Category: Father - IRONSTRIKES

What my dad taught me about death

6/17/2015

My dad is a pastor. He is my first pastor. He is my longest pastor. He is the pastor that I know most well. I know the fruit of his pastorate. In fact, I am the result of his pastoring. His faithfulness to God, his calling and to his parishioners has made a deep, profound impact on my life. I am grateful. I consider myself fortunate to be in his family.

Being in a pastor's family comes with meeting other pastors, meeting evangelists and missionaries as well. It also comes with meeting funeral directors and people who are grieving. I came to see that one of the terrific things about being a pastor is impacting people at very key points in their lives: births, baby dedications, hospitalizations, marriages, funerals, etc. During these key times, many people are open to being helped and are very open to the things of God.

I remember sometimes, my father would have me help him. As young boy I wanted to do what I could to show my dad I loved him and would enjoy when he asked me to help him. (Of course not always, there were times that I didn't obey my parents well.) I remember helping him with several funerals. One time, in particular, he told me to go to the casket and feel the person to experience what a dead person felt like. I don't recall being scared, I had been taught that was just the shell, that the real person, who lived inside, was not there. I reached into the casket and touched the person's hand. It was hard and cold. It didn't feel like a person who was alive. He told me, "look at his legs, how they are stretched out and he has shoes on. He's dressed nice so that people will remember him looking handsome." I recall my father listening intently to the mourners, praying with them and being friendly with them. He was there when people need comfort. He was there when people usually are most receptive to looking at their own mortality. He was there when many people want to talk about God.

What did I learn from my dad about death?

Death is a time where we can be of help to people. People need us to be there for them. They don't need to be ignored during the time of loss. Death is not to be feared. What really matters is the person's soul. Death can be a time when the mourners are making important decisions about how they want to live.

My Bold Dad

2/4/2015

I love it when commercials get it right.

BE BOLD DAD

To my porn watching dad, from your daughter

12/18/2014

Dear Dad,

I want to let you know first of all that I love you and forgive you for what this has done in my life. I also wanted to let you know exactly what your porn use has done to my life. You may think that this effects only you, or even your and mom’s relationships. But it has had a profound impact on me and all of my siblings as well.

I found your porn on the computer somewhere around the age of 12 or so, just when I was starting to become a young woman. First of all, it seemed very hypocritical to me that you were trying to teach me the value of what to let into my mind in terms of movies, yet here you were entertaining your mind with this junk on a regular basis. Your talks to me about being careful with what I watched meant virtually nothing.

Because of pornography, I was aware that mom was not the only woman you were looking at. I became acutely aware of your wandering eye when we were out and about. This taught me that all men have a wandering eye and can’t be trusted. I learned to distrust and even dislike men for the way they perceived women in this way.

As far as modesty goes, you tried to talk with me about how my dress affects those around me and how I should value myself for what I am on the inside. Your actions however told me that I would only ever truly be beautiful and accepted if I looked like the women on magazine covers or in porn. Your talks with me meant nothing and in fact, just made me angry.

As I grew older, I only had this message reinforced by the culture we live in. That beauty is something that can only be achieved if you look like “them”. I also learned to trust you less and less as what you told me didn’t line up with what you did. I wondered more and more if I would ever find a man who would accept me and love me for me and not just a pretty face.

When I had friends over, I wondered how you perceived them. Did you see them as my friends, or did you see them as a pretty face in one of your fantasies? No girl should ever have to wonder that about the man who is supposed to be protecting her and other women in her life.

I did meet a man. One of the first things I asked him about was his struggle with pornography. I’m thankful to God that it is something that hasn’t had a grip on his life. We still have had struggles because of the deep-rooted distrust in my heart for men. Yes, your porn watching has affected my relationship with my husband years later.

If I could tell you one thing, it would be this: Porn didn’t just affect your life; it affected everyone around you in ways I don’t think you can ever realize. It still affects me to this day as I realize the hold that it has on our society. I dread the day when I have to talk with my sweet little boy about pornography and its far-reaching greedy hands. When I tell him about how pornography, like most sins, affects far more than just us.

Like, I said, I have forgiven you. I am so thankful for the work that God has done in my life in this area. It is an area that I still struggle with from time to time, but I am thankful for God’s grace and also my husband’s. I do pray that you are past this and that the many men who struggle with this will have their eyes opened.

