[The Mayor]

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June 15, 2008

A Perfect Father

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READ: Proverbs 20:3-7

The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him. —Proverbs 20:7

My father once admitted to me, “When you were growing up, I was gone a lot.”

I don’t remember that. Besides working his full-time job, he was gone some evenings to direct choir practice at church, and he occasionally traveled for a week or two with a men’s quartet. But for all the significant (and many small) moments of my life—he was there.

For instance, when I was 8, I had a tiny part in an afternoon play at school. All the mothers came, but only one dad—mine. In many little ways, he has always let my sisters and me know that we are important to him and that he loves us. And seeing him tenderly caring for my mom in the last few years of her life taught me exactly what unselfish love looks like. Dad isn’t perfect, but he’s always been a dad who gives me a good glimpse of my heavenly Father. And ideally, that’s what a Christian dad should do.

At times earthly fathers disappoint or hurt their children. But our Father in heaven is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy” (Ps. 103:8). When a dad who loves the Lord corrects, comforts, instructs, and provides for the needs of his children, he models for them our perfect Father in heaven.

How blessed are the children
Who in their fathers see
The tender Father-love of God,
And find their way to Thee. —Johnson

A life lived for Christ is the best inheritance we can leave our children.

Bible in One Year: Psalms 69–71

[JustAmy]

June 15, 2008



Graphic by MamaBear

Dads

Dads are not the speciallest things that ever came to be,
They only seem to be that way to everyone, and me.
My own dad was a giant, when I was two feet tall,
But as I grew, he never seemed to get to being small.

I learned new ways to measure. Wish I could measure up.
Best I could do was making sure that I drank from his cup.
He never had an enemy, because he was a friend.
Whoever needed help somehow he had it there to lend.

He was not a wealthy man. He worked hard just to get by,
And when someone had a challenge he said, “Let’s give it a try.”
He never feared a failure. He knew we learned that way,
He made sure that he could look proudly on his day.

He gave me living lessons, in what to do and be.
He knew just by being there he’d make a man of me.
I know that there are places, where fathers have gone by,
That’s why when someone needs me I say, “Let’s give it a try.”

I show them what I learned from him, and why I cared so much,
And why I know that every child still needs a father’s touch.
So if you can please try to put your arms around your Dad,
And tell him he’s the best one any kid has ever had.

NicknamedBob . . . . . . . . . . June 19, 2004
© 2004 - 2008

[pollywog]

This devotional *ODB* , reminds me of my dear husband! He was always the only father at the school plays during the daytime. He would go to work early and come sliding in like " making a home run" just as our daughter's class stood to perform!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all the great DAD's here.
Polly
ps. You all seem to create such great graphics! I am just plain jane!

[JustAmy]

Happy Father’s Day, Rus.

Thank you for Our Daily Bread.

Have a beautiful Lord’s Day and a relaxing Father’s Day.