Welcome Home this Holiday Season

Real Dudes,
The Holiday season can be a time of rejoicing as family members are able to get together after spending some time apart because of geographical distance. But I don’t want to ignore the fact that some might not get together because of distant hearts. 
The Lord expressed this strained relationship in Isaiah 29:13 and in Matthew 15:8 when He states that “their hearts are far from me.” This got to thinking about the parable of the Prodigal Son. The father in this story recognized that his son willingly chose to go his own direction in life…to be distant geographically and in heart. 
When you read the passage below, do you see the father chasing after his son as he left? Calling him and demanding that he return? Awaiting an opportunity to subtly slide a Bible verse to him in some way so he’d feel the guilt? What we’re given is that the father just waited with arms open wide. 
What we know about the prodigal son is that in God’s timing he came to his senses. I am praying for families…for the family members of the prodigals to be patient and allow God to work on the prodigals hearts, to be patiently awaiting for their return and be prepared for a celebration rather than a scolding, and for the prodigals to come to their senses, to come to their senses and then take the humble action of actually coming home. 
Family members, don’t give up…keep waiting by the door, however that looks for you, however hard that is for you, keep praying for their return, and be sure that your open arms send the message that they are loved and welcome home. The prodigals don’t need to be reminded of what they did, they’re well aware of that and have been beating themselves up because of their previous actions, but reminded them that they’re still loved and welcome in your presence. Also, be able to block out the noise of others who might question your actions of how you’re receiving your prodigal home…live in the example of what God the Father set before us in the passage below. 
Praying for families to come together this Holiday Season!!!
Practicing His Presence,
Nate

Parable of the Lost Son from Luke 15:11-32 (NLT) 
​11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’
22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’
28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’
31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”