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or those of you who TIRE of hearing story after story about insects, animals and creepy crawly things.....I suggest you close out this page NOW as this is ANOTHER story about one of God's creations!
Saturday, Mary and I were sitting on the patio, enjoying the day. Dale and Easton were here and Dale had just finished mowing the grass for us (THANKS DALE!!:), while Easton was hanging out on the patio with us. All of a sudden, a hummingbird came flying onto the patio! He zoomed over my head and flew back and forth. On his final pass over my head, he flew straight into the screen on the porch and his long beak shoved right through the screen and he ended up stuck right on the screen!!!
OF COURSE, I started freaking out! I jumped up and grabbed my camera (naturally!!!) and watched the little fellow flapping his wings as hard as he could, trying desperately to free his beak from the screen, but to no avail. Easton and I were
running back and forth on the patio trying to figure out what to do! I finally decided I'd go outside and push his beak through from the other side of the screen. When I did, I ran back inside and he immediately went down to the floor. I thought he was hurt but then he came up off the patio floor and flew up and down several times but each time going back to the floor, only the last time, he layed on his back, belly up!
I was livid and about to cry as I thought he was hurt badly and dying. I really was beside myself! All I knew to do was to try to scoop him up in my hand, so I did. I reached down to him and gently picked him up and layed him in the palm of my hand and he layed right there as if he were a little puppy in my hand! I've never seen anything like it in my life! As he lay in my hand, I had the opportunity to look closely at this gorgeous little bird. Truly, they are incredible little creatures. I wish I'd of had someone take a picture of me holding him, but I was so intent on making sure he was alright and could still fly that the moment of opportunity got away and I missed it.
I walked him outside and headed toward my camphor tree, which they love, and one of the hanging plants on the tree. As soon as I reached up to place him in the plant, he flew straight up to the very top of the tree, pretty as ever.
I began shouting and praising God for the little fellow being ok. When he was belly up on the floor, I had looked at Easton and said, "Oh Lord, please let him be alright." AND HE WAS! God answered my humble cry for this little bird. I was so thrilled that he hadn't been harmed through the ordeal and he was off to enjoy another day!!!
OK, OK.....I know how silly I sound, but I don't really care. This type of thing means the world to me, nature lover that I am, and I've come to know that God allows me these sweet moments to bring great joy to my life.
I will never forget that moment, never. Neither will Mary. She was nearly as excited as I was! She spends almost all of her awake moments sitting on that patio watching the hummers, other birds and squirrels. She'd never seen anything like that happen either and I just believe in my heart that God did that for Mary and myself. In these, Mary's last days, she has come to love watching these hummers and I felt like God had unwrapped a gift for her and for me. It was the topic of conversation for the rest of the day!
Once again, I must say, thanks God. You are just too amazing for mere words. They do not do you justice. You are so good to me. Oh, and by the way God, how in the world did you make such unbelieveably gorgeous irridesent colors on a hummingbird? Where in heavens name did you get that idea? You did good God, you did good!!!
TONIGHT, I'm wondering how He bore the pain
The pain that I inflicted upon Him
TONIGHT, my heart aches for the times I've let Him down
And selfishly done things my way
TONIGHT, I'm amazed that he wore a crown of thorns
For a wretch such as I
TONIGHT, two thousand years later
I am aware still what He did for me
TONIGHT, God, I am thankful, once again,
That I have not turned my back on You
That You pursued me and I surrendered
TONIGHT, once again, I say,
I love you Lord. What more can I say?
Today, for a few moments, I drank in the glory of God's precious creations. In a difficult moment, I simply stepped out front to watch butterflies dancing across the flowers they were drinking in. I stood transfixed as I cherished the moment of splendor. I had to grab my camera to capture the moments that lay before me, as a reminder of the MOMENT OF RESPITE God had given me. After branding the image into my memory, I walked out back just as a hummingbird was coming down to drink. Another MOMENT OF RESPITE happening before my eyes.
