Thank You for Giving to the Lord

On Sunday my church honored me with a special presentation for being a Sunday School teacher.  They played the song "Thank You" made popular by Ray Boltz.  As I sat and listened to the song I was humbled and reminded that I have been given a huge responsibility that I need to take more seriously.  I started teaching Sunday School when I was still in high school because I loved kids and loved the Word of God.  I never really thought about what a responsibility it is.  I have been given a charge to keep, the charge of leading young hearts to Jesus.  While I thought about how much more time I needed to spend praying for my students and preparing my lessons, I also thought about all the people who helped to lead me to Christ.  I first have to thank my parents.  It is their influence that weighs heaviest.  I remember even as a small child waking up to find my father sitting at the kitchen table reading his Bible.  I have always enjoyed my dad and I's spiritual talks on our many road trips.  My mother and I have matured in the Lord together over the years.  My mom wears her heart on her sleeve and she is so willing to hear Godly advise from others and really takes it to heart.  My parents always took us to church and we never knew that we could choose not to go.  Secondly, I have to thank the many pastors and Sunday School teachers who have taught me and challenged me over the years.  Thanks to Pastor Rick Matthews for never telling me the answer to my questions but instead making me go find the answer.  And thanks to his wife Mary for being the one to lead me in a prayer of repentance at Vacation Bible School.  Thanks to my first two Sunday School teachers, whose names I can't remember, who went to be with the Lord during the years I was in their classes.  Their sweet spirits made me feel safe and loved.  And thanks to my mother-in-law.  She was my Sunday School teacher long before I joined her family.  She has been teaching as long as I have been alive.  She has invited hearts to Jesus for 30+ years.  May God bless you all!

I want to remind us all that we have a responsibility to teach our children.  We will be held accountable for what we did and did not teach.  May we all be found faithful.

Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am so glad you gave.

And I know up in Heaven you're not supposed to cry,
But I am almost sure there were tears in your eyes,
As Jesus took your hand and you stood before the Lord.
He said, "My child look around you, for great is your reward."