Saturday, June 20, 2026

“Dad Has Been My Hero” A Reading

A Reading

“Dad Has Been My Hero”

(slow, steady, warm)

There are people in our lives who shape us quietly… not with grand speeches, not with loud announcements, but with the steady rhythm of everyday love.

For some of us, that person has been Dad.

A man who didn’t need a cape or a spotlight or applause to make a difference.

He simply showed up. Every day. Every season. Every moment that mattered.

And somewhere along the way… we realized something: Dad has been my hero.

(soft pause)

— Reflection

(gentle, storytelling tone)

Think back for a moment… to the early mornings when he was already awake, coffee in hand, preparing for another long day so we could have what we needed.

Think of the times he fixed things— not just broken toys, but broken hearts.

The times he stood in the crowd, cheering louder than anyone else, even when the world felt too big and we felt too small.

Think of the way he taught us without ever saying he was teaching— through patience, through kindness, through the way he lived his life when no one else was watching.

(pause)

Heroes don’t always wear armor. Sometimes they wear work boots. Sometimes they carry lunch pails. Sometimes they drive old trucks with the radio humming softly and the windows rolled down.

Sometimes… a hero is simply a father who loves his family with everything he has.

— Deeper Reflection

(emotional, steady)

Dad has been my hero in the quiet ways— in the way he listened, in the way he prayed, in the way he believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.

He didn’t need to be perfect. He just needed to be present.

And he was. Through storms. Through seasons. Through every chapter of growing up.

His strength wasn’t loud. It was steady. His love wasn’t flashy. It was faithful.

And that kind of love… that kind of strength… leaves a mark that lasts a lifetime.

(soft pause)

Heart Moment

(warm, reverent)

Maybe your dad was the one who taught you how to pray. Maybe he showed you how to work hard, how to stand tall, how to walk in truth.

Maybe he wasn’t perfect— no father is— but he tried. And trying, in the hands of a loving dad, is a powerful thing.

Maybe he was the one who showed you what God’s love looks like in everyday life— in patience, in sacrifice, in the quiet courage of doing what’s right even when no one sees.

And maybe today, as you look back, you can say with a full heart: Dad has been my hero.

— Closing Words

(gentle, emotional)

Heroes come in many forms… but some of the greatest sit at our kitchen tables, walk through our front doors, and pray for us when we don’t even know it.

Some heroes answer to the name “Dad.”

(long pause)

Scripture Ending

(reverent, honoring)

“The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.” — Proverbs 20:7 (KJV)

“Today, we honor the fathers who shaped us, the heroes who stood beside us, and the love that still guides our steps now.”

Thank You Dad.

Susan Barker Nikitenko 2026©

MBANNABENRMNAABPBPMPASTOGEO #2066

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At "treasurebox18@yahoo.com" All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include Site Name And Link Back To This Blog. Thank-You.Images are not all Christian, but put here for the purposes of doing good works of faith, family and country.

Sunday, June 14, 2026

🫏 Melvin & Melvina: The Picnic Predicament

Theme: Gratitude even when plans go wrong

Narrator:
It was a perfect sunny day for a church picnic. Melvin and Melvina had packed everything — sandwiches, lemonade, and a blanket that smelled faintly of hay and hope.

Melvina:
“Hee‑haw means: Don’t forget the napkins!”

Melvin:
“Got ’em! I even brought extra mustard. I’m prepared for greatness.”

Narrator:
They trotted to the meadow, spread the blanket, and sat down.
Well… Melvin sat down a little too enthusiastically.

Melvina:
(gasping)
“Melvin! You sat on the sandwiches!”

Melvin:
(blinking)
“I thought that was the cushion!”

Melvina:
“Hee‑haw means: It was the lunch!”

Narrator:
Melvin lifted himself up slowly. The sandwiches were now… artistic.
One looked like modern art. Another resembled a pancake.

Melvin:
“Maybe we can call it ‘Pressed Blessings.’”

Melvina:
(sighing, then smiling)
“Hee‑haw means: I’m praying for patience.”

Narrator:
They bowed their heads right there on the blanket.