I am ever so humbled by the sweetness of a mighty God who has His eye on me, small, insignificant me. The same God who spoke creation into existence has me on His mind! I can't think of anything that compares to that, can you? Oh my gosh, He cares enough about Barb that He knew at that moment, one of the things that would thrill my heart so much would be glimpes of His creature creations! Man, he's good.
As I ponder the wonders of this universe and I grab hold of what a tiny piece of this BIG creation I am, I am forced to lay humbled, face down, on the floor beneath me. I am nothing and yet, He thinks I'm something! Thanks God, for allowing me A MOMENT OF RESPITE today. You are just too cool!
For so long I have prayed for you
Days and nights I've sought the Lord
Tears of sorrow have flowed freely
Tears of desperation continue
You've been gone too long
The world has deceived you
You've been trapped in its' web
But you aren't even struggling
To break free
Your comfortable in its' silk
You've forgotten who you once were
Do you even remember?
Once or twice you've glimpsed
The peace that HE can bring
But you run back to the web of despair
How long will you run sinner?
How far away do you think you can go?
There is not one place HE cannot see you
You are so desperately missed by HIM and us
WHEN WILL YOU COME HOME?
For many of us, A SOFT ANSWER to a difficult question, an angry conversation, a confrontation or the like, can be almost impossible to accomplish. We WANT to answer people in a nice way, or at least some people do, but holding our temper, controlling our emotions and crucifying the flesh is so so hard.
Tonight, I am so proud of my husband. Actually, I am WAY more than proud, I am BEAMING. I don't know when I have ever been this proud of him. Confrontation, for Darrel is EXTREMELY difficult, and I DO mean difficult! He avoids it like the plague and would rather drink castor oil than deal with confrontation. He isn't a wordy man or one who is even good with "conversation" so "confrontation" is very far beyond what is comfortable for him.
Earlier this evening, Darrel handled a very tough situation for me. It was not my place to handle it, as the woman, it really was his. He paced a little, rubbed his chin a little and I could hear his stomach churning from the outside! But, he picked up the phone and when he opened his mouth.....God spoke.
I'm serious.....it was like God opened Darrel's mouth and spoke through him. He was, at that moment, the epitome of, "A SOFT ANSWER TURNS AWAY WRATH." He was to the point, but gentle and kind. The response on the other end of the phone was the total opposite of what we expected. As a matter of fact, not only was the reply on the other end one of humility, but half hour later, our phone rang and it was the same person calling back to apologize NOT for how they had responded to Darrel but for their initial behavior that had prompted the phone call to start with.
I firmly and with all my heart believe that because of the way my husband handled the situation and how gently, carefully and God-honoring he chose his words, God blessed the situation. Because he spoke with "soft words," not accusingly or harshly, the person on the other end also seemed to change their demeanor.
I am so thankful for what I witnessed tonight. Once again, it proves that when we are OBEDIENT to the infallible Word of God, He blesses beyond what we can imagine. As Johnny always says...."Blessings Always Follows Obedience." Today, Darrel was obedient to what God's Word says and we were incredibly blessed. Thanks God for showing Yourself true once again!
The miles I've traveled have been many. Some of them, flew by as the scenery was so lovely, majestic even. My eyes at many times could hardly take in the vast beauty of it all. Life was good, the traveling was easy, almost effortless. I seemed to easily get from one destination to the next without feeling exhausted or spent. Days were smooth like velvet, sleep came easy and dreams were sweet when I traveled those roads.
And then, there have been other roads I have traveled. Some of these roads left my shoes worn, my feet calloused and my body weary. There were trecherous hills along the way, some of which I barely was able to ascend. Often at a crossroads, I wasn't sure which road to take. My canteen of water was empty, my food supply exhausted and my shoes of no more use to me. Sometimes, I even got lost along the way and confusion and fear gripped my heart. Weary, I would fall to the ground and waver over giving up or continuing on the road I was on. Decisions were difficult, even thinking through things could be a struggle. Confusion seemed to be my best friend.
