First Father's Day & Lily's Dedication

Wow! What an amazing day, so many emotions its hard to figure out what to say....When we were married I knew Allen was the perfect man for me. I thought I knew EVERYTHING about him BUT when he became a father I saw so many new qualities to treasure! He truly loves spending time with Lily. They have so much fun together (playing outside, riding the 4-wheeler, playing with the dogs, even playing inside is so much more exciting with daddy laying on the floor) He is such a hardworking father. He gives 100% at home and at work. Lily has him wrapped around her tiny fingers too. Allen, we LOVE you so very much!Lily's Dedication was this Father's Day at our church also. We love our church family and had fun fellowship with friends and family today. We have a HUGE task ahead of us (however, we knew this when we decided to have children). Raising Godly children in today's world is a FULL TIME job. There is no time for a lunch break either. Parents used to be expected to raise their children in accordance with the dominant "cultural" messages. Today we are expected to raise them in opposition to the dominant "cultural" messages. The "cultural" values used to be offered from preachers, teachers, neighbors, & leaders that really pushed conformity; however, offered some support. Today, the messengers are violent cartoon characters with filthy mouths, rappers, and celebrities selling shoes and provocative/trashy clothing to teenagers. Today, we as parents, are only considered "responsible" if we are successful in our resistance to these messages. That's what makes child-raising harder. It's not just that we have less time with our children; it's that we have to spend more of that time doing battle with our own "culture". Praise the Lord that He has given us tools and offers us support and help daily with this task or it would be impossible! Please continue to pray that me and Allen as parents grow in the Lord so that we can lead and teach Lily.My prayer for Lily today is that, Lord You would give her the gifts of wisdom, discernment, and revelation. Help her not to depend on her own understanding (or today's cultural messages), but to acknowledge You in all her ways so that she may hear Your clear direction as to which path to take. I know her future success depends on gaining wisdom and discernment, which Your word says brings long life wealth, recognition, protection, enjoyment, contentment, and happiness. May these blessings come to her because of her willingness to look to You for all her needs.