Have you ever called God, Dad?  Probably 25 or more years ago I recall an assistant pastor at our church who would reference God as Dad rather often.  I had always wondered where that came from?  The name Dad just didn’t have any Strength and Honor to it like the Powerful word–God.  In the past few days–following the torment of last week, while I am journaling, I’ve been led to call Father God, Dad.  When I’ve obeyed and done it I have this joyous contentment within.  This morning I’ve realized that this is intimacy with God.  I always called my earthly father, dad.  I’m sure the importance of the term was deeply influenced by this.  God is letting me find intimacy with Him.  I’m so enjoying the richness of this too.  Dad, referencing to God Himself, has Strength and Honor to it, but it also has something I’ve not known until now–Intimacy.  It is so nice!

This afternoon I’m spending a couple hours with my dear pastor friend.  He and his wife came Wednesday night to hear my Celebrate Recovery testimony.  He is 89 and she just turned 86.  I know he won’t even remember they had come, but I will forever remember.  I have so many tender, loving memories of his importance to me in my young adult years.  We will talk about many things and I will repeat my responses several times as though they are the first time.  But, while I do it, I will do so with love and honor for a man who has lived proclaiming God to the lost and lonely.  His wife is a prayer warrior for me.  I love her equally.  I know intimacy with them.  I thank God for that.