pastorjfreeman

The most popular preachers in the United States today all have one thing in common, which is a focus on receiving things from God, instead of a focus on God Himself. It is a sad reality, but many people today do not want to hear about loving God and sacrificing greatly for the One who gave Himself for them, rather, many just want blessings from Him.

Millions of books are sold every year from popular communicators telling people how to be happy, how to make every day a Friday, how to have enough faith to get stuff from God, etc. People listen to these supposed “men of God,” and think if they just had more faith, they would not get sick, be broke, or have problems. That could not be farther from the truth.

If there was anyone who should have been blessed with a problem-free life, it was Jesus. He was perfect in every possible way, but suffered most severely. In fact, any person we read about in the Scripture or in church history that was ever used mightily of God, was tested in the most severe of all ways. Nearly every one of Jesus’ disciples were martyred and tortured for their faith. They probably had more faith in their little finger than I have in my whole body.

If Jesus suffered, and His closest followers suffered, why would anyone think that they would be exempt from suffering and hard things? Why would anyone think that everyday should be a Friday? The answer? Because people want blessings from God without really wanting God Himself. It is sad, but true.

When my seven-year-old son, Trey, passed away with cancer, I was confronted with the harsh reality of whether or not I believed everything I had ever preached or taught everyone else. Would I continue to love and trust God in the midst of such severe pain? This is the journey I have been on the last three years. I can honestly say that my faith in God and love for God is deeper than it has ever been. I think the reason for this, is that I have learned the greatest thing I need from God is God Himself. A friend of mine recently said it best, “The highest reward of the Gospel is not that we get forgiveness, but that we get God!” I love this truth. Yes, as followers of Jesus we get forgiveness of sin, peace in our heart, and ultimately eternal life, but beyond all that, we get God Himself.

A virtual certainty of life in a sinful, fallen world is that hard things will happen. Disease, destruction, and death are all part of this world, but there is hope. In our deepest pain and suffering, God comes to us and gives us Himself. I love what Joni Eareckson Tada, a paraplegic for over forty years, recently said, “No other religion promises new bodies, hearts, and minds. Only in the Gospel of Christ do hurting people find such incredible hope. It’s tempting to try to discern the reason for suffering. God doesn’t always give explanations, He gives Himself.” That is a beautiful reality. Christianity does not offer you a problem-free life. It offers you the presence of God in life’s hardships.

The truth is, God will one day wipe away every tear from our eyes because He understands suffering. He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to live a perfect and sinless life, but the world hated, rejected, and then crucified Him. God’s Son suffered the worst death imaginable so that you and I could have a real relationship with God. It is through the suffering of Jesus that we are healed. What a powerful reality! The God who is well acquainted with grief, comes to us in our grief, and gives us Himself. Jesus said in John 16:33, “In this world you WILL have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.” The only blessing we need from God is God Himself. Do not ever forget that.

A large part of the following entry comes from a devotion I read by Randy Alcorn. I have added a few personal thoughts throughout though. Please take a moment read this, including the scripture. I pray it blesses you as it has blessedme.

“When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion, We were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us; We are glad. Restore our captivity, O LORD, As the streams in the South. Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalms‬ ‭126:1-6‬

In this Psalm, the Psalmist rejoices in God’s deliverance from captivity with a greater joy than he could ever have experienced had there been no captivity. THIS IS THE NATURE OF JOY – IT IS ALWAYS GREATER AND DEEPER FOR THOSE WHO HAVE KNOWN REAL SORROW. Did you see the contrast? “Those who SOW in tears will REAP with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping…will return with songs of joy.”

This has been such a difficult truth for me to learn and accept. For the last three years, I have struggled with joy. I am doing much better now than I did after we initially lost Trey, but it has and continues to be a journey. I am learning what I just wrote above…joy is deeper and greater for those who have and continue to trust God in and through their suffering. I feel like for the first time in my life, I’m learning what it means to have real and true joy. True joy is based on the presence of God in all circumstances of life…nothing else. But, that doesn’t mean we will not still grieve. Believe it or not, deep grief and deep joy can coexist. Coming to this realization has been very freeing for me.

