Happy Father's Day

Today, Sunday, June 15, is the chosen day of 2008 that we celebrate fatherhood.  Today's devotional from Experiencing God Day-By-Day, coincidentally, was entitled "A Godly Influence." It spoke of Noah's sons and their dedication to follow their father's lead in helping him construct the ark.  It spoke to how fortunate Shem, Ham, and Japheth were to have a Godly father to influence their lives.

Although I don't spend as much time with him as I would like, I have a good relationship with my father and am grateful for the many things he has invested in my life.  While growing up, I was fortunate to have a wonderful papaw and many other men that God used to shape and mold my life.  Today, even at 32 years old, I have many mentors in my life and Godly men from which I can learn so much.  I thank God for those men and for each unique way He has used them to support, teach, and inspire me.

As a father, I hope and pray that my children will not see my earthly shortcomings but will see Christ who dwells in me.  While waiting for Audrey (my four year old daughter) to come into this world, I wrote a song about some of my uncertainties of fatherhood.  I will leave you with the lyrics to the bridge and chorus of that song.  Even after four years, the words are as relevant as the day I penned them.  

Bridge:

What if all I am falls short in her eyes

Through her eyes let her not see me, but Christ inside

Chorus:

Let me show her love, the love            that saved me

And let me show her grace, the grace        that sustains me

Most of all let her see in my life,    life full, abundant, and free.

Allen Cothran

Technical Ministries Director