Hey Friends,

How are you?

I’m doing well.

I’ve been thinking about my own usefulness to the Lord.

Is He pleased with what I’ve done? What I’ve accomplished? I’m just at a point where I’m seeing that it’s not so much what I do or accomplish, but what I let Him do through me.
I really have great big dreams but I’m seeing that a lot of that doesn’t matter if I’m not being right now who He wants me to be.

Psalm 127 says, “Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth.”
Well I’m a son of God. I want to be an arrow in His hand. I want to hit His target.
I want to be used by God to accomplish His purposes not just my dreams.

Jer. 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord
Plans to prosper you and not to harm you
Plans to give you hope and a future.

I do believe God will do something with my life. But I believe if I died now I would die a success.

As a matter of fact:
I remember when I was 19 I was working in the college cafeteria loading dishes into this big steamy dishwasher. As I stood there I realized that if I were to die right then I would die a success. I thought back over all the things that I had done and the lives I had touched with God’s love. I was a success, even at the age of 19.

I realize that as long as I stayed submitted to Him and let Him use me then I live in constant success.

Yet I have something bigger on the inside of me. Yes I’m happy at this point with all that’s been done. But I still feel this pressure from the inside out. I believe there is more that God wants to do in and through me. I want to serve Him with a long full, fruitful life.

Hey Friends,

I got a new MP3 player. It’s a Sansa Clip.

I want to encourage you: if you’re not up on this technology, you’re missing out on a blessing.

You can see the size of this one, its very convenient and has a clip on the back to clip it to yourself while you’re exercising or in my case preaching. It has a built in mic so I can record conversations or messages that I teach. It’s very helpful.

Another thing that I really like is I got the Bible on MP3 from www.firefighters.org, it’s free. I love listening to the Word. It’s such a blessing to just turn this on and let the Word minister to you.

You could also use it download some of my teachings at www.familylife.cc
or some of my music from the links at the top left of this page.

God bless you
Joe

Check out a cool blog post about my daughter Sarah:

(Natalie & Sarah)

Click here to see the interview.

She was interviewed by an author, I think you’ll like it.

Be blessed

Joe

Do you want to know what you’re supposed to do?

#1 Get to know your Creator
He created you
He created this world
He is the most benevolent, loving, kind, resourceful being you’ll ever know
He loves you
He made a way for you to be His friend

#2 Become His child
Being born again is believing in Jesus Christ and receiving Him as your Lord

#3 Be filled with the Holy Spirit
After being born again you are ready to be filled with His Spirit. Ask Him to fill you. He will.
This is where things get exciting. This is where God starts to use you. This is where your fellowship and friendship with God are developed to a degree that is so satisfying.

#4 Live the rest of your life for Him
Your purpose; what you’re supposed to do and who you are made to become is all tied up in knowing, loving and serving God.

My friends I have been doing this since I was a youth and I can attest to you, along with many others, that this way of living is true life. This is where the fun is. This is where the fulfillment is. This is where happiness is.

May you come to know the Lord in all His wonderful love. He loves you.

Hey Friends,

I hope you’re all doing well.

Our bodies are amazing and wonderful things:

The other day I was going through my day, I hadn’t eaten much but I was doing alright. A little later I noticed this lack of strength and a generally slightly unpleasant feeling. My lightning fast mind realized:

“I’m hungry, I better get something to eat.”

So off I go to the kitchen, put together something simple, sit down relax, enjoy.
Pretty soon I was feeling all comfy again.

Our Souls are even more wonderful and complex:

A few weeks ago I was spending alot of time just listening to teachings, spending time reading my Bible, praying; generally trying to be “spiritually minded” which the Bible says leads to “life and peace”.
A few days later, things got real busy around the house (with 7 kids that happens sometimes).
Without really noticing it my attention started shifting from spiritual stuff to just plain old natural stuff. I also noticed my attitude started becoming less loving and more “short and to the point.”
What my lightning fast mind was not so quick to discern was that I was becoming spiritually hungry. The warning signals are less subtle than those your physical body gives you.

