June 17 2018 “Seed Sown to Save” Psalm 20, *Mark
4.26-34 Father’s Day Pastor Jacqueline Hines
+++
A little boy was asked to define Father’s Day. He said, “It’s
just like Mother’s Day, only you don’t spend as much on the present.”
+++
After tucking their three-year-old child Sammy in for bed one
night, his parents heard sobbing coming from his room.
Rushing back in, they found him crying hysterically. He managed
to tell them that he had swallowed a penny and he was sure he was going to die.
No amount of talking was helping.
His father, in an attempt to calm him down, palmed a penny from
his pocket and pretended to pull it from Sammy's ear. Sammy was delighted.
In a flash, he snatched it from his father's hand, swallowed,
and then cheerfully demanded, "Do it again, Dad!"
+++
Our scripture lesson talks about growing things. [slide # 1 verse 27 …we do not
know how] Though God is the ultimate maker, creator, and designer, we
humans are definitely a part of the plan.
God has planted in the human heart a strong desire to participate
in the things that are living and growing. [slide # 2 sprouts growing] Some of us plant seeds.
Others water and fertilize and make sure there is enough shade and sunshine as
needed. Many weed and watch to protect and support the underground roots and
the burgeoning blossoms. [
slide # 3 cherry blossoms ] We all have a role in making something good
grow and flourish.
It is a divinely human quality to nurture a seed and help it
grow, and sit back and enjoy the fruit of our labors. Often what we have grown
together is so beautiful, it takes our breath away and soothes the beast in us.
Sometimes what we grow feeds us and satisfies our need for survival. What we
grow can be used to make our lives comfortable. [slide # 4 Mike’s cabinet ] like
this beautiful entertainment cabinet that Mike is making for his son’s wedding
gift.
On this Father’s Day, we remember the very special role of the Godly father
to help children grow healthy and strong. Psychology Today notes four special
things that Fathers do that are important. First, is developing a toddler’s a
sense of adventure by playing and wrestling with them while mom may be doing
practical nurturing things, like feeding. [slide 5 father daughter fishing]
Secondly, a father shows
children high standards and healthy ways to treat females. When a wife or ex is
hard to deal with, a father does well to exhibit behavior that takes the high
road instead of the low road, for the sake of the children, so says child
advocate Dr. Mark Banschick. [slide
# 6 Dr. Banschick] He advocates a bill of rights for the well-being of children,
particularly when parents are not getting along, [slide # 7 Intelligent
Divorce] when parents cannot get over their anger, when they want to
retaliate and punish each other, which does not help at all. The points of
Banschick’s Bill of Rights for Children include:
1. Please do not ask
me to choose sides between you.
3. Stop “bad
mouthing” each other in front of me.
9. Leave me out of
your fighting.
Thirdly, girls need fathers. Successful
women more often have had a father that believed in them, could identify their
strengths, and who adored them for who they were. Such a relationship makes
girls understand how special they are, which can protect their hearts from men
who offer less.
Finally, according
to Dr. Banschick, sons need a father.
A father can especially help a son deal with aggressions and move into
responsible manhood in ways particular to men.
Many experts agree
that in spite of the fact that Hallmark sells twice as many Mother’s Day cards
than Father’s Day cards, fathers are very important in God’s plan of salvation,
to save this generation from some unnecessary hardships of life. [slide # 8 baby hand in father’
s hand]
As Jesus said, God’s
plan, God’s kingdom begins with seeds as small as mustard seeds. Even the
smallest Godly things that a father does and says will lead to great blessings
for his children. Even the tiniest first steps can lead to a wonderfully long
journey of faith and wisdom that leaves children, bearing much fruit of the
Holy Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness (generosity),
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Jesus said in verses
31-32 “The small mustard seed when sown…grows big enough to enable birds to
nest in its shade.” [
slide # 9 verse 31-32 ] When fathers sow Godly behavior, they will reap
what they sow. They will grow something great. The children will have it made
in the shade! [slide # 10 happy
children]
Godly fathers do not
make children’s lives perfect, [slide # 11 Godly father] but more often than not, children of a
father who is growing spiritually and allows himself to be nurtured by the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit, will experience the rewards and satisfactions
that are intended for all
children. [slide # 12 father and baby] May it be so today and
every day! [slide # 13 Jesus
hugging…] Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment