Overjoyed: Father's Day

OVERJOYED

Letter From The Editor

Jesus came to earth so heaven could be revealed in our lives. He came to sacrifice Himself for our sins. He came so we could be free.

When Philip asked Jesus to show him the Father, He said “If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him” (John 14:7).

Henceforth means “from now on.” In other words, “Philip, from now on, when you want to see the Father, look at Me.”

This issue celebrates fathers- the need for earthly fathers, and the love of our Heavenly Father.

Are you wondering how to see the Father? Find Jesus.

My dad is the hardest worker I know. He is a farmer and if you know a farmer, then you know someone with faith. Farmers plant, plow, and pray. They trust God to bring the rain and the heat. They believe their good works will pay off and they never give up. If the seeds don’t grow, they plant again until a harvest comes.

I was in prayer one day and the Lord told me, “As hard as your dad works, I work harder.”

Well...I know how hard my Dad works, so I understood the depth of God’s love for me through my Dad’s work ethic.

We are the fruit of Jesus’ labor. We are the crop He has invested so much time and faith in cultivating.

If you’ve seen a farmer, then you’ve seen faith. If you’ve seen Jesus, then you’ve seen the Father.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad!

Ashley Ennis

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6

Fervent&UnfailingLove

Lori Stevens

This is the first Father’s Day without my father. This will be a bittersweet day as we celebrate all the wonderful things about fathers. I will feel the void of my father and not being able to tell him that I love him one more time. I had drawn quite close to my dad over the past few years. I appreciate him more than I can ever explain without becoming a ball of emotion and tears. My father exemplified to me who a good Godfearing man should be.

There is a lot of research about the importance of fathers in a home. You can find that fathers fill a role no one else can. The is research that shows the presence of a father spending time with their children has a positive influence in how children turn out. It increases the likely hood of being compassionate adults. It decreases the likelihood of incarceration, depression and increases success such as going to college and having careers.

Fathers promote problem solving skills, and social success. There are very important reasons for fathers. One real influence of a father is his church attendance. Studies have shown that if a mother is the first to become a Christian, there is a 17% chance the household will follow, but if the father is the first to become a Christian, there is a 93% chance everyone in the household with follow.

(The Impact on Kid’s of Dad’s Faith and Church Attendance, nickcady.org June 20 2016) This tells us a father who leads his family to church and to God is more effective than anyone else.

My father lead us to church and he lead us to God. He understood and took seriously his role of a Christ follower, first and foremost for his family. He prayed over us, taught us, and demonstrated what it means to follow Christ. He was effective showing patience, love, grace and mercy at times when we needed it. When he made a mistake, he demonstrated asking for forgiveness, When he was struggling, he demonstrated faith in God. While my dad may not have been perfect, he did his best to lead us to Christ.

A father is the demonstration of the Father in heaven. A father can and will influence their children into adulthood. Proverbs 3:12 says For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. One title of God is heavenly Father. He is a father to the fatherless, and the father to all. He wants fathers to reflect him to their children.

I am grateful my father did just that. I can look back and see the days my father succeeded and the days he failed. I can recall the ups and downs as we grew up, but through it all, he placed his trust in Jesus. He never waivered in going to God about the bad and the good. He praised God through it all. I am truly blessed to have had my earthly father and I have the heavenly Father, God Almighty on my side. I will follow in my father’s footsteps because he would have said Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Fathers, never doubt your importance, Never doubt your role in the lives of your children. Actively engage in leading them to Christ through the testimony of your own life. You are unique in their lives and place a larger part in the outcome of their lives than you may ever realize. Follow God and lead your children to Him.

Hello friends!

Happy Father’s Day!

GodSees

Linda Duvall

I just wanted to share a devotional I wrote a few years back that reminded me just how much my heavenly Father looks at me. It does my heart good to know that no matter how much I have grown and matured in His grace, He still SEES ME!

Duvall’s Daily Devotional Monday, October 19, 2009

HE Sees . . .

1 John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

I went to visit with my eldest son and his family (you know, to see the granddaughters - not that I didn’t want to see my son and daughter-in-law, I did) anyway, they had Morgan (the youngest granddaughter who is now seven weeks old) sitting in her little chair out in the middle of the dining room floor.

Her dad was vacuuming the living room, her mom was preparing school stuff for Reagan (the older sister) and Reagan was running in and out of her bedroom kissing Morgan on the cheek and playing. Samson, the dog, was making small circles around and around Morgan, keeping a watchful eye on Josh, Morgan’s dad, while Morgan was sitting quietly in her chair trying to take in all the activity around her.

I was watching all this unfold, keeping my eyes mostly on Morgan. I happened to notice, Morgan was just sitting there very quietly and moving her hands in a motion that made me think about someone sitting around twiddling their fingers. At the same time, I glanced over in Josh’s direction, and even though he was vacuuming the floor, He was very intently watching Samson, the dog.

