You Were Made For Love, By Love~God Is Love!

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous-how well I know it.  You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in Your book.  Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed...Psalm 139:14-16 NLT


God our Father, Who is Love, designed us, forming us in our Mother's womb; making us in His image and likeness. He created our brain, designing it to receive positive, affirming, faith-based, and loving words, as we were being formed in our mother's womb.  Love is the most natural thing for us to yield to and to receive; and to be an expression of that love, Storge Love! Though there are four kinds of love; this love is communicated through the five senses  (seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching).  From the time of conception, as we form, on the day of birth and throughout our life, we were made for love: healthy, sensory input, such as loving affectionate speech, touch, sounds, pleasant aromas, and visions.  We were simply not created to process fear; it is something learned. Therefore fear must make its own place to light.

Neuro-Scientist, Dr. Caroline Leaf says, "Thoughts affect us negatively or positively.  We can choose whichever one we want through our free will.  A thought is a real thing. Thoughts are like trees.  Good thoughts form like trees in our brain.  A negative thought is a toxic thought; they look like thorns. Stored in our brain is free will that we control; the ability to choose to overcome the toxic ones."  Children suffer from the effects of character disorders due to a lack of loving affection and have very little affection for others due to a lack of bonding.  Inappropriate touch is as damaging as a lack of touch; and either one affects our immune system, self-esteem, intelligence and simply how we function…from Dr. James W. Prescott

Thoughts can affect us electrically, chemically and neurologically.  There are fear based emotions; which are all negative thoughts, fearful thoughts, un-forgiveness, anxiety and the like. There are also faith based emotions, such as joy, loving affirmation and acceptance and others, which are positive; we were designed to receive these as our makeup. Our body was designed for faith-based words, thoughts, emotions, chemically, electrically and neurologically. Yet both enter our brain the same way.

They are processed through the five senses, and the contact, through external to internal world. They enter a doorway to the brain through, somewhat like, a central relay station and into the place where chemicals are stored. Scientists call this area a forest, because they look similar to trees.  Branches are formed by the words taken in.  The brain performs 400 billion actions per second and we are conscious of only 2,000. 

All that happens to us, from conception to today are stored there, in these trees, inside our brain. It is a forest of memories.  Information flows through them and random thoughts will sometimes appear, and we wonder where they come from; from these studies, now we know! Incoming info is looking for something similar to join the others.

The Neuron Forest of a Healthy Brain,

Designed by God, for Faith-Based Thoughts

A negative thought comes in and attaches itself to the branch, where other negative/toxic thoughts have clung; creating a cluster of thorns, then the wrong chemical is secreted.  These thoughts are not only more memory but carry an emotion, with each one.

 A point at the brain that says, 'I choose,' which God has created in man, is a checking point in the free will to choose to accept or reject the thought.  (Take captive the thoughts that come and this is down to the level of the DNA, nerve cells etc.) This is all connected to a link to the heart….a mini-brain of the heart, with 40,000 neurons or the mind of the spirit-our conscious; an integrity that checks and advises you. If we do not take heed to it, our heart does not function as it should-disease and the like can come and we are now out of kilter. 

Free will has been identified as a physical structure in the brain.   An adult brain contains about 100 billion nerve cells, or neurons, with branches that connect at more than 100 trillion points.

A battle will rage at the free choice location.  The more we feed the negative and thorns grow, the more it dominates. The more the positive, faith based thoughts enter, hot energy is produced for our good. With the heart, man believes; and what we believe, we will live out.  

Deuteronomy 30:11 and 15 This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is not beyond your reach.  v.15...I set before you today, life and death! 

Thorns Created in the Neuron Forest,

By Negative and Fear-Based Thoughts

(As shown by Dr. Caroline Leaf)

Every thought releases chemicals and can change the circuitry.  Toxic thoughts change the status of the brain and release pockets of chemicals that are stored in what looks like thorns; every time we revisit the toxic thoughts.  Toxic thoughts change the shape of the cell wall causing openings for cells that contain disease; this flows through the body and makes us sick.  This goes to the heart first into the blood stream.  These chemicals flow into a direct path into the heart and affect the immune system.  Stress is caused by the thorns in the brain.  Stress is the body’s reaction to the negative thoughts.   And 87% to 93 % of current physical problems/illnesses (mental, emotional, and physical) come from a negative thought life; and the other 7 % to 13 % to diet, genetics, and environment! Big ones and small ones/symptoms are real. 

