Do Dads Ever Sleep? by CharlesW. Page

Do Dads Ever Sleep?

By Dr. Charles W. Page

Considering the pace of our modern world—dads probably shouldn’t sleep. Who’s got time?

• Unpaid bills.
• Undone tasks.
• Unrealistic deadlines.
• Untimely interruptions.

Even when fathers prepare for rest there are too many thoughts racing through a dad’s mind:

• Unkept promises.
• Unfamiliar circumstances.
• Unpredictable people.
• Unforgotten failures.

Sometimes in sleepless desperation dads can feel like throwing in the towel—wondering if they will ever be good enough to meet the challenge of living in our nanosecond culture.

Instead of looking around at the challenges facing them or within at their own inadequacies, dads must learn to look up.

When we look up toward our Heavenly Father, the whole equation changes:

• Unchanging God.
• Unsearchable wisdom.
• Undeserving grace.
• Unfathomable love.

Christian dads can sleep because God’s got their back. Dads who understand that God’s eyes never close can rest in calm assurance as they lie down to sleep (Psalm 121:1-6). God’s got your back, Dad and He never slumbers or sleeps. And if God’s staying up anyway there’s no reason why you should miss out on rest. As we look up to God our helper we are reminded of several truths that give our hearts calm assurance as we lay our heads on our pillows.

1. Trust in God’s providence as we lie down to sleep.
Whatever circumstances we face—they pass through the hands of a loving, all knowing God.

2. Trust in God’s provision as we lie down to sleep.
For most dads the greatest challenge is the “to do” lists that burden our minds as we lie down for rest. As dads we must learn to trust God to finish the things left undone in His way and in His time.

3. Trust in God’s protection as we lie down to sleep.
Dad, you can rely on God to surround you and your family with a hedge of protection as you rest. Psalm 121
reminds us that God is watching or guarding our lives—day and night. The one who never slumbers or sleeps has your back while you close your eyes for rest.

Your Heavenly Father always knows best, allowing you to rest in the truth of the verse “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). As you close your eyes for sleep, you can trust in God’s providence, provision and protection. Allow God to do for you what you cannot do for yourself while awake. The One whose eyes never close in slumber created you to surrender. Fall to sleep in His arms.

Dr. Charles Page is a sleep-deprived surgeon who completed medical school and residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He and his wife Joanna live in Texas with their five children. He is the author of Surrendered Sleep: A Biblical Perspective, which releases later this summer. When the project goes live, you can find more information at www.surrenderedsleep.com

Be sure to check out my Father's Day book giveaway here

Two books one winner

First Time Dad by John Fuller

giveaway read to end of post to find out how to enter.

Perhaps the most powerful influence in the world is that of a dad on his child.  Baseball gloves, dirty diapers, tiny little hands, first days of school, daddy-daughter dances, and learner's permits... and so much more! There's no way you can be ready for it all, but this is when you need to get a bit of a head start...

First Time Dad by Focus on the Family ministry veteran (and father of 6) John Fuller lets you in on the stuff you really need to know... because in just a few months or weeks or days, your life is going to change--forever. Set good priorities. Break bad habits and/or family patterns. Recognize and recover from some
common fathering mistakes. Know that your words have immense power. And learn how to cultivate a lasting parent-child relationship. So, instead of wondering "oh man, oh man, oh man... what am I going to do now?" for 9 months... read this short book (plus it's pretty fun too) and get excited!

This book is right down the lane.  If you are a first-time dad then John Fuller's book, first-time dad, would be an excellent place to start.  Fuller's book is very thought provoking and would be an excellent gift for new, first-time, dads.  What a father's day gift.  (Read to the end and find out how you could win this book plus project dad.)  On the cover it says the stuff you really need to know, that is right on the button.  This book isn't a really long book, but it is packed full of good advice.  Fuller covers every angle imaginable to fatherhood in this book.   Fuller has a chapter on fears and expectations of fatherhood, and practical suggestions on managing the changes to come.  There is a chapter on time and priorities in fatherhood.  Chapter 4 provides ways to break free from the chains of the past and start fresh with new healthy patterns.  Baby's affect on the marriage and what to expect and how to survive is in chapter 5.  There's a chapter offering suggestions for helping the new mom out as well; also listing of ways to show support and love your wife.  You'll find a chapter devoted to gender differences and how you can be the dad your child needs.  Suggestions of ways to help your child succeed are found in chapter 9. You'll find keys to keeping your child's attention and affection as they grow up.  There is a chapter on modeling healthy spirituality for dads.  Mr Fuller's book will help you in becoming the father that you've always dreamed of becoming and growing a close relationship with your child that will endure through time.  Each chapter is packed full to the brim with Godly advice and resources are given for further studying also.  You just can't go wrong with giving this book to a first-time dad.  I want to thank Julie and C. Grant and Company for allowing me to review this book and offer a book for one of my readers.  This is my own opinion and no one convinced me otherwise. 