That made me think about Godwatching us.

Sometimes, it seems like the world around us is in chaotic motion, flinging this and that at us, and we naturally tend to get a bit overwhelmed at it all. It’s at those moments we need to realize, God sees us. Right where we are, He sees us. He knows the “ one who goes about roaring as a lion” is looking for an opportunity to hurt us, but HE is watching, and here’s the deal - the devil knows God is watching us, and him.

Just think about it for a moment. NOTHING can touch us, but what God knows it, and . . . He knows how to get us out.

We need to be more like His little children, and just twiddle about our day, loving people, and knowing God sees us. What a comfort.

Note: My youngest granddaughter is now 14 years old and her dad stills watches over her like he did when she was only 7 weeks old.

InSickness& InHealth

Debbie Barnhouse

As my husband struggled with his infirmity that tried to steal his balance, we prayed and loved, laughed, and cried, all waiting for God's time of healing.

Instead of staying home, (the easy thing), we went with wonderful friends and their family on a beach vacation. Walking any distance was a terrible ordeal for my husband. He would start losing his balance and lean forward. His steps would shorten, and he looked as though he was running so as not to fall. We prayed and thanked God for His never-ending love and help.

But we started noticing strangers stopping to help us as we struggled down to the beach. With such great compassion. They were on the beach when a wave up turned him and help bring him out of the water. They were there in the friend's son-in-law, renting a golf cart to help my husband get back and forth to the beach and staying back to help us with his father-inlaw to catch us when we fell.

They were everywhere with such great compassion and love. All with different faces but the same love. It was the same love that is born into them from their Father. Their heavenly Father.

God is full of love, mercy, compassion, and is always there when we need Him.

We are never alone. His eyes are upon us. He picks us up when we fall. And something totally awesome is that He instills that same character in us. He let's us know that we are truly not alone, no matter what we face. He's always here.

Oh, the love of our Father.

There is nothing to compare.

The statistics are heartbreaking.

Hopeforthe Fatherless

Debbie Young

According to a recent study, approximately 18.3 million children in the US are being raised in a home without a father. That is one in four children!

Children who grow up in single-parent homes are twice as likely to suffer from mental or behavioral issues.

One study found that 70% of the youth who are in state-operated facilities came from single-parent homes.

But sometimes having a father present in the home is not enough either. The average school-age child may spend about 30 minutes per week in a one-onone conversation with their father, while spending 40 to 60 hours per week in front of a screen.

Yes, the fatherless situation in America is a crisis we cannot ignore! But I know the answer, and it is Good News!

This verse in Psalm 68:5-6 is describing God as, “A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His Holy habitation. God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity.”

What a Promise!

I have seen a perfect example of every part of these two verses being fulfilled right before my eyes.

When I first met my husband 50 years ago, (we met on a blind date on June 22,1974), he was 19 years old. I went out with him on a double-date as a favor to a friend but had not planned to go out with him again because he was not a Christian.

After that first date, he sent a poem to me, which he had written, indicating that he was interested in becoming a Christian so I decided to continue to go out with him. That was what we called ,”Missionary Dating” which I do not recommend, BTW!

But in this case, it must have been God’s will. After I got to know him better, I found out he was the youngest of seven children who were all being raised by their mother, but with an absentee father. There was never any child support so, needless to say, the family struggled in many ways. Glen had never met his father and he didn’t have any other men in his life that would have represented a father figure.

We dated a few months and he was gloriously saved. We began to plan our marriage and joined a small church together. We both began to grow in the Lord. Small churches are usually lacking in volunteers so we soon found ourselves teaching Sunday School. Glen taught the youth and I was an assistant in the adult class. Neither of us had been saved very long so we really had to dig into the Word to be prepared to teach.

As Glen yielded his life to the Lord, God began to fill in all the gaps that he was lacking from his life of growing up without a father. As he discovered the Truths in God’s Word, and was determined to obey them, he learned all the things a Godly father would have taught him by teaching and by example. God truly became a “Father to the Fatherless” in our situation.

Glen had never met his father and he didn’t have any other men in his life that would have represented a father figure.

Glen learned how to be a good husband that loved his wife as Christ loves His Church. He learned to be a faithful provider and to give generously, breaking the spirit of poverty that he grew up with. When we were blessed with three children, Glen couldn’t have been a better father to them. It certainly wasn’t by any example that he had from an Earthly father. But instead, Our Heavenly Father gave him Godly wisdom to handle every situation as they arose.

I’m not sharing this to brag about my husband, although I feel he deserves it. Instead, I’m boasting of the Goodness of God. He’s a God that keeps ALL His Promises! I have witnessed Almighty God being a Father to my husband who had none. Glen could have been another statistic, but instead, he yielded to God and allowed Him to be there for him.

And that’s what gives me hope!

