Welcome back. Get ready to look at how real and complete God is. God wants us to see the complete picture of life on this earth, the real deal.



The prodigal's father is forgiving and loving and generous beyond any fault. However, his other son, the brother (as in brothers and sisters in Christ) did not even approach forgiveness, the love or the generosity. Jealous is more of what the 'brother' felt -- not at all forgiving or loving and definitely not generous. Let's read: Luke 13:25 -32



KJV

Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.



And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found

AMP



But his older son was in the field; and as he returned and came near the house, he heard music and dancing.

And having called one of the servant [boys] to him, he began to ask what this meant.



And he said to him, Your brother has come, and your father has killed [h]that [wheat-]fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and well.

But [the elder brother] was angry [with deep-seated wrath] and resolved not to go in. Then…

Are you ready for the real deal? Deep breath, sit back and get ready to smile.



Did you know that as you come to your senses - and choose to run back to God that He sees you from afar and RUNS TO YOU??? Uhuh! Let's look: Luke 15:20



KJV

20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.



Amplified

20So he got up and came to his [own] father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity and tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [fervently].



Message

20 When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him.

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Now the whole story is about us, how we got all full of ourselves and turned from the very one we needed most, and bam, stepped into the deep whole of sin and lost all we thought we 'had'. Hmm. And then when we decide that we blew it -- yea! When we choose to face up to the fact that 'I' chose to take all and leave and wasted all I had on my foolish and sinful choice of 'living high on the hog' -- And begin our return home to God, well God's been watching and sees us from afar off, and RUNS TO US and embraces us, and kisses us fervently -- not just a peck on the cheek and a pat on the back.



Now we left God, and yet when we wake up and smell the truth of the emptiness of life, and decide to go home, go back and even be just a servant, God sees us, knows us, and runs -- RUNS to us - light flash, EMBRACES us - Holy Spirit anointing , and kisses us - we speak in tongues.



The information after the - above is my interpretation, and I know it is true for me. For you it may be different, as in your unique experience with God.…

Hello -- have you been avoiding the mirror -- as in you don't seem to be able to look in it for long. Ha! Oh well, the process isn't easy, and it may appear hopeless BUT (and but means forget the beginning of this sentence) LOVE never leaves or forsakes you.



Are you sitting and ready??? Let's go on then. In Luke 15: we find more info on the prodigal that we need. Let's look in the 3 versions of these Words:



verses 17-20a

KJV

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father.



Amplified

Then when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have enough food, and [even food] to spare, but I am perishing (dying) here of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] make me like one of your hired servants. So he got up and came to his [own] father.



Message

"That brought him to his senses. He said, 'All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death. I'm going back to my father. I'll say to him, Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.' He got right up and went home to his father.

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Well, he came to his senses -- as in woke up from whatever lies were causing him to be unaware of the truth -- as in remember who he really was - his father's son. Hmmm. Do you know that you are God's…

Welcome Back - Heyyyy-ooooo!

Take a moment to get comfortable and quiet -- take a deep breath --- ok, let's continue



The younger son (child, us, ya know?) asked for his inheritance, got it, went away, and partied harty! Have you been there, running in the opposite direction of God's Love, and partying like there's no tomorrow -- only there is. Sigh. Where did 'it all' go -- we gave it away, spent it up, until we were on zero, empty, no go. Well let's read what the Word says about it. Luke 15: verses 14-16



KJV

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.



Amplified

And when he had spent all he had, a mighty famine came upon that country, and he began to fall behind and be in want. So he went and forced (glued) himself upon one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed hogs. And he would gladly have fed on and filled his belly with the carob pods that the hogs were eating, but [they could not satisfy his hunger and] nobody gave him anything [better].



Message

After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any.

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So, we do get to the 'end of the road' point, just like the prodigal son did. We try to do what we can, but we are hungrier and hungrier -- our spirit and soul as well as our body. Now just to remind you, the people of that time,…