Renewing the mind in the Word breaks the thorn free, removing it in the brain. For example: Laughter does good like a medicine and a cheery mind works healing...Proverbs 17:22 Amplified

And how very lovely to know that there is no fear in love, and perfect love casts out ALL fear; as designed by God! 

 Within four days, the circuitry of the brain can change. Eph. 4:23 Be renewed in the spirit of your mind…. Romans 12:2 Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  

It takes four days to take the thorns out and 21 days to establish memory without the thorns and replace positive memories over old ones. Repentance through forgiveness is often necessary. When we stop holding onto pain, releasing free will to forgive, thorns leave and faith based emotions will cause thorns to go and rebuild over old ones. Yay God! He took care of everything.  He built within us the release needed to live a life more abundant! 
The greatest thoughts are His thoughts towards us every day; for His thoughts towards us are more than the number of the grains of sand on the seashore.

There are also thirteen steps that Dr. Leaf gives to detoxify our brain, such as reading/studying the Word of God, exercise, laughter, healthy eating, and even dreaming. I have added one, making it fourteen: abiding in the presence of God; some call soaking! 
'Genes do not cause behavior; yes, they might give us certain tendencies to behave one way or another, but they do not have final say.  In many ways, we have the opportunity to choose who we're going to be.  It's not completely out of our control.'...Dr. Caroline Leaf

One example for this, comes from a very well-known story from the Bible, in the life of Jabez, found in 1Chronicles 4:9-10.  His mother named him Jabez, which means pain; and he chose to not live his life causing himself or others pain. 
Proverbs 16:3...Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts shall be established. And in the Amplified...Roll your works upon the Lord, commit and trust them wholly to Him, and He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and so shall your plans be established and succeed.  

Jan Bedell of Little Giant Steps, was given the audio of Father's Love Letter to play over children with developmental difficulties, such as ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia and Autism.  The love of God for them is stimulating the brain, promoting dendrites to grow. (Dendrites are nerve endings) Love is changing them physiologically. He quiets us with His love...Zephaniah 3:17 Taken from an email sent to us and to Barry Adams, writer of Father's Love Letter   
www.littlegiantsteps.com  

Who Switched Off My Brain is an excellent resource and book written by Dr. Caroline Leaf. She is a Neuro-Scientist that has studied the brain for more than 25 years and offers practical advice on how to control toxic thoughts, from conception and its path to maturity; and teaches you how to live a healthy life with a peaceful, joy-filled life. There are many interesting facts as well, that will encourage and enlighten you. She also has other books and material to educate and help with everyday living, with a Christian perspective.


The following link is another one of many stories on the communication of love through the five senses, which awaken us to life.  Twins were born, one died, and loving touch, sound, taste, and smell brought him back to life, confirming that we were created for love!
 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1306283/Miracle-premature-baby-declared-dead-doctors-revived-mothers-touch.html#ixzz0xtznDsYB

The images of the brain above, along with gathered information on the brain are used by permission...www.DrLeaf.com 

Genesis 1:27, Deut. 30:19, Hosea 4:6, Psalm 51:6, 139:14-18, Prov. 18:21, 23:7, Isaiah 7:15, Zephaniah 3:17, Romans 10:10, 12:2, 2Cor.10:5, Eph. 4:15,17-32, Philippians 3:13, 4:6-8, Hebrews 8:10, James 2:20, 1 John 4:18

By Deborah Fisher, Hot Pursuit Ministries Intl.

Displays of Endearment~Gently Wiggling Noses and Pinching Cheeks!

 The significance of a gentle touch to the nose, with a slight wiggle, or gently tweaking a nose, as my husband puts it, is a playful, loving gesture.  Often, it is really about awakening the little girl or little boy inside, to a life full of adventure and intrigue, free to discover with childlike trust again! No Fear!

 Life can cause the sense of adventure to fade and dreams to die; yet most 'little' children have enormous trust and Joyfully take risks, that adults often never venture into! 

