The Heart of Our Father
Dear High Street Family,
As I hold these precious bundles (little Peter and Emma) in my arms in the NICU, I find myself often praying and thinking about their lives and singing over them.
Before they have anything of value to offer the world, they are so treasured and loved by me and Keri (and Hopie too).
And I’m often reminded that this is how Our Father sees us. Scripture says God chose us “Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love.” (Ephesians 1:3-4 MSG).
Do you know Your Dad has this sort of attention, connection and dreams for you?
Even the Old Testament reveals our God as a Father who, “is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by his love; He will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17 ESV)
And I know this to be true in new and fresh ways as I care for our precious babies.
I experience a glimpse of our Daddy’s heart as I rejoice over their budding lives, as I glimpse their little personality quirks, as I see them struggling, and learning and growing…
I literally am showing them that I am with them, in ways beyond what they even know and perceive, bathing them in tangible love, setting up their world, helping orchestrate their flourishing, dreaming over their lives.
Keri and I are caring for them. For their needs. Strategizing around them. Rerouting my priorities for them. Our heart and words are speaking blessing over them. Favoring them. And I’m holding them every moment I can.
As I hold them , I am literally singing audibly or quietly over them. Worshipping. Praying into their future. Declaring lyrics and dreams they don’t even yet understand, blessings that they’re absorbing deep into their spirit.
And often, I am quite literally “quieting them in my love.” Giving them my presence. Whispering “peace” over them. Tending to discomfort. Speaking of their deep value to us. Holding them. Kissing them. They are so fragile, yet my attention and affection help to calm and soothe them. And with my love and Keri’s love, they are growing stronger and more themselves everyday.
And to me, this whole experience is a fresh revelation of the heart of our Dad.
There’s a reason Jesus called our God, “Abba,” an affectionate, childlike name meaning “Daddy!” Through our faith in Him, we’ve inherited the same kind of sweet relationship with our heavenly Father, “Because you are sons and daughters (through Jesus), God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Galatians 4:6 ESV)
I know that our Dad is like this because as I father Emma and Peter in limited and finite ways, I feel our Dad’s huge heart flowing through me.
He designed this whole family thing. And He is bigger, better, and more powerful in radiating His Father-love over us and over you, even today. Have you experienced your relationship with our Father this way?
• Where are you needing to hear His song of delight over you today?
• What is it like to consider that He has factors and dreams in mind over your life that you haven’t yet discovered? New dynamics and purposes still to step into?
• What would it be like to let His ever present love quiet your spirit even now?
Well, this Sunday, I get to be back in the saddle with you all, woo hoo! I’ve missed you guys and we’ll be continuing witnessing the Holy Spirit in the early church in our Catching God’s Momentum series. This series has already brought some wonderful and unexpected twists and turns, and we’ll see this is exactly the sort of atmosphere that the Holy Spirit loves to show up in and make life-changing music out of our messes.
See you Sunday!
Pastor Dave