Of all  the treasures in this world, there is one that has far greater worth than all others.  A Godly Woman.  Our world today puts worth on things that have little actual worth.  Its value is based on things that do not last or thnigs that do not matter.  But the thing I treasure most is the woman God gave me.  41 years ago today, God unfolded His mate for me.  He created her to be my help meet.  He gave her all the qualities that would be the perfect compliment for me. 

Often, I have not treasured her as I should.  I have not valued our differences enough.  Yet, now I realize that God knew exactly what I needed.  I am thankful that He created and formed this gracious woman.  I can imagine the day that God commanded her birth and looked at her and said, “She is good! She is mine!”  Words cannot express the love that I have for her.   He has given me a beautiful, loving, caring and godly wife.

Nearly 22 years ago when we married, I would have never dreamed that our lives would lead us where we have come.  Through 17 years of pastoring, she has been such a blessing to me as she serves along side of me in ministry.  Though I often get the pats on the back, because my ministry is more public, Sonya quietly serves.  Serves in many capacities.  She doesn’t do it for recoginition, she does it because she is a woman who loves God with all of her heart.  I could never make it in ministry without her.  She truly is my help meet.

Happy Birthday My Cheney!

@dannycheney1 My morning prayer “Lord, give our church a new pastor and let that new pastor be me. Change me and revive me.” I want 2 be what my ppl need.

Sunday we took a look at having an audacious pursuit for the things of God.  This required us to have an audacious faith and audacious prayers.  Many people wrote down their audacious prayers for our church.  I have been blown away by the daring and bold prayers that were prayed.  I could sense the faith in every request, and this morning, I began praying for each request.  I am excited to seee the results of our linking together in prayer for these things.  Follow the link to take a look at these audacious prayer requests.

Audacious Prayers For RFA

Matthew 21:22, “And  whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Jesus gives us a promise about prayer.  Whatever things you ask in pray you will receive if you believe.   What a promise!   Why is it so hard to believe in the power of prayer?  If we truly believed in God’s power to answer, we would pray more.  We are weak in prayer because we are weak in faith.  Somehow we have convinced ourselves that God will not answer so why pray.  I am reminded of the Scripture, “You have not because you ask not”.  The Bible also tells us to let our requests be made known to God.

As a sidenote, I find it interesting that Jesus gives us this great promise of answered prayer in the same chapter as His challenge for the church to be a house of prayer.  He has called us to engage in believing prayer. As individuals and as a church.

Acts 20:26-27, “Therefore I testify to you this day that I  am  innocent of the blood of all  men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”

Paul is recounting his life in ministry and testifies that he has been faithful in sharing the Gospel with all men. He has gone preaching the kingdom of God and declaring the whole counsel of God.

Sandwiched in this text is a convicting statement for most people but it was a relief to Paul. He said, “I am innocent of the blood of all men.” Instantly, it takes us back to the prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel 3:18, “When I say to the wicked, ‘you shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.”

Can we say with Paul that there is no blood on our hands? Or are we guilty of not sharing, with the world, the message of this life-changing Gospel? May we be messengers of Christ and proclaim Him to this desperate generation.

Acts 16:25, “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”

Sometimes the only way out of a situation is praise. As Paul and Barnabas were bound in a prison cell they could have found reason to complain.

“This is what I get for preaching the Gospel.”
“Life was easier before Christ.”

But instead they found reason to Worship. They would rather be in prison with Jesus than living at ease without Him. They also came to understand that prison doors don’t open for complainers. They open for worshippers.

If you need a breakthrough in your life, worship! God comes through when we praise His name.

When we fail to remember and focus on the Cross, our lives will be consumed with the things He saved us from. #1corinthians2:2 #refocusing

If you count all things as loss beforehand, you won’tbe shaken when you lose all things. #hardthingtolive #philippians3:7