This is why we should not be surprised when God allows us to undergo sorrows that will forever deepen and broaden our worship of Him and our experience of eternal joy. Trusting in Christ, does not mean we suffer less. Rather, trusting in Christ allows us to be able to face and endure with God’s strength what He allows into our lives.

A lady named Nancy Guthrie had a disabled daughter named Hope that died after living through 199 days of seizures and other complications. Nancy wrote this: “The day after we buried Hope, my husband said to me, ‘You know, I think we expected our faith to make this hurt less, but it doesn’t.’ Our faith gave us an incredible amount of strength and encouragement while we had our daughter, Hope, and we are comforted by the knowledge that she is in heaven. Our faith KEEPS US FROM BEING SWALLOWED BY DESPAIR. But I don’t think it makes our loss hurt any less.”

Nancy and her husband’s pain didn’t decease because they believed; rather, their faith kept their pain from incapacitating them. For Nancy and her husband, God stood with them in their pain, but He did not remove it.

After Trey died, I felt a part of me died. Never in my life had I experienced such sadness and despair. I think some Christians, who have obviously never grieved deeply, just expected me to bounce back as though nothing had ever happened to me. I had one person say to me, “When Trey was alive, you exhibited a lot of faith, but after he died, I didn’t feel you had the same faith.” As hard as that was to hear, what I tried to explain to this person was that my faith in God was the only thing keeping from “jumping off the cliff.” As Nancy said, faith keeps us from being completely swallowed by despair. My faith was being tested and continues to be tested, but it has never been more real…why? Because I have and continue to learn what it means to truly trust God. It is okay to grieve, and faith doesn’t eliminate grief, but faith does give you the ability to trust God in and through all things. This kind of real faith in the midst of real grief, brings a real joy!

Think of Jesus. He wept over the death of Lazarus and for Lazarus’ bereaved sisters, Mary and Martha, not because he lost perspective but because He HAD perspective. Death is an enemy, as is suffering and disability that precedes death. God hates it. So should we. We are to REJOICE for the coming day when God promises no more death and suffering. Such rejoicing can fully coexist with mourning great loss.

We dare not wait for a time of crisis to learn how to worship God. The Guthries worshipped God IN crisis because they worshipped God BEFORE the crisis. Trusting in God’s sovereignty and goodness now will sustain us when suffering comes later. Worshipping God now is the only way to ensure you will worship Him when trials come your way. Our God is worthy of all worship…worship Him today!

On September 1, 2013, my precious seven year old son, Trey, went to be with the Lord. This was the worst day of my life, but the best day of his life. If I was honest, on that day, there was a large part of me that wanted to die. I could not believe what was happening to my son, and the reality that I would never see him again on this earth, shook me to the core. Every day since then, I have had to learn how to live with the deep emotional pain.

In many ways, it is hard to believe that it has been two years since Trey died. Some days, time seems to fly by, and other days, time seems to stand still. Every day is just so different. There are mornings when I wake up and am so overwhelmed by grief, it is hard to do anything, but there are also mornings when I wake up and have an unexplainable joy and energy. I have simply had to learn how not to be led my feelings or circumstances.

As I reflect on what the last two years have been like, here are some things that have helped me keep living in the midst of such deep despair. I pray they encourage any other fellow grievers as well.

First, I have to remind myself daily of what God has done for Trey. God not only saved Trey’s soul on January 8, 2013, but He then delivered him for the pains of this world by taking him directly into His presence on September 1, 2013. One of the most important ways to cope with grief is by focusing on where our Christian loved ones are. God’s Word tells us that for those who are in Christ, “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” When I think about where Trey is, I cannot help but rejoice!

Second, I have to remind myself daily that God has me here for a purpose. If God was finished with me, he would take me home, too. As long as I have breath in my lungs, I have to believe and understand that God has something for me to do. It is sinful for me to reject God’s purpose for my life. I must daily connect with God’s will and seek to live out His plan in the strength that He provides. I simply need to be the man, husband, father, and pastor God wants me to be. As we often sing, from the song, In Christ Alone, “Till He returns, or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I stand.”

Third, I have to remind myself of the promises in God’s Word. When I saturate my mind with God’s truth, I am filled with hope, peace, and joy. It is when I get out of God’s Word that I find myself discouraged and defeated. God’s Word is filled with promises and when I am reminded of them and embrace them by faith, it is amazing the amount of focus I have. Every believer in Jesus must keep God’s Word at the center of their heart and mind.

