Theology Club: Salvation

The salvation of man is the pardoning of man’s sin by the direct act of God.  As a result of the fall (Gen 3), man has been totally depraved through the imputed sin of Adam  (Rom 5:12).  In addition, all men commit personal sin, which also separates them from God (Rom 3:23).  Alone, man is hopeless to restore a relationship with God.  Man needs a Savior.

In order for one to attain salvation, he must first understand the work of Christ.  The Son of God became sin for man, died, and rose again (Rom. 5:8, Rom 10:9-10).  Jesus Christ became the perfect sacrifice for all mankind, and salvation is given when one puts his faith in Christ. (1 Cor. 15:22, Eph 2:5-9)  If man repents from evil ways and turns to Christ in faith he will be saved.  Man does not need to work to earn salvation.  He need only trust that Christ is sufficient.

The results of salvation are numerous.  Man receives the forgiveness of sins, a restored relationship with God, the empowering of the Holy Spirit, and eternal life.  Salvation gives man purpose for life and hope for the future.

Theology Club: Man

The uniqueness of man in creation is evident in many ways.  Mankind is superior to all other earthly creations in the areas of physical, mental, relational and functional abilities.  However, the image of God in mankind is not only found in our physical attributes, but also in the non-physical attributes as well.  The physical attributes of man that are made in the image of God are the body and the many intricate details it possesses.  The non-physical attributes of man that are made in the image of God are the mind, spirit, heart, will, conscience, and soul.

In Genesis 1:26-27 and 5:1, Scripture records the creation man in the image or likeness of God.  This reflection of God can be found in the spirit of man because God Himself is Spirit  (Jn 4:24).  The non-material component of man is further seen in the personality, morality, conscience, and immortality of man (Eph. 4:24, 2 Cor 4:2, Rom 3:20, 5:14,21). 

Though man possesses some of the characteristics of God, it is important to note that man remains quite limited when compared to the creator God.  Man is in no way equal with deity (1 Tim. 6:16).

In Genesis 3, Scripture records the fall of man.  We see both Adam and Eve challenging God’s authority as they willingly choose to disobey their Creator, by eating the fruit  from the tree of knowledge.  Their rebellious behavior is similar to that of Satan, and like Satan, they too paid a price for their disobedience. 

The ramifications of the fall had a tremendous effect not only on Adam but on all of mankind.  In Romans 5, we see that the sin of Adam has been passed to every human (5:12).  The sin of Adam effects every aspect of man and is evident in man’s relationship with God, self, and other men. 

From the moment of the fall, man’s relationship with God has been broken.  The primary result of the fall was the physical and spiritual death of man.  Physically, all of mankind will die and cease to exist on the earth (Gen. 3:19,  Heb. 9:27).  Spiritually,  mankind will experience separation from God their Creator, and eternal death (Rev 20:14-15, 21:8).  Sin has caused a deep hatred between man and God (Hosea 9:15, Ex 20:5) and brought guilt upon man (Rom 3:23).  Ultimately, man’s sin must be punished by the just Creator (Gal, 6:7-8). 

The greatest need of mankind; therefore, is a pardon for his sin.  Man is dirty, alone, and dying without God.  His greatest need is to be made clean again through Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:4-10).  Man needs to accept the saving gift of Christ in order to pass from death to life (Eph 5:24).  To accept or reject the saving work of Christ is the most important decision in any individual’s life.  All men have sinned and fallen short of God’s standards (Rom. 3:23).  The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23), but, the gift of God is eternal life through the death of Jesus Christ (Rom 5:8). 

Theology Club: Angels, Satan

I believe in angels.  Even though Scripture is not crystal clear on this topic, there is still enough information for one to acquire some understanding about the doctrine of angels. Angels are eternal creatures created to carry out the will of God (Ps 148:2-5, Col. 1:6).  From Scripture, we see that angels hold a position higher than man but lower than Christ (Heb.1:8-2:9).  Angels posses superhuman knowledge, but nevertheless, are intellectually limited (Mt 24:36, 1 Peter 1:12).