Love, Your Daughter

This post is anonymous. The original can be found here: http://www.faithit.com/an-open-letter-to-the-dad-looking-at-porn/

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.

#HowToDad

10/10/2014

Yes, we know this an ad for Cheerios. But, here at Ironstrikes, we appreciate how this commercial places us Dads in a positive light.

Raising your son to become a man

8/28/2014

One of the best traditions our family has had over the years is the father and sons campout. We have traditionally gone up to the mountains with my sons and my sons' friends and their dads every spring for a Friday and Saturday to camp out, cook out and just talk around the campfire. Some of my best teaching moments with my sons have happened in the father and sons campout setting.

Fathers have a vital responsibility to teach their sons how to be strong and responsible men as they grow up. It is clear that in the absence of a father, or at least a positive father figure in a young man's life, he struggles to learn what it means to become a good man - one who shoulders responsibility, one who values hard work and determination, and one who will one day take on the responsibility of becoming a father and supporting a family.

But teaching a young man how to become a man involves more than just being there. It is a conscious process of mentoring, training and connecting that creates a desire and the skills needed for a boy to become the kind of man we all hope he becomes. It starts with understanding the key principles associated with being a great man and a great father and then both teaching them and living them in your own life.

So, having raised three sons, and having talked with lots of dads who raised successful sons, and having talked with some who think they didn't do all that they could have, here are some suggestions for things to know and do to raise boys into good and responsible men.

Be the role model. There is no more important aspect to raising responsible young men than modeling the behavior you hope that they embrace when they become men. As they watch you in action, they learn what being a man is all about. You have to demonstrate commitment, sacrifice, self-control and responsibility in order for them to want to be the kind of man you hope they become. Sometimes this can be the toughest assignment of all, but it is critically important. Your sons will learn more from watching how you react and behave in given circumstances than they will from everything you tell them.

Teach them about planning. Too many men seem to go through life just reacting to what is happening around them. We all know that little boys tend to be reactive to the moment, but part of becoming a man is making choices based on key values, even before the situation arises. For example, help them develop a personal budget and savings plan so they don't just fall into the lifelong trap of impulse buying. Help them think about their careers and emphasize the need for planning and preparation. Take time in your family nights to teach about scheduling and time management. As they begin to see the impact of thinking ahead and planning, they will develop an essential skill of manhood.

Teach and model respect. Men in our popular society seem to be most valued when they rebel against authority and do what they want, regardless of the impact on others. But living together in a day to day society and culture requires that we behave differently than that. Help your young men learn respect for authority, to show respect for women and girls, and to be gentlemen. Help them learn to work well with others and show respect for differing points of view.

Teach them to be trustworthy. Successful men live up to their commitments and live ethically. If they are just watching examples in the popular media, they may see role models who are dishonest, unfaithful to commitments and who put their conveniences and comforts ahead of anything else of value. But real men keep their promises, are honest even when they aren't being watched, and are worthy of trust. Be that kind of dad to them, and correct them when you see an evidence of a lack of trust.

Help them learn accountability and self-discipline. One of the core differences that distinguishes a real man from all the others is his ability to control himself and make choices that may be contrary to the feelings of the moment. The epidemic of obesity or the lax moral values of our day can be traced to a lack of self-control and self-discipline. Help you sons learn that they can make choices and sacrifice for something of greater worth. Getting them involved in a sport or music or some other activity that requires some sacrifice and self-discipline is an important step in that process. When they learn that mastering the piano takes many, many hours of practice, often sacrificing other less important activities, will teach them the value of self-discipline. And holding them accountable for responsibilities like chores or music practice will help them learn to hold themselves accountable later on.

Set up some rules and impose consequences. Sometimes as adult men we rebel a bit at all of the rules and consequences in our lives and long for younger days when we had more freedom. Living in a world of rules and consequences is a reality we have to help our sons embrace. If you are consistently late for work or leave early, you will eventually face discipline at work, or will at a minimum lose trust with your employer. So help your son commit to live by rules at home and impose consequences when he makes choices to not live by the rules. If you don't teach this principle now, your sons will learn the hard way later and leave a wake of problems behind them.