Melvina:
“Lord, thank You for sunshine, for laughter, and for sandwiches that still taste good — even when they’re flat.”

Melvin:
“And thank You that Melvina didn’t sit on the lemonade.”

Narrator:
They laughed, shared their squished feast, and remembered that joy doesn’t depend on perfection — only on gratitude.

📖 Scripture Thought (KJV)

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Susan Barker Nikitenko 2026©
MBAnnaBenPbKbPmRmNmPastGeo #7065

The Pictures are for this Lesson Only

🫏 Melvin & Melvina: The Picnic Predicament — The Bee Attack (According to Melvin)

Theme: Gratitude even when plans go wrong

Narrator: Just when Melvin and Melvina had accepted their squished sandwiches as “Pressed Blessings,” a new sound drifted across the meadow…

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ—

Melvin: (freezing like a statue) “Melvina… don’t move. Don’t breathe. Don’t blink. The air is angry.”

Melvina: “It’s just a bee.”

Melvin: “JUST a bee? JUST?! That’s like saying ‘JUST a tornado’ or ‘JUST a stampede.’”

Narrator: The bee hovered closer. Melvin’s ears stood straight up like two terrified antennas.

Melvin: (whisper‑screaming) “It’s coming for me. It knows I’m sweet. I TOLD you I shouldn’t have worn the honey‑scented shampoo!”

Melvina: “You don’t wear shampoo.”

Melvin: “WELL MAYBE I SHOULD START!”

Narrator: The bee circled Melvin’s head. Melvin ducked, dodged, and performed a dramatic slow‑motion roll across the picnic blanket.

Melvin: “IT’S CHOOSING A TARGET! I AM THE TARGET!”

Melvina: “Hee‑haw means: Melvin, calm down.”

Melvin: “I am calm! This is my calm voice! AHHHHHH—”

Narrator: Melvina bowed her head, serene as a summer breeze.

Melvina: “Lord… please give Melvin peace… and please give this bee a flower. A big one. Far away.”

Narrator: The bee buzzed once more, circled Melvin’s twitching ear, and drifted off toward a patch of clover.

Melvin: (peeking one eye open) “Is it gone? Am I alive? Do I still have all my parts?”

Melvina: (smiling) “Hee‑haw means: Yes, Melvin. All your parts are present.”

Melvin: “Thank You, Lord… and thank You, Melvina… for praying before I ran screaming into the woods.”

Narrator: And so, with sandwiches squished and nerves rattled, they remembered that gratitude doesn’t depend on perfect picnics — only on trusting God through the buzzing moments.

The Pictures are for this Lesson Only

🫏 Devotion: “Buzzing Lessons in Patience and Gratitude”

Paragraph 1
Sometimes life feels like a perfect picnic — sunshine, laughter, and everything neatly packed. Then, without warning, something buzzes into our peace. For Melvin, it was a bee; for us, it might be a worry, a disappointment, or a sudden change of plans. Yet even in those moments, God invites us to pause and remember that His presence doesn’t vanish when things go wrong.

Paragraph 2
Melvin’s panic reminds us how quickly fear can take over. We jump, we shout, we imagine the worst. But Melvina’s calm prayer shows the better way — turning fear into faith. When we pray first, we give God room to quiet our hearts and guide our reactions. Gratitude begins where panic ends.

Paragraph 3
The bee didn’t stay forever, and neither do our troubles. They buzz around for a while, testing our patience, but they eventually drift away. What remains is the lesson: God’s peace is stronger than any buzzing fear. He teaches us to laugh, to breathe, and to trust Him even when the picnic doesn’t go as planned.

Paragraph 4
Melvina’s prayer under the tree is a picture of grace. She didn’t scold Melvin; she prayed for him. That’s love in action — gentle, steady, and thankful. When we respond to life’s interruptions with prayer instead of frustration, we become instruments of peace. Gratitude turns every mishap into a moment of worship.

Paragraph 5
So, whether your picnic is perfect or your sandwiches are squished, remember this truth: God is near. He smiles at our laughter, comforts our fears, and teaches us to give thanks in all things. Even the buzzing moments can become blessings when we trust Him completely.

