🕊️  God’s Everlasting Love

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 🕊️

Romans 8:31-34

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Good morning Father!

Thank You for this day!

Thank You for my life!

Thank You for my sweet bride and our sweet daughter!

Being a father is not as easy as we would like it to be, however challenging, it has its rewards. 

Most of the basic things our children need to learn, I believe, is already there, but comes from their mother in training them how to use it. The inert knowledge that’s there, like a time release capsule, as they are being fed and grow, they learn to eat, to feel new things, shared expressions, voice recognition and what is good and what is not. Being of the old school, my rearing was much different. As a male, I was expected to be better than I was, know more than I did and act quicker than I was able to do. My discipline was very harsh! Unlike my six siblings, I took the brunt of the blows with the belt, and when I built up a tolerance to the belt, it was with an open hand slap or backhand. Don’t get me wrong, much of the time I probably needed the chastisement, just a different way of correction would have been nice!

I chose not to embrace the harshness of my father, in raising my children. I chose to nurture them a different way, not just give commands and expecting to see a specific outcome, I went one step further and showed them how to do things, outline by example, the way it should be done. I chose not to hit my children, not to cheat on my wife. Life is complicated. It is like watching a novella. The ups and downs of my actions and efforts with each circumstance and each of the consequences being different. 

I prayed to You often Lord, when I couldn’t see my older children when they were young, the ones who now never write or call, I prayed Lord, they would forgive me for not being there for them when they needed me. I was fathering them but not so much after divorce. An ex-wife’s bitter feelings, lies, and dominance over my children robbed me from being a part of their lives, and also the lives of my nine grandchildren. I’ve missed an entire generation of my grandchildren’s lives! 

Thank You Lord, for staying with me through all the consequences and my suffering for my sin, and filling my heart with Love instead of hate. I always include All my children and I lift them up in prayer daily, listing them by name, including all my grandchildren. 

Father God, as I began my walk with You, accepting my punishment for my past sin, You forgave me and washed me clean of all my sin! I still suffered for years with the consequences of my old sins, but You have been there for me to grow beyond the bitterness and blame. You gave me the strength to forgive and move forward when I found out my ex-wife was cheating with the pastor’s son, which was going on for more than two years. I was able to forgive her and all the members of my church who knew and said nothing to me. My marriage still ended regardless. You showed me how to make changes in my life, to walk away from the pit of vipers I was living in and You put my feet on a good path, amongst righteous, believing, loving people. Thank You for never leaving me or forsaking me.

As I started anew, You brought me to find a new life partner, a wife who truly loves me with her whole heart, more than twenty-six years now. I thank you Lord, for the blessing of a child I have helped raise throughout her eleven years of life, without leaving or the fear of divorce. Thank You Father for my Family! It is the one thing that is a constant in my life today, growing in my Faith and alongside my Family has been my most valued experience. Thank You Lord, for my life! 

🕊️  Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the LORD and depart from evil.

It will be health to your flesh,

And strength to your bones. 🕊️

Proverbs 3:5-8