 Sometimes, when I wiggle the nose of someone or gently pinch or squeeze their cheek, it takes them back to a pleasant memory they had from their childhood.  And often times, it is to fulfill a love need they have from their childhood. These are just two endearing displays, in which a mother or father show affection towards their child, affirming them.  Though displays or gestures of appropriate, loving affection vary by culture, gender, or race, they do take place in a healthy, family environment.

 A simple embrace, such as a hug or drawing someone close to your side, cuddling them, rocking or swaying them, twirling them around or dancing, stroking someone’s cheek or brow, removing their hair from across the forehead, cupping one's hands around their face, singing a simple song and so many other gestures are all displays of loving affection that are shown with tenderness towards a child.  Just recently, someone told me that a Chinese mother will take the cotton end of a Q-Tip and outline her child’s ear, over and over again, soothing the child, bringing comfort and peace; and the infant drifts off into a restful sleep.  These types of gestures and others are ways of communicating love through the five senses, that instill safety and security, building confidence and trust, stimulating healthy activity in the brain. 

 Our Heavenly Father is both Father and Mother to us; and longs for us to allow Him to be Father to us.  He is wanting to unlock and awaken the little boy and little girl inside of us, to live a sense of adventure, with child-like trust again; restoring us to innocence, where we rely on Him for all our needs.  Whether these needs are emotional, physical, mental, spiritual, or financial, He is our all in all.  We are His creation, made in His image and likeness.  He is our Provider, our Healer, our Deliverer, our Defense, our Helper, our Salvation, our Hope, our Lover, our King, our Friend, our Joy, our Banner, our Assurance, our Encourager, our Father!  Acts 17:28 reads, In Him, we live and move and have our being, for we are His offspring, and also 1 Corinthians 6:18, I will be a Father to you and you will be my sons and daughters. Matthew 18:3, Unless we have a turn of heart and come as a little child, we will not inherit the kingdom.

 There are countless times over the years that I sense the Father’s loving affirmation towards someone; I then respond with that gesture that Holy Spirit reveals to me; sometimes it’s an action like the ones mentioned above or I speak a word of encouragement and sometimes it’s both. 


 I have my own experiences too. Many years ago, someone asked me to sit on their lap; she was over 60 pounds lighter than I and a very small framed woman. She patted her knees, with the gesture for me to sit upon her lap! When I finally realized that she was serious and with the prompting of Holy Spirit, I responded; and as soon as I sat on her lap, she began to rock me and tears poured down my cheeks.  I knew that Father was fulfilling a deep desire within me to be loved with a Mother's love. 

 Just recently, I felt the Father unlocking the little boy inside a man I had just met, when I was wiggling his nose.  Though not a stranger to our mutual friend, who had just introduced us, he was a complete stranger to me and a doctor by profession. And most importantly, he was not a stranger to Father. This action of wiggling his nose caused him to be thrust into a life of faith, filled with adventure, once again.  Though we were in a room with hundreds of governmental and spiritual leaders, Father’s heart of love was pouring out upon him, requiring a response!  Along with the wiggling of his nose, I expressed words similar to these that follow, “Be encouraged to set with Father, in the atmosphere provided for you by Holy Spirit, soaking in His presence.  And no matter how busy each day gets, know that Father is with you, He’s ever present and loving you throughout the day.  He delights Himself in you, His little boy!”  A month or so after this meeting, I spoke with our mutual friend, who described to me his friend today.  He now walks with a great confidence and uplifting countenance.  In fact, they spoke about our encounter with extreme delight; referring specifically to the nose wiggling!  His perspective is different and the burdens he was carrying are no longer present; he has a new perspective on life.  


 In a Soaking Encounter, just recently, one of the men who were there, shared with all of us, how Father was holding him, cradling him in His arms, as one holds a baby.  Father was stroking his hair and singing to him a song, which his Mother used to sing to him. Here below is just one of various lyrics that was sung and recorded years ago by the late Eddie Arnold: 


A tiny turned up nose, his cheeks just like a rose 
So sweet from head to toe, that little boy of mine
He's all the world to me, he climbs upon my knee
To me he'll always be, that little boy of mine
No one will ever know, just what his coming has meant
Because I love him so, he's something heaven has sent
A tiny turned up nose, his cheek's just like a rose
So sweet from head to toe, that little boy of mine
No one will ever know, just what his coming has meant
Because I love him so, he's something heaven has sent
He's all the world to me, he climbs upon my knee
To me he'll always be, that little boy of mine.

