·         Are we guarding the minds of our families as much as we protect our lawns from weeds? Do you emphasize hand washing more than soul consecration? What steps are we taking to insure our homes are havens for spiritual growth?

Key Number Three: Disciple your wife

A GODLY DAD WILL EXPERIENCE PERSONAL CONSECRATION

Deuteronomy 6:4-6  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

Now we look at the hardest part of a godly dad's role. There is no way we can ever minister to our wife’s deepest needs if we are not holy! The key to a godly marriage and a powerful Christian home is the personal experience of godliness. We try so hard and then lessen our grip on the essentials and then they slip away! Remember the humorous recounting of our lessening of our loving care of our wives?

A HAPPY MARRIAGE IS A WONDERFUL BLESSING

Winston Churchill[1] once attended a formal banquet in London at which the attending dignitaries were asked the question, “If you could not be who you are, who would you like to be?” Naturally everyone was curious as to what Churchill, seated next to his beloved Clemmie, would say. When it finally came Churchill’s turn, the old man, who was the dinner’s last respondent to the question, rose and gave his answer. “If I could not be who I am, I would most like to be” — here he paused to take his wife’s hand — “Lady Churchill’s second husband.” The old boy made some points that night. But his comments also apply to everyone who has a good marriage.

THE SEVEN AGES OF THE MARRIED COLD

Several years ago, the Saturday Evening Post published an article entitled "The Seven Ages of the Married Cold."  It revealed the reaction of a husband to his wife's colds during their first seven years of marriage.  It went something like this: