Ministries:
Adult | Teens | Children

Pastor's Pen's:
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001

Sermon Series:
Following Jesus
Earthly Cross
His Name Is
Apostles Creed
Dealing with Feelings
Jonah
Get Real
Promised Land Living

Grace Church
257 Kendall Street
Burlington, WI 53105

(262) 763-3021

Email:
Pastor Scott Carson

Secretary Patti Hall

PASTOR'S PENS 2002

Grace Church of Burlington June 16, 2002 Father’s Day is tough for some people. As believers, they may want to honor and send a Father’s Day card but much of what is said in the cards about being the “world’s greatest Dad” or “always being there for them” is simply untrue. Since World War II, sociologists have dubbed us “the Fatherless Generation.” They’ve observed that since then, the American Father has become a vanishing species. Obviously, divorce and the huge percentage of children growing up in fatherless homes is a major contributor to this growing problem. There is another kind of father-absence which doesn’t show up in statistics like these. With the increase in incredible prosperity that has swept America over the last half century, Dad left for the office bent on bringing home a sizeable chunk of the American dream. He worked twelve hour days and then came home with a bulging briefcase. While Dad was physically present, he was too often emotionally absent.             Hopefully, as believers, we are seeking to learn from the mistakes of the past (even our own) and are seeking to set a new direction for the next generation. The truth is that one of the most important people you will ever know is your Dad.             If Father’s Day conjures up bad memories for you, let me remind you that if you want a perfect Dad and if you are a believer, then you have one in the person of God the Father. God, Himself, is the Dad that you’ve always wanted. He is the perfect Dad who unconditionally loves you and wants to give you fullness of life. All that He asks is that you trust Him in order to have that life.             a) Your Heavenly Father accepts you. Ephesians 1:6 tell us that we are accepted by God, “He hath made us accepted in the beloved” (KJV). When Jesus walked this earth, He accepted people unconditionally - prostitutes, thieves, lepers, the poor, handicapped, etc. He forgave them for all of their sin, refused to keep track of their shortcomings and never threw their sins back in their face. That’s the picture you need to keep in your mind of the Dad who wants a relationship with you as His child...because that’s God.             b) Your Heavenly Father guides you. Remember the TV show, Father Knows Best? While Robert Young (the father on that show) didn’t always know best, your Heavenly Father does. Dads are supposed to have wisdom–at least a reservoir, if not an ocean. Your Heavenly Father has all of that and more. James 1:5 promises us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”  That phrase, without finding fault,  means too  that  your  Heavenly Father never wearies of you coming to Him – you never, ever get on His nerves.             c) Your Heavenly Father listens to you. It hurts to be blown off or ignored. Though our fathers may not have meant to convey the message that we didn’t matter or they didn’t care, oftentimes when they didn’t have time for us – that was the message that we heard. But God always listens to us and there is never a bad time to talk to Him. Psalm 34:15 “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry.” You have a Father beyond your wildest dreams. He loves you unconditionally, He guides you, listens to you, corrects you in love, protects and provides for you. If you’ve never taken the time to consider the phenomenal blessings that you have because God is your Father, then take some time to do just that.             And for the rest of us, we imperfect fathers who struggle with our earth suits, by God’s grace let’s seek to help our children have a healthy relationship with their Heavenly Father by seeking to be like Him. Happy Father’s Day and remember, you really do have the perfect Father and some day you will live with Him forever!!