What's Important

   Yesterday I came home to one of the best times in a fathers life. My 10 year old daughter and my 3 year old son came running outside to greet me with hugs and kisses. I was also greeted by my 16 month old baby girl as soon as I walking in the door she gave me hugs and kisses as well.

There is nothing in this life that keeps me smile more that those kids. Those kids have made me a better man. I at one time did not even want kids and now I have three. My wife and I did not have our first child until our eighth year of our marriage. My wife always has wanted children. I just could never imagine the thought of it. I was and only child so I could always do what I wanted to do and never have to share my things or my time. I also was scared of what it would cost to raise kids. I just never had been around small children that much and did not know what to do with them.

 

Do you know God has a plain for our lives that we have no clue how his plain will work. God knew that I needed to be a father three times over LOL. He knew that those children would be a good thing for me. I would not change a thing now that I have them. Those kids make me laugh so hard sometimes that tears run down my face. There are times that they drive me to my limits. You know they are kids and that's just the way they are.

My kids have made me take a look at what's important in life. When my first child was born I was in denial. I was not sure I wanted a baby in the house the crying like to drove me insane. I did not know what to do with a baby. I was afraid to hold her and I didn't very much for a long time. I felt tied down I thought I don't have the freedom I once had. One day I was looking at that little girl and a thought came to me. That little girl is not here for you but you are here for that little girl. I was 31 when she was born and I had a lot of growing up to do. Well for 6 years she was the only child my wife and I had.

My wife and began to talk about having another child. I had told my wife that I didn't want our daughter to be the only child. When I was growing up extended family spend a lot more time together. I have a lot of cousins  and we got to see each other almost every Sunday. Being an only child I have no brothers our sister and my wives brother lives 6 hours away. So no cousins for my daughter  to grow up with. So now the man that wanted no children is asking God for another one. Beside that She need someone to fight with over our stuff when we are dead and gone LOL.

My Son was born and after six year of not having a baby in the house it was like starting all over again. 

The crying at night and yes it drove me insane. I went thru the whole denial thing again. I was 37 years old and my world was being rocked again. I really went thru about 6 months of depression. I had really no clue who I was and I was missing the best parts of my life. Sometimes I wanted to just run away but never could or would. 

There was a day that I had enough of feeling the way I did about life. I knew I had to change my way of thinking. I had to fall on my face before God and cry out for his help. I was at a point that there was no where else to turn. I would ask myself what's wrong with me. The Lord said to me: "This life is not about you." I tried to keep what the Lord had told me in mind but there where times that I forgot it.

My wife became pregnant again for the third time. All I could think of was how are we going to afford this. The daycare will be so expensive. What about cars and collage my mind was going wild. Told you I forgot what God had told me. Then something happen that change me forever. My wife had a miscarriage. Then I had that "not knowing how to feel feeling more that I had ever had before." I went home and huge the two children tighter than I ever had before. All of the sudden everything I thought was to expensive did matter anymore. I just wish this was not happening to my wife and I. The pain in my wives eyes was almost unbearable to me. We wondered how  we where going to tell our oldest daughter that mommy was not going to have the baby she was so exited about.  That was a big get over myself lesson I will never forget.

We had decided not to have anymore children. I thought at the age of 40 that I was getting to old to have anymore children. I didn't want to go to my kids high school graduation on a walker. Well before we had that took care of God had another plain. Just like God to say hey your not in control here. My wife became pregnant with our third child. I was  not in denial this go around. I was very proud to have a baby in the house again. The thoughts of daycare and collage and cars are there but God has it now. I pray often for my children about there lives and where the road of life may carry them. 

God gave me these three children as gifts. I want to make sure I value them with all the care I can. I often joke about when I get old my house will be clean and I can sleep. If you could see our house most of the time it's not clean there are toys and stuff every where. My yard needs cut and I get very tired from the lack of sleep. I have got to the point that those things can wait. My family is what's important! I use to say my child hood was the best part of my life I did have a great time back in the day. I must say this time of my life is the best part of my life. The Joy that those three children bring is AWESOME!!

