To build a strong family unit we must first lay a firm foundation, to ensure that it can stand the test of time, and survive through the difficulties that life inevitably brings.

Jesus told a story of 2 men who were builders, one chose to build his house on sand, while the other chose to build his house on rock. When the adversities of life began to beat upon those houses, only the house that was built on the rock was able to stand.

Jesus went on to teach that hearing God's word and doing it was like building your house on the rock, it has a strength that accompanies it, a strength that can make your house stand. The strength that we draw upon is God's unfailing love and faithfulness in fulfilling the promises in 'His' Word, The Bible.

For those who have made a Christian commitment and entered into God's family, all the promises of God are available to access. These promises must be drawn upon by using the elements of faith, trust and patience.

Faith is the ability to honestly see/perceive and believe things that are invisible to the naked eye. It is an ability that we all have, but like most things in life starts in seed form and must grow to fruition.

Many of us start with a dream in life, a goal or an aim, that we want to achieve as a man. If we keep that dream or goal alive within us, and don't let the fire be snuffed out by circumstances, then we will draw the fulfilment of that dream to ourselves. This is the element of faith working in us.

If we can grasp the element of faith, then to us nothing shall be impossible.

Warm Regards
John Nolan
Dads Uni

Suggested Action:
Read the Bible daily to find out what the promises of God are for you and your family. Once you have found a promise in the scriptures, spend time meditating or pondering that promise, and allow it to begin to grow inside you. Be patient and continue to believe that promise even if circumstances may seem to be contrary, and you will see a fulfilment of the promise.

(Hebrews 11 v 6)
⁶But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

(Hebrews 6 v 1)
¹Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

(Hebrews 6 v 12)
¹²that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

(Matthew 7 v 24)
^24"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: ²⁵and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.^26"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: ²⁷and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."