And, additional, varied verses:

Who cares for fame or fortune
Who cares for wealth or gold
Because I find a fortune
Within my arms I hold

And when he lays his head
Upon his pillow so white
I pray the Lord above
To guide him safe through the night

In dreams I see his face
And feel his fond embrace
There's no one can replace
That little boy of mine.

Two eyes that shine so bright
Two arms that hold me tight
Two lips that kiss goodnight

That little boy of mine

 No matter what age we become on this earth, we will always be Daddy God's little boy or Daddy God's little girl!  Though our physical body grows and our mind fills with knowledge, He remains our Father, Who continues to provide and in Who we always rely; leaning on His comforting, loving, capable arms. We will take no titles to heaven with us; we will be known as Daddy God's little boy and little girl with a great Big Dad!


 These encounters with Father are experiences that reach deep within us, bringing healing, refreshing, loving affirmation, and fulfilling love deficits only Father knows exists. 

 Another, more recent encounter took place when I was a part of a prayer ministry team and someone came up where we were praying just to observe; yet she was drawn there by Holy Spirit.  Being on her feet for a while, she was in pain.  I asked her to sit.  Father not only wanted the pain to leave her feet, but to bring refreshing and to unlock the little girl inside.  When I poured water over her feet, she began to giggle and move backward and forward in the chair, several times and laughing uncontrollably.  Her feet now landed in a puddle of water and she began splashing in the puddle and laughing! This laughter had never happened to her before and she left refreshed.  Since that day, I have asked on several occasions if she is still laughing and splashing and she says ‘Yes’ and that she is taken back to that time of refreshing. 

Each encounter is chosen by God our Father and as unique as each one of His children. 

Father is restoring our souls and bringing us to innocence once again; for we were made for love! A new found freedom awaits us all in Father's loving arms!

by Daddy's Little Girl, Deborah Fisher

Lyrics taken from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/b/bonnie_owens/that_little_boy_of_mine.html

A Look of Vengeance and Passion in His Gaze

A Lion Encounter at Soaking

Oh how He loves us and loving us even now!  I first heard this statement from James Jordan of Father Heart Ministries, Taupo, New Zealand, several years ago; and it went deep inside of me and deeper still.  More and more I am being convinced that love is having its perfect work inside of me.  Love will penetrate us and elevate us to live out our lives and purpose for the kingdom, with great Joy and abandonment. 

 Some months ago, while facilitating a Soaking Encounter in St. Augustine, I had an encounter, which I shall never forget.  Lately, more and more spiritual accounts of encounters with a Lion are being spoken or written about.  Most likely there have been and are others taking place too.  Every time since, when others see this Lion, the description is much the same, yet the experience varies.  And when I read or hear about them, I am taken back to that first time and more passion and intensity increases in me; this happened just recently.  

 This encounter began with seeing the mane of a horse and then I recognized the horse to be a horse that my family had when I was young.  One day, when riding High and Mighty, as he was named, I was unable to stop him; he was hungry and was focused on the barn ahead.  I pulled back on the reigns and spoke to him and he kept going, entering into the barn, where his feed was in the trough.  As he entered, I ducked down through the entrance, and fell to the ground, and he stepped on the little finger, of my left hand; and it broke.  At the time, I did not know it was broken but it hurt very much.  My family laughed and I felt stupid, rejected and had a fear of riding again. This was indeed, not a great experience for me as a teenager.  
I heard the Father tell me what had happened then will not happen again, when riding.  This brought me much comfort and healing to that incident. Love cast out and replaced the fear. He explained to me that my understanding of authority now, and who I am in Him, and the confidence, I now have, is firm in Him. I felt enormous peace; Father had healed a place in me that I did not know needed healing; and how perfectly loving that is of Him to do!

 I then noticed that the mane no longer looked the same; the mane began to move, as if it was breathing.  And there was no wind blowing; which seemed a bit strange.  This was no longer the same mane; it had become the mane of a lion!