If we could, somehow, introduce these precious children and young people who are growing up without a father-figure in their lives to “The Father of the Fatherless”, He will indeed begin to fill in every gap that they are lacking. He is the Answer!

Let’s do all we can to reach out to the fatherless in our society. Let’s employ every means possible to rescue them before they become another statistic.

After all, isn’t this what the Word teaches us to do?

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27

If you are reading this and have grown up without a dad in your life, be encouraged! God is the AllSufficient One! Let Him fill in all those places in your heart that longs for a father’s love. He can and He will!

“Happy Father’s Day” to our Heavenly Father… the best Father there is!

If you are reading this and have grown up without a dad in your life, be encouraged!

God is the All-Sufficient One! Let Him fill in all those places in your heart that longs for a father’s love.

He can and He will!

MyFather

Rebecca Cooper

As I began thinking about writing a piece for Father’s Day, I began asking myself what the word “father” really means to me. And I realized that the definition of it has changed over the years. As a child, I would have given you the definition based off my relationship with my earthly father. As I grew, that relationship changed, and so my definition would have changed as well. My guess is, that how I would have defined “father” during those years of my life may be different than how you would because none of our fathers here on earth are the same.

Some of you may have had a loving, caring, and hard-working father. Others of you may have had a distant father who wasn’t a major part of your raising even though he lived in the same house as you. There are some of you that had absent fathers altogether for whatever reason that may be. And there are those that had abusive ones as well.

There are many variations of all these types of men that should have been there to love us, but the love or lack of love from our fathers has greatly influenced our lives and relationships more than we know.

My definition of “father” now is completely different than what it was growing up. I have a good father here on earth, but there is no man that is perfect. But as I began to grow in my relationship with Christ, I realized that there is a perfect Father. He spoke the earth and light into existence just for me. He formed the stars and the clouds, He planted herbs and fruits, He put fish in the sea, and He made all things wonderful just for me. He did it for you, too; but there may be some of you that reject that truth because you view Father through the lens of your earthly father. You have a hard time accepting that you are perfectly loved and cherished by your Creator.

“Even before He made the world, God loved us… ” (Ephesians 1:4 NLT) “Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance form God, for He chose us in advance, and He makes everything work out according to His plan,” (Ephesians 1:11 NLT)

It is exciting to me to know that God chose me before He created the world. I am not a mistake, and neither are you! And if you are united with Christ, then you have an inheritance from your heavenly Father. No matter what type of father you have here on earth, you can look to the father of all creation to provide everything you need.

Here are some of the words I used to define “father” now: protector, provider, comforter, leader, strength, wisdom, and correction. Can you see God the Father that way? If not, I encourage you to call out to Him, study His word, and ask Him to reveal His heart to you. “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” (Jeremiah 3:33 ESV) His heart is to reveal the depth of His love for you and for you to truly understand that His plans for you are good and not evil.

Whether or not there is a father in your life that you will be celebrating on Father’s Day, my prayer is that you take the time to reflect on the goodness of Abba Father. And if you are a father, I pray that you will lead by example of our heavenly father. You may never be perfect, but you do have a perfect example to follow. And He will always be there to lead you if you allow Him.

Happy Father’s Day, and may the Lord bless you and keep you.

Love&Honor

Marylou Forrest

As Father’s Day is drawing near

We’ll honor those we hold so dear

Let us not forget to show our love

To the one true Father up above

He walked among those here on Earth

The King of Kings our praises worth

With love and kindness gave His life

The cross His throne now symbolize

For our forgiveness

His blood was shed

That to heaven’s gate could be our stead

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:48

TheFamilyDesign

The best illustration I can share for Fathers Day comes from a sermon my pastor preached years ago. The sermon preached was on the results of function and dysfunction.

Our creator, created a universe that is designed to function so we could survive and thrive.

He designed the family to be governed by the father and the mother, both positions are equally important but provide very different qualities. These qualities together provide to the young balance which is function, or healthy. The absence of the father or the mother takes the balance away and creates dysfunction.

While the mother’s role provides the nurturing aspects and providing for the home, the father is the tent pole for the family, holding up the protection from the elements outside.

Anita Tilley

His position is to make sure his family is safe in that environment so they might have time and atmosphere to learn and grow. The strength of the tent pole provides a cover for the young.

Both positions are equally important as they provide for both male and female children. Studies show often a child’s decision on picking a mate is greatly encouraged by what they saw in their own father and mother. The same studies also show a child will construct most of their understanding concepts about the world on what he/she learns in the home.

I can state that this is true. My father and mother were divorced and I was only able to see my father on holidays or summers. My mother remarried a wonderful man but because he was so morally good he made sure to tell me that while he might seem to be in a daddy role he would never take the place of my biological father.

I know now that his intentions were honorable but to a five year old what I heard was your dad is not here nor will he ever be, you are fatherless.