The functions of angels are numerous.  Some angels are worshipers like the angels recorded in Isaiah’s vision (Job 38:7).  These angels are usually found in the presence of God and express His glory (Rev. 4-5, Heb 1:6, Ps 103:20).  Other angels are messengers who carry a word from God to man (Num 22:3, Luke 1:13-20, Acts 10:3-7).  Still other angels minister as servants to believers.  Such ministry includes protecting believers from harm, (Acts 5:19) and rejoicing in the conversion of man (Lk 15:30).  Finally, some angels have been used to carry out the judgment of God (2 Kings 19:35).  In Genesis 18-19 two angels are found bringing destruction and judgment to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. 

In the future, angels will be involved in the second coming of Christ.  Jesus will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call to gather all believers (Mt. 24:31).  The elect will join Christ at His return to earth (Mt 25:31).  Finally, angels will help identify true believers by separating the “wheat from the weeds” (Mt. 13:39-42).

I believe in the existence of Satan.  According to Scripture, Satan is the ruler of the world and the chief of all demons (Jn 12:31,Lk 11:15).  Satan was one of God’s angels, a spiritual creature created by God and known for his wisdom and beauty  (Col.  1:16-17, Ez.  28:11-19).  Nevertheless, in an attempt to be greater than God, Satan sinned and rebelled against his Creator.  As a result, he was cast out of heaven and currently exists on earth (Ez 28:15, Is. 14:12-14). 

Presently, Satan is the great deceiver.  He is a clever and knowledgeable being seeking to disrupt God’s plan by deceiving and destroying mankind.  Like the snake in the garden of Eden, Satan takes on the appearance of truth, only to lead individuals away from God (Gen. 3:5).  Satan uses the glitter of this world to blind the minds and hearts of man to the truth of the God’s word (2 Cor 4:4, 1 Jn 2:15). 

In the future Satan will receive a just reward for his actions.  Scripture states that during the millennium, Satan will be thrown into the bottomless pit (Rev. 20 2-3).  After a thousand years of captivity, he will be released for a short time, but eventually caught and thrown into the lake of fire for eternity (Rev.  20: 4-10).

Theology Club: God

I believe in one God that exists in three equal beings:  the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the core beliefs of Christianity.  One’s understanding of God will shape his view of Christ and ultimately influence the way he worships the Master.  In order to explain my personal view of the Trinity I will support the oneness, threeness, and three-in-oneness of God.

 The unique oneness of God is found throughout all of Scripture.  In Deuteronomy 6:4 Moses expresses God’s love and oneness to Jews in exile.  In Exodus 20:2 God tells Moses that He is the one true God and states that there is no other gods before (except) Him.  Furthermore, God’s oneness is evident in the second commandment where God expresses his disapproval of idol worship (v4-6).  Finally, throughout the entire New Testament, the idea of God’s oneness is expressed consistently as in James 2:19, 1 Cor. 8:4-6, 1 Tim, 2:5-6. 

In addition to the unique oneness of God’s nature, it is also Biblically apparent that God exists in three distinct beings.  God the Father is found in Genesis 3:8 looking for Adam and Eve.  He is the creative, powerful being in Genesis 1:1; the one who breathes life into Adam’s nostrils (Gen.2:7).  God the Son, Jesus Christ, is also found in Scripture.  In the Old Testament, some have debated that Christ is the Angel of the Lord found in Genesis 16:7, Zechariah 1:12, and Exodus 3:2-6.  However, most recognize God the Son as the Messiah of the New Testament, the savior of the world (Phil. 2:5-11).  Finally,  God the Holy Spirit is found in both the Old and New Testaments (Gen. 1:2, Ps 51:11, Jn 16:8-11).

I believe God the Father (1 Cor. 3:8), Son (Heb 1), and Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4) are all individual persons who make up one all-powerful God.  All three were present at the baptism of Christ (Luke 3:21-22) and Christ commanded His disciples to baptize in the name of all three (Mt 28:18-19).  Even Paul links the three in his benediction to the Corinthian church (1 Cor. 13:14).  Throughout Scripture it is apparent that our God, the God, is three-in-one.

2.  I believe that Jesus Christ is the second part of the Trinity, the Son of God (Jn 1, Mt 1:23, Phil. 2).  Jesus has existed eternally, but took human likeness in order to save mankind (1 Tim 1:15, Rom 5).  Jesus Christ was entirely God and entirely man.  He came to earth to pay the penalty of human sin and presently ministers at the right hand of God.

