Top 10 ways to build up your family:
10. Play board games with them
9. Go on long walks
8. Ride your bikes to the local ice cream store
7. Date your wife and kids (individually) - one each date
6. Read the Bible with them
5. Talk about Scripture and how it applies to our lives today
4. Pray with your wife and kids
3. Serve with them
2. Love them
1. Take vacations with them (slow down - relax - enjoy - be thankful)
What are some of your top 10's?
Blessings,
Dante
What is holding you back from letting go and letting God?[youtube id="f8TkUMJtK5k" height="353" width="625"]
"No Longer Slaves"
We've been liberatedFrom our bondageWe're the sons and the daughtersLet us sing our freedom
You split the seaSo I could walk right through itMy fears were drowned in perfect loveYou rescued meAnd I could stand and singI am a child of God...
You split the seaSo I could walk right through itYou drowned my fears in perfect loveYou rescued meAnd I will stand and singI am a child of God
Yes, I amI am a child of GodI am a child of GodYes, I amI am a child of GodFull of faithYes, I am a child of GodI am a child of God
[3x]I'm no longer a slave to fearI am a child of God
Part of being a legacy dad means not only talking the talk, but also walking the walk. As both Lance and I have shared in the past and will continue to share into the future, both of our wives read this blog and our children are watching us. That being said, more than just our wives would call us out! Does that mean that we are perfect? Absolutely not! Our wives and close friends know that we are sinners who are saved by grace. What it does mean by being a legacy dad is realizing and committing to the fact that there is a greater authority in our lives other than ourselves. That the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. The beginning of being a legacy dad is putting God in our lives where He should always be: On the throne room of our lives. God should be overall. God is in control of my life, my family, my work, my personal life and I am subject to His will! This doesn't always mean that I get this in the correct order. This also means, if I am being honest, that I sometimes try to put my old self back on top and on my throne room of my heart. God has given me emotions and the ability to think and to have free will. He is Sovereign and He is in control of all things. He knows what I will do.One of the hardest things for men to overcome is forgiveness. On our own, we are incapable of it. To be honest, even when we are walking the walk, forgiveness can be a very difficult thing to do. When someone wrongs us (or we feel wronged) or someone wrongs ones that we love, it is next to near impossible to forgive even when God calls us to forgive.
1 John 1:5-10 English Standard Version (ESV)
Walking in the Light5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John 2 English Standard Version (ESV)
Christ Our Advocate2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
The New Commandment7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because[a] the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him[b] there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Ephesians 4:32English Standard Version (ESV)
32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
When we subject ourselves to God's truth (The Bible) then we have a really hard time trying to justify the wrongs in our lives:
No matter how we try to defend our positions, it is impossible to justify the wrongs that we have done against God. We are sinners in need of a Savior. Left on our own devices we have no hope, no salvation and no chance of salvation. But with God's plan, there is a hope. There is His Son. There is salvation and redemption and forgiveness through His Son, Jesus Christ.
So if God can forgive us...
To all of what was just said above, I have one thing to say to all of us: Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you. Do not withhold love when it is in our power to act. Love and forgive as God loves and has forgiven us through His Son Jesus Christ.
How about this, Legacy dads:
What is holding you back from receiving God's best design for our lives?
What is holding you back from letting go of all it and giving it to God?
What is holding you back from letting God move in your life and filling the void that you thought others should fill?
What if, just what if, we did all of this and realize that when we completely surrender that under God's will and plans and timing - we will have the abundant life that He promises?
Do you believe this? Can it be true? Do we serve a God who raises once what was dead into life?
Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you!
Blessings,
Dante
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Things to know:
Let me ask you this: Are you too busy building your kingdom and your desires and your habits and recreational lifestyle or are you choosing to be a part of God's plan and build His Kingdom?
Fathers lives matter!
Many churches today have thriving women’s ministries, power worship experiences and world-class children’s curriculum yet struggle to implement effective biblical road-maps and turn-key strategies for empowering and discipling men, parents, and marriages.
Legacy Dad empowers men to become the spiritual leaders of their families and take an active role in their faith.
Looking forward to you spending time with God this week through reading His Word and praying to Him!!!
Blessings,Dante
As an Elder and men's ministry leader I can tell you up close and personal that the Father wound is a very serious problem in our culture. For some in can result in addictions, for others it could be a plethora of symptoms from isolation to violence and complete psychological issues even including abandonment.For some, the mere mention of the word father can trigger a multitude of mixed emotions. Raw emotions and even pain and regret. For some of the men that pass my path, they are still waiting to hear the words from their fathers that they were proud of them and glad that they have become the men that they are today.
There is a deep crevice and wound that can never be filled on this earth without God's intervention. I remember talking to one gentleman who was in a lot of pain and anguish because his dad opted for violence instead of love. For abuse instead of healthy emotion.
Without the positive influence of a godly man who fears the Lord and is under the authority of Scripture, it is hard for children and wives to thrive. This is not God's plan. His plan is for us to love and accept his Son, Jesus Christ. To share His Gospel. To love our neighbor as ourselves and to seek holiness and put our old sin nature to death daily.