That caused a vacuum in my heart that I now am very thankful for. I would place my pillow long wise in the bed beside me and lay my head on it and talk to my daddy. Looking back I can say my creator heard every one of those conversations and came. Over the years I strayed from my Heavenly Father and realized I had a very vague look at what my value was and my purpose. I grew up and fell in love with a man that was absent a lot just like my father.

Now that I am older I can appreciate the function of Gods plan for my life and can say where there was lack in my life, HE was always there waiting for me to see He is my provider.

Fathers, be a STRONG tent pole. Even tho it may get hard at times please remember more weighs in the balance than a decree off marriage. Just as in every instance life seems impossible, if you will turn to Gods word, He will guide you and provide you the strength to make sure the shield isn’t dropped leaving your family to suffer the elements outside.

If you are outside of the home already, please realize how important your love is to your children. And be a present dad who provides security to your family. They are worth it and so are the generation to come!

Happy Fathers Day!

Grow g y s a mixture of “Grizzly Adams” and “Captain Kangaroo”! That one sentence just dated me…! lol But I can’t think of another way to describe him. We lived in a small town in Havana, Arkansas. The population was less than 400 total. There were more dogs than humans in Havana. Havana is at the base of Mount Magazine. It is part of the Ozark Mountain range. And that was my playground.

The mountain is the tallest landmark you can see for miles. Magazine towers over all the terrain around it. It is just majestic. The woods around are full of all kinds of wildlife. My siblings and I spent a majority of our childhood playing in the woods. With a population of 400 there isn’t much to do in Havana.

IntheWoods

Shannon Yarbrough

We went into the woods with my dad often. He would take us out exploring. My dad taught us about looking for animal trails, all kinds of plant and trees, how to follow a creek, catch “crawdads”, and just enjoy the simple things in life. Many times we came to a clearing and we could see Mount Magazine standing tall. It was a landmark to know what direction we were going and what direction to take to get back home.

At some point I started going to the woods by myself. They were my haven! My quiet place. My space. I climbed ravens, went through creeks, followed animal trails and just enjoyed being outside. I talked a lot to the Lord while out in the woods. It was just us two. Such sweet serenity. Even in some of the densest woods I could work my way around back home. MANY times it was getting close to dark. If I got to a place that was unfamiliar and I felt a little lost, I would remember what my dad taught me. “Look for the mountain sis, turn your back to it and you will make it home”.

Look for the highest point around. The landmark he told me about over and over again.

Over the years that advice has lead me through some of the darkest times in my life. Moments that seem so beyond the hand of man ’ s help. The place I could find myself in that caused me to pause and wonder how I got to this point, where did I think I am headed and is it really what I had wanted?

My dad’s advice was just the echoed voice of my Heavenly Father’s advice. To look for the ancient landmark, get your bearings, take a moment and don’t panic. Look up!!!

The Word says, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. ” Psalms 139:7-10.

No one is ever actually lost before the Lord…! He is keenly aware of mine and yours current location. He is all knowing, all seeing and always available. He said He would never leave us nor forsake us.

Psalms 139 goes on to say, ““If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me, ” Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.” Psalms 139:11-18

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.” Psalms 139:7-10.

I agree with the Psalmist. These truths are beyond my comprehension. He “knew” me before I was ever formed in the womb and still that I was a good idea; even knowing all my strengths and weaknesses. His greatest desire is to have a relationship with each of us. He is so adamant about having a relationship with us He made a landmark to lead us home. It’s the Cross of Calvary.

Christ said in John, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die.”

John 12:32-33

Christ was saying something very similar to what my dad said to me over and over again. Find the highest point around. Look up!! When you see what is lifted up above the earth, you will find your way back home.

What sound advice that has served me well for a very long time. Find the mountain, find Christ and you find home.

My dad has gone on to his heavenly home already. He left us with the directions to meet him there. My dad lead his earthly home well and I will forever be thankful for the life lessons in the woods of Mount Magazine.

Love you daddy!! I know how to make it home…..Shanahan!!

HeNeverGaveUp

Jennifer Jones

Hi, my name is Jennifer Jones. My father’s name is Warren “Spike” Jones. I sent a letter to him recently, thanking him for never giving up on me with what had to be hard for him.

I spent many years in addiction, which affected my family greatly. My father was always there to pick up the pieces, whether it be taking me off to numerous rehabilitation centers or packing up apartments because I just couldn’t keep up with the bills. He and my mom spent thousands of dollars trying to help me out. I imagine it was heartbreaking for him to be so powerless over my addiction, with countless reminders of how he was unable to help.

I finally found the help I needed when I entered a program that was based on developing personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I haven’t had a drink or drug for 12 years or so, and this is the only reason why.

I began to find out about this man named Jesus and what He is all about. I gained a new friend and one who sticks closer than a brother. Through this relationship, my relationship with my earthly father was healed. I found forgiveness for myself and have received forgiveness from my father, along with the rest of my family. Thank you, Dad, for never giving up on me and for never losing faith.

