As I am here in Chattanooga, Tennessee on this Father's Day, I can't help but miss my dad up in Michigan. I have been incredibly blessed with such an amazing Father in my life. He has not only been present, but has also been actively involved in my life. Living in Chattanooga and being a part of the community- you see that many of the inner city kids have grown up in homes where their fathers have abandoned them or haven't set a great example to follow after. It is so sad to think about. These urban kids crave a male figure in their lives that will set an example in faith, speech and action. I am so blessed in order to have a Father who set a great example and taught me awesome values and encouraged my spiritual growth. Thanks Dad!
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But whether we grew up in a home where our father was present and active in our lives or not, we are all in need of a Heavenly Father. The world is corrupted by sin- our actions, words, and thoughts reflect this on a daily basis. Only our Heavenly Father can wipe away those sins. He fully embraces us when we realize this and come running back to him. We need him.
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When I was growing up I had a few terrible years. I think every kid goes through this awful stage, but mine seemed to last a lot longer than most kids. Throughout these years of my life, I didn't like a lot of people; one of those being my dad. It seems like while going through this stage, everything my dad said was stupid... he was always wrong, and of course I was always right. I thought I was old enough to be on my own and make my own decisions, as many early teens do. We rebel and think that we are able to do it on our own, but how wrong we discover we are! Truth is, the same thing happens in our faith life. Often we rebel and think we can do it on our own without our Heavenly Father, so our hearts are 'prone to wander' away from Him. We have disrespect for our Heavenly Father, just as we would an earthly Father. We think that the things of this world will be enough to satisfy our hearts, but really our hearts were created to be satisfied by God. But as the younger son in the 'Prodigal Son' story "comes to his senses," he realizes that he cannot go on the way he is without his Father. He realizes that 'better is one day in his Father's courts than a thousand elsewhere.' While the people of this world may refuse to take him back, the Father embraces him with love.. The Father celebrates his returning, for 'he was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'
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The Forgiveness of God is unfathomable at times. No matter how far I stray off and rebel against my Father, he is always there to embrace and celebrate with me when I find my way back to him. I am 'forgiven and loved' and God is excited about me! Whether we are the younger son; rebelling against the Father, or the oldest song; seeming to follow all the rules, we are both in need of the Father's love. How amazing that He is eager for us to return to him! How amazing is his forgiveness and love that he embraces us and celebrates our return! "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He takes great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17
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So as I celebrate Father's Day here down in Chatt. I think about my dad and how great he is for setting a great example for me growing up. Thanks dad for staying patient and watching me develop into the woman I am now. Sorry for the years of rebellion and disrespect I showed you. Thanks for loving me still and embracing who I am. And I also thank my Heavenly Father who is willing to forgive my disrespect and rebellion against his way. Thanks for calling me back into your loving arms.
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Psalm 103:1-18
"Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is rom the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, They flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts."
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Forgiven and Loved
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The Forgiveness of God is unfathomable at times. No matter how far I stray off and rebel against my Father, he is always there to embrace and celebrate with me when I find my way back to him. I am 'forgiven and loved' and God is excited about me! Whether we are the younger son; rebelling against the Father, or the oldest song; seeming to follow all the rules, we are both in need of the Father's love. How amazing that He is eager for us to return to him! How amazing is his forgiveness and love that he embraces us and celebrates our return! "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He takes great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17
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(image from the sculpture garden here in chatt. of the Father embracing the lost son)
~So as I celebrate Father's Day here down in Chatt. I think about my dad and how great he is for setting a great example for me growing up. Thanks dad for staying patient and watching me develop into the woman I am now. Sorry for the years of rebellion and disrespect I showed you. Thanks for loving me still and embracing who I am. And I also thank my Heavenly Father who is willing to forgive my disrespect and rebellion against his way. Thanks for calling me back into your loving arms.
~
Psalm 103:1-18
"Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is rom the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, They flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts."
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Forgiven and Loved
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