I’ve often wondered silently about teaching our daughters and grand daughters to simply ‘wait in purity’ for God to  lead them to the right man for marriage someday.  That by waiting their joy will be so much greater.  That somehow their waiting will fulfill their inner most desire which in reality needs to be filled by God Himself.  I’m not sure that for some well intentioned and concerned parents this hasn’t become an easy fix to a much more difficult and possibly central goal of parents, to treasure God as their all in all.   That their chaste purity somehow replaces what their heart truly seeks. There is so much more in teaching our daughters to find true joy than to save their love, emotions and themselves for that one special man in marriage.  We need to teach them to find their joy and fulfillment in God alone.  In doing this, they will wait not for fulfilled joy but for the glory of the One who has already fulfilled their joy. Fathers Day is here this week.  Let us decide as Dads, to teach our girls that their greatest joy, as wonderful as he should be, is not their husbands but their joy can be found now in treasuring God. Take the time to read this linked blog.  It is said so well. http://gracefortheroad.com/2012/02/03/idontwait/ Soli Deo Gloria!

Our church mourns the passing of a friend and leader. Jim Titler stepped into the presence of his Lord on Sunday night. He will be missed by his family, friends and by his Pastor. Jim was a confidant and support to me and my family. He was a biblical example of a husband, father and grandfather loved by those who took care of him, right to the moment of his passing. A friend to all who call Center Hill their home church. He was a humble servant of his Lord. Once again I am reminded that death is no friend to us. Death is the result of sin in this world and it is a picture of how much God hates sin. It is also a reminder to us, that we too should hate death, suffering and sin. We should not welcome it but see it as the enemy that lies at our door. We mourn not for him but for us. We miss him already. We try to console each other. Our real consolation is this, that sin and death do not have the final victory. Where is your sting, death? Where is your victory? It may be for a moment as we mourn our loss but thanks be to God who gives us the ultimate victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. He conquered death on our behalf and it is in this victory that we find our hope. We have a confidence in a God who has bottled up all of our tears. Who keeps an account of our hurts as a compassionate father and is touched by each of them. There is coming a day of reunion and celebration over this sin and death when “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Lord, hasten that day! soli deo gloria