Teach your son compassion. The perception that a man has to be emotionless and conceal his feelings is very real, but is harmful to quality relationships. Teach your son about the importance of little kindnesses, of showing compassion for the disadvantaged, of demonstrating love to his family members and friends, and of protecting the environment. These feelings, in their proper place and in balance with the rest of his life, will serve him well as a responsible and strong man.

Teaching by precept and example are critical roles of fathers. Neither the example nor the teaching can be ignored if you hope to raise sons who will be real men, who will be responsible and productive, and who will raise the next generation of young men to do the same.

This post was written by Wayne Parker. For the original post, go to: http://fatherhood.about.com/od/sonsanddads/a/How-Fathers-Can-Help-Boys-Become-Men.htm

7 key biblical principles for fathers

8/27/2014

It has been my privilege over many years to work with fathers who are devoted Christians and who try to bring their faith and their spirituality to bear in their role as a husband and father. My own experience as a Christian father has led me to believe that there are many ways fathers can use solid, Biblical principles to be better fathers. Even if a dad is not a devoted Christian, these principles are timeless and will likely resonate with any father committed to be better.

These seven scriptures and the principles they reflect have had a huge impact on my approach to fatherhood. As you read and ponder, I hope that you will find meaning in them as I have and find ways to apply them in your life as a dad. The references are to passages in the King James Bible.

Ephesians 6:4 - “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”   The Apostle Paul in this verse speaks directly to fathers and offers some key principles. Often as “natural man” fathers, we provoke our children to anger. If we respond to situations with anger, we often “provoke” an angry response. If we fail in some way to love and show respect for our children, they may respond in anger. Paul suggests that the way we avoid angry circumstances is to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We may think of nurture as a role primarily for mothers, but fathers can also be nurturing, providing a safe environment for children to express themselves and learn from our teaching and their experiences.

Joshua 24:15  “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord , choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Every father makes choices in how he believes and how he behaves, and the importance of a father’s example on his family cannot be overstated. When we choose to espouse and live principles like charity, respect, devotion, service and faith, we can lead our family in the right direction. And while we as Christians may see this as primarily serving the Lord, they are timeless principles regardless of our faith tradition.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - “And these words , which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Teaching is a never-ending responsibility for fathers and this passage in the Old Testament is a good reminder. We are to teach diligently, meaning that we never stop and that we are deliberate about the opportunity, ever watching for teaching moments. And this passage also suggests that we are teaching in every situation - walking, lying down, and getting up. Sometimes we teach by precept, sometimes by our example and more often in both ways. But we need to always be teaching.

Matthew 7:9-11- “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread , will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”  This teaching of Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount reminds us to follow God’s example in how we interact with our families.   We need to be sensitive to the needs and feelings of our children, and always try to provide for them in a way that blesses them. I don’t interpret this principle as giving children everything they ask for, but in giving them things that bless them and don’t harm them. God doesn’t withhold love from us and we need to not withhold it from our families.

Isaiah 52:7 - “Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.”  The message of the prophet Isaiah is that we should be clean and that we should focus on the things of God and not on the things of the world. Men who are faithful, avoid pornography and keep their promises to God are strong in the Lord. And as fathers, we in one sense “bear the vessels of the Lord” as we have stewardship for His children that have been entrusted to us. Both we and they are vessels of the Lord as we strive to be more like Jesus.

1 Corinthians 16:13 - "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."  More counsel from the Apostle Paul suggests that we as men, and more especially as fathers, stand fast and act with courage and strength. Too often as men, we choose to “go with the flow,” when as Christians we are called to a higher standard. In this verse in King James, the word “quit” means behave or act. So, as my nephew often says when things get tough, “zip up your man suit and get going.”

Luke 15:20-24 - “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”  This passage from Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son reminds us of the importance of never giving up. In this story, the younger son of the father took his inheritance, spent it riotously and was lost to his family and to his God. The fact that the father saw his son returning while “he was yet a great way off” suggests that he had been watching for his return. And when he returned, he was welcomed like a prince and his return was celebrated by his father and others in the household. Christian fathers never give up on their children, and use their influence to keep them strong, and work with them when they stray.

