"The Father"...

     When I first learned of GOD that is how I viewed Him as "the Father".  For many years that is as far as my relationship with Him went.  "The Father" was merely a title I bestowed on GOD but not how I really felt about Him.  My feelings for Jesus were different he was not impersonal.  Jesus wasn't like the "The Father", an unknown or a mystery.  I felt close to Jesus after all he was human like me plus I saw images of him every Sunday in church.  I was taught Jesus loved me and he loves all little children.  Also, that he gave up his perfect human life for me and all humankind.  I really wanted to show Jesus that I loved him and wanted to be like him.  My love for Jesus and my desire to follow him has never changed he continues to be the model I pattern myself after (1Peter 2:21).
     Thankfully, in time, my view of "the Father" changed.  I began to learn that GOD is a real person not in a physical sense like me but a spiritual one (John 4:24).   The first time I found His name in the Bible (Ps. 83:18) a strange but very powerful thing occurred.  It was like reading my birth certificate for the first time and learning the name of my natural Father.  Learning His name made me feel close to Him and since then I've  had an intense desire to have a relationship with Him(James 4:8).  I wanted to meet Him, so I called out to Him in prayer,"Jehovah, my Father in Heaven", I would say," hear my prayer".  The more I prayed to Jehovah the more I beheld His presense and felt His love for me (1 Peter 5:6,7). 
     Today I have a personal relationship with GOD and when I refer to Him as"The Father", that is exactly how I feel about Him.  He is and will always be the Best and Most loving of all fathers.  My hope and deepest desire is to always  praise GOD and refer to Him by His name, Jehovah, "my Father" forever.  When I read verses in the Bible where Jesus speaks about his Father (John 17:3); (John 7:15-18), I know he's referring to Jehovah GOD.  Like Jesus I speak to everyone I meet about my Father, Jehovah,  including you, after all He is your Father too.  When you read in your Bible and everywhere you find the title GOD or LORD in all caps replace them with Jehovah because that is His name and you deserve to know it.  GOD's enemies have tried in vain to conceal Him from you and from me but Jehovah is "the Most High" and "the Almighty" they can not keep Him and His love from us.  There is so much I would like to tell you about our Father but I will only say this much for now: "He has four main attributes they are Love (1John 4:8), Justice (Ps. 37:28), Wisdom (Romans 11:33) and Power (Isaiah 40:26).   The more you learn about  GOD's qualities the closer you will draw to Him and you will come to love Jehovah as your Father (Jer. 31:3).

My Love...

for Jehovah is greater than my battles!  My goal is to be beautiful in Jehovah's eyes because he is searching my heart and my inner most thoughts (Jer.17:10).  Also, to have His blessing and His gift of Holy spirit that produces beautiful fruitage in me, qualities that will aid me in pursuing an obedient course (Acts 5:32).
Love moves others to love you in return.
Joy gives you strength to cope with challenges.
Peace helps you to keep your relationships free from strife.
Long-suffering enables you to stay happy even when you are under trial.
Kindness draws others to you.
Goodness on your part makes others respond when you need help.
Faith will assure you of God's loving direction.
Mildness will bring you calmness of heart, mind and body.
Self-control means that your mistakes will be fewer.

The First Time....

Hello to everyone that ventures my way and welcome to my world of green. My day so far has been very constructive despite this west texas wind. Although I wasn't able to plant my african daisies http://www.gardenguides.com/ outside like I had planned or refurbish this neat piece of art that I found at a vintage store the other day.  I was able to read and meditate on GODs spiritual word of truth to my hearts delight. The Bible is truly my greatest joy! I love talking about its wonderful message of hope and I love learning about its Author. There isn't a day that goes by that I am reminded somewhere somehow of something I read in GODS Word. For this reason my blog is dedicated to all those like me who believe the Bible is a letter from a loving Father to his human creation.  It's simply the greatest book or should I say collection of books ever written.  If you haven't read the entire Bible, start today. Read just 3-4 chapters a day and within a year you will have read it all. Start anywhere, the Gospels, the Letters of Paul, the Minor Prophets or at the beginning in Genesis just get started. I promise you are going to meet the greatest person ever and He will reveal himself to you in three ways: through His Word, through His Son, and finally through His wonderful creation all around you. Enjoy the journey.