Fathers Who Bless their home
Notes
Transcript
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Introduction:
Introduction:
Who is the oldest son or daughter?
Who has been a father the longest?
Ark placed in the tabernacle 1 Chronicles 16:1
After a worship service - He left God’s house to go to his house
Who dwells there and what happens in the structure determines what it is - David’s house
As a leader
family ⇔ house n. — a social unit living together usually consisting of family, servants, and some extended family; understood by the physical building in which a family normally resides.
family ⇔ house n. — a social unit living together usually consisting of family, servants, and some extended family; understood by the physical building in which a family normally resides.
He went home - The blessing of his presence
He went home - The blessing of his presence
According to "What Can the Federal Government Do To Decrease Crime and Revitalize Communities?" from the U.S. Department of Justice, children from fatherless homes account for:
Suicide: 63 percent of youth suicides
Runaways: 90 percent of all homeless and runaway youths
Behavioral Disorders: 85 percent of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders
High School Dropouts: 71 percent of all high school dropouts
Juvenile Detention Rates: 70 percent of juveniles in state-operated institutions
Substance Abuse: 75 percent of adolescent patients in substance abuse centers
Who dwells there and what happens in the structure determines what it is - David’s house
Aggression: 75 percent of rapists motivated by displaced anger
—National Fatherhood Initiative
David’s house
Why Fathers Matter
Men and women are different and they parent in different ways. While these statistics examine the issue of children growing up without a father, it's important to look at what a father can bring to the child-parent relationship.
In a report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, these benefits are outlined in great detail. For instance, young boys who have a father figure are less likely to act out and young girls are often more confident. A father can also help establish a sense of security and guide children to make wiser decisions.
The difference in parenting styles is distinct. Fathers communicate in a unique way, for example. While a mother will often simplify her language to a child's level, men tend to tell it like it is with no change in vocabulary. Subconsciously, this can challenge kids to try and understand what they're being told, which can increase critical thinking skills and, subsequently, school and future work success.
Discipline is another area where significant differences between mothers and fathers are seen. While women tend to be more sympathetic, fathers tend to be sterner. Fathers like to enforce the rules with an objective perspective, and this can instill in children a greater sense of right and wrong that can last a lifetime.
Fathers also help boys develop self-respect for women and make girls more comfortable around men. These are two very important aspects of a child's social development, especially in today's society in which gender equality and mutual respect are vital to success.—Wayne Parker on liveabout.com
Your physical presence does not count
Be a blessing by being there and being engaged in the life of your family
His house speaks of his responsibility
Your presence should produce worship in your home
A culture of worship begins in the home
Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”
So David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord. And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.”
2 Samuel 6
Worship filled with gratitude
Worship filled with music
Worship from a humble heart
So David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord.
Everyday in a Christian home it should be Thanksgiving Day not just the fourth Thursday of November
Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And declare His works with rejoicing.
07:21
Worshipful conversations filled with thankfulness
neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
“and [let there be no] obscenity and foolish talk nor sarcastic ridicule which are inappropriate, but rather thanksgiving.” —Harold Hoehner Exegetical Commentary on Ephesians
Filthiness = obscenity, ugliness, baseness, deformity, something disgraceful or shameful
Foolish talking = only used here in NT; insipid, mad, conversation of a drunk man. According to Bertram could refer to talk that is dangerous to salvation
Coarse jesting = ready wit, vulgar speech, joking that has gone too far
Worship filled with music and humility
Your presence should provide for your family and protect them
A home that is filled with stability, safety and security - Dad’s need to be warriors who fight for their family
Dad’s need to be warriors
So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.
1 Samuel
Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
1 Samuel 30:18-19
So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all.
Your presence should represent Jesus Christ before your family
Being like Christ will make the home an environment saturated with love
Your wife and children need to know you love them and they can trust you
So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.
1 Samuel 30:
So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all.
0:18-19
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
We should read every day
Our children should be able to see the love Christ has for them by the way we treat their mother
Ephesians 5:
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Being like Christ will make a home that desires to serve others
So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
Teach your children to seek the kingdom of God first
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
But who am I, and who are my people,
That we should be able to offer so willingly as this?
For all things come from You,
And of Your own we have given You.
1 Chronicles
John 13:12-
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
He went to bless - The blessing of his prayer
He went to bless - The blessing of his prayer
Blessing is a prayer of petition asking for divine favor
Pray that the Lord will build your house
Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
Through wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
Proverbs 24
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
Matthew
Pray that your home is a Christ-centered home
A Christ centered home will love and honor the word of God
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
Psalm 119:
Therefore I love Your commandments
More than gold, yes, than fine gold!
Psalm 119:
My soul keeps Your testimonies,
And I love them exceedingly.
