be with me

When the serpent came to Eve in the garden, he told her, contrary to what God told her, that when she ate of the fruit she would surely not die. He of course lied. But the more insidious lie was to follow. He said: “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened...." He could have simply said "when you eat from it your eyes will be opened..."  but how much more to achieve his real intent, that of distorting the character and person of God? How different it was when he said, "For God knows...." Now he has portrayed God as knowingly withholding good, as intentionally scheming harm, as one not to be trusted. He who was perfect in love, so perfectly maligned. Every lie that has passed across the lips of Satan has had the same evil design.

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Into this arena of lies steps perfect truth, the image of perfect love. "I have shown them what you are like." Jesus has reflected perfectly the Father, and that reflection is love in its perfect essence; the revelation is incontrovertible. The Father forgives. The Father heals. The Father cherishes. The Father delights. There is no one more benevolent in his heart toward us. The Father pines away for years, anxiously awaiting our return when we stray, watching every day, pent up emotions that will burst in overflowing joy when he sees us on that road.

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The Father despises any religious structure that keeps us more than in inch from his heart. He cherishes us like little children. He longs we would come unashamed to climb all over him, never having known anything but the warmest affection, never having listened to the distancing lies, knowing him only from children's eyes – the truest of visions. How he hates those lies. How he hates any deception, from the most subtle to the most blatant. He despises that which would mischaracterize him. He is love, perfect, pure, no shadow of anything less. “If you as earthly fathers know how to give good gifts, how much more your Father in heaven…?” How much more! And Jesus revealed it perfectly.

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As a young boy, when my earthly father would lie down to nap, if I was nearby, he would grab me and hold me close on his chest. He would embrace me; squirm as I may, he was unrelenting. How deep his affection for me! I could scarcely escape, until he was sound asleep, when I could slip away.

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The truth takes us back to the forever heart of the Father, and holds us, displacing the lies. His Father love is pure molten gold, poured on the heart. It burns, it sears, it captures, it possesses. It is the sweetest honey, dripping from the comb. It will never let us go. Ever!

Dearest Father, deepest love, the pure light of your gaze dissolves those lies. It obliterates them, vaporizes them; such a piercing light, such a flame of love. I honor you when I embrace that truth, of a love so strong, so permanent, so consuming, so perfect. You hold me; you embrace me in affection, close, and will never let me go. Ever!