After serving as operations and marketing manager for a “workplace ministry” from 2004 to early 2008, I stepped down earlier this year so that I could give greater focus to prioritizing my family and discipling my children, as well as to launch a business/ministry to encourage other dads like you to prioritize your family and disciple your children. I believe this is one of the most important aspects of our lives as dads.

Every week, we men are tempted to consume ourselves with our work at the expense of our family — to make our work the highest focus of our lives. This is because of the amount of time we spend at work, the challenges we face at work, the level of responsibility we perceive in our work, and the money we receive in exchange for our time, our services, and our skills. And for many men, it is also because of the level of “calling” we believe we have in our work.

However, this focus on our work often results in neglecting the greatest influence we will ever have — in the lives of our children. Especially while they are young and still living in our homes.

This influence is our FATHER POWER. It is the level of influence we have in the lives of our children and their destinies simply because we are their fathers. It is the result of our relationship with them and our position of authority in their lives. Our relationship with each of our children will last for the remainder of our life, as well as impact them long after we are gone. And potentially for eternity.

Many of us dads miss this as we busy our lives with our work — week after week – month after month — while our children grow up receiving dominant influence from sources other than their dad.

If work is a higher priority in your life than your family, make a commitment to change that starting today. The FamilyDads emails are written to help you prioritize your family and disciple your children, to be encouraged as a dad, and to give you recommendations of helpful dad resources. Please forward these emails to other dads you know. And find one or two other dads to meet with regularly who share this desire to prioritize our families.

Two outstanding resources on today’s topic which I have personally read and give my highest endorsement are Father Power by Todd Wilson and Choosing to Cheat by Andy Stanley.

Your purchase of these books at www.DadResources.com
provides direct financial support to FamilyDads so we can reach more dads
with these critical messages of fatherhood.

When Dad Speaks
by Joey Watkins, Friday, September 12, 2008

One of the most powerful aspects of being a dad is the words you say to your children.

I’m not talking about casual words like… “go take the trash out” or “time for dinner” or “good night.”

I’m referring to the words of LIFE or DEATH you speak to them, like when you tell them you’re proud of them, or you love them, or they are a blessing to you.

Or when you speak negative words to them that are degrading, discouraging, humiliating, or
hurtful.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Proverbs 18:21

The very words YOU speak can build up or tear down your son or daughter… at any age.

The words you speak can encourage your children… or destroy them.

The most powerful true story I’ve ever heard told about the “father power” of a dad’s words is by
singer/songwriter David Meece.

His story about his relationship with his father is incredibly impactful and full of many truths helpful to all of us who are dads.

You may even find parts of David’s story similar to your relationship with your own dad.

David has been gracious enough to make available a recording of his story at no charge. Download David’s story here and then take time to listen to it in the next couple days–

http://familydads.com/blog/david-meece-father-power-story/

Your thoughts? Encourage and challenge other dads with your input at the FamilyDads
blog.

by Joey Watkins, Thursday, August 14, 2008

Outside of the Bible, what book has most impacted you in your role as a dad?

For me, that question is very easy to answer. My wife and children would quickly agree with my answer because immediately after I read this particular book, they began seeing a very noticeable change in my choices, my actions, the time I spent with them, the things we did together as a family, and other evidences of major impact. And this book’s impact has not diminished.

Outside of the Bible, the book that has most impacted me in my role as a dad is Father Power by Todd Wilson.

Below is a short portion from Chapter 1. If you have not read this book, I of course highly recommend doing so… very soon. It will change your life… and your family.

“Guess what an adult believes about God whose earthly father was always gone on business or too busy at the office? He or she believes God cares very little about his life. He can be reached if something big comes up, but he’s uninvolved in the daily aspects of life.”

“On the flip side, if a father communicates love and acceptance, his children will grow up believing God loves them. They will be able to succeed and fail without fear. They will turn to their heavenly Father and trust Him, because they were able to turn to their earthly father and trust him.”

“They won’t struggle with accepting God’s love. It will come as naturally as a hug from dad.”

