Be Like 2.0

Chapter 1

My Father Loves Me

Scriptures taken from The Passion Translation

(TPT) and The Message Translation (MSG)

What an amazing place to be where you feel loved, fulfilled, protected, and satisfied without limits. That is what it feels like to be loved by the Father (God). God loves us unconditionally. Many times, religion has made it seem like we have to work to gain God’s love and acceptance. We do not. It is given without merit. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s love. His love can fill every void in our lives and make up for the losses and lack we may have experienced.

When we receive God’s love, the search for trying to replace the void in our lives with other things and people ceases. God’s love provides peace and fulfillment that the natural mind cannot understand. It surpasses all understanding.

There are many Christians who have not experienced God’s love. They are striving for God’s love instead of living from God’s love. We do not have to work for God’s love because it is freely given and will never end. We often get confused between God loving us and being pleased with us. God will always love us. However, how we choose to live our lives determines if God is pleased. When we accept salvation, we commit to living a life according to biblical principles. If we choose to live opposite of the Bible, it does not please God. To experience this amazing love continually, one must make Jesus Lord of their lives. This means that you commit to living life God’s way.

Accept the Father’s Love by Receiving Salvation

Lord Jesus Christ, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. I ask your forgiveness and now turn (repent) from everything I know is wrong according to the Word of God. I believe You died on the cross to set me free from my sins and were resurrected so that I can have a new life in You. Please come into my life and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Amen. See Chapter 2 to learn more about salvation.

The Father’s Love Letter Website

This website provides a practical explanation of God’s love. It is written as a letter from our Father based upon scripture. It is in audio and written format. I consistently read this love letter as a reminder that God loves me with everlasting love. A revelation of the Father’s love changes and transforms our lives forever!

Father’s Love Letter - © 1999 Father Heart Communications www.FathersLoveLetter.com

The Father’s Love Scriptures - The Message Bible

The Message Translation (MSG)

This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.

John 3:16-17 MSG

God spoke: Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature.

Genesis 1:27 MSG

If you will listen obediently to what I say and keep my covenant, out of all peoples you’ll be my special treasure.

Exodus 19:5 MSG

But even there, if you seek God, your God, you’ll be able to find him if you’re serious, looking for him with your whole heart and soul.

Deuteronomy 4:29 MSG

Like a shepherd, he will care for his flock, gathering the lambs in his arms, hugging them as he carries them, leading the nursing ewes to good pasture.

Isaiah 40:11 MSG

Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you.

Jeremiah 1:5 MSG

I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

Jeremiah 29:11 MSG

I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love!

Jeremiah 31:3 MSG

What’s more, I’ll make a covenant with them that will last forever, a covenant to stick with them no matter what, and work for their good. I’ll fill their hearts with a deep respect for me so they’ll not even think of turning away from me.

Oh how I’ll rejoice in them! Oh how I’ll delight in doing good things for them! Heart and soul, I’ll plant them in this country and keep them here!

Jeremiah 32:40-41 MSG

Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs.

Zephaniah 3:17 MSG

The Father’s Love Scriptures - The Passion Translation

The Passion Translation (TPT)

The Lord is close to all whose hearts are crushed by pain, and he is always ready to restore the repentant one.

Psalm 34:18 TPT

Find your delight and true pleasure in Yahweh, and he will give you what you desire the most.

Psalm 37:4 TPT

¹ Lord, you know everything there is to know about me.

² You perceive every movement of my heart and soul, and you understand my every thought before it even enters my mind.

³–4 You are so intimately aware of me, Lord.

You read my heart like an open book and you know all the words I’m about to speak before I even start a sentence! You know every step I will take before my journey even begins.

⁵ You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness you follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past. You have laid your hand on me!

⁶ This is just too wonderful, deep, and incomprehensible! Your understanding of me brings me wonder and strength.

⁷ Where could I go from your Spirit?

Where could I run and hide from your face?

⁸ If I go up to heaven, you’re there! If I go down to the realm of the dead, you’re there too!

⁹ If I fly with wings into the shining dawn, you’re there! If I fly into the radiant sunset,[c] you’re there waiting!

¹⁰ Wherever I go, your hand will guide me; your strength will empower me.

¹¹ It’s impossible to disappear from you or to ask the darkness to hide me, for your presence is everywhere, bringing light into my night.

¹² There is no such thing as darkness with you. The night, to you, is as bright as the day; there’s no difference between the two.

¹³ You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside and my intricate outside, and wove them all together in my mother’s womb.

¹⁴ I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex! Everything you do is marvelously breathtaking. It simply amazes me to think about it! How thoroughly you know me, Lord!

