Abba for the Holidays

I was listening to K-Love in the car today...(well, everyday for that matter...) They are doing this Christmas surprise exchange event. Wait, it is called Home for the Holidays. But what they are doing is giving the opportunity for people to connect with their loved ones over Christmas.

OK. So I was listening today and this teenage girl called. She was adopted many years ago. She loves her family, but now she wants to be connected to her biological mom. So home for the holidays sweepstakes finds her mom.

So for the first time, this teenage girl is talking to her mom ON AIR. I can hear it. And not only can I hear it, I can cry about it. I was crying. The mom was crying. The daughter was half crying, half explaining who she was.

_____________

"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!" Romans 8:14-15

As I was driving around listening to the melodic joining of this sweet mother and daughter, the Father began to share a piece of His heart with me during this Christmas season.

There is this poem by Brennan Manning that starts with "Abba, I Belong to You."

Abba is this intimate word for Father.

You see, the Lord is renewing identity. He is beginning to breathe new revelation over our hearts. He is showing us that we are sons and daughters.

My identity is not that I am:

-Student

-Story teller

-Friend

-Sister

-Terrible cook

-Librarian to my own special stash of books

-people person

-hopeful romantic

-you get the point.

My identity is the I belong to Papa God. My identity is the I belong to Jesus. All the days of my life I am a daughter of the Most High. Do you have ANY idea what that does? What it changes?

IT DOES EVERYTHING. IT CHANGES EVERYTHING.

When I was listening to the K-love home for the holidays deal, the Father spoke very clearly. He is calling us back to sonship. He wants to be your daddy...your Papa...your Abba. And get this: He wanted that relationship so bad that He sent His own Son to take your place. Why? so intimacy could be re-established and that we could utter the words "Abba." Distance from your heart breaks His. Papa doesn't want an employee, a church worker, a list maker. He desires what He created. OHH that is YOU! that is so good. so rich. so safe.

This Christmas season, receive the gift of Salvation. For what you will find is a place of belonging. A relationship so intimate that He becomes the very air you breathe.

You were created to cry out for Abba.

He waits, beloved.