Solution

Examine yourself. Are you acting like Jesus or the devil?
If you’re not acting like Jesus the answer is simple:
Go spend more time with him.
Become spiritually minded.
That brings life and peace.

Love ya

Joe

Hey Friends,

This post is specifically for fathers
more specifically
fathers with daughters. Feel free to guide fathers here to read this.

I sent this email out yesterday to the fathers on our church mailing list.

I believe I need to share it here as well. I hope it helps you.
Joe

Gentlemen,

As far as I know all of you who are receiving this email are fathers. If not, my apologies.

You also at some point have had some connection with or currently attend Family Life Christian Center so I included you in the list.

I believe most of you have daughters.

Recently a young lady from our church was over to our house. Her and my daughter were looking at pictures. This young lady is very camera-shy. Yet, she was telling how photogenic my daughter was. Her own opinion of herself and her looks was pretty low. I tried to encourage her but seemingly to no avail.

A couple weeks later I was thinking about the situation:

• This girl thought she was homely.
• Her confidence was low.
• Yet this girl is pretty.

She’s in a vulnerable position. I don’t think her father has told her that she’s pretty.

I was convicted right away: When was the last time I had told my oldest daughter Sarah that I thought she was pretty?
She was out of town so I emailed her right away:

Sarah,
I just realized that I haven’t told you in a while that
I think you are beautiful!
Love ya
Dad

She wrote back:
Hey dad!!!
Thank you so much….yeah I really did need that….:) It’s so funny how girls need to hear that to feel special! It’s weird! ha! And yet I still love to hear it…hehe!

I responded:

The Lord showed me that about saying that to you. He told me its part of your protection.
Love ya
Dad

Gentlemen,
If your daughter doesn’t think she’s pretty then she’s vulnerable to any guy who says she is.

Tell these girls, no matter their age.
Tell them they are beautiful.

We, as fathers, have the power to shield our girls from quite a bit just by speaking these words to them.

Be encouraged my friend.
If you think you can’t do this, I think you can. You’re a man. Be a man and tell your daughter she’s beautiful.

Thanks for listening.
Pastor Joe

Pastor Joe Barlow
Family Life Christian Center
www.familylife.cc

23785

Jesus has made the way for you to come boldly into the presence of God; even while you still live on this earth! He wants you to fellowship with Him. He’d actually like to talk with you, conversation style. God loves you. He wants to be a real father to you.

So what are you waiting for? He’s made a way. He’s invited you. He loves you. He’s not mad at you.

So what’s holding you back? Are you too distracted? Too busy? Not interested?

When you get into the presence of the Lord there are great blessings waiting for you there.
Him. His love. And your future.

The Bible says we enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.
So get by yourself and take some time to thank Him for all kinds of things that He’s done for you. Then take some time to praise Him for who He is. Do that for a while. Then just be still and know that He is God. Write down the things He speaks to your heart.

Enjoy Him. He’s yours and you are His.

Love ya
Be blessed
Joe

Hey Friends,

Throughout history there have been times when man’s hunger for God has reached a boiling point where it has to be satisfied.

I believe we’re there.

• Lord, we need more of You in our lives!
• We are hungry for You.
• We want to see your glory revealed in every area of our lives.
• We want to see signs and wonders.
• We want to see the glory of the Lord fill the earth.
• We want to see salvations, healings, miracles.
• We want to see your word taught with authority and revelation.
• We want to see extravagant worship with great sacrifice of self and pride.
• We want more of you in our lives.

Holy Spirit, begin to do a work of preparation, help us to be ready for what’s next.
Help us in

• fasting and prayer,
• study and worship,
• giving and helping.

We love You Lord. Its time to move. Move in our midst. Have Your way in us.
In Jesus’ Name!

