A Word for all Dads: We have a "LOT" To be Thankful For!

(After watching Father’s Day video)Good morning to everyone and the most joyous and happiest of Father’s Day to all of the dads and granddads and great granddads, and so on! (I am fairly certain that there are no great great granddads in the house this morning; RIGHT?!)

Read jokes about fathers!

This morning I would like to talk with you briefly about that amazing gift that God blessed the family with! The glue that holds it all together, the fabric with which all good things are fashioned from. The very heart and soul and strength of the family unit! That is most cherished and celebrated within each and every home across this country! Ladies and gentlemen, I give to you the M.......... wait, we just had Mother’s Day, didn’t we?!

No, seriously, I want to address each and every father that is here today, or that may be listening, or even, the young men who are aspiring to become a HUSBAND FIRST and then a dad down the road.

And with that, let me put in a plug to every young, single male here this morning: DO NOT LISTEN TO THE WORLD AND ALL OF THE GUYS AROUND YOU, WHO HAVE PAINTED THIS PICTURE OF ALL OF THE GLORY AND GRANDEUR THAT IS THE SINGLE MALE!

I mean if God is calling you into the ministry field and with it comes the call of abstaining from marriage, then God will give you the grace and empowering to do it.

But to cheat yourself out of the gift of fatherhood and sharing that beautiful experience with your wife as you watch and witness the creation of God in your own child and their growth and love for you, is so, so sad!

You know, when I look back at my childhood and the relationship that I had with my father, I can say with much love and appreciation, that I thank God for the dad that He blessed me with!

Especially just to try to

Was my dad perfect? No. he made his share of mistakes just like every other dad does.

The thing about my dad was that he wasn’t beyond admitting fault and mistakes. If something was done and it wasn’t handled the right way, then he was quick to point out that it was my mother’s fault!

Seriously, my dad has told me on several occasions that he made a mistake and that he wanted me to see what could be learned from his mistake.

That is a trait of integrity and character; that you admit wrong doing and you teach your children what to do to avoid it!

That is part of the Proverb that we talked about not too long ago, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

This is the prime focus for the dads that are listening in today; that we TRAIN, TEACH, ADMONISH and EQUIP our children for what lies ahead of them!

Train them up for their lives yes, but even more so, train them up with a sound knowledge and love for the Lord!

That is the greatest gift that any dad can give his children and the greatest legacy that he can leave behind behind for his family!

In looking back over the years of my childhood, I can remember much that my father instilled into me and values in life that he taught me.

My father taught me to love and appreciate nature:

He taught me how to shoot a gun and how to hunt (always make sure the gun is unloaded; always make sure the squirrel is dead)

He taught me how to fish (some things in life are mandatory and knowing the art of tying a good fisherman’s knot for your lures is a must; he taught me the enjoyment of listening to nature all around as you wait for the fish; I was shown the relevance of the old saying “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he eats for life”;)

He taught me and took me camping and explained what the weird noises that you here in the woods late at night were!

Although he didn’t know I was paying close attention, he was showing me the precise way to take your locket knife and cut a plug of tobacco and then mix it with some loose leaf to chew while you were working. (Be careful fathers, because those little eyes are ears are observing what you do and processing how to act in accordance with it!)

My dad taught me safety as well as a healthy respect for the laws of physics with regard to momentum and gravity all in one quick account. (The shower and dad running into the kitchen!)

My dad taught me to play catch and baseball and took me to every practice and watched every game. When I hit my one and only home run, it wasn’t the other team members running out to cheer me on and high five me that I remember, it was my dad standing at first base and shouting and cheering me on that I remember!

My dad taught me how to use tools, power tools and some wood working basics. (I even put them to use by building a fort with friends. He then taught me that a size 36-38 leather belt looked better around his waist and around my rear end!)

My dad always sat me down in his lap and explained why he had to punish or whip me and told me that he loved me after doing so.

My father and mother both made sure that my sister and I were raised in Christians home and even in a private Christian school. They had family Bible reading with us and explained what the stories meant!

Was my dad perfect? NO! But looking back, he was perfect for me! God had a plan and it involved using Don Palmer to raise me. I am so glad that my upbringing involved a DAD and not just a FATHER!

Any man or adolescent can be a FATHER, that is simply a biology lesson and it requires no thought or intellect to take place, but it takes love, and dedication and character and Godly influence to be a DAD!

“I love you daddy”, is the probably the single greatest achievement that I have accomplished in my life! Hearing those words, means that I have successfully (not perfectly, not even close), but successfully, have poured myself into two little girl’s lives and in doing so, have helped to secure for them a future. Just as my heavenly Father has said in His word, I have also said in similar fashion to my daughters, “For I know the plans that I want for you; They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

I want to pause right here and says this to every dad here, or that is listening. If you have children (whether yours or from another marriage; that is someone that calls you a father or father figure), and you have dropped the ball and their is now wedge in that relationship, please, please, please, when you leave here today, or stop listening to this, message, call them and apologize and tell them that you love them!