Sometimes it's so noisy around my house you can't hear anything. There are times we have to tone it down  so my wife and I can have a little chill time most of the time that is short lived. There again I would not change a thing. They will grow up soon enough.

So if you have children love them- hold them- kiss them- play with them- teach them about God and  be and example to them. This is a one shot deal no do overs. I came to realize that I was wasting to much of my life on things that really don't matter and things I had no control over. That worry was a waste of time and a lie from the devil. The children of this world need love  and they need  our time. When your child says watch this may it a habit to really stop and watch. They really know if you are focused in on them for the moment or not. Those little moments make a difference and are huge to them. Let them know they are important. They may say are do something that will change you into a better person.

                                              I really shared my heart with this one. May God bless you today. 

                                                                                                                 Jefferey Maddox

I recently read and E-book By author and Andy Andrews called  "The Perfect Moment."

I recommend reading this book. Here is a link to his web site. http://www.andyandrews.com/

  

  

CHRISTIANS-JESUS AND THE BIBLE OFFEND ME!

 The world we live in today needs God with out a doubt! You know it's pretty bad that people get so offended by Christians. I must say I get offended by them getting offended. People getting offended at christians is nothing new. Jesus himself offended people so bad that they wanted him dead. So why do people dislike the values of the Christian and why would they be offended. As we all know most people want to do there own thing and we for sure live in a society today that people have the all about me attitude.  When people see the truth and light Jesus brings and that his light shines on the things in there life they don't like it. Jesus light lets us see ourself for who we really are. His light penetrates us and people see that it would affect  there life style and therefore it offends them so they lash out against christian values and the bible. 

      Have you ever heard Madalyn Murray O'Hair? In 1960, Murray filed a lawsuit against the Baltimore City Public School System, in which she asserted that it was unconstitutional for her son William to be required to participate in Bible readings at Baltimore public schools. In this litigation, she stated that her son's refusal to partake in the Bible readings had resulted in bullying being directed against him by classmates, and that administrators condoned this. Then After consolidation with Abington School District v. Schempp, the lawsuit reached the Supreme Court of the United States in 1963. The Court voted 8-1 in Schempp's favor, which effectively banned mandatory Bible verse recitation at public schools in the United States. Prayer in schools other than Bible-readings had already been ended in 1962.


  So one person's offense for sure change the course of history for the United States. The country that was founded on biblical values. To even think their was even a time when church and school where even  in the same building and the bible was the text book. What I am saying we as christians better take a stand. We do not need to be ashamed of being a christian. We can already see that there are people out there that will attack our religious freedom. The word of God is the truth no matter who it offends.

John 8:32

New International Version (NIV)

³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”^(A)

   ^{I would like to say for anyone who is offended by the christian or by Jesus or the bible. I love you and God loves you.}  

John 3:16

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ For God so loved^(A) the world that he gave^(B) his one and only Son,^(C) that whoever believes^(D) in him shall not perish but have eternal life.<sup>(E)


   I have a challenge for you read the bible  every day for a week with and open mind. The book of Proverbs is good a place to start. Sometimes we are quick to judge something we really know nothing about. We even base our feelings on what other people say or think with out looking into something for ourselves. 


  I also have a challenge for the Christians that are reading this blog as well. Be real!</sup> 

Revelation 3:14-16

New International Version (NIV)

To the Church in Laodicea

¹⁴ “To the angel of the church in Laodicea^(A) write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness,^(B) the ruler of God’s creation.^(C) 15 I know your deeds,^(D) that you are neither cold nor hot.^(E) I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

  There is nothing that disturbs me more than a person who is a Christian and there life style is not any different than a non christian. The no-christian knows if you are for real or not. 

