Bless You, O’ Blessed of the Lord,             June 17, 2012

Today we celebrate Father’s Day. We’ve all got one...a father. For some, their father has passed on. Others of you your father is still alive. And for many their father wasn’t the kind of father that you should have had. Nonetheless, we are commanded by the fifth commandment of the Ten Commandments to honor our Father and Mother that our days may be long upon the Earth (Exodus 20:12). My father is still alive. He’s 92 and still going strong. I try to visit my father along and along. I try to honor my father and show him that I love him. There were times in our life that my Dad and I did not get along very well. As a matter of fact there were some real hard times and disagreements in our relationship. The last time I visited him I got down on my knees beside him and told him I wanted to pray for him...I didn’t wait for him to answer...I just went ahead and did it...but when he saw me start to pray he bowed his head. I prayed a good prayer of blessing for him. When I finished praying and said “Amen” I opened my eyes and I saw a smile on my Dad’s face that I don’t believe I have ever seen in my whole lifetime. It was absolutely cherubic, almost angelic. I still haven’t gotten over the smile on his face. If your father is still alive I invite you to have a prayer with him. It may open up something in your relationship that God will use to do something wonderful for you. It may heal old wounds. It may establish a new kind of friendship between you. It surely can’t hurt and may do wonders for you...and him. Honor your father. Our Heavenly Father honors His children. We should do the same thing for our Earthly father. You might say, “Well, my earthly father was terrible to me. How can I honor him when he has done despicable things that I can’t forgive. Well, if you want to go to Heaven you had better find it in your heart to forgive him. Because my Bible says something very pertinent about unforgiveness: “And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” Matthew 18:34-35. I’ve been at that place before where I was so hurt that I couldn’t forgive. I knew I had to forgive so I just said the words, but it wasn’t from my heart like the Bible says. But after a chastening from the Lord I realized that I had better forgive...and mean it. I did and every thing was fine. Honor your father especially if he is still alive. God will honor you for doing so. God will bless you like you bless your father. It’ll be a good thing. Hallelujah!

God bless you. We love you. I love you.

Pastor Lyle, Sister Jean, and your BJWC Church Leadership