Abba Father, He's My Dad!

Who wouldn't love to have a great relationship with our Dad? Many of us had great ones, while some of us really lacked the ability to have a wonderful father-child relationship. Some dads traveled, some dads weren't communicators, some dads had themselves been hurt as little children and couldn't show affection. Some were too harsh, others too lenient. Some were absent physically or emotionally. Some were even abusive. Then some of us were distant, too busy, or thoughtless. There are many reasons why we haven't had a perfect relationship with our earthly dads, but our Father in Heaven isn't like our earthly "Dad", no matter how wonderful he might be.

We as human parents love to give gifts to our children. Christmas, birthdays, sometimes even a "just because" gift, just to let them know we love them. Our Heavenly Father feels exactly the same about us. He wants to give us good things. He longs to bless His children.

Matthew 7:7-11
7. "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. 8. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. 9. "Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10. "Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11. "If you then, being evil, (by comparison) know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

Matthew 6:8
"Therefore do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him.

James 4:2
You lust and do not have; [so] you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; [so] you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.

God knows what we need, yes. He's all knowing, but He still desires for us to ask. And then say "thank you, Father."
These first three scripture talk about our "asking" the Father for the things we need, but have you thought about asking Him for everything that HE would like to give you. There may be gifts and blessings that we haven't thought about, that He would like to bestow upon us.

We've probably heard the story about the man that arrived in heaven and was led to the large room filled with rows and rows of beautifully wrapped presents, each one tied with a bow and sitting on a shelf. He was amazed and asked his guide what they were. The guide replied. "These are all the gifts and blessings that God had for you, but you never thought to ask for."

A little simplistic, but wouldn't you want to receive each and every gift that God had prepared for you out of His great love? This goes for not only material things and blessings, but how about friendships, experiences, and spiritual gifts. Many people are afraid to ask for spiritual gifts because they think they are "scarey". God is good, He will prepare and nurture you for your giftings.


Psalm 103:1-5
1. [A Psalm of David]. Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, [bless] His holy name. 2. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; 3. Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases; 4. Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; 5. Who satisfies your years with good things, [So that] your youth is renewed like the eagle.

Here we see that God has gifts and "benefits". These come with our salvation "package", but sometimes we don't know or recognize it. Salvation, forgiveness of sin, health, love, spiritual optimism and hope. A satisfied life. Youth in body, mind, and spirit. These gifts are all available for us by "asking" for them.

Galatians 4:6
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Romans 8:15
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"


These last two verses talk about God refering to Himself not only as our Father, but as our Dad. How wonderful to know that God says "I love you so much, call me Dad!" Knowing God in this way enables us to go before Him to "ask" because we know He loves us, really loves us. This gives us the understanding that we have a loving dad who wants us to ask for the things we need, even though He knows these things in advance. He has a plan to give us all that He wants to give us, and so that we will come before Him with confidence, that we might have "effective prayer".

Hope you are having a great start to your week.

love,

Debra

OK, now I "get it"!

I have felt especially "contemplative" lately. I guess that comes with the new year. Given the time to do so, I am generally a pretty deep thinker. I like to roll things around in my head and put them before God, to get his take on things. I have to admit that there are some phrases, song titles, and slang that just make me a little queasy. Case in point, the phrase "bloom where you are planted". No offense, but that phrase has always set me on edge. I guess as a type A- personality, it sounded a bit trite to my ears. I prefer the idea of "bust your buns and do the best you can, and go as far as you can go, and don't settle for less."...that's more like the person I have been. Now?... well, let's just say, I'm rethinking a few of my viewpoints.

The following scripture was written by John the Apostle, probably the closest disciple to Jesus. He is recounting John the Baptist's ministry, who was the "forerunner" of Jesus, and his earthly cousin.

Version: NAS

John 3:22-30

22. After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. 23. And John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and they were coming and were being baptized. 24. For John had not yet been thrown into prison. 25. There arose therefore a discussion on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purification. 26. And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have borne witness, behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him." 27. John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven. 28. "You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before Him.' 29. "He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. And so this joy of mine has been made full. 30. "He must increase, but I must decrease.
 
Look at the scripture in red, because these two thoughts were what God wants to stress today. He is the one that "gifts" us with our abilities. Yes, believe it or not, we all have special "gifts" from God, some being more apparent than others. Hospitality, financial giving, mercy toward others, just to name a few. God gives them out as He sees fit. Have you ever asked God what your "gift" is? I want to address not so much the "gifting" that you may have, but the wise use of whatever it is that God does see fit to hand over to you. Do you use yours wisely?
 
John the Baptist had been gifted with a purpose. A purpose that had been placed upon him by the Holy Spirit from his conception. He was to prepare the way for Jesus and His earthly ministry.
 
John had been given a place and people. He lived in the desert, wore camel hair britches (ouch) and ate wild locusts and honey. Sorry, that doesn't sound like a lot of fun to me. He was a "misfit" and "weirdo" by the world's standard, yet he fulfilled a purpose that had been given to him by God. He was to preach repentance to the people to prepare their hearts for Jesus arrival on the scene. John the Baptist was the "opening act", and Jesus was the "main attraction".

John sees his place in the grand scheme of things. He doesn't get his head all puffed up and lose perspective. He says in so many words, "God has given this to me as my purpose. This is my job, and I'm going to do it His way, in His place and in His timing. I'm fulfilling a purpose for Jesus and that is to start the plan into motion. Then I'm handing it over to Jesus. Because He's the one this is all about."
 
John knew what he was gifted to do and he did it. Even though he was in the "New Testament", John the Baptist, was the last "Old Testament" prophet. He never performed a miracle, but his life and ministry were crucial to Jesus' ministry.
 
Now, back to you and me. God's put something on me, a call if you will, and He's saying to me to be a person who will go out and do what He's asking of me. He's given me a gift, but He has given each one of you a gift also.  Will we use them wisely?
 
Take your gift out of the closet, and let it be known. Start using it. Tell Jesus, "I'm going to let you take over, I give You permission to "increase". My agenda will "decrease". You are the one that this is all about. Use my gifting Lord."

 Less of me, more of Jesus.

 
God has been dealing with me about this. Putting our gifting to good use, whatever it is. OK, now I get it, and now I can say it. Don't squander what God has given you. Don't hide it because of fear or lack of confidence...

"Bloom where you are planted".

 

Debra

 
Word for the day: "The ability to take what I have given you and to make it worthwhile. Don't squander what has been entrusted to you."