Dad is 96 years old now. I am so glad that we have had these last 12 years together on a totally different page. We have a mutual love, trust and respect for each other that has taken place over time.

It has been through working and living in ministry that I have developed a relationship with God, my heavenly Father. I honor both my earthly father and my heavenly Father on this Father’s Day and want to share several ways that we can all honor our fathers:

2.

1. We can be grateful for our fathers. We can say thank you when warranted and thank our fathers for the sacrifices he has made for us.

3.

We can respect our fathers. The fifth commandment in the Old Testament tells us to honor our parents. This includes listening to advice and following their suggestions. (Exodus 20:12).

We can pray for our fathers. I pray for my father daily. I ask God to protect him and keep him comforted in his old age.

We can spend time and pay attention. A simple phone call to say hello or a note in the mail goes a long way.

We can learn from our father’s example by demonstrating those characteristics, be they perseverance, humor, kindness or service. We can offer support. We can be supportive of our father’s wishes, dreams and endeavors. We can offer encouragement during difficult times.

We can offer forgiveness for any past mistakes and offer grace in return. Remember that honoring your father is about having a heart that values and appreciates Him.

TheFather’sLove

Miranda Culver

Goodness and Mercy

Rain down from above

Poured out by the

Father unconditional love

He feeds us with fresh mana

Enough for each day

O come to the Father

Let us worship and pray

Mistakes are inevitable

Grace doth abound

Only in Him

Can Salvation be found

Honoring your surrender

No questions asked forget all Your shame He does not

Remember your past

DivineAssignment

Allene Duvall

Earthly fathers have been given a Divine assignment by God! He didn’t leave fathers with a task to complete without instructions. God gave scriptures to instruct dads what to do, and others what they should not do! Provoke not their children to anger but to raise them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord! (Ephesians 6:4), to spare the rod of discipline demonstrates hate toward his son but to discipline gives hope! Proverbs 13:24, 19:18).

Fathers are to train their children to follow the path they should go and when they are old, they will not depart! Proverbs 22:6) and to show compassion to his children as does God toward those who fear Him Psalms 103:13) in the fear of the Lord, he has a strong confidence and his children will have a refuge Proverb 14:26).

As a child these verses probably were not received well by myself and siblings! However, because my dad took the Word of God seriously, he did his best to be obedient! Enforcement was not always the interpretation of scripture I had but without a doubt it steered me in the right direction! Or at least kept me out of serious trouble! There was a song years ago that should have had my daddy’s name on it- these are some of the lyrics-

I remember daddy's hands folded silently in prayer/ And reachin' out to hold me, when I had a nightmare/ You could read quite a story in the callous' and lines/ Years of work and worry had left their mark behind/ I remember daddy's hands how they held my mama tight/ And patted my back for something done right/ There are things that I'd forgotten that I loved about the man/ But I'll always remember the love in daddy's hands/ I remember daddy's hands workin' 'til they bled/ Sacrificed unselfishly just to keep us all fed/ If I could do things over, I'd live my life again/And never take for granted the love in daddy's hands/ Daddy's hands were soft and kind when I was cryin'/Daddy's hands were hard as steel when I'd done wrong/Daddy's hands weren't always gentle but I've come to understand/ There was always love in daddy's hands/

Today I look back and see that my daddy had myself and my sibling’s future in mind whenever discipline was enforced! Though at times we felt it was extreme, I now can see how those corrections have led to adults who love and provide for their families and others! Most of all, we all Love Jesus and seek to honor and obey our Heavenly Father! God set guidelines with benefits and consequences for earthly fathers.

God Himself is our Heavenly Father and with obedience to His Word comes wonderful blessings and benefits! Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live Hebrews 12:9 When we are “born again,” saved by Jesus Christ; we become children of God!

We celebrate “Father’s Day” mostly considering our dads here on earth. Not all have dads who set godly boundaries and allowed Gods word to direct and discipline! Having a good father who leads, guides, and protects is a blessing not everyone has and it should be celebrated! Some dads were/are absent, some are harsh while others may have no idea of God’s love and plan for their children!

Gods Word declares if anyone is in Christ, they are a child of Father God! He is a father to the fatherless, the best that could ever be! Our all-loving allknowing Heavenly Father covered all lacking areas! His Word states we have a Father who calls us sons and daughters, who wraps His arms around us, draws us near and becomes all that a father can be!

“And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty”

2 Corinthians 6:18

“For

you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory”

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12.

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so, we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3:1

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ’Abba! Father’ Romans 8:15

“Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him.” Matthew 7:9-11

Happy Father’s Day to every dad! To all those who have gone on, to those who are walking this path, and to the young fathers just starting their Divine assignment! may you be blessed and honored on this special day!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

JOHN 3:16

TheSpiritof Adoption

“For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15 (Amplified)

It’s Father’s Day – the day chosen to celebrate good ole dad. There is a deep stirring of emotions on this special day depending on the relationship one has with their earthly father. Some folks have anticipated this celebration for weeks to shower their parent with gifts and love while there are some who will do whatever it takes to forget that this day is even recognized. Parental relationships are paramount in the development of a child.

