Be the Father they deserve

Someone is teaching your children about things beyond this world.  Their friends, their teachers, neighbor parents, the television, social media and the music they listen too.  Yes, all of these people and things are influencing their perspective on life, death, right and wrong.  If they are young they are very impressionable.  If they are in college they are making choices, setting life directions and establishing their own opinion on these major topics in life.  There are choices that will impact who they marry, who they befriend, who they look to for leadership and who they will influence. 

Are you having an influence on your children on these important topics?
Have you actually sat down with them and discussed life, death, salvation, Jesus Christ and God’s grace; or are you expecting them to pick it up on their own?  If the latter, I’m sorry to say, it’s not likely going to happen.  There are too many forces in this world that will push your children in an alternative direction; and give them the comfort that it’s the truth.

It’s your job, it’s your single biggest responsibility in this life.  If you call yourself a Christian and you are not even willing to discuss it with your wife, your husband and your children; then you need to ask yourself why.  The bible teaches us, “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.”  - Proverbs 22:6.  It is biblical, and very much to the point that Fathers and Mothers are to teach their children the scriptures, the gospel and the saving grace through Jesus Christ.  You are responsible for this.  Not your church, not your kids teachers, not your kids friends; no – you are.

So, Father’s are you doing this?  Are you taking seriously the task of leading your household with a Christian mindset, and educating your children about Jesus Christ?  We are so quick to brag about our children and their latest achievements in sports, school, relationships and work.  Where are the FB posts about your child’s walk with Christ and their salvation?  Is it not 100x more important than anything else they may be engaged in?

We, as parents, need to set our priorities properly.  If you expect your child to pick up Christ by watching you model Christian behavior, than you better be getting it right 100% of the time.  They should be watching Christ and how He lived.  He is the example of perfection in human flesh.  He alone is the one your children should be modeling their lives after.  By all means, you should be living for Christ and allow them to see that in action, but teach them that there is only One mediator between mankind and God, and that is Jesus Christ.

I’ve recently spoken to a friend about his children and their faith.  He could not even tell me if they believed in Jesus Christ, yet alone that they were walking in a daily relationship with Him.  They were at college and they didn’t speak often, so he was unclear on where they stood.  This is a shame.  The influences impacting their spiritual walk are in most cases extremely liberal and opposed to the traditional Christian doctrine of Jesus Christ as the only way to the Father.  Are you seriously willing to stand by and allow your child to be influenced by the world without a fight for their soul?  The outcome is not pleasant, and as a parent of 5, grandparent of 3(almost 4) I cannot stand by and let my children’s faith be minimized, replaced or reduced to a worldly view.  It is our role as Father’s to shepherd our children through their spiritual walk and help them draw closer to Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.

Pass It On

Read It, Learn It, Live It, Share It with your friends

“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”    – Deuteronomy 4:9

 

They trust you.  Over time you have shown them through examples in life what it means to live with integrity, ethics and moral values.  Since they were able to walk, they have followed you and learned from you how to make it in this world.  There have been times when you had to be firm, and set them back on the path of life with a better direction in mind.  There have been times when you had to discipline them, and help them understand the error of their ways in hopes that they would learn from the lesson and become stronger because of it.  Then there are the times when you have had to help them heal from the hurt and pain caused in this world.  When they needed to know that they were loved, cherished and accepted; regardless of the circumstances.  You were the shoulder they cried on, and the strong embrace of comfort when the time of grieving came into the family at the loss of a loved one. 

As the temples started to grey and the stride of your step became slower, their needs changed and you stepped up.  They needed advice, guidance and counseling, and your experience in life, passed on from generation to generation, helped start them on their own journey.  Strength, courage and sound principals on raising a family and balancing a budget became your contribution in the less frequent visits.  The times were shorter, but rich in love and wisdom, as a new generation comes upon the scene. 

When you are a father, you have the responsibility of creating the future of this world.  The children of yesterday will become the Dad’s of tomorrow and will carry the torch in the way they have been taught.  Your role is to ensure that they are grounded in Christ and the grace of God as they pick up the mantle.  You see, since the beginning of time, God has demonstrated the art of being a Father and provided numerous examples of what it means to lead a family.  You have to accept the role given to you as the Spiritual leader of your house, as it has been granted to you from God the Father.  You will build a legacy that will last beyond your days, but that legacy must be filled with God’s love, righteousness and an understanding of His purpose. You are given the opportunity to model the compassion, humility, grace and principals of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.  Be proud that you have been chosen to represent God created to the future generations, and be the Father that your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will carry forward beyond your days.

Happy Father’s Day to you, Men of God.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2012
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Strong Enough - Happy Father's Day

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"  – Matthew 16:22

HAPPY FATHER’s DAY to those of you who are father’s.  I wish you much peace and joy today and throughout your life as you watch your children grow in Christ.

We’re fixers.  Men, that is.  We spend our life trying to fix problems that come up.  Problems at work, problems at home, problems with the kids, problems with the wife and even problems with the church.  There is something inside of men that drive us to fix things.  Sometimes it’s a blessing, like when the handlebars on my daughters bike were loose, or when the latch on the backyard gate was broke.  Sometime’s though it is not a blessing.  When my wife just wants a someone to listen, or when my kids feelings are hurt because a neighborhood bully said something mean.  You can’t fix these things, it requires compassion, love and understanding.

Peter rebuked Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Filled with his desire to fix the situation in a manner which aligned with his understanding of Jesus’ purpose on this earth, he told the Savior of the World – “Not on my watch”.  His pride, his confidence in himself and his desire to control the situation had overcome his faith and trust in God’s plan for salvation.  Do you recall how Jesus responded to Peter?  "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” He immediately put to rest any attacks by Satan to thwart the plans of God the Father.

This determination to solve problems our own way and in our timing is inherent in all of us.  We must take a step back and seek the intent of God the Father in our actions and decisions in life.  Not everything has to be fixed, sometimes we just need to be there, to love and to understand.  As a father of 5 and grandfather of 2, I struggle with this daily.  I am constantly trying to fix things the way I think they should be, without considering that perhaps God has a much bigger plan for the situation or brokenness that I am going through.    

As father's we are chartered with the job of leading our families in a way that demonstrates the love of God in a way that clearly establishes a foundation that will endure. We look to our fathers for loving discipline to teach us right from wrong; for moral and ethical guidance to carry on a legacy from generation to generation; for leadership in decision making to frame our independence and for strength to make it through the struggles we face in life. A father brings vision to a family and when led by God's wisdom and courage will ensure that his children experience the love, peace and enduring grace of the Savior. When we struggle with life’s challenges in our families, at work and at home we must learn to trust in God’s authority and power to be strong enough.

Prayer:
Almighty God,
I pray for the father’s in this world.  I pray that you fill them with a passion for serving You, a desire to be in Your will and the strength to stand firm in Your ways.  This world is attacking the family from every angle Lord and we need You as our guard and our shield of protection from the enemy.  Build up a fortress, beginning with the father’s in every household, to stand against evil in this world.  For only through You can we be made strong.  In Your name we pray – Amen
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©Sondove Enterprises, 2011