The deity of Christ is supported thoughout all of Scripture.  In the Old Testament, many prophecies such as Isaiah 7:14 told of a coming Messiah.  Such prophecies were fulfilled in Christ as recorded in the gospels (Mt 1:23, Lk 1:31).  The deity of Christ is also supported by the epistles (Phil. 2, Col. 2:9), confirmed by John the Baptist (Jn 1:34), and confirmed by God the Father (Mt 3:16-17).   Even Christ regarded himself as God by the way the forgave sins and handled the Sabbath (Mk 2:5, 2:27-28).  From Scripture it is clear that Jesus Christ is the Lord.

The humanity of Jesus is also supported in Scripture.  Jesus was born from a woman, lived in a human body, and grew just like every man (Gal 4:4, Lk.2:52).  He felt fatigue while traveling (Jn 4:6), as well as hunger and thirst (Mt 4:2, Jn 19:28).  Finally, Christ experienced pain to the point of death when He died on the cross (Jn 19:34).  From Scripture it is clear that while Jesus Christ is the Lord, He was also completely human.  I believe that the union of humanity and deity did not limit the power of Christ as Lord, but rather added human qualities to Jesus, the all powerful God of creation.  Both human and divine natures were present in Christ the God-Man (1 Tim 2:5). 

The death of Christ is the axis of Christianity.  The purpose of Jesus’ death was to provide a substitutional sacrifice for the sin of all humankind (Is 53:6, Jn 1:29).  Since the fall of Man in Genesis 3, humankind had been living in a broken relationship with God (Eph. 2:1).  However, the sacrifice of Christ paid the penalty for the sin of all (Rev 5:9, Lk 19:10, Heb. 9:12-14).  Man is no longer a slave to sin.  Instead, he is a true servant of the Master (1 Cor 6:19-20).  Through the blood of Christ we are reconciled with God (2 Cor 5:18-19)

Currently, Jesus ministers by ruling from the right hand of God the Father (Heb 1:3, Col. 1:18, Is 9:7)  He is the head of the church (Rom 8:34, Rev 2) and the advocate for believers (1Jn 2:1-2).  Jesus is still building as the one time carpenter preparing a place for all believers (Jn 14:2).  Finally, Christ promised to return with authority to take His people home (Phil. 2:10-11).

I believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity.  The Holy Spirit is a co-equal part of the Godhead and is also completely God (Mt 3:16, Jn 14:16, Acts 10:38).  In Scripture, we see that the Holy Spirit possesses both the attributes and the actions of God.  For example, the Holy Spirit is viewed as omniscient (1 Cor. 2:10-11), all powerful (Lk 1:35), and eternal (Heb. 9:14).  Furthermore, the Bible records the Spirit acting as God in creation (Gen. 1:2), in prophecy (2 Pt 1:21), and in judgment (Acts 5:3-4). 

Currently, the Spirit ministers to both the world in general and to the believer.  In general, the Spirit convicts the world of guilt, righteousness, and judgment (Jn 16:8).  However, to the believer, the ministry of the Holy Spirit is much more extensive.  Throughout the New Testament, the Holy Spirit plays an active role in the lives of the early believers.  In the same way the Holy Spirit ministered in the early church, I believe that the Spirit currently ministers through the regeneration (Titus 3:5), indwelling (Jn14:17), baptism (1 Cor. 12:3), and sealing (2 Cor 1:22) of the modern day believer (2 Cor 1:22).  The process of renewing, connecting, uniting, and owning the believer to Christ is the work of the “Counselor” Jesus mentioned in John 14:6.  The Holy Spirit intercedes in the prayers of believers (Rom 8:26-27), illuminates Scripture, opens the minds and hearts of believers (Jn 14:26), and is active in the process of sanctification of the believer (Rom. 8:2-14).

In addition to working in the lives of individual believers, the Spirit plays an active role in the church.  In 1 Corinthians 12:7,11 it is clear that the Holy Spirit is the giver of Spiritual gifts.  In this way, the Spirit equips the church for the ministry of Christ.  However, it is important to note that the purpose of such miraculous gifts is to glorify Christ (1 Cor. 12:3) and unite the church body (1 Cor. 12:1).  We must remember that above all else, love is the greatest gift we can share as a body (1 Cor 13).

