How often do we take what dad does for granted? There are Godly men out there who are the spiritual heads of their homes. They work hard to provide the income needed to sustain day to day life. They love and honor their wife. They realize their children are gifts from God and help nurture and mold their lives. These dads realize that serving God is their divine purpose and being the head of their home is their first and most important ministry. Today is a day to make sure dad knows just how much we love and appreciate him.

For those dads out there that are working hard to be the kind of dad I just described, know that you are in my prayers. Know that each day as you spend that special time alone with the Lord, He will encourage you, prepare you, and make you adequate for that day. You are on the path God wants you to be on as you strive each day to serve Him, making your wife and children your number one priorities. Balance is one of the biggest hurdles you face each day, and I pray the Lord will help you find that perfect balance between work, home serving Him, and relaxing.

The other big hurdle is being able to give God control. Having so much responsibility each day, letting go and really trusting God at certain times is not easy. Just remember, in John 15:5 it says "without me you can do nothing." God has given you great talents, great gifts, but without the Lord's strength, and He being in charge, it won't make any difference. Make your faith real daily as you learn to trust Him more each day.

I recognize today that there are also many dads who aren't the kind of dad I described. Unless someone is totally committed and surrendered to the Lord, overseeing the responsibilities of marriage and children often suffer. Without the Lord leading your life, getting caught up in all of the traps of this world happen frequently, and life really never makes much sense. The importance of being a husband, a father, don't have the significance they should. That is why so many men have left the home, abandoned their children, and continually are caught up in every kind of sin imaginable.

To those dads I want you to know that if you are tired of running from God, tired of the pain, tired of the heartache, tired of nothing working...this is the perfect day to turn it all around. Even though this is a day we celebrate our earthly fathers, there is a Heavenly Father who loves you so much, and if you call out to Him, He will help you straighten your life out.

For those wives, ex-wives, and children of dads who haven't been the Godly dad the Bible talks of, pray for your dad. Know that deep down he is hurting, and only surrendering to Christ will change that. God loves your dad more than you do, and He is the one who can change your dad's heart. I'll pray with you for your dad.

I want you to know that I love you and do care about you. Jesus told His disciples just hours before going to the cross that in this world there would be troubles. He didn't want them to think that just because they had been with Him they would be immune from life's problems. But He encouraged them by telling them, "be of good cheer, for I have overcome this world." For you dads out there today, let me encourage you by telling you...if you keep Jesus first in your life, He will help you overcome the trials of this life, and allow you to see victories in every area of your life. In your marriage, in your children, in your career, in your service for Him....if you will simply trust Him and operate in His strength, you will know blessings and joy above and beyond anything you ever imagined.

God has given us many great examples of how to be a true father. Follow Him each day and He will mold you and make you into the father He has raised you up to be.

In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller