What comes to mind when you hear the phrase, "Heavenly Father"? Some people think of a gentle, loving person who is eager to bestow wonderful gifts on them. Others think of a harsh, angry person just waiting for them to make a mistake so they can punish them. Often the way in which a person views their Heavenly Father is influenced by the relationship between them and their earthly father. It is essential to remember that our Heavenly Father is perfect which no earthly father can be. Fortunately, my earthly father, who is now present with the LORD, knew my Heavenly Father and helped introduce me to Him.


Our Father...........our father
to both my fathers

Our Father which art in heaven…
....our father who now lives in heaven
Hallowed by Thy name...
...your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life
Thy kingdom come…
...you are in His kingdom and will come back with Him
Thy will be done on Earth...
...just ‘the look’ and your will was done on Earth
As it is in Heaven…
...you do His will in Heaven
Give us this day our daily bread…
...you provided daily bread for so many years
And forgive us our trespasses...
...you often helped keep us from trespassing
As we forgive those who trespass against us...
...you made sure we knew of His forgiveness
Lead us not into temptation...
...you guarded us that we’d not be tempted
And deliver us from evil…
...you are safe from all evil now
For Thine is the kingdom…
...you are in the presence of the King of Kings
The power…
...you are witness to that great power
And the glory…
...you give Him glory continuously now
Forever and ever…
...and forever more
Amen...
...A man

© 2006 skywatcher

Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—
how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.
Psalm 34:8 (The Message)

Love......My Love......His Love

To the Lover of my soul


My love, what to you is love?
Love, hhmmm, God is Love.

My love, what do you need?
His love, more than life.
God‘s love is what I need.

My love, what do you feel?
His love, deep inside my heart.
God’s love is what I feel.

My love, what do you smell?
His love, the essence of Heaven.
God’s love is what I smell.

My love, what do you hear?
His love, in the whisper of the wind.
God’s love is what I hear.

My love, what do you taste?
His love, I savour and have found favour.
God’s love is what I taste.

My love, what do you see?
His love, gazing down from the cross with forgiving eyes.
God’s love is what I see.

My love, what do you have?
His love, for God so loved me,
that he sent his only Son,
that if I believe on Him,
I will not perish,
but will have everlasting life.

God’s love is what I have…a forever love.

© 2006 skywatcher

God is an intensely personal God who desires an intimate relationship with each of us. If any one of us were the only being he had created he would still have offered His Son to redeem us. Why?

For God So Loved...........

When alone, in the stillness, my heart sometimes cries,
"Why do I have life while the innocent dies?"

'For God so loved you,' I imagined I heard
or did I once read that in God's holy word.

"But how do I know for sure that it's true?"
'He gave His only Son just for you.'

"For me? Surely not. It was meant for another."
'For you. Who ever believes; he'll become your brother.'

"I'd believed in my mind, oh, but now in my heart."
'He longed for this day right from the start,
to give you life abundant, everlasting and free!'
"I know I'm forgiven, for God so loved...........me!"

© 2006 skywatcher

Who Doesn't Want a Little Good News?

We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. Romans 6:6, 7 (New Living Translation)


I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 7:21-25 (NLT)

Have you ever been reading scripture and it feels like you are reading a script from a comedy routine. “That’s the good news.” “Oh, so that‘s the good news.” “No that’s the bad news.” “I get it. That’s the bad news.” “No that’s the good news.”

As I read Romans chapter six and then chapter seven, I almost wanted to say “Wait a minute, aren’t these two chapters in the wrong order?” After all, chapter six clearly tells me that I am no longer a slave to sin. That’s the good news. Christ died for me. I accept that. I’m dead to sin. Christ freed me from the penalty of sin and brought me out of slavery. He freed me from the power of sin. So, sin doesn’t have to wield any power over me unless I choose to allow it. Sounds like I could be doing a whole lot better. Not that I will ever be sinless on this Earth but at least I have the power to sin less. Not my power really, but His power available to me. All I have to do is tap into it. Call on it. Use it and sin less. Yes, definitely that must be the good news.

Then along comes chapter seven and it seems to be telling me that there is another power working against me; a power that is making me a slave to the sin that I still have in me. That’s the bad news! How discouraging is that!? Well, honestly, pretty discouraging but then along comes another news flash. Jesus Christ our Lord will free us from this life that is dominated by sin. Yes, that is the good news.

