What my Dad didn't teach me

   I had a good dad. He had the most golden heart, he loved others, and he loved my mom. I cannot complain in the fact that he loved us.I could dwell on some negative and I probably have, but I never let it form who I became. Really,  parents do the best they can at the time and with the cards they have been given in life.   Some people could dwell on things like he drank at times and could become abusive and mean, but overall, looking back, love was there. He taught me a lot. I learned even more by watching him make mistakes.
  I have to say though, there is one thing he could not and did not teach me and that is the true character of Jesus Christ. He loved me, it's a natural human characteristic to love your family and your children, but to love sacrificially, well that is something only the scriptures and Christ can teach you.
 Dads and husbands, did you know that you have the awesome opportunity to teach your wives and children the character of Jesus Christ in your actions and how you treat your family? Do you realize the power you have or the responsibility you have?

 Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; 26 that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.

I think now of what my husband has taught me, and I am speaking of my husband the man, not the preacher or pastor. He didn't just all the sudden change when he accepted the calling. The love that he shows me, and others, that is a gift from Christ and it was there from day 1 of knowing him. God has and is still cultivating him and our lives, but I can honestly say this, he has taught me Christs character in loving me. How does he do that? He lives out Ephesians 5:25, he loves me sacrificially and unconditionally and I have learned more about love in the last 11 years than I ever thought I would. 

 Our inner self, our carnal self wants to be selfish and motivated by fairness and what others can do for you, or better yet, what is best for number 1...self, but there is a reward for love and sacrificially giving of oneself. (Luke 6:35) Loving and giving without expecting anything in return,  that is of Christ, that is his character, we are to all strive for that, not out of hope for reward but for the simple fact that Christ lives within us, we are strive to be like him so that others might get a small glimpse of His character.

A Christian or "Christ Follower"  has the awesome ability and responsibility to extend this love, charity and mercy to others.

   

True Success

The other night in Bible study, we talked about success. You see there is a worldly success that we all have perceived in our mind. That goal that you feel you need to meet. Those dreams you had as a child and still aim to meet, that income you think you should make, that degree that you must obtain to get to where you need to be. It's all tightly tucked away in your mind, constantly reminding you of "how your life should be". You see we all define success the same(meeting certain goals) but we also define our own personal success differently.
  The world defines success by what type of house you live in , what job you have and is it worthy enough to buy all that stuff that most of the world thinks we need, the house, the car, the clothes, the jewelry, game systems, memberships, etc... I could go on and on.
   The question is, what and how do we define spiritual success? In our own personal walk, how would we feel truly successful as a Christian? A Christ follower? Isn't that more important than any worldly success? What would that look like?
   As we all went around answering the question, there was one sure answer that kept coming up and that was " letting your actions, your life, your walk speak for you". So success to a majority in our Bible study was not only claiming Christianity and professing Christ, but walking the walk as well defines success. How true, how true.
Danny shared with us scripture that says:

May he equip you with all you need for doing his will.

May he produce in you , through the

power of Jesus Christ,

every good thing that is pleasing to him.

All glory to him forever and ever ! Amen.

Hebrews 13:21

You see God equips us for exactly what we need. To do his will,  he can produce in you power through Jesus Christ. He does the equipping, nothing of ourselves but him.

 

     So to me, true success is being so close to him, (through prayer and reading his word) that you walk in the cool of the day with him, you hear him, he hears you, you share a relationship that is far better than anything earthly or worldly. You will exhibit his qualities, his love, his mercy, grace and hope, total dependence=true success, that is my desire... to get so close to Him that His qualities cannot help but show in my life, in my walk and in my actions.... When we do that..... our actions will not only speak, but scream true success in Christ !!!