Matthew 7:18-20

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.^(A) 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.^(B) 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Still Quit Voice

   You know in today’s world there are a lot of things that get our attention. I am currently on family vacation a time to relax and renewal of my soul body and mind. There is a great healing for me to sit on the beach and chill and play with my children.  Everything else in life just seems to be fair away as I soak up the R and R.


    You know God wants us to relax in him daily. There is so much stuff going on in our lives that we have a hard time resting in Gods presents. As I was sitting on the beach the other day I began to watch people. They had music stuck in the ears and cell phones in there hands and I even saw someone using and ipad. I began to think to myself wow all this beauty here and yet so many other distractions. I was reminded of something I did a few years ago. I was in this large city and I started listening to just see what I could hear. I heard all the city noises it was a bit over whelming when you really listen to it all at one time. I tried to pick out certain things to try to see if I could figure out what they where. Something happen out of all the noise I heard I could hear birds they where not very loud but I could hear them. God said something to me that day. “I am always speaking but you are not always listening”.

    With all the gadgets we have today people can reach us on command. We are always quick to reply back to a text message. Even taking a chance and not even stopping the car to read or reply to one.  We have answering services so we make sure we don’t every miss anyone trying to get in touch with us. Sometimes I wonder how we ever made it with out all this tech stuff. I love all this gadget stuff it is really cool. I catch myself with my smart phone in my hand a lot. I really like to keep up with people on facebook.

  With all these things in our 21 century lives we live do we hear the small still voice of God?

1 Kings 19:11-13

King James Version (KJV)

¹¹ And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lordpassed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but theLord was not in the earthquake:

¹² And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

¹³ And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

I have to ask myself daily that very question? Have I slowed down to hear the voice of God? Just like the birds in all the city noise that are sing I had to tune every thing else out to hear him. I have to make myself slow down cut of the cell and the computer and all the noise in my life off and say ok here I am Lord. I once heard of a minster that said they wore a spiritual pager that they where listening for the voice of God at all times. We all have to live life; things happen we have to provide for our families. The thing is we must prioritize our life and not get out of balance. Keep God first and ask for his guidance and help and the will for our lives and listen for his voice and our life will be joyful and peaceful.

   Lord I ask you today to help me to hear your voice. To not let the things of this life make me spiritually deaf. To be able to slow down and make it a priority everyday to spend time with you and listen to what you are saying to me. Lord if I get out of balance please  stir up my spirit for the desire to get back on track. Lord please protect me from over loading myself with to much. Lord give me decrement for what is your will for my life. Amen
  

 

Olympic Christian

 With the Olympics starting very soon makes me think of the passion the athletics have for winning. The hours of training and pain they go thru to be the very best they can be and bring home the gold.  Sometimes I have to stop and think what is driving me at this very moment in my life. There are certainly a lot of things that get my attention. I get over whelmed at times with all the things going on in my life my priorities get all out of balance and I have to refocus. The biggest challange I face is having the time to spend reading the bible and praying. I really have a deep passion inside to want to be all that God wants me to be for him and to do his will. I look at the Olympic athletics and the train day after day no matter what comes there way they train. I want to be and Olympic Christian! To have the passion for Christ that nothing will stand in the way of me winning the Gold! Jesus did not die a cruel death and shed his blood for me to just go to church for and hour on Sunday and that be it until the next Sunday rolls around. He died and shed his blood for me to live my life every day to my fullest free from sin and the mess of this world. To be and Olympic Christian you have to die to self-will and to the flesh.  To trust God when it just does not make any sense. To live beyond fear and have courage and not give up when things get tuff. To fully trust God and do what’s right when no one is looking. God wants real men and women who are not just playing the game for fun he wants’ the ones that are in it the game to win the Gold. To be transformed from this world and have the passion for his will for there life. The training never stops for and Olympic Christian until death. The training is hard at times and it all comes from life’s lessons and the leading of the Holy Spirit WoW! What a coach the Holy Spirit coaching us living inside of us. Having the power to conquer any thing. The Olympic athletics stay in the games now matter how they feel because of their passion for winning. As Christians we sure can’t be and Olympian if we live on our feelings. There are times that it gets hard and you just don’t feel like putting forth the effort. I am not going to list all the feelings you could feel that would make anybody want to just quit. The thing is the mindset you have will be whether or not you want to be or will be and Olympic Christian. Watch this clip below to see what a mind set can do.                                                                                          
  

