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| Janet and Her Big Sis 1972 |
I was thinking this morning about how when I was a child, I was known by everyone as, "Daddy's Little Girl." I thought that was such an amazing title at first, thought there is nothing more special than this, that they saw a special relationship between me and my father, and that no one would ever be able to break the bond between a father and his daughter, even in a family with five children, I never thought I would ever be displaced in that position of "Honor" with my dad.
Then as I got older, it never seemed like being daddy's little girl was such a "great thing" anymore, because it seemed, in the days of fun, joking and kidding around, I was the butt of every joke, and when there was trouble, when others were arguing with each others, it seemed that somehow I was always drug into the middle of their argument for being so, or if they were arguing with me, it seemed I was always being accused of being sheltered because of being "daddy's little girl."
The thing is, I wasn't sheltered, even though they thought I was and didn't mind saying so. Having that title, as I got older, didn't keep me out of trouble at all, as a matter of fact, in our family, it kept me in hot water all the time. I was dealt with more harshly, because it seemed, that having that "title" meant MORE was expected from me, than from the rest of the kids. I could not "get by" with more, I wasn't allowed to "get by" with anything. It seemed the title of "Daddy's Little Girl" as most kids hear it or as most adults mean when they say it to a little child or baby in the arms of their daddy, babying and cooing at them, standing in awe of the wonder of it all, that was NOT necessarily what my family meant by that title they so "lovingly" bestowed upon my head. As I grew up, I finally "lost" that title with my own father, which didn't really bother me at all because it was such a negative thing for me in my life.
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| Pastor "J" Now Proud "Daddy's Girl!" |
Looking Now to my adult life, I think about the day I was given that title, but this time in a more excellent and positive way. The day I gave Jesus Christ my heart, my soul, my spirit, and my body, that He gave me a new vision of what the title of "Daddy's Little Girl," was to Him. It was the most positive title I could have ever owned for myself. It was a new and wonderful position to be in for myself, and I found a deeper, most loving, caring and special relationship with my Heavenly father, than anything I had ever had with my own earthly father or to that degree, with any other person in my life. It was the first time in my life that I had truly felt loved, accepted, and that I was really special. That I wouldn't have a need to feel guarded or a need to protect myself against others because My God loved me and saw me as His own.
Then I found out something wonderful, are you ready for this, I AM NOT the only one! I found out that God doesn't just hold this title out just for me, He loves all His children, all His creation, and He wants all His little girls to see Him as Daddy. Not just "father" but Daddy. There are so many, "religious" people that say, "you can't call God daddy, He is your God, He's your Heavenly Father, and He is your Savior, but it is sacrilegious to call God, "Daddy." All I can tell them is that I get to, as a child of God, I get the pleasure of calling on my God, and call Him, "Daddy."
You see, even Christ when He was facing the Cross, He was praying out to God in the Garden of Gethsemane and cried out to God, "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me" nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou wilt." Mark 14:36
Because I am a child of God, and the bible says I am joint heirs with Jesus, I get to see God as my father too, just like Christ does.
Romans 8:14-17 - "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry ABBA, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the Children of God. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together."
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| Sharing a Message "You Too Can Be Daddy's Little Girl" |
You see, Christ called out to His father, but He was looking at death by excruciating pain on a cross, torture, beatings, and a crown of thorns, He could see it all, knew it was coming and knew He as a man would face pain and it would be the worst pain possible, more than any other had suffered, and He had called on His Daddy to help Him. Abba, means Daddy. He was coming to Him as a plea, asking Him for help, asking Him, "is there another way?" You see, Christ was willing to lay down His life for us, because He loves us, but knowing what He was going to have to go through, knowing the pain, hurt and trials He would have to endure, and He knew He would have to face being on that cross, alone, forsaken, not just denied by the humans He was dying for, but that His own father was going to turn His back on Him, because God cannot look on the sin that Christ was going to have to take on, for our sake. It was a time when Christ knew, He would be completely separated from God, from the Spirit that had once fallen on Him, like a dove. He begged His father, His Daddy to help Him, to see if there was another way.
Sort of like we do with our own dad. When you want something special for yourself, you want to borrow the car, didn't you go up to your dad, and bat your eyelashes and say, "Daddy, Pleassssssseeee " Or when you were facing punishment and you knew you did wrong, but wanted it to be less trouble, didn't you look at him and say, "Oh, Daddy, I am so sorry, I didn't mean it." It seemed if you came to him, and said "Daddy" in a sweet, innocent way, that your dad would just melt, he would be like, "Oh okay, it wasn't that bad of you..." right? That is how most people "tell me" that works when you are trying to get out of trouble with parents. Butter up to the one who is soft on you.
That is what Christ was doing. He didn't want to call on God as God, and not the "Heavenly Father of All," but as His Only Begotten Son, He was calling on His Daddy. Asking Daddy to see if there may be a better way than His own death, the pain, but mostly the separation from God that He would have to endure. He was trying to say, "But daddy, I love these people, I love what we created together, and I know they need to be saved, and IF I am the ONLY WAY, then so be it, BUT DADDY, if you can find some other way to save them, pleassssssseeee, pick that way instead." We know, as well as Christ knew, there was not another way, the most excellent way for our redemption would include all the things Christ would have to suffer for Us.
In doing this for me, I am so glad to share with you, that He did this for You too. I realized it doesn't matter how many people come to the Lord, how many turn their hearts and minds over to God, that Each one of us, ALL OF US, are HIS children. The fact that no matter what we face, we can come to Him and call out, "Abba, Father..." which is to say, "Daddy, Father!" We can call on Him for anything, He is there for us. Know this, That God loves each of us individually, totally, and wholly that He wanted each of us to be able to call out to Him, as Daddy. In His great love, He gives us a position of Sons and Daughters in Christ. In our relationship with Him, He has His special language, His individual and personal conversations, time, and attention on each of us, and He sent His Word, the Bible, so that we can know how to call on His name. That we can know that He is our Father, Our Daddy, and we can know Him in a very intimate and special way, as we begin to call on Him, as we spend time in prayer and fellowship with Him for ourselves.
If you never had a special relationship with a father or mother here on earth, it is hard to know the love of a Heavenly Father that is one-on-one, that His love is unconditional, and that it is free to all. If you never saw that type of love from your earthly father then it is hard to understand that type of love from a father you cannot see. Let me tell you, this love affair you have with your God, your Father, your Daddy, is far greater than any other relationship here on earth you could ever imagine. It is so personal, He knows all about you. He gives you peace, strength, and the ability to face and endure more than you could ever think possible, but He also, takes the burdens you give to Him. He will lift you up and carry you through the trials and temptations Satan throws in your way, you just have to call out to Him. "Daddy, Help me!"
Never again will being "daddy's little girl" ever be a negative connotation for me, Never again will I hang my head in hurt or silence when someone says something about being "Daddy's Little Girl" ever again. My God is My father, He is My Daddy. I am happy to say so, I am privileged to be His child. and I am so glad to be serving Him today. It is an honor for Him when I call out to Him, "Daddy!" and He would love for you to do so as well. God wants to know you on an intimate level as well, Are you ready to call on Him today? Call out, "Daddy, I'm ready to call on you, to be forgiven, to claim you as my own!" He will be there for you.
