One of my favorite stories is found in Luke 15.

 25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working; when he returned home, he heard dance music coming from the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on."         

 Asking the yard-workers what's going on in our own house indicates a weak or non-existent relationship with the Father. If this older brother had any kind of connection, he would have known as soon as he heard the music that this was about his brother coming home. It's very hard to think like the Father when we haven't seen the Father. John said,

"When Christ is openly revealed, we'll see Him-and in seeing Him, become like Him."

 Some dear friends of my wife and mine adopted a little girl, and it has been very interesting to watch her grow up. She is not biologically related to either parent but, after years of being disciplined and loved by them, she has many of the same characteristics of her mother and father.

 Whether I'm ministering at my home church where I pastor, or as a guest in another city, I teach and preach that every person should have a church to call home and a place in which to worship on a regular basis. There is no substitute for this. But I also teach that this does not take the place of private time with the Father. If we're not careful, we start taking on the appearance of the denomination that facilitates us instead of the divinity that shapes us. Attending church gives us a structure but spending time with the Father gives us a Savior.

 When I see my heavenly Father in the light of the prodigal story, I see better than ever His desire to give "good and perfect gifts."  They are distributed liberally to those who are in relationship with Him.

 This time of year, while the flowers are blooming, birds are singing and things are growing, is a great time to grow your relationship with The Lord. It's time to celebrate at Fathers house!