🗣️ Talk

Sometimes life feels like Melvin’s picnic — we sit right on the sandwiches. We make a mess, we laugh, we sigh, and we realize we still need grace. Church days, family days, farm days — they all have their “What’s going on?” moments. But God doesn’t leave us in the confusion; He teaches us through it. He reminds us that peace doesn’t come from perfect plans, but from His presence. When we talk to Him honestly, He listens tenderly. And when we pray, He restores calm to our hearts.

🙏 Prayer

Lord, Thank You for loving us even when life feels mixed‑up and messy. When confusion swirls around us, remind us that You are not the author of it — You are the giver of peace. Help our pastor, our church, and each of us to walk in patience and understanding. Teach us to laugh kindly, forgive quickly, and pray continually. Bring order to our hearts and unity to our fellowship. And when we whisper, “What’s going on?” Let Your Spirit answer, “I am here.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.

🙏 Prayer

“Dear Lord,
Thank You for being with me in every buzzing moment.
When fear rises, help me to pray instead of panic.
Teach me to find joy in small things and patience in interruptions.
Let gratitude fill my heart, even when plans go wrong.
May Your peace rest upon me today and always.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Susan Barker Nikitenko 2026©MB
AnnaBenPbKbPmRmNmPastGeo #7066

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

🌿 When I Was Young, Till Now I’m Old - New

Keep This Picture with This Writing

🌿 When I Was Young, Till Now I'm Old

When I was young, the world was wide,

A field of dreams on every side;
I chased the winds with lifted eyes,
And prayed my prayers beneath the skies.
I asked with wonder, bold and free—
Believing God remembered me.

When I grew strong, and life grew fast,

The days flew by, the years rushed past;
I learned that joy and sorrow blend,
That mountains rise, and storms descend.
Yet through it all, His mercy stayed—
I asked, and found Him when I prayed.

When burdens pressed and shadows fell,

When hopes were fragile, hard to tell;
When tears were prayers I could not speak,
And faith felt feeble, small, and weak—
He held me close, His love untold…
The same dear God of young and old.

Now seasons change, and wisdom grows,

And time moves gently as it flows;
I look behind, I look above,
I see the working of His love.
From youthful dawn to silvered years,
He’s heard my prayers, He’s calmed my fears.

For every age, His promise stands—

He guides our steps with tender hands;
He answers hearts that seek His face,
And fills the years with quiet grace.
I asked Him then… I ask Him still—
And stand in awe of His good will.

And when that final twilight fades,

He heard my final prayers prayed

When earthly shadows slip away,

My heart looks up to endless day

With joy my soul shall fly away—

A glory‑bound, triumphant day.

With hand outstretched—O joyful soul—

To hold His hand, no longer old;

Transformed, renewed, forever whole,

From old to young… on streets of gold.

To hold His hand, no longer old;

Transformed, renewed, forever whole,

AnnaBenpbkbnmrmpmpastorgeo #7771

Read this fresh Sunday Morning In Our Church Service

Saturday, June 6, 2026

DL Moody Quotes On The Return Of Christ

For This Blog Only

🌟 Quotes from D. L. Moody on the Return of Christ

“I look upon this world as a wrecked vessel. God has given me a lifeboat and said to me, ‘Moody, save all you can.’” — spoken in the context of Christ’s soon coming.
“The best way to prepare for the coming of the Lord is to get others ready.”
“I never preach a sermon without thinking that possibly the Lord may come before I finish.”
“The Lord has left us here to work until He comes. Let us be found faithful.”
“I believe the next thing on God’s program is the coming of Christ.”
“If we are looking for Christ’s return, it will keep us from looking for the world’s rewards.”
“The thought of His coming should make us watchful, prayerful, and full of love.”

