I hope everyone enjoys the weekend. Here in the South the weather H-O-T!
We all have fathers. For some our fathers are still here with us, for others they have gone to be with the Lord. You may not have had a relationship with your father that is filled with happy memories and this is not an occasion you celebrate. Regardless of our different situations concerning our fathers we can rest assured that we have an incredible and an amazingly loving Heavenly Father who lives to intercede for us and bless us with every good and perfect gift from above.
Celebrate your Heavenly Father Sunday and thank him for all his goodness and favor toward you.
Celebrate your Heavenly Father Sunday and thank him for all his goodness and favor toward you.
7 Comments:
Happy Father's Day Weekend everyone! We're hoping to bring my Dad home again tomorrow on a day pass, as we continue to pray for God's best for my Dad. So thankful for the unfailing love of my Heavenly Father.
"The LORD is able to give you much more than this!" 2 Chronicles 25:9
How small my request at times. How great my God.
Moments ago as I opened His Word, I was praying for just one truth to capture my heart. Lord, just one, that's all I asked. In His bounty, He has drenched me this morning, and it's been both a cold awakening and a refreshing soaking.
King Amaziah did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, but not wholeheartedly. How often my outward is a false reflection. Doing without being. Action without attitude. A reminder of God seeing my intent and motives.
In Uzziah's climb up the ladder of power to pride, I have seen my own lofty view and prayed again for humility. Lord, when opportunities come my way and position is granted at Your hand, keep me from the sin of becoming arrogant. I am so undeserving. When the battle for recognition rages, let meekness mark my life and may You alone receive the glory.
Jonah's deliberate walk in the opposite direction. God had commanded Him to "get up", (vs2) but Jonah went "down" (vs3). Without speaking a word, he intentionally disobeyed and demonstrated a judgemental heart. Father, keep me from taking a path in direct opposition to Your way for me, because in doing so I lose sight of You. With my back turned in willful resistance it's impossible to see You face-to-face. Keep my eyes fixed on You and my heart surrendered.
As thunder rolls I have seen "O LORD, you have sent this storm upon (me) for your own good reasons," Jonah 1:14. Yes, I am learning that storms have purpose and discovering that my anchor holds. Without the storm, the anchor is never tested. My faith is standing. Praise the Lord.
God's mercy and forgiveness brought me to tears, as in His unfailing love, He was eager to turn back from destroying the rebellious people of Nineveh. I was reminded of 2 Samuel 14:14 that says, "God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him."
Oh Father, thank You for the "much more" you have lavished on me. How small my hopes this morning, yet how great my need.
Lord, may you lavish each seeking heart today with the bounty of Your Word,
Joy
Sometimes I judge when God helps us to succeed...we become so excited and full of our own pride for a job well done that we take all the glory when it belongs to God.
I judge that might have happened to the Kings who disobeyed or began to worship other gods after they succeeded in battle forgetting the very one who gave them their success.
Pride is surely a sin...especially when we take all the credit for a job well done.
Heavenly Father,
Forgive me Lord when I have taken credit for a project or program that I have given over to you. For you are the one who crowns our efforts with success. Help me to bring glory to your name when accolades are being directed towards me. You are my heavenly Father who has brought me through the storms and joys of this life I lead. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! Amen
If your are in a place to do so...honor your husband, father, grandfather, or someone who has been like a daddy to you by writng a letter that tells them the character traits you have seen in them in this role. And the lasting effects it will have for those they parent. More meaningful than a card perhaps.
"Anyone can be a father, but it takes a special person to be a daddy!"
Love from Debbie in Illinois
Happy Father's Day Weekend to everyone...we are actually experiencing cool weather here in the valley of the sun! This whole month we have not touched 100 degrees yet! SHOCK!!! I think tomorrow it will be a record-breaker! Also, in our neighborhood we had about 100 love-birds too which are migrating and have never come this way. Their little chirps were amazing. I had to stand in awe at God's amazing creation! What a treat on my morning walk. They are so pretty, and when you see so many, it kinda just takes your breath away!
Today's reading was rich. Humbly I fall before my Father and wonder at times why me? I feel so blessed to be His daughter, to have my name engraved on his hand. Oh, sister's we are so richly blessed to have a Father who never leaves us. I was reminded again in Jonah, that God's compassion still extends toward all who will repent, turn from their sins, and worship Him.
As I delight in the Word of God and prayerfully think about his scriptures throughout my day, He speaks to me. I'm finding more and more, when I follow His lead and do what He wants, (not what I'd rather be doing!)...he blesses me double fold! Oh, how I wish we were around the table, face to face, sharing His Glory with each other. God is so good. We seek His presence and He never leaves us. He's there waiting to shower His love on us morning after morning after morning. He even counsels us when we sleep.
Praying that each of you feel His peace and love this weekend.
Blessings, Lori - AZ
PS Karen, can you tell us about your new job in Switzerland? :)
All of you are in my prayers.
Happy Father's Day to my ultimate Daddy/Abba/Father!
Praising You this day!
Morgen
Well, the Lord really spoke to me through today's reading (Sunday).
"I hate all your show and pretense - the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won't even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living." Amos 5:21-24
*ouch* It has literally taken me all day on an off to pen my thoughts and become transparent. It takes great strength to be real. The cast of players that fill church pews often all play the same role. Dressed to impress in perfection's finest, the masquerade parades through practiced, pious scenes, well rehearsed and well delivered. Masks hide heartache, unforgiveness and pain. Cast in a role as a child star, I've played my part well.
God is calling for a flood of justice and a mighty river of righteous living. He desires we empty ourselves of the deluge of performance and receive the downpour of authenticity. Without this purging He doesn't even accept, notice or hear our worship.
Who wants to join me in stripping off all false disguise and simply being? Let's not make it so difficult for others to see Christ through our layer's of costuming.
Joy
(If you want to read all my thoughts and confession today feel free to click here: http://ponderinginhispresence.blogspot.com/2009/06/to-be-or-not-to-be.html)
I'm with you Joy. Tried and convicted. Amen.
Morgen
Joy, all I can say is Amen sister. It was add that I had almost the same thoughts today. In the shower this morning the song "I Surrender" kept playing in my head. Then at the end of the service that was the song played at the alter call.
Having a true heart of worship is becoming clearer and at a deeper level.
Nite,
Diane
Post a Comment
Home