SCRIPTURE: "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased'". Mat 3:16 ,17 (KJV)

One of the greatest things a Father can do is to say, "That's my Boy! I'm so proud of him". That is in effect what The Father said about Jesus.

Now, I want to stop here and make mention that this isn't just some wives tale. In three of the four gospels it is recorded in just the same way - almost verbatim. "...the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased".

I don't know about you, but do you see anything at all AWESOME about that? What a way to establish the DIVINITY of Jesus and a new dispensation of Grace for will who would believe on His Name.

I remember the first time I seen my son in his full dress ROTC uniform. I was so proud! I wanted the whole world to know - including all of the family. So we took our boy down.... a'hem... our "man" down and had some pictures taken of him. We were so proud! I was truly hoping this new venture would help to "establish" Wayne II with some new confidence for manhood. Unfortunately, he had some temptations that hit him in his wilderness testing's that brought great disappointment to himself. But it never stopped me from saying, "That's my Boy! And I'm so proud of him".

You see, I know what he "CAN" do, I know what he "CAN" become... and against all odds, I believe! I've seen him and talked with him when he was so "on fire' for God, and I've been on my face before God so many times believing for a change of heart and a renewal in his life, that would shake the world for Jesus. I shared that with you to let you know that if you ever receive a devotional from Wayne Clabaugh II, Old Daddy Wayne's prayers have been answered.

We often get bent out of shape on the failings of our own lives as well as those of our children. We allow the devil (the accuser of the brethren) to step in and try to destroy us by reminding us what we did last Saturday that wasn't Christ-like - or how we act like and say that we are Christians.. but that old accuser says...

"You know what you are. You're nothing but a Liar, and a Hypocrite. What makes you think that God sees you as one of His. You may as well give it all up, because you can never quit cheating or lying or stealing or just being a stain on the name of Christianity. Give it up you Hypocrite!"

I had a gentleman write me here just the other day who said that he has been delivered from Homosexuality and is waiting on God to bring a Godly young woman into His life so that they might be joined in the hand of matrimony before God and their families. He is constantly in prayer and asked for us to agree with him in prayer which we are... and you know what that old devil is doing to torment this precious soul. Yet, let me be the first to say that The Father is saying of this young man today... "That's my Boy! I'm so proud of him!"

Oh how we need men and women who aren't expecting perfection - just willing to surrender their temptations and their struggles with the maladies of life to the Lord and allow the BLOOD to be enough. Romans 10:11 says...

"For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." (KJV)

Is there something in your life today that threatens your relationship with God?

Oh how he loves you my friend, and His greatest desire is to establish you as one of His - in whom He is well pleased. There is no greater joy - no greater blessing that to be in "right-standing" with the Lord: to have Him say about you, "That's my Child! I'm so proud of him / her".

Let's pray together today shall we? Repeat this prayer after me if you will.

Father... I adore you and I thank you for your Son Jesus who died on the Cross to save me from my sins.

I realize that I am not what I should be I have sinned, and I repent of that sin just now I am ready to surrender all that stands between you and me today.

Renew my soul, and my Spirit and once again, be LORD OF MY LIFE  I want to live for you Lord and to  always do what's right in your eyes  I love you Lord, and I thank you for delivering me from the strongholds that have taken hold of me.

I choose from this day forward to live for you I will not look for perfection but will cling to the Cross of Calvary and plead the blood daily to cover me.

Forgive me of my sin and release me from the spirit of bondage on my life today  I receive Your Holy Spirit's infilling to establish me as one of Your children.

Be my Lord from this day forward  In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.