This post was written by Wayne Parker. You can find his post at: http://fatherhood.about.com/od/fathers-faith/fl/Seven-Key-Biblical-Principles-for-Fathers.htm?nl=1

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.

Practicing fatherhood - Part one

8/18/2014

Some of the simplest lessons I have learned about being a father have been the most important for my children, and I have come to discover things that challenged what I previously thought about what it means to be a loving father. I have compiled this short list of lessons that I have learned over my years as a father in the hope that it might encourage others as they seek to live into that most precious gift they will ever receive and most important job title they will ever hold.

1. After feeding, clothing, and sheltering my children, there is no more important task that I have in life than to introduce them to Jesus. Why don’t I follow the Sunday school answer to everything and put Jesus first here? Because God has given my children to my care, and caring for their needs in a loving, self-sacrificial way is one of the most prominent ways that I can show my children who God is and how much He loves them. This, in turn, helps me to communicate with them how Jesus is the ultimate image of God’s love.

2. Play is the great bridge that crosses all other barriers between a father and a child. There have been times, especially with my son, where the kids don’t want much to do with Daddy. This most often happens when I am researching and working long hours or after I have taken a long trip. There are some hurt feelings upon my return, because I wasn’t there when they wanted me to be. There are also those times following discipline, or hurt feelings, or booboos when it is especially hard to talk with a child. It is at these times, in particular, that the act of playing can bring a child out of gloominess and into the joy of life. More than that, play is one of the greatest ways to bond with your children. It shows them that they are important, that their daddy (or mommy) wants to spend time with them, that their imaginations are good and wonderful, and that family time is some of the most enjoyable time of our lives. There have been many times when I did not play with my children, because I was distracted or feeling unwell. I regret every missed opportunity to play with them, and pray that God will give me the energy and “fun-lovingness” to play with them at every future opportunity.

3. Being right is less important than being real. I am an “answer man.” I like to figure out why things work, how they came to be, and why it matters. It’s what makes me enjoy my research. However, I have found that when it comes to my children there are times when an answer man is needed (like when my son asks me what various animals eat), and there are times when I should keep my mouth shut, even when my urge is to correct something that is wrong. For a child who is growing and learning, it is more important for them to know their daddy is listening to them and learning with them than it is for daddy to have all the right answers.

4. Discipline should always be conducted out of love, and never in anger. Discipline administered in anger damages relationships. It is often too harsh (and uncontrolled), too swift, and too dismissive of your child. Loving discipline has at its heart the well-being of your child. Discipline doled out in anger is more often seeking retribution.

This post is adapted from Practicing Fatherhood: 20 lessons from a young dad by Isaac N Hopper.

10 things to do with your toddler in a half hour

8/9/2014

So many young fathers today seem pressed for time. Jobs, other commitments, helping at home and keeping in balance create additional demands that never seem to stop. We all have to create opportunities for interaction with our children in limited time frames, but we also have to try to create quality time experiences with our children. Children not yet in school need our time and attention, but it can be tough to come up with activities that they will enjoy in just a short amount of time.

These ten ideas for fun toddler activities when a dad has half an hour to spare can make fun memories, create a positive interaction and can help dads and their preschoolers connect with each other.

Get out the Play-Doh.  Do you remember the fun you had as a child with Play-Doh or other similar substances? A couple of cans of Play-Doh and a few utensils could create many hours of fun. So grab your favorite colors and get started with some fun at the kitchen table. You can make an entire battlefield with tanks, create a western scene with horses and a stable, or just make lots of colorful worms. Let your imagination run wild with a story and then make the props to fit. If you don’t have some Play-Doh at home, you can make some with this easy recipe from About.com.

Head down to the playground. Toddlers love outdoor activities and they love using their gross motor skills to engage with others. Heading out to the backyard swingset or down to the neighborhood park and lead to a really fun 30 minutes. Swinging on swings, sliding down slides, or playing with other playground equipment will be fun for both you and your toddler.

Try Follow the Leader.  Follow the Leader is another game we may remember from a fun childhood. In this game, either you or the child is “the leader” and the other follows their example. You can run around, skip, jump, hide, dance or do other fun large scale motions and let your son or daughter follow.   And make sure that they get a turn being the “leader” and setting the pace. Follow the Leader can happen indoors or outdoors and it is fun in both settings.

