GOD THE FATHER OR GOD THE PUNISHER

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." John 14: 6-7 (NIV ©1984)

What is a father? A father is tall enough and strong enough to stand in the gap between his home and family, and the outside world. He shields his family from harm. A father loves and forgives, and holds his children accountable for their actions while bestowing grace and love out of the goodness of his heart. In John 14, Jesus describes God, not just as creator and authority over the world, but as the giver of fatherly love, our Abba—our Daddy.

God in the Old Testament is more of a punitive God, our God of laws and rules, more rigid and distant. God, who wore the face of Jesus Christ, is a loving and forgiving God, our Daddy. No one can come to the "Father - God," the benevolent God, except through Jesus. Father-God gave voice and status to women and children as Jesus spoke to the women around him and drew the small ones onto his lap.

In Jeremiah 59:21, God told His children, "Attack the land of Merathaim and those who live in Pekod. Pursue, kill and completely destroy them," declares the LORD.

As our nation abandons our belief in God, and our willingness to walk in the way of the Father, we may be gradually turning our lives over to those who either believe in no god or those who believe in a punitive, rigid, unforgiving one whose followers give no power to anyone but a select few.

I am certainly not Doris-tradamus. I do not pretend to know the future. But, I do believe that the West is different from the East because of Jesus’ influence on this side of the world which gave us the ability to love those who are not like ourselves and welcome them into the family of God where God is our Father.

There is a debate this evening to help citizens of the United States decide which presidential candidate will help draw us closer to the family of God. We need a president who can trust in God to stand in the gap between our nation and threats from outside. Some would choose to take down our great nation and place us on a level equivalent with poorer nations. Then who would rescue the stranded, feed the poor and heal the broken? We are a nation that has been a shining light, drawing others to opportunity and freedom and including them into our nation-family. We soon have an opportunity to choose our president, a man we believe will further the cause of our nation.

Let us pray to have open ears and receptive hearts while we listen to tonight’s debate, discernment truth when truth is spoken. May we have the energy and courage to help get out the vote for the candidate we believe will continue to promote the cause of freedom, love and real hope for which our country has always stood. Let us pray:

"Our father, Abba, you are the very life we live and the air we breathe. We live in you while you live in those of us who invite you in. Holy is your name. We are in very serious and dangerous times, Father. Our country is at a sharp pinnacle, where tremendous decisions must be made. Open our hearts to receive the words you have for us; open our minds that we may not be closed; and, give us discernment to know the truth when we hear it spoken. We know that this election requires more than the casting of our vote. We must be willing to spread the word of freedom and help others get to the poles. We know, if we do not stand together for freedom, we will surely fall for a rubble heap of lost hopes, dead dreams, and tarnished monuments that represented the greatness that once was. May we build new and stronger dreams by remembering the lessons taught long ago. Let us listen for the voice that lifts us to individual freedom. Strong citizens can lend a hand and lift up the less fortunate. A weakened and dependent populous has nothing to offer but want. May we have your wisdom and discernment. In the name of Jesus, your son, we pray. Amen"

Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine."
Copyright 2012 Doris Gaines Rapp

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