Greetings in the Name of Jesus!
NEVER FELT SO GOOD… I had finally arrived home after a long day of ministry. At that time, I was a fairly new youth pastor and was exhausted from learning the ropes of what it looked like to love God and love His people on a pastoral level. I opened the front door to our 900 square foot house to the sound of our three-year-old son, Joshua, yelling “DADDY!” at the top of his lungs. That excitement was followed by him running straight to me and wrapping his tiny arms around my leg. Home, it never felt so good. Looking back, it brings a warm smile to my heart, knowing that my son knew that I wanted him close.
HIS EMBRACE… When you think of God, do you see Him as your heavenly Father who loves and welcomes your embrace? Some of you have never had a father, or maybe you had a father, but he was not a good father. If that is you, please know you must address this sooner rather than later. Your beliefs about God are not just in your heart; they are over your life. To know the God who Jesus knows, we have to know Him as our Father.
YOU’RE HIS… Without being convinced that God is your heavenly Father, it will be too easy to believe the lie that your voice does not matter, and at worse, you are a nuisance. Furthermore, when life gets difficult, you will lack the confidence and swagger which comes from the relational dynamic between God the Father and his children. Know this… your heavenly Father wants you close. Why? Because you are his kid.
Jesus put it this way, “With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are.” (Matthew 6:9 MSG)
You Are Not Alone.
Rick Lorimer
Lead Pastor
Christ Place Church
