This Saturday afternoon my oldest son, Christopher, will marry Dodie Lankford. It seems that just a few years ago I held him in my arms, unable to believe that God gave me a wonderful gift that I could love and care for. Then, as now, I had dreams for him. I dreamed of him growing up and becoming a man, able to support and take care of a family of his own. I tried to teach him what is important, and, as with most parents of first born children, I was harder on him than I have been on my other children. I have prayed for him every night and prayed for this moment in which he sets out on his own with his own family. I have asked God constantly that He take care of him, and keep him faithful to His ways and commands. I have asked God to give him a help meet that is as good as the one God blessed me with, and, as of this Saturday, my prayers have been answered. Dodie is a part of us. I love her as if she were my own. As probably true with any parent, I am sad, yet rejoicing. My son has grown up to take his place in society and in the church.

As I think about my son and my dreams, I know that my Heavenly Father has dreams for each of his children as well. God saw me many years ago and had dreams for me. I know those dreams as I read His words daily. He dreams and desires:

MY PRESENCE WITH HIM ETERNALLY. To make this happen, He sent His Son to die, because He knew I could not be good enough on my own to make it to heaven. Jesus paid the price God demanded for my sin. And, to become His child, all He wants is me to become a Christian in the way He told others to do in Acts (Acts 2; 3; 8; 9; 10; 16). That means I believe in Jesus as the Son of God, I repent of my sins (which means turning my life around) confess Jesus before men, and be immersed in the name of the Father, Son and Spirit. But this is just the beginning! Being His child means that I have to continue to be faithful to His commands and honor Him with my life. It means that I must always walk worthy of the Lord, never bringing reproach upon Him!

THAT I USE WHAT HE HAS GIVEN ME FOR HIS GLORY! The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 helps us to understand that God gives us all talents, and we will have to give an account of how we have used what He has given us. Our Heavenly Father has blessed us as Christians in America with more blessings than we deserve. We live in houses that are mansions compared with the rest of the world. We have more clothes than we know what to do with. We have more free time (hard to believe, but we do) to watch TV or listen to the radio and do things that most in the world just dream about. God gives us time, opportunities and blessing to be USED FOR HIM.

THAT I HELP OTHERS TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN BE HIS CHILDREN AS WELL! This is the responsibility of the church. Can you think of anyone else better able to talk to and convince others to become Christians than we who are Christians? I have let my Heavenly Father down in this command, and I want to do more and more to help others to know the blessings that come from becoming His child.

Have we lived up to the dreams of our Father? If not, let’s do better!

Christopher and Dodie, I love you both—My prayers and love are with you always!
Dad!