Earthly Reliefs -- The Judsons

Definition of Earthly Reliefs: Earthly Reliefs are men and women (sometimes families, sometimes single) brought into believers' lives for the Proverbs 27:17 sharpening of a person for the glory of God. They help us breathe a little easier as we are called by our great God to travel and journey on this earth. While we are just pilgrims in a dusty and foreign land, Earthly Reliefs are the watering and feeding oases. In some ways, they minister to us and in some ways, we minister to them. But however God has called us to work on the privilege of becoming more Christlike--Earthly Reliefs are designed gifts from the Heavenly Father above to help sharpen and mold us into His image.

I'm starting a feature on my blog called Earthly Reliefs. In my life, God has brought me much needed rest from the burden of being in this natural, wretched casing called human flesh through the wonderful pleasure of having Earthly Reliefs. As with all articles on my blog, I'm hoping that this new section will help to display God's glory by showing how Earthly Reliefs have righteously influenced us toward the kingdom of God. I'm hoping that they will encourage any reader of this tiny blog to look for Earthly Reliefs in their own lives. Search for patterns and markers in the people around them that will lead them to seek and befriend these Earthly Reliefs, be mentored by them, mentor and minister to them, and with their Earthly Relief companions, desire the exact same godly image of Christ in every thought, word and deed. And in so doing, by the grace of God, will cling to them, appreciate them and emulate them as earthly models of heavenly godliness. Just as Paul wrote in I Corinthians 11:1--he called the church in Corinth to be like him because he imitated Christ. That's what Earthly Reliefs are. Imitators of Christ here on earth set before us to model and follow....to diligently seek their friendship in every way, thereby surrounding yourself with godly models of Christ for His glory and His alone.

So it is with great joy that I bring you our first Earthly Relief models--The Frank and Lisa Judson Family. What better family to start with than this dear family as I have specifically mentioned them before on this blog, so now you can get a firsthand look?

Frank and Lisa Judson hail most recently from Michigan although they are New Englanders at heart--having grown up in Wolcott, CT. They have 4 precious children who are homeschooled.

Frank is a gifted Pastor and teacher at Grace Church where I am privileged to hear him speak from the pulpit in an occasional service or during adult Sunday School. The men at Grace are privileged as he faithfully teaches the Friday morning men's bible study. Frank's teaching style is a refreshing mix of Frank-ism teaching often using contextual slang and street rhetoric, rooted in sound doctrine. Frank is compassionate, passionate and faithful. He is unswerving in his conviction toward the truth of the word and is unashamed of the gospel in the very fiber of his being. He takes his call to holiness everso serious, yet his gifted comical and easy-going personality makes him immediately lovable-which is such a gift because of his amazing desire for evangelism. He is sober-minded with his Matthew 28 call and is the very model of the proper desire to which any professed believer should have.

Lisa is a continual breath of fresh spiritual air that continually leads the women at Grace with her sound and truthful speech in teaching; her unabashed desire for her home, husband and children; and her equal desire to see people saved unto Jesus Christ. Her desire for the glory of God in what she says and does is unmatched and her tireless serving heart makes her the perfect Earthly Relief candidate. My privilege to call her personal friend and sister has increased my desire for the glory of God that only can be attributed toward the very definition of Earthly Relief.

Their children are products of godly parenting and the fruit of their labor is easily seen though their children are fairly young. God has placed many talents in their household including an eye for the creative arts, beautiful piano playing, sports-minded likes (our personal favorite), and an ease of familiarity about them that would beckon any normal minded person to constantly want to be around them. The last talent is what, I would imagine, has been given to them from God as a resource because of the very public desire to minister as a family.

The entire family can be described as extremely helpful, conscientious, good stewards, faithful, kind, loving, and humble.

May it be as I have opportunity to be sharpened in my relationship with them, that the desire for holy and godly living be increased in my own life as they have so wonderfully displayed the Earthly Relief mindset of one anothering to me personally.... and to others.