Mindy Alvarez

The absence of a father in a child’s life greatly affects their ability to love and trust God. It is part of the designated role as dad. However, there are many men who have fallen short or completely abandoned this high calling. Whether your dad is with you today or far away, if he is your friend or a complete stranger, it is important to remember that despite your father’s faults or shortcomings, there is something in his DNA that God handpicked for you and that your relationship with your earthly father holds a vital link to God who is your Heavenly Father.

Whether this Father’s Day you have fond memories of dad or maybe just as if it was an ordinary day, your Heavenly Father woke up with YOU on His Mind! He chose the man that would father you with great purpose and anticipation. You were not a mistake, an afterthought or obligation. You were part of a dynamic plan. However, so often our hopes and dreams become contingent on people rather than God.

The enemy recognized this weakness and formed a devastating plan. If he can make you bitter, angry or displeased with your natural father, he identified that he can break your connection to God.

Whether your natural father was with you or absent is irrelevant for he still plays a vital role in your relationship with God! See if you have chosen to hate your natural father for the unspeakable things he may have done to you or your family, then you will have no relationship with God.

If you are angry over the heartache of abandonment of a father who chose to leave rather than embrace fatherhood with all of its responsibilities, then you will be robbed of your Heavenly Father as well. Maybe your father decided that he didn’t want to know you at all and pretended that you were never born. The terrible rejection has left a wall of bitterness that no one can overcome and a brokenness that has extended to the Throne Room of God barring the door to His Presence for you! Let me assure you that your Father in Heaven longs to celebrate this Father’s Day and every other day with you – His Child! Unforgiveness, however, is the door that separates you from the only Father who will never leave you, let you down or harm you!

Two simple truths can set you free today! First – your earthly father is a man with sin that lives in his body. This flaw makes him susceptible to imperfection, selfishness and weakness just like every other mortal on the planet. Your Heavenly Father is perfect in every way.

Too often the role of each dad is confused because we place unrealistic reliance and trust on a human being rather than placing them on Almighty God. When you choose to take your high expectations of perfection from your dad and place them on God –you will begin to experience freedom like never before. Let your biological father off the hook that actually is holding you and say today, “I forgive you for missing the mark!” In return, God will open the floodgates of His Kingdom and release a Father’s Blessing over you like never before.

Every hurt that your earthly father exacted will be healed. Abandonment will no longer cause anxiety. Your relationship with your dad will improve when you choose to pour grace into the relationship and put faith in God alone.

Unreasonable characteristics placed on a human being will always build a barrier between you and God because by placing our hope and trust in people we have turned our back on Him. By placing all of your hope in the Lord, you are released to experience only the benefits of relationships and walk away from those that tend to take from you!

Can you forgive your dad today? It is the best Father’s Day gift you will ever give yourself! Your Spiritual Daddy is ready to receive all the love that may have been misplaced in another father. He is ready to receive you but you must forgive!

“If you keep My commandments (if you continue to obey My instructions),you will abide in My love and live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commandments and live on in His love. I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.” John 15:10-11

TheBest FatherEver

Pam Perry

When I was young, I thought my dad was the best father ever. He worked hard, often coming home dirty and tired, but always taking time to hear about my day, show me a new trick, and wrap me in a big hug. He made my brother and me feel like we were his whole world. Almost every evening, we either played games or watched television together. Every Sunday afternoon after church, he took us on an adventure. He loved spending time with his children. My dad is with Jesus now, but these memories help me understand what it means to call God, “Father.” God is our provider, our protector, our teacher, our leader, our admonisher, our comforter, and our friend. He loves spending time with His children.

Before He created the world, God devised a plan to become not only our creator, but also our Father, for all eternity (1 Peter 1:20). I wonder if God’s thoughts went something like this as He planned to create the first humans.

I love them so much already, but I know they’re going to be weak, unable to resist temptation. They’ll fall for Satan’s lies and fall from my grace. As a result, they will die and be separated from Me, eternally. I can’t let that happen, but there’s only one solution: I’ll offer them Jesus, my only begotten Son. Through His death, they will live.

“As many as received Him (Jesus), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father.) full of grace and truth.” John 1:12-14

It cost God His Son, but He made it easy for us to become His child: believe on the name of Jesus and receive Him into your heart. He made it easy on purpose because He loves spending time with His children, but what happens when we spend time with Him?

When we spend time with God, He assures us that we are His. Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Alone with God, we feel the power of His presence within us drawing us closer to Him and erasing our doubts.

