The Big Cheese

Bible Verse:  “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.  God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the last so that he could adopt us as his very own children.  And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”  Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child.  And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.”  Galatians 4:4-7 {NLT}

The Big Cheese, that is my dad.  Growing up we would eat at a local pizza place called “The Big Cheese,” and somehow we ate enough pizza there that my dad morphed into “The Big Cheese” himself.  I remember him often answering our home phone (pre-cell phone days) saying “Pizza Place, this is the Big Cheese.”  Of course, with four teenagers in the house, it was probably one of our friends calling, and Dad thought he was just hilarious!  Memories, really, really good memories.  That is a treasure we will inherit as heirs of The Big Cheese and worth more than gold!

This past summer my parents took our family on a family vacation (all 19 of us), and we honored Dad by wearing matching T-shirts that said: “I love the Big Cheese.”  Again really, really good memories.

I was blessed to grow up in a house where a father’s love was lived out every day.  My dad worked hard for our family, took us on vacations, sat down at the dinner table with us and spent time with us in the evenings.  We knew we were part of a family and as that we were valuable, wanted and loved.

I am also very thankful that I have a husband that is a wonderful husband and father.  He loves our family and puts us first in everything he does.  Our children will grow up knowing what it means to have a father that loves, cares and wants to spend time with them.

Father is the noblest title we can give a man, it is more than a biological title, it signifies a person of notable character, a hero, a friend, a confidant, a warrior.

Many people grow up without having a Father in their lives.  It is hard to imagine what a Fathers love feels like if you did not grow up experiencing it.  But it is not impossible for a person to know their heavenly Father’s heart.  The Holy Spirit makes it possible for anyone to know and receive our Fathers love.

We have been adopted as God’s children, we have been given His name.  We are His heirs.  This is not just some cliché or nicety that we say to make us feel good.  This is legit people!  We should be jumping up and down with joy at what this means!  We have by any and all standards been adopted into the Kingdom of Heaven by the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords and the Prince of Peace.  We have as much right, as His sons and daughters, to the inheritance of God as His own son Jesus does.

Remember, we all have a Heavenly Father who loves us and wants to spend time with us.  He knows exactly how to father us and He always loves us unconditionally.

Abba Father we call out to You today to thank you and praise you for the gift you are to us.  We are so grateful to be part of the holy family, the rightful owners of your inheritance. Your heartbeat is a tattoo upon our souls.  Forever changed, we love our life with you!  Happy Fathers Day Abba Father!  Amen