From my Journal:

Luke 24:38
…Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold my hands and my feet…

Good morning Lord,
I love you. Thank you for your love and grace.
I need your help.
This sickness has lingered for so long.

I have healed you, Son.

What am I missing?

My love.
I love you, Son.
I desire you well and have provided everything for you.
Receive my love.
Be secure in it.
Know it.
Experience it.
Healing is in there.

You must know my love for you to receive this and to end the lack in your life.

My love covers over all wrongs.

So receive it.

I don’t see your sin. Love keeps no record of wrongs. So enjoy guilt-free living. Where there is no accusation of guilt you’re not tempted to hide from me.
In the full light of day there is pure guiltless love; there is nothing to hinder your healing or receiving from Me.

I want you to receive from Me.

Jude 20, 21
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 keep(ing) yourselves in the love of God…

God bless you Friends,
I hope this helps you.
Joe

Hey Friends,

I just made an announcement at church this past weekend that kind of flies in the face of popular wisdom:

Popular wisdom says if you’re going to grow a healthy church you have take care of the children so adults can be free to enjoy the word of God.

Being Led By The Lord
With as much as I love the Word of God and I love for people to listen to me when I teach it this could have been a difficult decision to make.

But, the Lord seems to deal with me sometimes in ways that aren’t optimum. Especially when I’m slow of hearing.

You see, I believe the best way for a pastor to lead is

• for him to have a close personal relationship with the Lord,
• know the Word,
• hear His Voice,
• get direction from Him and
• implement it.

While I believe that’s best, that’s not how this decision came about.

What Happened:
For two and a half years we had some very faithful workers handling our 0-5 year olds. Lisa a ministry school graduate was handling our Toddlers and Cyndi was handling our nursery. With as faithful as these ladies were there was not a line of people volunteering to relieve them. This didn’t feel right. They have families too. They need to sit in the service too. They need to hear the Word preached and have times of fellowship. It kind of bothered me that we didn’t see what I would consider the blessing of the Lord on our recruitment efforts.

I believe, for sure, that where He guides, He provides.

On the Sunday before Valentine’s Day Lisa arrived all ready for the day, she had made a special treat for each of the kids with their names on it. But when Nancy arrived with our 4 year old Olivia, Nancy had already planned to keep her in the service to hear me teach. This confused Lisa. What’s wrong with this picture? She’s putting all of this thought, prayer, emotional energy, and hours of work but the pastor’s wife won’t let her minister to their child. Where’s the clarity of vision.

So Lisa called me on it. Thank God she did. Now Lisa is a godly woman, polite and very cordial but she wanted some clarification. Was this a babysitting service that she was running? Was children’s ministry really even in the vision for the church? After much discussion with me, her husband and the Lord she felt led to step down from her role.

Going Back To The Vision
This like I said earlier was God leading me in a less than optimum way. It forced me to go back to the seeds of vision that He had planted in me and my wife’s heart in the years of preparation before stepping into the pastorate.

We had always seen, in looking to the future, families together, learning how to be families, learning how to sit together, learn together. With all of the things that divide the family throughout the week we felt the Lord was leading us to give them one place where the family was not required to be split up again.

Teaching Children
My wife often tells me, “Joe, you have a gift to teach all ages. The little kids get something out of it all the way up to the elderly.” I’m not sure if this is a gift as much as it is a learned sensitivity. My brother, Vince, taught me as he discipled me that if you’ll teach to the children’s level then the adults will finally get it.

So, we’re off on a new adventure, we don’t know what it all will look like. But we know that we’ll fail if we follow popular wisdom but we’ll succeed if we follow God’s recipe for our church.

The Correction
After I announced the change to the church a friend came up to me after service and asked if I was open to some correction. I said, “Sure.”

He said, “You said twice during your announcement that we were stopping having children’s ministry. But really you’re taking children’s ministry to the next level.”