{"id":716,"date":"2017-12-02T13:21:43","date_gmt":"2017-12-02T13:21:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hispreciousgift.com\/wordpress\/?p=716"},"modified":"2017-12-02T13:21:43","modified_gmt":"2017-12-02T13:21:43","slug":"abba-is-your-face-turned-toward-me-or-away-from-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hispreciousgift.com\/wordpress\/abba-is-your-face-turned-toward-me-or-away-from-me\/","title":{"rendered":"ABBA, IS YOUR FACE TURNED TOWARD ME OR AWAY FROM ME?"},"content":{"rendered":"

ABBA, IS YOUR FACE TURNED TOWARD ME OR AWAY FROM ME?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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My precious ones, I had written a different blog for this week but our Father thought words of encouragement were needed again this week. Sometimes, just a whisper in our darkness from His lips can breathe hope and life back into our hearts. In one of my blogs, I talked about Night Seasons<\/em> in our lives. We all must face them in order for us to understand just how wonderful our Father and Lord really are. None of us like to go through them. We all enjoy living in a stress-free, trial-free, and carefree environment where everything is just hunky dory.<\/em> But the truth of the matter is, the earth is heaven\u2019s classroom, where all of Abba\u2019s children discover who they are and learn how to rule and reign with Christ. So Daddy uses everything<\/em> for our good and His purposes to promote growth and maturity in Christ. But, during our training, we feel as though our Father has left us to defend for ourselves and we must manage life on our own. We sometimes feel He has turned away and is looking in another direction and not interested in our pain or circumstances. This reminds me of a story I heard let me share it.<\/p>\n

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A story is told of a husband whose wife died. He lost his wife and his daughter lost her mother. After the funeral, close relatives noticed the pain of the husband and asked him, \u201cDo you want us to take your daughter away for a few days so that you can have time to grieve?\u201d The man replied, \u201cNo, we are going to face this together.\u201d So that night as the father was putting his daughter to bed, she cried out, \u201cDaddy, it is dark in here, may I sleep in your room?\u201d His reply was, \u201cYes, you may sleep in my room.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0As they went into the father\u2019s room, he turned off the light, his little girl cried out again, \u201cDaddy it is dark in here too.\u201d The father said, \u201cYes baby, I know it is dark.\u201d Then the little girl said, \u201cDaddy it is darker than it has ever been.\u201d The father replied, \u201cYes baby, it is darker than it has ever been to me too.\u201d In the darkness, the little girl asked, \u201cDaddy, is your face turned toward me?\u201d<\/em> The dad said, \u201cYes, my face is turned toward you.\u201d<\/em> She said, \u201cI can go to sleep now.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>After the little girl went to sleep, the father who was in such despair at the loss of his wife, fell down upon his knees and asked his Heavenly Father, \u201cDaddy is your face turned toward me?\u201d<\/em> He heard a voice gently say from within<\/u>, \u201cYes my face is turned toward you, my son.\u201d<\/em> The father said, \u201cOkay, Daddy I am\u00a0<\/em>going to sleep now.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/p>\n

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We can read this story and think what a beautiful and heartfelt story. But, can I ask you a question\u2026 \u00a0Is Daddy\u2019s face toward you? Do you really know how much He loves YOU? Do you really know how much He tenderly and affectionately wants His very best for YOU?<\/em><\/p>\n

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I lived most of my Christian life not knowing,<\/em> just believing He loved me. If you asked me does your Heavenly Father loves you? I would reply, \u201cOf course, God loves me!\u201d Ohhh! But I really didn\u2019t KNOW His love. I knew about Him, loved Him, believed Him, obeyed Him, but I really didn\u2019t KNOW. After being saved for 37 years, I really couldn\u2019t comprehend His kind of love. I always felt when I did well, His face was toward me. When I messed up, His face was turned away in disgust. (Do you remember that look from your parents?)<\/em> In 2016, when I lost everything I had known, my spiritual children, my business, and my health was when I discovered My Papa really LOVED ME. I was broken, hurting, and felt so alone and Papa led me to read a book by Henri Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son<\/em>. The book depicts the story of the prodigal son through the painting and life story of Rembrandt (I have this picture in my home).<\/em> As I read the pages, Henri shared his life story and discoveries as he found himself in the painting. I was drawn into the pages as Papa begin to speak through them to me. What arrested my heart and soul in the pages was when I discovered myself as the Elder Son<\/em>. You see, I had been the prodigal son and could relate to him intimately. But, as the Elder Son,<\/em> I was riveted when I saw how I felt about my Father, and how I thought He felt about me. For years I had served my sisters and brothers, cared for them, loved them, and allowed Christ to minister to them through me. But, when I couldn\u2019t minister anymore, I felt, \u201cOkay, Papa, I guess I will just be a second class servant in the house.\u201d <\/em>After all these years of teaching and sharing truths of identity in Christ and not in works, I still in the core of my being, believed that doing<\/em> was more important than being<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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In the book, Henri described some characteristics of the Elder Son<\/em>: easily judge and dismiss people who don\u2019t believe or think like they do. Murmuring, whining, grumbling, and irritated with people who are different, especially their own brethren. Rejecting people who hold a different scriptural perspective. Self-righteousness was my badge because I knew deeper truths, which made me special. I didn\u2019t know my Father\u2019s true love for me outside of knowledge. Did you hear me? I thought<\/strong> because I knew His Word, I knew Him<\/strong>. I was caught in a lie. Knowledge only puffed me up so I couldn\u2019t see Papa\u2019s love which is clothed in Humility. <\/strong><\/em>I was so lost and didn\u2019t even know it. Arrogance and pride held the keys to my imprisonment. I longed for Papa to love me, like me, and to see \u201cI was being a good girl\u201d<\/em> by pleasing Him, helping others, and doing good.\u00a0 When I saw the lie I believed, I repented and said, \u201cPapa, I am so sorry, I believed the lie, I have believed all of my life, that doing will make you love me more.<\/em> The truth has opened my eyes today, YOU LOVE ME EVEN IF I NEVER DID ANOTHER THING FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE\u2026 BUT JUST BE WHO I AM IN YOU!\u201d<\/em> \u00a0For months, I just enjoyed my Papa and I resigned my life to doing nothing, as far as ministry was concerned<\/em> for the rest of our life together. Months later, He wanted to write children\u2019s books and write blogs. So here we are!<\/p>\n

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Ask your ABBA, Father, and Daddy, \u201cDo You Really Love Me and Is Your Face Toward Me or Away From Me?\u201d<\/em> Let me know what He says. I believe He will say this:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Psalms 22:24<\/strong> –For He has not despised nor detested the suffering of the afflicted; nor has He hidden His\u00a0face<\/strong>\u00a0from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He listened.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Prayer: <\/strong>Thank you, Papa, you love me so much! Your face is always toward me no matter how I act or don\u2019t act. Your love for me is indescribable, it is a love that is not of this world. Your love transcends all that we could ever think or believe about who You really are. Thank you, Papa, I am still growing and discovering the depths of Your Love! Amen<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ABBA, IS YOUR FACE TURNED TOWARD ME OR AWAY FROM ME?   My precious ones, I had written a different blog for this week but our Father thought words of encouragement were needed again this week. Sometimes, just a whisper in our darkness from His lips can breathe hope and life back into our hearts. In one of my blogs, I talked about Night Seasons in our lives. We all must face them in order for us to understand just…<\/p>\n

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