Each year God gives millions of parents a gift, a brand new baby.  Like no one else, parents can unlock the door to a child’s uncommonness. As dads, we accelerate or stifle…release or repress, our children’s giftedness. They will spend much of life benefitting or recovering from our influence. But remember, our kids were God’s kids first.  We tend to forget this fact, regarding our children as our children, as though we have the final say in their health and future. We don’t. Wise are the parents who regularly give their children back to God.

God never dismisses a parent’s prayer.  Keep giving your child to God, and in the right time and the right way, God will give your child back to you!

From Dad Time

My daughters are too old for this now, but when they were young, crib-size and diaper-laden—I’d come home, shout their names, and watch them run to me with extended arms and squealing voices. For the next few moments we would speak the language of love. We’d roll on the floor, gobble bellies, and tickle tummies and laugh and play. We delighted in each other’s presence. They made no requests of me, with the exception of “Let’s play, Daddy.” And I made no demands of them, except, “Don’t hit Daddy with the hammer.” In this very special dad time—my kids let me love them!

Psalm 127:3-5 reminds us, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.”

I am a blessed man!

From Dad Time

How did Jesus endure the terror of the crucifixion? He went first to the Father with his fears. He modeled the words of Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.”

Do the same with yours! And be specific. Jesus was. “Take this cup,” He prayed. Give God the number of the flight. Tell Him the length of the speech. Share the details of the job transfer. He has plenty of time. He also has plenty of compassion. He won’t tell you to “buck up” or “get tough.” He has been where you are. He knows how you feel. And He knows what you need.

That’s why we punctuate our prayers as Jesus did. “If you are willing. . .” Was God willing? Yes and no. He didn’t take away the cross, but he took away the fear. Who’s to say He won’t do the same for you?

From Traveling Light

You have every reason to be content! A man once went to a minister for counseling. He was in the midst of financial collapse.

“I’ve lost everything,” he bemoaned.

“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear you’ve lost your faith.”

“No,” the man corrected him, “I haven’t lost my faith.”

“Well then, I’m sad to hear you’ve lost your character.”

“I didn’t say that,” he corrected. “I still have my character.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that you’ve lost your salvation.”

“That’s not what I said,” the man objected.

“I haven’t lost my salvation.”

“You have your faith, your character, your salvation. Seems to me,” the minister observed, “that you’ve lost none of the things that really matter.”

We haven’t either! You and I could pray like the Puritan.  He sat down to a meal of bread and water.  He bowed his head and declared, “All this and Jesus too?”

From Traveling Light