Father's Day

I have been struck at the awesome blessing that fathers are. I cannot imagine my life without a dad, without a strong male figure in my life. We have been through some incredible pits and valleys, yet also some joyous celebrations as well.

With the youth that we work with, I've really grown to appreciate stable fathers all the more. What a rarity we have on our society's hands: male role models who exhibit commitment, honesty, integrity and leadership. I've thought about some of the young girls, especially, that God has placed in my life this past year. Their fathers are absent, unprotective and for some, they don't even know their own father but wrestle every day with knowing what a good father/daughter relationship even looks like. Josh has even become "dad" to some of these.

Fathers. As much of a bad rap these men get most of the time, most of the time we fail to recognize those men who go out of their way to model and give hope to the hopeless.

I'd like to thank all the dads out there who go beyond themselves to look at the needs of their wife, their children, their society and their church.

And thank you to my own dad who, despite up hill battles, has always taken time to listen, give advice (even when I didn't want to hear it), protect and provide. Thanks Dad for not walking out and just leaving, but for sticking with it. I love you.

We sang this worship song this morning. It's become a favorite of The Inn, our 18-30 group at church...the first few verses really spoke to my heart this morning. For some, the idea of a father is vague and uncertain. For some they have been fatherless. Thank you Father God for giving us an example of a heavenly father...

Artist: Charlie Hall
Song Title: Marvelous light


Verse 1
I once was fatherless,
a stranger with no hope;
Your kindness wakened me,
Awakened me, from my sleep

Verse 2
Your love it beckons deeply,
a call to come and die.
By grace now I will come
And take this life, take your life.

Pre-chorus
Sin has lost it's power,
death has lost it's sting.
From the grave you've risen
VICTORIOUSLY!

Chorus
Into marvelous light I'm running,
Out of darkness, out of shame.
By the cross you are the truth,
You are the life, you are the way

Verse 3
My dead heart now is beating,
My deepest stains now clean.
Your breath fills up my lungs.
Now I'm free. now I'm free!

Bridge
Lift my hands and spin around,
See the light that i have found.
Oh the marvelous light
Marvelous light

Lift my hands and spin
See the light within...