Post for December 25, 2011:  The Gift of Love

Last year, in an “Authentic Manhood” class, I learned that children develop their conception of God around the ages of 7-8 years old and that this conception is based primarily upon their relationship with their Fathers.  If your Father was emotionally withdrawn, you tend to see God as aloof, distant, and uninvolved in the affairs of mankind.  If your Father was domineering and judgemental, you see a God without mercy or kindness.  If your Father lacked a strong moral code, you will see a God of gray, whose rules you bend to fit your own situation, instead of His eternal consistency.  My point is this…just as our Fathers are imperfect, so is our perception of God.  Even the best of human Fathers falls far short in every respect when compared to our Heavenly Father.

At this time of year it is important to remember that God is Love!  If you have ever loved or been loved, it is only because God created mankind with the capacity for Love.  Plain and simple, you cannot give away what you do not already possess.  God’s Love for us is so important because without His Love, there is no Forgiveness, without Forgiveness, there is no Mercy.  Without Mercy, there is no Grace.  Without Grace, there is no baby born of a Virgin, no Emmanuel, no one to pay the price for our sins, no way to reconcile with God, and no Hope!

As we celebrate Christmas, let us not forget God’s priceless Gift of Love.   I pray the God of Love and Hope will dwell within your hearts and homes this Blessed Christmas Season and all year through.  Merry Christmas!

Post for 12/18/2011

Have you ever had a “favorite” anything?  It could be a toy, clothing, a car or motorcycle, a friend, or a relative.  How do you feel when you think of it or them?  I know what happens with me.  Warm, pleasant feelings rise up in me and I am transported in my mind to happy memories of special times, people and places in my life.   There are never any harsh or hurt feelings; only good times and warm places in my heart.

Have you ever been someone’s “favorite”?  How do they behave towards you?  Do they scowl when you approach or are you met with beaming smiles and open arms that hug and hold you close?  Don’t you feel safe, secure and loved?  Isn’t it wonderful?!  Well, this is how God feels about you!  You and I and everyone who has ever lived or will live are all God’s favorites and He wants us to know that.  When I think about myself as “God’s Favorite”, I feel differently inside.  I feel honored, special, blessed.  I feel good about me and that has changed to how I feel about others. 

For a large portion of my life, I was constantly comparing myself to others, looking for flaws in them so I could feel better about myself.  I envied those who had more money, nicer cars or homes.  I was never content, never satisfied and I always felt like I was playing a role.  Bottom line, there was a hole in my heart that nothing in this world could fill.  I had been confirmed as a Lutheran at the age of 12 but knew Christ then only as my Redeemer.  After High School, I walked away from God for the next 21 years.  I was re-introduced to Christ almost 20 years ago and I know Him now as more than just my Redeemer.  He is also my Friend, my Confidant, my Consoler, my Healer and my most ardent Encourager.  The emptiness is finally gone as is the need to constantly compare myself with others.  I am free at last to be the person God created me to be.   

Introduction & Welcome!

I was lying in bed one night asking the Lord about my future.  More specifically, what I was supposed to do with my life.  This has been a struggle for me ever since I came back to the Lord twenty years ago.  You see, God divinely intervened in my life even before I came back to Him and He has done so on several occasions since.  As a result, I have a difficult time trying to figure out what part of my life is my responsibility and what part is His.  I can’t seem to reconcile the concept of individual “free will” with being part of His “Divine Plan” for my life.  I have also received several prophecies over my life (as have my wife and I), that I expected God would sovereignly bring into existence.  As you might have guessed, that did not happen; thus, the late night questions. 

So there I was, asking God again about what I’m supposed to do.  It dawned on me that perhaps I was asking the wrong question.  So I asked, “What is my destiny?”  “Writing”, was the reply.  “What should I write about?” “Write about us.”  “About our relationship?” “Yes.”  Well, I’ve had thoughts like this before, but something was different.  I could see in my mind that a door was open before me and that it might close if I didn’t step through.  The thought that the door might close and never open again scared me as few things have done before.  So, I got out of bed, went to my office, cranked up the computer and began writing what you see here.  My prayer is that God will continue to guide me.  That He will give me words that truly and adequately reflect my heart and His, and that you, the Reader, will be blessed as a result.  In Jesus’ name...Chris Kilday, Sept. 30, 2011

(P.S.:  This started out as a book, but I didn't maintain my focus and over two months passed with little contsructive writing.  A couple of nights ago I had a dream that convinced me to start again before I lost this opportunity.  I got the very distinct impression that someone else needs to hear that they are "God's Favorite".  If you think about it, we are all, individually, "God's Favorite".  Mankind was created expressly for fellowship with God and I believe He is capable of relating in the most intimate way with each and every one of us.  My goal is to encourage you in your relationship with God and help you start one with Him if you haven't already.  I will try to post a new observation weekly.  So, once again, Welcome!  Chris Kilday, Dec. 11, 2011.)