I have traveled far on THE ROAD BEHIND ME. Although many of the roads I have walked have not led me to the place I REALLY wanted to be, I am so grateful to my God that the road I walk on now is a road I shall never veer off of.
THE ROAD BEHIND ME is exactly that.....
It's The road BEHIND me! I am no longer condemned to travel down a road that I know will bring destruction and ruin. HALLELUJAH! I will never have to come to a crossroad again and NOT know what to do. NOW, I KNOW what to do and that is a pretty
simple thing to know...
SIMPLY FOLLOW CHRIST! I will keep my spiritual blinders on so that the roads that could draw me away from being on the Road to Calvary, cannot be seen by me, only THE ROAD ahead of me.
Thank you God for THE ROAD BEHIND ME for it has led me TO THE ROAD TO CALVARY! I have learned much from my travels. Thank you for sustaining me with your love and guidance.
IF YOU WERE A SONG Lord, I'd sing you from the top of my lungs..
If You were a mountain Lord, I'd climb You with all my might....
If You were a rainbow Lord, I'd bathe in the colors You'd made....
If You were a tree Lord, I'd build my house in Your limbs...
If You were a meadow Lord, I'd run through your grass and laugh at the wind...
If You were the ocean Lord, I'd immerse myself in You day and night...
If You were the sky Lord, I'd marvel at the expanse of You....
If You were.....
If You were.....
But God....
YOU ARE! You are everything, everywhere all the time! YOU ARE GOD!
IF YOU WERE A SONG Lord, Your music would be on my lips throughout the day and night.
YOU are my song Lord, You.
"How can I say thanks, for the things He has done for me...
Things so undeserved, yet He gave to prove His love for me...
The voices of a million angels, could not express my gratitude...
All that I am or ever hope to be...
I owe it all to Thee...
To God be the glory..
To God be the glory...
To God be the glory...
For the things He has done...
With His blood He has saved me...
With His power He has raised me...
To God be the glory, for the things He has done."
Today is a good day to love....
It's a good day to embrace one another....
A good day to watch the sun rise...
It's a good day to savor the richness of chocolate...
To observe the hummingbird as she hovers over the feeder...
It's a good day to tell someone you love them.....
To visit someone who is ill....
It's a good day to help someone in need....
To tell your parents you're thankful for all they did for you....
It's a good day to share Jesus with someone.....
To thank God for His goodness, mercy and forgiveness....
LIFE IS SHORT....
TODAY is a GOOD DAY.
Today, we said our last goodbyes to Sam. As I sat and listened to 3 of his children and his 21 year old granddaughter speak of their beloved dad & PopPop, I was overwhelmed.
Sam left a legacy. The legacy he left was integrity, wisdom, love, leadership, godliness, knowing and loving the Word, friendship, fatherhood, counselor, and many more qualities that he taught his children, grandchildren and friends.
As I listened to story after story, all I could think was, "Lord, I WANT TO LEAVE A LEGACY like Sam has. Sam lived out exactly what he believed. His life was a living testament to His Lord and Savior. He was a walking breathing example of Christ in every way. I shall never know another man that I looked up to and depended upon like I did Sam. Just about 8 or 10 weeks ago, I went through a crisis situation. I needed godly counsel and I needed it right that minute. I went right to the phone and called Sam. I never even thought of calling anyone else. It was Sam that I turned to for wisdom and guidance and he was always there to give it not just to me, but to anyone who would listen. He prayed for me first, then he listened to me, then we talked about it and prayed again. By the end of the conversation, I had the answer I needed. That was Sam.
My tears were selfish today. I'm going to miss Sam so very much. I often felt as though no one understood me like Sam did. He just seemed to have wisdom that was so deep, I knew that God must have revealed things to him. He always understood me and gave me the counsel I desperately needed at that moment, as well as the love and encouragement. I don't believe anyone prayed for my family as much as Sam did.
I WANT TO LEAVE A LEGACY Lord. One that my children and grandchildren can live out long after I am gone. That's the greatest of gifts I want to leave them all...a legacy of You.