When we spend time with our Father, we learn to recognize His voice. He directs our steps and helps us avoid danger. He gently nudges us toward the right decisions. He guides us toward the work He has for us to do. He gives our lives purpose.

As we spend more time with God, devouring His Word, we begin to know Him better. We know Him as the powerful Creator who spoke the world into existence. We see Him as the mighty warrior who stopped the sun in the middle of the day, parted mighty rivers, and blinded enemy armies.

We yearn for Him when we read that He spoke to Moses “face to face as a man speaks to his friend (Exodus 33:11).” We stand in awe of His grace as He works for decades to place Joseph in exactly the right position to provide food for a famine struck land. We are amazed at His mercy on the nation of Israel, even though they continually defy Him. We are humbled when we read of His holiness, His perfection, and His selfless love. We rejoice because He loves to spend time with His children, and our love for Him begins to grow.

We catch ourselves talking to our Heavenly Father all throughout our days, and we realize He is always with us. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us, and we find peace. We want Him to be pleased with us so we strive to obey Him, and He begins to mold us into His image. He replaces our whining with thankfulness, our bragging with praise, and our fears with faith. He calms our tempers and multiplies our joy. He fills our hearts with songs of praise. He teaches us to love, and we become more like Him.

We begin to dream about the day we will see Him face to face. We wonder what He will say to us. We imagine the splendor of Heaven where we will spend time with God, uninterrupted, for an eternity. We remember the sacrifice Jesus made so we could become children of God. Then we know, that although the world is full of great dads, God is the best Father ever, and we love to spend time with Him.

Generational Blessings

Barbara Ritter

The term “generational curses ” is a common term in the Christian church as the focus lies in exposing the evils passed down from one generation to the next. However, little is preached or taught about the “General Blessings” that come from living Godly.

Abram (name later changed to Abraham) was born with a lineage that can be traced back to Enoch who had a testimony that he pleased God. He walked with God so much that he was raptured. Abraham was blessed with forefathers like Noah who found grace in the sight of God and used to build the Ark for the saving of his wife, three sons and their wives along with male and female of all animals, fowl, insects and crawling things. What an impressive family lineage he had. However, like each of us, Abram had to choose what kind of life he wanted to lead and which God he would serve. The “Generational Blessings” certainly helped him to easily make his decision.

Genesis 12:3 KJV …in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

He married a beautiful lady named Sarai (later changed to Sarah). She was lovely but barren. This was very important in those days and especially in the life of Abram. God had just called him to be the father of many nations, that the number of his children would be so many it would be so many in number that it would be like trying to count the stars of heaven and the dust of the earth, yet his wife was unable to bear children. There wasn’t an infertility specialist in existence at the time so what does this couple do? They chose to take God at his word and believe that what he called them to do and promised to do through them would come to pass even though their age put them at an elderly state by the time their firstborn son Isaac was born. Abraham was one hundred years of age and Sarah was ninety. They had such joy when this little fella was born. He was their son of promise and the beginning of the untold multitudes of people that would be in the great lineage of Abraham.

Romans 4:16-22 KJV: “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations), before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.”

Matthew 1:1: The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

The lineage of Jesus Christ came down from Abraham. Here is the great part about this promise. Only God knows how many biological children came through the lineage of Abraham but when Jesus was born, then crucified and arose from the dead as the Savior of the world, people no longer had to be in the blood line of Abraham, Jesus started adopting people into the kingdom of God and this brought about a whole new “Generational Blessing” to the entire world. Ephesians 1:5 KJV Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.

Scripture teaches us that it is vital to pass the testimonies of Christ down to our children and future generations, so they will know about him and have a desire to receive him as their Lord and Savior.

Children are blessed when they have Godly parents to guide them.

Proverbs 22:6: Train {to coach, to prepare, to cause to take a desired course, to focus, to aim, to tutor, direct, point} up a child in the way {manner, course of life, custom} he should {used to express desirability and expectation} go: {how they should live and die} and {as a result} when {at what time} he is {lives} old, {matured, come to themselves, grown up, mature in judgment, wise} he will not {in no way, to no degree} depart {turn off, decline, go aside, rebel, quit, to die [spiritually] eschew= avoid, shun} from it. {the Godly lifestyle taught by example to them}

A missionary named George Smith went to Africa. He had been there only a short time and had only one convert, a poor woman, when he was driven from the country. He died shortly after, on his knees, praying for Africa. He was considered a failure.

A hundred years later his mission counted more than 13,000 living converts who had sprung from the ministry of George Smith.

Judge Fawcett, of Brooklyn, New York, said, that out of 2,700 boys brought before his court, not one of them was a Sunday School pupil.

Max Jukes who lived in America did not believe in Christian training. He married a girl of like character. From this union they have 1,026 decedents. Three hundred of them died prematurely. One hundred were sent to the penitentiary for an average of 13 years each. One hundred and ninety were public prostitutes. There were one hundred drunkards and the family cost the state they lived in $1,200,000. They made no contribution to society.

