He’s a Good, Good Father on this Good Friday!

I’m smiling because I posted this family photo on what is supposed to be a somber, serious day. But is it really? Were it not for THIS day, we wouldn’t have an Easter. This photo was taken at our church in Shawnee, OK. It was a big deal to dress up for Easter. Had to have new Easter outfits and an Easter bonnet. I had enough hair back then that served as all the hat I needed. After church, it was all about the Easter egg hunt. The kids would have a spirited time of finding them all.

Remembering that Easter fanfare, as sweet as those times were, doesn’t hold a candle to this year’s Easter experiences. It seems the frivolous things were, well, just frivolous. Oh, I’m sure many will still be having Easter egg hunts in their backyards, but because we’re nestled into our homes, it’s easier to hone into what Easter is really all about. Introspection of the holy of holiest times that goes from Friday's sorrows to Sunday's alleluias!

Did you sleep well last night? Jesus didn’t. He had not been to sleep! All night long and in this day, He was interrogated, lied about, beatened, tortured, suffered and died on a cross that was meant for murderers and thieves. Today is Good Friday! Good? How could this day be called GOOD?

I can’t help but consider all our world is going through right now. Maybe some “Good Friday” issues like the suffering, the dying, and so many unknowns. I get it. The struggles are real – lost jobs, financial insecurity, kids testing every nerve their parents have because they’re not used to isolation, the concerns for our medical field and essential services workers. It is truly a time like we could never imagine.

I titled this post “He’s a Good, Good Father on this Good Friday”. Really? How could a Dad be called a “good dad” when He allows His Son to die in such a horrific way? “Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer …” (Isaiah 53:10). Of all the powerful verses in the Bible, this one brings me to my knees. How much does God the Father love us? Enough to sacrifice His only Son. Because the death of His Son would bring salvation to His children. That means salvation to you and to me and to all who know Him as Savior and Lord. Indeed, He is our good, good Father.

But, how could this day be called GOOD? Because out of the appallingly bad came what was inexpressibly good. And the good trumps the bad because the bad was temporary while the good is eternal. God’s love and grace came to us soaked in divine blood. The Cross is God’s answer to the question, “Why don’t you do something about evil?” “Why do You let bad things happen to good people?” God did do something. One look at His Son on the cross should silence the argument that God doesn't care about human suffering.

Without Jesus’ death, we could never know Him. We could never have eternal life. Our salvation cost a lot. And Jesus thought “they’re worth it”. And that is what’s so good about Good Friday. There is no such thing as a resurrection without a death. There is no such thing as an Easter without a Good Friday.

What is this message? For us, to never again wonder if we are loved. God thought our eternal life was worth the death of His only Son. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, would never perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16) Now, we know why God is a good, good Father and why this day is called "Good Friday".

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father’s Day to all the Fathers out there! Father’s Day brings me precious memories and so much gratitude for my own sweet Daddy and my precious husband who were incredible, devoted and loving fathers. They get to celebrate this Father’s Day together in heaven. And I'm so thankful for two of the most amazing Dads ever -- my two precious sons: Ryan Wuerch & Larry Wallace -- amazing fathers, who lead their families by God’s example of love to them.

I asked my two youngest grandsons “What makes someone a good dad?” Of course, they thought about their own dad, when they said, “They are kind, they play outside with you, they give you love, they work hard for your family, they’re strong like my daddy, they love you, and my dad flips his eyelids inside out, and he makes us laugh.” Oh, my! The sweet joy they bring me.

One of my all-time favorite songs for dads AND moms is by Phillips, Craig, and Dean, “I Want to Be Just Like You” – a prayer from a dad who wants to do his best to be like Father God, because his little boy wants to be like him. These words touch my heart so much.

Following these lyrics is the link for this beautiful song. I pray you are so impressed by God's love, that you, too, want to be just like Him.

I WANT TO BE JUST LIKE YOU
He climbs in my lap for a goodnight hug; He calls me Dad and I call him Bub, With his faded old pillow, a bear named Pooh, He snuggles up close and says, "I want to be like you."

I tuck him in bed and I kiss him goodnight; trippin' over the toys as I turn out the light; I whisper a prayer that someday he'll see. He's got a father in God 'cause he's seen Jesus in me.

Lord, I want to be just like You; 'Cause he wants to be just like me,
I want to be a holy example, for his innocent eyes to see.
Help me be a living Bible, Lord, that my little boy can read.
I want to be just like You; 'Cause he wants to be like me.

Got to admit I've got so far to go; make so many mistakes and I'm sure that You know. Sometimes it seems no matter how hard I try, with all the pressures in life I just can't get it all right,

But I'm trying so hard to learn from the best; being patient and kind, filled with Your tenderness; 'Cause I know that he'll learn from the things that he sees, and the Jesus he finds will be the Jesus in me.

Right now from where he stands, I may seem mighty tall, But it's only 'cause I'm learning from the best Father of them all. Lord, I want to be just like You; 'Cause he wants to be just like me, Want to be a holy example; for his innocent eyes to see. Help me be a living Bible, Lord, that my little boy can read. I want to be just like You; 'Cause he wants to be like me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z8bXcBRIU0

You are FABulous!

Just a little reminder....just in case you don't like what you see in the mirror -- there is really only one opinion that matters.....and if God sees you FABULOUS & BEAUTIFUL ....then you are FABULOUS & BEAUTIFUL indeed! We ARE beautiful because God says we are -- “PERIOD.” When we walk in that kind of word, there is nothing, no nothing, that should EVER change our mind or sway our thinking otherwise. He wants us to see ourselves through His eyes, and through His perspective. I love this verse.....Psalm 139:14 "I praise YOU because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; YOUR works are wonderful. I know that full well." This verse is a reminder that our duty is to praise God for what He has made. Each and every one of us is a wonderful work of art. Yes, He thinks we're beautiful. Just the way we are. We are not defined by our wrinkles, our gray hair, our muffin top tummies, our husband, our job, our age, or our kids. We are exactly as we should be, FABULOUS & BEAUTIFUL because the One who made us is FABULOUS & BEAUTIFUL. Isn't it so great that we bear a striking resemblance to our CREATOR and DAD??