Dad's Are a Big Deal

What kind of car did dad pick out to drive the family to Church?

Honda, because he read in Acts 2:1, they were all in one accord.

Why did grandpa keep his eyes open when he prayed.

Because the Bible says, “Watch and pray” Mt. 26:41.

Where do you keep all your dad jokes?

In the dadabase of course.

Okay, enough of the obligatory Father’s Day dad jokes.

If you want to find a good parking spot and the best seat in the House of God, Father’s Day is the best day to go to Church.

Statistics say, Father’s Day, is the least attended Church service all year.

Mother’s Day, on the other hand, is one of the most attended services all year, only behind Christmas and Easter.

Which is interesting because statistics show:

If a father attends Church regularly, regardless of what the mother does, between 66-75% of their children attend Church as adults.

If a father does not go to Church, even if his wife does, only 2% (1 child in 50) will become a regular worshiper as adults.

Another study, focused on Sunday School, found similar results on the impact of fathers:

• When both parents attend Bible study in addition to the Sunday service, 72% of their children attend Sunday school when grown.
• When only the father attends Sunday school, 55% of the children attend when grown.
• When only the mother attends Sunday school, 15% of the children attend when grown.
• When neither parent attends Sunday school, only 6% of the children attend when grown.

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Charles Spurgeon said it like this: Train up a child in the way he should go—but be sure you go that way yourself.

Another survey found that if a child is the first person in a household to become a Christian, there is a 3.5% probability everyone else in the household will follow. If the mother is the first to become a Christian, there is a 17% probability everyone else in the household will follow. However, when the father is first, there is a 93% probability everyone else in the household will follow. 

90% of homeless, and run away children, come from fatherless homes.

85% of behavioral disorders in children are from fatherless homes.

63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes.

71% of teen pregnancies are from fatherless homes.

85% of youth in prison are from fatherless homes.

Children from fatherless homes are:

Four times more likely to live in poverty.

Ten times more likely to use drugs.

14 times more likely to commit rape.

32 times more likely to run away.

Dad’s, don’t get a big head, but you’re a big deal.

You make a big difference, for better or worse, as evidenced by statistics.

You’re made in the image of God, like everybody, but becoming a father, is the biggest promotion of your life.

God created family. He set it up with the father as the head. (1 Corinthians 11:3, Ephesians 5:23, 6:4, 1 Timothy 3:4-5).

The job of a father is to reflect The Father.

For God so loved the world that He gave... John 3:16.

Ephesians 5:25. Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself...

Characteristics of a father: loving, giving, selfless. A giver, not a taker. A fountain, not a drain. John 4:14, 7:38.

Being a father bears the responsibility of allowing The Father to flow through you as, provider, protector, leader, teacher, helper, encourager, and friend. (Psalm 127, Proverbs 13:22, 1 Tim. 3:4-5, 5:8, Eph. 6:4).

A large part of being a father, is showing up.

It’s a big job.

But you can handle it because God can.

Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life I live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loves me, and gave Himself for me.

The roles change quickly as we grow older.

Don’t blink, they grow fast.

Grandpas, you are a lighthouse.

You’re not retired from fatherhood you’re promoted to a father of fathers.  

The kids and grandkids are living life, out there having fun in the sun, dancing high from wave to wave.

You’re boring like a tree, rooted, grounded, planted. Just steadfast, stable, standing, on the shore. Not going anywhere. Easy to ignore.

They’re out having fun, chasing dreams, living large and laughing loud, sailing carefree from shore to shore. (Just like you used to do).

But night falls, storms rise, waves they once danced with, threaten to sink them. They have no idea what to do or which way to turn.

It’s then, like the light of a lighthouse, through the wind and the rain and the waves, your prayers pierce the darkness, your words finally hit home, and they lift their eyes, and see the Light, and find their way Home.

STAND Grandpa.

SHINE on Papa.

Let your light so shine that they see and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16.

Don’t you dare think you’re out of the fight.

If you’re still breathing, God’s got a reason.

Grab grandma’s hand if you can and pray.

Even if you’ve never done it, it’s not too late. Start today.

You have a calling. You have a position.

Your family, your neighborhood, your Church, your nation, need you.  

Rise! Shine!

Be that shining beacon God’s called you to be.

Don’t worry about your weakness. Give the Father your past, mistakes, regrets, failures, wasted years.

Give it all to Him and watch how it turns it into wisdom from above.

It’s not too late for you to finish strong and finish well.

Yeah Doug, easier said than done. I’ve burned too many bridges with my kids. Those relationships are too far gone.

Doesn’t matter. Don’t try to figure it out. That’s your Father’s job.

If you’re hearing this message God is offering you a mission.

Everybody needs a father.

Be one.

Trust Him for Divine Direction and Connection.

Knowing nothing is impossible with God.

He is a Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows and sets the lonely in families. Psalm 68:5-6b.

Speaking of Divine Direction and Connection.

Deland McCullough was adopted as a baby, into a two-parent home, but his adoptive father left when he was only two.

So, Deland was raised by a single mom, in Youngstown Ohio.

After a knee injury ended Sherman Smith’s NFL playing career, he wound up coaching at Miami University (Oxford Ohio).

He recruited 17-year-old Deland McCullough from high school to join Miami U as a running back.

Coach Sherman took Deland under his wing and became more than a coach; he became a mentor, a father figure, a friend.   

That’s why it was so sad when Coach Sherman moved away for another coaching position, nevertheless, they kept in touch.

Deland stayed the course and had a successful football career at Miami University, then went on to the pros, until, like Sherman, a knee injury ended his playing career. He also went into coaching. Currently he’s running back coach for Oklahoma Sooners.  

In 2017, when Deland was 44, he connected with his birth mother. He found out she was only 16 years old when she had him and gave him up for adoption so he could have a better life.

When he asked about his dad, she said he was someone she dated a little while in high school, but he never found out she was pregnant. His name was Sherman Smith.

The very same Coach Sherman Smith that had been more than a coach to Deland, he was a mentor, father figure and friend.

WOW!

He is a Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows and sets the lonely in families. Psalm 68:5-6b

Deland and Sherman, knew that God orchestrated their Divine connection, but they had a DNA test done, just for documentation. It was a 99.9% match.

Over the years Deland had gone to Coach Sherman’s multiple times, but then he went for the first time, to Dad Sherman’s.

When Deland’s dad, opened the door, he simply smiled, invited him in, and said the two words Deland longed his whole life to hear from his dad...

“My son.”

1 John 3:1
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!

Dear Fathers, we all have the same top line on our family tree.

Adam was the son of God. Luke 3:38.

You have a Good Good Father.

Your Source is Him.

Thus, you lack nothing.

In Him, you have everything you need for life and Godliness. (2 Peter 1:3).

You have a calling, a position, a mission.

Seek Him with all you’ve got.

Stay the course, do not quit, and you will not fail. (Galatians 6:9).

Fathers, rise. Allow the Father and Fountain of Living Waters flow through you. (John 4:14, 7:38).

Father of fathers, shine. Let the Father of Lights shine through you. (Matthew 5:16).

Fathers, stand united, under the one banner of our Father, encourage, and pray and hold each other accountable.

Let’s pray.  

Heavenly Father, thank You for the honor of being Your children. We love and honor You. Please flow through us, and shine through us, so all those You’ve given us, will be drawn to You and hear You say, “My child, well done.”

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.