“Wholly Family”

 Hebrews 12:6-7

For the LORD disciplines those He loves and He punishes those He accepts

as His children.  As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is

treating you as His own children.  Whoever heard of a child who was never

disciplined?  (NLT)

     Being adopted into God's Holy Family is no small matter, either for us, or for our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, who died a horrendous death in order to bring us back into this holy relationship between God and man.  God created a man and woman to populate the earth to be a part of His family forever.  And if it had not been for God's unconditional love, mercy, and grace, all of us would have remained in our rebellious state, lost in darkness, living anyway we want, ignoring the eternal consequences, and then paying the ultimate price for our rebellion.  Before Jesus' sacrifice we all lived lawlessly as children of wrath.  But the Lord had a plan and chose to give us an opportunity to become a member of His holy eternal Family.

     Those of us who have been adopted by the Living God should never let a day go by without praising Him for His gracious kindness and great generosity, for without Him we would be forever separated from His goodness.  If not for God's unconditional love for people we would only live to die as a child of wrath.  Our Loving God wants a big family, my friends, the bigger the better.  When He calls you to be a part of His incredible eternal family, listen and accept His offer.  For you will reap the inheritance that comes with your adoption.  Don't miss out on this chance of an eternal lifetime, even though you must suffer for a short while.

                                         A Whisper of Hope

I AM and always have been a Family, dear child...And I created you in My image to also be family and even though sin has come between us, I have made a Way for you to be adopted.  Don't refuse this generous offer because the alternative is eternally not so good at all.

Romans 8:15-17

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.  So you have

not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves.  Instead, you received

God's Spirit when He adopted you as His own children.  And we call Him

Abba, Father.  For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm we are God's

children.  And since we are His children, we are His heirs.  In fact, together

with Christ we are heirs of God's glory.  But if we are to share His glory, we

must also share His suffering.  (NLT)

    With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.

                                            (Psalm 86:12)