Fourth, I have to remind myself that God uses, and continues to use, Trey’s story for His glory. This life is but a breath compared to eternity, and the way God has used Trey is hard to put into words. There will be countless people in heaven because they have embraced Christ through Trey’s testimony. Trey accomplished more in seven years than some people will accomplish in one hundred years. When I think about how God has used the life of my son, it encourages me to keep telling his story and seeing lives changed for all of eternity.

Finally, I have to remind myself that so much of life in a fallen world comes down to sheer endurance and perseverance. Life is hard and until God removes all sin from this world, Christians have to learn how to trust God in the storm, not in spite of the storm. I heard someone say that “God never uses anyone mightily that He doesn’t test thoroughly.” Trial, hardship, and suffering are ways God keeps us dependent on Him, but also detached from this world. I have to wake up every day and remind myself of those things.

There are many other things I have learned, but those are just a few of the main things I remind myself of daily. If you, like me, are living through some sort of trial, just remember that it is all for a purpose. You and I simply must trust Him and walk with Him through the storms of life. I can make you a promise, too. God will never leave you and He will always provide what you need to endure what you face. Hang in there and keep trusting Him!

For the last year and a half, I have been walking my church through the book of Exodus on Sunday mornings. As you might know, Exodus is the story of God’s miraculous deliverance of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. It is a powerful story of redemption and rescue. 

Throughout Exodus, it is amazing to see all the incredible things God did on behalf of the people of Israel. God did miracle after miracle, proving time and time again that He loved Israel and would always be with them in a special way. In fact, God has such a special love for the people of Israel they were called “The Children of God” and “God’s Chosen People.”

You would think with all the marvelous things God did for His children that they would never forget the goodness and grace He showed them. Sadly, this is not the case. The Israelites became known as a people who were quick to forget God. Psalm 106:21 says, “They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt.” 

When I read that verse, among many others, I find myself asking, “How is it possible that they could forget God?” As I ask that though, I am quickly reminded that the Israelites often mirror many Christians today. As a pastor, I talk to and see many people, myself included at times, who often forget all that God has done for them. As Christians, God has saved us, forgiven our sin, promised to be with us and never leave us, and has guaranteed us an eternal home in heaven. How could we ever forget God? Sadly, we do.

Today, remember and think about God and all He has done for you. Do not forget Him! If you are hurting and discouraged, remember that God loves you. If you are anxious and stressed, remember that God is your peace. If you are sad and lonely, remember that God is with you and brings you joy. If you have made many mistakes and poor decisions, remember that God is mighty to save and offers real hope and forgiveness.

God is good and never changes. He loves you with an everlasting love. He is all you need in this life. As the Psalmist said in Psalm 16:8, “I have set the Lord before me, because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Put the Lord at the forefront of your mind today. Set Him before you in all you do, and do not forget Him! Make it a priority to not forget the God who has remembered and thought of you.

I love sports. I always have. I love watching and I love playing them. Sports have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a child, I always had some sort of sports ball in my hand and was involved in some kind of sporting activity. In high school, I would just move from one sport to the next, and I loved every minute of it. There is something about working hard, playing with a team, fighting through adversity, and achieving success in sports that is very rewarding.

Playing sports and cheering for a sports team, are very different though. Since I have become an adult, my sports life has changed. I play several things recreationally, and I am involved in my children’s sports activities, but I do not really participate competitively anymore. I am a huge sports fan, though. I love cheering for the Oklahoma Sooners, Dallas Cowboys, and my hometown team, the San Antonio Spurs. I watch and follow my favorite teams any chance I get.

As an avid fan of sports, I have learned much about fans over the years. Sports fans are some of the most interesting people in the world. If you want to be exposed to the true sinfulness of humanity, just attend a six-year-old recreational soccer game and watch some of the parents. Truthfully, fans are bad at every level, from children’s sports, all the way to professional sports. If we are honest though, we have all probably let our emotions gets the best of us in watching sports and are all guilty of taking trivial things a little too serious. If we are to do everything for the glory of God, how can we enjoy sports and be a good fan for His glory?  Here are a few things I have learned and observed.

