It’s Father’s Day Weekend and the mere thought of ‘fatherhood’ evokes so many emotions in me that it’s hard to communicate. I’m so excited to celebrate and honor the wondrous fathers in my life this weekend!
Today, I stand immersed in blessings and in awe of the unshakable and Godly men that surround my children and I. Our legacy is one of valor, faith, family, character, nobility, fierce protectors, humility, and prayer warriors. By the grace of God, my father is one of the most Godly, purpose-filled, devoted, loving and intentional men I know. My two grandfathers have been an example to me as I’ve watched them devote their entire lives to serving the Lord, sacrificially love their families, conquer hardships, encourage constantly and pour in to each generation below them. And now seeing Ellis, my husband, rise up these last 6 years and become the most selfless, wise, dedicated and tender father to our children, I have chills thinking about how undeservingly blessed I am. It is nothing short of astounding how steadfast and dedicated these men are to their personal relationships with the Lord, first and foremost, and to their families. I am thankful we have a heritage of Godly men who start their days on their knees in prayer and die to self daily to lead their homes as wise men “who build their house on the rock.”
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27)
None of what I mentioned above, however, has come easily or without tremendous testing and momentous struggles. But even on their darkest days and in their toughest seasons, the men in my life have been examples of what it means to be Christ-like, humble and servant leaders; they’ve proclaimed the Gospel through thick and thin, clung to the promises of God’s Word, and run repeatedly to the foot of the cross for wisdom, guidance and encouragement. They have demonstrated the power of true forgiveness and that love protects, love hopes, and love perseveres. And for that, I am truly thankful.
I specifically want to put the spotlight on Ellis today, to honor him as the leader of our family and the father of our three precious kiddos. Ellis is a man firmly planted in the Lord and in his convictions—continuously “sowing seeds of peace” (James 3:18), fervently chasing after our God and living with a Kingdom-perspective in mind. His inner strength, patience, integrity and knowing where his true identity lies give me, as his wife, and our children more security than I could ever imagine. He isn’t easily swayed or tossed by the wind—the house may shake, but it does not come down! Ellis’ mandate for his life is to live for the Lord’s honor and glory and not for his own. It’s certainly not what is popular by the world’s standards of “strength,” but I have seen him love his enemies, pray for those who curse him, and bless those who seek to hurt him. He does not repay evil for evil and he always says to me, “you will never regret responding in love.” I have seen abundant blessings come upon Ellis from being obedient to what the Lord calls him to do—he knows our battle is not against flesh and blood. “The Lord will fight for you, you need only be still” (Exodus 14:14). I am so blessed to live under the leadership of a man whose heart and soul is sown into the commandments and covenant promises of God’s Word. He has been supernaturally gifted with overwhelming amounts of peace, fruitfulness, patience, grace and mercy. Our children have seen him literally “build his house on the rock” and when the wind blows and the storms come, the house shakes, but it does not come down! He cherishes our family, pours into us and this speaks volumes to our children, too, and I am forever in awe of the man he continues to be! Through trials we are made stronger and certainly more purpose-filled as parents about raising a generation that can square off with the enemy and rise up to fulfill their magnificent callings and phenomenal purposes!
“We will sing of the Lord’s great mercy forever and will proclaim His faithfulness from one generation to the next!” (Psalm 89:1)
“Who am I, O Lord, and who is my family, that you have brought us this far?” (2 Samuel 7:18)
After all our family has been through, we corporately stand in astonishment of what God has done! Our family has been refined through the fire and some days I can’t believe how far the Lord has brought us. It may not be where we want to be, but is it where we were? No! Praise the Lord for His unfailing love and His massive redemptive capabilities and restorative plans for our family. A city wasn’t built in a day! As much as we would want to, we cannot change the past, but we can change the present and the future. Directly affecting the legacy of our family and the generations to come. It is not easy, but I want to encourage you to stay the course, press in, and fight the good fight! Especially on the days that forgiveness feels like the hardest task. Family is always worth fighting for! Chasing and pursing after the Lord first and your family second bring abundant, indescribable and immeasurable blessings. Endure, persevere, abide, pray, humble yourselves and keep your eyes fixed on the Lord and the goodness of what He has done.
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.” (Psalm 1:1-6)
“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.” (Psalm 112:1-10)
“Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and His might, and the wonders that He has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.” (Psalm 78)
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
I know these are heavy topics, but felt called to share them with you today! God’s word tells us to “give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story!” (Psalm 107:1-2)
But as much as I want to honor the fathers in my family today, all of the honor and glory is owed to our Heavenly Father, our Abba Father—the only One who is unchanging and dependable at all times. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and is the only One who commits and follows through on all of His promises. He is the One that will never fail us, never leave us, and never forsake us.
I know for some, Father’s Day can be a painful day, a deeply sad and tremendously difficult one. But let’s dive in and take a look at no matter how awesome or flawed your earthly father was (or is), not to lose heart, but to see what the Truth of God’s Word says about you!
His love for YOU is “mightier than the waves of the sea” (Psalm 93:4)! He loves you fiercely and it never ceases! We are daughters (and sons) of the King, adopted and bought with a price, a precious child of God, royal heirs with a priceless inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-8)!
I pray you take great hope and comfort, no matter the story of your earthly father, that your Heavenly Father created you in the Heavenlies and made you in His image to be fearfully, wonderfully and uniquely made. I pray you put the truth of what God says about you over your circumstances.
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart!” (Jeremiah 1:4)
“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.” (Psalm 139: 1-5, 13-18)“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children.” (Psalm 103: 11, 13, 17)
I pray you honor the fathers in your life this weekend, but above all, give thanks for a perfect Heavenly Father who adores YOU! We all have so much to give thanks for! Because ultimately we serve a perfect and loving Heavenly Father who adores us, created us, delights over us, died for us, values us, protects us, heals us, restores us, has mighty plans and purposes for our lives!
“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” (Joshua 24:15)
Happy Father’s Day,
