Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Child-Likeness ~ The Power of Weakness

In our strength, it is difficult to find God's love; but in our weakness, Father's love finds us! ~ Ed Piorek

His love makes us feel safe and secure, the little girl and little boy inside of us is awakened and set free!  He reaches into the deepest part and we feel all good inside! There is never a day or time, He does not outrageously love us!

Matthew 18:1-4…He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said, I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

 Jesus knew how to get people's attention and shocked people when He taught them to pray to God with the words, Our Father, in heaven….Our Abba, Daddy, Papa. This is intimate and personal and denotes family...Yahweh is our Father, our loving Father and we are His children!


 As His love continues to pour into us, we will find that innocence is being restored, creativity and Joyful hope rises within us, as if children once again.


 Little children are naturally trusting, Joyful, dependent, fearless and not afraid to ask for anything, they are humble and willingly share their possessions; they are generous, playful, adventurous, sincere, innocent, energetic, restful through storms, full of imagination, risk takers, imitators of parents, persistent, free  yet know their limitations and have great needs.


  Children never expect 'No' as an answer when they ask repeatedly for the toy they see or the outfit they want! They have no problem asking for whatever they want from Mom and Dad; there is never a cost that is too high to pay.  Money and time is never a matter to consider, for Mom and Dad will get it for them!
 Just like Jesus, a son has a child-like heart and comes before Father unafraid. If you look back at last month’s post, you will find the comparison list of the most common traits of a son vs. orphan. This list reveals even more traits of those with a child-like heart, opposed to those who live in fear of tomorrow.

 He is our loving Father, He created us in His image and likeness.  We look like our Dad, our Father, our Abba! Jesus is the exact representation of Him and Jesus is not only our Savior, the Son of God, the soon coming King, He is also our Elder Brother. We are a family of covenant believers; families sticking together!

 The adversary, satan, does not want us to have understanding of this and live this affirming, loving life of victory, for it will bring devastation to the kingdom of darkness. Satan knows there is power in weakness, in child-likeness…for then Father will be our strength. He tried this same thing on Jesus, tempting Jesus in the wilderness, promising Jesus the kingdoms of this world, basically, to give up His sonship! He tempted Jesus in the position he held as Son with Father; to get Jesus to operate as an orphan, independently, through emotions such as pride and performance, tempting Jesus to deny His rightful place as Son.  
We, too, are sons of God, who inherit the kingdom, through our Elder Brother, Jesus! We are not orphans, dutiful servants who earn their position and fight our way in the ranks. Jesus earned it for us and we must simply yield and abide in the Love made for us to live in and to enjoy. The battle is not ours but the Lord’s; and He has given us authority to wield the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, through love, in the face of fear, along our life's journey.  

Though Father gave us emotions, they need not rule us.  Emotions are to direct us in various ways, such as the emotion of compassion for someone with no food, or clothing or an illness, or the loss of a loved one, or those hurting in some way. 
The emotion of anger is from God; but how we handle that anger is the key.  I have often had anger about a situation as well as having compassion.  As a son, I ask Father to define for me the source of the anger and what to do with it. Sometimes the compassion I feel directs me to pray and other times I pray as well as fill the need through the resource He reveals to me.  

 Healed emotions are controlled emotions. Meekness is controlled emotions that are given to the One who can heal them; as we are positioned in rest. And just as children inherit the kingdom, so do the meek inherit the earth! Father is the source for every need and we are the conduit to fill the need. When we lose the lower life, we gain the higher life as sons to Father, Who is all we need!
 It is also important to honor and esteem others higher than ourselves and believe the best and most in every man, no matter what is going on.  All are made in His image and likeness and Jesus paid the price for every life. 
Those who live around us or with us are His children too, who either do not know it or whose hearts are wounded and they are acting out from their pain, their ignorance of Him, or their culture or personality.  Learning to recognize this for ourselves and for others, to forgive from our heart, to receive love and be love to others is essential. And whether it does or not, we will have fulfilled our part, remained in faith, pleasing God; and we may even get to witness the result. He is God and He is faithful to do what we cannot! So let not our hearts be troubled! (Genesis 1:27, Matthew 5:5, Luke 9:24, 1Corinthians 13, Philippians 2:3-4)


