Daddy

My dad was always a hardworking man to provide for his family. He was not a quitter and never a slacker. There were times he would work through the night showing his dedication to him employer to achieve deadlines. With that being said, he wasn’t overly emotional and never was one to try and flatter a person with words. He only said what he thought.
 
I remember him taking me to a Rockies game. Just as we got into our seats I got a nose bleed. I panicked a little scrambling to block the flow. Dad just leaned over, pulled out his hankie and handed it to me. The problem was solved. At our wedding just before Bree and I left, my dad walked up to me and gave me a firm handshake. He then said, “Congratulations son, I’m proud of you.” 
 
I remember my dad disciplining me for various behaviors and constantly asking me to hype down. We made rockets and he would launch them. In the summer time he loved to call us to the window and then throw a glass of water on us to cool us down. We knew what he was going to do and we loved it. My dad was always faithful to bring me to church. He would wait in the car for hours to pick me up from all of the events.
 
My dad and I send text messages to one another on a daily basis. Almost always when he is done talking for the night he concludes the text with “love you bunches”. My dad is one of many dads along the spectrum. Some dads are very efficient at instilling hope and nurturing us throughout our lives while other fathers are completely pathetic. When a person has a pathetic father, often their view of God as a heavenly father finds restrictions and lack of trust.
 
Manessa was an absolute pathetic father as mentioned in 2 Kings Chapter 21. Manessa was a devil worshipper for lack of a better way to describe it. He was perverted and heavily influenced by pornography. It was no wonder he burned his child alive in a sacrificial ritual. Even Manessa was touched by God and saved. He went on to change his ways and be an excellent King. This didn’t fix that scars and wounds he inflicted.
 
We prefer stories such as Amram, the father of Moses as mentioned in Exodus Chapter 2. Amram risked his life in support of allowing his wife to preserve and hide their child Moses. Moses was hidden by faith for three months. Can you imagine the stress involved in that situation?
 
Whether your father was like Amram, Manessa or somewhere in between, it is important to understand God calls us his children. He is our heavenly father. A father like no other is he. He gives us joy and supports us through pain. A father has to let their child fall in order for them to learn to walk, but he won’t let you fall down the stairs. God is gracious and compassionate. Fathers are absolutely essential in society. Their influence whether negative or positive occurs regardless.
 
            Fathers need to focus on the following scriptures and internalize them:
 

• Psalm 119:68 - Asking God to teach his decrees.
• Deuteronomy 6:6-9 - Asking fathers to keep God’s commandments, and teach them to their children.
• Proverbs 22:6 - Encourages fathers to train their children in a Godly fashion so they don’t lose this when they are older.
• Ephesians 5:25-29 - This is a request for husbands to give their all for their wives showing them the love of God. Remember the kids are watching.  
• Psalm 127:3-5 - This discusses the blessing of fathers who have children.
• Ephesians 5:25 - Love your wives as Christ loves the church. Be a good husband.
• Ephesians 6:4 - This pertains to fathers in multiple capacities. Fathers should not provoke fathers don't provoke children to wrath but bring them up tenderly. 
• Proverbs 10:9 - A father is to walk in integrity so he is secure. Father’s who are perverted will be found out.

 
I believe God called the husband to the home above anything else. This is evidenced by God creating the family before he created the church. God calls fathers to raise their kids and above else the responsibility of the home rests on the father. Fathers are obligated to take care of their kids.
 
The responsibility of a father sounds great until there isn’t a father present in the home or taking the God given responsibility they have seriously. This creates tremendous scars. Father irresponsibility can crush children well into adulthood and sometimes their entire lives. Fortunately we have a relationship with the ultimate mender who can heal our hearts. It’s imperative for us to see God as our father and fulfill any gaps we may have.
 
The bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:18 that God will be our father. He calls us his sons and daughters. Regardless of what we d and don’t have, one thing is certain, God already considers us his children. He loves us, he has compassion on us and he is there for us. He will never leave us or forsake us. Psalm 68:5 says he is a father to the fatherless. What a tremendous comfort to know God ensures our fatherly needs are met.
 
Psalm 103:13 God is likened to a father and has the same compassion on those who fear him as a father has on his children. I know from the love I have for my own children and my soft heart it brings me great comfort to know God is nearly brought to tears when I’m struggling. It also brings me to tears when I have to discipline my children. This isn’t out of retaliation, but simply out of love for their best interest.
 
Proverbs 3:11-12 advises us not to despise discipline as fathers give discipline out of love. This doesn’t mean God is always punishing you. It also doesn’t mean you deserve abuse. God does in his perfect wisdom allow us to endure discipline to strengthen and teach us various principles. He is not out to get us but he has to let us skin our knee once in a while or we won’t understand the extent of our behavior.
     
We worship one God and Father of all is over all. From God and through God are all things. Nothing would exist without the hand of our father. He is the alpha and omega, he holds the beginning and the end, with everything in between. Regardless he is the potter and we are the clay. He will mold us and make us as we allow. This does require smoothing rough edges and repeated times in the fire to achieve the greatness of our purpose and destiny.
 
As we pursue our purpose the God of all mercy, and comfort is right there beside us. He supports us so we may be able to comfort others as it says in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. It is refreshing to know God provides us the gift of comfort and we are able to pass this on to others which continues to provide blessings to us. In Matthew 7:7-10, Jesus asks us to ask and it will be given. This is reassurance of the very support we need in Christ. Further Jesus expounds by saying if you ask for a fish will he give you a serpent. Of course not, he provides for your needs and grants your request.
 
You must remember you are more than just a person. You are a predestined creation God put on this earth for a specific God given purpose. You are a prized possession. You are God’s child, the apple of his eye. You are special, wonderful, amazing, significant, and unique. Your destiny is directed by the hand of the ever living God.  As it says in Philippians 1:6 he who has begun a work in you will not stop working and blessing your life until the day of Jesus Christ. I pray you allow Christ to continue working in you and fostering you as a daddy because he is your daddy. He loves you and cherishes you beyond expression.