Father's Day

Today: Isaiah 42-44

It's Father's Day tomorrow. And I am REALLY blessed to have one of the world's best dads. If you asked me what makes my Dad so great, I couldn't give just one answer. I couldn't sum up 29 years of love in one charmingly funny, yet poignantly beautiful story. There are a zillion moments that make up our lives together.

He drives me to the airport at ungodly hours--even when I don't ask him to, can drive myself and pay for parking. He tells me, "I'm really proud of you" in just-because moments that coincidentally, are the precise moments when I need to hear it. He loves my Mom. He has always been there for my sisters and me--at our school plays, awards ceremonies, basketball games and spelling bees. He made me go to church every week...even when I didn't feel like it. He likes to do random acts of kindness...like buying dinner for a soldier and his family at the Olive Garden or paying for Starbucks drinks for the car behind him in the drive-thru. He makes me laugh.

While I've been blessed to have a good Dad, I realize that many people don't have that same opportunity. My Dad himself only had a dad for 7 years of his life...his dad died unexpectedly when my Dad was still just a little boy. I also realize that there are people whose fathers are not deceased or absent, but who are cruel or even abusive.

However, the Bible depicts God as a Father...and for those who haven't had a good relationship with a human dad, picturing God as a Father may be a pretty tough concept to grasp.

Today's passage included a wonderful message from God, illustrating His amazing fatherly characteristics. Take a look:

"Don't be afraid,

I've redeemed you.

I've called your name.

You're mine.

When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.

When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.

When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end—

Because I am God,

your personal God,

The Holy of Israel, your Savior.

I paid a huge price for you..."

Awesome, right? God is a Father who is stable, faithful and strong. He is personal enough to call you His. He paid a significant price to adopt you and I as His own. He has loved us before time itself even existed and will love us unconditionally no matter what. That's the kind of Father He is.

Tomorrow: Isaiah 45-48

Shining and saving

Today: Psalm 115-118

Tomorrow begins one of my favorite events of the year: the women's conference at my home church. This year's theme as "Shine." I'm sure there will be lots of sparkles and lights around (it is a girly-girl kind of event, after all!). I'm also sure that the speakers will talk about what it means to shine. It's interesting to me that today's passage shed some light (no pun intended!) on the topic as well:

God is higher than anything and anyone,

outshining everything you can see in the skies.

Who can compare with God, our God,

so majestically enthroned,

Surveying his magnificent

heavens and earth?

He picks up the poor from out of the dirt,

rescues the wretched who've been thrown out with the trash,

Seats them among the honored guests,

a place of honor among the brightest and best.

He gives childless couples a family,

gives them joy as the parents of children.

Hallelujah!

But you, Israel: put your trust in God!

—trust your Helper! trust your Ruler!

At Christian conferences for women and men, there's often talk like, "God's called you to be a king!" or "You're one of God's princesses." There's definitely truth in those statements--in the Bible, there are references to people like Esther placed "in a royal position" and God refers to His people as "heirs" called to "rule and reign" with Christ.

That said, I don't think being a king or queen in God's Kingdom is just about sparkles, power and fanfare. On the contrary, I think Jesus was a king with callouses--or a knight in strong armor whose heart bled (in His case, literally) for people. Women like Esther were queens who took major risks for the unloved and underprivileged. The female heroes of the Bible were not pristine princesses in high towers, present only in polished cliques--I picture them as princesses with patches on their knees and dirt on their fingernails. They helped real people.

Because what good is shine if it doesn't reach the darkness? And what good is strength if it lies sedentary?

I love the fact that God is a ruler who also helps.

I love that I know plenty of amazing princesses with patches--women beautiful inside and out who do things like building orphanages for children in South Africa affected by AIDS, giving their time to read to underprivileged kids in our city, donating money to help reach people with the Gospel...and so many other things.

I also love that I know a few good kings with callouses--guys who aren't too proud to spend a Saturday picking weeds in a disabled woman's yard, who live everyday as good dads and husbands, and who give time out of their busy schedules to volunteer at their churches.

Thank you all for shining and serving--for your strength and for your hearts. You will never know (well, until heaven anyway!) what you've done to impact me and so many others. Shining and saving isn't easy, but you're following God's example and that's just priceless.

Tomorrow: Psalm 119:1-88