First, tell yourself over and over, “IT IS JUST A GAME.” Truly, at the end of the day, the sporting event you are watching has zero eternal significance. Remember that!

Second, do not let the game affect your attitude, or how you treat other people. Do not get sucked into the mentality that the sky is falling just because your team is performing poorly. If the outcome of any game has a dramatic positive or negative effect on your attitude, you are taking it too seriously. Enjoy the game, cheer hard, but when it is over, it is over. Do not let the results of the game carry into your daily life.

Third, be a good fan during the game. Be pleasant to those around you. Do not criticize individuals, or players and fans on either team. Cheer positively and stay off the officials. I have said this over and over, and I firmly believe it: “The outcome of a game is RARELY due to poor officiating.” If a team is really good, they will find a way to succeed, even if the officiating is unsatisfactory. There is nothing worse than a fan that blames everyone and everything for their team’s loss. Do not be that kind of fan. Be a fan that brings glory to God by how you talk, how you treat those around you, and how you respond to those actually involved in the game.

Finally, remember that God does not care who wins or loses the game, but He does care about everyone involved in the game. From the fans, to the players, to the coaches, etc., God cares about people. His ultimate desire is for people to know Him and have a relationship with Him, but He also desires for all people to glorify Him. Sports are fun. It is exciting to watch good competition and cheer for your favorite teams, but everything must be kept in perspective. This is especially true for Christians. Christians need to set the example of how to be a good fan that brings glory to God. As you cheer this week, cheer with an eternal perspective.

About a month ago, I was in a pretty difficult spot. I was overwhelmed by lots of different things. Ministry can be extremely demanding and I was getting steamrolled. It wasn’t that anything was really going bad, it was simply that I had too much happening at the same time and I just couldn’t juggle it all. I found myself feeling frustrated, stressed, and discouraged. 

Along with some of the stress and many things I was dealing with, I was also unable to run and train for the upcoming OKC marathon. This run is very important to me. I have committed to run in honor of my son, Trey. But, due to the lack of training, I had pretty much resided that there was no way I was going to be able to do it. This discouraged me even more and just added to the problems.

To make a long story short, some of the issues I was dealing began to resolve and my schedule began slowing down a bit. I was even able to run a few times in the last couple of weeks. Emily and I were also blessed by some people in our church who provided a way for us to get a way for a couple of nights. We were able to rest and recharge a little. It was great. 

And then today happened…

I sat down last week to work out a running plan and see if it would even be possible to still pull off the full marathon at the end of April. The plan looked good on paper, but I knew it would really stretch me physically. Today was my first day to attempt a long run. Anyone who runs marathons knows that you have to put in the mileage…there is no way around it. So, I decided I was going to attempt to run 10 miles today and try to bump it to 14 next week…and just keep going up from there. So, I went to run.

When I started out, my muscles were tight. I had run a couple of short runs this week and I was still sore. This was not a great way to start a long run, but I pressed on. As I ran, I found myself getting looser. I started feeling good. Before I knew it, I had run 3 miles, then 6, and then 9. I was tempted to quit while I was ahead, but then I decided to just keep going. I thought, “If I can run 10 or 10.5, that would be great.” This would be a big mental victory for me. Well, 10 miles came and went, along with 10.5, and I just kept going. I ran a total of 13.1…which as most people know is a half marathon. I absolutely couldn’t believe it. What I really couldn’t believe was how good I felt. It was a much needed lift to my spirit.

As I ran today, I had a thought though: just a few weeks ago, I felt like I was about to drown…I was discouraged and feeling defeated, but here I was today with some of those things behind me, running 13.1 miles. It was as if the Lord said, “Jeremy, you are going to have lots of seasons in your life where you feel overwhelmed. Don’t be discouraged. These things will pass and I will see you through. Just keep going in My strength.” It was an “ah ha” moment for me, if you will. Here I was about a month ago not sure I could go on, and today, I was doing what I never thought I’d be able to do. I know I have lots of more work to do, but I know with God’s strength, I can do it.

I think so much of the Christian life, our sanctification, is about learning how to do the basic things well. Things like trusting and obeying God! Things like persevering and enduring in God’s strength. Things like loving our neighbor and treating others the way we want to me treated. The Christian life is not rocket science…rather, it is doing simple things with completely dependence on God. It is walking in His strength and power. The problem is, those simple things are incredibly hard to do. They all fly in direct opposition to our sin nature. What we have to do, is get up each day and truly submit to the Lordship of Christ! That’s the only way to make it through this life.

