My lovely wife baked cookies tonight and they were very tasty. When the cookies were done, our four year old son ran to the kitchen to be the first one to stake his claim on the BIGGEST cookie. As a Christian father, I attempt to use every moment as a teaching one; therefore, I decides to use this as one of those moments. Here is how the dialogue went:
Me: Son I’m the dad, so I get to choose which one I want first. When you become a dad and the head of your house, you can do whatever Jesus tell you.
Kylen: (with a sincerity heart and facial expression) Dad, did Jesus tell you to get that big cookie.
The only thing I could do was laugh. I don’t think he thought it was funny but Toshia and I had a great laugh. Lesson learned: Never underestimate your child’s ability to comprehend practical bible teachings. He associated my choosing of the Big Cookie with my ability and responsibility of being obedient to God. Deuteronomy 6:7 says, “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” The whole duty of a Christian parent is to teach our children the way of the Lord. I challenge you to use every moment as a practical biblical teaching moment.
In January 2010, I will depart on my 2cd mission trip to the Philippines. I will be co-leading a team that will be training pastors and ministry leaders on the bible and discipleship. I need your help in order to make this possible.
Last year God bless our time tremendously. We taught about 50 indigenous pastors and ministry leaders on the bible and discipleship. We are expecting those that we taught last year to bring their disciple with them (100 people).
I am excited to go back and continue the work of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The cost of the mission trip will be roughly $2400. By faith, I believe God will make a way for me to go. Friends, I need your financial and prayerful support. Last year you came through big for us. I know you will do it again. If you would like to donate funds to help me get there, and/or be praying for the team, you will be an important part of this trip.
Downline Ministries is a 501(c)3 non-profit, so all gifts are tax deductible. You can make checks to DownLine Ministries (please do not put my name on the check just put the trip name in the memo space) and mail it to DownLine Ministries Att: Mondonico Williams P.O. Box 770296 Memphis, TN 38177 or give online at https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=5af3f0. There is a space for the trip name and my name. ($.50, $1, $2, $5, $50, $100, $1000 every penny will help) I am excited to team up with you in living out His Great Commission!
I had a good friend ask me yesterday how is life at home. I told him all is well. He said, “man I don’t know how you do it…balance a wife two kids, a newborn, work, and school.” Well, I’ll tell you how I do it. There are 3 people groups that keep me focused, even when I want to give up. My family (mainly my children) this people group sees me day in and day out. They believe that God has given them to me priest prophet, and provider. My supporters (financial) this people group are those that believe that God has given me an assignment and believe in the training that I am receiving. Last, but not lest, the harvest (God’s elect) this people group are those who my gift and training will be used to edify and equip. So, that’s how I do it. I know that my life no longer belong to me (Gal 2:20).
God has definatly shined on the Williams household. On Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 1:24 pm, My wife (LaToshia) gave birth to a health little girl, who is our third child, and second daughter. We named her Mykilei Charis Williams. Her name is pronounced Mu-ky-lee, which means God has show or is showing. Her middle name, Charis, is the greek word for grace. So, when you put it all together, her name means “God has show or is showing us grace”. I love it! LaToshia and Mykilie are doing very well and are home resting. Mykenzie and Kylen are the best big sister and brother anyone could ask for. They have received Mykilei with open arms (literally)! Thanks for your prayers.
As I sat in an expository seminar today, I heard Dr. Ted Traylor teach the word of God today from Malachi 2:1-6. The title of his message was “The Church Needs Spiritual Leaders”. True spiritual leader are those who are born again believers in Jesus Christ’s birth, death on the cross, his resurrection, and that He is God incarnate. As a spiritual leader in God’s Grad-School of Greatness, I’m constantly reminded of some of the “great” leaders of the bible, church history, and our time has messed up. These guys have not only messed up their lives, but the lives of all the people around him. Moreover, these guys have not only disgrace themselves, but most importantly, disqualified themselves as spiritual leaders. With all of the mistake that have been made on the part of spiritual leaders, I’m comforted in the scripture found in 1 Corinthians 9:27, …I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. It is my heart’s desire not to be disqualified due to the rejection of God’s grace resonating in my life. There is nothing more that concerns me more than the realization that I am not exempt from falling from grace.
Will you let your prayer for me and all of the spiritual leaders around the world be that: True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me [God] in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity (Malachi 2:6). Please pray that God make this scripture real in my life and those that serve you as spiritual leaders.
I want to be found not only in a pulpit, a stage, or big conferences preaching the word of God, but on the streets, in the remote parts of other countries, in the hood with the lost telling them about Jesus.
When God calls me home, let it be said that there was a man named Mondonico Williams, who was not the light bore witness of the “LIGHT”. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and heturned many from iniquity.
I read this book Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster. The book was released over thirty years ago. It has sold over one million copies, which will lead many to thin k that it is a must read. I read the book and must say that Foster raises some interesting points. I shall leave it at that. If you are interested in the book, then please read my review, if not then, still read my review. Celebration of Discipline Book Review
Since training through DownLine Institute (highly recommended), last year, I have been eagerly awaiting this moment. The moment when I would train Faithful Men! Last, year we were required to train at least one person in discipleship, well I traing 3…my wife, son, and daughter. Although, it was very challenging to teach a five and three year old about discipleship, I am happy that I took the time out to do it. I see the fruit of my labor. Me, my wife, and children now enjoy family devotional and worship times (more about this in a later post).