BE A MAN! Being a man doesn’t involve being macho and tough and being able to beat up another guy, as our society so portrays it! Being a man involves being able to admit to fault and apologize for it and forgive and release in complete and total LOVE!

Let them know that “daddy loves them”!

The kids had talked Mom into getting a hamster They promised to take care of their pet, whom they named “Danny.” Within two months, though, Mom was taking care of Danny. One day Mom decided enough was enough; Danny would be given to a new owner. She called the kids together to tell them. One child said, “I’ll miss him. He’s been around here a long time.” The other child remarked, “Maybe he could stay if he ate less and wasn’t so messy.” Mom was firm, “It is time to take Danny to a new home.” “Danny?” the kids wailed, “We thought you said Daddy.”

Within two months, though, Mom was taking care of Danny. One day Mom decided enough was enough; Danny would be given to a new owner. She called the kids together to tell them. One child said, “I’ll miss him. He’s been around here a long time.” The other child remarked, “Maybe he could stay if he ate less and wasn’t so messy.” Mom was firm, “It is time to take Danny to a new home.”

“Danny?” the kids wailed, “We thought you said Daddy.”

You know, the Bible has much to say about a father’s role in the home and his involvement with the children.

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Deuteronomy 6:4–9 ESV

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

This verse has been called by some, the Magna Carta of the home, in that it serves to preserve the health and happiness and longevity of the family!

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Proverbs 4:1–5 ESV

Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

Proverbs 4:1–9 NLT

My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment, for I am giving you good guidance. Don’t turn away from my instructions. For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child. My father taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live. Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them. Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you. Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will honor you. She will place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown.”

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Psalm 103:13 ESV

As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

It is not just the mother who is to show love and compassion. The husband and father is to mirror God in the home and in doing so, show unending love and mercy and compassion to his family!

Too many men use the excuse, “I’m just not wired like that; I can’t be this loving, compassionate man/father that you want me to be!”

Truth be told, God wired you and made you to in His image! You were created to love and the reason that you can’t do it, is because you choose not to!

As a husband and a dad, you were given the most amazing gift of all! You were given the ability to represent the Lord God in your home and be the spiritual head of your family!

If God placed the husband as the spiritual head of the house and then gave the command that we are to love one another and then told the husband to love the wife just as Jesus loves the church, then I definitely believe that He has given every husband and father what is needed to carry this out! AMEN?!

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Proverbs 13:24 ESV

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Martin Luther said of this passage, “Spare the rod and spoil the child – that is true. But, beside the rod, keep an apple to give him when he has done well.”

Reward as well as punishment is needed to grow a healthy and spiritually sound child!

In the book of Job, the Bible shows us that the father is to be making intercession and praying for his family !

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Job 1:4–5 NLT

Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

So concerned was Job for the spiritual health of his children that he would intercede for them. (It was of Job that God said this of to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man,fearing God and turning away from evil."

Can you imagine the difference in the American homes, if more dad’s were interceding on behalf of their wives and children and praying for them and lifting them up. What if the husbands and fathers were calling out the names of each member of their family before God, DAILY, and asking for God’s omnipotent hand of protection for them?

Instead of waiting until the house is falling apart and then calling your pastor and saying, “I need you to pray for me and my family”, start doing it yourself, every day and watch what happens in your home!

Dads, quit inviting the devil into your home through your apathy and lack of spiritual discipline and sinful ways. Instead, become a mighty man of God and kick the devil’s tail out to the curb and post a spiritual sign on your house that reads, “DEVIL: This property is under new management! No loitering, no solicitation and most definitely, no trespassing allowed!”

We need to quit worrying about having a sign for potential physical thieves posted in our front yards that reads, “This house is protected by ADT”.

Instead, we need to make sure that we, as husbands and dads, have a spiritual sign posted out front that reads, “THIS HOUSE IS PROTECTED BY JC”!

tells us,

Ephesians 6:1–4 NLT

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” Fathers,* do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

Within this passage lies the secret of a child’s future. A child is equipped and able to completely honor his mother and father, as well as others, when they are raised as the Word says here.

By the very mentioning about the first commandment and the promise going forth with it, it is showing that the word of God is to be instilled into the children, just as God commanded us to do.

When you teach the word of God to a child and walk it out for them, the are being equipped and prepared to be able to honor their parents, as well as others for life!

If you will notice, it is the father and his interaction with the child that is mentioned as critical and that affects their outcome!

This is not to downplay the role of the mother in the children’s lives, but it is a direct mandate given by God to the fathers.

Do not provoke the child to anger through your actions, or as Paul mentions in ,

Colossians 3:21 NLT

Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.

The father is to make sure that his actions and how he deals with the children, is done within the guidelines of God’s word and that discipline is for the betterment of the child and not the father!

Do not punish out of anger or resentment. Your discipline should bring about an atmosphere of love and encouragement when all is said and done; not fear and resentment and anger! That is not God and that is not a godly dad!

All this is doing is setting the child up for failure, because they have missed having a godly dad’s influence in their lives.

Tell of Lot in Genesis 18-19!