My Father's Day Testimony
Happy Father's Day! I encourage you to reach out to your dad this Father's Day. Remember the good times, and if there are none, forgive and make new memories before he's gone. If he isn't available, enjoy your Heavenly Father, Who is always present with His love and acceptance for meaning and purpose in life. In the prodigal son parable, Jesus said:
"So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long ways off, his father saw him coming, filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him" (Luke 15:20, NLT).
The Prodigal Story . . .
Jesus told this story to reveal how much your Heavenly Father loves you.
Though the prodigal son had squandered all of his inheritance in a foreign land and ended up in a pig pen, his father ran to him, embraced him and kissed him, filled with love and compassion. He put a robe on him, a ring on his finger, sandals on his feet and killed the fatted calf, saying, "'. . . for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.' So the party began" (Luke 15:22-24, NLT).
I was that prodigal son, even worse. My parents begged me not to leave home. Still, they forgave me for disgracing their family. I had rebelled, took all my savings to Hollywood and made all the wrong choices. I ended up broke, on a horse ranch shoveling manure and starving in the desert, only to return home a murderer (compare, Luke 15:11-16). In the parable, ". . . he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, 'At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, "Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me as a hired servant" (Luke 15:17-19, NLT).
The Father's Love . . .
My parents welcomed me home in Texas with open arms. I was a "sight for sore eyes" to mom; shaggy, depressed, fearful and disoriented. They took me to the doctor, fed my skinny body, bought me new clothes and had the whole family over for dinner. But after my arrest, it turned to devastation, with my siblings having to hold mom and dad up emotionally. They were brokenhearted, especially when I confessed my guilt to them in anger. My dad painted black over the WATSON'S GROCERY store sign in humiliation. They felt under siege by the press and public. I hurt them terribly to say the least. Yet, they visited me in jail everyday in tears, forgiving me for bringing shame upon their family, for "love will cover a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8b, NKJV).
Their love and compassion is a testimony of God's response to a repentant sinner. He awaits our return, and then runs to us with hugs and kisses, and throws a party in heaven [Luke 15:7]. Though the consequences remained, God accepted me immediately and delivered me from the fear of failure. In hindsight, I looked for love and acceptance in a cult, a group of prodigals, not realizing I was loved unconditionally all along by God and my parents.
"For this is how God loved the world. He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16, NLT).
"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from condemnation" (Romans 5:8-9, NLT).
"But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)" (Ephesians 2:4, NLT).
"This is real love -- not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son as a sacrifice to take away our sins" (1 John 4:10, NLT).
"All glory to him who loved us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us" (Revelation 1:5b, NLT).
The Angry Brother . . .
"The older brother was angry and wouldn't go [into the party]. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, 'All these years I've slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fatted calf'" (Luke 15:28-30, NLT).
Like the angry brother in the parable, there are victims [wounded souls], who have suffered tremendously, with every right to be furious. Of course, my parents prayed for God's mercy, while the victim's families argue that justice has not been done, and rightfully so. I am so undeserving. My actions towards their families not only caused their loved one's deaths, but horrific pain, memories and unbearable grief for their families and friends. I sinned against God and mankind, for which I continue to sincerely apologize, though I know God completely forgives me. I know that it is extremely difficult for most to see things in light of God's mercy and grace. But in God's eyes, I'm not the same person now as I was then! The father said to his angry son, "Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found" (Luke 15:31,32, NLT).
I was fortunate to have merciful parents, who are now in heaven waiting for me. I didn't realize their unconditional love and acceptance, until I repented of my pride, greed and lust. The Life Recovery Bible notes: "The father in the story demonstrates God's willingness to accept repentant sinners. God desires our restoration, whether the people around us like it or not. He also wants to use us to support, not hinder, fellow strugglers in the recovery process." Thus, I encourage you to GO HOME this Father's Day. TURN from your resentments, FACE those you have harmed and ALLOW forgiveness to flow through the power of God's grace, for ". . . where sin abounded, grace abounded much more" (Romans 5:20b, NKJV). ENJOY your family. Jesus paid the price for your sins with His own blood, and rose from the dead for your salvation, ". . . for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10, NKJV).
LISTEN: ". . . if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. . . For 'whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved'" (Romans 10:9-10,13, NKJV).
Father God The Same . . .
In this Abounding Love podcast #62B, I focus on how God's love is what makes all the difference in our lives and in the lives of those we interact with daily. Our Heavenly Father is a Father of love. Everything He does, especially His judgments, are tempered with love. And He's the same yesterday, today and forever. He's unchanging and everything He gives; every good and perfect gift comes from the One Who never changes. He is the God of Love, and He has given us the Way of Love. When you walk in the Love of God, you fulfill the Law of God. Love is the perfect law of liberty that God has for us to be ruled by. James 2:8 says, "If you really fulfill the royal law [Love] according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you do well." God, the Father, wants us to walk in love so that we can spread His love throughout the world. Join me as I teach on how to be a conduit of His love. [For more: Copy & Paste or Enter > "Create Study Guide for Father God The Same from Abounding Love Ministries podcast" < into ChatGPT.com ]. Be Amazed!
A Prayer For You . . .
"Dear brothers and sisters, we can't help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing . . . So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:3, 11, 12, NLT).
"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say" (2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17, NLT).
"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all" Amen! (2 Thessalonians 3:16, NLT).