Father's Love Letter (...an intimate message from God to you)

My Child

You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…Will you be my child? John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32



Love, Your Dad.

Almighty God



Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications Copyright 1999-2006 www.FathersLoveLetter.com

The Fate of Sand Castles

Amidst the endless carnage here in the warzone, one is constantly reminded that life is ephemeral and we are all living on borrowed time. Yet, life is still beautiful and worth living. As the message of the story below which I got from a forwarded e-mail states..."You are worth not for what you have, not even for who you are but what others have become because of you."  

The imagery of this piece is so timely, but the lesson itself is timeless. May we all realize the power of our presence in the lives we touch, may we be able to take time in reflecting how we affect the lives of people around us — and will be forever responsible to those whom we "tamed" or those who have "tamed us." Here goes....

* * *
 
You've watched it, too. I'm not the first and only person who has seen it. But there is a lesson in it that we both may have overlooked.

There are some children on a beach. They're playing and giggling - building sand castles all the while. They seem so intent on the project. You get amused at how meticulous and careful they are with crumbly corners and towers. The looks on their faces as they screw their mouths and stick out their tongues make you smile. Their resolute concentration on the task is priceless.

Then a big wave begin building and starts toward shore. But the kids don't panic. Instead, they do the strangest thing. They jump to their feet, scream with delight and watch the torrent of water wash away their creations. There is no panic. No sadness. No bitterness. Even children know the inevitable end of sand castles. They are neither surprised nor angry about what has happened.

You and I should be so wise. The stuff of this world is about as lasting and durable as children's sand castles on the beach. Yet we grownups can get so caught up in it, defensive of it and depressed over the loss of it.

Children know that their sand castles are brief joys destined to disappear with an incoming tide. So they don't fret as the waves approach. They watch their creations get swept away without
shedding tears. Again, we should be wise.

Everything about this life is fleeting and perishable. The incoming wave of human mortality is going to sweep it away. Like sand castles, nothing done for the sake of this world can last. Only
what we do for eternity will survive.

What would the loss of your job or business do to you? What if your house were lost to fire or storm? What if a strange pain sent you to your physician and led to the discovery that you have only a few weeks to live? These things really do happen to people, you know. We are all as vulnerable as sand castles.

Life is God's gift. Revel in every good thing. But as you enjoy your creations in the sand, just remember not to get overly attached to them.

Remember, you are worth not for what you have, not even for who you are ... but what others have become because of you.

First Fruits and the Promise of Abundance!

"Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine"[Proverbs 3:9 - 10 KJV]

Here is an important promise of abundance. God has the power to bless us financially... and if we honor him with our income, by giving generously to help other people (the sick, poor, and starving of the world, for example) he will reward us generously.

The potential size of a harvest is clearly limited by the amount of seed the farmer sows in the field in the first place. Applying this principle to giving, Paul says: "Whosoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whosoever sows generously will also reap generously" (2 Corinthians 9:6).

It has been said that your cannot out-give God.

The Joy of Helping

Being a "man for others" is one of the virtues being thought in the schools run under the Ignatian system by the Jesuits.

I could still recall the words of my "Philosophy of Man" professor asking the basic question..."Who is my neighbor?"...then proceeded to relate the story of the Good Samaritan in the Bible.

It has been ages since I left the portals of the university, and have tried my best to help other people at all times, whether family, relatives, friends or complete strangers. Helping other people brings joy to the "helper," not to mention the tangible rewards that the giver receives in return.

Let me elaborate on the rewards of giving. During my early years as a struggling rank and file employee of a telecommunications firm, I have started the practice of donating blood to the "Red Cross." This activity becomes a "habit" so to speak, considering that our company has close ties with the Red Cross and this "blood letting" activity became an annual event in the company and in my life. Even when I left the company, giving blood to others became a tradition. It has extended the life of one of my friends (who was diagnosed with Leukemia) for several months, just enough time to see his son being born and hold it in his hands, before passing away into the next life. Yet, the best reward I have received from my blood donation rituals is for my own son. Some two (2) years ago, my son was diagnosed with dengue fever and his platelet counts have dropped to dangerous levels. When I went to the Red Cross blood bank, there were several of us needing (and fighting!) for the last remaining five pieces of "Type B" platelet bags. I calmly showed my "donation card" to the blood bank staff, and she asked if somebody else who is in need of blood has the same card. Nobody else has a donation card, so I was able to get the needed 3 platelet bags for my son without a fuss, while the others continued to fight for the remaining 2 bags. When I arrived at the hospital, the platelet count of my son has already improved as if by a miracle, and he became well without a single platelet transfusion. Just the same, the bags that I brought from the Red Cross were used/given to another patient who is in need of platelets...free of charge, of course!

It seems to be a paradox, that by giving away you can receive more. Yet if you analyze it carefully, there seems to be logic in this principle. A seed, placed inside a bag or a sack, will still be a seed after several months of storage. However, throw away that same seed....in the field, and it will grow and produce a bountiful harvest of hundred or thousand times! I believe this same theory also works with money or with any other resources. I have proven it many times in my life, giving away money to help others, only to find out that God have returned it back several times more. You can never "out give" God in this regard, as He has a lot of ways of returning back what was given to Him. Yet, a lot of people are reluctant to help, very stingy in giving...but are expecting abundant returns...which is a futile idea!

There is a vast amount of blessing awaiting a cheerful giver. I have experienced it time and time again. You can share your time, your talents and skills, your money, your compassion, your prayers...just give and share...and you will see the rewards and experience the happiness that goes with it.

On the other hand, if somebody does offer to give you help in one form or another, please don't refuse...don't deny the giver the pleasure and immense joy in giving. Be grateful ... say thank you to the person and offer a thanksgiving prayer to God for providing people who are willing to help...for having persons who are "man or woman for others" all "For the Greater Glory of God!"