90 Days: Exodus 15:19-28:43

·      Sometimes the Lord wants us to be thirsty (Exodus 15)

·      The lack of blessing in our lives does not mean that God is not here (Exodus 16)

·      Thank the Lord for providing for your needs (Exodus 16)

·      What are you hungry for? (Exodus 16)

·      We are all dependent on Him sometimes we just don’t realize it (Exodus 16)

·      Rest on the Sabbath (Exodus 16)

·      If we gather too much for ourselves it will rot (Exodus 16)

·      After God has done so much why do we test him still? (Exodus 17)

·      Strength comes from the Lord (Exodus 17)

·      Tell others about what the Lord has done.  Share your story. (Exodus 18)

·      Remember who the hero is. (Exodus 18)

·      Share the load, Share the responsibility (Exodus 18)

·      Leaders: Teach them the decrees and laws; show them the way to live. (Exodus 18)

·      Surround yourself with men who fear God, trustworthy men, who hate dishonest gain. (Exodus 18)

·      The whole earth is His. (Exodus 19)

·      Holiness creates distance from sin.  (Exodus 19)

·      Sin keeps us away from God.  It creates fear. (Exodus 20).

·      Be just and gracious with others (Exodus 21)

·      Stand up against injustice in the world (Exodus 21)

·      Do not mistreat and alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt.  Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan.  If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry.  (Exodus 22:21-23)

·      Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.  (Exodus 23)

·      Give the Lord your best in every way. (Exodus 24-28)

Theology Club: Scripture

I am starting a new thread on insights called “theology club.”  These are the some of my most personal thoughts on Scripture, Humankind, God, and Ministry.  I hope like always  that these writings will spark thought, dialogue and even greater insights from those who wrestle with these writings.  Mike

I believe that Scripture is the inspired Word of God.  Scripture is not the product of man’s mere thoughts, but the supernatural revelation of God (2 Peter 1:21).  I believe that God chose human authors to record His revelation.  God’s plan, therefore, provided a rich diversity of literary styles while maintaining unity in doctrine.  All Scripture was breathed by God and recorded by human authors who were supernaturally selected and inspired to write the very words they recorded (2 Tim 3:16). 

In the original autographs, I believe that Scripture is completely infallible.  The truthfulness of Scripture is assured by Christ’s claim that calls the Word the truth (Jn 17:17).  The very nature of God is truth and therefore it is safe to assume that the Word He authored must also be true (Rom. 3:4). 

Though we do not have the original autographs, I believe the issue of inspiration applies to the copies of Scripture we have today.  Through many studies of manuscripts, it has been noted that the copies we have today are amazingly accurate.  As a result, we too have an accurate account of God’s word (1Thess.2:13).

The Bible is my spiritual map for life and ministry.  Through the instruction of Scripture, I continually strive to keep myself pure as I read, meditate, and apply the Bible to my life (Ps 119:9).  Scripture challenges me daily to become more Christ-like as I strive to model my life after the Master. 

           

In ministry, the Bible is the authority in everything I do.  The Bible is a useful tool for teaching, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16).  The Word of God allows me to teach and speak with the authority of God.  The Bible is the foundational tool for ministry.  It is the Word of God which has the power to transform lives (Heb. 4:12).

In order to determine the origin of Scripture one must first look at the evidence.  Just as evidence is considered by a juror in a court of law, so we can decide rationally whether or not the Bible is the word of God by studying the evidence.  In my studies I have found many pieces of evidence which support God’s authorship of Scripture. These can be summarized in the following four arguments:

First, the Bible is the Word of God because it claims to be the Word of God.  In 2 Timothy 3:16, Paul writes that all Scripture is God breathed.  In 2 Peter 1:21, we learn that prophecy did not come about from man but was the spoken Word of God through human lips.  Piles of other passages support the claim that Scripture is the written word of God, such as 2 Peter 3:15 1 Thess. 2:13, Hebrews 1:1-2.

Second, the Bible is the Word of God because Christ claims the Bible is the Word of God.  Throughout the gospels, Jesus often quotes the Old Testament to support His claims and actions (Mt 5: 17, Jn 10:35, 17:17).  For example, in Matthew 4:4, Jesus quoted Deut. 8:3 when He faced temptation.  The value Christ placed on Scripture is far greater than the value He placed on any other literature.  Christ acknowledged Scripture as the powerful Word of God which He has come to fulfill (Mt 5:17).

