288. Celebrating God's Grace, The Father's Love

Oh, how we long for our father's love. Our Heavenly Father's love for us is unconditional and not based on our lovability. He longs to have a personal relationship with you.   ****** Welcome to celebrating God's grace, a Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Janet Berrong. Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in ministry and around the world. I enjoy our time here together sharing health, beauty and Jesus.  Today I want to share about knowing the Father's love. The Father's love, oh how we desire to have our Father's love. No matter what road we walked with our earthly father, we desire that connection, love and affection and validation.  I remember as a child growing up, I could freely play, laugh and receive love from my father. I have a beautiful memory of me as a very small girl, dancing with my father, I would place my very small feet on his very large feet as he held my arms, and we danced around the living room. I loved I felt loved and nurtured in that special moment in time. The safety of being in the arms of my father was a place I love to be. At home, I felt free to play, talk, laugh and authentically be myself. I had wonderful memories growing up in my younger years, our family going to church and being in the community with fellow believers. It seemed our family was there at church every time the doors were open. My mother was a church organist, and my dad was a deacon in the church. And me and my brother were off about our business, playing with our friends and learning about Jesus. This is just the way our life was. Little did I know how important that this foundation was going to be for the rest of my life. The father's role in the child's life is to establish that unconditional love for their children to provide safety protection, and that they learn to trust their own earthly father, so that they also would honor their Heavenly Father. Well, my story didn't end there. years later, the enemy crept into our family and ultimately tore us apart. Divorced separated us 600 miles from each other. Our lives were filled with disappointment, fear, hurt, pain and feeling abandoned. In our pain. God was always by our side. I could feel his presence even as a 10-year-old little girl. God loves us and hears our cries. God says He is near to the brokenhearted. In Psalms 46. One through two reads, God is our refuge in our strength, always ready there to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when the earthquakes come in the mountains crumble into the sea. I would like to say that life got easier. But that wasn't how it went. It was a rough road for all of us for many, many years.  Each one of our lives has crazy twists and turns, more pain, fear, disappointment and brokenness. Our paths, even as Christians are not promised to be perfect and pain-free. Maybe you can relate to my story. John 16:33 reads, I have told you all this, that you may have peace in me. Here on Earth, you will have many trials and sorrows, but take heart because I have overcome the world.  Our relationship breakdowns are nothing new. It may have traveled down from generation to generation. The Bible says that our battle is not against the flesh and blood. It's against the enemy of our souls. In Ephesians 6:12 reads, For we wrestle not with the flesh and blood, but is it against principalities, against the powers against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  This is why we need to keep our eyes focused on our Heavenly Father. I am forever grateful for that foundation of salvation through Jesus Christ that was offered to me long ago. In any situation, God can use our brokenness, what the enemy meant for evil, God will use it for good. And Genesis 50:20 reads, You intended to harm me but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save lives of many people. John 10:10 reads, A thief's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.   God loves you. His love no way is conditioned on our love ability, which means there is nothing we can do to earn his love. He loves you because of who He is. Our Heavenly Father's heart is that you know how precious you are to Him. And that He longs to have that personal relationship with you. If you want to have that personal relationship with your heavenly Father, that unconditional love that only He gives, I invite you to make this decision today. It will change your destiny forever. Will you pray this with me? Dear Heavenly Father, I know that I'm a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. You turn from my sins. I repent for my sins, I invite you to come into my heart and in my life. I want to trust and follow you as my personal Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name. Amen. Now, if you sincerely prayed this prayer, I welcome you into the body of Christ. We here at Women World Leaders would love to rejoice with you. If you would, please send us an email at [email protected]. I encourage you to get plugged into a Bible-teaching church, join the community of federal fellow believers and get baptized in the Holy Spirit. We always welcome you here at women, world leaders to join our community. We help you walk through your God-given purpose, finding a place for you to serve here within the Ministry to use your God-given gifts and talents. Ephesians 3:20 reads now All Glory to God who is able through the mighty power at work within us to accomplish infinitely more than we can think or imagine. God Bless you dear sisters. It's my honor and privilege to share with you today. Go and be beacons of light into this world. Until next time.