A few weeks ago, I was failing because I was attempting to do things on my own. I was not making good decisions with my schedule and trying to do too many things. My personality wants to help everyone, but I’m realizing, I can’t possibly help everyone. I know I should know that, but sometimes I have to be reminded. I have to learn to say “no” sometimes and I have to manage my schedule in God’s wisdom and strength. 

Also, I think we all just have to realize that there will be crazy, difficult, disappointing, and overwhelming seasons of life…and sometimes all we can do is just hang on tightly to the Lord until the storm passes. God does not always remove the storms or the pressures in life, but He does walk with us through them. If you are there right now, just know, it will pass. Hang on to the Lord, keep trusting Him, and He will see you through.

In the meantime, I will keep running…literally and figuratively…and I know God will see me through. The picture below was taken three weeks before Trey got sick. He ran in a 1 mile Labor Day fun run and did great. He was 6 years old at the time. I remember being so proud that he ran the entire mile. As we finished, I was pointing at him and celebrating his accomplishment with others. It was like I was saying, “Look everyone. Can you believe he finished?” Well, he did finish and he finished well…both in the race and in life.

When I run, I run for Trey, and I want to finish like him. Today, I kept seeing him…I kept running toward him…I kept chasing him. For the rest of my life, I will do all that I do, to bring glory to God and to honor my son. The race of faith he ran, is one I can only hope to emulate. So Trey, as I ran today, I imagined you ahead of me and I kept pointing at you. I kept chasing you. I kept feeling so proud of you. I only hope I can make you as proud. I love you so much buddy. You are the TREYMAN…you are my hero! Thank you for inspiring me to be better in every way. I love you son and I will keep running until I see you again! 



I am writing this on an airplane on my way home from a mission trip. There is so much in my heart and on my mind, and I am trying to process it all. One thing I have recently been overwhelmed with though, is the pain and suffering so many are experiencing in this world. I have wept several times on this long flight as I think of family, friends, people I met in this mission trip, and people I don’t even know who are hurting. I hurt deeply with and for them. Oh how I hate to see people suffer and long for the New Heaven and New Earth.

As I write this though, my heart just feels an indescribable pain. I grieve for so many. I hurt for people who have lost loved ones, people enduring sickness, couples who are struggling in their marriages, children who have been abandoned, and on and on…and this pain I feel has only been amplified by my own pain and grief due to the loss of my son, Trey. It is a pain I have grown accustomed to and have had to learn how to live with these past 2 1/2 years.

I was reminded of a powerful truth a few days ago though, which is that so much of life in a fallen world is about enduring trials, not escaping them. I am living, or perhaps better said, seeking to live this truth…and by the sheer grace of God, I am learning how to endure daily. I do think that enduring trials may be the hardest thing to do on this earth though. I am praying for so many who are suffering or grieving to have the strength to persevere. As James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the one who endures, for when he endures, he will receive the promised crown of life.” Christians know that we are only passing through this life, and that something better awaits us, but truly, the process of “passing through” can still be extremely difficult.

Now, it is true that everyone heals and deals with pain differently, but, it is important to find ways to “cope” with grief/trial/suffering. One way I deal with my grief is through writing. Typing out my thoughts is very helpful to me. As I sit here on this plane…thinking, praying, believing, remembering, hoping, etc…I wanted to write down a few good things about my son. The hurt I feel has caused me once again to think of how much I love my son, Trey, and how special he was and still is to me. So…I decided to write down some things that I love about him…and I just thought the world should know how great he truly was :-).

Truly, I will say though, there are not enough words to even begin to describe all that Trey means to me, nor are there words to adequately express all the incredible attributes Trey displayed…but I wanted to write a few things down about him that are very special to me. If you are a fellow griever, I pray these reflections will cause you reflect on the ones you love, and perhaps encourage you to keep pressing on and enduring. So, here is a short tribute to my son and hero, Trey.

