Sacrifice
Have you ever had to sacrifice something in order to do something else? I had a great talk with someone yesterday and they were telling me how great all of you are and how much they love CHBC! This person works every Sunday but made a deal to work extra shifts during the night in order to come to church Sunday. Honestly our American consumerism says work make money and come to church when you can. Real Christ followers find ways to worship the King! This person told me all they went through just to make it last Sunday and there was a smile the whole time. Most people would not have done half of what this person did to sacrifice so they could come to church. As we continue through the book of Philippians this weekend ask yourself am I willing to sacrifice for the One who made the ultimate sacrifice for me? Is the gospel that important to me that I will do whatever it takes to make sure others hear it? I am so excited for Sunday! God is moving, let’s follow! Remember a sacrifice isn’t a bad or negative thing when you’re doing it for the One you love!
Mark
He Took My Place
Today I am celebrating my son Brycen’s 2nd spiritual birthday. I remember it so clearly andI had prayed for so long that he would understand. He had asked so many questions and was so close for a while. That night I wrote a note on facebook and today I wanted to post it so you could read. Below is the note I wrote that night before I went to bed about Brycen’s salvation experience.
Tonight is one of the greatest days as a father I have ever had. My son Brycen asked Jesus into his heart in his bedroom. He had been asking questions since the first of December. Today he put a belt around his neck and tightened it. Carrie immediately told him that he could hurt himself and even die. Bryce looked at Carrie and said, “If I died I would go to hell because I have never asked Jesus into my heart.” Carrie began again to talk to him about salvation, sin, repentance, and how Jesus took our place. When I came home from church tonight, Carrie began to tell me the story. I went into Brycen’s room and laid on the bed with him. We were talking about different things and I was telling him about church and how I was going to baptize 3 students this Sunday. He asked me why they were getting baptized and i told him they had asked Jesus into their heart. He immediately looked at me and told me he wanted to do that. Again I went through everything making sure that he understood what he wanted to do. I yelled for Carrie to come in and he told her he wanted to ask Jesus into his heart and he answered all of her questions also. I then had him kneel at his bed and I told him that he must tell Jesus what he wanted him to do. Brycen wasted no time and he prayed, “Jesus thank you for dying so that I would not have to. Help my soul to be like your soul and help me to say what you would say. Jesus help me to have faith in Jesus name AMEN!” When I asked him if he were to die where he would go he said heaven with a huge grin on his face. We called Pap, Nana and Papa, Mamaw McKeehan, Aunt Rachel and Uncle Ben, and Aunt Mendy and Uncle David. While on the phone with Ben and Rachel, Brycen look at Carrie and said, “Jesus took my place right here (pointing at the bed).” He then asked Carrie where Jesus had taken her place. It is such a great night. Carrie and I are rejoicing and the only question left is, “Where did Jesus take your place?”
Thoughts From Sunday
So yesterday was great! We started the service with three baptisms and then the choir and Pastor David rocked the house! We were challenged from the Book of Philippians. We looked at how the church partnered with Paul in spreading the gospel. This is one of the things I love about CHBC! You are people who want to see the gospel spread. When someone gets saved, like Sunday, I love it when people stand up and cheer. The Bible says the angels in heaven rejoice over every sinner who comes to repentance and I love how we jump in on the celebration!!! I pray that we will never stop. I can say along with Paul, that when I think of you I overflow with joy! Yesterday was so good and I am already excited about this next week. We will still be in the book of Philippians and we have a surprise for elevation! Last night we started the book of Song of Solomon and we talked about attraction and character. This week we are giving a new kind of homework. We have childcare provided from 5-9 PM and we are giving you a date night elevation style. That is right make plans and drop the kids off to Awana and then the youth will continue to watch them until 9 PM! Go have dinner and see a movie. Get take-out at home. Go bowling! It doesn’t matter just go! God is doing great things and I praise God that you and i have a part in it. Invite someone to church Sunday. Expect God-sized things to happen. Remember in the end, we win!
Mark
Our God is Great!
Snow is amazing to me! I don’t know why I love it so but it makes me feel like a kid again. I had so much fun having a snow ball fight with my kids, making a snowman, and teaching the kids how to sled. It was such a great weekend. I don’t know why we have snow but I love it. As I look out today and see it melting away I am amazed by God and how great he is. I was reading a new devotional I bought called “Mornings with Tozer” and I want to share thismornings entry with you. The title is “Our God: All Sufficient” and the passage is Genesis 1:1. Tozer writes. “have we modern men and women never given thought or meditation concerning the eternal nature of God? Who are we to imagine that we are bailing out the living God when we drop a $10 bill in the Sunday offering plate? Let us thank God for the reality of His causeless existence. Our God only is all-sufficient, uncreated, unborn, the living and eternal and self-existent God! I refer often to the great worshiping heart of Frederick William Faber, who in these words celebrated his vision of God’s eternal self-existence: Father! the sweetest, dearest name, That men or angels know! Fountain of life, that had no fount from which itself could flow. Thy vastness is not young or old, thy life hath never grown; no time can measure out Thy days, no space can make Thy throne!” A.W. Tozer ends today with this prayer that I also want to share with you. “Dear Heavenly Father, my daily problems must seem so trivial to You, the eternal God. Yet You invite Your children to bring their cares and concerns to You. praise be to God!” Have a great Monday!
Mark
Rainbows and Power Failures
I see the light at the end of the rainbow! No I am serious, I am looking outside my window and I see a beautiful rainbow. It has been raining here all weekend and the amazing part is the end of the rainbow is on our softball field. Yes to answer your question I ran out there and there was no pot of gold. But my reward actually came yesterday. The power went out yesterday during our morning service. We had just finished the welcome and we lost everything during worship. That didn’t stop us! Our worship Pastor David, the band, and the choir just keep on going. It was beautiful! Then I did something I had never done and preached in the dark. Ithink I keep most people awake too which has to be close to a miracle. Honestly, God showed up! We had people rededicating, a guy surrender to ministry, a family join our church, and 4 salvation’s! To God be the Glory! I was reminded at how many of our brothers and sisters worship all around the world. Whether it is fear of persecution or poverty, many churches have services with no lights and sound and God does amazing things. Don’t get me wrong I like all of that but yesterday reminded me that God is the only necessary ingredient for success!