Fathers Day!

“As a father has compassion on his children, So Yahweh has compassion on those who fear Him .” (Psalm 103:13)

Happy Father’s Day to all you dads. On Father’s Day, we give thanks for the men God has placed in our lives as          fathers, grandfathers, spiritual mentors, and father figures.  While no earthly father is perfect, God in His mercy has given     us a powerful image in fatherhood to reflect something of His own heart.

I became a father at age 25 and had no clue what that role really involved. I remember when we took Crystal home from the hospital, we were driving up Chippenham Parkway, and Cathy started to cry. I asked her what was wrong, and she said. “I don’t know if I’m going to be a good mom. I don’t know what to do.” At that moment. I began to panic. Because I thought all women knew how to be a mom and how to take care of a baby, and instinctively knew what to do. Cathy was a great mother and raised our children in fear and admonition of the Lord.

As I look back, I see my many failures as a father, but God, in His mercy, has overcome those failures in me so that     my children can become the people they are today. Let me  encourage you, fathers, to teach your children all about the     love and mercy of God. Teach them about Jesus Christ and the death He died to make you His. You see, you are called not only to provide and protect but to nurture faith, instruct in the Lord, and model grace. Let them see you love your wife as Christ     loved the church. Let them see godly humility. Let them see you say you’re sorry when you have sinned. Let them know       you love them even when you discipline them. Grace covers  our failings, and God’s Spirit equips us to grow. Children are watching, and more than anything, they need to see Christ in us.

In a world where the role of fathers is often undervalued or misunderstood, Christian fathers are invited to reclaim a vision of loving leadership rooted in Christ.  Through daily repentance, prayer, and reliance on the Spirit, fathers can leave a legacy of faith.

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark