Fresh Ideas

by Diana Davis

Need a small gift for dads on Father’s Day at your church? Create a bookmark from this article. Download it at keeponshining.com under “Free Stuff,” add your church name and logo, and laminate.

A Christian dad impacts his family and the world. Dad, you are vitally important. Some fresh Ideas for dads:

Pray for your child.

• Kneel by your sleeping child’s bed and pray for him. Pray for him daily as you drive to work.
• Pray aloud with your child. Pray together at bedtime. Voice a prayer as you drive her to school. Praise God as a family when He blesses, and take needs and crises to Him.

“Pray constantly.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Invest time in your child’s life.

• Create father/child traditions: birthday breakfast with dad, father/daughter date, father/son adventure, read Sunday funnies together, share a hobby.
• Even on busy days, spend at least a few focused minutes with your child. Take a walk, shoot baskets, go for a soda, play a board game. Listen. Comfort.  Make eye contact. Speak wisdom.
• Make lifetime memories with family vacations. Yes, a backyard campout counts.
• Idea: Offer to substitute in your child’s Sunday School class.

“Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Be your home’s spiritual leader.

• Enthusiastically initiate family commitment to God, His Word & His church. Read your Bible. Truly love His church. Help your child know Jesus as personal Savior.
• Verbalize your God story. Tell your child about how God saved you. Talk about answered prayer. Conversationally acknowledge God’s importance in your life. 
• Teach God’s ways to your child constantly—when you sit, walk, lay or stand. (Deut. 11:18-21)
• Idea: Text or write a Scripture on a note card for your child.

“Tell your children about it, and let your children tell their children, and their children the next generation.” Amos 1:3

Love your wife.

• Let your child see you show genuine affection to mom with compliments, hugs, laughs, prayers.
• You’re teaching them how to treat their future spouse.  
• Idea: tell your child the story of how you fell in love with mom.

”Each one of you is to love his wife as himself…” Ephesians 5:33

Encourage your child.

• Show family affection. Laugh together. Delight in your child. Say, “I love you” often. Compliment sincerely. Speak positively about him to others.  
• Be the parent. Your child needs a father, not just another buddy. Your loving discipline and wise boundaries demonstrate your love.
• Idea: Hug your child for at least ten seconds today.

“Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4

Serve God together.

• Help your child discover her spiritual gifts and use them.
• Set an example of joyful service to God. Find ways to include your child, such as homebound visit, church workday, mission trip, church project.

“Serve the Lord with gladness….” Psalm 95:1-2

Be a man of integrity. Your child is watching your life to emulate it.

• Idea: Tape this on your dressing mirror - “I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. Psalm 101:2”

Enjoy your quiver. Psalm 127:4-5 NLT says that “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children…are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!” On average, child-rearing days encompass less than 1/3 of your adult years. Treasure them.

Happy Father’s Day.

©Diana Davis 2012 www.keeponshining.com