This weekend in New Zealand we celebrate Father’s Day. It is a special day to recognise and celebrate the role that fathers play in our lives. Whether it’s your Dad, step-Dad, foster Dad or just a special father figure who has helped you along the way, Father’s Day NZ is your chance to say ‘Thank You’.
The history of Father’s Day dates back to the early 1900s, and was partly inspired by the unofficial Mother’s Day services and events that began in 1908.
These services and events prompted many people to arrange similar celebrations to recognise fathers, the most widely noted was organised in Washington, (United States of America) by Mrs Sonora Dodd.
Mrs Dodd wanted to pay tribute to her late father, William Smart, who became a single parent when her mother died in childbirth, he raised 6 children on his own, which was an unusual feat at that time.
Originally she wanted to hold a memorial service on the anniversary of her father’s death, June 5th 1910. However, this did not leave organisers enough time to prepare, instead the service was arranged to be held on the June 19th and became known as the first Father’s Day.
While services continued every year, it wasn’t until 1924 that American President Coolidge recommended that Father’s Day be recognised as a national holiday. It took a further 48 years for Father’s Day to become officially recognised by American President Nixon in 1972.
Most countries follow the American tradition and celebrate Father’s Day on the 3rd Sunday in June. However, New Zealand and Australia celebrate Father’s Day on the 1st Sunday in September.
This year, I’d like to take the opportunity to remind us each of the love that our Father in Heaven has for every one of us. The Apostle John asks that we;
“Think how much the Father loves us. [As] He loves us so much that he lets us be called his children, as we truly are…” 1 John 3:1a (Contemporary English Version)
In The Voice Bible it says to; “Consider the kind of extravagant love the Father has lavished on us – He calls us children of God! … … we have been adopted into God’s family” 1 John 3:1-2 (The Voice)
The Voice Bible also notes that “when we feel like we are not good enough to be loved by God, we should remember that God’s love is greater than our doubts. We must silence the sounds of condemnation so we can hear the voice of God’s loving assurance and remember that He has selected us to be part of His family.“
What an awesome privilege and inheritance!
Through His Word, God has an intimate message for each and every one of us.
The Father’s Love Letter is an intimate message from God to You!
It is a compilation of Bible verses from both the Old & New Testaments that are presented in the form of a love letter from God to you.
Each line in the Father’s Love Letter message is paraphrased, which means that the author, Barry Adams, has taken each Scripture’s overall message and summarized it as a single phrase to best express it’s meaning.
You can read about Barry’s story on how he came to develop the love letter from God, and what his vision to share God’s love around the world both now and into the future is.
At Fathers Love Letter they have many free resources in over 100 languages that may help people you know grow in their relationship with God. Including a FREE e-book Devotional Book!
You’re welcome to download this book and share it with others. Along with any of the other resources available, which include: videos, audio files, various texts, and devotional thoughts that were originally sent out via email to thousands of people who were interested in growing in their relationship with their Heavenly Father.
Barry hopes that they will be a blessing to you and to those that you pass them on to, as you each journey home to God’s ultimate love!
In closing I’d like to share the words of “How Deep The Father’s Love For Us” (SASB #32), which is a modern Christian hymn written by Stuart Townend.
The hymn’s lyrics praise and admire the love of God, the Father and the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ:
The below rendition is from the Messiah College Brass Quintet in 2010, performing Joel Brandon’s arrangement of “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us.”
Blessings ’til next time 🙂
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