Father, Hero, Mentor, Friend

Recently I posted a video on Facebook by the Skit Guys titled "Fatherhood: What's It Like Being A Dad?" It shares one man's encounters with his children through various facets of life, precious moments, heartbreak and teachable times. I posted it for my sweet hubby since he is such an amazing dad. Of course, Brad typically doesn't like to watch videos, so I had to call it up and hand it to him on my phone to watch it. I knew he would be touched by it and sure enough, tears were flowing when it came to an end. It's because the moments highlighted in this video are relatable to every dad. 

Today is Father's Day, and it's my hope that one day both Rob and Anton will get to be daddies. I think I can speak for Brad and say it is one of the most rewarding, challenging, stressful, blessed jobs there is. It's got a responsibility that's invaluable, as study after study has proven the importance of dads in the lives of their children as role models and educators. A son learns from his father the way to be a good one ... or, interestingly, how to avoid being a bad one.

Brad has worked very hard to be a good father. He has searched the Scriptures for God's direction. He has read books on how to be a godly man and father like "How To Raise A Modern Day Knight" by Robert Lewis, "A Man After God's Own Heart" by Jim George,"7 Men" by Eric Metaxas, "For Men Only" by Shaunti Feldhahn, "The Resolution For Men" by Randy Alcorn, "Better Dads, Stronger Sons" and "The Power Of A Man" by Rick Johnson, "Quiet Strength" and "Uncommon" by Tony Dungy, "15 Minutes Alone With God For Men" by Bob Barnes, "The Man In The Mirror" by Patrick Morley,  and "Coach Wooden: Seven Principles That Changed His Life and Will Shape Yours" by Pat Williams among others. He takes the Bible at heart when it says in Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." He wants to be the father God expects him to be. And all he's learned shows in his behavior toward our two children. Both of our kids are very close to their father. They respect him, enjoy his company, love to talk to him and seek his guidance. My husband is a good man. Did I know when I met him that he'd be a good father? Nope, not a clue. He isn't perfect, but he tries every single day to get better and that means something.

So our advice for our son and future son-in-law:

• Observe how God is as a father and imitate him. "Be imitators of God, as beloved children." Ephesians 5:1
• Seek wisdom. "An intelligent mind acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge." Proverbs 18:15
• Teach your children about God. "Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise." Deuteronomy 6:6-7 and "Teach a child in the way they should go and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6
• Compliment and encourage your children. "A voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved son. With him I am well pleased." Matthew 3:17 and "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4
• Be brave. "I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 
• Set limits. Kids need to know their boundaries. And stick with those limits. "Discipline your children, and they will give you rest; they will give delight to your heart." Proverb 29:17
• Love deeply and sacrificially. "As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him." Psalm 103:13
• Forgive easily and admit when you're wrong. "Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed." James 5:16 and "I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.' So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him." Luke 15:18-20
• Love your wife. After God, she comes first. Your children are watching how your treat her. Girls will learn how they should be treated and boys are learning how they should treat a lady/ "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." Ephesians 5:25.
• Pray ... a lot. Pray God guides you as a Father. Pray continuously for your children. "Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 and "We have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding." Colossians 1:9

Happy Father's Day to all our daddies today, especially Brad, Tom, Anthony, Matt and Tommy. We love you!

Discussion: Tell about a favorite memory of your father. What are some traits that will make you a good parent?

Prayer: Father, we want to wish you above all others a Happy Father's Day, as we are so blessed to have you as our Abba Father. We give glory to you and thank you for your blessings. We thank you for daddies and pray for both Rob and Anton that they may be excellent fathers one day. In Jesus, Amen. 

Makes Cents

"Money, money, money. It's a rich man's world" say the lyrics of the Abba song. I don't know that's it's a rich man's world or that "Money makes the world go around," as Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey sing in Caberet, but I do know that wise application of it certainly helps in living in the world. A good budget will certainly go a long way. You need to know what you have, where it's going, what your goals are and still save for emergencies with what the Lord blesses you. Now you know I am horrible with math, budgeting, balancing and the like, but I can definitely tell you who is good at it: Dave Ramsey.

Ramsey has a class called Financial Peace University that I am going to recommend you both take together. The class teaches you how to manage your money, beat debt and build wealth. It teaches you to pay in cash, have emergency funds in savings, how to invest and budget. It's a fabulous class. Your Daddy and I commented that we wish we would have taken a class like this when we were first married rather than when we were in our 40s, but regardless, even at our late date, it certainly helped us. In Luke 24:28, Christ says, "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?" Planning is key. The slogan for the class is "If you live like no one else, later you can live like no one else." It teaches you how to build credit, without a credit card, how to give, spend and plan. It's a wonderful course. It is costly to take, but it is worth it. You can take it online or even do a home study, but we recommend taking it in a small group because of the feedback and advice you get. There is more information at daveramsey.com/fpu.

Money is not the goal. It is not the be all, end all. Having loads of it is not the answer to all problems. Daddy said in worship Sunday that Jim Carrey once said, "I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of, so they can see that it's not the answer." The answer is Christ. The goal, focus, the be all end all, is Him. Scripture tells us that you "cannot serve both God and money"(Matt. 6:24). 1 Timothy 6:10 says, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." And in Hebrews 13:5 says, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So serve God, do not love money, and be content.

Learn to make good financial choices. In the long run, it will be such a blessing to you both. And getting a head start in the wisdom of it before you get married, makes cents ... ahem, sense.

Discussion: Do either of you know how to budget? What do you think of credit cards? Would you be interested in taking an FPU class?

Prayer: Lord, you have blessed us indeed with what we have. Help us to be good stewards of it. Lord, where we have opportunities to learn about managing the resources you have given us, open up the time and finances for us to invest in that learning. We love you, Lord, and pray you bless us to be a blessing to others. In Jesus, Amen.