Third, the Bible is the Word of God because of the vast number of fulfilled prophecies and the unified nature of the text.  Fulfillment of prophecy is one of the most unique characteristics of Scripture.  It is most easily seen in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ (Mk 7: 6).  For example, the virgin birth of Christ was predicted thousands of years earlier through the prophet Isaiah (Is 7:14, Mt 1:18).  The virgin birth, together with a multitude of other examples throughout Scripture, prove the supernatural authorship of the Bible and provide a unity in a text which was written over thousands of years.  The Bible is a clearly unified group of texts which has been authored and protected by God (1 Peter 1:23, Mt 5:18).

Finally, the Bible is the Word of God because of the supernatural impact it has on its readers.  No other book changes lives like the Bible (Heb. 4:12).  Within Scripture are the principles for living a complete and fulfilling life.  The Word of God provides wisdom, knowledge and guidance for those who believe (1 Thess. 4:13).  It is the powerful and everlasting guidebook for all mankind (Mk 13:31, 1Pet. 1:23).

90 Day: Exodus 1:1- 15:18

·      If others are threatened you will be oppressed. (Exodus 1)

·      Injustice can start with a small group of people in a backroom conversation. (Exodus 1)

·      Violence begets violence (Exodus 2).

·      God hears our cries for help (Exodus 2).

·      He keeps his promises (Exodus 2).

·      God is just.  This should both excite and terrify us (Exodus 3)

·      What should cause more fear:  the trial ahead or ignoring God (Exodus 4)

·      I think it is funny that Moses ran from the snake (Exodus 4:3)

·      God uses us in our weakness. (Exodus 4)

·      Don’t follow the most talented follow the one that truly fears God (Exodus 4)

·      Keep your heart soft even if it means you can be hurt. (Exodus 5)

·      It may get worse before it gets better, stay faithful. (Exodus 5)

·      Do not let circumstance discourage you from following what is true (Exodus 6)

·      Do not harden your heart. It will hurt you and many others. (Exodus 7)

·      You are not in control.  (Exodus 8)

·      The earth is the Lord’s (Exodus 9:29)

·      Don’t let momentary success harden your hearts (Exodus9)

·      Pride makes us destructive. (Exodus 9).

·      Humble yourself before God (Exodus 10).

·      The blood of the lamb, covering wrath. (Exodus 12).

·      The lord delivers (Exodus 12).

·      Remember the times when God delivered you (Exodus 13)

·      What you think gives you security may be the very thing keeping you in bondage (Exodus 14).

·      “Who among gods is like you, O Lord?  Who is like you-majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders (Exodus 15:11)

90 Days: Genesis 40:12-50:26

·      God seems to use servants and slaves not kings (Genesis 40)

·      Remember those who you suffer with (Genesis 40)

·      The Spirit of God gives discernment (Genesis 41)

·      Only God can life you from prison to the palace (Genesis 41)

·      Prepare for the famine in times of plenty (Genesis 41)

·      God is just (Genesis 42)

·      God is our source of blessing (Genesis 43)

·      God sometimes uses difficult circumstances to show his glory and grace (Genesis 45)

·      Love those who persecute you (Genesis 45)

·      God uses shepherds to change the world (Genesis 46)

·      Debt puts you under others control it limits your future. (Genesis 47)

·      God blesses whoever he chooses (Genesis 48)

·      Honor those who go ahead of you (Genesis 49)

·      Bless those who are behind you (Genesis 49)

·      “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” Genesis 50

·      I want to me a man like Joseph.