“Why? Is it because they have a great grasp on their theology and doctrines of God? NO! They will view God in that way because their father taught them to, whether intentionally or not.”

“That’s Father Power with a capital P. That’s the power you wield. It affects not only your children, but your children’s children and their children as well.”

“How you wield the power will affect the way your great grandchildren view God. Your influence ripples across generations to come. Wow! Awesome! Incredible! And, really, really scary!”

“Dad, I can’t overstate the extent of your power. What your children will one day become is largely dependent on you. What they believe or don’t believe about God will come from you. The little words you say or don’t say will be cherished or bitterly remembered forever.”

“Why? …Father Power.”

“God has laid upon fathers the responsibility of transmitting His truth to the world, one child at a time.”

“Am I diminishing the power of God’s written Word? NO! Am I saying that people can’t get saved without the aid of another human being? No! What I am saying is that your incredible influence as a dad is the single greatest means of assuring that future generations will follow God. Getting the right men into politics or fighting for religious freedom isn’t the key. The key to turing this country around and even the world is through father power.”

R E S O U R C E   for   D A D S

Father Power

by Todd Wilson

by Joey Watkins

Many of my thoughts in recent months have been consumed by the level of influence that we dads have in our children’s lives and future.

My favorite term for this is “father power” which is from Todd Wilson’s book by that title, Father Power.

We dads wield a power — a level of influence — in our children’s lives that very few of us have much understanding of or are taking advantage of.

How do I know this is true?

Because I look at the amount of time we spend at our work, hobbies, tv, sports, Internet browsing, and our other interests compared to the amount of time we spend with our children.

The harsh reality is that we practice daily what we truly value. All the rest is just talk.

That is why I created a resource website for dads at www.DadResources.com

I want you as a dad to know about and have access to the very best resources available on fatherhood so you can maximize your father power in your family and effectively influence your sons and daughters with your values and faith while they are still at home with you.

And because you model fatherhood to your sons, when they become dads one day, they will be able to look back at how you raised them and have that as a very positive, healthy example.

Bookmark www.DadResources.com right now as your “go-to” site for dad resources.

And help spread the word about this resource site by telling other dads you know about www.DadResources.com.

If a particular resource has significantly impacted your life as a dad that isn’t already on this site, please let me know.

by Joey Watkins

Something that really bothers me is the never-ending blame placed on our “evil culture” for the struggles, failures, pressures, and negative influence on the “younger generation” today.

Of course it’s easy to see the sin and degradation in the world, point our finger, and place the blame “out there.”

But the truth of the matter is that evil and godless culture have been around ever since the Old Testament cities of Babel, Sodom, and Gomorrah. And they will continue to exist into the future.

Instead, let us admit our own failure as parents to fully turn our hearts to our children and personally raise them, bless them, affirm them, and model to them how to overcome “the world” and learn the ways of God, His power, and His instructions for life — not “outsource” this responsibility to a local church, youth group, youth pastor, school, other adults, or youth programs.

As fathers, if our sons and daughters do not grow up to become passionate followers of Jesus Christ, full of faith, love, and bearing fruit for God’s Kingdom, then how dare we place any blame on anything or anyone else except ourselves.

Fellow Dad, God gave you and me the primary influence in our children’s lives.

Not television. Not the Internet. Not their friends. Not movies. Not music.

He gave that primary influence to US as their earthly fathers!

The power of our relationship with our sons and daughters is the strongest earthly influence and the most powerful earthly relationship in their lives. I pray this truth sinks deeply into your heart, your soul, and your spirit as it has gripped mine.

Invest your time, actions, money, and your words DAILY in your children’s lives. Don’t be so busy trying to “do good” out in the world that you miss the limited window of time you have to influence your own “next generation.”

Take maximum advantage of your “father power.”

Use it for God’s glory.

Make the most of it.

Seize the day. Every day.

You can do it. You have what it takes.

But don’t blame culture.

FamilyDads Resource

Father Power: Inspiring Every Dad To Be His Child’s Superhero