Beginning a Godly Father Ministry

[JesusPhreak27]

Good morning!

It has been a long time since I have posted here. It has been an even longer walk the last couple months with a lot of time spent in the "wilderness" and many nights fighting old demons and trying to figure some things out...

Anyways...... God has recently brought me out of the wilderness and has placed before me a ministry and for once I am going to fully run with it and see where God takes it.

What God has opened my heart to is fathers. As many of you are aware being a father has earned a negative stigma in the last few decades. Be it because of dead beat dads or abusive fathers and husbands or addictions many of these negative connotations are earned unfortunately.

But what I have started to realize is that these things run in cycles and unfortunately these situations often start or continue an endless cycle. But there is good news! We as men cn finally stand up to the world and the adversary and break the cycle.

But the main question still remains. How?

Well God ha shown me a few things in Scripture and a one simple saying that have opened my eyes.

The first verse is In Corinthians. Paul tells wives that they are to submit to their husbands...... most men stop there and think that that means that we are in charge and our wives are some how subserviant to us. But most of us fail to read and dissect the second part of Paul's statement. That we are to love our wives as Christ loves the church..... How many men truly know what that means let alone live that simple phrase. But think about it. (and this leads somewhat into the phrase that God has shown me) if we as men love our wives the way Christ loves the church wont our children immitate us?

Now the second verse this whole ministry is based on is in Ephesians. Paul tells us that we are God's craftsmanship. Are we teaching our children that??? Are we teaching them that (especially our daughters) they are the PERFECT version of them?? Meaning that they dont need to do anything to imrove who they are?

The phrase God has shown me goes like this (and I think this ties everything together): "Be the man your son wants to be and be the man that your daughter wants to marry". Think about that for a minute..... If we become the MEN OF GOD that we are called to be....in every aspect of our lives our sons will follow in our footsteps.... By the same token if we love our wives the way we are supposed to and show our daughters how MEN OF GOD are supposed to act in all situations then they will grow up and look for men (as many of us know....a daughter often marries a man just like their own father)just like us. And most importantly they will not settle for anything less then a TRUE MAN OF GOD.......

Gentlemen maybe what I am assuming is too much and it wont work..... but I hope and pray for is that God will use this and it will spread like wildfire and we will raise a generation of little ones that will be what they are called to be: MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD.

Where I need help is getting started. Im thinking right now that I would like to start some sort of class teaching men the basics of being Godly husbands and fathers.

What I am hoping is that some of you may have books you have read that may help me in this? Or possibly someone has thought about doing something like this in the past and this is your passion as well? If anyone else has a passion for this contact me..... I would love to bounce ideas off one another-- possibly we can start something in two seperate locations?

Gentlemen I have all the faith in the world that the men of this site wil be able to help me with this.

Thank you in advance for any help or support (or even if all you can do is pray for this mionistry -- we know that the evil one will attack it and try to destroy it before it gets off the ground).

Your brother in Christ

Larry

[hdt]

That sounds like an awesome idea Larry! We all need ways of learning self improvement, and at times the support of friends helps anyone with breaking habit patterns, and unhealthy beliefs.

I think where most people get off the path at times is when they fail. They fail enough times? They give up. I think at times people have this vision that they must be almost perfect, and they pretty much set themselves up for failure. Its okay to acknowledge the failure, and celebrating the gains helps to point them out...and may help with the dropout rate.

Keep in mind I'm NOT just talking gender here! I think anyone can be vulnerable!

When I saw the fireproof movie at the beginning Caleb was just going thru the motions. He had this sense of entitlement that since he did a couple of nice things she shouldn't be RUDE, and not acknowledge them and pat him on the back for them. Again I don't think that is a gender issue either. It seems to me Caleb learned it wasn't just about 'doing this', but a true heart change that helped HIM first...and that transferred on to his relationship.

We humans tend to expect things when we bring forth behavior, doing for others, etc. WHY isn't she responding! Why can't she acknowledge this. Friends tend to fall into a trap saying, "I AGREE! SHAME!" The heart change happens no matter what ill thing happens, and we strive for it no matter if they respond or not. We are doing this because this is what God wishes us to do. Doing for others, and expecting nothing in return? That's not an easy feat, and yet a true heart change will do it anyway. That aspect is almost mocked in today's world. We are conditioned that we should always get returns, and they have to be BIG ones. We miss the smaller ones along the way.

This world at times tends to go for the entitlement role. I should get this, and I should get that. This is my role in the marriage, and I should get this in return. I think there is to much tunnel vision, and Lording that over people. Goodness look around! Its all over the place, and people will use scripture to back them up! YET does it show a heart change? Not really, but since they have scripture they found? Its okay.

You have a huge hurtle, and pray that you make a huge impact! I will be praying you!

[jponb]

I don't have a book to help in that endeavor; but I would like to comment on your topic. The family is one of many institutions that the devil has attacked. Your task is a great one in deed. Your task is not simply on being fathers. Your task is on being men of God. You see, once you have that established the rest falls in place. Show men how to LOVE. Not the definition we hold as love; but as He defines as love. In Jeremiah, God stated that with Love and Kindness has he drawn us. In Galatians two of the fruits of the Spirit are Love and Kindness. Love does not harm it's neighbor nor does it esteems itself. Show men how to Love God and they will know how to love their families. Show them how we have fallen short so they can understand how deeply rooted the hurt is. Every person we slept with intensified the hurt. Every person we lied to intensified the hurt. Every home we wrecked intensified the hurt. Not to beat them down; but to show them what is the problem. Show them how there is no one home raising our children. Show them how we leave our families vulnerable as prey to wolves in sheep clothing. Show them how God love the church and how we ought to love our wives. And if they must touch a woman....MARRY HER. There are so many things I could write in this post. I hope this have helped.

[revrobor]

Well Larry, I'm sure you will be glad to hear then that the next film to be made by Sherwood Pictures (producers of "Facing The Giants" and "Fireproof") addresses that very subject. Look for it to be out next year.

[livingwaters]

Praying for this ministry that the Lord has laid on your heart, Larry...All we can do is lean on the Lord, pray and let HIM direct our steps, each and every one of them. May you reach and educate those that are missing what God's Word has for them and their families! May the Lord give you HIS wisdom as you ask HIM and give you HIS love for others as you proceed!

Keep us posted, please....my prayers will be continual for you as you go on this journey for the Lord. What HE leads you to, HE will lead you through~ Glory to God~ Praise HIM and thank HIM always~~

God bless ya!

[Chellee]

I will be praying for your ministry as well...what a great ministry to be called to!

As for books, I have read and loved "The Power of a Praying Wife" and "The Five Love Languages" and I know they have parenting counterparts: "The Power of a Praying Parent" and I think the love languages one is something like "The Five Love Languages of Children". These may or may not line up with your and God's vision for your ministry, but since those two books came to mind, I thought I'd mention them.

I believe a Godly father ministry will be such a blessing! Please remain encouraged in this, and keep us updated!

[agapecare]

This is indeed a needed ministry. I was helped by books from Edwin Louis Cole when I was growing up. He wrote books such as Maximised manhood, The Real Man and more and these were very helpful. He had a ministry called Christian Men's Network. I have realised that in most cases the salvation of a man leads to the salvation of the wife and chikldren as well. Edwin Louis Cole used to say, "To be a male is a matter of birth but to be a man is a matter of choice." God will be with you as you pursue His will.