Sunday, June 19, 2016

Representing God

When God created men in His own image, he fashioned them to reflect the Father heart of God.  I do not understand this, but I trust that one day we will bow our knees to God and see God as He truly is. As we celebrate fathers today, we can truly honor them as Scripture tells us because in honoring our fathers, we are honoring God Himself, the Father of all.

Bible Verses which teach about God as Father:

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named... Ephesians 4:14-15

Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:6-15

My father is a representative of God in my family on earth.  I praise God for giving me a believing father and mother.  Without God's grace in their lives giving them faith in Jesus, I probably would have never known true freedom and peace.  I honor my dad today. Dad is a truly creative man who has endured a lot of adversity in his life.  He never gave up on our family.  He always worked hard to provide, and he despite his failures and sins, always runs to God's grace and mercy.  I will never forget dad coming to me (as a junior high teenager, mind you) and apologizing for losing his temper with me.  What dad does that?  Very few.  Happy Father's Day.

Dad had four daughters and later adopted another daughter.

Dad grew up an only child in Montana and Wyoming. His own godly father passed away at age 27 from cancer.
Dad was always reading books, newspapers, and periodicals. You should see his pile of books next to his chair and bed!

Dad is a father to the fatherless. He adopted one child, but had many foster children beginning when mom and dad were newly married.  He has also been appointed a guardian to other young people without fathers.

Dad loves his grandchildren.  Do you see the resemblance?