Father's Love Letter

I Asked Jesus, "How Much Do You Love Me?" 

"THIS MUCH," He answered 

and He Stretched Out His Arms and Died

The Very Words of Christ (speaking of Himself):

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”  -The Gospel of John, Chapter 3, verses 16-21 (NKJV)
 

Giving It All - Without Reservation!

 ~ The Miracle of the Loaves and the Fishes ~ 

(Ref: The Gospel of John 6:1-13)

      The little boy with the loaves and the fishes gave all that he had away - without reservation - not withholding.  He was not concerned about his own need.  He only saw the need of others... and he responded by giving.  His faith and willingness to give was so much GREATER than the massive need before him.  He did not let the size of the need intimidate him, distract him, or deter him.  He just gave.  He wanted to do all that he could do, give all that he could give, and he heeded the call and God responded!  God multiplied the boy's offering to feed all that were present and still there were basket fulls remaining.  What a faithful God we serve.  He will take our little portion and multiply it to feed and minister to multitudes to further His Kingdom.  If only we give to Him all that we have, all that we are, and step out of the way - get our flesh, our way, our ideas, etc. - OUT OF THE WAY and let God move and do what He wants to do with what we give Him.

     The little boy's offering had to first be given / submitted, and then Christ received it, blessed it, and broke it so it could be distributed.  The boy could have said - as many of us do in our hearts - "No, it's not enough.  I don't have enough.  I don't have much.  How can I make a difference?  I'm not very talented.  I'm not very gifted.  I'm just little ole me.  What I have to offer isn't important.  Besides, I only have a little bit, so why should I share it?  I'll just be stingy and hold on to it.  Who would know?"  Well, God knows and God sees.  He sees the willingness of your heart.  He sees your act of faith and He honors it.  He honors it in abundance, so don't hold back!  Give ALL you have to God - Everything!  Give all your pain, your heartache, your life, your past, present, future, your abilities, inabilities, everything.  Give Him all that you possess, all that you are, all that you hope to be; then stand back and allow and watch Him bless it and feed the multitudes!

    Remember, Jesus took the offering and entrusted it to His disciples by instructing them to distribute it.  Know that God will have you serve by submitting to others.  The little boy had to trust that the disciples were going to honor God by honoring his offering/gift.  He didn't try to take it back once Jesus passed it on to the disciples.  It was a done deal!  He had given it to Jesus.  Therefore, it was no longer his.  The boy gave up “his say" as to how it would be used.  We must be willing to do the same if we are going to be used mightily by God.  Once we give all that we have to God, we must realize it is no longer ours!  It becomes His.  Once we give ALL THAT WE ARE to God, WE BECOME HIS!  Let Him do as He pleases.  There's no better Hands for your life to be in than in the Hands of the Lord.  If someone who you have submitted to mishandles or hurts you, then they will answer to God.  We still must "Praise God" and not wear the offense, but continue on as a Soldier of the Cross.  For a servant is not greater than His master; if Jesus suffered persecution, we will to (ref. John 19:20).  Likewise, keep in mind James 1:2-4: My Brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  (NKJV)

~July 2011

"Not my Will, But Thine, Be Done"

"Behold the handmaid of the Lord; 

be it unto me according to thy word" 

-Luke 1:38

~     ~     ~

~ FLESH VS. SPIRIT ~

A perfect picture and example of God’s Will performed on earth can be found in the book of Matthew 1:18-25.  Here we find the glorious story of the miraculous conception of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.  These morsels of scripture not only show God’s Will coming to pass, but also mirror the reality of the pestering resistant battle of our flesh-man.  To further explain, here is a spiritual interpretation of these scriptures:  Jesus, the unborn baby symbolizes the promise or Will of God for a person or in a person.          

The Virgin Mary symbolizes our spirit-man / innermost being – pure and unadulterated – in which the Will of God is conceived.  As was done with Mary, our Heavenly Father wants to impregnate His Church, His people with His Will by the overshadowing power of the Holy Spirit.  This is accomplished when an individual surrenders and submits himself wholly to the mighty, but tender hand of God (reference Jeremiah 18:2-6).  The prayer and cry of our hearts should be:  “Not my will, but yours be done.”  (To get a much greater impact of this prayer, know that the Greek word for “will” here is: “Thelema” meaning - a determination, act, choice, purpose, decree, volition, inclination, desire, and/or pleasure.  The word “will” can also be interchanged with the following:  call, assignment, path, plan, way, destiny, and life).        

When Joseph, Mary’s husband to be, found out that she was with child, he planned to break off the engagement.  Joseph not only symbolizes people in our lives that are unsupportive to the promise or Will of God for us, but more accurately he represents a part of us.  Joseph symbolizes our flesh-man.  He represents the on-going duel that all of God’s children contend with; which is the war against our own flesh, our own desires and our own will.  Joseph’s original plan of separation from Mary symbolizes Christians giving in to their flesh-man due to lack of faith and understanding in the plan of God for their lives.  The Bible tells us that after Joseph received a message from the Lord, he woke up and took Mary to be his wife.  Like Joseph, God’s people / Church need a holy visitation and spiritual awakening in order to accept the perfect Will of God for themselves.          

