If you’ve been a father for very long, you’ve heard one of your children say, “Dad, I remember you telling me…” And strangely, you may have no more than a dim memory of having said it. They were words that didn’t really register as they were coming out but, for whatever reason, they sure did register coming in.

Maybe it was a stray memory you shared while you were out fishing together or running weekend errands. Maybe it was a harsh critique of the way they were performing a task or treating a sibling. Maybe it wasn’t even something you were saying to them directly, but they were around, they heard it, they remember it.

Most dads don’t think of themselves as men of powerful, memorable words. But… we are. All of us.

So on this day of celebration, enjoy the cards and the phone calls, act surprised at the necktie and the nail care kit, doze in and out of the U.S. Open on television. But also take the chance to say some special things to your children, wherever they may be.

King Solomon wrote of his father, David, “For I was my father’s son—He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments and live.’” (Proverbs 4:3–4). Don’t let everything your children remember you saying be offhand and incidental. Make a point of telling them what your heart really wants to say.

Pray this prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to be a dad who instructs and inspires my children the way you inspire me. Help me teach my children based on your Word that they may also mature in godliness.—-From “Game Plan For Life”, (Scripture reference changed to KJV)

Sometimes we have great blessings that we’re not even aware off,or blessings not known by certain others. I think of this every year on “Father’s Day”. On this day we are reminded of our obligation to honor fathers, and that is fine. It is a good thing to give dads what they deserve. For many of us Father’s Day is a time for reminiscing as we recall the delightful days with our dad. What we seem to forget is that for many people there are no such delightful days, no precious memories. They never had the privilege of having a good father.

Some poor kids were raised in a single parent home by their mother, or a grand-parent. Some do not even know who their biological father is. Others were raised in broken homes under the authority of wicked vile step-fathers who either neglected or abused them. And even among those who were or are being raised by their biological parents, a rare thing today now-days, life isn’t always good. Many fathers are unloving and unconcerned, yet the children are forced to live under their authority. For people like these Father’s Day is more than meaningless. It is more like a cruel joke that makes them sick to their stomach.

As much as I wish it wasn’t so, that’s the way it is, and we are powerless to change it. All we can do is pray for these children and try to encourage them any way we can. That’s the purpose of this article. I want them to know that they are not forgotten. I want them to understand that, although they never had a loving father, they are loved. There are others who do care about them. Most of all, God loves them and desires to be their heavenly Father.

I also want to remind those who had or have a godly father that they are greatly blessed and should be deeply grateful. To have a good father is an awesome gift—be thankful for him. Do everything in your power to let him know how much he is appreciated. You have a treasure that is unknown to most kids today. Please honor your father in every way possible and take time to thank God for him. You have a blessing not known by others. Think about it!

David enquired of the Lord yet again– 1 Samuel 23:4

Man is not nearly so smart as he thinks he is. Here’s the cold-hard facts “—the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.”(Jeremiah 10:23). Rather than depend upon ourselves or the advice of others, we need to get our directions from the Lord, as David did. The devotional “A Good Thing” gives us this good counsel:

Nine times in the Scripture we find this statement — “David enquired” of the Lord, or of God. Every one of these instances was after David had become a great leader. And yet David shows us that great leadership results from being a great follower of God. Even in the most practical or mundane of matters.

Many times, when we are faced with challenging situations, our first inclination, especially if there are others waiting upon or relying on our answer, is to make a hasty decision based on the best understanding we have at the moment. But we should develop the habit, like David, of asking the Lord for direction first.

Perhaps you have already sought the Lord’s guidance, though, in a particular situation — a relationship, or a promotion, or a relocation, or another life-changing decision. Or maybe you received clear direction for your last decision, but a fresh challenge has presented itself.

Then inquire of the Lord yet again. There is no such thing as being too dependent upon God. He never wearies of our questions, and we never out-grow our inadequacy without Him.

The great encouragement is that when David went to the Lord yet again, then “the Lord answered him” (23:4b). He always answers those who inquire of Him, and so He will answer you when you call upon Him and inquire of Him, dear believer.

Preachers sometimes tell us, in urging us to live a useful life, that it costs but little to do good. In a sense this is true. Without large outlay of money, and without great expenditure of strength—one may do many helpful things and make one’s life a rich blessing in the world; yet there is a deeper sense, in which one cannot be a true blessing in this world, except with much cost.—

There is a Chinese legend of a potter who sought for years and years to put a certain tint on the vases he made—but all his efforts failed. At last, discouraged and in despair, he threw himself into his furnace, and his body was consumed in the fire; then when the vases were taken out, they bore the exquisite color he had striven so long in vain to produce. The legend illustrates the truth—that we can do our noblest and best work, only at cost of SELF. The alabaster box must be broken—before its fragrances can flow out. Christ lifted up and saved the world—not by an easy, pleasant, successful life in it—but by suffering and dying in it and for it. And we can never bless the world merely by having a good time in it—but only by giving our lives for it.

Work for others that costs nothing—is scarcely worth doing! At least, it takes heart’s blood to heal hearts. Too many of us are ready to work for Christ and do good to our fellow-men, only so long as it is easy and requires no sacrifice or self-denial; but if we stop there, we stop just where our service is likely to become of use. This saving of life proves, in the end—the losing of it. It is those who sow in tears—who shall reap in joy. It is he who goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed—who shall come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him! We may take easy work if we will—work that costs us nothing, that involves no pain or self-denial—but we must not then be surprised if our hands are empty in the great harvest-time!—J.R. Miller, 1888

Standing at the foot of the cross, we see hands, and feet, and side, all distilling crimson streams of precious blood. It is “precious” because of its redeeming and atoning efficacy. By it the sins of Christ’s people are atoned for; they are redeemed from under the law; they are reconciled to God, made one with Him. Christ’s blood is also “precious” in its cleansing power; it “cleanseth from all sin.” “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Through Jesus’ blood there is not a spot left upon any believer, no wrinkle nor any such thing remains. O precious blood, which makes us clean, removing the stains of abundant iniquity, and permitting us to stand accepted in the Beloved, notwithstanding the many ways in which we have rebelled against our God. The blood of Christ is likewise “precious” in its preserving power. We are safe from the destroying angel under the sprinkled blood. Remember it is God’s seeing the blood which is the true reason for our being spared. Here is comfort for us when the eye of faith is dim, for God’s eye is still the same. The blood of Christ is “precious” also in its sanctifying influence. The same blood which justifies by taking away sin, does in its after-action, quicken the new nature and lead it onward to subdue sin and to follow out the commands of God. There is no motive for holiness so great as that which streams from the veins of Jesus. And “precious,” unspeakably precious, is this blood, because it has an overcoming power. It is written, “They overcame through the blood of the Lamb.” How could they do otherwise? He who fights with the precious blood of Jesus, fights with a weapon which cannot know defeat. The blood of Jesus! sin dies at its presence, death ceases to be death: heaven’s gates are opened. The blood of Jesus! we shall march on, conquering and to conquer, so long as we can trust its power!–From “Morning and Evening”