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Numbers 14:18a – The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love. (NLT)
Since my father's birthday falls on Father's Day this year, I'm doubly remembering my dad, who has been gone now for 37 years.
When I was a child, my dad was my hero. We formed an early bond when I was a baby. My dad was ready to be a father and had a natural way with me, as he rocked me and carried me around on my sleepless nights as a newborn.
Even before I was two, my dad and I had a close relationship. When my father wanted me to understand something important, he taught me words to learn and copy. One time, he wanted me to understand that on Saturday, we were going out in the newly-acquired little Austin car, to buy flowers for Mama's birthday. He drilled me in the following sequence: Auto… [said the Czech way – ow-toe] Mama… Tata… Ali. I mastered the sequence, and my dad was pleased. He could communicate with me, and on Saturday, off we went to the market on our first "date".
There was a fly in the ointment, however. I didn't learn everything so easily. To me, numbers weren't as friendly as letters and words. Learning to tell time in grade three was a struggle. My dad took to drilling me in the evening with the pink Bambi alarm clock. It got worse in grade five when we practised long division at home. Stresses in his job made my father angry and impatient. The more my father hovered over me, the more I made mistakes, and I felt stupid and powerless. I cowered and ran away as he reached for his belt in his frustration. Sin marred the relationship that I had with my father, even though I now have very fond memories of him.
Psalm 59:17 – O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love. (NLT)
One day, God spoke to me: As much as you loved your dad, he was an imperfect father. Your heavenly Father loves you perfectly. You don't ever have to be afraid.
The imperfect love of my earthly father had the ultimate effect of pointing me to the love that my heavenly Father has for me. My dad's love for me had flaws, but God used them to teach me about the unconditional love of my heavenly Father.
Unlike our relationship with our earthly fathers, there is nothing that we can do to make God love us any more or any less. We don't need to earn God's love or meet certain conditions to have Him love us. He just does. God loves us, not for who we are, but because of who He is. His love is unfailing.
On this Father's Day, as we celebrate our dads, let us especially honour the One Who is truly our heavenly Father, in Whose perfect love we can rest.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us Your unfailing love! Thank You that we don't have to be deserving or to earn Your love. May this wonderful thought sink deep into our hearts. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray. Amen.
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Monday, March 24, 2025 – In the Middle East — We recently received a message telling us that one of our dear local friends has passed away. This was so hard, as we are on home assignment which makes it even harder. Please pray with us that the Lord will comfort his family and children and that Christ's name will be glorified. Help them to stay strong in their faith in the face of opposition..
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Beautiful! Blessings.
Thanks for sharing, Alice.
I loved this. Thank you so much for this today. God bless you.
Dear Alice, thank you for this message. So very true and comforting.
Thank you, Alice, again a very good devotional. Have a wonderful day.
What a lovely way to think of our heavenly Father especially today. Thanks and blessings!
What an insightful DD. Perfect for today!
May your Heavenly Father heap blessings upon you for this uplift,
(BC)
Thank you, Alice, for sharing your memories of your father with us and reminding us that we have a Father in heaven Who loves us unconditionally. Thanks be to God! Blessings.
Alice, it is wonderful to learn of family situations, be they pleasant, sad, or in-between. God can use every one of these to teach us, if we are open to learn as you are. Thanks for a vivid message.
Good morning Alice! What a wonderful devotional to start Father’s Day! I’m so happy for you that you do have pleasant memories of your earthly Dad as a counterbalance. My favourite line in your devotional is that “God loves us not for who we are but because of who He is”! Thanks be to God!
Dear Alice,
Thank you for another wonderful devotion.
I grew up without a father present, so having the love of our Father in heaven has been a huge blessing to me. And gives me much security until we meet in heaven!
Happy Fathers and Grandfathers Day to Terry!!
Dear Alice
Thank you for sharing. I am so thankful that I had a great dad, once in awhile I saw the belt, but different after he accepted Christ. But we have a Father who is all loving and forgiving and truly thankful for that.
Have a blessed day.
Dear Alice,
Thank you so much for the blessing your devotional provided for me today. I had a father who was imperfect. When I rededicated my life to God many years ago, I relished repeating “Father”, “My Father” over and over again… a true healing and a true bond. I felt then I knew a Father’s real love.
Blessings, Joy, and Gratitude.
Hi Alice,
I think this is your best devotional yet. Thank you. I was planning to say something similar when I lead worship today. I was all prepared but had some doubts about whether it was the best idea on Father’s Day. When I read your devotional, it was like a confirmation of what I wanted to say, so I did. Thank-you. Hope you had a good Father’s Day at your house today. Ours was good.
Peace and grace.
Good morning Alice
We thank the Father for His unfailing love indeed. The relationship you had with your father, I had with one of my daughters. When she was a little girl, when we lived in Austria, she went with me on my bicycle to pick up my weekly ticket for the underground system I used to go to work every day. I remember those days so fondly, she is sorry that she doesn’t. All through her life she was, and still is, a great friend to me.
Blessings on your Sunday.
Good morning Alice,
Thank you for this reflective devotional today. I’m sure today being Father’s Day will be a time when many think back on their days with their dad and a variety of memories. Our earthly father may no longer be with us, but we have the greatest gift of all in our Heavenly Father who is always with us and ever ready to hear our prayers and gently guide us through our daily lives. The very best companion we can have is our loving Jesus. Blessings for this mindful devotional writing you have given us today.
Thanks, Alice, for the well-crafted Bible-centred devotional, My Father.
Upon reflection, your presentation in its entirety using the theme of Fathers’ Day, says a lot in the allotted space.
Have I as a dad and grandfather committed that ‘sin’? A few days ago, while assisting my grandson to form alphabet letters during on-line schooling , and he would not pay attention, it crossed my mind to “thump” him. He asked if I was going to “hurt” him? Obviously, it crossed my mind. Fortunately, patience prevailed, which is my usual temperament. During the subsequent lunch break he gave me a hug.
Dear Alice,
Beautifully written and remembered.
What a wonderful devotional for Father’s day.
Blessings to you and your family.
Mine too, Alice. Time and perspective sure help, eh? Thanks for sharing your understanding and strength today.