ABBA

Do you know God as your Father? I want you to know today that He is the best Father a girl could have. And His desire is that you know His love, His voice, the way He will defend you, His provision, and His tender care. As we seek Him, we find Him. So today, I am encouraging you to do just that.

When I was 20, I was in a bible study with older women. The two leaders, Jenny Leyendecker and Pat Yates, were probably in their 40s. As we studied the verse from Matthew 22:37 where Jesus tells us, "You shall ove the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.", I had to say something. "How am I supposed to do that when I can't see Him or touch Him!"

Those wise women said, "Whatever you need to know Denise, just ask Him. He is faithful. He will teach you to love Him. "

Well, I was cynical. But, He was faithful. I asked Him to teach me to love Him and this is what happened. I tried to read the bible again and this time, it was interesting. I found so many verses about God's love for us. I started to see the bible stories from God's perspective, how often God, the creator of the universe, went out of His way to save His people. I became so frustrated with those Israelites as they were unfaithful, again and again. As I read, I began to ask to hear His voice, to recognize Him when He spoke. And then I did!

So let me ask you again, do you know your Father? I want to pass on what I learned because His love has literally changed my life. Where before, I felt hopeless, I have lived, through hard things and still I hope. Where in the past I leaned toward the negative aspects of life, now I seek the life giving pursuits. Most of all, walking with my Father, I feel His joy, no matter what I face, because His joy in me is eternal. One day, I will be back in His arms. Because of that, I am able to do what He sent me to do. I really want that for you.