Men strive for healthy relationships and to be affirmed by those that they love and care for. These men are looking and yearning for the words "I approve", "I am proud of you" and "I love you, son". For some of these men they may never hear this from their earthly dads.
Then you sometimes meet men who have unbelievable legacies of generational faith and I am humbled and thankful that these men had the chance to grow up in this legacy.
This is not to say that these dads, granddad and great granddad always get it right, because they don't. They are sinners like you and me. The difference is that they know whose authority that they are under - God! They are humble to the word of God and they are accountable.
These men are fortunate and thankful for the childhood that they have and for the relationships that God has brought them and continues to bring them.
Then there may be some of you like me. Our grew up with a really good dad with good intentions, sometimes a bit too authoritarian and over aggressive on the discipline, BUT a man who gave me the work ethic that I have today and a man who worked a lot, but didn't necessarily know how to tell his kids that he loved them.
Don't get me wrong, there were a lot of things that my dad did right (He provided, cared for, educated and coached us through life. He taught me the importance of not being in debt (not that I always listened) and how to be a man.
The one thing was that he did not know the Lord growing up and he was prone to anger. He was socially inept in the fatherhood parameters as he lost his mom when he was 11 years old and his dad spoke broken English and didn't always understand what it meant to be dad. My dad lost his mom and his dad lost his wife - they did what they could. So he worked a lot more than most to provide because that was important to him.
Also, my dad grew up in the Great Depression. He doesn't understand these generations that applaud debt and immorality.
Some Scripture for leaving a legacy:
Psalm English Standard Version (ESV)
Unless the Lord Builds the HouseA Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.
127 Unless the Lord builds the house,those who build it labor in vain.Unless the Lord watches over the city,the watchman stays awake in vain.2 It is in vain that you rise up earlyand go late to rest,eating the bread of anxious toil;for he gives to his beloved sleep.3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,the fruit of the womb a reward.4 Like arrows in the hand of a warriorare the children[a] of one's youth.5 Blessed is the manwho fills his quiver with them!He shall not be put to shamewhen he speaks with his enemies in the gate.[b]
Deuteronomy 6:6-9English Standard Version (ESV)
6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 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. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” –John 14:1-2
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. — Romans 8:15-16
“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” — Matthew 7:9-11
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! –1 John 3:1
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If you have a father wound or someone you know has this wound, don't try to fix them, instead lead them to a group of godly men and walk with them. Share with them and pray with them. Read the word with them and worship with them.
Let them see that there God is the only one who can truly fill this Father Wound!
To God Be the Glory,
Dante
1 Timothy 3:1-7English Standard Version (ESV)
Qualifications for Overseers3 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer[a] must be above reproach, the husband of one wife,[b] sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
Titus 1:5-9English Standard Version (ESV)
Qualifications for Elders5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife,[a] and his children are believers[b] and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer,[c] as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must 
hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound[d] doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
If your church does not have a discipleship plan to build Elders who are to care and shepherd the flock, then I am going to say that your church is not growing (disciples). In case we haven't realized it yet, the Church is a Family. That is, because we died to self and were born again in Christ, we are now sons and daughters of the living King. We should no longer have an identity crisis in life - we are heirs to God's Kingdom.
Jesus commands the disciples before his death (and resurrection) in Matthew 28:
Matthew 28:16-20English Standard Version (ESV)
The Great Commission16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The Great Shepherd (Jesus) gave us the command to go and make disciples. Note that he didn't just say go and make baby Christians who never grow in their faith. The Creator himself tells us to be fruitful and multiply. If it is alive, then it multiplies, that is the laws of nature.
If your church is alive in Christ, then it is building its disciples and they are growing in Christ and the church will bear the fruit of the Spirit and it will multiply.
So tell me, is your church building up Elders to oversee and shepherd its church (the Family of God)?
Blessings,
Dante
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"No Longer Slaves"
[2x]I'm no longer a slave to fearI am a child of God
From my mother's wombYou have chosen meLove has called my nameI've been born againInto your familyYour blood flows through my veins
[4x]I'm no longer a slave to fearI am a child of God
I am surroundedBy the arms of the fatherI am surroundedBy songs of deliverance
We've been liberatedFrom our bondageWe're the sons and the daughtersLet us sing our freedom
You split the seaSo I could walk right through itMy fears were drowned in perfect loveYou rescued meAnd I could stand and singI am a child of God...
You split the seaSo I could walk right through itYou drowned my fears in perfect loveYou rescued meAnd I will stand and singI am a child of God
Yes, I amI am a child of GodI am a child of GodYes, I amI am a child of GodFull of faithYes, I am a child of GodI am a child of God
[3x]I'm no longer a slave to fearI am a child of God
Romans 13:1-5English Standard Version (ESV)
Submission to the Authorities13 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
Hebrews 13:17English Standard Version (ESV)
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ and you are talking the walk, then your walk should show submission to God's word and those who He has ordained in authority. You should humble yourself and fear the Lord and you should obey God's word - not just hear the words BUT do what they say.
Random Wednesday Thoughts (given all the news and lack of submission to authority)
Blessings,
Dante