helps that I have three of the coolest kids in the world as well. While the three are all connected under
the last name "Barnes", in many ways they are each so uniquely different! I can hangout with all three
of them at different times of the day and do three totally different things. Isn't diversity GREAT!
As I was thinking about the DAD gig the other day, I was really humbled when I truly saw the
enormous calling of my life. I was going through a time in the WORD about leaving a LEGACY and
what that means as a DAD and I had to take a step back to become very honest with GOD. I mean
I only get the time I have to leave a legacy with my kids that is CHRIST CENTERED! Was I doing
it correctly? What am I missing? The enormity that each of my children will create their own depiction
of JESUS based upon a large amount of time viewing how my relationship with Jesus is lived out!
That is HUGE TO ME! The heaviness that sank in to my heart in the realization that each WORD I
SPEAK and ACTION I TAKE, makes a huge impact upon the way my children view JESUS.
You can see the importance and the priority GOD placed upon this calling on the Israelites in
Deuteronomy 6;
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 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. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ESV)
Oh man, did this blow me away! Even amidst their many religious traditions, God placed a heavy
emphasis on parents not to compartmentalize their faith but to live it out 24/7. To go way beyond
just "doing the sacrifices" and "journeying to the temple", but live an active transparent faith all day
every day!
Eternity is a long time and the time my children is very short!
God, may my life be a picture of your love, forgiveness, patience, discipline, mercy, etc.
Fathers, don't exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master. Ephesians 6:4
