Today is my daughters second birthday. As I reflect over the last 2 years, I cannot imagine my life before she entered my world. From her first cry and pouty lip I was completely wrapped around her little finger. Even when I cannot do anything to soothe her, I still do everything within my limited abilities to meet her need. I would most likely try to stand on my head if she asked me to, why, because I love my daughter with all my heart. She has brought my wife and I joy and has been a blessing from God. Since I’ve become a father, it’s given me a better understanding of the Love that Jesus Christ has for his children. God gives us a glimpse of his own heart through the love we have for our own children. You parents – if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him (Matthew 7:9 -11NLT) This passage shows us that as much love as we have for our children, and our hearts desire to meet all their needs, it fails in comparison to the love he has for you and I. Our love drives us to give our children the best life possible, we do things that don’t always make much sense, but that’s the beauty of love, it keeps our focus on them. To many people, they don’t understand why a man would come to earth and live a short life knowing what his purpose here was, and that was to ultimately give his life for mankind. To the naked eye, it may not make much sense, but Jesus done it because of the Love in his heart. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8 NASB) Jesus bore the agony, blood, sweat, and tears on the cross for you and I. He came to earth and hung and died on the cross on our behalf. He nailed our sins to the cross, went down and defeated death, hell, and the grave for us. As much love as I have for Payton, I realize it’s but a speck of sand on a seashore to the Love Jesus has for me. Just as I have tried to live a life to make my parents proud, I desire to live a life that makes my Heavenly Father proud. I want to hear him say “WELL DONE,” at the end of the day, it won’t matter what went on at work, or how lousy of a day we had. Are we making HIM proud? I hope to live a life pleasing unto him, and in my attempt, I want to indoctrinate the truth into my daughter and spend my life trying to get my family to Heaven. It may not make much sense to shelter my family from the world, to not go certain places, or live a certain lifestyle, and that’s ok with me. My love for my family keeps my focus on them, and my hearts desire is to keep their focus on God. I pray God gives me the wisdom and understanding to make the best decisions for my daughter, our hearts are wicked and deceitful, and that’s why we need the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in this walk of life. Whatever you’re facing today, remember Christ gave his life for you and his desire is for you to live a blessed life. That’s true love of a Father!

God Bless, JDS