“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:10
Reflecting poolsREAD MORE
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”
Romans 8:15
I passed a country church a few years ago and I noticed the sign out front. I had to scan quickly but it read something like….“Parents’ lives are their children’s guidebook”. Somebody is watching and probably watching very closely! This fact can be overwhelming, challenging, and even scary! With Fathers Day here, I thought of another statement I heard recently. “It might be that a consistent, faithful, loving, godly, ever-present Dad is the most positive and crucial thing to exist in the life of a child. The absence of such a Dad could be one of the most detrimental”. There are certainly many other factors but on Fathers Day, this is worth consideration.
Of course there are no guarantees. Good Dads have children that go off course. Children without any positive influence or even the presence of a Father at all do become godly men and women. That happens in lives that understand and accept God’s grace into their being and discover that there is a perfect, ever-present, loving Heavenly Father who is available to all.
Your story may include a wonderful father who was always there for you. Your story may be quite the opposite. Maybe it’s even a horror story as it relates to an earthly father. Regardless of our earthly situation, we can all have a wonderful relationship with the Heavenly Father.
On a hot dry September day in 1986 I was mowing the yard. As I rode by our bay window, I noticed our son Seth peering out the window. At about 9 months old, he had pulled himself up to see out. His face clearly indicated he wanted to be outside with me. Every time I passed he was still there, watching intently. These moments stirred my heart that day as a new Dad, and as a result I wrote a song titled “Just Like You”. I’d like to share part of it with you ….
“I saw his face against the window pane, he was looking out at me.
Too young to speak yet he seemed to say ‘You’re everything I’d like to be’ .
He follows in my footsteps, trying all the things I do.
Imitating me is his special way to say Dad I love you.
I wanna be just like you, I wanna walk like you do.
Help me to grow, let my life show that I belong to you.
I wanna be just like you, I wanna talk like you do.
Help me each day along my way, Dad I wanna be just like you”
Music is a gift…pass it on!READ MORE
“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.”
Proverbs 17:6
Genuine Christian. Faithful husband. Loving father. Dependable brother. Patient grandfather. Family man. Loyal friend. Alabama football. Thursday pizza. Honorable character. Indisputable integrity. Purple Heart. Fried okra. Willing servant. My postman. Korean Vet. Gentle spirit. Witty humor. Big-band music. Daddy. Pawpaw. Patriotic. Consistent. Content. Kind. Honest.
My sweet Daddy, can you really put into words a man who has lived his life well and is leaving a true legacy? I asked the people closest to him to describe him in a few words. These are just a few. Sunday is Father’s Day and it is a privilege to honor and celebrate my Daddy! I want to share his life with you, if you will be so kind. Again, this is only a glimpse into a life well lived and I hope that we are all encouraged to make our life count on this earth, but also one that echoes into eternity.
During the depths of the Great Depression, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, my Daddy was born to your typical Southern, rural, working-class family. His early childhood was similar to all children growing up during this impoverished era.
2 years old
His days as a child were spent sitting in a little rocking chair around the old wood stove while his mother prepared meals. He simply attended school and played with his brother and sister.READ MORE