Intentional Fathers Week 4: Putting It Into Practice-Blessing

This week we talked about how we are putting the previous three weeks into practice.

Carr: more intentional with time. Telling the kids that you like them.
Dusty: More attention: What do the kids need from me, what do I need to put into them.
Todd: Reminder to be engaged even though they are going to school. Ask more questions.
Wes: Turning phone off from when I come home to when I go to bed. Keeps distractions away. Be intentional in the fall, coming up with cool things to do for the fall. Weekend trip with friends. Visit farm. Riding a bike.
Michael: More convicted about bringing kids to Jesus. Being more present and bringing Jesus into moments instead of reacting.
Chris S: Be more aware of opportunities where my kids can be loved and I can be loving.
Chris R: Reprioritize my life and connect better with life with kids, Jesus, wife.
Nathan: Want to figure out how to bless our children. The first conversation creates a filter. The filter of who we are as dad is how our kids will see the Father.

Blessing – Origins

Blessing was in Genesis
Abraham blessed by God
Israel blessed his children.

What is blessing?

We had different ideas from the men attending:

Michael: talked about enjoying the child by not accentuating the performance. “I enjoyed watching you play..” instead of giving a critique of how they could do things better. When you tell them you like them you are imparting something good into them.
Paul: Conveying goodness.
Nathan: Jacob stole the blessing from Esau, why couldn’t Jacob also bless Esau?
Andrew: Bless by giving them (monetary, encouragement, convey)
Dustin: Empowerment and Authorization

The opposite of blessing is cursing

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
James 3:9-10

In Greek blessing always has to do with words. Blessing is impartation of life. Cursing is removal of life (aka death).

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live”
Deuteronomy 30:19

Matt: Blessing is not just subsisting, but to have in abundance. Something that has life-long value. To be with God as I go through life.

Blessing = Obedience

So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul— then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied….See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.
Deut 11:13-15; 26-28

How did God say to bless Israel?

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

“‘“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

“So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
Numbers 6:22-27