“In My Face”

This last week I had the chance to be challenged as a Christ-follower as it relates to me as a husband and as a father. I went to a Family Ministry conference that had its moments of greatness and also its moments of “someone please give me a 5 hour energy.” But at this conference God reminded me of some very practical and specific areas that I need to be leading the way in and not talking about how important they are to others.
Here goes! You ready?
1. I need to make my family a priority. Do they get the best of me or the left overs. Do I squeeze the time in with them or do I set it as important?
2. I need to bless my family which includes my wife and each of my children. Do I verbally encourage and build up my family individually? Or do I just assume they already know and leave it at that? I want to pray Numbers 6:24-26 over my kids and my wife daily.
3. I need to take the lead in helping my family grow in Christ. I need to make sure I’m the primary person in their life helping them grow in their relationship with Christ. It is not BJ’s, Scott’s or Jeremy’s job. I can’t do this unless I am growing in my relationship with God.
4. I need to date my wife. I need to treat her like I am still trying to win her affection. Do I open the door for her? Do I take her to dinner? Do I talk to her about her dreams? Do I listen? Do I listen while I am not watching TV? Do I talk about how great she is? Does she know that she she has rocked my world since I first saw her in 1991?
5. I need to date my daughters. Anna Beth and Parker need to be shown how a man should treat a lady. They need to see it with me and their mom and they need to experience it with me. Do I show them they are special? Do I treat them like a princess? Do they know that they should not settle? I need to listen more and talk less.
6. I need to make sure our house is fun. Do we play and laugh on purpose? Do I go out of my way to make sure my house is a great place to be. I want it to be a place they will always want to come back to when they move away.

None of these things are earth shattering. In fact, the majority of these things I have talked about as a Family Pastor at one point or another. But now it is time to stop talking and start doing. God got in my face and said “enough is enough! Time to get real!” We always can be better and do better. Be a better dad and a better husband today. Baby steps are always easier than giant leaps. I am still on baby steps but at least I am moving.

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