Nichole Nordeman penned this song, which is one of my favorites and says how I feel...
I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace
Who blessed Your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy
Tonight, I am tired. When we're physically weary, all we want to do is curl up somewhere comfortable and safe and go to sleep.
The thought of curling up into the big arms of Christ and falling gently and safely asleep, sounds so wonderful right now. It brings me immense comfort to know that He holds His arms outstretched to me and I can choose to rest in His arms anytime I want to.
Tonight, as I crawl into my "not-so-comfortable" bed, in my heart, I'm going to be curling up with Jesus and resting in His arms of love.
"Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest."
Matthew 11:28
I'm coming Lord, I'm coming and I know you WILL give me rest in your arms. I love you Jesus. Good night.
Have you been to the nursing home lately? When you walk the halls there and go room to room, you will see hand after hand reach out to you. Each one desires to be held, to be touched. When was the last time you were around someone who got hurt, whether physically or emotionally? What is your usual response? To touch them.
There is POWER IN THE HUMAN TOUCH. Who doesn't love a hug, a hand to be held or your face to be touched with love? Most everyone loves to be shown they are loved and a big part of showing people you love them is by reaching out and touching them. I have to say that I'm often a little leary of people who don't like to be touched! I grew up in a family that did a lot of hugging/kissing/touching and I raised my family the same way.
Each day, with those I love, I make sure that I reach out and touch them. The gentle touch of a hand upon a shoulder, a pat on the head, a hand held or a sweet embrace. They are all equally important and necessary in our daily lives. We all thrive on love and knowing that people care.
THE POWER OF THE HUMAN TOUCH is much more immense than we may think about. It's healing, it's like a balm that covers us from head to toe and soothes us. A touch covers the hurt, erases the pain and fills the heart with oozing warmness.
How about it? Have you hugged your husband, your brother or sister, your child, your loved one, your friend today? Why not?
Remember, there's POWER IN THE HUMAN TOUCH. Someone's waiting for you.
Debbie S. and I are on the same wave length. I was just going to post my blog for the night but clicked on Deb's post first. She, like myself, felt led to pay tribute to our Sam.
I heard the name Sam & Jackie F. from our senior pastor some years back. I still remember the moment. I was secretary at the church then and it was just Johnny and I. He had gone to visit this couple the night before. As Johnny came in and sat down in front of my desk the following morning, he shared what an amazing couple Sam and Jackie were. He shared with me how in love with Jesus they were and how blessed they had made him feel to have spent time with them. He went on and on about this precious couple. Johnny said their passion for Christ was incredible and he had experienced one of the sweetest home visits he'd ever had. I remember both of us, at that time, hoping that this dear couple would become a part of RRC. And they did.
Sam and Jackie meant so much to all of us. To me, they were like adopted parents. Sam always reminded me of my own father and he even took the role of a "grandfather" to my oldest son DJ. I've always believed that God sent Sam to all of us, but I know he came for my family too. You see, Sam felt he was called to minister to my son DJ. He tried to mentor him, met with him, talked with him, called him on the phone and even got a job for him. He believed in my son when many did not. He saw in DJ what others could not. He knew the potential that DJ had and wanted desperately to see him reach that potential. He never let go of DJ, never stopped praying for his return to Christ nor interceding for him and his family. Sam did what many of us say we'll do but often don't....pray. He meant business and he did literally everything he could to bring my son back to Christ. Even just a couple months ago when Sam was getting so weak, he wanted to see DJ face to face. He asked if we could meet him halfway from down south Florida where he has moved to, just so he could talk to him. He was so weak and his voice so weak and yet he continued to pray and be concerned about my son to want to see him.
Sam lived the Christian life. He was a role model to us all. I've cried on Sam's shoulder more than once as we prayed together and begged God to move. Just a short time ago when I was angered over something and hurt at the same time, it was Sam that I called for advice, prayer and help. And help me he did. I thought I was going to explode when I called Sam, I was so upset. He was so calm and he spoke words of love and peace into my life.
