A Father's Love

To say that I grew up in a home that was spiritually dysfunctional would be quite an understatement. My atheist dad went to extremes to prove that God did not exist. If I had any notion to believe there was a God, my dad was quick to prove to me that if there was a God, He would not love me because I was such a bad child. My dad would squash all belief in me by proving to me that if there was a God, He would not let such horrible things happen to me.

And why would God love me if my own mom and dad did not love me? That was the prevailing message for me throughout the years. As I heard so many people talk about God as a Father, I cringed as I thought of my own dad as my only experience with a “father.” My dad was mean, hateful and abusive in every way possible. It was easy for me to run as far and as fast as I could from anything “fatherly,” even God.

My perception of a father was one of pain and evil and deception. A father to me was not a protector and definitely not a picture of love.

For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in. Psalm 27:10.

When I became a Christian, it was easy to see God as very opposite of what my dad had said He was. But, because what I believed a father was, I could not see God as a Father nor that He could love me. I just knew if I could not be good enough for my own parents to love, God could never love me either.

Soon after becoming a Christian, I was allowed an opportunity to become friends with a very grounded, Christian woman. She was incredibly open to sharing her faith, her trials and how her faith had gotten her through those trials. Her entire family welcomed me into their home. As the friendship grew, I started to spend more time with Jodi, Todd and Matt.

One day last year, I had planned with Jodi to make cupcakes with Matt and his friends. I remember sinking that morning to a low point of not feeling as though I could ever be good enough to be loved by a Father. As I walked to the door, I wiped away the tears and was resigned to just accepting the reality and went about the afternoon baking cupcakes.

As I watched Jodi helping Matt crack eggs, stir the batter and ice the cupcakes, I began to see a new picture unfolding before my eyes. Could I really be seeing a mother who loves her son so much that she includes him in everything she is doing? That wasn’t the picture of a parent’s love that I was used to.

Todd would soon call to let Jodi know he was headed home. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Matt as Jodi relayed to him that his dad was on his way home. Matt’s eyes lit up and there was a look of anticipation on his face.

Only God could have prepared my heart for what I would see next. We could all hear the garage door opening and Matt was becoming more excited. As Todd walked in, Matt’s eyes locked onto him. He walked over to Matt, giving him a peck on the forehead and immediately let him know he was so glad to be home. I listened as Todd told him how much he loved him and had missed him and thought about him throughout the day. I watched in awe as Matt’s eyes stayed locked on Todd. There was no other word to describe the look in Matt’s face, except love.

In that moment, God was painting a new picture in my heart.

I was seeing a father who loves his son unconditionally. There is nothing that Matt could do or not do to change that love. I saw in Matt’s face, in his eyes and expressions, that he knew his father loved him. There was no question; he knew the love and nothing else mattered during that moment.

The picture was like a lake view reflection of God’s love for His children.

It is with this experience and so many others I have been so privileged to see through the Arnold family, which has allowed me to rewrite my definition of what a father should be. I am finding many pieces along the way from watching a lot of parents and children now, and it helps me to continue building on the foundation of what a parent’s love is for their child.

Each day puts me farther away from the old, dysfunctional perception of what a father is and closer to what I believe God wants my perception to be. I know that God is preparing me to be able to accept that yes, He can love me that way.

Don't Believe in God? Really?

If you don't believe in God, please watch these videos and explain to me how this happens.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28340481#28340481

(So far, nobody has died and only a few remain hospitalized a day later.)


http://video.maycontainnuts.com/video--amazing-car-crash-survivor--357.html

(Not even a scratch on this guy.)


http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/flatpages/video/seattletimesvideo.html?bcpid=1543292770&bclid=1543290205&bctid=5337338001

(Nobody seriously injured.)

Believing in God, but not the Bible and in evolution??????????

In all my sleeplessness, I've had my eyes opened to a whole other world of after hours television programming. But on occasion, I find something that catches my interest. After listening to Pastor Ryan give a very moving sermon on faith last Sunday, I was anxious to hear the interview last night on Nightline with President Bush on his "Unshaken Faith."

President Bush's Unshaken Faith
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6422409

The interview is a little over 11 minutes long. At about 8 minutes into the interview, President Bush is asked about his belief in the bible. His response about the bible being true, which was a "probably not" left me shock. He goes on to say that you can have faith in God but believe in evolution. As a newer christian, I was left wondering how that works. Is it not the bible that tells us who God is? Is it not the bible that explains creation? How can you have it both ways? What exactly is the object of your faith if you believe the bible is only a collection of good stories that you can get a lot from?

I hope you will take the time to watch the interview. I've heard it said many times over the past eight years that our President Bush was a strong christian. While I am not questioning his belief in God, I do question the message he sends which to me contradicts the "strong christian" label.

