17Sep 08
The Powerful Influence of a Father!
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Off we went to one of the most relaxing places! Grandpa and Grandma Wilkes so kindly let us go spend a week at their beautiful home on the Breton bay in Maryland.
We went because we wanted to be together as a family, to have fun in the water, to play games, to do some sightseeing, as well as to catch fish and crabs and eat them. 
But the main purpose was to spend quite a bit of time preparing for the near and distant future. God has laid such incredible things on our Dad’s heart in which he desired to share with us and help us by the grace of God put into action.
I read a quote last night that left a huge impact on me and it was "Some things God gives often: yet some he gives only once." I am sure we could all name quite a few things that would fit in both of these categories. Such as the love of God. He continues to love us even when we don’t deserve His love (Jer. 31:3). Just think this day comes twice to none! Time is one of those things that He givens but we can never take back!
Are we taking the time to prepare properly for the future? Time is moving in one direction! How are we preparing for it? Are we as a family using our time wisely?
The responsibility of a Father is high. The hopes, desires, passions, and longings that a God-fearing father has in seeing his children walk in the ways of the Lord is so honoring and glorious in the sight of our Heavenly Father. But if the working of God in a father’s heart is not shared with his children. If he does not talk and lift up the truth, and beauty of living a life sold out to Christ where will his children be in the future?
God says with out a vision My people perish. God has placed the father to be over the family to bring direction, leadership, clarity and instruction as to how to apply the word of God. Not only does he talk the talk but he shows his family how to walk the talk. He is a living testimony to us of how one is to follow Christ. God makes it clear that the hearts of the children must be turned to the fathers. Malachi 4:6 says "… turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."
We need fathers who are willing to stand for truth and light. Men who kneel before the Lord and pray with all their might. Men who pull there swords and fight when all around give in. Men who heed the call of God and wont give in to sin.
No, he does not have to be a perfect man but have a perfect heart towards the Lord. When he fails, or wrongs those around him he quickly asks forgiveness. For he sees that the freedom, and peace that comes to his life far out weighs the embarrassment of admitting he was wrong. And let me tell you this is what will leave an impact on your children.
This is the kind of man that I have the joy of following! No he is not perfect. But he sure has a love for the Lord that is contagious! Watching him step out in faith and take his family away to to have a week of intense planning as to what God desires our family to be about was incredible!
Setting aside any fears he might of had. Giving God charge of the results of the week and stepping out by faith and willingly sharing his heart with us was such a blessing. What a joy it is to get to know more and more the very heart of the father God has so graciously given my family and I. The theme’s he gave for each day, the things he shared, and the tapes he picked out for us to listen to all related around the theme God gave to Dad for the week which was "To be filled with the knowledge of his will with all wisdom and spiritual understanding" Which is found in (Colossians 1:9).
As we were driving home we talked about the week of learning and spending time as a family. We realized we had still a lot more to talk about and work on but that just gets you even more excited about what God is going to do! We know we are never going to have everything figured out but He still calls us to prepare (Pr 21:31). We all agreed that a week of family planning for the future is definitely some thing we will try to do every year! Thank you Dad for your leadership may God richly bless you and continue to give you direction through His word on how to lead.
Fathers, your children don’t expect you to be perfect but they look to see what you do with your imperfections. For they know that they have them too! They look to you, as you follow Christ (1Cor. 11:1), to see how they should go about dealing with their sin. They look to you to see how you view life and how you respond to it. What an incredible impact you all have on the next generation!
And we that have fathers, may we be in daily prayer for them. They have a huge responsibility! Yet God says my burden is light and yoke is easy. (Matt. 11:30) God never give them more than they can handle. May we lift them up before God that He would give them the wisdom and joy in leading their family. Prayer is the greatest work we can do! Petition on their behalf! For it is God who will change the hearts of those in need and give guidance to direct them.
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers serve
d that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Joshua 24:15
A refreshing week indeed. I appreciated the theme, “Being filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and Spiritual understanding.” Thank you Dad for your desire to give a vision.
What an opportunity it was to propose as we prepare to watch God dispose!
How true, Jennifer. Fathers have such key positions in the family – one of the most important of which is that of being a spiritual leader and providing direction for the rest of the family. I can’t wait to hear more about your time together this weekend!
Jennifer this sure was an outstanding weekend! I learned so much about haveing generation view point! Thankyou Dad for encouraging us!