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The Worlds Greatest Dad

  • He said, Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Mark 14:36 WEB

    Growing up in the Bible Belt as a child, my image of God was an angry, white-haired, lightning bolt wielding, disciplinarian that just waited on me to mess up. It was rare for me to go to church at all, but when I did visit the local baptist church, they showed movies like The Burning Hell with people like me on fire. God seemed sadistic and had put an awful lot of work into developing methods that brought maximum torture. Horrific pictures of Jesus wearing a crown of thorns and bleeding, while nailed to a cross, only enforced the idea.

    In stark contrast, my biological dad was the greatest. In fact, that is what we engraved on his tombstone: The Worlds Greatest Dad. My mom left when I was one and dad struggled to raise three boys on his own and work full time. He made huge sacrifices to keep us together as social services tried to adopt us out, but that is too long to share here. Suffice it to say that he would have given his life for his children.

    In Aramaic Abba is the English word that we use for Daddy. Jesus called God the Father, Daddy. This is an intimate, personal connection. Jesus could have used a dozen other names, but the night that He needed His Father the most, He chose this one.

    So I had a great dad, but from my distorted viewpoint, it seemed like Jesus had an awful one. My dad was loving and forgiving, where His lived for the day of the great white throne judgment. Somehow, the church had reversed the roles of God and satan.

    As I grew older and began to actually know God, instead of just hearing what others said about Him, I learned that He was even better to me than my own dad. As I began to intentionally invite Him to be a part of my life, we grew closer and He began to show up at my work place. One day as I was operating a machine, I felt something like oil being poured over my head. It startled me and I spun around thinking someone was pulling a prank on me, but there was no one there. My Dad was anointing me! He is the worlds greatest Dad and full of surprises. When I fall, He picks me up and forgives me.

    God really does love you, has the best plan for you, and He is not concerned with your past mistakes. He has taken care of that and will remove them and wash you as white as snow. He is always looking for a way to bring the lost child home. Know today that the Lord God Almighty sees you as His child. When you have needs, ask Him, it's ok! That is what children do. He understands that. When you need help, ask Him! God is not the meanie that we have made Him out to be and He has more in store for you than punishment.

    Prayer: Father, I pray that you reveal Yourself to me in a special way like only You can. Draw me into a deeper relationship with You and speak to me in a way that I understand, in the name of Jesus.