King Jesus, as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah!

 A lion, with a very commanding presence, had entered the room and now stood before me. A look of vengeance was radiating from him; yet I felt a passion that I have felt many times before.  Even with this vengeance in His gaze, I felt such enormous peace and rest.  How can that be?  When I looked into his eyes, he had the most intense and ferocious, yet loving and passionate gaze, that looked right through me, with such love, such strength, such courage, and majesty.  His gaze was beautiful, yet ferocious.  

He knew my thoughts and spoke this to me; He said clearly, ‘This ferocious gaze is not directed at you My love, it is directed towards all that is against you, and the passion in my gaze is the extravagant and outrageous love I have for you, that will never end!’

Then he sat down; his presence overtaking the room. The lion was huge and I was certain at one point that this lion was 15 feet long, no, it is more like 9 feet, I thought.  I went back and forth about the size in my mind.  Either way, I’m thinking, this is enormous!

  The lion, of great beauty, was now embracing me and everyone present there; though they were not aware of the lion, they were conscious of a divine presence. 

 I was amazed at the mane; it sparkled, with shimmering light and it was moving like alive itself, and one strand at a time!  And I felt His mane comforting me, as I was now leaning into Him.  I actually fell to sleep, which I never do at soaking; after all, I am the facilitator!

 When sharing with everyone later, which we do, as we gather back in one room together, I remember saying these two numbers to everyone in the room, as a description.  I came home that day, still pondering this and researched the size of an average male lion.  The largest size is surprisingly 9 feet and with the tail, it measures 15 feet long and it stands 4 feet high, not including the head.  The standing height is the height of an average, adult man. This is simply, still amazing to my mind to comprehend. 

 Since this particular encounter took place, for there have been more than one now, I was reminded of previous experiences that I also had.  They are becoming clearer to me; and I am recalling others.  One in particular, when I was in Toronto, my only trip there, thus far: I was lying on the floor, having just been prayed for, and I had my arm in a suspended place; and then realized I had my arm around the neck of the most beautiful and comforting lion.  I was not afraid, for he was with me. I tucked this experience into my heart and hoped it was so.  
 Now, with more experiences with Father and my becoming more and more convinced in my heart that I am loved, and without a doubt His child, not part of an army of believers; but personally a part of a precious family, created by God, I recognize what existed all along and I see my journey more clearly!

Love is the Most Excellent Way!

 Love received will remove hindrances and cause us to rest in Him, who has completed the work of righteousness.  The more convinced we become in love, the more lovable we know we are and the more we trust, in this Love, we are more determined to stand, more assured in who we are, with more mercy for ourselves and others. His voice becomes clearer; compassion rises, along with direction. Declarations of Truth are spoken with boldness, seasoned with love that shatters the resistance of lies and deception.

Love, the weapon of God’s mass destruction against that which is against those for who He died!

Deborah Fisher

HotPursuitMin@aol.com

‘I Have Seen I Am’ by Jonathan David Helser, is a song with passionate impact for the listener, that describes the experiences many are having of late, with this Lion. (Listen on this website, under Music.)

Remembering Our Earthly Fathers

My Earthly Dad!

 There are many pleasant memories that I have with my father as a child; though not quite the same, when I became a teenager!  It was at that time that he left my mother for another woman. 

I never quite knew nor understood why he did so; but he did and it hurt her very much and affected me more than I knew.  I felt abandoned and rejected and the effects of rejection began surfacing; feelings of abandonment, insecurities and low self-esteem were just a few.  I looked for affection from others and approval through the things I did.  Neither my parents nor I were aware of this then; and very clear to me now. 

 However, the childhood memories I have are more fond memories than not, especially with my father.  When I was young, I remember him taking me with him to the bakery, to his place of work, to the store, and to various places that he went.  He really liked being with me. He and my mother taught Sunday school and took us to church every Sunday and read us Bible stories too; obviously good seeds were planted.  He allowed all of us siblings to climb onto his lap, he swung us around, danced with his little girls, even having a tea party with us and he tickled us; never afraid to show his emotion of affection!   We ate meals together and he taught me to enjoy nature.

