A letter from Father to Child.

My child, you may not know me; but I know everything about you (Psm 139:1). I know when you sit down and when you rise up (Psm 139:2) I am familiar with all your ways.  Even the very hairs on your head are numbered (Matt 10:29-31).  For you were made in my image (Gen 1:27). In me you live and move and have all your being for you are my offspring (Acts 17:28).  I knew you even before you were conceived (Jer 1:4-5).  I chose you when I planned creation (Eph 1:11-12).  You were not a mistake for all your days are written in my book (Psm 139:15-16).  I determine the exact time of your birth and where you would live (Acts 17:26).  You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psm 139:14).  I knit you together in your mother’s womb (v13) and brought you forth on the day you were born (Psm 71:6). 

I have been misrepresented b those who do not know me (Jhn 8:41-44).   I am not distant and angry; but am the complete expression of love (1Jhn 4:16) and it is my desire to lavish my love on you simply because you are my child and I am your Father (1Jhn 3:1).  I offer you more than your earthly father ever could (Matt 7:11) for I am the perfect Father (Matt 5:48).  Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand (James 1:17) for I am your provider and I meet all your needs (Matt 6:31-33).  My plan for your future has always been filled with hope (Jer 29:11) because I love you with an everlasting love Jer (31:3).  My thoughts towards you are countless as the sand on the seashore (psalm 139:17-18) and I rejoice over you with singing (Zeph 3:17).  I will never stop doing good to you (Jer 32:40) for you are my treasured possession (Ex 19:5).  I desire to establish you with all my heart and soul (Jer 32:41) and I want to show you great and marvellous things (Jer 33:3).  If you seek me with all your heart you will find me (Deut 4:29).  Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart (Psm 37:4) for it is I who gave you those desires (Phil 2:13).  I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine (Eph 3:20) for I am your greatest encourager (2Thes 2:16-17).  I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. (2Cor 1:3-4).  When you were broken hearted I am close to you (Psm 34:18). 

AS a shepherd carries I lamb, I have carried you close to my heart (Isa 40:11). One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes (Rev 21:3-4) and I will take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth.  I am your Father and I love you even as I loved my son Yahshua (Jhn 17:23).  For in Yahshua my love for you is revealed (v26).  He is the exact representation of my being (Heb 1:3).  He came to demonstrate that I am for you and not against you (Rom 8:31) ad to tell you that I am not counting your sins (2 Cor 5:18-19).  Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.  His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you (1John 4:10).  I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love (Rom 8:31-32). 

Six short videos totalling 18 minutes accompany this presentation; but are omitted in this text version. 

1^st video:  Bible in a nutshell.

As the video says God wishes for us to know the full extent of His love for us, His created children.  It is an unheard of principle and not really practiced of giving something good in exchange for something or someone bad.  If someone does that, like in the Aladdin’s lamp  story, it is usually for ulterior self interest motives.  Even God rejects blemished sacrifices in exchange for good ones. But when it comes to showing love, His ways surpasses ours or at least is a good example.  We logically think of love and give it limits so that many find it inconceivable that God thinks different to them.  His ways, knowledge and reasoning are not our ways.   As He says in Eze 18:29  Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal? Eze 18:30  Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Eze 18:31  Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 

These are words of love of One who pleads with another for whom they care not to destroy themselves and die.  Like a human who sacrifices their time and effort to save another creature.  In God’s case He does not do it to get a reward nor because we deserve or even earned it; but  Eze 20:44  And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.  As Moses said to Israel it was not for their righteousness nor because they were the biggest group that He protects and provides for them.  Yet He, Yes He died for them.  Took the form of a human son to redeem His captured people.  People who had succumb to sin. 

The video ended in reminding us that we are part of this history and have a chance to change the world.  First by changing ourselves so we become a light, then shining that light, the Word and lamp of God to others just as Israel was supposed to be the biggest beacon light to draw the other kings and nations.  Let us quickly get ready and make others ready as we do not know how long we as individuals have nor they. 

At the beginning of the Bible God created man, then man and wife his themselves from God (Gen 3:8-9).  This resembles a story of some children playing hide and seek.  A teacher who was observing the children playing saw one child covered his eyes and counted while the other children scattered and hid. Then he went and began to find the children, one after another. As he found them the others join the search.  After watching the children play for a while, the teacher returned to his books. Time passed and the voices of the children faded away. He was eventually disturbed from his studies by the sound of a lone child’s voice crying in the schoolyard. He went out to see what had happened, thinking perhaps the child might be hurt. He asked the child, “Son, what is it? Why all this weeping?” The boy explained, “We were all playing hide-and-seek. I was hiding, and they didn’t find me. They quit looking for me, and they all went home.” He began to sob. The teacher realized that this child’s sorrow was like God’s sorrow.  No one is looking for Him. 

What has happened since Adam and Eve? Let’s look at the story. Who hid from whom? The Torah says, “The man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8). In the story, it is God who calls out to man. God did not hide Himself. God searched for man. He called out to the human beings, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9).