Sam was ONE OF MY HEROES. I'm going to bet I'm not the only one saying that, but he truly was. I will never be the same because of him and I will never forget what Sam has done on behalf of my family. Never.
I'll miss you Sam. Thank you for loving me so much, for inspiring me to pursue Christ as though my life depended on it (cause it does) and for teaching me how to love others without judgement. Thank you for listening endless hours on the phone to me when I needed a godly ear to bounce things off and when I simply just needed encouragement in my walk with Christ. You never put me on hold or asked me to call back later. You always had time for me.
This earth has lost one of its' greatest Christians but heaven has received one of its' sweetest saints.
Sam....ONE OF MY HEROES. I love you.
The SEASONS OF LIFE are truly so short. As each one passes and our age begins to catch up with us, we realize just how short each season really was.
Wasn't it just yesterday that I learned to ride my bicycle? Didn't I just pack away my first and only prom dress? Wasn't it just a few years ago that I said, "I do?" Can it be nearly 37 years ago that I heard my first of 3 babies cry?
Now I am in the "over 55" SEASON OF LIFE. It's like my senses are awakening more than ever before. Every sweet sound, be it the sound of one of my grandchildren's voices, the sound the chickadee makes or the rain on the roof, they are so much sweeter to me than ever before.
Chocolate tastes better, possessions mean less, family means more, each hour is more cherished, each new dawn another gift that I've been given. In this SEASON OF LIFE, I seem to understand the value of life more, I cherish it more deeply and am in tune with people more precisely. When I look into the eyes of another, I see more because I take the time to see more. I'm slower, but I'm more aware than ever before.
Time is so sweet, conversations like gemstones, phone calls from my children are like Christmas gifts, sunrises are like paintings personally done for me by my Savior. Life is good, life is good but it's because I see it more clearly now, more completely, more like it should be seen all along only I was too young and selfish to see it back then.
In this SEASON OF MY LIFE, I want to thank God for helping me see clearer the significance and meaning of this indescribable gift that He's given me......life. I also want to thank Mary for helping to teach me, through her illness, that life is short. I do not think that we can ever grasp that fact until we are told that we do not have many days to live. Being with her every day, watching her health fail and seeing her do everything she can to drink in every last drop of life before she lives it on this earth no more, has changed me.
Oh God, the Giver of Life and the Restorer of my soul, I thank You for this SEASON OF LIFE that I am in. I appreciate it Lord, more than mere words can say but you know my heart God. Help me to embrace every second and keep my mind steadfast on You. In the meantime God, I will cherish this SEASON OF LIFE that I am in.
I love you.
Amen.
IF YOU HAVE LOVE....you do the unthinkable
IF YOU HAVE LOVE....you forget the unforgettable
IF YOU HAVE LOVE....you never mind going the extra mile
IF YOU HAVE LOVE....you never tire of showing kindness
IF YOU HAVE LOVE....you smile when you feel like crying
IF YOU HAVE LOVE....you pray when you want to give up
IF YOU HAVE LOVE....you give your last dime
IF YOU HAVE LOVE....you love the unlovable
IF YOU HAVE LOVE....you do the impossible
IF YOU HAVE LOVE....you desire the best for everyone
IF YOU HAVE LOVE....you love those who have hurt you
Do you have LOVE?
This weekend about 50 or more of our youth from grades 6-12 will spend the weekend in bible study, fellowship and lots of fun! We love youth at our church and do our best to invest wisely into their lives. Without clear godly direction, it is simply just too easy to loose our youth to the junk of this world and we don't want to loose any of them.
Satan is so slick and so patient. He does not give up or give in. He wants our youth. He desires to drag them down and it is our responsibility to be Jesus to them. We must DISCIPLE THEM NOW and teach them by example and set a standard for them.