Opportunity To Change

      Have ever said if I could go back and change something in my life I would. Or maybe I wish I could go back and know what I know now things would be different.  That is only true if the mind set is different. Think back over the years of your life do you think any different now than you did 5 or 10 years ago or maybe even a year ago. The thing is we always want to think we would do or be different. I live my life for years trying to be different about my walk with God. I was always doing the same old things over and over again. Going around the same old mountain over and over again.
 Matthew 17:20

New International Version (NIV)

²⁰ He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

    You know God gives us test in life and the thing is if you fell you get to take it again over and over until you finally get it. We have to have a mind set like my pastor said this past Sunday we have to stop the stinking thinking. Can I get real with you? The battle starts in the mind and our mind goes everywhere we go. So for me I had to change my mindset and get real with God. I have to take control over my thoughts. I have had a lifetime of junk fill my head something’s where put there from just living everyday life. Things I could not control but about 90% of the stuff I put there. So you talk about something hard to control a bunch of stinky thinking from a lifetime junk from the world. Do you think you can stop stinking thinking over night or with in a few days wrong? I had to first tell God I wanted to get control over my mess and I needed his help me because I am nothing with him. I now am putting as much of the word of God in my mind as I possible can. I do this thru the Bible, songs, books, preaching, and other Christian’s. I have to stay in the word of God daily and pray continuously. Self-control has always been a weak part of my life. To be able to think right takes a lot of self-control. I fell at that at times I just say God I messed up again I am going to dig a little deeper and get the roots of this stinking thinking out of my life.

 Romans 12:2

New International Version (NIV)

² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.

     You see we all know we can’t go back and do over things in our life. We can change where we are right now. I had to do that very thing change my life. Change my life from living in fear and running from God. When I got the point that I wanted to be all God wanted me to be I felt like I could fly I felt light as a feather. There is no greater feeling than letting go and letting God have your life. So do you want to change something about your life you have the opportunity.  Just talk to God about it. Let him change you from this point on. There is and old saying: Today is the first day of the rest of your life. 

      

I know who I am

     I Know I Know I Know who I am in Christ! I say that with the most confidence.
There are things in this life that are really tuff but I know who I am in Christ! There are things in this life that mess with my emotions but I know who I am in Christ! There are days that I can’t feel God, but I know who I am in Christ! There are things that try to stress me but I know who I am in Christ! Sometimes I don’t get my way and I use self-control because I know who I am in Christ! Sometimes I fall in to the temptations traps but I know who I am in Christ! I may have a flat tire but I know who I am in Christ. Sometimes the money runs out before the next paycheck but I know who I am in Christ! Sometimes my thoughts over take me but I know who I am in Christ! Some days I am sick but I know who I am in Christ! Sometimes some one hurts me but I know who I am in Christ! There are times I am not accepted but I know who I am in Christ. I know I know I know yes I know who I am in Christ!

   Knowing who I am in Christ is a whole new level of my relationship with him. To know his Holy Spirit Lives in me. That I don’t base my relationship with him on how I feel. That know matter what is going on in my life that I still can have Joy. I can have peace and the confidence that God still loves me. That God goes thru the trials of life with me. The trials of this life are where I grow the most spiritually.  That if I allow God to carry me thru the trials he will always get the Glory. So many times I try to fix the problems in my life my self and that always brings more problems. When I get done messing it all up God says ok are you done. Then he takes my trials and teaches me something. You see I use to think that if I live for God and prayed and read my bible that I could pray my trials away. I was trying to live with my head stuck in the clouds instead of reality. So I would get all depressed because I could not have a trouble free life. Now that was a life of misery.

