A Letter from My Heavenly Daddy

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications © 1999-2011 www.FathersLoveLetter.com

Dad's Poems

On my visit home for my birthday weekend, my Mom showed me a couple of poems she found that my wonderful grandfather, whom I call Dad, wrote in his younger days. Dad's education mostly came from life, not schooling. He only completed the 8th grade and then later received his GED when he was in his sixties. I'm so very proud of my grandfather. I love him dearly. I thought I'd include his poems here to preserve and to share.

O Winter Wind

by Gene Bond

Oh winter wind, where blowest thou?

Wherefore this wild mad gale?

Singing a mournful song in the night

Telling a mournful tale.

Of death, of cold and darkness,

Oh yours is a tale of woe.

As you spread your cold and chilling breath

From the land of the great white snow.

The trees shiver to their bottommost roots -

Their leaves wither and die,

Even the stars in the Heavens,

Grow cold as you pass by.

Oh winter wind blow on and on,

Until your strength is done,

And you'll forget these fearful things

When you meet the warming sun.

Untitled

by Gene Bond

I live in a house by a river,

That is called the River of Life.

And flotsam and jetsam pass me by,

And driftwood of trouble and strife.

There are rocks of temptation to trap you,

And rapids where you may be lost,

But someday I'll gather my burdens

And this river I must cross.

For Someone has promised whosoever----

Will weather these dangers and strife,

They'll live with Him forever,

On the side of Eternal Life.

Thank you, Dad, for your understanding words that continue to inspire faith and hope even as you are on the other side of the river. I love you Dad.

Mountain of Strength

My sweet Aaron turned one yesterday. How God has blessed us with our little Aaron James. He has such a strong, sweet, spirit. His body is small - smaller than most his age, but he lives up to his name; (the Hebrew name, Aaron, means "mountain of strength"). From the beginning, Aaron has been a calm, patient baby. He's been easy to comfort, easy to put down to sleep, and flexible as he is toted to and from his brother and sister's activities.

Like his brother and sister, Aaron is a joy to all those who know him. He is a fun baby, with a happy smile that is always ready to break out.

Hannah and Luke adore him and smother him with kisses and hugs. He loves every minute of it! He finds joy in watching his brother and sister play and always tries to get in on the action himself. He is so loved and gives us so much love in return. I treasure every moment I get to spend with my little Aaron James!

Aaron my angel, my mountain of strength,

You are so precious, so precious to me!

One More Cup of Water

I must admit that by the time I started having children, I had completely forgotten the many trips my parents had taken to get me "one more cup of water" before I would finally go to sleep each night. I now remember my attempts at stalling the inevitable, and I also remember how patient and loving my parents were about getting me those cups of water. Unfortunately, my attitude has not always been so positive when getting that last cup of water. However, about a year ago, I came across Matthew 10:42:

And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink; truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.

I realize I am completely taking this verse out of context - Jesus said this when He was sending the disciples out to proclaim His kingdom - but, I remember this verse every time one of my little ones asks for a cup of water. I know that every time I serve them in any way, I am serving the Lord, but it is easy to forget. Now, every time I'm making a late night run to the kitchen for another cup of water, I'm able to smile inside and know that I am serving my Lord and He is smiling down at me!

My Introduction to Tuna Melts

When I first saw a tuna melt, I was a freshman in college going through my dorm's cafeteria line. I actually had never had warm tuna in my life. My only experience with tuna had been my Mom's wonderful tuna fish sandwiches with crunchy red apple, and I believed tuna should be eaten cold. Also, the whole sound of a tuna melt just turned me off. Needless to say, I passed on the cafeteria tuna melts.

Since getting married, I have had tuna steak a few times and enjoyed it, but when using canned tuna, I always made my Mom's recipe. Until now! In the June 2011 issue of Cooking Light I saw a recipe for Tuna Melts with Avocado. I LOVE avacado, so I had to try them. Not only are they delicious, my whole family loved them! (I didn't call them tuna melts; I called them mini pizzas so they would actually try them). In case you would like to give it a try, the recipe (with my adaptations) is below.

2 1/2 Tbsp olive oil

2 Tbsp thinly sliced shallots (I just used half onions and half minced garlic)

1Tbsp Dijon mustard

1/4 tsp black pepper (I used a few twists of the pepper grinder)

1/8 tsp salt

1 (6 oz) can white tuna in water, drained

1 1/2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 avocado

1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered

1/3 cup shredded Swiss cheese (I think any mild, white cheese would do)

2 (6 oz) pieces French bread, halved and toasted (I used bollos from HEB Bakery and didn't toast)

1. Preheat broiler to high.

2. Combine first 6 ingredients.

3. Chop avocado and mix with lemon juice in separate bowl.

4. Combine avocado mixture with tuna mixture.

5. Sprinkle cheese over cut sides of bread and broil for 3 minutes

6. Divide tuna mixture evenly among bread slices.

(I actually put the tuna mixture on the bread first, sprinkled the cheese on top of that, and then toasted all of the ingredients together like pizza).

Hope you enjoy! What is your favorite canned tuna recipe?

Cooking Light®

I LOVE Cooking Light^® (CL) magazine! My love for CL began in the summer of 2000. It had been almost a year since Ramiro and I got married and we had celebrated every night with mega amounts of food and Blue Bell ice cream. I had gained around 15 pounds in 1 year and knew I needed to make a change. There was a Weight Watchers^® (WW) group that met at work, and I decided to join and give it a try. Around that time I also bought a CL magazine. Since CL listed all the nutritional data under each recipe, it was easy for me to use along with the WW Point System.

CL opened up a whole new world for Ramiro and I. We were foodies at heart, but didn't know it yet! Since I had to plan my points each day for WW, I began to write a menu for each week and put the number of points I would be eating by each meal. CL made that easy. Almost every day of the week had at least one CL recipe. Cooking became such an adventure. Many times I would go to the grocery store with at least one item on the list that I had never seen before, or if I had, I didn't know it. CL really helped us discover food!

After about eight months of being on WW and making CL recipes, I lost 15-20 pounds, but I was eating better than I ever had! Even though I have become a little more lax about my nutrition, (having 3 kids will do that to you) I still love CL. Many of the CL recipes have become old favorites. Every once in a while I will post a good one that I think everyone should try. If you have a favorite, please share!

Luke - my Mini-Olympian!

In June, Luke finished his first season of gymnastics and participated in a mini-olympics showcase. He did great! He showed the audience all the events he has learned on the floor, vault, bars, and beam. He even received his first trophy! We are so very proud of our little gymnast!