Growing up like Dad

"Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ himself also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma." Ephesians 5:1-2

Imitators of God Be Loved

We literally come from the DNA from both our mother and father. That one day, if not yet, we would look like them. Louie Giglio described that it is the same when we are spiritually born again to our heavenly Father. We receive His DN, Divine Nature.

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." 2 Peter 1:2-3

As children we watch the relationships around us and start to model ourselves on what we see. We grow up to be imitators of our parents. Yes it is the same, when we are born again; we become God's child and when we spend more time with our Father God we will grow up to be imitators of Him.

Be responsible to grow up to be a son or daughter of God. We have the breath of our Father God inside us. We got God's genes so let us grow up to be like Him.

The Father's Blessing

A boy asked his father, "How much do you earn in an hour?"
The father got mad and answered roughly, "Don't bother me." He was tired and irritable after a tough day at work, but the boy insisted. "Please, how much do you earn?"
The father said in a bad tone of voice, "six pounds." Then his son asked, "Father can you loan me three pounds?" The father said to him in an angry tone, "I told you not to bother me, shut up and go to your room!"
At bedtime the father was calmer and felt bad about the way he had treated his son. He went upstairs to his son's room and asked, "Are you asleep?" He gave to the boy the three pounds that he had asked for.
The boy thanked his father, put his hand under his pillow, pulled out three pound coins, and said, "I have six pounds father, could I buy one hour of your time?"

Louie Gigilo, in the second part of "Seeing God as a Perfect Father" series pulled off the scab of a wound, which I thought was long healed.

What are the words you remember your father saying to you?
"I am tired. Don't bother me!"
"No!"
"Because I said so!"
"Money doesn't grow on trees "
"You think it's funny? You better wipe that smile off your face."
"I am busy"
"This is going to hurt me more than it'll hurt you"
"It's your fault!"
"Stop crying or I'll really give you something to cry about!"
"Make me some tea!"
"It is our secret"
"Ask you mother"
"Good for nothing"
"What do you think you are doing?"
"Children are meant to be seen, not heard"
"Get to your room!"
"Don't make me pull this car over"
"Don't tell anyone"
And you can add many more.

These are some of the words my father has used. This does not paint a pretty picture. Louie describes our earthly fathers in five types.

• Employing Father - Tells you that he loves you. Sets you up to succeed
• Abusive Father - Piecing words. Emotional, spiritual and /or physical abuse
• Absent Father - Too busy, never there because of death, divorce
• Passive Father - Wears boxer shorts because wife is wearing the pants in the family
• Performance Father - Gives blessing but it is attached to your performance. You have to earn his blessings

My real dad, now dead fits in the Absent Father profile quite nicely while he was abusive to my mother. My step dad on the other hand was the Abusive Father in all ways.

The bible reveals to us that God is the perfect father. Our own experience with our earthly fathers is transferred over to how we relate to heavenly father God. Okay I am not saying that all earthly fathers are bad, they just not perfect and can never match up to our heavenly father. The good experiences here bring us closer to knowing and understanding God, just as bad experiences create a distorted picture of our Father's love for us.

Louie revealed to us that we are always seeking the father's blessing. The blessings are

• Father's Love
• Father's Approval
• Father's Acceptance
• Father's Active Participation
• Father's Spoken Belief

In 1 John 3:1 we are told that we are the children of God and every child is to receive a blessing from his dad. That is how God made it. Even though most of us have not received our father's blessings we must step under our heavenly Father's blessings. God is not a bigger version nor is He the refection of our earthy father. He is Perfection.

Louie suggests that we take the blessings from our heavenly Father and send it up the family tree and bless our earthly fathers. Wow not an easy pill to swallow.

Later in the evening, Mike described how he felt when his step father died. He felt nothing. No sadness just a sense of happiness that the chapter in his life was over. My heart cried out, yes, yes, I too would feel nothing when that day comes. I probably won't even know about it until months later and would just shrug it off. Louie said earlier that our earthly fathers are only human too. They too were/are seeking their father's blessing. This made me think about my remaining earthly father but the thought didn't last very long. Although I have forgiven him, there is this chasm between us that in a way I don't want fixed. He must stay far away from my family and me. Yes I know something is not right and how typical it is for me to somehow put the blame on me. This is something, which takes time to heal. It is hard but yes I do believe that God loves my earthy father just as much as he loves me. God also wants him to join us in His kingdom.

