By Pastor/Evangelist Barbara Lynch

CHILDREN, yes, I call you children. You are My Beloved ones, those that have endured suffering after suffering, but you clung to the cross of Calvary and, like little children, would not let go. You knew who was sustaining you and held on, no matter the cost.

1 John 3:  1 – 3 (NKJV) Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

As we give our children rewards for being good, I am ascending gift after gift upon My Beloved Children. All I have promised you is yours, and I am adding a few bonuses. It will be an early Christmas for some, and others will receive their gifts a little late, but it is gift-giving time all the way around.

Matthew 7:  11. If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

This verse is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, where he teaches his disciples about the principles of the Kingdom of God. In this particular verse, Jesus is encouraging his followers to trust in God’s goodness and generosity. He is saying that if even earthly fathers, who are flawed and sinful, know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more will our Heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him?

So, rejoice. Keep rejoicing. The time is ripe for the return of the prodigals, and they, too, shall receive a bounty of gifts.

Why? Because even though they slid to the back side of the desert, they cried out to Me in their hours of despair.

Luke 15:  20 – 24 (NKJV) 20 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

The parable of the prodigal son is a story from the Bible that shows the nature of repentance and the Lord’s readiness to welcome and bless all who return to Him. The story is about a son who leaves his father’s house and squanders his inheritance but later returns and is welcomed back by his father. The father is filled with compassion and celebrates his son’s return by throwing a feast.

1 John 2:  12 – 13 (NKJV)
12 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. 13 I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.