Word for the day "Message to the family"

Malachi 4:5 (NKJV) Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. 6 And he will turnThe hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers.Our ideas about God are first shaped-and very powerfully so-by our families. So it's little wonder that as relationships within the family have declined, so has the understanding of what it means to have and maintain a relationship with God. Yes you are reading on the right day!As divorced and overworked parents spend less time with their kids, the concept of a personal God and Savior becomes less clear and less meaningful. An absent father sets the framework for a child who views God as absent too. And a passive father leaves his children wondering if God can or will become involved in their problems and day-to-day struggles. How do you parent? and sometimes you can assist parents if you do not have any children, it really does take a village!I'm pointing to the men today for two reasons. The first reason is so you men can begin to identify how your family environment growing up has subtly shaped your thoughts and beliefs about God. If your experience has been positive, great! If it hasn't, please let the present, active, loving Father correct your thinking and heal your heart. Turn to the Lord and see that the Lord is good. Men we have to take our rightful place in the family!The second reason is that many of you are fathers yourselves or will be. Your children are watching and listening to you more than you think. And you influence them-and their thinking about God-more than you know. More is caught than is taught is today's mantra.Point to ponder- I want to encourage you, men, to walk with Jesus Christ! For those of you who've had the blessing of good parenting: pass it on. For those of you who haven't: let the wreckage stop with you! And I want to encourage you women to help our men be all they can be for our families sakeKingdom Blessings,Pastor James Baker, Jr.