Oh how the enemy has used my pain to distort my view of the perfect father.

I did not receive any blessings from my earthly father but I have received abundant blessing from my heavenly father. I want to turn those blessings into blessings for my son Matthew. Not to be a perfect father but to come close to it.

Oh boy, I have a long way to go but I have Jesus by my side.

How do you see God?

We are nearing the end of the year with only 62 days till Jesus birthday. Wow, this year has flown! We have started a new series by Louie Giglio called "Seeing God as the Perfect Father".

Aiden Tozer open the first chapter of his book "The Knowledge of the Holy" with this:

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. The history of mankind will probably show that no people have ever risen above its religion, and man's spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God.

For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like. We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God. This is true not only of the individual Christian, but of the company of Christians that composes the Church. Always the most revealing thing about the Church is her idea of God."

So now I ask the question, how do you see God? Giglio gave us some examples of how people see God.

• Faceless God who is distant and nameless
• OnStar God who we can turn on and off whenever we need him
• Grandpa God who is kind and gentle
• Scorekeeper God who keeps track of everything that we do and gives us credits or debts our score chart
• Doomsday God with fire and brimstone
• Stain glass God, shh need we say more
• Ave Joe God who is like one of us
• eBay God who we use to get what we want
• me God who does not need God because they are self made, self sufficient
• no god God for those poor atheists
• PC God who is political correct in for all people

But the Word of God revels to us a different God.

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts crying out, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galatians 4:4-7

Father God

Yes I understand the concept of God the father but it is one that I have difficulty to comprehend because of my stepfather. How can I call God, father, when my earthly father was not much to go on? It is difficult to see God as a God whom I can run up to with arms wide open.

Because of my past experiences I myself tend not to be a good father to my 8-year-old son. So how if Jesus taught us about God been the perfect father, can I be an example to others and my son of what a father is like? I know that I cannot be a perfect Father but God can and is. I can't wait for next week to hear what Giglio has to say about our earthly fathers.

I will leave you with a Father's Love Letter that I found at http://www.fathersloveletter.com/. It is used by kind permission from Father Heart Communications



You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalms 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvellous things. Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are broken hearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17:23
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is…Will you be my child? John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad

God you are the best daddy ever.

For I am made by God for God .

Allow me to re-introduce the Christ

God Loves

In this half of the year a number friends, family and colleagues have died and it has got me asking about heaven and hell. After a lot of questions and prayer, it all boiled down to "God Loves". That is something we Christians have and the other religions don't.

As in this video that I posted "This is powerfull" and in the following poem "When God Ran" by a blogger called "Devilnitemare" from India, God's love for us is so powerful and pure. As a mother who sees her toddler about to wander into the road, she runs.

"When God Ran"

Wasn't long ago when I walked out,
Wanted it all done my way.
Wasn't long after, I was a wandering,
Worthless vagabond.
Lately I started weighing options,
Didn't take time to know I had none.
So, I packed myself up
And took the long road back home.
Wasn't long away when He saw me,
Can I forget the smile on his face?
Can I forget those open arms?
Can I forget that day,
When God ran to me?

But I wasn't one to learn,
So, I took off the same old way.
Soon I was one foot in hell again,
I could hear them sing in chorus,
"I did it my way, I did it my way."
Guess I know that song too well,
Came to my senses soon enough.
Took the same road, I knew so well.

Wasn't long away when I saw Him,
Can I forget those tear-stained eyes?
Can I forget those nail pierced hands?
Can I forget that day, yet again,
The day that God ran to me?

Now, I am the master of excuses,
I never run out of stupid ones.
And every now and then, I'm on my way again.
But I know the song so well,
And I know the time so well,
Or maybe He knows it very well ...

