We serve a God who marks time for us by lineage. He speaks to us from "generation to generation" (Isaiah 51:8 NKJV). He follows the line of earthly Fathers very closely (Genesis 12:7 NKJV). In the old testament we see God setting up families for success by allowing Fathers to bless their sons-the ones who carry the seed to cause the next generation to come about (Genesis 27:19 NKJV). People in the old testament were known to go to extraordinary (and sometimes shocking) lengths to prevent the end of a family line (Lots daughters in Genesis 19 around verse 29; Tamar and her father-in-law Judah in Genesis chapter 38 starting at verse 6; the tribe of Benjamin in Judges chapter 21 starting around verse 15.)
Tweet this: A Fathers place in the Kingdom has eternity attached to it.
God showed us this by even allowing a stepfather named Joseph to have the honor of attaching his lineage to his stepson Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Tweet this: Stepdads matter!
So, I'd like for todays blog to be a love letter to our own Fathers and for every Father we know. This day is a recognition of not only a biological event but a heart event.
Today we celebrate one of the toughest jobs on the planet; one that causes men to muster up strength, courage, grit and determination they never knew they had or needed. If you are one of those Dads your children cling to and ache to be around, then you've already received much of your earthly reward; your heart has been expanded beyond recognition because of the love of your children.
So, to further celebrate Dads, I am honored to feature a very special guest: Mr. Gary Freeman. I was blessed to interview Gary (whom I met at the taping of the (&) campaign video) to talk about Fatherhood on our Fathers' day edition of "Celebrate Life". Gary is the father of three, a pastor and the founder of a ministry titled "Major League Dad." which fosters the development of young fathers in crisis and supports them in their new role. Listen as Gary talks about the abortion vulnerable young man and what it takes to help bring him into his full role as Father of a family as well as just how influential a Father's voice can be in a crisis pregnancy.
Please allow me to also pray for the Fathers who might be feeling sorrow and pain today because their children died at the hands of an abortionist. Those Father's lost recognition of a role. They lost being able to rise to the challenge of child rearing. They lost the ability to become stronger, more courageous and determined men. They don't have little ones at their feet, on their lap or around their neck loving them and annoying them all at the same time. In many ways their heart growth was stunted. And so, I pray for them today as well because what was lost cannot be measured...
Tweet this: Lost Fatherhood is immeasurable.
We at Arise Daughter want to thank each and every Dad represented not only in our own homes but also in yours. And we welcome the opportunity to support men who are hurting on this bittersweet day because healing helps the hurting.
Many blessings and much love! Sylvia
“their heart growth was stunted”. I recognize that. Glad to have words for that now. I don’t think any human would choose to have their heart growth stunted.