¹⁵ You even formed every bone in my body when you created me in the secret place; carefully, skillfully you shaped me from nothing to something.

¹⁶ You saw who you created me to be before I became me! Before I’d ever seen the light of day, the number of days you planned for me were already recorded in your book.

¹⁷–¹⁸ Every single moment you are thinking of me! How precious and wonderful to consider that you cherish me constantly in your every thought! O God, your desires toward me are more than the grains of sand on every shore! When I awake each morning, you’re still with me.

¹⁹ O God, come and slay these bloodthirsty, murderous men! For I cry out, Depart from me, you wicked ones!

²⁰ See how they blaspheme your sacred name and lift up themselves against you, but all in vain!

²¹ Lord, can’t you see how I despise those who despise you? For I grieve when I see them rise up against you.

²² I have nothing but complete hatred and disgust for them. Your enemies shall be my enemies!

²³ God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through; find out everything that may be hidden within me. Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares.

²⁴ See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on, and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting way—the path that brings me back to you.

Psalm 139:1-24 TPT

³¹ "So then, forsake your worries! Why would you say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ ³² For that is what the unbelievers chase after. Doesn’t your heavenly Father already know the things your bodies require?

³³ So above all, constantly seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness, then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly.

Matthew 6:31-33 TPT

If you, imperfect as you are, know how to lovingly take care of your children and give them what’s best, how much more ready is your heavenly Father to give wonderful gifts to those who ask him?

Matthew 7:11 TPT

¹² Think of it this way: If a man owns a hundred sheep and one lamb wanders away and is lost, won’t he leave the ninety-nine grazing the hillside and thoroughly search for the one lost lamb? ¹³ And if he finds his lost lamb, he rejoices over it, more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. ¹⁴ Now you should understand that it is never the desire of your heavenly Father that a single one of these little ones should be lost.

Matthew 18:12-14 TPT

¹¹ Then Jesus said, "Once there was a father with two sons. ¹² The younger son came to his father and said, ‘Father, don’t you think it’s time to give me my share of your estate?’ So the father went ahead and distributed between the two sons their inheritance. ¹³ Shortly afterward, the younger son packed up all his belongings and traveled off to see the world. He journeyed to a far-off land where he soon wasted all he was given in a binge of extravagant and reckless living. ¹⁴ "With everything spent and nothing left, he grew hungry, because there was a severe famine in that land. ¹⁵ So he begged a farmer in that country to hire him. The farmer hired him and sent him out to feed the pigs. ¹⁶ The son was so famished, he was willing even to eat the slop given to the pigs, because no one would feed him a thing.

¹⁷ "Humiliated, the son finally realized what he was doing, and he thought, ‘There are many workers at my father’s house who have all the food they want with plenty to spare. They lack nothing. Why am I here dying of hunger, feeding these pigs and eating their slop? ¹⁸ I want to go back home to my father’s house, and I’ll say to him, "Father, I was wrong. I have sinned against you. ¹⁹ I’ll never again be worthy to be called your son. Please, Father, just treat me like one of your employees." ’

²⁰ "So the young son set off for home. From a long distance away, his father saw him coming, dressed as a beggar, and great compassion swelled up in his heart for his son who was returning home. The father raced out to meet him, swept him up in his arms, hugged him dearly, and kissed him over and over with tender love.

²¹ Then the son said, ‘Father, I was wrong. I have sinned against you. I could never deserve to be called your son. Just let me be—’ The father interrupted and said, ‘Son, you’re home now!’

²² "Turning to his servants, the father said, ‘Quick, bring me the best robe, my very own robe, and I will place it on his shoulders. Bring the ring, the seal of sonship, and I will put it on his finger. And bring out the best shoes you can find for my son. ²³ Let’s prepare a great feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For my beloved son was once dead, but now he’s alive! Once he was lost, but now he is found!’ And everyone celebrated with overflowing joy.

²⁵ "Now, the older son was out working in the field when his brother returned, and as he approached the house, he heard the music of celebration and dancing. ²⁶ He called over one of the servants and asked, ‘What’s going on?’ ²⁷ "The servant replied, ‘It’s your younger brother. He’s returned home and your father is throwing a party to celebrate his homecoming.’ ²⁸ "The older son became angry and refused to go in and celebrate. So his father came out and pleaded with him, ‘Come and enjoy the feast with us!’

²⁹ "The son said, ‘Father, listen! How many years have I worked like a slave for you, performing every duty you’ve asked as a faithful son? And I’ve never once disobeyed you. But you’ve never thrown a party for me because of my faithfulness. Never once have you even given me a goat that I could