06Apr

Riding bikes together from Roxbury to Harvard Square and back.

Whatchamacallits, Smartfood Popcorn and Sicilian pizza.

Deep conversation, identifying strengths, creating opportunities and unending support. These are just some of the ways my earthly father invested in me and showed me his love.

 

This Easter weekend I reflected on the ultimate sacrifice of God’s love for us in sending His Son to die for our sins. My heart was filled with gratitude to be on the receiving end of this love. Yet I know I’ve only begun to scratch the surface on understanding and accepting the immensity of The Father’s love for me. The magnitude of it is such that I can’t wrap my head around it.

 

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

1 John 3:1

 

When I think about my relationship with my earthly father, it brings a smile to my face. My father is one of my best friends. He is fun loving, brilliant and reassuring. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he loves me.

Daddy's girl

 

I also see a great example of fatherhood in my husband. He teaches our children history and practical life lessons. While I tend to be very structured with the children, he creates room in the routines to have fun with the children the “Daddy Way”. Beyond a shadow of a doubt I know he loves his children.

 

A Father's Love

 

And while these two examples exemplify Fatherhood, there exists an even more complete portrait a father’s love.

 

In a far-off land the Lord will manifest himself to them. He will say to them, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love. That is why I have continued to be faithful to you.’ Jeremiah 31:3

 

We are loved by The Father who:

 

~Covers you so you are not ashamed
~Forgives your disobedience
~Loves you enough to correct you
~Staying in contact with you
~Rejoices when you return home
~Surrenders His absolute best for your benefit

 

And these are but small glimpses of the depth of The Father’s love for us. It is His desire to saturate us in His love but we have to prepare ourselves to receive it. Our images and perceptions of God directly impact our ability to receive His love.

 

Do you perceive Him as a loving, doting father?

 

Do you perceive him as a harsh disciplinarian?

 

Your perceptions of The Father can box in His love for you. We can put human limitations on a Father whose love is immeasurable and everlasting. I pray that we eradicate any limitations, barriers or hindrances that stand in the way of us experiencing the width, depth, breadth and height of The Father’s love for us. I pray that our hearts are open to receive the fullness of His love for us.

 

In his book Love Beyond Reason John Ortberg says, “Attention is so valuable we don’t just give it, we pay attention. This is how God loves us. He pays attention to us.”

 

The Word declares that your Heavenly Father pays you attention in that He:

 

~Thinks you’re the apple of His eye
~Loves you with an everlasting love
~Is a father to the fatherless
~Knows what you have need of even before you ask
~Has compassion for you
~Calls you His child

 

This is but peek at the totality of A Father’s Love, The Father’s Love. Oh friends be assured of His complete, utter, absolute love for you and receive it today. Join me in prayer…

 

Abba Father, most loving gracious God what a joy it is to stand in your presence. You are so full of love and light. Your glory saturates the atmosphere and fills this place and fills me. Lord I ask that you create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit in me. Whatever barriers stand in the way of me receiving the fullness of your love for me, I ask you to remove them. Lord, I thank you that you bless and keep me, that you make your face shine upon me, you are gracious to me, you lift the light of your countenance upon me and you give me your peace. Abba manifest your love for me in a real and tangible way. Amen.

 

Receive His love today.

 

In the song I Receive, Israel Houghton sings,

 

“Behold all things have been made new

My past has gone, my shame removed

You gave Your Son Your love for me

Now at the cross I am made free

I receive Your love, I receive Your love for me

I receive Your love, I know I am accepted”

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

Happy to connect with friends at Purposeful Faith Monday’s Musings Fellowship Fridays Dance With Jesus Grace and Truth

Tyra Lane-Kingsland is no stranger to inspiring the hearts of women. From her role as a Women’s Ministry Leader to spending over five years as a performance improvement coach and facilitator for a Top Twenty Fortune 500 Company, Tyra has provided encouragement to countless women. As the Founder of Inspired Life she encourages hearts to live fully by delightfully obeying God, embracing the now moment and honoring the temple; the totality of wellness, spirit, mind and body leading to fullness of life.

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11 Replies to “A Father’s Love”

  1. That’s great that you have such a good relationship with your dad. I know that makes a big difference.

  2. As always, dear friend, your words are beautiful. Not only that – you are too! I loved seeing the picture of you with your father. It kind of gave me goosebumps. Why? Well, because I delight in seeing you loved. Your Ultimate Father’s love is so big for you. I cheer that today from the #RaRalinkup. XOXO

  3. Lovely Photos, I love your thoughts on Fathers love.
    Followed you from #dance with Jesus
    God Bless

  4. Oh Tyra…This is so beautiful. I, too, lost a parent (my amazing mama) in 2008. I am 3000 miles away from my earthly father, but I still remember the little things like him taking my sister and eye on ice cream dates, making us “let him” open the car door for us, etc. You brought back memories while stirring up the gratitude of the present for the Father God is to me today! Love you Sis!!!

  5. Trya, what a beautiful word picture you shared of how our heavenly Father loves us. Having had no examples of what a father’s love looks like, seeing God as my Father both excited me and leaves me feeling unsure. Thank you for a little insight today. #DanceWithJesus as you shine His light to others. : )

  6. Beautiful post, Tyra!!! Like you, before my Dad went to be with THE LORD, I was definitely a Daddy’s girl, so I have such great memories of his love for me. But oh, how our HEAVENLY FATHER has so greatly loved me in the absence of my earthly Father! My gratitude for that is indescribable. Thank you so much for sharing this! Infinite blessings to you, Love! 🙂

    #RaRaLinkup 😉

    1. I too have experienced the passing of a parent. My mother passed my freshman year of college. Last year I just began to open that space for the Lord to come in and be a mother to the motherless. I am happy to hear that you’ve allowed the Lord to saturate you in His bountiful love.

  7. Tyra – I love the testimony of your father in your life as well as the testimony of your Father in your life. John Ortberg’s book is one of my favorites! The quote, “It is His desire to saturate us in His love but we have to prepare ourselves to receive it. Our images and perceptions of God directly impact our ability to receive His love.” Absolutely! Visiting from #RaRaLinkup

    Blessings!
    Lisa Murray

    1. Lisa,
      I’m praying you’ve been awash in the Father’s love all day today. Thanks for visiting my RaRa sister.

  8. I love the pictures of the awesome men in your life, Tyra! When I first became a Christian not too many years ago, I really struggled to see God “as a loving, doting father.” My dad was not anything like that description so I couldn’t imagine any father to be that way. It has taken me a long time to fully accept God’s incredible love. Thank you for this beautiful reminder today, my friend!

    1. I’ve struggled with it too. When I wrote this post and was looking for a picture to use as the feature I realized so many of my posts are on love. Day by day he is showing me what pure love looks like. As I receive His divine love He enables me to pass it on. Blessings to you as you spread divine love.

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