A TRUE STORY OF AWAKENING TO THE LIGHT OF CHRIST

For This Blog Post Only

A TRUE STORY OF AWAKENING TO THE LIGHT OF CHRIST

The Night John Newton Saw the Light John Newton was not always the man who wrote “Amazing Grace.” Before Christ found him, he was a hardened sailor, a man who mocked God, cursed His name, and lived with a heart as stormy as the sea he sailed. He had heard the gospel as a child—his mother whispered Scripture into his ears before she died—but he buried those memories deep beneath years of rebellion. Then came the night of the storm. Newton’s ship was caught in a violent tempest in the North Atlantic. Waves towered like mountains. The hull groaned. Men screamed. Death felt inches away. Newton worked the pumps for hours, soaked, exhausted, terrified. At one point, he was certain the ship would split in two. And in that moment— when fear stripped away every excuse, every argument, every layer of pride— a cry rose from his soul: “Lord, have mercy on us.” He didn’t plan to pray. He didn’t think he deserved to pray. But the cry came anyway— from a place deeper than fear, from a memory planted long ago, from a God who had never stopped pursuing him. And something happened. Not outside— the storm still raged. But inside— light broke in. Newton later said it was as if a candle had been lit in a room he didn’t know was dark. He felt conviction. He felt mercy. He felt the presence of Christ pressing into his soul. The storm eventually calmed. The ship survived. But Newton was not the same man who had entered that night. He wrote later: “I once was blind, but now I see.” It wasn’t poetry. It was testimony. The Light of Christ had risen in his heart— not in a church, not in a quiet moment, but in the middle of terror, in the middle of sin, in the middle of a storm he could not control. That night became the beginning of his transformation— from slave trader to preacher, from mocker of God to worshiper, from darkness to light. 🌟 The Truth of His Awakening Christ did not wait for Newton to clean up. Christ did not wait for him to be worthy. Christ did not wait for him to be ready. The Light came into the darkness— and the darkness could not overcome it. And the same Jesus who rose in Newton’s heart still rises in hearts today.

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Story About D.L. Moody

For This Blog Post Only

✨ A TRUE AWAKENING STORY FROM HISTORY

The Night D.L. Moody Met the Living Christ

Dwight L. Moody was already a preacher.
He was already filling pews.
He was already doing “the work of God.”
But something was missing — something deep, something alive, something burning.

He later admitted that he preached with effort, but not with power.
He worked for God, but he didn’t yet walk with God.

Then came the two praying women.

Every Sunday, two elderly women sat on the front row of Moody’s church in Chicago.
They didn’t clap.
They didn’t shout.
They didn’t even say “Amen.”

They prayed.

After several weeks, Moody finally asked them why.

Their answer stunned him:

“We are praying that you will be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Moody was offended at first.
He thought he was doing fine.
But their words wouldn’t leave him.

Then came the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Moody’s church burned.
His home burned.
His city burned.
Everything he had built with his own strength was suddenly gone.

And in the ashes of that disaster, Moody realized something:

He needed more than skill.
More than sermons.
More than effort.

He needed Christ Himself — the Light of the World — to rise in his heart.

Then came the encounter.

One day, walking down Wall Street in New York City, Moody felt the presence of God surround him like a warm, overwhelming flood.
He later said it was as if heaven opened and poured love straight into his soul.

He had to find a room — any room — just to be alone with God.

There, in that quiet place, Moody met Christ in a way he never had before.
Not as an idea.
Not as a doctrine.
But as the living Light.

He said:

“I was filled with a sense of His love that I had never known before.”

When he returned to preaching, everything changed.

His sermons were the same length.
His voice was the same.
His style was the same.

But now —
the Light of Christ burned through every word.

Thousands were saved.
Cities were shaken.
Revival spread across continents.

Moody said:

“The sermons I preached before were like straw.
The sermons after were like fire.”

What awakened him?

Not tragedy.
Not success.
Not effort.

But an encounter with the Light of Christ —
the Day Star rising in his heart,
the same Light that still awakens souls today.

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Saturday, June 20, 2026

“Dad Has Been My Hero” A Reading

Sunday, June 14, 2026

🫏 Melvin & Melvina: The Picnic Predicament

🫏 Melvin & Melvina: The Picnic Predicament

Susan Barker Nikitenko 2026©
MBAnnaBenPbKbPmRmNmPastGeo #7065