We are the ones who have hidden ourselves from the presence of God. Yet as a loving Father as in the Prodigal son parable, He looks out for our return daily with loving arms of gifts. 

I saw another video clip this week.   It made the point on judgement day we will not be judged by what we did; but by what we were called to do.  There is a very big difference.  Remember the iniquity doers who called Lord Lord [Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven].  These people thought they did good works, etc and had earned a right to enter paradise.  Yet they were told they committed iniquity because they did not keep the commandments (will) of God and faith in the redeeming blood of his son.  They did not do what they were called to do; but what they thought to do. 

2^nd Video, Rabbit and snake.

This video starts with captured baby rabbits.  The parent hears the cry of its children and comes to the rescue.  What is normally seen as meek cuddly animal becomes a protective parent.  Giving no thought to the what the snake can do; but focused on saving its children.  You hear the woman being squeamish; yet the rabbit is not.  It puts the snake on the defensive and chases it away until the baby rabbits are safe from the snake.  The snake knows not to try that again. 

That is the love of a parent and I am sure we have heard of parents who put their lives in danger to save their children.  Very few would die to save their children especially if that child was a rotten apple.  But God has given us many teachings about His love for us.  

The prodigal son, where the father daily looked out over the horizon for his lost son who had taken the inheritance and run.  And when that son came to his senses and returned, the father gave him more love and gifts. 

Our heavenly Father, though high above our atmosphere, hears the cry of His mistreated children just like the parent rabbit heard the cries of its babies.  God heard Caine killed by Abel.  Those in Sodom in Gomorrah.  In respect of Israel we have Exo 2:23  And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.

Exo 3:7  And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;   Exo 3:9  Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.   The rest of the story you know.  Just as He revenged Abel, He revenged Israel.  Exo 11:6  And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.  You heard the child telling the “Mr Bunny, bite that snake, kill that snake”.  Even children know justice and unfair treatment.  Did you have occasion to go marching down to your child’s school or other place to stand up for them against another bully pupil or unfair teacher?  Regardless of whether the story told to you by the child was the truth or not.  Sometimes you get to the school and hear from the teacher that is not how it went.  Whose account you believe is another matter; but for the child, they feel good and proud to have a parent that cares.  That stands up for them.  Well that is the same with us.  King David wrote many psalms of how God saved, provided for and protected Him.  He was really proud of his heavenly Father and God loved him, Daniel, Mordacai and many others.   Protecting them from injustice.  

Here are some words God told Moses to tell Israel  Deu 32:39  See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.  Deu 32:41  If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.

Deu 32:42  I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.

Deu 32:43  Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.

Eze 25:15  Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;

Eze 25:16  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.

Eze 25:17  And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.

Then in the New Testament, Yahshua gave this parable

Luk 18:2  Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

Luk 18:3  And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. Luk 18:4  And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Luk 18:5  Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. Luk 18:6  And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. Luk 18:7  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? Luk 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. 

Some words of David.

Psa 18:2  The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Psa 18:39  For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

Psa 27:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psa 28:7  The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Psa 59:9  Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence. 

Even Balaam said he could not curse who God has blessed. 

3^rd Video, 1992 Olympics.

Race not for the swift, time and chance comes to all.  Endure to the end to be saved.  Devil will be on our case right to the end.  Very subtle as in the garden with Eve.  Or in your face like a roaring lion.  Meek like a wolf in sheep clothing or one with your interest at heart like a minister of light and righteousness.  So you have to be extremely vigilant and on your guard.  Without digressing into another sermon on what one has to do to get eternal life or be saved, I will simply quote Yahshua’s reply in Mat 19:17 if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.  These are not limited to ten; but everything between Ex 20 and 34 if not more.  Then apply truth to your understanding of it not traditions as changes in days of worship.  Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 

Part of the devil’s plan may be to take you from the top to the bottom, success to poverty.  Good health to your death bed.  He did it with Job.  Or even the opposite offer you riches as he did to Yahshua in the wilderness when He may have been starving after days without food.  Simply remember, nothing the deceiver or his agents can offer or even give you will save you from the punishment of God on the devil which those who follow him will also endure.  Job had a godly answer for everything the devil’s agents tried on him to get him to turn against God.  Learn the answers of Job.  God gives and He takes away.  Naked and without anything we came in and we cannot take anything out.  Then be assured whatever you are going through, like the father on the running track, God or one of His sent angels is going through it with you.  Helping you over that finish line.  One limp at a time, one day at a time.  And though it is painful to cross that line, you and heaven will be jubilant when you cross the gates of paradise.  Purpose in your heart as did Daniel to be all you can be in God even if it or the enemy kills you.  Psa 55:22  Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.   Mat 10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.   You know you can.  I know you can.  God knows you can.  And as I always say, don’t let pride be your downfall.  Phone me or anyone when you need that listening ear or shoulder or cup of tea.    

4^th Video, song.

