Having said all of that. It is my goal to be such a husband that I would be comfortable enough for Hannah to marry one like me. To be such a husband that I am confident my son has seen an example of how to treat a woman. It is easy to love a woman such as Sonya, my goal as a husband and a parent is to Love My Wife as Christ loves His church and to teach my children what true loving relationships are.
Sonya, Hannah and I took off a little early today to take in the Tanyard Creek Trail in Bella Vista. After all the rain we have had, the waterfall and creeks were flowing.
There has got to be something more
Something worth dying for
What about us, what about me
What is it that we really see?
Hanging in the balance is their destiny
A soul destined for hell, for all eternity
Something to die for was what Jesus saw
With His blood He bought us all
He spread His arms on the Cross of Calvary
Pierced through to purchase you and me
To die for was His thought towards mankind
Why is it that the world stays so blind
Cannot see, Cannot hear,
That Jesus loves them dear
Where is God’s own
That to them the way is shown
The path to eternal bliss
If we keep silent the world will miss
This is the cause that we were born for
A cause for us that is to die for
To give up my life it might be
But I will share to set man free
I will give everything for my Lord
Surely He is worth dying for
Danny Cheney
Are you possessed?
Since it is not possible for a Christian to be demon-possessed, I am not speaking of that kind of possession. What possesses your life? What is it that consumes you?
As I was reading in Genesis, I discovered for the hundredth time that God gave us dominion over this earth and all that is therein. He said that we shall rule and reign and have possession of creation and we would have dominion over it. But do we have dominion over this world? Or does this world have dominion over us?
As I pondered this thought, I concluded that God’s intention was different than what we have made it. We have become possessed by the possession. Our lives are meant to live in pursuit of God and to be inhabited by Him and His presence. He created this world that we might oversee it’s creation but I think somewhere we have mistaken what our role is. It is as if now we are worshippers of God’s creation not the Creator, God.
Maybe you have no problem with being content in such things that you have but, are we pursuing God or are we pursuing what we can gain in this life? In this life are we seeking to advance the Kingdom of God or to advance our own kingdoms?
I remember many years ago, living in a one bedroom one bath apartment. Then we moved to a two bedroom one bath duplex. I was content with what I had. I then had the opportunity to “move up” into a three bedroom, one bath house. Booya! I was living in a mansion. From there I was able to live in a three bedroom, two bath with a formal living room. Man, God is good! Now I am living in a house that is the largest I have ever lived in. I have arrived!
Now, what if God asked me to live in a one bedroom again? Could I do it? What about all the stuff that fills this bigger house? He has blessed me with all of this STUFF certainly He wouldn’t ask me to downsize, right? I won’t do it…I am not downsizing because I have all of these things that I MUST keep.
This seems to be the attitude of many American Christians. We are possessed with our possessions. Many of us do not know what sacrifice is. We are bound by our desire for more and we are determined not to go “backwards”. How do you think credit card companies stay in business?
The Ten Commandments remind us, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve (worship) them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God.”
God wants all of us! He is jealous for our attention. The willingness to have dominion over our hearts. He created us to fellowship with Him, but we keep putting more things in between us and Him. Our relentless pursuit of more is not because we are blessed but because we are not content. Only God can fill our hearts and give us true happiness. God cars more about us than He does about our things. It is about us finding contentment in Him and quit putting everything before Him.
God gave us dominion over this earth but He requires dominion of our hearts. Who has possessed your soul? The things of this world or the Savior of the World? We are to be possessed by Him alone!
Last night, Sonya was meeting with someone so I decided it was the perfect time for a Daddy/Daughter date at Chick-fil-a. After our dinner, we had to run to Lowes to get some things to get ready for Saturday’s workday. As I pushed the cart down the back aisle, Hannah leans over and gives me a big hug and kiss. She then, threw in a hearty I love you!
A couple minutes later, we were making our way down another aisle and Hannah asks, “Dad, am I a princess?”
“Of course you are honey!”
Hannah replies quite frankly, “That means every one should bow down before me!”
I first wonder, “where on earth does she get his stuff?” Then I quickly reply, “NO honey, we should only bow down before God.”
Hannah finished the conversation, “Well, if I’m a princess, I think they should bow before me too.”
Conclusion: I need to find a book on how to instill healthy self-esteem while mixing it with a teaching on humility into my daughter’s life. Friends, I believe I have met my match
“Are the things you are living for worth Christ dying for?”
This article was written by Pastor Andy Harris, Central Assembly of God, Springfield, MO.
A Day We Will Never Forget!
Friend, the greatest thing we can do as we reflect on September 11, 2001, is to go to church this Sunday to honor the heroes and pay tribute to the memory of those who lost their lives. Pray for their families and our nation.
Life of a Pastor Blog 