Then there came a day oh what a day, that the Holy Spirit rose up in me and began to show me that there is a better way to live, to know that God cares about every little part and big part of my life. Now to know that I know that I know is deep in my heart. I have a burning desire in my heart that I will live for God know matter what. I want more of him I must have him. I can’t make it one second with out him. I must have him more than anything with out him I am nothing.


Now that is a life of FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
                               
           Jesus I am yours and you are mine!

THE LORD WANTS TO USE YOU AND YOU QUALIFY

  Yes that right Jeff I want to use you. Lord I am not educated enough. Lord you know when I read the bible I can't even remember what I read, much less understand it. I am just a custodian in a kindergarten school. I don't have a collage degree and barely made it thru school. So Lord I am to afraid to even believe you can use me. Lord I really am afraid of what people might think of me. What if I say something stupid.
  This is the very way I felt in my life for years. Then God began to show me that I was a child of his and saved by the blood of Jesus. I am called to reach the lost and share the gospel with  as many people as I can. I tell you sitting here typing a blog is one of the last things that I ever thought I would be doing. When I was in school I had a very hard time reading and writing. I have never like to read at all. I can remember when I was a child  I would be made fun of because  I could not read well. I sounded kinda like stuttering nut when I would  read. I never read a book from cover to cover until the age of 27. I was in special education all the way thru school. So my confidence level was pretty low.  I have always been a hands on person give me something to do with my hands and I was in my zone.
   So to think God could use this old boy to write my journey with him, with a mountain of emotion in my life huh. You see I had been cutting myself short by not allowing God to work thru me. I was just using all my weakness in life as and excuse. God used Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. Moses could not even talk plan he stuttered. You know the Lord just had to say get over it Jeff just get over it. For us Southern good O'boys  we might say. Put your big boy paints on and grow up. I had to quit feeling like I was no good or  maybe not good enough. Well I have got to the point that I just say God my life is yours. I want to be used by God in any way he sees fit. Like I said before I am the most unlikely person to be writing a blog. This is just one way that I can share to the world that God is there source  of Freedom. A maybe this O' boy from Alabama can share his struggles that God brings him thru everyday. To give somebody some hope that may feel like they are just not good enough. 
    Here's the thing if I had waited until I became perfect to get married I would have never got married. Our if I had waited to be the perfect man before  having children I would have never had any. God did have to work on the children part, for the people that really know me knows what I am talking about. The point is we will never be perfect until we get to heaven. God wants us just the way we are so he can mold us in to what he wants us to be.
    I have also  had the fear that I may be doing the wrong thing. I have learned you don't know unless you try. I have done the wrong thing several times in my life. As long as I am breathing I will again. I just have had to say opps missed that one. The thing is God does not want us to be afraid to try. So what if I miss the mark a few times before I know exactly  what God is wanting me to do. I will keep on keeping on. The Holy Spirit which lives inside of me lets me know pretty quick if it is God leading me or Jeff getting off track.  

 I talk to people all the time that feels like God is wanting them to do something. Maybe God is just wanting you to have a closer walk with him to let your life be a ministry by your everyday life you live. What ever it may be. Just know you are good enough and don't cut yourself short. God loves to take our weaknesses and make us strong. Somethings about God just blows me away. So I challenge you to let go and let God use you and be blown away!

Philippians 4:13

New International Version (NIV) I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

No More Fear and worry

   For years I lived my life in such fear and a lot of the times I did not even know what I was really afraid of. For many years I let fear and worry run my life. Many times I have felt  God calling me to follow him and do things for him. I would always think myself out of doing what I knew in my spirit, what God was wanting me to do. I would think about what people might  think, or I did not know enough about the bible or God. The thinking was nothing more than fear. I have learned that fear is not what God wants us as Christian to have in our life. Fear is what the devil uses against us to try to stop us from moving forward in the work of God. I don't know how many times in my life that fear has stop me dead in my tracks. How many of days I wasted living in fear. I say wasted days worrying about things that I could do nothing about. Also worrying about thing I think was going to happen. About 95% of the thing I have worried in my life never did ever happen. Man what a waist of Gods time. I made a choice that I would not waste any more of God time in fear and worry. 