Though the world has lost its way and you may have been lost or are still lost, that does not mean you have to stay where you are.  You know there is a God.  A little about Him and the way He wants us to live.  Now simply find your way back by renewing your mind to one of your creator whose image is somewhere covered up inside of you.  Like the layers of an onion, peel off the traditions of man, of the world of and even of deceived teachers of the bible.  In short, return to the commandments of Yahweh God and any spirit or person that creeps into your mind reasoning to do different is not of God.  

Many seekers are seeking the kingdom of God as if it is their final destination.  A reward they receive after death.  Actually it is achievable in this earthly life  Luk 17:20  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Luk 17:21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.  What we get after this life is entrance into hell or the new heaven and earth.  In other words, eternal life as the question in Luke 18:18 master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life.  Rev 22:14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.  So until we keep the criteria to gain entry to God’s kingdom of eternal life we shall remain in exile.  The exile brought about by our original parents Adam and Eve. Repeated by Israel when they disobeyed the commandments of living in the Promised land.  But now individually we can return by following the lighted path to the city.   Psa 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  Pro 6:23  For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:  

People ask the question where is God.  That they may not know, just like a lost person seeking a destination.  The first question should be “where am I” and the second “how do I get to my destination”.  Well, we are lost in darkness and the above scriptures answers the second question.  By adhering to them we will finally know where God is.  Let us pray we find Him first before He finds us on our judgement day.  As then our loving Father may find a dead body rather than the one filed with His spirit. 

We are not saved by grace; but grace through faith (Eph 2:8).  Grace is gift of mercy of God.  Faith is in the blood of His son to forgive confessed sins.  The mercy is only given to Exo 20:6  And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.  Faith comes by Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  The word of God is Deu 4:2  Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.  Psa 119:172  My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.  Isa 1:10  Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

Do not get caught up with intentionally divisive issues as who is Israel.  In short, all obedient believers are Act 10:34  Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:  Act 10:35  But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.  Neither get caught up with God or His son’s colour.  We worship Him in spirit not colour  Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.   

5^th Video, Dad and son visit farm.

Not everything that glitters is gold.  Not everything that seems good or others have is good or good for us whether physically or spiritually.  We all have our weakness and the deceiver wants to exploit our desire for material things or comparison to others.

Pro 30:8  Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Pro 30:9  Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.  Psa 37:16  A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.  Pro 11:28  He that trusts in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. 

Generations managed without them before and seem to have been comparatively much happier.  They got more sleep, enjoyed the simpler things and had better human interaction.  Today the world is based on you borrowing and living your life paying it off.  In other words, your life is a production machine for the rich from the time you can work to the time you die.  Chasing self worth and value from material things rather from your real friends and God.  

6^th Video, Taking Advice.

This video is about with whom you mix and to whom you expose yourself.  That is set by where you wish to end up, the goals you have set and the path to achieve it or them.  Your primary goal should be to live a life pleasing to God.  So to achieve that, even in this world, we associate with and expose ourselves only to such persons or things that will get us to our goal.  That does not mean we are to be naïve or ignorant of the ways of the world.  Forewarned is forearmed in some respects.  The video gave some advice.  Not all from a biblical perspective; but sharing the same message “you become like those with whom you closely associate, for the good or bad”.  To achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters.  A comparable scripture is that of the talents given to servants.

Mat 25:21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  Mat 25:29  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.  Luk 16:10  He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.  Luk 16:11  If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?  Luk 16:12  And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? Luk 19:17  And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 

I shall simply add some scriptures to it and hope you get the teaching.

Psa 1:1  Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.

Pro 13:20  He that walks with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.  Psa 1:5  Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.  Psa 1:6  For the LORD knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.  Psa 37:30  The mouth of the righteous speak wisdom, and his tongue talk of judgment.  Pro 12:5  The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.  Pro 12:15  The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that pays attention to counsel is wise. 

7^th Video, Bible paper or money paper.

Luk 16:13  No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Luk 18:29  And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,  Luk 18:30  Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. 

If time permits continue to: 

I saw another video this week on international economics.  The presenter posed the question.  How comes the value of the pieces of paper, currency, of the African countries are worth a ratio of about 500 : 1 less than western world pieces of paper?  Especially since the western world have  not any commodities as gold, oil and other natural reserves; but exploit it from the African etc countries? 

One of my answers, is because the African countries do not know the value of their possession.  Almost like Deu  4:6  Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.  

Psa 19:7  The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.  Pro 28:7  Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father. 

In short, those who keep the Laws of God become wise and prosperous.  This includes hard work as digging well after well and planting in the due time for provision of sustenance.  Planning years in advance for times of drought, misfortune or to achieve as Joseph in Egypt.  Not wasting time and money chasing material things or self pleasure before first providing security for your future and family.   Not overworking more than six days a week and giving the seventh, as identified by God to Him as recognition of obedience to His Laws and fear of Him.  In return He will bless you with the fruits of His creation and work of your hands.

SHALOM