Good Father

Last week we wrapped up Good Father and put a big bow on it...can you tell I'm ready for Christmas? In my own unbiased opinion, it was the best message of the whole series. Hope you didn't miss it...but if you did, I can catch you up!

When we get away from God's house, our relationship with Him suffers and too often when we have our own struggles in life, instead of running to God's house or God's people, we run from Him.

The first step towards ruin is deciding to run our lives independent of God. Yet, despite what you've done, God doesn't shun you. We learned from Luke 15 that the father in this story is a great parallel to our heavenly Father. If you know the story, you know that the younger son squandered all of his inheritance in wild living. When he came to his senses and headed home, the bible says

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.......32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’

This younger son went to his father and said, "give me..." The Lord won't always give us what we want but sometimes He will in order to teach us.

Thankful people realize what we've been given. What are you doing with the life God's given you? If you try and live your life without Jesus, you'll find yourself in need just like the younger brother.

Sin never looks good on anyone. Sin will make you look foolish and take you somewhere you don't want to be.

We do a great job at hiding our mess from people. Jesus embraces your mess.

Only Jesus can fill you. Everything else leaves you empty.

Repentance isn't just being sorry but then turning back and coming home.

The younger brother went from "give me..."(my inheritance) to "make me..." (your servant)

God gave us His best when we were at our worst...that's the GOSPEL!

Christians should CELEBRATE when people COME HOME!

Good Father

I know. I've already slapped myself on the wrist for not posting the past two weeks of Good Father...but that's not because it wasn't good ;) So, I'll be posting the past two weeks right....now.


God is always present when others are absent! "Never will I leave you, Never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) We may leave God every once in awhile...but He won't ever go anywhere! When you feel as though He isn't there...know He hasn't gone anywhere! Jesus doesn't walk out on us, like so many people do, but He walks with us.

We tend to attach ourselves to things instead of to Him! ... Guilty!

Psalm 27:10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.

John 1:12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. 

Matthew 27:46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

Some of us, at one point or another, may have felt abandoned by our earthly father. Maybe they've turned their backs on us or maybe they just don't give you the time of day. Scripture is clear that our heavenly Father feels our burdens because He, himself, has experienced it. (Heb. 4:14-16)

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Our Father is a Good Father because He disciplines those He calls His children. God isn't mad at you, He's madly in love with you...and for that reason, we receive His discipline. If God was out to get you, He would have already gotten you. What He is after is your heart.

God doesn't punish you for your sins, your own sins bring about their own punishment.

God's word is the biggest paddle of correction in our lives.

"And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his SON? It says, “My SON, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you.because the Lord disciplines the one he loves and he chastens everyone he accepts as his SON.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true SONS and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:5-11

Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them. Proverbs 13:24

God disciplines those He considers His children. His discipline proves our sonship!!

The Lord disciples us so that we can live! When you go astray, God allows hardships to happen as a part of discipline so that you return to Him. His discipline proves His love.

"Folly (sin) is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away." Proverbs 22:15

God's "no" doesn't mean His rejection but His redirection!

God's more interested in your holiness than your comfort.

Good Father

Last week we started Good Father. Hux says it will be his favorite series he has ever preached and after last week I think I may have to jump on that bandwagon. If you missed it, I'm sorry but this post may not do it justice!

My husband preached that God isn't out to make our lives miserable. He isn't a kill-joy. He came to give us life to the FULL. God is FOR YOU! He sets boundaries for us to protect us. He wants to keep you from harmful things and keep harmful things from you.

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” Genesis 2:16-17

Is God your LORD GOD? or just a god to you? 

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

Everywhere in Genesis 2 & 3, God is referred to as "Lord God" but when Satan refers to Him, he refers to Him just as "God". God wants to be your LORD God!

Never put a question mark where God puts a period. God told Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree...period! Satan will always try to question what God has commanded...."Did God really say not to eat from the tree???"

We overstep boundaries when we QUESTION God's COMMANDS!

God knows WHAT you need and WHEN you need it! God doesn't hold out on you!

When you ask, "how far can I get until I cross the line?" You are asking, "how far can I get to sin?"

It's easier to obey God when you understand everything He does is because He loves you.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;

    the Lord bestows favor and honor;

no good thing does he withhold

    from those whose walk is blameless. Psalm 84:11

You are good, and what you do is good... Psalm 119:68