But...

But a company of men stumbled onto the place where he had prayed and found a copy of the scriptures he had left. Presently they met the one poor woman who was his convert.

Johnathon Edwards who lived in the same state believed in Christian training. He married a girl of like character. From this union they have 729 decedents. Out of this family have come 300 preachers, 65 college professors, 13 university presidents, 60 authors of good books, 3 United States Congressman, and one vice president of the United States, and except for Aaron Burr, a grandson of Edwards who married a questionable character, the family has not cost the state a single dollar. The difference in the two families: Christian training in youth and heart conversions.

Parents, thinking that three hours of any movie is harmless for the child, but that two hours of Church and Sunday School are too much for him or her is just bad thinking.

Giving him a quarter for the collection plate and $10 for the movie not only shows the parent's sense of value, but is also not likely to produce a giver.

Being careful that Junior has his week day lessons, and caring not that he knows not his Sunday School lesson makes for spiritual illiteracy.

Saying that a child must make his own decisions as to whether or not he should go to church, or as to what church, is shirking parental responsibility.

IWhen Father spends Sunday morning in mowing the lawn, cleaning the garden, or playing golf, his sons are left to walk alone.

When parents idle away Sunday morning in reading the paper or listening to the radio or TV while brother and sister are sent by themselves to church, something happens to the children's evaluation of church attendance.

We should never expect our children to have better values than we do, or live more moral. They will generally follow and live according to their training.

As a father, what are you teaching your children? What do they see in you?

Ephesians 6:4 KJV And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Research shows that when fathers are involved in raising his children, they are two times more likely to go to college, 80% less likely to spend time in jail, and 75% less likely to experience teen pregnancy. Sons learn to become men from their father.

Fathers, care enough to live your best life in front of your children so they will know right from wrong. Make sure you ’ re sending the right message to them by your actions and reactions. When your children and grandchildren look up at you they should see Jesus in you. Make sure they will have a great tomorrow by what we are teaching them today. The greatest thing a child will ever learn from a parent is to love and live for Jesus Christ. That is the “Generational Blessing” that passed down from our forefathers to us and from us to eternity.

AFather’sLove

Michelle Brothers

Open our eyes, and touch our hearts

Lord as you lead us on a personal walk of the love like no other our father has for us. If we only knew how much God loves us, if we could fully grasp in our hearts the biggest gift of love someone has ever gave us it would change everything. In fact, he loves us so much that he demonstrated it in a way the world would never forget John 3:16 tells us " For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

It was His ONE AND ONLY son!

Oh, to give your one and only son as a sacrifice this brings me back to the story of Abraham and his son Isaac. God tested Abraham's faith and Abraham responded, " Here am I "

As I read in the bible of the story of Isaac and Jesus being offered up as a sacrifice I see the similarities. Isaac was bound and put on the altar just as Christ was bound to the cross. Isaac willfully submitted to his father, just as Jesus voluntarily submitted to His Father. Isaac was the only son of Abraham and Sarah, just as Jesus was God’s only begotten Son.

Some scholars claim that the place of the sacrifice was the same place where Jesus was eventually crucified. If that is true, they walked up the lonely hill of Golgotha. Notice Abraham's servants stayed behind at a distance, just as the disciples of Jesus stayed behind during his scourging and crucifixion. The many parallels are more than coincidence.

Another key is found in Genesis 22:8. When Isaac asked his father about the sacrifice, Abraham replied; “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the sacrifice.” Some Hebrew scholars believe it could be translated; “God will provide Himself as the lamb for the sacrifice.” But the typology continues. When Abraham saw the ram, it was caught by its horns in a thorn bush just as Jesus years later wore a crown of thorns on His head. Even the substitution of the ram in place of Isaac was a picture of Jesus dying on the cross in place of sinful humanity. The whole gospel is illustrated in this amazing story. There is even mention of Abraham believing in a resurrection in Hebrews 11:19. The mention of God raising Him from the dead makes the gospel complete.

I especially like the emphasis the gospel must be received by faith.

To have a love so much that he gave his only begotten son the word "only" means special can you just stop right there a minute and take it all in how much pain that must have been on a father to just give a son up for sacrifice and obedience, to give his only son to save us because he cared and loved us so much .

As a mother, I can't even begin to imagine and then I think of how much love he must have to give his son for me for the times I have been rebellious, have sinned, have been so selfish. And then I think about could I be that obedient and have that much faith as Abraham and do what God calls me to do and have the faith that he will provide? You see God loves us so much he had a plan the whole time to show us through his word how to love and how much he cares and love's for us.

I encourage you to pick up your Bible and read the story and ask the Lord to guide you and let you experience his unfailing Love like never before to fill you with his love so you can pour love out on others so they can see the biggest Love he wants all of us to see a Father's Love.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 10:27-28