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I LOVE YOU, DAD!
by Bro. Doug Collins

Thoughts from a very happy father.
 

Sweeter words could never be heard by a father, than to have one of his children whisper "I love you" in his ear. These words were spoken to me by my oldest son, Jeremy, during service on March 24th.
Sunday, March 24th is now a very special landmark in my life. For it is when my oldest son became my spiritual brother and the broken circle of my family became unbroken. Praise God!!
I envisioned a million different senario's about how the Lord would save him. The Lord used the one million and one. It was nothing like I had ever imagined. Also, I never imagined my son would show the world a water resurrection on the day we celebrate the Lord's resurrection. Praise the Lord!!!!
Gen 46:29-30 "...and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive." I personally lived this moment on Sunday the 24th. For this day I looked into my son's eyes and he was now spiritually alive. Now I can say like Israel "let me die". The awesome thing about this is that that very morning in Sunday School I read these scriptures and made this comment. Praise his Holy name!!!!
Jeremy first sought the Lord at age 10, in April he will be 20. While watching your child seek the Lord you experience many feelings, such as, discouragement and impatience. Thoughts run through your mind many from the devil himself, and emotions of sorrow and fatigue. But, it has often been told to me that "the harder the battle the sweeter the Victory" truer words have never been spoken. What a sweet Victory. Praise God!!!!
Through the generations the Church never wavers, never faints but waits patiently for the Spirit to move and to work. That's the way it MUST be. That's what separates us from the pretenders. I John 2:20 "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." She encourages her members to keep praying for their loved ones, their friends, and their neighbors. For parents to keep praying for their children and children to keep praying for their parents. What a blessed and wonderful institution to be a part. Thank you God and Victory Missionary Baptist Church!!!!
The service that I had waited for for so long is now history. A memory that will be with me for the rest of my years along with two other memories. For you see, I have two other sons that have been graciously saved by God.
In closing, I often imagine at the time of our Lord's departure from heaven if he fell upon his fathers neck a good while, wept, and whispered "I love you". Thank you Jesus for everything!!!!