“Trey Robert Freeman makes everything better.” That is a phrase I have always said. Let me explain though. Just one look in Trey’s big, beautiful eyes and dimple-filled smile was enough to absolutely change everything about my day. Trey’s very presence simply had a way of making everything better for me. Even as I am typing this, I am smiling. I am remembering pulling into my driveway from work, where he would be playing, and he would ALWAYS run up to me and hug me and tell me how much he missed me. I could be having the worst possible day, but one look at Trey changed it all. He just had a way of making everything all better. Oh how I long to feel his embrace again and look into his eyes and see him smile. One day, one day…

And then there was his cute little voice, incredible smile, and infectious laugh. Trey was the kind of kid you wanted to get laughing because his smile and laugh lit up the room. Trey could make anyone smile because he was so stinking cute. When we were going through pictures trying to decide which ones to use for the funeral slideshow, we had such a hard time narrowing them down. Why? Because Trey never took a bad picture. His smile was so natural and beautiful. Anyone who met Trey loved him…he just drew them in because of his warm, loving, beautiful countenance. I used to always say, “I wanted another girl, but with Trey, God gave me a pretty boy.” I will NEVER forget his smile and cute little expressions. Oh how I long to see his smile and hear him laugh again. One day, one day…

And then there was his personality. Trey did not lack personality. Yes, he could be shy with some, but with his family and friends, he was a true bright spot. The things he would say and do were simply hilarious. We have countless stories of all the funny things Trey said and did. Whether it was recording himself singing, saying long and descriptive prayers, telling jokes, dancing in the living room, etc…his personality was bigger than life. There was a joy and sweetness and humor and warmth in him that just drew you close to him. You may have only known Trey for 5 minutes, but that is all it would take for you to fall in love with him. Even in the hospital for all those days, he never lost his incredible sense of humor and love for life. Every doctor, nurse, and person entering his hospital room fell in love with him. I simply cannot wait to be with Trey in the New Heaven and New Earth. One day, one day…

One of my favorite things about Trey was his incredible enduring spirit. When I think back on all that Trey went through, I simply cannot believe the way he handled things. He was given the name “Super Trey” because of the strength his displayed day after day. Yes, he was not perfect, but he endured so well. I will never understand all that was going on in his body, or fully know how the disease affected him, but I know this, Trey fought with a confidence and a bravery I can only hope to have a fraction of. God gave Trey incredible strength. He went through so many things, and any one of them would have been enough to make most people want to give up, but not Trey…he never gave up. We truly always believed Trey would get better, simply because he just kept rising above whatever came his way. His enduring, persevering spirit still grips my heart each day. Oh how I want to be like him. I can’t wait to see him whole and healed. One day, one day…

Trey was also very thoughtful. He often did not want to receive things or gifts without others getting things too. He was conscientious and considerate. He loved to share, and often let others have things or their way, instead of him getting what he wanted. He got to a place in the hospital where he couldn’t do all the things he used to do, and he would just sit and enjoying watching others do what he used to enjoy doing. Whether it was watching his brothers play a video game or watching his sisters read or work puzzle or paint, he got joy watching them do what they enjoyed. He rarely complained…which is just amazing to me. Emily would tell me that even in the night in the hospital, he would do everything he could not to wake her up because he wanted her to sleep well. He would often get sick or have problems and call the nurse on his own and try not to awaken Emily. Oh how thoughtful he was!

One thing I will NEVER forget though, is the one time Trey did not want me to come see him when he was getting chemo. I said, “Why buddy? I want to be with you.” He said, “Because I don’t want you to see me getting hurt.” Trey didn’t want me to hurt!!! Can you believe that? He was 6 years old when he said that. He had a maturity that was well beyond his years and a thoughtfulness few exhibit. Oh how I long to see him running and jumping and doing all he wanted to do, but couldn’t. One day, one day…

