Wednesday, March 7, 2012

March 8, 2012

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?  Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:11-13

One of the greatest honors that could be paid to fatherhood is to be compared to the Heavenly Father and His love!

There is a load of responsibility that comes with that as well.

If you were blessed with a good earthly father you likely had an easier time getting your heart and mind around the concept of God's love.

Throughout my entire childhood I have just three warm memories of my dad but they are powerful ones. I didn't have my dad around as I was growing up so the rare moments I got with him mattered to me.


One time when I was about 5 or 6 my dad, who was an over-the-road truck driver, took me on one of his trips. Another time he took me fishing for a whole day and we caught a lot of large bluegills and crappies. My other memory was when he took my sister and me to a major league baseball game. I gladly would have frozen any of those moments in time.


Because I only have those three memories I was determined to make a bunch of memories with my children and I still didn't do enough. But, I still have chances to make some more!
Fortunately, I have scores of memories and moments with my Heavenly Father and those have been life-changing! Matter of fact, I had one today!

If you were blessed to have a good father to compliment your Heavenly Father, you are doubly blessed! It should be easier for you to wrap your heart and mind and spirit around CRAZY LOVE!

So, do it! Embrace Him! Let His love embrace you! And if he is still around - hug your dad!



March 7, 2012

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?  Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”  Luke 11:11-13

Children with involved Fathers are more confident, better able to deal with frustration, better able to gain independence and their own identity, more likely to mature into compassionate adults, more likely to have a high self esteem, more sociable, more secure as infants, less likely to show signs of depression, less likely to commit suicide, more empathetic, boys have been shown to be less aggressive and adolescent girls are less likely to engage in sex.



63% of teen suicides come from fatherless homes. That’s 5 times the national average SOURCE: U.S. Dept of Health

90% of all runaways and homeless children are from fatherless homes. That’s 32 times the national average.


80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes. 14 times the national average. SOURCE: Justice and Behavior

85% of children with behavioral problems come from fatherless homes. 20 times the national average. SOURCE: Center for Disease Control

71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes. 9 times the national average. SOURCE: National Principals Association Report

75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes. 10 times the national average. SOURCE: Rainbow’s for all God’s Children

85% of all youths in prison come from fatherless homes. 20 times the national average. SOURCE: U.S. Dept. of Justice

Daughters of single parents without a Father involved are 53% more likely to marry as teenagers, 711% more likely to have children as teenagers, 164% more likely to have a pre-marital birth and 92% more likely to get divorced themselves.
When Jesus tried to paint a word picture to illustrate the love of God He referred to the love of a father. In so doing, He placed a high value on the father-child relationship and the the power of a father's love on his child(ren).
Small wonder that fatherhood has come under such pressure over the past few decades.The Enemy knows that if he can distort how a child feels about his father, he may contaminate how that child will view God and the love of God.
If you have been struggling with this concept of God's "CRAZY LOVE" ,if you have had difficulty loving Him or receiving His love, perhaps you should prayerfully make sure you are not projecting negative notions about your earthly father upon your Heavenly Father.







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