Next Reading Exodus 1:1-15:18

Genesis 28:20-40:11

·      Spaces are sacred.  Remember what God has done for you (Genesis 28:20)

·      Be generous to God.  (Genesis 28:22)

·      It is not a good idea to marry sisters (Genesis 29)

·      You cannot make someone love you. (Genesis 29)

·      When you find yourself unloved by others rest in the love of God (Genesis 29)

·      Jealousy is ugly and it makes us act like animals (Genesis 30)

·      Sometimes the best thing to do is simply run. (Genesis 31)

·      Do not steal. (Genesis 31)

·      Always do everything you can to make peace. (Genesis 31)

·      Honor your Elders.  Even when they do not deserve it. (Genesis 31)

·      Humble yourself when you are wrong. (Genesis 32)

·      Ask for forgiveness when you wrong others (Genesis 32)

·      Wrestling with God is exhausting.  You cannot win (Genesis 32)

·      Reconciliation is sweet and should be the goal of every tension. (Genesis 33)

·      Remember the times and places in your life when God came through. (Genesis 33).

·       Do not take a woman what is not yours.  This will only lead to trouble. (Genesis 34)

·      Get rid of foreign Gods.  (Genesis 35)

·      Return to the places where God moved you often and remember. (Genesis 35)

·      God changes our identity (Genesis 35)

·      Be careful with whom you share your dreams. (Genesis 37)

·      Again jealousy makes us act like animals (Genesis 37)

·      God has always been working with sinners like us (Genesis 38)

·      God is faithful in temptation and trial.  (Genesis 39)

next reading:  Genesis 40:12-50:26

90 Days: Genesis 17:1-28:19

·      The Lord keeps his promises (Genesis 17)

·      His commitment to us changes our identity (Genesis 17)

·      God will listen to us and maybe even change is mind. (Genesis 18)

·      Sin brings destruction (Genesis 19)

·      Don’t ever look back (Genesis 19)

·      Your lies can hurt others (Genesis 20)

·      God hears our cries (Genesis 21)

·      God wants to be first in your life.  He may test you on this (Genesis 22)

·      You never know what may come your way when you take time to seek God (Genesis 24)

·      Don’t make important decisions when you are hungry take your time to make up your mind. (Genesis 25)

·      At times home is not a place. (Genesis 26)

·      Deception creates tension between brothers, you may get what you want but in the end you will loose friends. (Genesis 27)

·      Lies lead to running always (Genesis 28)

Tomorrow’s Reading:  Genesis 28:20-40:11

 

90 Days: Genesis 1-16

·      God takes pleasure in His work. (Gen 1)

·      God created us uniquely with the ability to create as well. (Gen 1:27)

·      Man has always wanted to be like God.  This never ends well. (Gen 3)

·      “sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it” our response to this truth is critical. (Gen 4:7)

·      You can survive any flood if your walk with God (Gen 6:9)

·      Sacrifice is pleasing aroma to the Lord (Gen 8:20)

·      Sometimes you need to step out before you experience the blessing of God (Gen 12:1)

·      There are times when the Lord will be your shield (Gen 15:1)

·      God always keeps His promises (Gen 16).

·      The story is messed up already.

The Bible in 90 Days

Starting tomorrow I am embarking on a personal challenge to read the entire Bible in 90 days. I have never read through the scripture in such a brief period of time and am looking forward to the perspective it will bring to my life.

It is my goal to post daily thoughts and insights as I journey though this great meta-narrative of God providence. Feel free to join in journey and post any insights you might have along the way. It all starts tomorrow September 9 with Genesis chapters 1-16.

Daddy

Lately, I have had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with my two daughters.

During this season one of the things I love to watch is how my two year old strives for independence.  I have noticed that when she finds herself in struggle, like putting on her shoes, she often rejects my attempts to help her because of an internal drive to do it herself.  “No, no daddy I do!” 

However, if she has a minor fall or bump on the knee I have noticed the independent spirit disappear. 

In moments when she is frightened or hurt she will call for me.  The other morning she fell down and called for me to come pick her up.  She was crying and as I held her she was clinging to my neck and crying on my shoulder.  This carried on for a couple of seconds as I comforted her, but after the tears I noticed that she did not want to let go.  She just held on and was quiet. 

It was the best part of my day.  One of those moments that you wish could last forever as she just held on to her daddy.  I loved it.

I was thinking about that today and wondered: Does our heavenly father loves those moments as well?

Often in life, I want to do it on my own.  “No, No” I say to my Father.  “I can do it.” 

But there are those moments when I know I need Him.  Those moments when I am afraid, when I am hurt and I have nothing to say.  I think it is in these moments that God our father longs to hold us close.  Those tender moments when we are quiet and held by the love of our Father. 

It just may be the best part of His day as well.