| “The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.” – Proverbs 20:7 |
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| Happy Father’s Day 2023 Without a doubt, the three most meaningful titles I have is husband, father, and grandfather. I love being a husband. I love being a father. I love being a grandfather. I so agree with Proverbs 18:22 as it states, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD.” I so agree with Psalm 127:3-5 as it says, “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;” And while there is no exact verse about being a grandfather Deuteronomy 4:9 speaks of teaching God’s Word to both your children and your grandchildren.” As a father, I chose Proverbs 20:7 to be my guiding verse. If I do what is right and live with integrity my children will be blessed. My actions have a direct impact on them. I don’t want to be a burden. I want to be a blessing. I want them to enjoy God’s blessings. I encourage you who are fathers reading this to have a main verse that guides your role as a father. I thought I would share just a few thoughts about being a father. Fathers are to FEAR the Lord, be full men of FAITH and be found FAITHFUL. Joshua 24:15 says, as for ME and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Psalm 128:1-3 Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways! 2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. 3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. 4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD. Fathers are to be thinking about the AFTER of their actions. This principle comes from Proverbs 20:7, which I have already mentioned. “The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him. Fathers are to be TEACHERS. Proverbs 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of your father; Deut 6:7 “You (fathers) shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Fathers are to be HELPFUL, not harmful. Ephesians 6: 4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath (harmful), but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord (helpful). Colossians 3:21 “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”(very harmful) Let 1 Thessalonians 5:11 guide you. “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” Fathers are to be EXAMPLES. 1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Fathers are to be RESPONSIBLE. Proverbs 12:27 “The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, But diligence (being responsible) is man’s precious possession.” If you father a child you are TO BE A FATHER to the child. In being responsible as a father be responsible as a husband. One of the best tips I can give any father is to LOVE your WIFE! Proverbs 17:1 “Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.” Fathers are to SERVANTS. Your children’s needs are met before your needs are met! John 13:14 “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. Hopefully, these few thoughts encourage you as for many this only reinforces what you have been doing. As you review maybe a few challenged you to make some adjustments. Make them. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his family? Again – HAPPY FATHER’S DAY Continue Strong FATHERS! And remember to DATE THE WORD |