Psalm 119:
Longest chapter in the Bible (176 verses)
Divided into 22 sections each section represented by a letter from the Hebrew alphabet
Written by either David, Ezra, or Daniel
The main subject is the word of God
8 terms used referring to the word of God
Law
Testimonies
Precepts
Statues
Commandments
Judgements
Word
Ordinances
Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
Psalm 119:
1 Chronicles 29:
Proverbs 24:
Blessing for your wife
Therefore I love Your commandments
More than gold, yes, than fine gold!
My soul keeps Your testimonies,
And I love them exceedingly.
Honor it by reading, studying, and obeying it
A Song of Ascents.
Blessed is every one who fears the Lord,
Who walks in His ways.
When you eat the labor of your hands,
You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
In the very heart of your house,
Your children like olive plants
All around your table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the Lord.
The Lord bless you out of Zion,
And may you see the good of Jerusalem
All the days of your life.
Yes, may you see your children’s children.
Peace be upon Israel!
A Christ-centered home will love Jesus Christ
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
Psalm 2:
Love that is revealed by obedience
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
Love that is loyal - David’s prayer for Solomon at his inauguration as king
David’s prayer for Solomon at his inauguration as king
And give my son Solomon a loyal heart to keep Your commandments and Your testimonies and Your statutes, to do all these things, and to build the temple for which I have made provision.”
Through wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
Matthew 7:
A Christ-centered home will be a home of faith
Blessing for your children
Upon hearing God’s answer from Nathan to David’s desire to build God a house, David received a far greater promise. He would not build the Temple but it would be though his family line the promised Messiah would come
And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name—and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land—before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods? For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, Lord, have become their God.
“Now, O Lord God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said. So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You. For You, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You.
“And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”
2 Samuel 7:
“Now, O Lord God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said. So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You. For You, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You.
“And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”
Blessing for your grandchildren
:
Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”
2 Samuel 7:
Pray God will bless them with salvation and sanctification
Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
1 Chronicles
And say, “Save us, O God of our salvation;
Gather us together, and deliver us from the Gentiles,
To give thanks to Your holy name,
To triumph in Your praise.”
1 Chronicles 16:
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Pray God will bless them with a love for the word of God
Faith for salvation
Pray God will bless them with hearts to seek the face of the Lord
Then King David went in and sat before the Lord; and he said: “Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O God; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the rank of a man of high degree, O Lord God. What more can David say to You for the honor of Your servant? For You know Your servant. O Lord, for Your servant’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. O Lord, there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And who is like Your people Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people—to make for Yourself a name by great and awesome deeds, by driving out nations from before Your people whom You redeemed from Egypt? For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, Lord, have become their God.
“And now, O Lord, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, let it be established forever, and do as You have said. So let it be established, that Your name may be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You. For You, O my God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build him a house. Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray before You. And now, Lord, You are God, and have promised this goodness to Your servant. Now You have been pleased to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You have blessed it, O Lord, and it shall be blessed forever.”
1 Chronicles 17:23-
And give my son Solomon a loyal heart to keep Your commandments and Your testimonies and Your statutes, to do all these things, and to build the temple for which I have made provision.”
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
God’s salvation is the most valuable thing your family needs
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
God’s salvation is each family members personal responsibility to receive
Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb.
Exodus 12:3-4
God’s salvation saves us to make us servants
“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!
And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name—and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land—before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods?
Faith for needs
By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
A Christ-centered home has spiritual conversations
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
Ephesians
A Christ-centered home operates by the Holy Spirit
If the Holy Spirit controls the home there will be spiritual conversations
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
If the Holy Spirit controls the home there will be a removable of idols
And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.
Genesis 35:2
Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”
And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”
2 Corinthians
For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
1Thessalonians 1:9
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the home of the just.
And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.
Genesis
A Christ-centered home understands all things belong to God
But who am I, and who are my people,
That we should be able to offer so willingly as this?
For all things come from You,
And of Your own we have given You.
1 Chronicles
But who am I, and who are my people,
That we should be able to offer so willingly as this?
For all things come from You,
And of Your own we have given You.
He will supply all needs
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew
He went to his house - The blessing of his leadership
He went to his house - The blessing of his leadership
family ⇔ house n. — a social unit living together usually consisting of family, servants, and some extended family; understood by the physical building in which a family normally resides.
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Bless things in your home?
Be the leader:
Be the lead Christ follower
Be the worship leader
Be the lead Christ follower
Accept your responsibility to lead your home
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
You teach your wife and children both by example and instruction
You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?
Romans 2:
Lead by example
Father’s who understand real and precious treasures
Seeking first the kingdom of God knowing God will bless with the necessary things
Lead by teaching
Bless people in your home?
Use your leadership to teach your family the word Of God
Teach your family both by word and example
His house speaks of his leadership
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
His house speaks of his responsibility
The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the home of the just.
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
john 14
And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.
Genesis 35
Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb.
exodus 12:
Deuteronomy 12
And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all to which you have put your hand, you and your households, in which the Lord your God has blessed you.