If you continue into chapter eight, it’s all good news.
· There’s no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus
· The power of the life-giving Spirit has freed us from the power of sin
· God declared an end to sin’s control over us
· Letting the Spirit control one’s mind leads to life and peace
· The Spirit of God lives in our bodies
· The Spirit that raised Christ will raise our mortal bodies to life
· We are not obligated to obey our sinful nature
· We are adopted as God’s own children
· We are his heirs
· His Spirit joins with our spirit
· He will reveal his glory to us
· We will have freedom from death and decay
· We look forward to the day he will give us new bodies
· The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness
· The Holy Spirit prays for us
· The Holy Spirit pleads to God for us in harmony with His will
· God has given us right standing with himself
· No one can condemn us
· Christ Jesus died for us
· Christ Jesus was raised to life for us
· Christ Jesus is sitting at God’s right hand pleading for us
· Overwhelming victory is ours through Christ
· Nothing can separate us from God’s love

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? Romans 8: 31

"That's the good news."
"Not quite, it's the best news I've ever heard."

Blood Shed........ Not Spilled

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Colosians 1:19 -20 (New International Version)

One Sunday morning, a woman, who had not been attending our church for very long, sat directly in front of me. We had reached the communion segment of our worship service. Our church uses trays of little individual plastic communion cups. As this woman took a cup, it slipped from her hand spilling the contents on her clothing. She appeared quite embarrassed as she passed the tray to the person next to her and attempted to wipe the stain with a tissue. I felt so sorry for her. I wanted to tap her on the shoulder and tell her that it was okay. I knew that would most likely make things worse.

“Why did that have to happen to her, Lord?” I silently prayed.

It was as if the Lord Jesus were sitting right next to me whispering in my ear.

“As a lesson for you my dear one… a reminder of my plan. Don’t you see? My blood was never spilled. Spilled blood would have been an accident. My blood was poured out intentionally. Spilled blood would have left the stain of sin. My shed blood washes away all stains and leaves you righteous in my sight… white and pure as snow.”

I silently bowed my head and thanked the Lord for the lesson learned that morning from that tiny cup that was spilled and the precious blood of Christ that was poured out, both for me.

Blood shed, not spilled
Your love outpoured
Redeeming me forevermore
Life given, not taken
By choice you died
A cleansing stream ran from your side

I see your eyes with love gaze down
I see on your head, the cruel crown
Of thorns that cut your holy brow
I hear your words, ‘Forgive her now’

No condemnation do I fear
As to your cross I draw near

‘Twas meant to be
Blood shed for me
Humbly I bow
In remembrance now

-Skywatcher 2005

A Good Man....

Sunday mornings, at our church, I usually stand at the rear doorway to the ‘sanctuary’ which at present is actually a school gymnasium. My specific purpose is to watch for newcomers and latecomers and make sure they know they are welcome. One week, two other women were with me. During communion, the bread and wine were being passed around by two young men. One of the ladies whispered to me, “I wonder if one of them will bring it back here to us.” We watched as the bread was passed throughout the congregation. After everyone in his section was served, one of the men noticed us. He softly walked the distance to bring the bread to us. As I reached for a piece, I quietly whispered, “You’re a good man.” He smiled.

A good man… where have I heard that before? When discussing Jesus I’ve heard some say, “He was a good man.” People haven’t really changed much in two thousand years. When Jesus Christ was on Earth, people said the same thing. Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, "He is a good man." Luke 7:12 Others took it a step further and called him a good teacher. As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. Mark 10:17, 18 Who did Jesus say he was? “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." John 6:51

As these thoughts ran through my mind I thought how Christ- like the actions were of the young man offering me the communion bread. He humbly walked the distance for me. The bread of course was a symbol of Jesus body ‘broken’ for me. That morning the symbolism went deeper. What if the young man had not noticed me? Or worse, what if he had seen me but decided I wasn’t worth the extra effort? What if he had decided not to bring the bread to me? What if he was indifferent and just didn’t care? I bowed my head and thanked God that morning for the extra picture of Christ’s love for me. Jesus saw my need. He cared. He came and took on a human body. Filled with love and compassion he made the ultimate sacrifice on the cross. He thought I was worth the effort. It cost him so much to ‘go the distance’ for me so that I can live forever in his kingdom.