Cribbage Board

  My earthly father was quite the sportsman, physically involved in sports, a professional baseball player and a coach and teacher; and he worked as an athletic director and umpire in his later years.  He took us fishing and aquaplaning, boating, tubing and we also helped him with building a dock at our family’s lake cottage, cooking and more. Some of my best memories, though, were playing card games, board games and my favorite was Cribbage.  I can still hear him say, when dealing the cards, “Cut ‘em deep, you’re bound to weep, cut ‘em thin, you’re bound to win!” 

Canasta and Bridge were my mother’s favorites and she was good at them and taught us how to play these games as well. 

  My father showed affection towards me more than my mother; in fact, I cannot remember my mother doing so, when I was young, though she may have.  She did all the things like cooking, washing clothes etc. They both laughed and smiled and yet my mother was so busy all the time and was quite intense, quite the perfectionist, and not as approachable as my father.  In fact, most of my remembrance of time with my mother was related around working in the house or the yard and she was the strong disciplinarian.  I must say, our house was always clean and spotless!  
I remember as I grew older my father gave many hugs and kisses; as my mother did occasionally, when I was older.  He was affectionate and stroked my cheeks softly and the cheeks of the grandchildren too; he loved their soft skin.   

  I can still smell the freezer where my father put the snacks that he bought at the bakery and the ice cream. And there are other smells and sounds that bring back memories from over 50 years ago!  Both my husband and I have talked about the memories we have of our parents. My husband has memories of his father when smelling Old Spice cologne, which his father wore.  Every time my husband talks about it, it brings tears to his eyes, as he misses his earthly father, and loves the experiences in the depths of love with our Heavenly Father.
 Paul Wilbur, a Messianic Jewish believer and recording artist, was sharing with us personally, on our Heavenly Father and told us that Abba, an intimate name for God the Father, in Hebrew means, 
‘I long for your smell.’ 

The Father's Mother Heart Towards Us 

   With every thought, there is an emotion, communicated through the five senses; hearing, seeing, smelling, feeling, and tasting, which go directly to the brain, forming memories, stored in our brain.  It is through our five senses that love is first communicated to us. This love is called Storge love; first realized through our mother.  We’re always with her, the one who feels us inside, as we’re being formed and nurtured, growing in her womb.  We are a part of her and she is a part of us; loving us in deeper ways, than our earthly father can possibly do. A mother, who is excited about the child growing within her, will often talk or sing words over the child, touching her belly, comforting the child with loving and affirming sounds and touch; welcoming and blessing the child, as she cares for her own physical body.  A father will begin doing some of these same things; these actions from both parents, communicate love, acceptance, and affirmation, which build safety, security and trust within the child; beginning before his or her birth!  Clearly, these are examples of the Father’s Mother heart for us.  

 Father God is right there forming us inside our mother’s womb, from conception.  So, at conception, the brain begins to form.  Father God loves us and He creates us for love, by love and in love, to receive love; yet many of us have not had this same foundational love communicated through our mothers and/or fathers.  This lack of nurturing the whole man, when we are children, is affecting the words that come forth from pulpits even today.  Many of our leaders are meaning well, yet they themselves have love deficits, only Father can fill. 

 Created in His image and likeness, we are made to receive faith-based thoughts, positive words that build us up; not negative, fear-based thoughts that bring destruction.  Simply put, fear is learned.  


Perfect love cast out fear, and every fear!  For He did not give us a spirit of fear, to put us once more into bondage, for fear has torment, He gave us power and love and a sound mind.  So, a breakdown can take place, against His original intent for us, at even the time of conception.  How lovely and grateful I am, that He is the Father to the fatherless!  
Having knowledge of this Truth and knowing that fatherless means orphan, we know that Father can fulfill these orphaned places or love deficits within us! He longs to Father us!

 
A void existed in my heart that only Father was able to fill!

