Our Father

This month, millions of people will celebrate Father’s Day.  Some fathers will be honored at church, other fathers will be celebrated at home, and many fathers will enjoy fishing, grilling, or quite possibly, doing nothing at all.  And like any good Husband or Dad would, some fathers may even find themselves completing “honey-do” lists or sitting on the floor playing with their children.  But what makes a Dad truly special?  It’s not his willingness to buy a bigger car or a nicer house, or even the way he prolifically mows the lawn or takes out the trash.  It’s not even the way he shows his children how to build the tallest skyscraper out of building blocks.  The thing that makes a Dad truly great is the unconditional love that he has for his children.

Ever since I was a little girl, my Daddy has loved me unconditionally.  No matter what I am doing, he is always my number one supporter.  Whether I am teaching school, singing with the Florida Worship Choir and Orchestra, or writing a new song or blog, he always encourages me and prays for me.  You see, it’s not about what I’m doing.  It’s the fact that I am the one who is doing it.  He loves me for who I am, not for what I do.  Perhaps you have the same relationship with your father, so you know exactly what I am talking about.  Dads love us even when we spit up on their new suit on the way to church as infants, spilled milk on their new house slippers as toddlers, or backed their car into the mailbox as teenagers.  You may wonder why fathers love us so much, even when we make mistakes.  Because from the moment we are born, our Dads become some of our biggest lifelong fans.  We are priceless treasures in the eyes of our fathers.

In the same way, our Heavenly Father considers us a treasure.  In Isaiah 43:4 (NIV), the Lord says, “you are precious and honored in my sight.”  Even before you were born, God knew all about you, right down to the number of hairs on your head.  Matthew 10:30-31 (NIV) says, “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”  You are valuable in God’s sight.  Why?  Because God loves you unconditionally; He cares about you so very much.  I Peter 5:7 (NIV) says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Perhaps you feel alone and long for this kind of compassion.  You may not have a loving relationship with your father here on this earth.  You may have gone your separate ways as a teenager, chasing something you now regret.  Or your father may be abusive, either physically or emotionally, causing you to distance yourself from him.  I encourage you to pray that God will mend the broken bridge between you and your father.  If your father has passed away, you are not alone.  God loves you and He is with you always.  He will comfort your heart, surrounding you with the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

Whatever circumstance you find yourself in, rest assured that our Heavenly Father loves you so very much.  No matter what you’ve done, or where you are, you will never be out of the reach of His unconditional love.  Romans 8:38-39 says that nothing can ever separate us from the love of Jesus Christ.  He will mend your broken heart, restore your joy, and reveal His purpose for your life.  Put your trust in Jesus Christ today.  He is a Father to the fatherless.  Call on His name.  Your life will be changed when you call upon our Heavenly Father.

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer  


(originally published on 6/30/15)

A Grand Adventure!

 As I sit here looking at photographs from my summer vacation, I am reminded of picturesque places we explored, amazing sights we saw, and delightful destinations that I hope to see again.  Above all, I am overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude, both to my dad and to my Heavenly Father, for the amazing adventure that I was blessed to enjoy.  While I wish you could have experienced our entire journey firsthand, I pray you enjoy traveling vicariously through my story.  So, pack your bags, grab your passport, and join me as we travel across Europe.  It’s going to be one grand adventure!

One experience that was extraordinary special was our visit to Ephesus in Turkey.  As I stepped off of the bus, the hairs on the back of my neck curled with excitement as I thought about the fact that the Apostle John and Mary had walked on those streets and that the Apostle Paul preached in the theater there.  At the same time, it saddened me to know that they ran him out because they did not believe that there was one true God, shouting, great is the god of Artemis.  Standing in the theater, my dad and I both proudly proclaimed, “Great is the God of the Apostle Paul!”  This day is one that I will always remember, as it was not only exciting to see a new country, but it had a spiritual meaning to my dad and me as well.

Of all of the places we were blessed to explore, one of my favorites was Santorini, Greece.  The brilliant blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea crashing against the bottoms of towering cliffs create a sight to behold.  Following a picturesque ride on a tender and then a cable car, we were soon at the top of the cliff where we picked up our rental car for the day.  We drove across the island to Perissa Beach, a beach that has volcanic black sand.  The water was so refreshing and the three and a half hours spent here were paradise.  We stopped at a local bakery on the way back to town and shared some baklava and apple spice cake.  Between the time spent swimming in the crystal clear water and the satisfaction for my sweet tooth, I felt as if I was on cloud nine.

Perhaps my most cherished stop of all was that of Zermatt, Switzerland.  Here, we stayed in a chalet hotel with a balcony overlooking the Matterhorn.  I was in awe of the beauty that was ours to behold.  We had picnics on the balcony and I sat there, glued to the mountain vista as a child might be glued to a television set airing a marathon of their favorite program.  The goats being herded through the streets in the mornings and evenings just added to the atmosphere.  A cable car ride, fondue, and apple strudel rounded out our Swiss experience.  But still, everything else paled in comparison to the beauty of the magnificent Matterhorn.

