pounds.  My energy and overall wellbeing increased.  Today my doctor is happy, I am healthier, and life is good.

So why did it take me that long (I was 52 at the time) to start eating right and working out?  There are many possible answers which I hate to admit: laziness, procrastination, busy-ness, or a general lack of concern, to name a few.  But somehow the doctor’s words got my attention.  He convinced me change was needed, and it was up to me to make it happen.

My issue was deteriorating health due to poor lifestyle choices.  What is your issue?  Do a quick assessment of your life.  Are there any weak areas?  Are there any broken places?  Maybe you need to get off the couch and hit the treadmill.  Just a thought!  Maybe instead of coming home at the end of the day and turning on the television you could take a walk with your family.  And how about those credit cards?  Enough said!

Consider your spiritual wellbeing.  Is there any malfunction there?  A broken devotional life isn’t going to fix itself.  Christian disciplines that have fallen on hard times are not going to miraculously correct themselves.  As my doctor told me, “Only you can change it!”

Paul challenged the believers in Rome, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).  It all starts with a changed mind.  A made-up mind is a powerful thing!  As Paul told the Romans, a renewed mind leads to transformation.  While we cannot transform ourselves, we can decide to do the things that will bring about transformation.

In 1988, the Nike shoe company coined the slogan, “Just Do It!”  That sums up what my doctor told me, and that’s the message I want to pass on to you.  Don’t waste another minute sitting around singing, “Somewhere over the rainbow…” waiting for God to do in your life what He expects you to do.  Transformation is possible now!  Discern the will of God and know the mind of God as revealed in the Bible.  Then make up your mind and just do it.

Pastor Todd Weston  

Maybe you have read the stirring account in Matthew’s Gospel where Jesus (the King) said to those gathered on His right hand, “I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me” (Matthew 25:35-36).

Hearing Jesus’ words the people asked when they had done those things listed.  Jesus responded, “Inasmuch as you did it to one of these the least of My brethren, you did it to Me” (Matthew 25:40).

We read that passage and nod our heads in agreement.  Ministry to the weak, the weary, the hurting, the lonely, the strangers among us translates into ministry to the Lord Himself.  We also note that these on the Lord’s right hand are called “righteous” (Matthew 25:37).  Jesus gave them that designation based on their actions.

The scenario Jesus described in Matthew 25 is happening every Sunday at RLA through the Faith Families ministry.  Nearly every Sunday, 30-40 New Horizons children ride the bus to RLA to attend the Intergenerational service at 11:00am.  (FYI - this is not a children’s service.  This is an Intergenerational service which offers ministry to all ages.)  Around 60 New Horizon’s children attended Sunday and stayed for our first Faith Family picnic!  

These children are welcomed by several of our RLA members who have become Faith Families.  They embrace them with the love of Jesus.  They sit with them in the Intergenerational Service.  They model worship, prayer, and giving.  They explain parts of the service.  They help the children look up Bible passages.  They pray with them in the altars.  Being a Faith Family isn’t rocket science.  It’s just making yourself available.

I remember a Christian song that was popular several years ago.  It said, “We are His hands.  We are His Feet.  We are His people.  Children of the King.”  Did you know that Christian Service is a big part of discipleship?  Active involvement in ministry is for every believer.  It’s what we do.

You can do what Jesus talked about in Matthew 25 by becoming an RLA Faith Family.  The next training is this Sunday at 9:30am at the Church Ministry Center next door.  You can attend the training at 9:30am, then stay for the 11:00am Intergenerational service.  Think of it!  By giving just a few hours on Sunday mornings you can make an investment that will last for eternity.  It’s an investment worth making!  

So come on.  Become a Faith Family and invest in the life of a young person.  As Jesus said, “Inasmuch as you did it to one of these the least of My brethren, you did it to Me.”

Pastor Todd Weston