I am so thankful to be a member of a church who pours into the lives of youth. I pray that each of our youth, and I have granchildren involved in this, come back home on Sunday changed forever. I pray that this is the weekend they become sold out for Jesus. They are our responsibility as an older generation to model before them, reprimand them, love them, encourage them, pray for them and show them Jesus.
Thanks RRC for caring about our youth. After all, they are our next generation and we would do well to give that fact some serious consideration the next time we decide we don't want to be bothered with them.
Every second, every minute, every hour, every day,
every week, every month, every year....
I NEED YOU GOD.
I NEED YOU.
I NEED YOU.
I NEED YOU.
I need You now.
The heart of Christ is for me to know Him better.
To know Him better, my mind and heart must be emptied of that which is not pleasing to Him.
My flesh screams at me and reminds me of the pain almost constantly. I don't want to let go of the junk and filth that revile my body and soul. It feels good to my flesh, it's comfortable and I wear it like I wear an old robe. Some of the junk in my life has been there so long that to shed it off would seem like more than I could bear. It's just too comfortable to let go of....but....
I want to be more like Him...I want to....I want to....but I'm afraid to let go of that comfortable cloak of filth that covers me up and keeps me feeling secure. I want to, I want to, I want to.
With each challenge, with each trial, with each test, I pull my cloak of filth around me tighter. I want to throw it off of myself and be purged from within but that would mean I'd have to leave myself behind and trust Him completely. That would mean that I would stand before Him, exposed and open to all that I really am.
PURGE ME, O GOD....help me to drop my cloak and stop trying to hide what you already know lies under it. Help me to be purged from within and without so that I may look more like You.
I want to look like You Lord. I want to let go and not remain clothed in this filth.
I want to.....I want to.
Today, as Mary and I sat on the back porch, she opened up a wonderful conversation about the forgiveness of God.
She began telling me some of the sins she had committed in the past, before her salvation. As she recounted them, they got a bit bigger with each one. She stopped for a moment and gazed out into the backyard. Her face was very serious and then she said....
"But, CAN HE FORGIVE ME OF THAT?" I nearly cried. She has been taught bits and pieces of wrong doctrine over the years and Darrel and I have been sitting daily with her just sharing Jesus, His truths, His Word and His promises with her. With each conversation and as each Truth has been revealed, tears flowed. Her face has lit up and you have literally been able to see the weights lifted off of her tiny shoulders. She has been so concerned about her past life and is finally fully beginning to comprehend that when she was washed in the blood and her sins forgiven, they were ALL forgiven! FREEDOM....she has begun to experience real FREEDOM in Christ. What a priviledge to see these miracles happening.
Mary is no different than anyone else on this planet. Millions of us reject Christ because we think we can never be forgiven of ALL of our sins. "Surely God can't forgive me of THAT, can He?"
YEP....He sure can and He sure will. How grateful Darrel and I are to have this opportunity to see the light of Jesus beginning to shine in Mary. With her whole heart, she loves the Lord. God has answered our prayers regarding her salvation.
We will continue to wait and pray for those we love so much and have still not experienced this FREE gift of forgiveness. God is able, God is able.
Almost daily, I ask myself this very question. Followed by that question, I always tell God that I just wish He would write me a letter so I knew for SURE what He was doing and why.
But He's never done that yet. But what He does do is this.
He gives me that calm reassurance that He IS at work and sometimes, He even gives me a glimpse of what He's up to.
But today, once again, I asked Him WHAT ARE YOU UP TO GOD? I wanted to get aggravated and loose my patience and question Him as to what in the world could He possibly be thinking to allow this situation. Then He reminds me that we people were born with free wills and we get to choose our lives and living and there are millions all over this planet who have chosen to live miserable lives, even though they like to try to convince themselves that their lives are so perfect..... Hhhhmmmmmmmmmmm....
Does God not know how absolutely stupid some of us are???? Good grief! Some of us shouldn't even have the right to make our own choices because it appears that all they know how to do is make bad ones:( Ok, ok.....I know I'm sounding cynical here, but God knows my heart and right this minute, that's where I'm at with how I'm feeling.