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49 comments
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Lissy Verghese
Lissy Verghese Thank you dear Pastor for the message! Loved the title!
June 4, 2015
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Chad Hale
Chad Hale Amen I agree Dads are the greatest.
June 4, 2015
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Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson Amen!!
June 4, 2015
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Valerie  King
Valerie King Amen.!
June 4, 2015
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Pam Stauffer
Pam Stauffer I love the visual of God anointing your head with oil....God Bless
June 4, 2015
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Deborah Alexander
Deborah Alexander Nobody Greater
June 4, 2015
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Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer Yes please.
June 4, 2015
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Dennis Bradburn
Dennis Bradburn Right on time ! Amen
June 4, 2015
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Kay Rushin
Kay Rushin Yes so glad that the fire and brim- stone God doesn't live in my mind anymore!
June 4, 2015
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Teresa Bridges
Teresa Bridges I love you Abba and everything I have and am is because of you!
June 4, 2015
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Alane Grosz
Alane Grosz All things are possible...
June 4, 2015
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Rhoda  Mora
Rhoda Mora Amen... I love my God & wouldn't have it any other way...
June 4, 2015
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Marlene Anglin
Marlene Anglin Amen!
June 4, 2015
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Carol Policastro
Carol Policastro I do so love these messages and start each day with a reading.  Thank you so much for your constant and consistent encouragement.  I hope the day comes when I stop falling so much and find it easier to let the Lord just hold me!
June 4, 2015
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Cheryl Graham
Cheryl Graham Abba, Father, please hear my prayers and be with me every step I take today and all days. I pray this in Love of You Abba my Father, Amen.
June 4, 2015
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Agnello Sagar
Agnello Sagar Amen!!!
June 4, 2015
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Theresa Smith
Theresa Smith Amen. Thank You Jesus for being the world's greatest dad..
June 4, 2015
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Diane Casey
Diane Casey Thank you for that! I had a mean step dad. God is a father to the fatherless.
June 4, 2015
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Carol Pady
Carol Pady I was very close to my Dad growing up. He died when I was 17 yrs old. A few years later I came to know Jesus and through Him Abba Father.  They have been with me ever since and showed their endless love for me in so many ways. They filled up the hole in my heart from my Dad's death, with a much deeper love than I had lost. I am a daughter of God, I  praise Him for rescuing me!
June 4, 2015
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Twila Stierwalt
Twila Stierwalt It is so true, how I see God my heavenly Father. He is there holding my hand, and even picking me up when I fall, and carring me when I can't walk. He loves me, I am blessed, He chose me,  He adopted me, He has accepted me,  He has redeemed me,  He has forgiven me. He has sealed me,  If I believe God then I have received His resurection power. I am a daughter of Abba my Father(Daddy) I had a very Godly earthly Father which helped me see My hevenly Father in the same way. I believe God has done all these things for me, and this is who I am in Christ Jesus. My Heavenly Father promiced to give me to Jesus Chrise as a special token. If you haven't had a Godly earthly Father, read the first chapter of Ephesians, over over untill you know your Daddy real well. He does love you very much.
June 4, 2015
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Hope Ziemba
Hope Ziemba This devotional was so good.  It hit my heart,  and it was just something that I needed to hear right now in my walk with God
June 4, 2015
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Kathy Banfield
Kathy Banfield It was the polar opposite for me--for some reason, I always viewed God as a fumy guy, much like Rodney Dangerfield! ("I get no respect...") My biological dad was a strict disciplinarian, and HE was raised Southern Fundamentalist! Because he was beaten and whipped as a child (and subsequently ran away from home to join the Army when he was 16 and lied about his age!) I was often scolded just as he had been. Kids were meant to be seen, not heard, as far as my dad was concerned.Typical pattern of abuse, I suppose. But to this day, I am finding it hard to forgive my father for the beatings he gave me. He even broke a lamp on my head once because I was on the phone with a guy at 11 p.m! To him, that was unheard of. And yet, my parents will sternly insist they did all they could for me.I now feel torn and bewildered. For deep inside, I really do believe they thought they were looking out for my best interests, as sick as that sounds! Thanks for today's devotion, Pastor Todd and Sylvia!
June 4, 2015
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Reinhard Blefgen
Reinhard Blefgen Amen
June 4, 2015
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Debbie Bible
Debbie Bible It took me a long time to get away from the thinking that God is punitive. THEN, just last night I was reading some preacher's blog who said, "How dare we approach God in prayer as if he's someone to talk to?" and "Being angry at God will send one straight to hell." Of course that jolted me right back to the thinking of my past- and questions about my loving God. Now I read this wonderful message...coincidence? I think not.
June 4, 2015
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Dion Todd
Dion Todd God is not mean. Some have reversed the personalities of God and satan.  :)
June 4, 2015
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<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member This was truly a message for me. Thank you so much for all you and Sylvia do. 
June 4, 2015- Edit- Delete
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<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member God is a loving and caring God. He loves us so much.
June 4, 2015- Edit- Delete
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<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Always know Jesus loves us no matter what
June 4, 2015- Edit- Delete
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<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Amen
June 4, 2015- Edit- Delete
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<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Amen, Praise His Holy Name.
June 4, 2015- Edit- Delete
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<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Amen, He is our Father
June 4, 2015- Edit- Delete
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<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Amen, He sure is
June 4, 2015- Edit- Delete
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J D  Williams
J D Williams OUR FATHER IS SO LOVING AND MINDFUL OF ALL HIS CHILDREN TO THOSE WHO THINK THAT GOD IS MEAN THEY DON'T KNOW HIM AT ALL..... 
June 4, 2015
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<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Amen, what a beautiful prayer.
June 4, 2015- Edit- Delete
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<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Always know when we fall and make mistakes, He is right there to pick us up. He has picked me up so many times. He loves us so.
June 4, 2015- Edit- Delete
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<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Amen
June 4, 2015- Edit- Delete
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<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Amen
June 4, 2015- Edit- Delete
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Scott Riegelmann
Scott Riegelmann Thank you pastor Todd I've always known that God was the best dad ever, you see my biological father was very very abusive I spent a number of year's in therapy just learning how to deal with PTSD, I love God as one would his own dad He's been protecting me ever since I moved out of my father's house when I was 16 yrs old, Life is so wonderful if we choose to see it! Its a choice today for me and I choose to be happy and treat others as I want to be treated. Thanks for reminding me of all of GOD'S goodness, mercy and most of all love and humility! I feel sorry for those who don't know Jesus I sure hope and pray we reach them all before it's too late!
June 5, 2015
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Cheryl Hepler
Cheryl Hepler Love the prayer...thank you
June 5, 2015
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Cheryl Hepler
Cheryl Hepler Sounds like that preacher has some healing to do...Bless him, Lord.
June 5, 2015
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Cheryl Hepler
Cheryl Hepler Hurt people hurt people....
June 5, 2015
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Cheryl Hepler
Cheryl Hepler I hear His nurturing in you....
June 5, 2015
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Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams Amen.  Praise God!  Thank you!  Like only He Can!
June 5, 2015
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Carol Policastro
Carol Policastro I am reading several posts today concerning Pastor's post about the best Dad ever - God.  Then, I just had a funny thought.  We all have the same Father - so we are all one big family in Christ!  Peace be with you all my brothers and sisters.  AMEN   Lastly, thank you Pastor Dion and Sylvia for spreading the Word in an understandable way and for helping all of us connect one to another.
June 5, 2015
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Christopher Shannon
Christopher Shannon Thank you, Pastor Dion.  Thank you for your strength, courage, and insight. Thank you for sharing your hardships, struggles and ultimately, your victories through Jesus.  I certainly can relate to many of your shared experiences. Thank you for being a wonderful friend to your many readers.  God bless!!!     
June 5, 2015
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Yvette York
Yvette York