 That does not mean we will not suffer through, for in this life there will be tribulation; He said to be of good cheer for He has overcome the world for us! In Him, we live and move and have our being, for we are His offspring! (John 14:1, 16:33, Acts 17:28)  

 In the second Santa movie, one scene was much like a present day parable; it took place in the school cafeteria:  All the adults, the principal, teachers and staff of the school had all gathered for a Christmas party, complete with decorations, party supplies, punch, cake and tasty morsels of food.  And though this was a party with music playing, no one was dancing or singing. 
Perhaps they showed up, because it was the dutiful thing to do. All those who were present at the party were standing around, speaking some small talk, without really engaging in conversation. It didn't look like they were having any fun and not smiling; they appeared to be quite bored and very miserable. 
The main character, who played the role of Santa, in this movie, was not dressed in a Santa suit. (It had not yet been disclosed that he was Santa. Of course I know that there is not a real Santa; though there was a man named St. Nick, who gave gifts to the poor.)  Anyway, the one playing the role of Santa jumped up onto the stage, where a Christmas tree appeared, all lit up, which got their attention. He was smiling, excited, and speaking cheerfully to them, and to no avail.  
However, when he started calling them out by name and giving each one a wrapped gift, they seemed astonished, for they did not know he even knew them.  Even when they were given their gift, they hesitated to receive it. And, as each one opened their gift, they found their favorite doll, game or toy from their childhood. Some gifts were what they always wanted and never got; and others received their most fun gift, they had as a child. They all began to play with the toys, with great excitement and with amazement that he knew what they liked the most. Some set on the floor as they played together, excited and smiling, just as they did when they were little children.  He had identified with their childhood memories that brought the most Joy! The little boy and little girl, was always inside, and now emerged from deep within! Free at last! 

Several points are evident: A party requires a lot of set up, hard work and completion for all to enjoy. (Jesus completed the work on the cross, so that we can live our life, celebrating what He did for us and for others to see!) 
And it is great fun with lots of joy and laughter, dancing and singing, cheerfulness, excitement in seeing one another, a child rips into a package right away with great anticipation, they do not hesitate.
When we come to know the One who loves us, Who knows our name, a celebration takes place within us! 
The world will know Him by our love for one another; in unity He commands the blessing, life forevermore!  
Every child loves a party! Daddy God loves a party! And Jesus made a way for us to live free, adventurous, joyful and clear from the distractions of this world. We have been given everything for life and godliness. 

Child-likeness is simply living as a son to a loving Father, who never ever gives us up and leaves us without support. He is the ever present Father, who is always with us, guiding us into all truth. Let’s enjoy the journey that has been given to us, open our heart and allow His love to melt every hindrance and every pain that has come against us, in this life. (Psalm 139:7-10, Hebrews 13:5)


There are not bad days, only days of grace to enjoy the journey or grace to endure the journey. ~ Graham Cooke

Romans 14:7 The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:1 Be imitators of God like dearly loved children. 
Romans 10:11 Anyone who trusts in Him, will never be put to shame.
Romans 8:15-16 (NLT) So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God's very own children, adopted into His family - calling Him "Father, dear Father." For His Holy Spirit tells us we are God's children. 
1Cor. 1:27-28…But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.
2Cor.12:7 My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 
Hebrews 4:9-11 Rest from work…enter into rest.
1 John 3:1 How great is the love Father lavishes upon us that we are called the children of God.
Matthew 11:28-29 (WEB) Come unto me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

John 7:37 If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 
Rev. 19:7-9 Jesus is making a feast for us! In eternity His followers, believers, will gather together at the marriage supper of the Lamb.
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Father, I thank you that you have always longed to be a Father to us. You are the perfect Father and both Father and Mother to us. You never meant for our parents or their parents to be perfect; for You are perfect. They gave to us all they had to give from what they were given and some gave very little and some were very hurt and only seemed to give us pain.  You are the Father to every fatherless place in our life and well able to restore in us, everything that was taken from us. We ask you to forgive us for rejecting our parents and spiritual leaders, even with all their faults, for we know not one of them is perfect. And we know that your grace is sufficient. 
Thank you for filling the voids created during these years and healing the pain and memories associated with that pain, bitterness, anger, shame and disappointments, in Jesus name. Amen!
By Deborah Fisher, Hot Pursuit Ministries International