How has your year been? I think it healthy to spend time reflecting on the high points of the past year, what I call “glimpses of God’s glory.” A late-summer getaway with my bride was certainly a high point for us. Time with grown kids on summer adventures, time with granddaughters and the birth of our first grandson were also wonderful high points.
At Faithful Fathering, the high points are always tied to seeing dads and kids connect to a new level of relationship over the weekend retreats or extended trips that create unique father-child one-on-one time. A couple of other highs this year include the hiring of Jason Hall as Operations Manager to focus on establishing core groups / leadership teams of dads in churches; and, recording an updated video teaching of the Dads Becoming Heroes study.
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” … Jesus said (to Mary Magdalene), “Do not hold on to Me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to My brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’” – John 15:15, 20:17. In these passages, Jesus shows His intentionality in connecting to new levels of relationship with His disciples. They moved from servants to friends, then from friends to brothers. As servants, they absorbed all the teaching Jesus offered. He taught them all His Father had taught Him. As they began to understand the business behind the teaching, the relationship matured into friendship. As friends, Jesus “sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” (Luke 9:2). There were new expectations placed on His disciples. This can be an analogy to new expectations placed on teenagers as they enter high school. As Jesus coached His disciples through their successes and failures (Luke 10:18-20), dads are to coach kids through the ups and downs of teen life. There is a lot of Father-Son time documented in the gospel of John. And there is a lot of Jesus-disciple time documented throughout the gospels and Acts. The call is for dads to be intentional in investing time with each child as they mature. I encourage all dads to look ahead to the new year and schedule unique one-on-one time with each child.
Opportunities for one-on-one time with Faithful Fathering in 2024 include:
Prayer guide: Father, thank You for being my Father and for sending Your Son into this world, the greatest Gift of all time. I confess that I have fallen short of emulating the father-child relationship You exemplify so completely in Your word. As I reflect on this past year, I realize I have allowed worldly priorities to claim time that I should have invested in my marriage and the children You have blessed me with. Forgive me. I commit to do better in the new year by scheduling regular one-on-one time with my bride and each child. Grant me clarity and discernment as I seek to emulate You well in my home. That is the dad You call me to be and that’s the dad my kids need to see. Amen.
A faithful father is intentional in emulating the Heavenly Father.
How has your year been? I think it healthy to spend time reflecting on the high points of the past year, what I call “glimpses of God’s glory.” A late-summer getaway with my bride was certainly a high point for us. Time with grown kids on summer adventures, time with granddaughters and the birth of our first grandson were also wonderful high points.
