 Wednesday, April 24 2019
de·vo·tion noun love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or career
This week’s blog is dedicated to one the sweetest, most loving, and devoted mother I know… Josie Bencivengo.
Josie left this earth and has entered God’s Kingdom of heaven this past week.
As a teacher coach and administrator for 34 years I have rarely experienced a more devoted parent than Josie Bencivengo.
She daily displayed her devotion through her love, loyalty and enthusiasm for her precious family! She never left any doubt what mattered most in her life. Here is one thing that made Josie so special…she “got it.”
She understood with a mother’s love exactly what devotion means. It’s so crazy. I love to share my vision for Suit Up Ministries with anyone who will listen.
Whenever I get to share in a mixed crowd of men and women to talk about the importance of dads…guess who "gets it" usually immediately? The WOMEN!
I believe it’s because whether married or not, they have sometimes been directly/indirectly affected too by the absence of a father or found themselves standing in the gap for a husband that is not a devoted dad!
Men on the other hand, often retreat as we do sometimes, into our defense and justifications for the many reasons that may take us away at times from being the Daily Active Devoted dad God has created us to be.
So how do we as DADs or DAD figures “practice” devotion like a mom who gets it?
DADS all too often we can be devoted to... Our career. Our teams. Our hobbies. Almost anything NOT eternal.
When is our devotion…of love, loyalty and enthusiasm for THOSE things NOT eternal, become a barrier from the people in our lives?
Specifically, a barrier in our devotion needed towards our children?
Is splintered devotion really devotion?
Wow. That is a question I need to point right back at me.
Here is the ultimate example of devotion found in the Bible.
Romans 8:38-39 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. So devotion is really all about sacrifice. God our DAD in Heaven, was and is so devoted to His children…us, that He gave up His one and only Son to give us life!
On this first Wednesday after Easter I challenge you to deeply reflect upon our creator's sacrifice. Unconditionally giving of His love, loyalty and enthusiasm…devotion for each of us. Men. Fathers. DADS. What are the sacrifices we need to MAKE today? What are the sacrifices allowing us to be the Devoted DADs God has called us to be? So, like God…Nothing…Nothing, will separate our love and devotion from our children, leaving a legacy like a mom named Josie.
DADs…do not stand on the sidelines of life…get off the bench…“get in the game" Today is game day…and so is every day…God gives you! So…C’mon DADs…Suit Up! Wednesday, April 17 2019
Matthew 18:1-6
1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said,
“Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2And He called a child to Himself and set him before them,
3and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like
children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
4“Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest
in the kingdom of heaven. 5“And whoever receives one such child
in My name receives Me; 6but whoever causes one of these little
ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to
have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned
in the depth of the sea.
DADs...many love to hear and speak of privileges and glory, who are willing to pass by the thoughts of work and trouble.
But our Lord set a little child before his disciples, solemnly assuring them, that
unless they were converted and made like little children, they could not enter his kingdom.
Wow. A wake up call for me!
My brothers, little children, when very young, do not desire authority, do not regard outward distinctions, are free from malice,
are teachable, and willingly dependent on their parents.
How sad is it, that as we grow older, we allow our joy to be hardened by experiences and other people?
It is true that we as children soon begin to show other personality traits, and other ideas are taught to us at an early age;
conformed in a world with other expectations for us!
DADs, God wants us to be daily renewed in the spirit of our minds, that we may become simple and humble, as little children,
and willing to be the least of all.
We must find time to ensure we stay free from the chains of pride and worldly deception.
That we maintain our connection with God, and reveal His compassion and love unconditionally as a little child.
DADs…let us daily study this subject, and examine our own spirits.
I love you my brothers.
Live and Play fully today!
Like God’s child on a playground!
Full of joy and anticipation!
To God be the glory.
DADs…do not stand on the sidelines of life…get off the bench…“get in the game”…
Today is game day…and so is every day…God gives you!
So…C’mon DADs…Suit Up!
Tuesday, April 09 2019
DADS…the first "D" in DAD does not stand for Done!
It stands for “DAILY”
The secular world in may cases will tell us “done" is the reality.
Unfortunately in many cases…we as fathers of children “live" into that description.
Statistics say we are “done" too. Many men right after or even before the birth of their own children, mentally, physically, or both decide they are done.
To combat the done definition…we can choose to be the DAD God has actually called us to be!
Here are 4 ways DADs can DAILY practice, and dismiss the “done” label for good with our children and family:
#1 - Engage
Definition of ENGAGED
1: involved in activity : occupied
2: greatly interested : committed
3: involved especially in a hostile encounter
4: being in gear : meshed
Deuteronomy 6:6-7And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house,
and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
The first step is to ENGAGE our kids and family. Where can you take the initiative to be more ENGAGING?
#2 - Empathize
I Corinthians 12:26
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
The second step is to EMPATHIZE with our kids and family. What needs in your family are you not acknowledging?
#3 - Encourage
Galatians 6:9–10
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
The third step is to ENCOURAGE our kids and family. Who needs ENCOURAGEMENT today to push through?
#4 - Elevate
The best way to influence your children is to set an example before them.
Remember, the majority of children acquire the characteristics and habits of their parents.
DADs…the Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” - Proverbs 22:6
The fourth step to ELEVATE is a culmination of the steps 1-3. How can you put these steps into practice TODAY?
DADs…we are NEVER “done”
DADs…we DO NOT retire!
DADS…we NEVER graduate!
Engage. Empathize. Encourage. Elevate. TODAY!
DADs…do not stand on the sidelines of life…
get off the bench…
“get in the game”…
Today is game day…and so is every day…
God gives you!
So…C’mon DADs…Suit Up!
Wednesday, April 03 2019
DADs…for some reason…no matter how old I get, its nice to be reminded that I am good enough!
That I still possess what it takes…have all that I need…to be the DAD.
And the best place to receive that confirmation is found in your Bible.
Here are (3) things every DAD needs to remember:
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
- Genesis 1:27
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
- Ephesians 2:10
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you…"
- Exodus 3:11-12a
DADs...When we are focused on our weaknesses…Remember God Created “us” in His image!
When we question our purpose…Remember God Created “us” to do His work…(one of the most important PURPOSES in the world is to be the DAD!)
When we doubt our "DADability"…Remember God He is always with us!
When I was a high school principal…I told the students every day that they were Valuable. Complete. Loved.
Those are (3) things we all need to hear RIGHT?
And because WE TOO ARE God’s children… no matter how old we are...DADs…know that you too are valuable, complete, and loved!
Remember...
(1) You ARE Created in his image
(2) You ARE Created to do His work
(3) He is always with you DADS!
Go be the DAILY Active Devoted DAD today!
DADs…do not stand on the sidelines of life…get off the bench…“get in the game”…
Today is game day…and so is every day…God gives you!
So…C’mon DADs…Suit Up! |
