A pastor read a letter from an elementary school teacher who attends East Hill Church. The gist of the letter was as follows:

Last school year, her classroom was made up of little third graders, every one of which came from either a single parent family, or a dysfunctional family, was undernourished and/or uncared for, lived in an abusive home and was either beaten, bruised, or raped by other family members; one little girl’s dad died of aids, and the list goes on. Her heart bled for these kids.

Before the ’99-2000 school year started, she and her husband went to her classroom and prayed over each desk in the room. They prayed that God would place an angel behind each and every child throughout the coming year to watch over them and protect them.

A month or so after the year had started, she gave the kids an assignment to write about what they would like to be when they grew up. Everybody was busy with his or her assignment, when “Andrew” raised his hand. When she asked him what he needed, he asked how to spell mighty.” After telling him how to spell mighty, she asked him why he needed to know.

Andrew said it was because when he grew up he wanted to be a “mighty man of God”.

When he said this, little “Mark” sitting next to him asked, “So, what’s a mighty man of God?” The teacher, swallowing back her tears, and knowing she could not say anything in the classroom, told Andrew to go ahead and tell Mark what it was.

So Andrew says, “It’s a man who puts on the armor of God and is a soldier for God”.

After observing some conversation between Andrew and Mark, the teacher, with a lump in her throat, started to walkaway when Andrew motioned with his little forefinger for her to come closer.

He whispered to her, asking if she believed in angels.

She told him yes, she did.

Then he asked her if she thought people could see angels, and she said she thought some people probably could.

Andrew said that he did, and he could see an angel standing behind each kid in the room.

I don’t think there was a dry eye in the church that night! We need to remember to pray for all of the teachers, that although there is no prayer in school, that they are dedicated enough to pray for the protection of God’s angels over the lives of their students. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt, even at work.

Today is Father’s Day, which is celebrated every year on the third Sunday of June.

Its the day when we specially honor all the fathers in this world. One cannot shut his eyes against the hardships they undertake to keep their family safe and happy. Father’s Day complements Mother’s Day, the celebration honoring mothers.

The Father’s Day is a day of commemoration and celebration of Dad -the special man in our life. We often forget the sacrifice of our fathers and the roles they have played in shaping our lives. Father’s Day gives us the opportunity to show and express our love and care to this man, who deserves our support most.

Father’s Day is the most appropriate platform to make us look beyond ‘our own’ family and honor the man who brought us joy and happiness. it is a day to honor not only your father, but all men who have acted as a father figure in your life – whether as Stepfathers, Uncles, Grandfathers, or “Big Brothers.”

The word ‘Father’ is often used to honor spiritual leaders, inventors and originator of an idea, product, service or person. It is so, that fathers have always been associated with guidance and protection, as the person who can be loved, respected and looked up to.

Let’s use the Father’s Day to let these special men know what place they have in our lives and what influence they have on us. Don’t forget to make this day special day more special!

Father’s Day is a time of burnt toast and breakfast in bed, family gatherings, and crayon scribbled “I Love You Dad” and, of course, that lovely new tie!

Also read these poems – Dads Are Special and What makes a Dad.

Here are 10 suggestions to help you develop and maintain a healthy self-image.

Read them slowly. Meditate on them regularly.

1. Hate your sin, but never hate yourself.

2. Be quick to repent.

3. When God gives you light, walk in it.

4. Stop saying negative things about yourself. God loves you and it’s wrong to hate what He loves. He has great plans for you, so you’re in conflict with Him when you speak negatively concerning your future.

5. Never be afraid to admit that you’ve made a mistake and don’t always assume that when things go wrong, it must be ‘my fault’.

6. Don’t meditate excessively on what you’ve done, right or wrong; both of these activities keep your mind on you! Center your thoughts on Christ.

7. Take good care of yourself physically. Make the best of what God gave you to work with, but don’t be obsessed with your appearance.

8. Never stop learning but don’t allow your education to become a point of pride. God doesn’t use you because of what’s in your head: He uses you because of what’s in your heart.

9. Realize that your talents are a gift, not something you have manufactured yourself; never look down on people who can’t do what you do.

10. Don’t despise your weaknesses. They keep you dependent on God.