Sunday, June 17, 2012

1 John 4: 16
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

At a time when fathers are getting such a bad rap, it is heartening to know that our Father has, since time immemorial, epitomized what a father truly is. Who could be more kind to wake us up each morning, keeping us in our right minds, putting food on our table, giving food, shelter and clothing, and connecting us with the right loved ones? This is a father who does not disappear when things get rough but stands by us, His children through thick and thin. We salute all the fathers who have fulfilled the mandate that God has given as gatekeepers of the family. We ask for God’s guidance and strength upon them. We thank God for who God is and so join with the great hymn writer to sing of God’s love:

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit,
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its Beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.
Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

Charles Wesley

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/d/ldalexcl.htm