You make your home free of idols and cultivate servant hearts in your family
1 timothy 5:
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
A Song of Ascents.
Blessed is every one who fears the Lord,
Who walks in His ways.
When you eat the labor of your hands,
You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
In the very heart of your house,
Your children like olive plants
All around your table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the Lord.
The Lord bless you out of Zion,
And may you see the good of Jerusalem
All the days of your life.
Yes, may you see your children’s children.
Peace be upon Israel!
P
Through wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
Accept the help of the Holy Spirit in leading your family
Matthew
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
1 Chronicles 29:
But who am I, and who are my people,
That we should be able to offer so willingly as this?
For all things come from You,
And of Your own we have given You.
Teach at every available opportunity
That means acknowledging your inability to do it on your own
Teach them what to value
Their own soul
That means spending personal time alone in prayer and meditating on the word of God
Richness of Jesus Christ
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Understand that will the American dream might build a good life for your family if its at the expense of their spiritual welfare you’ve lost everything
We often hear people talk about the American Dream. What they mean is that America is a land of opportunity and that anyone can succeed or better their life through hard work and determination. This dream may be achieved when we own a home, do well in our professional career, achieve a respectable job, or enjoy early retirement.
When the American Dream is focused primarily on materialism and financial security, it can never really satisfy, any more than achieving the "Israelite Dream" satisfied Solomon in Ecclesiastes. In search of purpose and value in life, he pursued laughter, wine, and entertainment. He designed and built houses, vineyards, orchards, parks, and gardens. He amassed every kind of wealth or "treasure" available in that day (v. 8), including the sexual pleasure and political power, symbolized by his large harem of wives and concubines.
How wealthy was Solomon? Every year, he gained about 25 tons of gold from gifts, tributes, and trade. He was "greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth" (). But even with all of this treasure, Solomon found life unfulfilling.
His activities were a kind of philosophical experiment. He acquired, achieved, and indulged in every way possible. He denied himself nothing and gained all "the delights of a man's heart"(vv. 8, 10). And he used his wisdom to observe the results (v. 9). Could any of these possessions or activities reveal life's ultimate purpose and value?
The outcome, said Solomon, was negative. None of these things would endure. When he "surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun" (v. 11).—Today in the word
Don’t underestimate your influence and spiritual impact on your children
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Understand you have a heavenly Father who will never forsake you
When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then the Lord will take care of me.
A Father's Prayer
Jun 17th, 2016 2 min read
My father left my mother and four children when I was very young. As a boy growing up without a dad, I found it hard to imagine a father in heaven who really loved me and would never leave. And while my mother was persistent about taking us all to church, I disliked religion and believed churchgoers to be mostly hypocrites. It wasn't until I graduated college, got married and began my career that I began to sense a deep need to be connected to both my father on earth and the one in heaven.
I did connect with my earthly father, who lived in Arkansas with his wife and children. He explained that he had tried to stay in touch with me, my two brothers and sister. My mother had blocked him at every turn and even threw away the Christmas gifts he sent. We had never known about the attempted visits or the presents.
My stepfather, who was tasked by my mother to throw away the Christmas gifts, confirmed my dad's story. Life is complicated, and as a flawed husband and dad myself, I've learned not to judge others too harshly. Marriage is difficult, and being a parent is even harder. My mother and father have both passed away; I still love them and am grateful for having them in my life.
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My experience with my dad helped me realize that God had always been there for me, but that His access had been blocked. In my case, I was the one who had done the blocking.
I always knew there was a God. Even as a kid I was smart enough to know that this infinite universe and the myriad variations of complex life forms could not have happened by accident. But I didn't think God could be trusted to hang around when I wasn't following all of His rules. Moreover, His rules would ruin all my fun. My plan was to wait and do business with God when I was too old to have fun. Until then, I wanted to be free!
Unfortunately, my plan gave me a lot of pain, regret and guilt, but very little freedom. Through it all, God was faithful even though I was not. He, in His own quiet and loving way, finally backed me into a corner where the only way out was up.
In my searching, I came across a Bible verse where Jesus said, "Jim, I have been standing at the door of your heart knocking for many years; if you'll just open the door I will come in" (my paraphrase of ). I opened that door and prayed that Jesus would come in. My life has not been the same since.
Not long after I opened that door, a business friend offered to take me through a discipleship program called Operation Timothy. One of the lessons was about how to communicate with God. It was about prayer. I learned how to stay in constant touch with the God who loves me and will never leave.
Now I regularly pray that God will make my marriage stronger, to prosper and protect my four children, and to thank Him for the joy of seeing my children's children — my four wonderful grandchildren!
On Father's Day, I am grateful to be a father and to have known my father on earth, and to be able to talk to my heavenly father and to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he will never leave me. —Jim Dement
After serving in the Senate, DeMint served as President of The Heritage Foundation