I remember those tear-stained eyes,
I remember those nail pierced hands,
I remember the smile, the open arms,
And I remember the way back very well.
So, here I am going again, yet again,

Yes, yet again to see God run to me.

Taken from Devilnitemare's post When God Ran.

This is not right

Then they said to each other, "We're not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves."
2 Kings 7:9

This is not right.

We have been given a gift of eternal life. What are we doing with it? Are we basking in Christianity? Are we keeping it to ourselves?

These are the questions Andy Stanley asked us in the last of his "Go Fish" series. He went on to tell us about the story found in 2 Kings 7:3-16 It is about four men with leprosy during a siege of the city of Samaria by the Arameans. These men who were between a rock and a hard place decided to take their chances with the Arameans but found the Aramean camp deserted. After gorging themselves on the abundant spoils, it eventually dawned on them the suffering of those left behind. They were not doing right and had to go back and tell the others the good news.

Andy related this story to us Christians. Like the four men, God has picked us up and dusted us off and brought us into the banquet of His blessings. Do we stay here and enjoy ourselves or as in the four men are we going to realise that we're not doing right and go back to fetch the others.
Look back from whence you've come. You were once in that darkness and cried out to God. He knew your voice and called you by name. He has brought you into the light and given you life. Now reach back into that darkness and grab a hand and pull it into the light.

Let's not keep the good news to ourselves. Let's go back and become fishers of men.

A song "Fishers of Men" by Rhonda Vincent

Rise and follow me
I'll make you worthy
Rise and follow me
I'll make you fishers of men.

Rise and follow me
I'll make you worthy
Rise and follow me
I'll make you fishers of men.

Peter, John, and James
Could never be the same
After they heard him say
I'll make you fishers of men.

He said, Rise and follow me
I'll make you worthy
Rise and follow me
I'll make you fishers of men.
He said, Rise and follow me
I'll make you worthy
Rise and follow me
I'll make you fishers of men.

Cast your nets aside
and join the battle tide
He will be your guide
To make you fishers of men.

He said, Rise and follow me
I'll make you worthy
Rise and follow me
I'll make you fishers of men.
He said, Rise and follow me
I'll make you worthy
Rise and follow me
I'll make you fishers of men.

Jesus bore the cross
To gather in the lost
Oh what a might cost
To set us free from sin.

He said, Rise and follow me
I'll make you worthy
Rise and follow me
I'll make you fishers of men.
He said, Rise and follow me
I'll make you worthy
Rise and follow me
I'll make you fishers of men.

Blessed to be a blessing

Complicating Christianity

This week in the "Go Fish" series, Andy taught us that we complicate things by muddying the waters of salvation.

What does it mean to become a Christian?

Does it mean we need to attend church?
Does it mean we have to get our life together?
Does it mean praying a prayer?
Does it mean committing to God?

None of the above, it is much simpler than that.

John 3:16 covers what we need to know and do to become a Christian.

"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"

That's it! The gospel is simple; it is us who like to complicate it. Let's go over it again…

God Loved

God Gave

We Believe

We Receive

God loves us and will do anything to bring us back to Him. He even gave His only son, Jesus to die in our place. All we need to do is believe in him and we will receive eternal life. We are all going to spend eternity somewhere, either with God (Heaven) or separated from Him (Hell). That's it - the Gospel.

A song by Todd Fields, "Wake the world"
Some will say
That the truth is anything you believe
That reality is what you can see
There is no guarantee

Others claim
That in finding God each path is the same
That the noblest of all will remain
And no one is to blame

Wake the world
Shine the light
There is one way, truth, and life
Perfect love
Born to die
Son of God, Jesus Christ
Wake the world
Wake the world

Sleeping Still
Unaware that there is more to be found
Ever listening, but hearing no sound
God’s mercy has come down

For God so loved the world that
He gave His one and only Son

He is the way, truth, and life
Perfect love
Born to die
Son of God, Jesus Christ
Wake the world
Wake the world
Wake the world
Wake the world

Live it out and if the opportunity comes lay it out.