For the giveaway there will be one winner two different books.  I'm going to make it easy. Tell me something you remember about your dad.  Be sure to leave a way of contact.  Please US residents only.  I will giveaway to one commenter this featured book,  first-time dad by John Fuller, and Project Dad by Todd Cartmell.  I will draw a winner June 27th.

Goes to  Winner

a copy of this book was provided for this review and giveaway by....

Project Dad by Todd Cartmell

If you want to raise great kids, the first step is to become a great dad!

A Complete Do-it-Yourself Guide for Becoming a Great Father

There is a do-it-yourselfer in every man. He looks for a project to do on weekends, but what about the project of becoming a better dad? Project Dad (ISBN: 978-0-8007-1999-9, April 2011, $12.99) is a humorous, enjoyable, biblically-based guidebook written for dads by a dad. Author, Todd Cartmell, Psy.D., takes readers on a fun and compelling journey of re-building a dad to become a great dad if you want to raise great kids.


Project Dad speaks the language of dads: short entertaining chapters, tongue-in-cheek humor, references to BBQ and a complete look at what it takes to be a great dad. The chapters are broken into five key components:

• 1. How to look at your children
• 2. How to talk to your children
• 3. How to connect with your children
• 4. How to act toward your children
• 5. How to lead your children

At the end of each chapter, there are discussion questions making this book ideal for individual or group study.

This guidebook encourages fathers to raise their children with a renewed sense of purpose and gives them the tools they need to become the dad their children are longing for.

For more information about this book visit here. 

 I think this book should be titled Project Parent.  Why? because I believe this book isn't just for Dads.  I think if a mom picked up this book she could learn from it as well.  The author is very funny in spots, but his advice to dads can also be given to moms. 

Todd Cartmell is a licensed clinical psychologist and a father of two. He is in full-time private practice in Wheaton, Illinois, where he works with children, adolescents, and families. He lives in Geneva, Illinois, with his family.
Visit the author's web site

Project Dad is a humorous and practical guide book written by a dad to other dads. Todd’s warm and engaging style will have fathers laughing from the first few pages, and gives doable hands-on advice for becoming a great dad. You can read much more in the attached press release. This book will make an excellent Father’s Day gift!

12 Rules for Raising Delinquent Children

By Paul Banas
(*note:  this is not written by this book author, I found it on-line)

Want to know the best way to raise delinquent children? Read a humorous take on turning your children into perfect monsters.

• Begin at infancy to give your children everything they want. In this way, the children grow up believing that the world owes them something.

• When they pick up bad words laugh at them. This will make them think they are cute and encourage them to pick up cuter phrases that will blow your mind.

• Never give them any spiritual training. Let them wait until they are 21 and let them decide for themselves.

• Avoid using the word “wrong”. It may develop a guilt complex. This will condition them to believe later, when they are arrested for stealing a car, that society is against them and they are being persecuted.

• Pick up all they leave lying around the house - books, shoes, clothing. Do everything for them so they will be experienced in throwing all responsibility to someone else.

• Let them read any printed matter they can get their hands on. Be sure to sterilize the silverware, plates, and dishes, but let their minds feast on all kinds of garbage.

• Quarrel frequently in the presence of your children. That way, they will not be shocked when the home breaks up later.

• Give the children all the spending money they want. And never let them earn their own. Why should they have it as tough as we had it?

• Satisfy their every craving for food, drink, and sensual pursuits. See that all their desires are gratified. Denial may lead to harmful frustrations.

• Always take your child’s side against the neighbors, teachers, and police. They are all prejudiced against your child.

• When they get into real trouble, apologize for yourself by saying, I never could do anything with them.

• Prepare yourself for a life of grief. For you probably will have it.

Thanks to Revell for supplying me with a copy of Project Dad to offer as a giveaway to one of my readers.  To enter this giveaway leave a comment telling me something you remember about your dad, a quality your dad had or wish he had, funny story (or a not so funny), Or if you want to share why your dad is the best.  The comment must be dad related.  Please I must limit this to US residents only as I sent a book to Canada last week and it cost me almost $9.00 I can't afford that too many times.  I'm sorry.  I will choose a winner on June 1st and hopefully have the book to the winner in time for Father's Day.

Extra Bonuses:

• follower my blog
• subscribe to my blog
• visit Todd's site and tell me something you learned
• Subscribe to Todd's blog here (left hand side)
• follower my Scraps of Life blog
• subscriber to my Scraps of Life blog

Goes to  Winner

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life. They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.

For more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com.


A copy of this book was provided for this review by