How To Be A Godly Father / Father's Day

A young woman ... brought her fiancé home ... to meet her parents.

After dinner, .... her mother asked the father to find out about the young man, ...... so, ... the father invited the fiancée into his study ... for a drink.

"So, ... what are your plans?" ... the father asked.

"I am a Torah scholar", ... he replied.

"A Torah scholar... Hmmmm", ... the father says.

"Admirable, ... but what will you do to provide a nice home ... for my daughter to live in, ... as she is accustomed to?"

"I will study", ... the young man replied, .... "and God will provide for us."

"And how will you buy her a beautiful engagement ring, ... such as she deserves?" ... asks the father.

"I will concentrate on my studies", ... the young man replied, ... "God will provide for us."

"And children?"... asked the father. "... How will you support your children?"

"Don't worry, sir, ... God will provide," replied the fiancée.

The conversation proceeds like this, ... and each time the father asked a question, ... the young man stated ... that God will provide.

Later, .... the mother asked: "How did it go, Honey?"

The father answered: "He has no job and no plans, .... and .... he thinks I'm God."

Well our spouses ... and our Children ... will readily affirm ... that we as husbands ... and fathers ... may fall just... a little short ... of God.

Today is Father's Day, ... and let me wish a "Blessed Father's Day" ... to all the fathers and grandfathers ... who are here today. (Pause)

Indeed ... It is Father's Day, ... and the very first national celebration ... of this day .... was on June 19, 1924, ... via a proclamation ... of President Calvin Coolidge.

But it all came about ... due to the efforts of a woman named ... "Sonora" Smart Dodd.

Sonora was sitting in church in 1909 ... listening to a Mother's Day sermon .... when the idea of Father's Day ... first came to mind.

Having been raised by her father, ... after her mother's death, .... Sonora wanted her father to know ... how special he was ... to her.

For all his sacrifices .... for being, .... in her eyes, so courageous, ... so self-less, ... and so loving.

Through her efforts, ... in 1924 .... President Coolidge ... designated the 3rd Sunday of June ... as "Father's Day."

And our nation has been celebrating it ... ever since. (Long Pause)

Dr. James Dobson, ... in his book, "Dare to Discipline," states, ... "Good fathers are made, .... not born."

Then he goes on to suggest three specific things ... that a father ... should keep in mind.

(1 Finger) First ... The understanding that ... Children often-times ... follow in the footsteps ...of their father.

During the earliest years of a child's life ... the child ... he or she ... usually spends a great deal of time ... with their mother.

But the passing years ... bring a change, ... and the father often becomes... the example in attitude and action ... that a child follows.

The example that a father sets about God, .... About The church, .... about spiritual things .... will make an "in-del-ible" impression ... upon a child's life.

And like it or not ... the Scriptures are clear ... that the father ... is called ... to be the spiritual leader ... in the home. (Pause)

(1 Finger) Children often-times follow in the footsteps of their father.

(2 Fingers) The 2nd thing we can do as fathers to help our children .... is to love their mother.

Next to a man's personal relationship with God, ... we as men ... should portray ...a deep love ... for our wives.

Paul shares what a godly Husband should be like to the believers gathered in Ephesus, Hear God's Word:

BIBLE "Husbands, love your wives, .... just as ... Christ loved the church ...and gave Himself up for her." END Ephesians 5:25

Beloved ... If there is that kind of love in the family, .... then that home is blessed indeed. (Pause)

(1 Finger) Children often-times follow in the footsteps of their father.

(2 Fingers) We as Father's are called ... to love their mother.

(3 Fingers) Thirdly, ... a Christian father will arrange to spend time ... with their children.

No matter how fathers try to escape it, .... the fact remains ... that ultimately .... we do control our time .... and how ... we spend it.

I can state ... without reservation .... that being a good father ... and being a good husband ... is one of the most challenging responsibilities ... we will ever face.