Our Father

Volume 9 Issue 6

Greeting in His Name,

This blog was set for release in June as we celebrated fathers. For some reason I couldn't finalize the article, so I patiently waited for the leading of God's spirit to let me know when the article was set for release. Of course, fathers can be celebrated everyday; especially one who is making a difference in a child's life. The fathers role in a child's life is important. They shape the attitude of sons and the mindset of daughters; it is never to late to celebrate him.

I could go into statistics about fathers or the lack there of but I'm not. I celebrate you fathers and pray that you are a strong force in the lives of your children. Today's blog is Our Father. I really hope, after reading, you find some inspiration, conviction, and queries.

shalom and love

heidi

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While scrolling the internet I found a segment entitled Poems About Dad. The segment opened this way before going into a litany of poems about dads. "Our fathers carry half of our genetic makeup. Our relationship with our father plays a huge part of who we will become. In many segments of society, people grow up without ever knowing their fathers. This is unfortunate because fathers should play as important a role in raising their children as mothers. A father is the model of a man for his daughter and she will choose a man who is like him. A father is the model for his son as well. Fortunately, there is a trend for fathers to be more active in their children's lives." This is good news but the greatest news is we still have OUR FATHER. He is one who doesn't sleep nor slumber, he is the one that is a very present help and when both father and mother forsake us; He will take us up. He is and will always be Our Father; the provider.

Our Father provides: location (Luke 11:2)

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Location - Location - Location. Location is a particular place or position. Our Father which art in heaven; that's His location. Unlike our earthly fathers whom we may not know their current location or whereabouts Our Father provides us with location. We don't have to search or ponder, as a matter of fact the Word tells us that He is near. As I thought about the perfect example of location, my mind immediately scurried over to Moses and the burning bush. God allowed a marvelous sight to be seen by Moses that triggered his curiosity. He found himself before a bush that was burning but it was not burning up. It was there that he met God, God brought him to this location so that He could give Moses instructions regarding the children of Israel - who at that time were enslaved in Egypt. Has God made himself aware to you? Has He exposed his current location? Or better yet showed up at your location. I mean, I believe that when I bow my head and talk to God He comes to see about me. So as a GOoD Father, my location becomes His location.

Our Father provides: salvation (Luke 11:2)

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. John, the forerunner of Christ, went through the region near the Jordan preaching repentance because he knew that God was sending our salvation to us. What a blessing it is to know that while we were not yet born God was making provisions for us to be able to enter His kingdom. Just as He made a way of salvation for Moses to lead the children of Israel out of the captive hands of the Egyptians by parting the Red Sea so God has made a way for us to not sink into the pool of eternal damnation. And better yet daily the Lord is saving us. Just think back over the last month or two; hasn't He provided salvation. For some of us we have not met the fate of Covid 19, nor an accident or incident but we have been daily saved because of Our Father's mercy.

Our Father provides: preservation (Luke 11:3)

Give us day by day our daily bread. God is a God of preservation. Preservation is the money or food needed to live. So many times I can recall how God has preserved and provided for me. So many scriptures I have stood on to take me it through some rough times. As I rehearsed stories from the Word in my head I thought what better example of Our Father providing than that of manna in the wilderness. In spite of the murmuring and complaining, God made a way for His people as they traveled through the wilderness. Bread, food is what preserves our bodies. It is our nourishment. Any GOoD father wants to provide so that his family will have what they need to survive. So our heavenly Father wants to do the same; provide preservation.

Our Father provides: exoneration (Luke 11:4)

And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Have you heard someone say, 'I'll never forgive them." I say to that person, but you must. Scripture has already told us we can't be forgiven unless we forgive. And I am of the opinion that God allots some time to move into forgiveness. I believe he understands hurt, pain, and such deep and grave wounded-ness that He is willing to walk with us through it until we can forgive. Just think about, Christ laid down His life to exonerate us. He brought us back into fellowship with God by allowing Himself to be the sacrificial lamb. What if He said, "I can't forgive them." We would be in a hot mess. I look to Moses again for he can testify of God's exoneration. Remember when God told him to speak to the rock and he hit the rock, twice, out of anger because of the people. Well God told him he would not enter the promise land because of that sin. But I see exoneration - when God allows Moses to look over and see it. God says the same thing to us through Jesus, "Father forgive them..."

Closing: God Reached

God reached down from Heaven [location] and saw little frail me. And in one breathe He decided to send His only Son to save me [salvation]. Knowing daily I would need him [preservation] He awaken an awareness on the inside of me and always provides a way of escape, a door of deliverance, and a fountain of forgiveness [exoneration]… that always lets me know OUR FATHER!

LIFE QUOTE

“Daddies don't just love their children every now and then, it's a love without end.

-George Strait

Let Us Laugh!

Four men are in the hospital waiting room because their wives are having babies.

A nurse goes up to the first guy and says, “Congratulations! You’re the father of twins.”

“That’s odd,” answers the man. “I work for the Minnesota Twins!”

A nurse says to the second guy, “Congratulations! You’re the father of triplets!”

“That’s weird,” answers the second man. “I work for the 3M company!”

A nurse tells the third man, “Congratulations! You’re the father of quadruplets!”

“That’s strange,” he answers. “I work for the Four Seasons hotel!”

The last man is groaning and banging his head against the wall.

“What’s wrong?” the others ask.

“I work for 7 Up!”

(boyslife.org)

Hope to see you Next Month; uh.. next week.. got to get caught up.

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