Dear Ones,
  Happy weekend! We are getting packed and will eat an early lunch and head to the cabin today.We are going to stop to see a friend in assisted living on the way and then on to the lake as our grandson is waiting for a hot scrabble game.Emoji We plan to hear Leif preach tomorrow and then have Father’s Day celebration for dinner. 
 Devotions from Judy’s heart
   Happy Father’s Day tomorrow to all the dads out there! Being a father is a tough job! Dad’s today are facing many challenges as our culture is changing dramatically. Many boys have absent fathers and the results are staggering as many are failing to grow up and become responsible, have addictions, join gangs, and commit crimes.
  I was blessed with a loving father that lived to be 100 years old but resides in heaven now. I am thankful for him and miss him, but not all of you reading this had a father who was there for you. I read an article on Crosswalk.com from Clarence Haynes Jr. who wrote empowering prayers for dads. If your dad was absent maybe your prayer is simply, “Thank you God that you used my dad to give me life.”
   If you are going to be a new father maybe Haynes words could be your prayer today:
“Lord, help me as I begin my journey into fatherhood. Even though I look forward to fatherhood, I face it with excitement and trepidation. Help me to know I can trust in you, and you will be with me on this journey. Remind me often that I don’t have to be perfect, but most importantly I need to be present in the life of my child. Give me new patience and new grace as I walk a road I have never walked before. However, I thank you that you have gone before me and will help me navigate these waters. Help me from day one to set the right example so my child will see you in me and will long for the God I serve to be present in their life. Amen.”
 Or maybe you are an aging father you might pray:
“Lord, as I grow older and the seasons of life have changed, I thank you for my children. You have given me the privilege to raise them, and I have seen them grow into adulthood. My prayer is for them as they must now walk in steps that I had to walk in. Give them grace for the journey and help me to adjust in my new role not just as father, but as friend. Help me to always be the encourager, reminding them to keep their eyes on you and to continue to help them be the person you created them to be. It has been an honor to be their father. Now help me to finish my journey strong. Amen.”
  Or all of you dads may want to pray:
“Lord, give me strength to be a dad today. More importantly help me to recognize my strength comes only from you. Help me to wait before you and to completely trust you because it is in this place that I will find strength. Help me not to run from my weaknesses but to embrace them and bring them to you, because when I am weak before you, I will stand strong before everyone else.”
   Blessings to all of you fathers as your special day is celebrated tomorrow.
  Challenge for today: Thank the Lord for your earthly father and remember you have a Heavenly Father who loves you most of all.. 
Blessings, prayers and love, Judy