 While my father was gone, I went looking for the love I was always created for; finding only counterfeit affections, like many today.  My father’s absence created a void in my life.  Though this was not the only cause for my bad decision making, nevertheless it was a big part.  Sadly, he also allowed my mother to take charge of areas that he really needed to be in charge of and more straightforward about.  This may have made her look bad, in my eyes, for many years.  It wasn’t until I was almost twenty, that my father returned and my mother forgave him.  This action of forgiveness is one of the greatest gifts my mother gave to me; it went deep into me.  I believe forgiveness opened a door for me to see her in a different way, in the years that followed. Her own upbringing caused her not to show affection; you can only give what you have.   The loving affection that my father showed towards me became the foundation to carry the tenacity, from my mother, that sees me through tough times, even today.

  

 Lack of affection is affecting us in how we see ourselves: an identity crisis! Affection means a tender attachment, feelings and emotion towards another, over and above reason, fondness, warmth, bent of mind, passion, partiality.  Affection is connected to our self-esteem. The synonym is love.  The antonym is enmity, animosity or dislike.   The antonym reveals the work of the accuser, the enemy of our soul and his desire to kill, steal and destroy us.  Jesus brings life and life more abundant for us and reconciles us to our Heavenly Father.

  Once my longings for love were realized when I gave my heart to Jesus, I then discovered there was more; and the more was not the works that I was exhausting myself doing.  

I later came to my final destination, in my Father’s heart; where I learned that I am loved for who I am in Him, not for what I do or even don’t do.  I am consciously aware of His presence with me, throughout the day; communing with Him, as I'm on a journey.  He loves to be with me and I can do nothing apart from Him.  I am His beloved child! 

 Now I know why Cribbage was my favorite game…this was my ‘one on one’ time with my father, my earthly father.  Just like when I go to the playground, in visions that I have, with my Heavenly Father:  We are always on the teeter-totter together.  I see myself running to the slide, the sandbox, the swing, and the monkey bars; and He is saying, with great excitement, ‘Deborah, look, they have a teeter-totter!’   (Some call this a see-saw.)  Then I run over to join Him and we get on the seats together and He begins pushing me up in the air and then I push Him up and sometimes He holds me up in the air and laughs, enjoying me!  It was awhile before I knew why He liked the teeter-totter, and in His time, He told me.  He likes the teeter-totter, because it is the only playground equipment that requires more than one to operate.  He loves to relate to us and He longs for us to relate to Him; as He also loves all of us relating to one another, to our fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, pastors and friends….Family!

 Because Father God is both father and mother to us, it is important for both to be involved in our lives. No wonder, there is so much attack against this happening in our relationships in marriages, in the work place, in the treatment of women around the world and including the way women are treated and misunderstood in the church.  
(Honoring and respecting women is part of the restoration that will be taking place, before the return of Jesus.)

A Mother and Father's Love Complete Us!

 There is both masculine and feminine in our Heavenly Father and also in each of our parents.  However, they are not perfect, as our Heavenly Father is perfect; and they were not meant to take His place.  They were meant to show us what He is like by their actions and to direct us to Him.  It is also important for us to forgive them both, for what they did or did not do.  When we let go of all that our fathers or mothers did or did not do, the more freedom will ensue in our own lives and a greater love that flows in and through us to others. 

 Being willing to receive the love always meant for us is most beneficial for us personally and for the kingdom of God.  We become more lovable, Joyful and approachable; this can only cause increase of the greatness Father intended for us to live in.  Father can fulfill every wound and love deficit that we have from our childhood years and beyond.  He is the restorer of all things that were lost!

  The personal, ‘one on one’ time with our Heavenly Father, who we may call Abba Father, Daddy God, Papa God, is available to each of us, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week; for He is always present and longs to be a Father to us.  He never leaves us or forsakes us and never gives us up, never leaving us without support.  He has adopted us as His very own, loving us and liking us.  His thoughts are always on us; with an amazing, extravagant, outrageous and ferocious love for us! 

 The Father’s Mothering heart for us is comforting and safe, peaceful and nurturing with great feelings attached. He is longing to be near us, drawing us close, snuggling in the warmth of His embrace; compassion above reason, instilling hope and assuring us that all is okay despite what we are going through.  This is the trust that we need today, that only comes through our Father’s Mother heart, yet often being ignored because it makes no sense, seems over the top and shows emotion.  Love simply shows emotion!  This reminds me of Mary and Martha; both are needed but unless we snuggle, we will struggle!

