Fathers Day

Fathers are getting a bad press these days. When marriages fail or when children go astray, more likely than not it seems that the finger of blame is pointed at father. In cases of divorce, when judges decide which parent should have custody of children, nine times out of ten it won't be the father. 

Sometimes it is said of a father: "All he does each week is bring home the pay check." Perhaps the father who "only" brings home the pay check each week needs to hear a word of commendation rather than a recital of what else he should be doing.

We hear that a mother's work is never done, that being a mother is a really tough job. And there's no denying the truth of this assertion. At the same time it needs saying that being a father is no easy task. His workplace may be filled with tension and strife. Just getting to work has its own difficulties for some. Temptations to sin are all around. Finding no appreciation on his arrival home will only magnify feelings of guilt at being a less than adequate husband and father.

I have learned that before I can be a better Father to my daughter, I need to have a better relationship with my Heavenly Father first. Our Heavenly Father is many things. He is a living, concerned Father who is interested in the intimate details of our lives Here are 24 verses of God's Word that has enabled my faith, and strengthened my heart soul and mind. 

24 Passages of Scripture Regarding Your Heavenly Father

• He is the living, concerned Father who is interested in the intimate details of our lives (Matt. 6:25-34).

• He is the Father who never gives up on us (Luke 15:3-32).

• He is the God who sent His Son to die for us though we were undeserving (Rom. 5:8).

• He stands with us in good and bad circumstances (Heb. 13:5).

• He is the ever-active Creator of our universe. He died to heal our sickness, pain and grief 

(Isa. 53:3-6).

• He has broken the power of death (Luke 24:6-7).

• He is available to us through prayer (John 14:13-14).

• He is aware of our needs (Isa. 65:24).

• He created us for an eternal relationship with Him (John 3:16).

• He values us (Luke 7:28).

• He doesn’t condemn us (Rom. 8:1)

• God values and causes our growth (1Cor. 3:7).

• He comforts us (2 Cor. 1:3-5).

• He strengthens us through His Spirit (Eph. 3:16).

• He cleanses us from sin (Heb. 10:17-22).

• He is for us (Rom. 8:31).

• He is always available to us (Rom. 8:38-39).

• He is a God of hope (Rom. 15:13).

• He helps us in temptation (Heb. 2:17-18).

• He provides a way to escape temptation (1 Cor. 10:13).

• He is at work in us (Phil 2:13).

• He wants us to be free (Gal. 5:1).

• He is the Lord of time and eternity (Rev. 1:8)

Those to whom God has given the responsibility of parenting children will not lack for opportunities to find fault with each other's performance. Spouses especially need to take to heart the question asked by Jesus: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's (spouse's) eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" Far better to build up one another in love than to mark each shortcoming.

How to be a godly Father:

1. Love abundantly
2. Discipline constructively
3. Be clear, consistent, and authoritative
4. Punish in private
5. Be flexible, reasonable, and understanding
6. Discourage continued dependency
7. Spend time together
8. Develop mutual respect
9. Really listen
10. Tend to personal and marital needs

Thank you to Victor H. Prange for his comments