Biblesta

Biblesta - A festival or celebration of the Bible.

At barely 2,000 citizens, my hometown of Humboldt, Kansas displays their love of Christianity with a day long celebration called Biblesta.

Biblesta has been held on the first Saturday of October for 51 years. The day is filled with entertainment for everyone.

One of the most unique parts of this celebration is a parade. The parade is filled with marching bands, Biblical floats, children and adults carrying scripture based banners and more. The floats all designed using scripture are worked on for months by churches and community groups.

Throughout the day, several musical groups perform a free concert. This year the main group will be 33Miles.

At the end of the celebration, the town holds a bean feed for citizens and visitors.

Next weekend will be the first time I have been to the parade in at least ten years and the first as a Christian. I'm looking forward to seeing the celebration in a new light. I'm looking forward to seeing 33 Miles in concert again. I'm looking forward to sharing the experience with a friend.

If you ever get a chance and won't mind a two hour trip, I would encourage you to attend just once. It is a unique experience that isn't found everyday or everywhere.

http://biblesta.com

http://www.iolaregister.com/Local%20News/Stories/Biblestacentersonfunpraise.html

Originally posted 9/28/08

A Mother's Love

I have been very blessed over the past nine years to have the unconditional acceptance and love of my friend Tina. Through good times and bad with an unconditional acceptance I had only known with my husband. She has stood by me, even when she disagreed with me or my actions. I could only describe this as a sisterly love and one I had never known before meeting Tina. A love I never accepted before knowing Christ.

Being close to Tina has introduced me to so much I had no other way to know or see. Through watching Tina's relationship and interaction with her mother, I have been able to see how loving and caring functional mother and daughter relationships work.

I have also been able to see unconditional love of a child by watching Tina's family grow with the birth of each of her children. It has been amazing to see Tina's bond to her children and especially her little girl. Another picture of how truly beautiful a mother's love for their daughter can be.

When each of Tina's children were born, when each birthday party, so many times, I got just a glimpse of the love of a grandmother for her grandchildren. How wonderful it has been to see such a healthy relationship between a grandparent and grandchild and the sparkle of love in a grandmother's eyes.

A month ago, Tina's mother was diagnosed with cancer. I've watched Tina's response to her mother's condition. While I don't understand how she feels because I don't have the same relationship with my mother, I see how the unconditional love becomes even stronger in trials.

As Tina's mom continues to fight for her life through the spreading cancer and other complications of her condition, all I can do or any of us can do is pray. Pray that Tina could have the time she needs with her mother, pray that God would comfort the family, pray that God be with Karen, just pray.

Through the pain of seeing someone I care about hurt and the prayers, I cannot help but see the most beautiful gift. A mother and daughter who both know the love of each other and the love of God.

I will continue to praise God for their love of each other and pray for God's comfort and healing for all of the family.

Originally written on 8/29/08
Note: Just days after this was originally posted, Karen Dolbeare lost her short, yet valiant fight against breast cancer. She has returned home to be with her heavenly Father. Though her earthly family has grieved the loss, she is living her eternal life. I pray that her passing from this life will draw those who love her dearly to the Lord so that they too may have eternal life some day.

Peace

You’ve come so far,
To save me.
You’ve tried so hard,
To wipe away every tear.
You’ve fought so hard,
To keep me close.
You’ve come so far,
To give me what I need.
You’ve tried so hard,
To lead me in the right direction.
You’ve fought so hard,
To never let me go.

I’ve made you cry.
I’ve made you hurt.
I’ve made you retreat.
I’ve made you question.
I’ve made you not trust.
I’ve made you sad.
I’ve made you mad.

Let me cry,
Don’t love me any more.
Let me cry,
Don’t give me any more.
Let me cry,
Let me go.
Don’t hold me tight.
Let me go,
Peace.

Letting Go of the Old, Accepting the New

During the first 18 years of my life, I had only one goal. Survival.

At age six, when other young girls were playing with dolls and learning to write, I was making sure my two younger brothers did not go hungry. At age 11, when all my friends were enjoying slumber parties, I was babysitting every weekend just to have enough money to replace mine and my brothers’ hole-filled socks. At age 17, when everyone in my class prepared for college, I was planning an escape from the hell of mental, physical and emotional abuse I was living in.

Every day was a race, not really knowing when the end would come. The only thing that was certain was that if I wanted to survive, I had to rely on nobody but myself. Not only could I not trust every adult figure in my life, but I lived in complete fear of them all the time. Every focus in my life was based on fighting to protect myself and being self reliant.