By Deborah Fisher


Scripture References:

Genesis 1:27, 2:15-23, 1Kings 8:27-30, Psalm 139, Malachi 4:6, Matthew 5:48, 11:28-30, 18:21-22, 23:37, Luke 1:17, John 10:10, 14:1-14, 5:30, 17:21-23, 2Cor 5:18, 6:18, Galatians 3:28, 4:6-7, Eph. 2:13-:18, Col 1:20, Hebrews 13:5, 2Timothy 1:7, 1John 4:18

My father, Glen Curtis Cooper, Sr.

Information on the brain is used by permission by neuroscientist, Dr. Caroline Leaf.  For resources on the brain and for more information on this subject, go to www.DrLeaf.com

Growing Up With Dad

Service to Country You Know

I think I knew him

Though comings and goings were many

Service to country you know

Standing, small hand in large, watching the big boat disappear

Mom would cry, being brave

I went on without him

No swimming lessons or little league

Service to country you know

Vacancy in growing up, those awkward years towards manhood

Mom would laugh, being brave

I know I missed him

Graduation, marriage, grandchildren

Service to country you know

There was no substitute, only and empty void never filled

Mom went on, being brave

I’m sure I loved him

Though tears never came with his passing

Service to country you know

To many miles, to many years, separation numbed the loss

Mom cried, no longer brave

by Bill Fisher

Walter L. Fisher

Heroes

Heroes are made not born

Adversity and disaster the smithies of their forging

Passion and drive bubbling in the cauldron of that one heated moment

A point fixed in time, a second in eternity

Self doubt cast aside for others

Rushing forward into an unknown future

That draws the meek and simple towards a glory unperceived

Innocence propelled by circumstances endowed with courage.

Not called, not coerced, but compelled

Driven towards that moment of destiny, frozen in time as theirs

Caution aside, unknown ahead, self left behind

Into that valley of uncertainty, valor as their armor

Emerging from the other side as those who triumphed

Remaining as those who tried and failed

The same reward is proclaimed for both

Those who go forth, to be remembered for that quest, as heroes

by Bill Fisher

It is wonderful knowing that even though my father was absent, a great portion of my life, that 
I have a Daddy God who has never left me, nor deserted me.  
My father was a decorated war hero, I am proud of him.  I loved him as much as he would let me; 
I miss him. I have learned that what our earthly fathers did not fulfill or impart to us is readily and lovingly given by our Heavenly Father...Bill Fisher           

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY DADDY GOD!!!!  

Eyes

(Saw this in the night...I was wide awake, but could see it so clearly in my mind.  I was drawn to His eyes, it's like He spoke through His eyes and His heart. I knew and understood everything He was trying to say....Written by a dear friend, a jewel in the heart of the Father, His little girl, Laurie.) 


I am angry.....I am on the beach as far away from Jesus as I can get. I don't want to go too far, don't want to get Him too far out of sight. I am afraid to see what His face will show if I go any further away. He hasn't moved, I am the one who walked away. I am hurt and mad.

I keep looking to see what Jesus is doing.....He is just poking at the fire with a piece of driftwood. I want to go to Him, but pride is keeping me rooted where I am, with tears running down my face.

I don't understand why He doesn't come to me.  Finallly, I can't take it anymore, I long so much for Him to hug me......will He?   I walk toward Him slowly, a little unwillinglly, but I know He is the only thing I need. I am now standing before Him, and I feel like I should kneel or something, but He stops me, and just opens His arms. I just go into them, and He wraps His arms around me, and He says nothing......I feel safe and quiet. I can feel and hear His heartbeat. I just want to stay like this forever.


I feel Him start to laugh......not at me, but just because it's in Him. And I look up into His face, and there is love and something in them that is beyond my 
ability to put into words.

Just His eyes.......He is looking only at me and yet He sees everything in the world at the same time. There is sadness too and I want to take His sadness away......He loves me and then He starts laughing again, like He does in the pictures of  Him laughing.....the wind is blowing His hair and His eyes spark....they are beautiful; they look blue, brown, green. He is beautiful and I want to have Him hug me for eternity.

Everything is okay with us again, without a single word being spoken. What love.......................I am here....always.


by Laurie Johnson