“Happy Father’s Day” brings out different feelings and emotions in people on this day for many different reasons. For some, they had great dads growing up, for others their dads were always busy with work or hobbies, many had dad’s absent due to poor choices, and then there were those that suffered trauma from their fathers in one way or another. No matter what our experience has been, I pray that today we would allow God to meet us right where we are and reveal Himself as the perfect Father our hearts have always needed. Right before I became a “father”, I became a drug addict. I was a functional drug addict, but there were times when I needed the drugs more than I wanted to be a dad. Because I was walking with the devil, I did not know God and did not care about what was written in *Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to the point of resentment with demands that are trivial or unreasonable or humiliating or abusive; nor by showing favoritism or indifference to any of them], but bring them up [tenderly, with loving kindness] in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.* Before I came to know God as my Father, I always felt like I was missing something. Growing up, I did not have a “Godly” father. My dad was not a “bad” man, he was just one that did not know the Lord. I became a “Christian” when I was 36 years old. That is when I came to understand the benefit of living right before God, my loving heavenly Father. The more I read my Bible, the more I decided to do my best to be intentional and apply certain verses to my life like what is written in *Proverbs 20:7 The righteous man who walks in integrity and lives life in accord with his [godly] beliefs—How blessed [happy and spiritually secure] are his children after him [who have his example to follow].* I have made many mistakes as a father, and regrettably I confess that there are days when I doubt my sincerity to live according to the word of God moment by moment. There are even days when I doubt my faith, and on those days of doubt, I feel the presence of God reminding me to doubt my doubts, and I hear a still small voice remind me that my heavenly Father’s voice is the one that I need to listen too and not that of the world, what is in my head, or the lies of the enemy. If there is one plea I could make to every father reading this, it would be to seek the Lord with all your heart and allow Him to shape you into the man of God your family needs you to be. Over the years, I have learned that being a father is not about perfection but about being present, accountable, and willing to grow. God has used both my victories and my failures to teach me humility, patience, and dependence upon Him. Looking back, I can see His hand of mercy covering my family even during seasons when I was not fully surrendered to His will. The grace of God has been the bridge between the father I was and the father I continue striving to become. And for those who feel they have failed as fathers, as I often have, I encourage you not to surrender to shame but to surrender to God, whose mercies are new every morning. My encouragement to my children, to the ones who I have been blessed with that make me a father, I not only thank God for His grace, but I thank you for yours as well, for all the times that I have failed you as your dad and more impactfully as a Man of God. My Friends, I pray for us all to have a blessed Father’s day and may we all feel our heavenly Father’s divine presence this day and fully experience the joy of being a child of God. May we also remember those for whom this day carries grief, longing, or difficult memories, and may they find comfort in the unfailing love of our heavenly Father as well. No matter our past, our family history, or where we find ourselves today, God’s grace remains available to each of us. My fervent prayer is that we would all draw closer to Him, encourage one another in love, and walk confidently in the identity we have as His beloved children. I humbly ask that you join me in praying for the fathers, children, and families who are hurting today, that God’s healing, forgiveness, and compassion would abound in their lives.  And may God, in His unfailing love, restore what was lost, heal what was broken, and strengthen what remains so that our lives become living testimonies of His goodness for generations yet to come. Amen.

My BeLoved, may the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen. In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blog

Special Note: I want to thank those who read what I write and are encouraged to support the ministry God has entrusted to me either one time or have decided to give on a monthly basis. I am encouraged to see certain verses playing out before my eyes like what is written in *Philippians 4:16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.*

To any who are interested, please feel free to reach out to me with prayer requests, questions, encouragement, or for information on how to come alongside me with financial support at pastord.blog@gmail.com or I do have a Zelle account associated with my phone number, 5202720387 last name Blaser. Thank you my Beloved for your ongoing prayers and support.