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“And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, ‘O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!’” —2 Samuel 18:33 David was described in the Bible as a man after God’s own heart.  He was a success in many ways. From being a rural shepherd to being a champion and then a king. All of us love to think about his great triumphs and his great victories. David was also a man who failed greatly. Though he succeeded in many areas I think we would have to admit that David was a colossal failure as a father. Tragically this story is being repeated again and again today. I know many fractured fathers who are failing in the most important assignment in life and that is being a dad to their children. Men who are successful in their careers, men who are prestigious in their communities and leaders in their churches, and yet failures at home. May I remind all of us who are Dads that our greatest responsibility is not at the office? Our greatest responsibility is in our home. To know our children, to love our children, to serve our children, and to lead our children and our families. Your assignment is to lead your children to Christ, to teach them of the faith. Teaching your child is your responsibility. Take that responsibility seriously to present God to your children. You can grow in your faith, and you can grow in your commitment as a parent. Saturday, December 8, 2018 A Longing Satisfied by Dr. Paul Chappell “And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” Luke 2:27–32 Most of the Jewish people at the time of Christ’s birth were eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come. Some looked for Him as a leader who would overthrow the Romans and restore Israel’s place as a free nation. Others longed for a religion that was not mixed with the elements of Greek and Roman practice. But some, like Simeon, were looking for the Messiah because He would be the Saviour they needed. This elderly man had faithfully served God for many years, and He was prophetically told that he would live until the Messiah arrived. While we know little about his life, we know that he believed the promises of God. When Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the Temple for His dedication, Simeon was led to be there by God and met them. When he saw the baby Jesus, Simeon realized that the long-awaited promise had been fulfilled. None of us have seen Jesus, but we have the promise that He will return for His children. God’s plan for our lives is not for us to find satisfaction in this world, but to have hearts that are fixed on Him. Only in Him are we to find contentment. David said, “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness” (Psalm 17:15). The promise of His return is just as true as the promise of His first coming. Today’s Growth Principle:  When we see God face to face, every longing of our hearts will be fully satisfied forever