I learned very early in life that I would have to find a way to meet even the basic of needs. Since I never experienced it, I can only imagine that loving parents sacrifice and strive to not only meet the basic needs of their children but give them as much as they can. Love, compassion, understanding, comfort and guidance were luxuries that my parents could obviously not afford.

Being so self reliant and going without knowing or feeling love and comfort gave me a very unstable foundation to begin a life with Christ on.

After so long of only depending on myself and then many years of adulthood trying to maintain control of my own life, how could I believe that I was truly not in control or that I did not have to rely solely on myself? I wonder sometimes if I am the only person who ever struggles with that.

I have been given amazing guidance on this, but I just do not know how to let go of those things. It’s like giving up that old pair of shoes that have a hole in the toe and smell bad, but they feel so comfortable that you can’t stand the thought of throwing them out. How do you come to the point where you know it’s time for them to go? And, what about the fear that you will never have another pair that feels the same?

Even though it has not always felt this way, I believe the experiences of the past year have truly blessed me. So many times, I have been brought to my knees and felt pain that was real and unbearable at times. Each time I have emerged from the darkness understanding more than the last time that I could not have made it through without relying on Christ.

I don’t know if I will always struggle with this. However, I can say that I do believe that I don’t have to do it on my own. This struggle or the next, this moment of happiness or the next of fear, I know I don’t have to do it alone.

Originally written 8/13/08

Where was God?

One of the obstacles I felt I had to overcome before I became a Christian was to accept that nearly everything I had been taught about God was incorrect. I found out very quickly that obstacle was not one that could be overcome in a day and accepting that it would be a process of learning and growing would be most important.

The thing I struggled with and still do at times is where was God? Where was God through all the years that I was a helpless child? Did God have a presence in my life at all?

Growing up in the home of an Atheist, exposure to church, the bible and God was very limited. When there was exposure, it led to untruths about God and the bible.

There were opportunities, but I was sheltered from them. When I did get exposure, my family always countered with what they wanted me to know as truth. They were very quick to tell me that if God was real then bad things wouldn’t happen and bad things wouldn’t happen to me. I was made to believe that if there was a God then he wouldn’t love me because I was a bad child. It was repeated over and over that the bible was a book that was written to make people feel better about death.

There are a countless number of times that we were forced to hide in the basement when the “bible thumpers” rang the doorbell on a Saturday afternoon. And, the bibles that were left on our porch were quickly destroyed by burning them or using the pages in the bottom of bird cages.

My hometown has a biblical parade every October. I was not allowed to participate rarely allowed to attend. When I was able to attend, I never understood. I didn’t understand why there was a giant whale with a man in its mouth. I didn’t understand the pretty float with the cross and John 3:16 written on the side. I didn’t understand the man in a robe that drug a giant wooden cross.

When I was in grade school, a friend of my parents was able to take me to a Baptist church a few times. It was truly my only exposure to church until I was in my later teen years. The women at the church were so nice to me. Several of them would take turns cleaning me up and making sure I was taken care of while I was there. On Easter, one of them brought me a new dress and shoes.

The same year I was given a snow globe for Christmas. It had a manger scene in with the gold and silver sparkles. I didn’t know what the significance of a baby in a manger was at the time. What I did know was that watching the sparkles float around the baby for hours was an escape from the reality of my life.

When I was younger, a neighbor gave me a gift. It was a children’s bible story book. I read some of the stories and looked at the pictures. There was a picture that I grew very fond of. It was of a woman who was picking up a child from a river bank. I didn’t understand the story, but I would go to the picture during really bad times and dream of a woman picking me up and caring for me in the same way.

My parents were very much against me having the story book. I did not know why at the time that they were so against it, I just knew that it was a gift to me and I wanted to keep it. Many times I found the book in the trash can and dug it out. Each time I would become more enraged and get more creative with where it was hidden. As a teenager, I was unable one day to find the book. I was positive that it had finally been taken from me for good.

Many years later after I was married, I returned home to visit on a weekend that my parents were having a garage sale. There in a pile of items for sale was the bible story book I had lost so long ago. I did get the book back, but had to purchase it from my parents.

One day last summer, I carried up a small box from the basement that holds all physical memories of my childhood. Exhausted from the constant struggle of trying to answer the where was God questions and accepting the truth, I fell onto the box and cried. I cried out to God to show me that even in all the untruth I was given that there was something to show He was there with me even then.

At the bottom of the box, I found the bible story book. The outside was filthy from having been thrown in the trash. The spine had a prominent clean spot from the price tag used in the garage sale. But as I opened to the familiar pages, I found the same comfort I had found as a child.

I may still struggle with the hard questions. But I do accept now that as a child, God did have a presence in my life. I am so blessed to have the reminders to hold onto when the obstacle still seems too big to overcome.