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)

Life, Love, Easter

You Are Loved

Fall in Love!

Love. Amour. Kjærlighet. Amor. Liebe. No matter what language you speak, this word has the same meaning. Love is truly a universal language, whether it is in the form of a kiss, a hug, or a smile. On February 14th, people all over the world will show their love for others by giving gifts of cards, flowers, candy, stuffed animals, and other special tokens of their admiration. Valentine’s Day ushers in an enormous out-pouring of love between husbands and wives, loved ones, and friends alike. While all of these things are a wonderful part of this chocolate-covered day of love, we need to remember the Greatest Love of all: Jesus Christ.

John 3:16 says, “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.” Think about this scripture. The God of the universe gave the only Son that He had just for you and me. He did not just send a bouquet of flowers or a box of candy. He gave His only Son. Jesus died on a cross, enduring excruciating pain and agony, so we could receive the gift of eternal life. Our Heavenly Father loved us so much that He gave a priceless gift. This kind of love is unlike any found on this earth.

We often say we love a particular animal, a food, a place, or some other thing. Personally, I love to travel, I love to bake, I love to write, I love to sing, I love to spend time with my family, and so much more. But this type of love is different from the type of love I show toward people. I love my dad, my grandma, and so many other special people. Yet, even though I love them more than words can express, Jesus loves me more than I could ever possibly imagine.

The love poured out upon us by Jesus Christ is unconditional, no strings attached. He loved us when we were still sinners. When we were unlovable, He loved us. Every moment of every day that we have lived on this earth, He has loved us with His amazing love. Before you were even born, He loved the very thought of you. Still today, He loves you with an everlasting love. Won’t you love Him in return?

Before you go to bed tonight, tell Jesus that you love Him. Thank Him for giving His life for you. Ask Him to come into your heart, so that you can enjoy eternal life. He will fill your heart with peace that passes all understanding. He will restore your joy, even in the direst circumstances. Jesus Christ is the friend who truly will stick closer to you than a brother. This Valentine’s Day, don’t just fall in love with that box of chocolates that someone gave you. Fall in love with the greatest Love of all. Fall in love with Jesus Christ!

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

A Cat Named Monkey

I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for furry little animals that need a home. Whether it is a dog’s tail wagging happily as she takes me for a walk (yes, you read that correctly, takes me!), or if it is the soothing sound of a cat purring as he lays beside me on the sofa, I am a pushover for these friendly creatures that God put on this earth. I guess you could say the real testament to my love for animals would be the fact that I currently have three cats, a dog, a rabbit, and two pygmy goats. There’s just something unexplainably wonderful about a four-legged animal that snuggles up against me and loves me unconditionally, no matter what.

It was just a couple of years ago that my youngest cat came to live with us. I adopted this particular cat when he was barely even weaned from his mother. The previous owner could not support all of the kittens in the litter and decided to go ahead and give them away to the first homes they could find. Just as you suspected, I was one of the first to respond. There was something about this particular kitten’s face that said, “You need me and I need you.” Pretty convincing, since we now have each other!

When we first got this cat, he would climb up the side of everything (even humans!), just like a monkey. And so, the name stuck. “Monkey,” as we affectionately call him, has essentially decided that I am his mother. He presses his head up against my hand, unwilling to back away. He purrs continuously, and like most people, thoroughly enjoys a full body massage. Still, there is one thing that he does not like. He does not like the moment when I must resume my daily responsibilities and leave his company. The moment I walk away from him, he is crushed. I’m telling you the truth! Every time, without fail, he howls in sadness that our “playtime” has ended for now. He just can’t bear the thought of being apart from me, even for a moment. The very notion of being out of my sight is heartbreaking for him.

This evening, as we concluded our daily routine of him pushing against me and me giving him a massage, he howled as I left his sight, just as he had so many times before. As I walked away and listened to his sorrowful cries, I thought of how much our Heavenly Father loves us and just how much He is grieved when one of His children leaves His embrace. Amazingly, though, Jesus continues to love us, whether we acknowledge Him or not. If we spend time with Him, He loves us. And in those times when we’re just “too busy” and do not have time for Him, Jesus Christ never once stops loving us.

Think about it. Jesus Christ loves you and me unconditionally. That means He loves us, no questions asked. He loves every single person on this planet: parents, grandparents, children, and grandchildren. He loves the drug addict, the alcoholic, the murderer. Jesus Christ does not discriminate. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you came from, Jesus Christ loves you. When you are running late for work and do not have time to say, “Good morning, Lord,” Jesus still loves you without fail. If you spend your evening watching television, leaving no time for reading His Word, He still loves you. Even if you have gone astray, whether for days, months, or years, Jesus loves you unconditionally, as though you had never even left His side. God’s Word says that there is not one thing in God’s Creation that “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39 ESV). Nothing can come between you and the perfect love of Jesus.

Just like my cat named Monkey, Jesus Christ longs for us to stay at His side, so that we can live a life of true joy that is only found in Him. He loves hearing the voice of His children. He loves embracing us in His fatherly arms. He longs to have us hold his hand as we journey down the road of life, just as a child would hold the hand of their father. Why? Because we are loved by the One who forgives our sins, forgets our past, and forever loves each of us with a fervent, absolute love that has no end.

In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer