Part 8 – I AM ADOPTED! I have a father.

The week after my confrontation with the priests I started attending a Bible study with Pat and a few other young people.  At the very first Bible study I attended, they were reading Romans chapter 8 and it was my turn to read verses 14-18. They told me later they were startled when I let out an enthusiastic exclamation and couldn’t contain myself. I read those verses again and again and asked if they really meant what they said:

“You have received the spirit of ADOPTION, whereby we cry ‘Abba, FATHER” … … we are the children of God … … and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.”

Adopted - I have a loving Father

Pat showed me other verses too, which showed that God – the Almighty, the Creator, the PERFECT Father God, had ADOPTED ME into His own family, as His child: His adult, full-fledged heir.

Backtrack!
When we first came to Australia, we listened to three radio serials which all had, over a period of a few months, one particular event that caused me much puzzlement.  Hagen’s Circus, Marten’s Corner and Blue Hills all featured a character who had found out he/she was adopted. In these serials, this was the BIGGEST CATASTROPHE anyone could imagine! It was as if it was the end of the world!  Total disaster!

I couldn’t see what was wrong with finding out you had been adopted, and it became one of my two favourite day dreams.  How I longed to discover that I had been adopted! It would mean that at one time in my life – even if only for a very brief time – someone had wanted me:  someone had wanted me enough to adopt me into their family!  Of course, when they found out how evil I was, things would have changed, but at least for a little time, they had wanted me!

I had known three “fathers” who had abused me in various ways. The last one had been the most evil person I’ve ever known. I was a man hater but I loved children. I was such a man hater that the only logical decision for me was to become a nun where I could look after children in an orphanage. I hated all men, and the word “father” filled me with contempt and loathing – and yet here was a loving, PERFECT Father, who LOVED me and who had ADOPTED me into His family.  The word “Father” took on a whole new meaning. I had experienced the love of this perfect Father. I knew this Father could never do anything that would harm me: on the contrary, He desired the very, very best for me. I was a totally different person.

My life changed so completely as I spent time learning from my Father God, through His Word. He had taught me the power of His Word during that week of confrontation and the lessons continued. I learned to trust Him and experienced His leading in so many ways. I read His Word at every opportunity.

My Father God is in control and leads me

I have now known, loved and served my loving heavenly Father, through the Lord Jesus Christ, for 52 of my 74 years.  I have often been surprised at the way He has worked in my life, but I have never been disappointed. Time and time again He has proven the truth of His Word. He constantly undertakes for me and I have found it is the greatest privilege possible to be used by Him in His work on earth today.

No, I didn’t get to work in an orphanage, but my Father gave me the most wonderful husband, five absolutely wonderful sons, and literally many hundreds of children and teens through my involvement in children’s ministry for most of my Christian life.  Thank You, my loving heavenly Father.

I give HIM all the praise for what HE has accomplished in and through me.

Psalm 40:5  Many O Lord my God, are the wonderful works which You have done, and your thoughts which are towards us. They cannot be reckoned up in order unto You. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than be numbered.