Happy Father’s Day

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God. 1 John 3:1

I had a really hard time pulling this Freedom Fighter together. Quite honestly – I was having a Bill Welte pity party. I started the other day when I had to run to the store to get a card for someone and saw the Father’s Day cards.

Father’s Day is really a tough day for me. The Lord called my Dad home 28 years ago. I was only 31! At times I really feel ripped off. My Dad was a great dad, but I think of all things that I would love to have him experience. He would be so proud of his grandkids. All of them are walking with the Lord.

And he would love his great-grandkids. They would be the apples of his eye for sure. He missed all my kids weddings. He missed my graduation from Lancaster Bible College. He would have loved to be a part of the lives of the Colony men’s lives.

God blessed me with several other Dads. My Uncle Jake stepped in when Dad died and became Dad to me. He died shortly after our coming to America’s Keswick and Pastor Bill Raws stepped in to be a wonderful Dad. Then the Lord called him home.

Throughout the years Pastor George VanSandt was a major part of my life. He was Pastor Van, Dad, friend. And now he is with the Lord. So I was having a big pity party – feeling like an orphan.

That’s when the Holy Spirit gently nudged me and reminded me that I have a Heavenly Father that will never leave me or forsake me. He is my forever Dad. The one that the Apostle Paul called, “Abba Father” (literally my Pappa) in Romans 8.

Thankfully I KNOW that all of my Dads are with Jesus and that I will see them again. And God has blessed me with four wonderful sons – Josh, Zach, Garrett and Jon. All four young men are walking with Jesus. Three of them are married and are great Dads – better Dads than I ever dreamed of being for them.

So guys – here’s the deal as we close out this week: If you have a Dad – PLEASE call him this weekend and let him know you love him. Give him a big hug. Send him a card. Don’t miss the opportunity to have that relationship with your Dad. And when you are hugging your earthly Dad, know that your Heavenly Poppa loves you in ways you can’t begin to fathom.

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 24-26; Matthew 25:1-30

Quote of the day: My farther didn’t tell me how to live – he lived, and let me watch him do it. Clarence B. Kelland

Bible Memory: Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end. Psalm 119:111-112 ESV