Steve Sikes Blog  

My first experience with this particular person was listening to her brag on her children.  Each one was so talented; each one could do just about anything!  She was proud of her family and it showed!

Last Saturday she called me and wanted to know how my back and knee were getting along.  Just like a nurse, she encouraged me to finish my appointments with physical therapy, do my exercises, and take care of myself.  She said, “Steve, we need you; I need you.”

As she talked to me over the phone I could tell her breathing was labored.  I knew she was on oxygen and morphine and yet she was calling me to encourage me and check up on my health status!

As a nurse, she is affectionately called, “Sarge.”  Around here we call her “Inspiring,” “Amazing,” “Example,” “Sister-in-Christ,” and “Friend.”

Some words and phrases come to mind when I think about Tanya McBride: tough, faithful, hard-working, compassionate caretaker, considerate, self-sacrificing, supportive, giving, family-oriented, humble, positive, persevering, encouraging…

I thank God for Tanya McBride!  If Tanya had lived in another century, I truly believe her name would have been included in Hebrews 11.  I definitely think of Tanya when I read the first few verses of Hebrews 12: “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.”  Hebrews 12:1-3

In my book, Tanya McBride is already walking among the clouds!  Tanya motivates me to daily fix my eyes on Jesus and run my race with faithful endurance.

Thank you, Tanya, for being a heroine of faith to so many!  We love you!!! 
God is good all the time and all the time God is good.  Mr. Steve

I’m so thankful I’m adopted!

And I’m thankful Jesus was “adopted” by Joseph!  (Matthew 1:16 “Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.”) Note:  Joseph is not mentioned as the father of Jesus but “the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born.”

Dr. Luke put it this way: “The angel answered and said to Mary, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.’”  Luke 1:35

Wow!  I’m adopted, Jesus was “adopted” and guess what?  As a believer, YOU’RE ADOPTED!  My Father and Jesus’ Heavenly Father – is also YOUR FATHER!  Listen to what the Apostle Paul says, “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”  Romans 8:15

What does all of this mean?  Listen to this GOOD NEWS:
• At one time we were slaves of the flesh and fear was our master!

• Now, we proclaim that God is our Father!

• Jesus Christ is our big brother!

• AND…everyone indwelt by our Father’s Spirit is our brother and sister!

I’ll say it again – I’M SO THANKFUL I’M ADOPTED!! 

I’m also thankful that in the last few weeks, Cassidy, Matthew and Rashad have all been adopted into the family of God!  GO ABBA!  “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”  Galatians 3:26-27

God is good all the time and all the time God is good! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS, FAMILY OF GOD!  Mr. Steve

I was pretty ornery growing up.  My report cards during my first grade through third grade years nearly always included the word “mischievous” at the bottom of each card – next to “student’s attitude.”  I remember my mom explaining what that word meant the first time I saw it… “ill-behaved, impish, ornery.”

Out of my twelve brothers and sisters, there is no question that I received the most spankings, although I don’t remember any past the seventh grade.  By then, I guess, I was beginning to see the light or more pointedly, feel the burn!

My initial view of God originated, I believe, out of my own orneriness and need for constant correction.  No surprise that during my first thirteen years of life I developed a view of God as a disciplinarian; a view affirmed by scriptures depicting God’s punishment of the disobedient.  Through it all, I owe much to Dad for saving me from a life of crime, or at least from a life of professional orneryism! 

My next view of God developed in my teen years as I traded my disciplinarian God for a God who loved sports, good grades and moral choices.  He was good and I was trying to be good.  I remember thinking – God and I made a pretty good team.  Hmmm.

My third view of God was birthed as I became a father.  It was during my early years of parenting that Patti and I and kids moved back to work alongside Dad and Mom in a children’s home.  Through Dad and Mom I saw a God of strength, grace, mercy, and sacrifice, along with a great compassion for the hurting and abhorrence for evil. 

As you can see, my views of God have definitely transformed over the years and continue to do so.  Thanks, Dad and Mom for being light and salt to me!  Your Jesus lifestyle and loving perseverance, laid the foundation for my ongoing pursuit of the wonder of God’s true being and character. 

God is good all the time and all the time God is good!  Mr. Steve

I remember when… I typed all of my school papers on a typewriter.

I remember when…there was no such program called “Spell Check.” 

One of my High School graduation gifts in 1970 was a huge Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary.  I took it with me to college and used it constantly to check and correct my spelling.  Today all I have to do is click on my Spell Check icon and my computer will automatically check the spelling of every word in my document.  What a blessing!

Romans chapter eight is the SPIRIT CHECK (not Spell Check) chapter in the Bible.  If you would like to do a SPIRIT CHECK to see if you have the Spirit of God living and ruling your life (Romans 8:9), just read the following seven statements & verses and put a “Yes” or “No” after each one:

• I walk according to the Spirit (8:1) ______

• I am free from the law of sin and death, Romans 6:1-18 (8:2)  ______

• I live according to the Spirit (8:5) ______

• I am spiritually minded (8:6) ______

• I put to death (by the Spirit) the deeds of the body (8:13) ______

• I am led by the Spirit of God (8:14) ______

• I am eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of my body (8:23) ______

I remember when…white-out and correction tape was a necessity in absolving typing errors.

I took the above assessment and humbly realize, besides being set free, I need to grow in every area of Paul’s SPIRIT CHECK!  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for helping me in my weaknesses and for making intercession for me with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26)!  WHAT A BLESSING! 

God is good all the time and all the time God is good!  Mr. Steve