"The Father's Heart" - Too

 "Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father." (John 6:46 KJV)

  "We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transformed us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins." (Colossians 1:11-14 NLT)

 I couldn't help but think of Abraham, as he was getting ready to sacrifice his son, Isaac. It is not the fact that he just trusted God, knowing that God would somehow fulfill the promise through Isaac, somehow, or some way, regardless of whether or not he went through with the sacrifice of his son: but that he had to actually do this to his son! They say, Isaac was not a little boy, as some illustrations portray him, but that he was a man, most likely close to the age that Jesus was, when He was crucified. 

 My heart is a little heavy today, as it is my son's birthday. I can still remember the moment he was born, how I felt so blessed, and how much I cherished that very special moment. I can also remember his funeral, how everyone that knew him best, had gathered around his open casket and were recalling the special things he had said and done to encourage them and make them laugh. 

 As I stood off in a distance, waiting to give those that would carry the casket their instructions, I was so amazed by the fact that none of them were in tears, but they were all joyful and glad to be sharing the memories of him together. That is the kind of joy that Paul is speaking of, because it has nothing to do with our current circumstances or situations, but everything to do with our eternal hope! 

 This current life, filled with death and pain and suffering, although it is sometimes hard to ignore those things that hurt our hearts, we have a very special celebration to look forward to, regardless of that which might hurt us in this present time; all of this has no effect on our tomorrow...

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see - such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. For God in all his fulness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross." (Colossians 1:15-20 NLT)