Without question though, what I celebrate the most about little Trey, was his deep faith. Trey accepted Christ, as genuinely as I have ever seen anyone do, as a six year old on January 8, 2013. Yes, I know he was six, but you can ask anyone who knew him if they saw a change in his life after accepting Christ, and each person will say, “Without question.” Trey trusted deeply in his “Boss,” Jesus Christ. Trey loved to hear Bible stories, write Bible verses, watch Bible movies, and tell everyone about his spiritual birthday. Trey never worried about death or had any anxiety about his situation…he simply faced each day with a simple and sincere faith in his Savior. His faith inspires me to this day. I so loved to hear him pray. His prayers were real…his prayers were sincere…his prayers were earnest. He had a real relationship with God and it was beautiful to see. What is interesting is that Trey came to Christ in the midst of his deepest suffering and struggle. His trial did not cause him to resist God, or get angry at God…it caused him to look to and trust in God. I often say that if the only reason for Trey’s trial was for him to find Christ, then it was worth it! I would much rather him live a short life for the Lord and have eternity with his Savior, than to live a long life for himself and spend eternity separated from God. Trey trusted Christ deeply and now is in His presence forever!!! Oh how I long to see him walking with His Savior. One day, one day…

Trey Robert, your daddy loves you. There are so many more things I could say about you buddy, but these specific things were on my heart today. Thank you for inspiring me!. Thank you for making me want to be better in every area of my life. Thank you for always making me feel so special…for loving me, snuggling with me, playing Bey Blades, and action figures, and wrestlers with me, for being the all-time best Freeman family kick-ball pitcher, for loving your brothers and sisters and mom so well, for laughing and smiling and singing and loving life…thank you for always making things better. Thank you for all those things and SO MUCH more. I thank God everyday for the time I had with you and look forward to eternity with you buddy. You will forever be the Trey-man, my hero, and I will love you every second of my life until I see you again. I love you so much son! You made me so proud. I know I will see you soon. One day, one day…

Last week a very difficult situation arose with one of our fellow Oklahomans. Due to some rare complications from the flu and strep throat, a precious little five-year-old girl, by the name of Emersyn (Emmy) Waddle, passed away. Emmy’s story was picked up by the news media and followed widely on social media. Truly, thousands of people, in a matter of just a few days were gripped and moved by little Emmy’s story. I was one of those touched by this story and would like to share a few thoughts related to it.

As many of you know, my seven-year-old son, Trey Freeman, went to be with the Lord on September 1, 2013. I have referenced his story a number of times in this column, but have written extensively about our journey on my personal blog site at www.pastorjfreeman.com. Because of what our family has been through, whenever I hear of others dealing with the loss of a child, my heart is immediately connected with them, even if I do not know them. When I heard about Emmy, and although I did not know them personally, I began praying for her and her family. My heart was immediately connected, and I found myself weeping with them, praying with them, and grieving with them. I was following the updates on their Facebook page (Praying4Emmy) and hoping and longing with everyone else for God to heal this precious little girl.

It was not long before I saw Emmy’s mom post something that was all too familiar to me. On their Facebook page she said, “Unless God intervenes Emersyn Leigh will be in Heaven today.” At 8:57pm that night, sweet little Emmy went to be with her Savior, Jesus Christ. When I read that, I was immediately taken back to September 1, 2013 where my family and I experienced the exact same thing. We were desperate for God to intervene and bring healing, but God chose to bring a different kind of healing, a better kind of healing. With Trey, and now Emmy, our good and gracious Heavenly Father chose to heal these precious children in the most excellent of all ways. He chose to deliver them from this fallen world, a world plagued by sickness, disease, and death, and heal them eternally. The grace of God carried these precious children straight into His loving arms, and while our heart grieves, it also rejoices.

This life is hard. It is really hard. But, if you believe the Bible, then you understand why. The Bible tells us that this world is not all that there is. This world is fallen because of sin, and the effects of sin are devastating. But, God is not finished yet! One day, there will be a New Heaven and a New Earth where there will be no more sin, pain, suffering, or death. God has made us to live for eternity, and those who embrace His Son, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior are guaranteed eternity with Him. This is why we must live for what matters, eternal things. My favorite verse is 2 Corinthians 4:18, which says, “So we fix our eyes, not on what we can see, but on what we cannot see; for what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal.” Today, make sure you know Jesus Christ and make sure you live for eternal things. Hang on, because God is not finished yet!

I have a friend who loves to say, “You find your life as you give it away.”  He takes this personal slogan from the Bible when Jesus says, “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever wants to lose his life for Me and My sake will find it.”  Those words of Jesus reflect the very essence of the Christian life. Christians should be known by what they give, not by what they keep.

