I NEED MY DADDY!!!

Just over a week ago I attended a funeral of a man who had been ill and after an intense battle, the Lord called him home.  His wife, children, grandchildren, best friends and other family members all spoke strongly of his character.  They all spoke highly of his ability to speak life to others no matter the circumstances.  Each person spoke of his unending love.  All who shared spoke of this man who gave whatever he had to whomever asked of it.  He simply required excellence.  He wanted every person connected to him to be the best that they could be so he assisted them in whatever way he could to bring out the best qualities in them. As the service came to an end and the casket was being closed, one daughter began to scream:

"SOMEBODY HELP ME! HELP ME! DADDY! DADDY! O'MY DADDY!  

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITHOUT MY DADDY?!?! I NEED MY DADDY!  

NO, PLEASE DADDY DON'T LEAVE ME...HELP ME!  I NEED MY DADDY!

Those words pierced my soul and I began to think of my own father, the late Edward L. Whitaker and how over thirty years ago he too transitioned.  I felt I lost him.  I was devastated, torn, deeply grieved and was overwhelmed with emptiness.  I felt like a loss puppy.  Longing for my fathers warm touch, yearning to hear his stern but loving voice, desiring to simply catch a glimpse of him but this desire led me down a path where I encountered imposter's and counterfeits over and over again. I did not receive authentic love from these imposter's.  Their love was NOT unconditional.  In fact, the love they gave was NOT love at all.  It did not even remotely resemble how Christ loved the church but because I needed something I seemingly could not find, I searched and searched, refusing to give up until I had my fathers love.

Today, June 6, 2012, at age thirty-six, I must admit that what I was doing privately was no less than what the young woman did publicly at her fathers funeral.  I was crying out for my physical father but what I found twenty-seven years later at age thirty-two is there is no greater love than the love of God, my everlasting Father!

I do as the young woman did at the funeral; I cry out to those who are lost like I was, looking for someone to love them, looking for someone to hold them, looking for someone to stick by your side -- I cry out telling you of MY FATHER's character as well as His characteristics.  He is Alpha & Omega. He is all knowing! He is loving! He is gracious, gentle and kind! He is merciful! He desires that you live life full and complete! He requires you to be Holy only because He is an excellent God who has created you in excellence, excellently! His love is unending!

The Father I found desires you to see yourself as He sees you for how He created you.  You are fearfully and wonderfully made and when you come to Him weary, weak, wounded, worn, tired, bitter and just OVER IT -- this thing called life.  When you have searched outside of yourself, trying to penetrate the hearts of men and women who say they love you and they love God. When you have knocked on every door, gone down every wrong road, wandered in the wilderness, climbed thousands of mountains seeking, looking and yearning for someone to fill that empty space and still find no one.  When you sink lower than you thought you could and suddenly hear a still soft voice whispering saying, "I love you! Come to me! Let me love you more! Let me hold you! Let me cradle you in my arms". Don't run! Do not be afraid, for that still, soft, small voice is God letting you know He is near.

Don't walk away from this post empty, incomplete or with void feelings.  Allow God to embrace you right where you are.  I encourage you to let God have your heart and stop trying to get something from man that only God can give.  Do not let the door to your future close, leaving you on the other side still screaming, "Daddy, don't leave me!" God wants you to live and He wants to help you live well! He desires to heal you and I know He can fill every void if you let Him!

PRAYER:

Holy and loving God, My Father, the one who holds me close when everyone else leaves me alone, my source of strength, my guiding light, my hope is in you.  Cover me, keep me, draw me close to thee.  Lord, empty my heart of all foul things.  Take away those things that cause me to run away from you such as; fear of self, fear of rejection, fear of the unknown, fear of success, fear of failure, fear of hypocrisy, fear of pain, fear of death, fear of sickness, fear of self-image, fear of being alone, fear of condemnation from friends and family, fear of lacking knowledge, fear of losing things or people, fear of transparency, fear of exposure of the ugly things within me. 

Fill every void with love, peace, hope, confidence, joy and serenity.  I desire to be held by you, for you are the Creator of everything.  I desire to be a perfect reflection of you.  Intensify my desire for you and help me to grow tired and fed up with the enemy in the inner me who tells me that I am invisible, worthless, self-righteous, too holy, unholy, ignorant, unworthy and nothing in your eyes. Quiet every voice that speaks against Your word.  Lord help me to recognize more than just my potential but my purpose. 

God I surrender my life and ask that you forgive me for not yielding to your voice. Lord forgive me for sinning against you.  Forgive me for being afraid of stepping up and standing as your elect. Forgive me for walking in dirty places with unclean things.  Forgive me for doubting you.  Forgive me for speaking death instead of life.  Forgive me for the all the things I have thought, said and done that displeased your heart.  Daddy, I need you more today than I ever have before.  Continue to walk with me.  Help me with every step I make to live according to the mandates of Your word that I become Holy and acceptable in thy sight.  Help me to love like you! Help me to be gracious and forgiving towards those who have wronged me, even the ones I perceived to be in my space for ill intent but you sent using them and situations to stretch my faith. Daddy, I do not want to live another day without you. 

Thank you for loving me and for thinking enough of me to be a whisper in the wind, to send a dream, to receive a phone call, to meet a stranger on the streets, to be able to read this post and recall to my mind that I may have even more hope that its because of your mercy that I am not consumed. I rejoice that you have found me, cleansed me, renewed my mind and desire to use me for Your glory! Have your way Father, In Jesus Name, Amen 

Scripture References to further encourage you:

Psalm 27:10 (NIV)

Though my father and mother forsake me,

the LORD will receive me.

Matthew 7:7 (NLT)

"Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.
Keep on seeking, and you will find.
Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

2 Samuel 22:33 (KJV)

God is my strength and power:
and he maketh my way perfect.

1 John 2:5 (KJV)

But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him.

This is how we knowWE ARE IN HIM.

Deuteronomy 32:4 (KJV)

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment:
a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Psalm 27:10 (NLT)

Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the LORD will hold me close.

Romans 14:9 (KJV)

For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived,
that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.