O Mein Papa

Growing up, I often felt closer to my mom than to Daddy. True, he was my father, the leader of my home, always demonstrating respect and love for my mom, and providing a “united front” with her against the wiles of their four daughters, when we wanted to weasel something out of them or disobey the rules. He was always a spiritual example to me, the more “pro-active” of my parents concerning volunteering in our church. Mom was always at his side, quietly serving or encouraging others, albeit very timidly in those early years. Daddy was never one to start ministries, but he was always the first to volunteer when a call would go out to serve.

Although I felt loved and accepted for the way I was, I think I stood in awe of Dad a little as a teen-ager and wished I could have had the “comradery” my tomboy sister shared with him. I wanted for him to sit and talk to me when I was upset or sad, like he did with her, but I didn’t know how to make it happen. It was years before I understood that Dad and I were very much alike in those days. Neither one of us was an initiator, but rather a responder; thus our conversations didn‘t seem to go anywhere.

It wasn’t until my sister left for college that I “came into my own” with my dad. We would drive to church together on church visitation night, just the two of us. It was kind of a first for me, since early childhood--getting to have dad’s undivided attention. It was great, but I still didn’t understand how special I really was to Dad until the day I left home at age nineteen.

He had driven me to church in the early hours of the morning, where I was to meet with another college-bound young person who would drive me to Missouri. It would be my first time away from home, but I was very excited. We arrived at the church parking lot, and the sun hadn’t come up yet. We sat listening to some hauntingly beautiful radio music as we waited for my ride. Dad got very quiet. Then he said softly, “I never could understood why Ma always cried so when one of us boys would leave the farm. I can still see her waving her handkerchief as we left home to go out on our own. Now I know how she felt.“ At that moment, I realized how special I was to my dad. The strains of the music got very tender at that point, and I asked my dad if he knew the name of the song. He replied, his voice choking with emotion, “It’s ‘O Mein Papa‘. It goes, ‘Oh, my papa, to me he is so wonderful…..’ “.

I’ve been thinking a lot about my dad this week-end, and I thank God for such a faithful, wonderful father. And he becomes more wonderful to me with each year that passes.

Spectacular Spring... by Debby Thompson

How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings...for with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. Psalm 36:7,9

Don't you just love Springtime! As we drive down the streets we see all of the magnificently gorgeous blooming trees, the majestic colors of the flowers blooming among the fragrant, newly cut green lawns of neighborhood yards, and the satiating scents of it all wafting on the cool breezes. I just love Spring!

God must truly love it, too, because He is the author of it all. As the Psalmist declared, "For with thee is the fountain of life..." Springtime reminds us of new life we find in Christ. It reminds us of Christ's death and resurrection. It gives us hope that when we are buried at the cold winter of death, life will spring forth at the rapturous resurrection, and we will spend eternity in the eternal Springtime of Heaven with the giver of eternal life!

I suppose that is why I love Springtime so much. It brings all of my senses and purpose back to focus on the thoughts of new life in the Lord Jesus Christ. We can truly see the light of life. Praise God for SPRING!

John 3:16 - by Wanda Britt

For many of us this was the first verse we memorized as a child in Sunday school and one of the first verses we taught our children. Today it is still the verse I think of the when asked to quote Scripture.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."

I am amazed at all Christ has done for us. His death, burial and resurrection and the pain and agony he suffered for you and me. What a wonderful God we have that He would give His only son for you and me. When I think of all He did for me it makes me so ashamed that I do not do more for Him. But, I am so glad He loved me and you that much!! I am glad Jesus died for us so that we might have everlasting life.

No matter what you are facing in your life remember, "God so loved…" He is there for you.

From Jeannie Hunsley

What do you think of when someone says, "Let's get a make over"? To me it means they want to get a new look, a glamorous look and all the hidden beauty will come out, and they will be more radiant to the world. There is only one way to create a new you and a new look. This look comes from within ourselves. God puts joy in our hearts much more effectively than all the mud packs and oils we use.

When we are overcome in our life by sorrows, grief, financial problems, marriage problems, confusion and it seems we will never see joy again God is full of surprises! We can have hope and joy again. God can turn our sadness into joy, He is our Father, He is with us all the way and He will never leave us. Have faith in our Heavenly Father. He will turn your sorrows into joy. Whatever you are going through God is there. He knew all your problems before you did. Remember He is the light at the end of the tunnel and He will guide you through it.

Psalm 30:5 - Joy comes in the morning
Psalm 51:10 - Create in me a new heart
Psalm 51:12 - Restore unto me the joy
Jeremiah 31:13 - Mourning into joy
Psalm 100:1-5 - Make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Serve the Lord with gladness. Know that the Lord is God. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving. For the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting

We do not understand everything we are going through but God is there to help you get that "make over". You are not alone, talk to Him, He will always listen.

You may weep for a while but JOY will come. Psalm 30:5

From Bitter to Better by Debby Thompson

Heartache can make us bitter or better. In the Book of Ruth, we see that Naomi was bitter, but Ruth chose to model a contented and submissive spirit of trust in the Lord and in others. The result--God's blessings and the healing of Naomi's heart.

Luke 10 tells us that as Jesus preached, He came to the village of Lazarus and his sisters. Verses 38 and 39 state that one sister was "named Martha", while the other was "called Mary". The implication is that "Mary" was what the people called her because of her character. "Mary" was derived from the Hebrew word "Miriam" or "Mara", which means "bitter." She must have been very bitter before she met Jesus, but when He spoke to her, Mary sat down at Jesus' feet, drinking in every word. Later on, when Jesus knowingly let Lazarus die without healing him, Mary did not become bitter. She had learned to trust Jesus' love through His words. As He raised Lazarus, He said, "I am the Resurrection and the Life. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." This Easter we can let Jesus raise us up to a better life--and submissive attitudes--in Him.

BUMPS IN THE ROAD By - Jeannie Hunsley

The path we choose for oursleves often does not turn out to be the path that is chosen for us by God. Every woman faces the challenge of finding her way and to remain positive and faithful when life has taken a direction she does not enjoy.

Sometimes we find oursleves totally overwhelmed with our problems (our bumps in the road). Never in a million years would I have thought this is the path I would be going down with all these bumps in the road. But we must remember when we do face the bumps in the road that our God is with us all the way. He knew from the beginning what bumps would be along our road of life. I beleive He puts bumps in our road just to see how faithful we are going to be. Remember, when those bumps come (and they will) just lean on Him; He is always there.

I Peter 1:7 -- "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."

Wanda Britt's weekly insight

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