Length: 3-minute read

BREAK THE CYCLE

Father’s Day is celebrated by many, yet dreaded by some.
For many youths in Heart of God Church who come from a broken family, this day is a reminder of what they do not have.

For the past 2 decades, Pastor Lia and I have given a gift to these youths on Mother’s / Father’s day. This gift, together with a card, letter, or even voice note lets them know that they are not forgotten.

I hope that this gives these young people a glimpse of the Father’s Heart. Though their earthly family may be imperfect, they have a perfect Heavenly Father.

Here is what I wrote last year:

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Every Father’s Day, I think of you and what you overcame to be here. I am so proud of you.
Your past does not need to cast a shadow over your future.
You can BREAK the CYCLE.

I have observed that people tend to stay in cycles.
Hurt people, hurt people.
Abused people, abuse people.
Hated people, hate people.
Offended people, offend people.

With Jesus, you can break the cycle.
1 John 4:19 says we love each other because He first loved us.

In other words, loved people, love people.
When we experience the love of our Heavenly Father, then we can love others.
When we experience the forgiveness of God, then we can forgive others.

Forgiven people, forgive people. (Colossians 3:13)

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You don’t have to live with residual issues and baggage from your family.
You don’t need to live insecure or broken or angry.
With Jesus, you can break the cycle.

I grew up in a dysfunctional family. Then I gave my heart to Jesus.
(You can read about it in the GenS book chapter 7)
God gave me this revelation: “From you and your generation onwards, it will be different.”

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When God spoke this to me as a young man, it was a message of Hope.
But it is also a message of Holy Defiance (as Pastor Lia says).
It was a ruthless resolution that I will not allow what happened in my previous generation to cascade down to me and my future children.
I made my stand.
I drew the line.
I will not be drawn back into the drama and trauma.

You are the guardian of your future GenerationS.
When I married Pastor Lia, I literally did a “leave and cleave” (Genesis 2:24 KJV)
My values will be from the Bible.
My decisions will be led by Jesus.
And my life, marriage and next generations will be different and blessed.

This next part is very important.
It doesn’t stop with enjoying a blessed life.
Blessed people, bless people.

Comforted people, comfort people.

2 Corinthians 1:4
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

There is a purpose to why we experience troubles.
We experience His comfort, so that we can comfort others.
Just as I have been comforted by my Father in Heaven, now I comfort you.
You can also do the same.
So don’t look inwards, but look around you. There are people hurting like you.
Go and bring them the comfort of Jesus.

Sometimes you may wonder why you had to go through all the trauma and drama.
In God, there are no wasted years and no wasted tears.
Because you have broken the cycle, you can lead others to break the cycle.

Every day as you walk with Jesus, you are breaking the cycle.
As you walk with God, you become a person of love, forgiveness, comfort and character.