Father's Love Letter

My Child,

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 marvelous 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 brokenhearted,
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
Almighty God

 

Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications
© 1999-2011 www.FathersLoveLetter.com

It's Your Choice

Obey: to comply with or follow the commands, restrictions, wishes, or instructions of. (dictionary.com)

Yes, the word a lot of us probably cringe at when we hear it! OBEDIENCE. It probably makes most of us feel like a pet, or some type of animal that should be in the zoo behind a cage. But... not quite. It's actually not that bad, depending on who your obedience is entrusted to. 

Let's start at the Genesis... Genesis 2: 15-17  ¹⁵ The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. ¹⁶ But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— ¹⁷ except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” 

Now, I think we all know what happens after this, but just in case, here's what happens... Genesis 3:1  ¹ The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” Genesis 3:4-5  ⁴ “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. ⁵ “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” ⁶ The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. ⁷ At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. 

 

God made a command, that Adam and Eve were to obey. Though some would say that Eve didn't directly receive the command from God, she still had the conviction that she should not eat from the tree of knowledge. Immediately after disobeying the command of the Lord, guilt, shame and condemnation came upon Adam and Eve.  They felt the need to hide themselves as they discovered they were naked. They also tried to hide themselves from the presence of the LORD, who by the way is omnipresent -- meaning He is everywhere, all the time, so hiding from Him is... not very likely.

Thing is, we all know the right thing to do because it is written on our hearts. But we also have a choice to be obedient, or disobedient. We can choose life, or death. Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Obedience provides us with protection, less heart break, more direction and tons of understanding. Disobedience is your own way so you're pretty much on your own, making decisions in which there's no way to know the end until you get there. Please understand that God is not some angry tyrant who tells us not to do things so we can live dull and boring lives. NO! He instructs us with His wisdom, since He is omniscient -- meaning all-knowing. He advises/instructs us not to have sex outside of marriage because He KNOWS the consequences of that (emotional distress, disease, unexpected pregnancy etc). He instructs us not to get drunk because, He also knows the effects of that (Proverbs 23:29-35). I hope you understand where I'm going with this. Think about it like this, like a loving parent instructs their toddler away from danger, God does the same for us. Like the loving Father He is, He has given us guidelines/restrictions to ensure that we live healthy lives. He loves us too much! And because He loves us so much, He has also given us freedom to choose, please, choose life. PLEASE!

When Adam and Eve disobeyed the command of God, they were deceived by Satan. Satan started off by first contradicting and questioning God, and  consequently, Eve began to entertain his advances. Do not allow the enemy, who is cunning and conniving to have a field day in your mind! Lord knows I'm guilty of allowing him to do that. But that's really no excuse, because we can't blame everything on the enemy. Besides, that wouldn't stand in the court of law right? Just because I let someone -- through manipulative influence -- deceive me into thinking murdering someone is okay, once I commit that murder, I would still be guilty and would still be due justice. Now isn't that right? Listen friends, you have a choice, to either believe lies or the truth. To be deceived, or to be enlightened.

I believe God is calling us/has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light that you may proclaim the praises of Him! 1 Peter 2:9 The day you hear His voice, harden not your heart Psalm 95:7-8. Please, I BESEECH you, obey the voice of the Lord. I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, and His commands are NOT burdensome...

♥ Kamaria