I will be starting discipleship training this Saturday August 29, 2009 at my house. Training starts at 630AM (sharp)-745AM. I’m having the guys read 2 Tim 2:2
before coming. This will explain to them why I am doing this and why God in His sovereignty, has chosen them to be discipled. Jesus chose 11 men, and he trained them to reach the masses.
The cool thing about this is most of these guys go to other churches, and that’s fine by me. I don’t care how smart, articulate, impressive, good looking, who they know, or who they think they are. All I care about is: are they TRUE Christ Followers and are they Faithful. I’M LOOKING TO BUILD FAITHFUL MEN TO UNLEASH ON THE WORLD. Feeble hearted and passive MEN are only welcome to watch and be inspired to be FAITHFUL men. Y’all prey for them cause I aint playing with em. (I make no apologies)
This year marks a special move of God in my life. Since January 2009, I have consistently seen the hand of God on my life. The bible says that God will supply all of your need, and that He has done. Every financial need that we have had, God has met the need. It all started with support raising for a mission trip to the Philippines. Last week, I needed funds to pay for seminary tuition (I am working on a Masters of Divinity). I needed the funds on the 15th but only got $500 (scholarship). Then on the 17th, I got a check for $660, on the 18th I got another check in the mail for $330, and on the 19th I got a check for $1200. In four days God supplied the need. I am raising support for my residency training. God blessed me to raise 53% of my support in 33 days, he has supplied us with GOOD health insurance. Now for those of you that are apposed to the “prosperity gospel”, please hear me out. By no means am I am I teaching prosperity (so don’t go calling the The-Pos [Theology Police] on me), but what I am teaching is TRUST. The prosperity message says, “If you put in you will get out.” TRUST says, “I’m taking my hands off and allowing God to put His hand in.”
This summer we were dedicated to ensuring our children learned to swim. Well, one day I attempted to teach them to float on their backs. One child, although very hesitant, allowed me to hold them up and let them go. This child kept repeating “daddy I trust you”, daddy I trust you”. As I released them, they floated, but then slowly began to sink. I quickly prevented them from sinking and repeated the process. The repetition built this child’s trust in me. Well, one would think that after witnessing this process, the other child would have had their trust built. As I attempted to repeat this process, I was met with opposition. Our other child would not lay on their back. They refused to allow me to hold them up. They saw the first child’s experience, but would not trust me to hold them. Even after hearing me express my deepest love for them, they would not trust me. How many of us are like my child. We see and experience the Father’s love and daily provision for us but totally fail to trust him.
Abram had that problem in Genesis 12:10. He trusted God to show him but when times got hard, he reverted to what he (Abram) knew. I too was like my child, afraid to trust my God. Could it be that our trust is somehow linked to our obedience? Proverbs 3:5 says ”Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” It amazes me how God will so Himself BIG in one’s life when we submit, obey, and trust Him. I have personally found that the way in which God wants to use me for his glory is far better than the way I wanted to be used. I wanted to be a “tent making” preacher, but God wants me to be a “trust Him making-a-way” preacher (you get the picture!). I love Him! His ways are not ours nor His thoughts our thoughts.
My good friend and brother in Christ, Kennon Vaughan and DownLine Ministries are bringing descipleship training to Memphis. The vision of the 2009 DownLine Men’s Summit is to provide a venue that encourages the Body of Christ to more effectively make disciples according to the model and mandate that Jesus Christ. I personally recommend this training as I completed DownLine Discipleship training in the spring. It changed my life…forever. Check out this vedio.
LaToshia is reading a book called Grace Based Parenting. She highly recommends that I read it as well. I haven’t got a chance to read it as I have had my head in other great reads. As many of you know, I feel apart of my calling is to equip families. Well Engage Memphis is hosting a preview with Dr Tim Kimmel (the author of Grace Based Parenting) on August 28 and 29. This is going to be a great event. The actual event will be held October 30 & 31. Check out the link for more info. http://www.engagememphis.org/
My lovely wife baked cookies tonight and they were very tasty. When the cookies were done, our four year old son ran to the kitchen to be the first one to stake his claim on the BIGGEST cookie. As a Christian father, I attempt to use every moment as a teaching one; therefore, I decides to use this as one of those moments. Here is how the dialogue went:
This year marks a special move of God in my life. Since January 2009, I have consistently seen the hand of God on my life. The bible says that God will supply all of your need, and that He has done. Every financial need that we have had, God has met the need. It all started with support raising for a mission trip to the Philippines. Last week, I needed funds to pay for seminary tuition (I am working on a Masters of Divinity). I needed the funds on the 15th but only got $500 (scholarship). Then on the 17th, I got a check for $660, on the 18th I got another check in the mail for $330, and on the 19th I got a check for $1200. In four days God supplied the need. I am raising support for my residency training. God blessed me to raise 53% of my support in 33 days, he has supplied us with GOOD health insurance. Now for those of you that are apposed to the “prosperity gospel”, please hear me out. By no means am I am I teaching prosperity (so don’t go calling the The-Pos [Theology Police] on me), but what I am teaching is TRUST. The prosperity message says, “If you put in you will get out.” TRUST says, “I’m taking my hands off and allowing God to put His hand in.”
LaToshia is reading a book called Grace Based Parenting. She highly recommends that I read it as well. I haven’t got a chance to read it as I have had my head in other great reads. As many of you know, I feel apart of my calling is to equip families. Well Engage Memphis is hosting a preview with Dr Tim Kimmel (the author of Grace Based Parenting) on August 28 and 29. This is going to be a great event. The actual event will be held October 30 & 31. Check out the link for more info. 