We encountered so many incredible sights, from the ancient ruins of Olympia where the Olympic torch is lit to the city of Pompeii where structures still stand, even after enduring a massive volcanic eruption.  We stood on the Acropolis in Athens, rode a gondola in Venice, and saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa.  We walked the wall in Dubrovnik, enjoyed the sights in Paris, and even set foot on the continent of Africa with a visit to Tunisia.  While it was a wonderful opportunity to see archeological sites like the Acropolis or Colosseum, my dad and I agreed that we do not need to see them again.  But when it comes to places like Perissa Beach or the Matterhorn, we could keep returning, time after time, and they would never grow old.  The things that God has created for us to enjoy have a timeless beauty.  They capture our attention, not for a moment, but for a lifetime.  And even greater than our summer adventure, all those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will be going on a grand adventure one day that makes all vacations here on earth pale in comparison.  One day, our grand adventure will not start on a bus, a train, or a plane.  Instead, the true Grand Adventure will begin when a trumpet sounds.  Won’t you join me on the ultimate Grand Adventure?

In Christ's Love,
Jennifer

The Ultimate Father

What does it mean to be a father?  Is it about a person who provides a shelter, food, and clothes for their family?  Does it refer to the way they protect their children from harm, even to the point of putting their own lives on the line?  Or can being a father simply be described as someone who loves their sons and daughters unconditionally forever?  No matter how you define what it means to be a father, one thing is absolutely for certain.  Fathers are always ready to hand out advice, allowances, and accolades, making them irreplaceable heroes in the eyes of their children.

This Father’s Day, many children, young and old alike, will honor their fathers through cards, gifts, and the greatest treasure of all, love.  And yes, dad will likely receive tie #87 to add to his collection.  But it isn’t about the sentimental greeting card bearing the perfect verse or the funny card with the verse that says “How much do I love you?” leading to the giant hands that pop out and say, “This much!”   Father’s Day is about honoring the man who cared for you as a child and through your teen years.  He loved you even when you spit up on his new suit on the way to church, he loved you when you accidentally backed his car into the garage door, and he loves you even now, no matter how old you are, with your quirks and all.

I am blessed to have a dad who loves me unconditionally.  He is always there for me when I need him and he is the rock my foundation is built upon.  My mama and daddy taught me the most important lesson of all: a life with God at the center is the life worth living.  No matter what I am going through, my dad always has a word of wisdom or encouragement, or maybe just a hug to let me know he cares and he understands.  I am grateful to have such a loving father and I know I am blessed beyond measure to enjoy such a special father-daughter relationship.  It is something I cherish and will never take for granted.

Perhaps you have never had a relationship like that with your father.  Or maybe your father has gone on to be with the Lord and you’re left on this earth feeling alone.  While it is understandable that you miss him and that you wish things were different, I want you to know that you are never alone.  Jesus Christ, your Heavenly Father, is always with you.  Joshua 1:5 (NIV) says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  This promise means that our Heavenly Father, just like your biological father, will always love you, quirks and all.  It doesn’t matter if you can see Him or not.

One Sunday morning at church, I learned about a special tradition between a Cherokee father and son.  According to the Cherokee Indian tradition, a young boy must exhibit bravery in order to become a man.  To do this, his father takes him deep into the forest.  Once they are in the appropriate location, the father places a blindfold over his son’s eyes and instructs him to sit on a stump.  The son is not allowed to leave the stump or remove the blindfold until after sunrise the next morning.  During the night, he hears the sounds of wild animals and other frightening things around him, but still, he cannot leave the stump or take off the blindfold if he wants to successfully complete this rite of passage.

When morning breaks, I am sure he is relieved to feel the sun on his face and know that he can finally remove the blindfold after enduring a long, fearful night.  When he looks up, he is stunned.  For it is only then that he realizes that his father had been sitting on a stump beside him all night long, watching over him and protecting him from harm.  You see, the father wanted to know if his son was brave, yet he was not willing to put his son in harm’s way to do so.  Instead, he ensured that his son was safe and constantly under his watch all through the night.

Similarly, our Heavenly Father watches over us, day and night.  When we feel alone, He is there.  When we are afraid, He sends His Comforter.  When we just need to know that everything will be okay, He will provide the calm assurance we so desperately need.  He has already carried our load, mended our broken hearts, and restored our lives.  All we have to do is call on the name of Jesus.  Just like the young Cherokee boy who could not see his father sitting beside him all through the night, we need to have faith that everything will be alright.  We do not have to see Jesus Christ to know that He is with us.  We simply need to trust that He will watch over us in the darkest nights and protect us from all harm.  Our Heavenly Father knows our needs before we ask.  He loves us with a fierce, unconditional love.  Best of all, He is always sitting on the stump right beside us.

In Christ's Love,
Jennifer