Becoming the Dad You Were Meant to Be

"He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers..." (Malachi 4:6)

Hey guys, today I want to talk to you about fathering. About being a great dad. About being the father that God created you to be, regardless of our circumstances. What does it take to be a great dad? Well, there is SO much that goes into it- probably much more than I can write in a single blog- but here's a few ideas that you can work off of.

1. Represent a Christ-like model to your kids.

Paul writes in Phil. 1:6, "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." We are a constant work in progress, always remember that. Jesus promises us that if we abide in Him and hold tight to His words, that not only will we bear fruit, but our prayers will be heard by God. In fact, we did not choose Jesus to make us great men, but rather He chose us! (John 15:5-7, 16-17) Chase after Him-daily; Spend time in prayer and reading His word; and most of all- believe in your heart that Jesus is our Lord and He will hear you.

2. Spend quality time with your kids.

Being a single parent is tough, and I'll admit- I'm guilty in this area as well. There are days that we are tired, sick, stressed, and so on that we just feel like we can't give our kids our all. But do know that this is cherished time, and it's also time we can't get back. Look, you're gonna have bad days- that's a given. Don't beat yourself up when you do. The important thing is that we attempt to give our kids the time they deserve. There's a saying that goes, "Take care of the moments and the years will take care of themselves." Playing a board game can be just as much fun (and cheaper) than going to a sporting event; a cardboard clubhouse or a walk through a nature trail can evoke imagination and education more than a theme park; and most importantly- a hug, a kiss, and the words "I love you" will do more for a child than ANYTHING this world can offer. Statistics even show that when a dad is involved with his children, they have higher self esteem, do better in school, and have more positive attitudes than those without involved dads. You may be saying though, "Look Matt, that sounds good and all, but how can I give what I never received? My dad never loved me or showed me affection- I don't know how to as well." In fact, your memories of your father may not be good at all- but that does NOT have to continue on to your kids! If you can't give love because you never received love, I have a verse for you: John 3:16. God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die for us once and for all- period. Go to the cross. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. (See Romans 10:9) Even if you have before, but have walked away from God- today is the day to recommit your life to Christ. Repent and ask Him back into your life. Finally, as a child of God know that you are both a new creation (2Cor. 5:17) and have attained a new family lineage. (1Peter 1:23) This is God's promise and it will open a new relationship with your children that you never thought possible.

3. Championship Fathering

There is an organization that I highly recommend called the National Center for Fathering. They have an initiative moving right now to make "good" dads "Championship Fathers". Go to their website at www.fathers.com and click on the "Championship Fathering" link. Read it over and once you're done- make the commitment. We will love our kids; we will coach our kids; and we will be great role models for our kids. I have made the commitment myself.

I pray this is a good start for you all, let me know how else I can be of assistance- God bless you all!