Daddy loves me

A Father's love
The Father Heart of God
Begotten of God
Born of God

 I have a picture that is worth a thousand words

I see how my father is smiling

with love and enjoyment

pleasure

acceptance

hope

affection

as he looks at the fuzzy haired and mostly oblivious
18 month old girl
he holds lovingly
in his strong arms

and experienced hands

did the little girl do anything to earn this beloved status?

did she make some grand sacrifice?

did she do some great work?

does she have some amazing intellect?

or create some profound work of art?

is she even aware of any of those things at all?

or is she only aware 

that she is held

loved

enjoyed

cared for

has a hope and a future

not because of anything about her

but because of the one who holds her dear

close to his heart

loved and beloved

because of the relationship that they share

father and daughter

she did not apply for this 

she did not work for this

she is not even aware of this

she came from him

his initiative

his care 

his provision 

his love

 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 

 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  

 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 

John 1:10-13 ESV

The Word was in the world. The world was made through him, but the world did not know him. He came to the world that was his own. But his own people did not accept him. But some people did accept him. They believed in him. To them he gave the right to become children of God. They did not become his children in the human way. They were not born because of the desire or wish of some man. They were born of God." John 1:10-13 NIV

3 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 

 I John 3:1 NIV

Family of Jacob, listen to me!
All you people from Israel, who are still alive, listen!

I have carried you since you were born, 

I have taken care of you
from your birth

Even when you are old, 
I will take care of you

Even when your hair has turned grey, 
I will take care of you.

I made you 
and will take care of you.

I will carry you and I will save you.
Isaiah 46 :3-4 NIV


But the difficult questions come
If God is such a loving Father,
why did _____ happen?

where was He then?

Why didn't he 
protect me
provide for me
comfort me
help me

Why?

What does it mean to be God's child?

First and foremost 
it is to be
beloved 
only because 
of the Love of God

God is Love
It is his nature to love
I am merely the object and recipient of such love

therefore this relationship is 
immune to my insecurities
and failings 
impervious to my strivings
must let it all go
and simply receive

It is secure
because it is not based on me

It is unchanging only because He is unchanging
It is only because of Jesus and not because of me
therefore I can rest 
in Him alone

From the place of nestling in his arms
I can tell him of all the pain of those unanswered why's
the agony of the what ifs
and why not's 

I may never know 
all the reasons why
but I can know him 
who knows and loves me

who is waiting and longing to
hold me in his arms
and be my comfort

There is always a lap
that I may crawl into
be welcomed 
and pour out my grief 
sorrow and confusion

There is no guarantee of anything in this life
but who He is
and that He is love

in the words of Corrie Ten Boom, 

"Our loving Heavenly Father holds all things in his hands,
 even our questions." 
The Hiding Place movie

a place to tell my sorrows 
to the man of sorrows 
who was acquainted with grief
the one who was wounded for my transgressions
by whose stripes I am healed
the one who puts my tears in a bottle
and promises one day to wipe all tears from our eyes

I can talk about all my pain 
he knows, he understands, he comforts

I may never know the "answers" but I can know Him
I can know his love
I can rest in his arms
and be beloved

'to the praise of Him who has made us accepted in the beloved..."

Ephesians 1:6

http://www.igracemusic.com/hymnbook/hymns/o08.html