Philippians 4:6-8

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

What I have learned from this verse is worry less and pray more. So if you start to worry stop and pray. There are many things that come at use everyday. We tend to worry about Jobs, Money, Bills, or kids. The list goes on and on. Imagine never being anxious about anything. 

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Many times fear tries to creep it's way back in my day. I pray this many time Lord help me not to sweat the small stuff, and help me have patience and wisdom with the big stuff. My pastor said something  in a sermon a few weeks back that has really stuck with me. Many times we are right on the verge of a break threw and we give up. That God is really fixing to move and we just don't press on. I can tell you I have gave up and not pressed on many times out of fear. So are you facing fear and worry? Are you willing to not to be anxious for anything and cast your cares on the Lord? Tomorrow is coming so why not live it free. 

Purpose in life

For many years I went thru my life and felt like I had no purpose. I have been a Christian for many years I have went to church week after week year after year and felt so empty. My life was just a drag. I did not have a personal relationship with Jesus, just those emotional highs that did not last very long. Yes I was saved and yes I was going to heaven. The thing is I just was not letting God in the areas of my life that he need in. I did not want to have to pay the price to have the relationship that God wanted to have with me. The price of staying in Gods word that would be the bible and spending time in prayer. You see I was living my life trying to please other people and I was just not happy. I was living my life full of pride and doing things on my own. With out even give God much thought until church time rolled back around the next Sunday. Really you could not tell any difference in my life outside of church than a none believer. From my actions and my attitude.  You see I wanted a quick fix in my life I wanted God to just bless me real good and make me feel good. With out me having to put forth much effort to maintain a walk with God.  I would get a few goose bumps of Gods glory every now and then. I really just got tired of living that way. I did not want to be the average christian anymore, I wanted to change. Change I wanted but then a lesson came from that as well. Change does not come quick it comes little by little. The day we live in things move so quick. We can get it now with this fast pace life we live most anything any way. The change that comes with God is little by little and day by day. I must say my friend when I made my mind up to really get real with God and quit playing church, my life has be nothing short of Awesome!! It takes effort to have a true relationship with God. I tell you it does not take near the effort it does to struggle every day, every week and every year just dragging thru life.  I  have more of a hunger for God now that I ever have before. I have come to the point I can't wait to spend my one on one time with him everyday. You see my friend He has healed me emotionally taught me how to love and practice self control. I do have to work on these thing everyday and sometimes second by second. You see I want to live my life to Gods standers not mine are anyone else's. The reason I call this Jefferey Maddox Ministries is my life as a child of God is a ministry. I am and representative of God as a born again believer. So my life as a christian is a ministry. You see it's easy to be all christian and good at church or around people your trying to impress. That's not where my fruit comes from "Galatians 5:22" my fruit is what comes out behind close doors. When I am at work at wal-mart at home and in the world every day living my life. How other people see me and how I treat them. I want to be a real man of God!! God really started dealing with me 2 years ago about my relationship with him.  I must say I did not get to the point I am now in a few days. It has taking me the full 2 years to be able to even be able to think in a way that I have described. It really has taken me a life time to get to this point. To the ripe age of 41. My journey with God will take me in this life where ever God wants me to go and do. I have completely given my life to him. I am not perfect and I do and will make mistakes but at least I am not where I used to be. I have had to do things these last two years that has not been easy. I have had to ask people to forgive me  that I had hurt and cut them to the core of there soul. Was that easy nope not at all. I knew if I wanted to move forward with God I had to do what I felt that he was dealing with me to do. I will be sharing more of my journey of my life where God has brought me from. God Bless You!!