Grab a ball.  Toddlers love balls and enjoy rolling, throwing and trying to catch them. Make sure that the ball is soft and appropriately-sized for your child. You can sit on the floor and roll it back and forth, play underhanded catch, kick the ball back and forth and try bouncing it to the toddler. These kinds of activities can build coordination and fine motor skills while you are just having fun together.

Take a nature walk.  Toddlers love spending time with their fathers, and taking a walk in the park or along a trail can be a lot of fun and educational too. You can help the toddler identify plants and trees, look for evidence of animals in the area, listen to sounds like birds or heavy equipment, touch different kinds of items, and generally build their awareness of the outdoors and how things work in the world of nature.   Just keep talking and teaching as you walk.

Have a picnic.  Toddlers and dads both enjoy eating, so having a meal or a snack in a different place can lead to some fun. Pack a picnic and eat in the back yard. Or you might consider laying out a tablecloth on the living room floor and eating a treat there. You can talk about how things taste and about their texture, helping your child learn more about her world along the way.

Wander the aisles at the library.  If you have a library close by, a trip there can be an amazing half-hour excursion. Take a few minutes to wander through the aisles of books appropriate for your toddler’s age. Take one that seems to catch her attention and read it to her. If there are several books that strike her fancy, check out a few and bring them home for more reading fun together.

Grab an easy board game.  Toddlers also love games and they are even beginning to experience the desire for competition. So find a great board gamethat is just right for your toddler. A few that come to mind include Chutes and Ladders, Zingo and Hi Ho Cherry-O. Any of these can be played in less than 30 minutes, will help you teach your child the value of both competition and good sportsmanship,and will allow you to have some fun moments together.

Be a sleeping monster.  Another thing toddlers love is to be surprised, and playing the sleeping monster game is full of surprises for them. In this case, dad lays on the floor pretending to be a sleeping monster holding a small stuffed toy or a ball while the child tries to sneak up and take the toy before the monster can wake up. Occasionally, the monster wakes up, grabs the child and tickles, hugs or kisses her. At other times, the child can “just barely” escape and then the game starts over.

Open a bag of balloons.  Dads and kids love balloons, and a fun 30 minute activity can involve balloons in different ways. You can blow up and tie off a balloon or two and then bounce them around, trying not to let them hit the floor. Or you might blow one up, then let it go and try to catch it as it flies around. Or you could blow up a balloon, tie it off and then rub it on your child’s hair to build up static electricity and then “stick” the balloon on a wall. A few creative ideas with balloons can easily fill a free half hour with fun!

This post was written by Wayne Parker. for the original post, go to:
http://fatherhood.about.com/od/preschooleractivities/fl/Ten-Things-to-Do-With-Your-Toddler-in-Half-an-Hour.htm?nl=1

5 reasons why fathers are an endangered species

8/8/2014

There you are…quitely lurking away from view. Your prey doesn’t see you and you are getting ready to pounce. One wrong move and you will scare them away. You can’t afford to make a noise or you will lose the hunt. Everything is riding on this moment…then you strike. TICKLE MONSTER!!!!!!!! Your heart and life instantly fills with laughter as your children succomb to the power that comes with identifying pressure points on the body meant for tickling. You are a father. You are awesome and you know it. Then, as soon as it started, it abuptly ends in a crash! You just broke something. Something Mommy really likes. Kids and Daddy are now in trouble. Oh, but it was worth it.

There have been so many times during my work day where I will start laughing simply thinking about my kids. I will look at a picture on my desk, and start cracking up. In that picture, my daughter is making that face. You know what face I am talking about. I can’t help it. I love them so much. Fatherhood is the most rewarding discipleship ministry I am involved in. It just is.

Fatherhood, in general, is like that…it is not all perfect and happy, but the reward is amazing. The problem is, fathers are becoming an endangered species. The male reproductive contributor has not been decreasing in popularity, but fathers have…why is this?

I think there are 5 main reasons why fathers are becoming an endangered species.

