Daddy's Hands

Two generations of Gerhardts and a baby fish...

In June of this year we took a road trip from Fairbanks down to Soldotna, on the Kenai Pennisula.  Somewhere along the way we found the tiniest of small streams and Daddy grabbed this little fish with his hands.  Baby was right there curious as ever and got to touch his first fish!

 I love this photo because it captures the gentle strength a Father's hands hold.  They have the power to direct a child's life for an eternity.  They have the ability to capture any of life's moments and place proper importance on the millions of things out there.  Fish are important!  So is being a fisher of men, like Jesus challenges us to be.  I am thankful for Daddy and his Daddy, and my Daddy for being fishers of men and passing that torch down to their children. 

I love this photo because you can see the work etched lines of a man and the softness of his son, yet to be a man.  What will he become?  Where will he go?  Will he stay true to serving His Saviour in love or will he wander?  Oh the strength of the Father's hand to lift us when we fall, to help us along life's way, to discipline in love, to pat us on the back with encouragement and praise, to be thrown in the air with frustration, only to fall back down again to receive, in never ending patience, a wayward child.  What a joy that we can never be snatched from our Heavenly Father's hand. 

What a powerful place, and a wonderful haven of protection in our Father's hands.  Are you there?  An entirely different future lies ahead within those Father's hands.  Step in today if you've never experienced a peace and a love and a joy that surpasses understanding.  You step in through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Sound barbaric?  You were born through blood and water.... it's quite natural.  You can be born twice.  The first time is through your earthly Father and Mother, the second is into the family of God, a child of the King!  It's yours for the taking.  It's free.  It's simple.  There's no strings attached.  Call upon the Lord Jesus Christ today.  You need him.  You know you can't make it to Heaven on your own.  You may have it made in this brief existence here on earth, called life, but what lays beyond that?  Trust your Creator, Lean on the Saviour, Hold the lives of your children close to His heart.