Welcome Home...

I rarely travel without my family. I don't like being away from my wife, who is absolutely amazing and I don't know how I would get along without, or my son, who daily makes me laugh and by just looking at him makes me want to try harder. My family is important to me. I love them with all my heart. I choose to take a trip to see some friends but my wife couldn't get off work, so I went it alone and Isaiah stayed with her. I miss them terribly in situations like that. I know it was only for a few days, I called often, and I knew they were safe, but I still missed them. When I came home, my wife greeted me first with a strong, long hug. It felt so good just to hold her and be held by her again, like a moment of utter peace. "Welcome home, honey" she said as she loosened her grip on me. When my son, who was playing on the computer, saw me he stopped, ran to me and hugged me tightly. "I never saw you for a long time, dad!" he shouted as he almost choked me.

It is a wonderful feeling to know you are loved. With a family comes responsibility, discipline, heartache, and sacrifice, yet the reward of love is worth it. Love is not only receiving, but giving. Love is everlasting, all conquering, and all forgiving. It is amazing to me that my family loves me as they do. I am not perfect, but they still love me. I make mistakes, but they still love me. I am even more amazed that Jesus Christ loves me. Because He is perfect, blameless, and amazing, yet I am not. Jesus is the example of love we should all strive for.

I can't wait until I get to walk into my eternal home, Heaven. I can't wait until I am greeted by my Savior, and I can put my arms around His neck, tell Him thank you, and hear Him say, "Welcome home."

In Christ,
jon walton

I Love You.

How often do you tell the people around you that they matter to you? Did you tell your wife/husband that you love them and kiss them goodbye before you left for work? Did you hug your children before they went to school? Did you call your parents to let them know you still care about them?

Think about this: If no one said "I love you" to you today, would it matter?

God has put each of us in a position to love someone. To let someone know that we care. To show others that they matter, that they have significance. Encourage and comfort someone today.

Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:18

In Christ,
jon walton

Master...

I think it is odd that words have such profound effects on how we respond to different situations. For example, if someone refers to something as junk, it is typically not taken care of as well. However that same object to someone else can be referred to as their prized possession, and it is cared for with utter concern. So here is my question: How do we treat people when we refer to them with words with meaningless connotations, verses referring to the same people with words that give them significance? How would you change the tone of your voice when talking to or about that person who is a Veteran who fought in 2 wars for the freedom of our country, not "that homeless guy sitting against the building?" How would you change your actions when you talk to or about that girl who has given so much time volunteering for the community, giving of herself and thinking of others instead of "that girl who got pregnant by mistake?" How would you think about that person when you refer to them as that person who needs Jesus Christ in their life, not "that drunk?"
Allow me to give a personal example. A few weeks ago, pastor Rick talked about how the word "Lord" really means "Master." It got me thinking about how when we say "Lord" for many of us it doesn't mean "Master." So, I began praying "Master" instead of "Lord." It changed my prayer life. Instead of praying to Jesus Christ and giving a shopping list, (Lord, please give me this; Lord, please do this for me today; etc) I would suddenly realize my place. Slave of Jesus Christ. He is the one in control, I am the servant.
So how do you refer to people? To friends? To your spouse? To your Master?

Slave of Jesus Christ,
jon walton