1. It is difficult- When it comes to discipline, consistency, and the expectation of provision, the role of a father becomes harder and harder when one is fully involved. Mommy definitely has an extremely hard job, but both parents should be active in the life of a child. Sometimes it is easy to default to anger, lethargy, or a general disconnection with th fatherly role. In my personal experience, it is hard to work a full day and get home in time to play with my children a few hours before bed time. It can be taxing and I find myself turning my mind and heart on autopilot. Dad, fight this temptation. Don’t allow yourself to become jaded or remote.

2. Sometimes work comes before family- This is a dangerous attitude to be in. It is easy to default to this mode when we feel like the full provision of the household rests on our shoulders. We become stressed and determined to make sure that our sweat and effort will produce more and more. Granted, this is the most traditional view of a father, and many households do not reflect this expectation, but there are so many that do. We have to remember that we are not alone in our fight and we are not called to venture through this role alone. Relying soley on our strength will eventually lead to collapse. Do not worship your work, and let yourself believe that you are defined by your occupation or how much money is in your account. We shouldn’t walk away from our responsibilities, but we can not forsake our first call.

3. We think kids come before spouse- Now, I know that many families are single parent households, and this will not apply to everyone, but I think it is still important to say. Your spouse comes first. Why do I say this? I say this because God has put you together for a lifetime…to grow, love, and team teach a new generation. Your children will be with you for 18-21 years…your spousal relationship will be for a lifetime. Plus, your kids need to see affection, respect, conflict resolution, and laughter among their parents. If you are a single father, your child needs to see the respect for the people around you. You are an example to them.

4. We are not fully involved- This is a simple one to understand. Quantity time and quality time are both important. Not valuing these things can be detrimental to fathers. It’s okay to look foolish while acting in a spontaneous make-believe play. It is okay to knock things over while wrestling. It is okay to care about what kind of diapers, crafts, and education your children is receiving. In fact…it is amazing.

5. The role has been under emphasized- One of my pet peeves involves this very thing. An example would be found in the countless times I see people posting questions on social media asking for parenting advice. The question always starts like this, “Okay Mom’s, I have an opinion question…Junior is not sleeping at night and I was wondering…” Did you catch it? Just one time, I want to read a question that says, “Dad’s! What ways have you gotten your kids to eat vegetables?” It is a minor thing, but we have done this to ourselves…fathers have almost been removed from the conversation of the daily operations of parenting and this is unacceptable. We have to reclaim this…

I realize that there are men out there that have been praying for a long time for the opportunity to be a father. I know many in this situation, and I propose we take some regular time out of our day to pray for those in this situation. It can be hard to wait/ fervently pray any amount of time for God to bring this blessing.

Love you all. Fight the good fight.

This post was written by Rev DeCrastos. For the original post, go to: http://other-words.net/2014/08/01/5-reasons-why-fathers-are-an-endangered-species/

Father's Day Meditation

6/15/2014

“Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.” Psalm 127:4

Fathers, do you think of yourself as a warrior archer and your children as your arrows? It is an interesting picture. One that is foreign to us in our technological, 21st century day. Though if we stop long enough to meditate on it the picture is very powerful. By this verse we see first that fathers are likened to warriors. Whether we know it or not, as fathers we are engaged in a battle for the souls of our children, for their protection, their provision and their purpose in life.

This makes us ask the questions: Do your children know you as a kind of warrior on their behalf? Do they feel as though you are fighting for them spiritually? The frontlines of this battle are the prayers we say on our children’s behalf. It is also the conversation and relationship we have with our children.

That is where the second part of this verse comes in. The verse says, our children are like “arrows” in a father’s hand. What this speaks to is the special role a father has in influencing and sending his children out into the world. It is like an archer shooting his arrow at a target. There is purpose and direction in where he wants the arrow to go.

Again, this makes us ask a few questions: What are your spiritual goals for your children? How are you aiming your children towards those goals? Are you aiming them at targets that really matter and will make a difference in this world for the glory of God?

It it an awesome responsibility to be a father. Thankfully we have God’s grace and power to live as He calls us. This Father’s Day we want you to be aware of the grace and Gospel of our heavenly father. We want you to rejoice in Him and be renewed in your vigor to be the best reflection of His heart and passion His children for your children!

This post was written by Jason Kovacs. For the original post, go to: http://abbafund.wordpress.com/2008/06/13/arrows-in-the-hand-of-a-warrior-fathers-day-meditation/