From: Beverly French [frenchb@adelphia.net]
Sent: Sunday, June 19, 2005 6:40 AM
To: Heritage
Subject: June 19,2005 Greetings on Father's Day

"Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them..." Psalm 127:4-5 Verse 5 in the Amplified Bible reads, "Happy, blessed, and fortunate is the man whose quiver is filled with  them!..."

How often are these verses quoted on Father's Day! It is a reminder of how very special children are to God and the great responsibility fathers have as mentioned last week. But fathers you are not alone. We have God's instruction Book and we have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide. This, of course, behooves each to diligently seek God's wisdom day by day through prayer and the studying of the Word. As mentioned last week Proverbs is filled with instructions.

Some examples in Proverbs that I cherish are as follows, I will just give the verses, but read them in context for they are mighty in instruction: 1:8-9 l:10 2:2-5 3:1; 3-4 3:21-23 6:20 Fathers I pray that you will study them and take them to heart for our children are daily at risk and need fathers (mothers, too) who tenderly child train (discipline) and counsel in the admonition of the Lord.

I particularly find Proverbs 4:3-9 precious for it is the father telling his son of the instruction he received from his own father when he was young. The whole chapter is a father's advice to live well by following Wisdom. "When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother, Then he taught me and said to me, Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live; Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her (wisdom), she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty." Then the father goes on to the end of the chapter with wise instruction. All of chapter 4 is wonderful, tender instruction and counsel.

I will close with this special word to fathers:
"Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways.
You will eat the fruit of your labor, blessing and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. Thus is the man bless who fears the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life...and may you live to see your children's children." Psalm 128

All praise to our Heavenly Father who has given us all things in Christ. Amen!