IT’S IN THE BLOOD LINE

2 Timothy 1: 3-12
I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

When I was a young girl, my mother used to take my brother and me to visit our great Aunt Alberta. To this day I cannot tell you why we went there, all I know is that we would pull up in front of the big white house with the high front porch, and then mama would tell one of us to go and ring the bell. Sometimes the door would be open and you could see inside. That house was huge, and big, and scary (at least from a child’s view). I believe that most children get pleasure from visiting relatives. However, I must have been a little different from most children; in fact I know that I was, because I never got any enjoyment from those visits. Mainly because when she came to the door to answer it, she always had a big paper bag in her hand and would tell us to pick up paper and sticks out the yard and street in front of her house. Once inside that house it was like a wonderland for a child, there were pictures of all the family and it was a joy to see me as a baby and even smaller child with all of our cousins, grand and greats. I think that I knew even then that I was destined for greatness; it’s in the blood line.

I remember much about my Aunt, that she loved the Lord with her whole heart; she was a stern devout Christian who lived and breathed the word of God. She was a disciplinarian when it came to going to church, needless to say that when my mom and dad decided to take a trip that naturally we’d end up there. Later when I was older I began to appreciate her more for her knowledge of the word. I never got to tell her, but she instilled in me much about living holy and being a great woman of virtue and godliness. I remember a time when she was drilling me with bible verses, she asked and I answered. Afterwards she exclaimed, “Hmmm, well you know the word, I don’t know what’s wrong with you!” That is so funny now to me, but it was really sad then, because people ought to know that joining church doesn’t save you. It’s all in the bloodline.

I remember at her funeral, as her pastor got up to preach her eulogy, the topic, “Mrs. Frazier, you are something else!” As he began to tell of her life, I found out many amazing things, I never knew that she could sing (although many other members of the family did), I had never heard her. I was really surprised to learn also that her favorite song was, “His Eye is on the Sparrow!” After that I made it a point to learn that song and I’ve since sung it at funerals and other occasions, even the shower. I have never been that revitalized and rejuvenated by a person’s life than at my aunt’s funeral. Amazing, it’s in the bloodline.

Now as I remembered not only my aunt, but also my mother who loved writing, my grandfather’s who both were singers, uncles who preached and my brother, many prayer warriors who passed that on to us so we to could pray for our families, many wonderful gift passed on…it is definitely in the bloodline.

Today: I urge all of you to stir up your gifts, whether in song, written word, through encouragement, or even a card can do much to lift someone who is going through. Pass on the gifts that God gave you through the fruits of love, joy peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…they’re in the bloodline of Jesus Christ.

Much love and many blessings,

Kayla
Mark 1:16-20 “As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.”