Comments
James
on 12/17/2022 at 05:16 PM
Sorry guys. I'm a few days behind... I just want to say that I appreciate the thoughts shared on this app. They all seem to come from the heart. And they often speak of things I had not considered. Thank you all for sharing and helping me with my life journey...
P.S. Old Dude, I love your perspectives. You are a blessing to this group and to the Prayer Line (I don't check it everyday but whenever I do, you've usually chimed in), and to all those you interact with daily, I'm sure. You're serving your fatherly purpose. God bless you... God bless you all.
Dan
on 12/15/2022 at 05:50 AM
Old Dude, you may not have been a father but you appear to have great wisdom and I am sure you have helped many young men along their life journey. I have three sons and have also had the privilege of speaking into many young technology professionals lives. They are hungry for wisdom and many listen to God's truths.
Old Dude
on 12/14/2022 at 06:46 PM
I never experienced fatherhood . . . š
Omar A.
on 12/14/2022 at 05:23 PM
Amen brothers! Thanks for sharing and congratulations Ashley! God bless!
Kevin Miller
on 12/14/2022 at 05:10 PM
I grew up in a very dysfunctional family so I had no real idea how to be a husband father friend etc. I never had an example of it at home. God has been working through a recovery program taking me step by step dealing with these issues. My son is 22 and I think heās doing good especially with as much as I screwed up. His mother and I have been married for over 25 years by Godās grace alone. I messed up that relationship too. But things are going better now. I always have to remember to view everyone as God does.
Tim Debronsky
on 12/14/2022 at 04:12 PM
Amen! Weāll said brothers. Thanks for sharing.
Michael Myers
on 12/14/2022 at 03:47 PM
Well stated Ashley! Congratulations on your sobriety anniversary. No matter how difficult life can get, you are not alone. We can never change our past, but we CAN change our future. With God all things are possible. May Godās grace bless you each and every day! Thank you for sharing.
Ashley Jarvis
on 12/14/2022 at 03:28 PM
In the last 2 years, Iāve been blessed to realize through testimonials and reflection of what āOur Fatherā truly means. I was blessed to realize that I am entrusted with Godās children. Two of my own, and then thereās everyone else around me as well, including all of you. Everywhere, all around me, are Godās āperfectā children. Whether they wake up in their beds in my home, or flip me off at the stop light, there they are, everywhere, all around me. Whether they vote the same as I would, or disagree with my opinions vehemently, they are Godās child. No matter the circumstances, there is zero excuse, for me to look at them any differently than God does. And it all starts with my own children. I am entrusted with them, and I am God to them for the first years of their life. When they see me, they see God, or at least whatever reflection of God I cast unto them. People avoid God, church, religion, because of their impressions in life of who God is, based on their experiences in life up to that point you bump into them. Whether on social media, at a stop light with your āGod Savesā bumper sticker, or the cross on your necklace, how we ACT in the World, reflects God to others. We, are called to reflect the Love, Grace, Joy, and Kindness of Jesus Christ himself. And if I manage to do my best at that every single day, I will have been the best worldly Father example I can possibly be. To my kids, but also to all of Godās other children in this broken World šš»
Ashley Jarvis
on 12/14/2022 at 03:12 PM
Is this not what we all experience when we find out weāre going to be a father, to a degree? I think back just over 13 years ago at that news, and not having the Faith I do now, just how much fear hid behind my joyā¦ Fear of inadequacy, and fear that my child would grow up to be just like me. Today marks 2 years clean and sober for me, and Iāve spent my morning reading time reflecting on where I was, who I was, and what was going on that I had that last drink. Today also marks 3 years of waking up sober in treatment my first day. And that first year, was quite the journey of becoming honest with myself. This morning, prior to opening this app, I have a few others I read and pray on. Itās no coincidence that my reflections were on how my final drink came from the feelings of inadequacy as a father. No matter how hard I tried to be a good father, I kept falling short. The tree wasnāt up, the gifts hadnāt arrived, I had lost my temper, and I could tell that my kids would rather be at their mothers home. That last drink, wasnāt out of a craving surprisingly, it was to punish myself. I was still struggling to understand the concept of receiving Grace, and extending it to myself. I was in this place of the journey where I thought I needed to BE God for my kids, rather than a reflection of Him.
Jerome
on 12/14/2022 at 02:56 PM
Amen, Michael! As a father to two grown sons, I have passed on to them to have faith in our Lord and to conduct their lives with integrity and a strong work ethic. Despite many challenges over the years, our family has received many blessings going down this path.
Boyce Moses
on 12/14/2022 at 02:02 PM
Base your life on love, on Jesus, on Christian principles, and all else falls in place. Love you Jesus! ā¤ļøš§”šš
James Peckham
on 12/14/2022 at 12:27 PM
Thank you Michael- words to live by and the reason recovery is so bitter and sweet. God bless!
randy swopes
on 12/14/2022 at 12:16 PM
Amen Michael, thank you for your testimony!
michael f vinning
on 12/14/2022 at 12:01 PM
My wife and I both had traumatic childhoods, we havenāt a clue as to how to raise our kids except for what God writes on our hearts, but we know a whole lot of what not to do! Lolā¦so far itās working like a dream! Thank you Jesus for my family! I donāt deserve one but you gave anyway! Let your kids see and hear you pray, dance, laugh, and worship; and when you mess up-apologize! And most of all let them see you love your wife-make sure they know their mom is the most important person in your life after Jesus!!!
348/365: The Gift of Fatherhood
And the angel said to her, āDo not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. ~ Luke 1:30-31
One of the best Christmas questions for any man of faith comes from my friend Robert Noland. He asks this about Joseph in the Nativity story...
"Can you imagine being chosen to raise Godās only Son?"
Think about that today. What if God chose you, a regular dude, to raise the savior of the world? While Mary struggled to wrap her mind around the news from the angel, Joseph's head must have been spinning!
Like Joseph...no matter your place in this world, if you have Christ in your heart - you are truly raising the next generation to know Christ.
What can you do to share Christ's teaching and good news?
GO DEEPER: Proverbs 22:1-9