Thank goodness that He DOES know what He's up to. I don't have to know and probably if I did, I'd get in the way of His perfect work. I need to stop asking Him this question, but I admit, it sure is hard some days and this is one of those days.
Today, KINDNESS was exhibited everywhere I looked.
Early this morning, Woody, Tommy B, Butch and Eddie showed up to help us move Mary. There is no doubt, all of these precious men had many other things they needed to be doing, but instead, they came to help us.
After getting everything loaded and brought back here to our home, Woody & Tommy went to get Mary one of her favorites....a chocolate shake from BK! When they brought it back, they stayed and chatted with us awhile as we sat on our back patio. It was a sweet time in the Lord together. Mary calls Woody, "Milkshake" OR, one of his newer nicknames is "Short Visit" because she says his visits have gotten too short lately! She called Tommy "T-shirt" cause he always wears t-shirts! Darrel's nickname is "Teddy Bear" cause he's nice and sweet looking like a teddy bear and mine is "Ladybug" cause she says good luck has been brought into her life since I came into it. I've tried to tell her that her "good luck" has nothing to do with me, but EVERYTHING to do with Jesus!
Then shortly after they left and we ate some lunch, Nancy dropped by to pray for Mary and for us. It was such a precious act of KINDNESS and I know how much it blessed Mary's heart, as well as mine. What she did only took a few moments and yet it made Mary's day.
The old saying, "A little bit of KINDNESS goes a long way" is still true today. Not to mention it's one of the Fruits of the Spirit that we should live by daily.
Thank you God for those who freely exhibited the simple act of KINDNESS today. Once again, You have used your children to display Your love to us. My heart is full.
Tomorrow morning, Darrel and I will take the next path on this journey we have been priviledged to walk with Mary. We'll pack up the last of her things at her apartment and bring her here, with us. We feel so blessed to have this honor. Oh yes, don't get me wrong, we are walking AN UNKNOWN PATH and because of that, we are a bit frightened and concerned.
But we know, without a shadow of doubt, that God has called us to this great task and if He has called us, then He WILL equip us. He would not have called us to do something that He would refuse to equip us for. So we rest in Him about the days ahead of us.
We will walk down this UNKNOWN PATH together, God, Darrel, myself and Mary. We cling to His promises, His love, His peace and His wisdom. We humbly ask that you pray for Darrel and I as we care for Mary until the Lord calls her home. But mostly, we beg you to pray for her.
Just as God told Moses and Joshua that He would never leave them nor forsake them, Darrel and I cling to this promise also.
Thank you for praying for us. We are blessed.
Crawling....I slowly made my way to Him.....in search of His lap
Walking....I stumbled towards Him.....in search of His arms
Running....I raced in His direction.....in search of His embrace
Crying....I looked into His face.....in search of comfort
Laughing...I smiled into His eyes....in search of His joy
THE QUEST of all He freely gives me....
THE QUEST will always continue until I breathe my last.
In Time.....
All things will be made new
The old will pass away
That which we didn't understand
Will be understood
That which was painful
Will no longer hurt
That which we shed tears over
Will then bring rejoicing
That which brought sorrow
Will bring joy.
IN TIME....
We will understand it all.
I long for that day.
My dear and old friend Connie, has been blessing me with words of wisdom regarding my precious friend Mary. Mary has terminal cancer and more than likely, unless the Lord intervenes, does not have long to live. I asked Connie for words of wisdom regarding what I should know in the coming days as Darrel and I walk through this illness with Mary. Since we will be moving her in with us this weekend, I welcome wisdom from those who have walked this path before.
One nugget of wisdom that she shared with me was to "watch for MOMENTS OF CLARITY" as Mary speaks, as those moments of clarity in her mind, might be the last ones she shares with me. You see, the cancer has spread from her lungs, to adrenal glands, to lymph nodes and now is in her brain. As her mental clarity is failing daily, these were precious gold nuggets to me and have made me aware of the importance of truly listening to everything she says, for words spoken from her heart to mine, could be the last ones at any given moment.