The marriage symbolizes partial unity or the beginning of unity within oneself, in other words – the submitting of the flesh-man to the spirit.  Joseph did not know Mary / they did not enter into union with one another until after the baby was born.  We cannot allow our flesh to become impatient, and defile or interfere with what God has birthed in our spirit.  The flesh must wait in submission for God’s perfect Will to come to pass.  It is in this process that our flesh is crucified; that we die to our own will and desires.  Therefore, submission alone is not enough.  The flesh must die and it must be stripped away; otherwise the stench of its remains will blend with that which is holy and defile it.          

The “Knowing / Union” of Joseph and Mary after God’s Will was birthed, symbolizes “Life in the Spirit”.  Therefore, I would like to present to you the following spiritual equation:  flesh + submission + death + stripping = “Life in the Spirit”.  

~November 2008

  

"DEEP CALLS TO DEEP"

~ Walking in the Will of God ~

To begin the eternal journey of walking in the “Will of God” can be compared to standing on the sandy seashore overlooking the beautiful vast ocean contemplating whether or not to enter in.  The ocean represents God; majestically breathtaking, deep, wide, enormous, fearful to behold, but ever so wooing.  With each roaring crash of the wonderfully artistic waves breaking against the surface of the water, the Spirit of God is beckoning and calling to those who are still standing on the outskirts of: His Will, His Love, His Life, and “His Son.”  These are the poor lost souls still wandering on the scorched sands of fallen humanity.  From time to time some of these treasured souls take notice of the beautiful vastness calling to them, and they get just close enough to feel the refreshing splash of the tide as it embraces their sun seared feet.  In and out, back and forth – the tide goes – wooing them, summoning them to venture out into the deep.   

“Deep calls to deep”, is the cry of the Spirit of God calling to the innermost being  of mankind.  Those who take heed and answer the call have taken their first precious step into the “Will of God”.  Now, the question that I, and every Born-again Believer, must ask is:  “How far does one go?”  “Ankle high?  Knee high?  Waist high?  Or in over our head?” (reference Ezekiel 47).  The answer depends on how much control we are willing to give up and give to God.  Merely lingering in ankle high water is sadly remaining in an immature state and shallow relationship with God.  Where as, total immersion, is complete surrender and trust in God.  It not only represents God being in control, but it is the inner-secret place of knowing God intimately and being in Unity with Him.  This is “The Deep”. 

~November 2008

"AT HIS FEET"

It is at the feet of God’s only Son

 that we find Humility and  Honor

It is at the feet of our Precious Savior

 that we find Brokenness and Wholeness

It is at the feet of the Holy Lamb of God

that we discover Imperfection and Perfection

It is at the feet of our Crucified King

 that we discover Weakness and Strength

It is at the feet of the Man of Sorrows

that we find Persecution and Favor

It is at the feet of our Righteous Judge

that we are Convicted and Pardoned

It is at the feet of our Merciful Deliverer

 that we find Captivity and Freedom

It is at the feet of the Great I AM

that we become Lost and Found

It is at the feet of our Eternal Redeemer

that we are Crucified and Resurrected

It is at the blood pierced feet of our Lord Jesus

that we find Death and LIFE

LIFE EVERLASTING... 

                                                             

(Original Version- April 23, 2008 -  Revised- October 5, 2011)

"VOICES UNHEARD"

As the wind blows through the trees

and the rain beats upon the window pane,

so are the voices of the neglected and abused -

too often unseen, unheard, and hopelessly in vain.

Oh, who will hear the desolate ones?

Who will hearken to their cry?

Who will run to their aid?

Who will offer more than a “Sigh”?

Oh my, could it be

That it is to be you and it is to be me?

Should we lay down our life,

And enter into their pitiful plight?

"Yea" I say, I say “Yea",

For if we don’t what will become of them?

Some may say, “I will pray,

I will intercede on their behalf."

But then my friend, What good is a prayer

When they need someone to show God cares?

Can you hear the Spirit of God saying,

“Won’t you be my hands extended,

And reach out with my Love as I intended?”

Voices unseen, voices unheard,

We must answer the silent voices

By Giving Love its Due Turn.

 ~December 2008

"A Dance With Despair"

~ PIERCED BY THE LIGHT ~

One day sadness came beating on my door;

It stormed in and pulled me out

and hurled me upon a sinking seashore.

I watched as the waves came crashing down;

they climbed up the beach and dragged me in,

turning this child’s smile into a frown. 

I was sucked under water, deep into the sea.

I couldn’t swim or breathe;

“Oh Dear God, Please Help Me!”

I struggled and struggled to stay afloat,

trying everything to escape my depressive moat.

Sunsets came and sunsets went

while my dance with despair was many years spent.

Then one day a Bright Star appeared

causing my way to become so clear.

It pierced the darkness of my night;

I reached out and grabbed it

and held on with all my might.

The Star gave me purpose,

The Star gave me hope,

it gave me guidance

and strength to cope.

This Bright Star of mine,

I will never let go;

He’s taught me to ride the waves

that once thrashed me to and fro.

Oh Jesus is my Star that shines so Bright;

He is my Lord, my Deliverer,

The One Who wraps me in His Divine Light.

~November 2009