I am currently in the middle of a sermon series that is focusing on stewardship.  Stewardship is simply taking care of, or managing well, the things God gives us: things such as money, time, talents, and possessions.  These messages have been very challenging and convicting.  When we truly take time to stop and think about how we use the things God gives us, we often discover that we are using those things more for ourselves than for God and other people.  We become guilty of storing up more for ourselves instead of helping others in their time of need.

As 2015 keeps rolling along, here are four things that might encourage all of us to develop the mindset and lifestyle of being known by what we give away and not by what we keep:

First, connect with a healthy church.  Healthy churches will not be focused inwardly, but outwardly.  By connecting with a good church, you can join with other believers and truly make a difference in the lives of many people. You can do good things on your own, but together, we can do more.

Second, get involved with foster/adoptive care.  There is a tremendous need in Oklahoma related to children who are in vulnerable and difficult situations. If you cannot foster or adopt a child, you can support and help families who are. There are many in our church who are involved in orphan care, my family included, and there are great opportunities to help.  As I often tell my church, “There shouldn’t be a child in Oklahoma who doesn’t have a home.”

Third, develop a “see a need, meet a need” lifestyle.  When you become aware of a need, seek to meet it if you can.  Be looking for opportunities to assist others and, as you discover needs, meet the ones you can.  Each and every day, there are people who are hungry, hurting, discouraged, etc., and if each of us did what we could each day, we could truly make a difference.

Finally, pray.  Prayer is one of God’s greatest gifts to us.  At the very least, pray for people.  When you go through the drive-through window, pray.  When you walk in the mall, pray.  When you are at school, work, or even driving down the road, pray.  Pray for all people, in all seasons, at all times.  Prayer connects us to the heart of God, and God’s heart is to redeem people.

This year, I hope we will all seek to develop a “God first, others second” lifestyle.  I pray that we will be known not by what we keep, but by what we give.  The world is in need of people who live like this.  Join me in seeking to live this way.

My life is busy. From sun up to sun down, I am always running as fast as I can. It can be very overwhelming, and of course tiring at times. In fact, every person I meet seems to be living a busy life too. I do not think I have ever spoken with someone who said, “I really wish I had more things to do.” If that person exists, I would like to meet them and find out their secret.

In a world full of noise, instant access to each other through social media, texting, and many other forms of technology, it can be virtually impossible to find personal quiet time. Quiet time is critical though. There is incredible value in getting time to pray, think, reflect, listen, and just be still. This is an area I am ever growing in and something I have to work hard to get, but when I get it, it is worth it.

The Bible tells us in Psalm 46:10 to “Be still and know that He is God…”  There is simply something refreshing and calming about getting still before the Lord and listening to Him speak. When we get away from the noise and daily craziness of life, there is something about the quiet that allows us to refocus, reenergize, and regroup. There are many benefits that come from getting some personal quiet time, but here are four quick worthwhile reasons to do it:

1. We listen better when we are still. As a parent of five children, nothing drives me crazier than when I am trying to talk to my kids and they will not be still. Adults can be just as bad. We live at such fast paces that we can often hear the wrong things. Getting alone and getting still before God allows for time to really stop and listen. It is amazing what we learn when we just stop and listen;

2. We often see things more clearly when we slow down. Sometime we can get moving so fast that everything around can seem blurry. When we sit down and get still, it is amazing the clarity that comes. Sometimes the answer is right before us, but until we slow down, we do not see it. Quiet time may not change our circumstances, but it often changes how we see them;

3. We often make better decisions when we stop and reflect. No important decision should be made without careful thought and much prayer. It is difficult to do either of those things if you never slow down. In the quiet places of life, where we listen and see more clearly, we will make better decisions;

4. We tend to trust more and stress less when get time alone with God. I heard someone say this one time, “Don’t think about it until you’ve prayed about it, and once you’ve prayed about it, don’t worry about it.” All human beings have a tendency to worry, and when we worry, we stress. Getting alone with God puts you in a position to give Him your worries and to trust Him with what concerns you. I have discovered that when I do not get alone, I try and carry everything on my own, and that never works out well. God tells us to “cast our cares on Him because He cares for us.”

There are obviously many more benefits to getting some alone time, but the four I have mentioned have helped me tremendously, and I pray might help and encourage you. Even if you can just get five minutes of alone time each day, it will be time well spent.