Amen 

September 27, 2016
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Carol Pady
Carol Pady

I too was brought up fearing God. Now I am in awe of Him, He is just like Jesus. So when I come to Him, I come to a loving , tender, patient, giving Father. Jesus was the presence of God on this earth. Just reading how Jesus interacted with sinners, shows me my first impressions of God were very wrong. He wasn't waiting to punish me, He was waiting to embrace me.

 

September 27, 2016
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Stacie Chambers-Franklin
Stacie Chambers-Franklin

Oh how this brings to light the Daddy issues that I have struggled with for so many yesrs. I STILL struggle with seeing God as loving. I STILL fear that He is angry and upset with me...even after ALL these years (was saved at age 15, now 41 years old). When I first came to Christ, I experienced the power of God's love and was radical for Him. I preached about Him EVERYwhere I went; and I walked and talked with Him in such power and intimacy. But life happened, and I eventually fell away from the Lord...and then rededicated my life to him...a few times. It was an awful cycle. I could never find the "high" that I did when I first got saved. My relationship with God was never the same. It has felt cold, distant, like He's mad at me, like I'm not good enough. Despite these feelings, He has truly shown up for me time and time again. He has blessed me in many ways. I see His actions, but my feelings have yet to line up.  Daddy issues from my own childhood...I believe that may be the root cause. Thank you, Pastor Dion. Continuing to pray that this revelation would take root deep within my heart. 

September 27, 2016
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Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen, this message sounds so much like me when I was growing up. I was always made to be scared of God. I also had that feeling of something warm coming over me and my life has never been the same. Thank you God for saving me through your Son Jesus Christ Amen

September 27, 2016