Today though, I'm the one who had A MOMENT OF CLARITY. Here I am watching and listening and hanging on her every word, when right in the middle of me listening to her, I was the one who had the MOMENT OF CLARITY.
I'm going to do my level best to express what's deep in my heart and what I felt at that moment.
I sat beside her, holding her hand, tears in my eyes. Her plate lay before her after having eaten her favorite daily onion rings from BK, the smell of them still in the air. The air was hot and so sticky, as she goes without AC to save on her electric bill. In front of me on the table, lay all the paperwork left behind from Hospice, the social worker and the man who delivered her oxygen today. A hummingbird had just flown away from the feeder out front that Darrel hung for her and it brought a smile to both of our faces. Boxes lay on the floor that I had packed in preparation for moving her here with us. For the first time, I noticed how beautiful the blue in her little eyes was and how wrinkled her face was. It was as though time stood still for a moment right then. She shared her love for the Lord and what she knows He has done in her life. Clearly, I felt as though every detail in the room was alive in my head. She gripped my hands and with clarity, shared with me, once again, how much she loves me and Darrel and my whole family. She thanked me over and over for caring for her and loving her so much. In that moment, clarity came to me.
THIS, at that moment, was what life as a Christian is all about. THIS was a moment I shall never forget. I realized with great clarity the importance of what I was experiencing and it is burned into my memory.
A simple, but favorite meal, eaten together with a friend....
The power of the human touch as we held hands....
The beauty of the hummingbird, one of God's creations, to enjoy together....
The appreciation of my friends "blue" eyes....not brown, not green, but blue....
The TIME we were spending together, just sitting enjoying each other's company....
The LOVE that we feel for each other....
Talking about our Savior together and how much He's done for us....
Today, God gave ME a precious moment of clarity about what is REALLY important in our lives. Mary has helped me see the simpleness of life and how living it simply, spending time together, doing things for one another and enjoying simple pleasures in life. THIS is what is important.
Thanks Connie for your words of wisdom and thank you Lord for the special time you blessed me with today. I shall never forget.
This non-fiction book was written by the author as a help to all women to be able to better understand our husbands, brothers and sons. The author delves into the minds of men after some 20 years of counseling experience as well as her deep faith in Christ, which scripturally helps to guide her and give her understanding.
The author did a wonderful job conveying her knowledge of men and used many scriptures to back up her feelings and beliefs. As much as I enjoyed the book and learned from it, when I had finished reading it, I realized that much of what she had said was really common sense knowledge about men that we all should know. But, it was good to hear it and reinforce it to the reader. She definitely made me stop and spend time thinking about what she had said and where I can most certainly improve. We need to be reminded of the pressures men in general are under and how to respond to them in love.
I enjoyed the book as a reminder of the importance of learning how to listen and to love my husband and would recommend it to any woman with a husband, son or brother she'd like to understand better.
Who doesn't love Saturdays? I was just remembering as a child how I couldn't wait for the school bell to ring on Friday afternoon cause that meant I had all day Saturday to get into trouble, walk all over God's green acres, catch tadpoles and frogs and play till my hearts content.
Saturdays were THE best day of the week for me back then.
Nowadays, I LOVE SATURDAYS for a totally different reason. Saturdays mean TOMORROW is right around the corner and TOMORROW is SUNDAY.....
Which is NOW my favorite day of the week!
Now I find myself on Saturdays feeling an excitement that begins building in the pit of my stomach around mid-day. All I can think about is our services the following day, those who might come to know Jesus, the preaching, the music, my SS class of precious young ladies and how I LOVE teaching them, dinner with my family and everything else that Sundays involve. I just LOVE Sundays!
I LOVE SATURDAYS now because the following day is SUNDAY....
My favorite day of the week! I can't wait for our services tomorrow and the wonderful fact of knowing that I personally know the Savior who died on the cross for me. It's my joy to gather with others to praise His holy and precious name!
I can't wait!
