My mother once told me a story, that one day, about 65 years ago, my grandfather arrived at his house and said to everyone who lived there: “From today on, we are going to become believers”.

Perhaps my mother, at the age of 12, did not understand what was happening there or understood that those words, spoken by my grandfather, showed the reaction of a person who had just had a real encounter with God.

Today I remembered this story and thought to myself, that whoever has a true encounter with God DO NOT GIVE UP THAT YOUR HOME IS A PLACE OF WORSHIP AND PRAISE TO GOD.

As Joshua clearly said to the people of Israel after conquering the entire territory of Israel, that it was necessary for the people to choose in a convinced and definitive way who they would serve: Baal or the Lord.

Joshua 24:15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Joshua made his decision clear when he said: But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

God has always wanted to be the Lord (OWNER) of our lives and our families.

John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

I believe that my grandfather's decision was fundamental so that today I am a servant of God and my house is serving the Lord.

I realize that it is fulfilled in my family, having my grandfather as the forerunner of the fulfillment of God's great promise for his generations.

Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.

The Word of God also tells us that: Psalm 33:12 ​Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

Obviously, if any member of the house (family) does not wish to serve the Lord God, the choice will always be personal and each individual will answer for their decisions and attitudes towards Jesus at the appropriate time.

Perhaps you are the forerunner of God's blessings to your family, which is a great honor.

The forerunner of up to a thousand generations of people blessed, protected, taught and cared for by God.

It doesn't matter if you were led to Christ by an ancestor of yours or if you were the first of many generations that will be blessed, the important thing is that you clearly determine, every day: MYSELF AND MY HOUSE WILL SERVE THE LORD.

So, just to exercise, say now: ME AND MY HOUSE WILL SERVE THE LORD.

MAY THESE WORDS BE MANIFEST IN YOUR ATTITUDES!

The Lord bless you and keep you.

Pastor Val Martins