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After a 10 month long battle with glioblastoma, brain cancer, my sister lost the fight this morning.
How do I face the rest of this week and the process of the funeral? In the flesh, I have absolutely no idea. I only know this....HE is my Rock, the One I must lean and depend on, more than ever before. He will walk through this with me, just as He has every other difficult time in my life.
There is much I could write about my big sister. I will forever remember the laughter, the jokes, the sister trips we took together, our joy with each grandchild we rejoiced in, the silliness that we all so wonderfully enjoyed and how we could bring the house down, no matter where we were, with our loud laughter!
In this first picture, Lou, Pat & I, posing in front of the B/B we stayed in while in Amish Country a year ago. The second pic is Pat, Me & Lou at Falling Water, in PA. The next pic is Pat, Lou & I at the restaurant at the ski resort where they have a condo. The last two photos were taken the last time we were together. As she waved goodbye, this was the final time I saw her standing up.
All these years, we 3 have been sisters and friends. My heart grieves in the knowlege that she is gone but through the tears, God whispers gently in my ear that He hears my heart and Psalms 56:8 reminds me of this...
"You have taken account of my wanderings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?"
HE has caught my tears....he knows the brokenness of my heart.....he knows the depth of my anguish and He cares enough to catch my tears in His bottle.
How can I thank my God enough for this?? Is it possible?? Even now as I write, I feel Him holding my heart in the palm of His hand. It's although He is reaching in to comfort me. Thank You Father, thank You....You know my heart and You hear me.
GOODBYE, MY DEAR SISTER.....tonight I thank God for the 62 years He allowed all of us to know and love you. Your little sister loved you more than you knew and I shall miss you the rest of my days.
Thank you God, for my big sister.....Mary Lou.....
This afternoon, nine of our middle school girls had the incredible opportunity to "sit at the feet" of Mrs. Jackie F. and be taught how to arrange flowers! As we sat and listened and watched her, she beautifully made 10 arrangements....one for each of us to bring home. Each was totally different than the one before, each in a different container and every one of them absolutely lovely. The girls got to choose the one they wanted and I'm tickled to be able to say there was no arguing out of these young ladies, each was just tickled to have one of Mrs. Jackie's masterpiece's.
WE HAVE MUCH TO LEARN from our seniors, much. But are we willing to stop and listen long enough to hear what they have to say???
Proverbs 20:29 says, "The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old."
Why not take the time to listen to someone who's a generation or two older than you? They have experience that you do not. They know more than you simply because they've lived longer than you. You could learn much, if you'll give them the time of day. I challenge you to make plans this week to spend some time with one of our "seasoned" adults. You'll be so glad you did.
Tonight, I am so thankful for our widows who are so generously opening their homes, sharing their talents and blessing our young women's lives by sowing into them.
Somewhere around 12-14 years ago, Darrel and I were invited to go out onto the ocean on a friends 21 foot dive boat. I was invited along, more for the ride than anything, as everyone else was scuba diving. I am scuba certified but have never, nor will I ever, ocean dive. I admit, I'm just too skittish of all the "stuff" that's in there. Sooooo, on this particular day, I was just going to stay up top while all the guys went down diving.
Now, I was absolutely fine as we traveled about 20 miles out into the ocean. I was enjoying the ocean, the dolphins beside the boat, the wind in my hair and just the wonderful feeling I had while skimming the top of the water.
And then........the boat came to a stop.
The anchor was lowered and the r o c k i n g began.
UGHHHHHH.....As each diver suited up and went down, I got sicker and sicker and sicker. Needless to say, I christened the bow, the stern, portside and the starboard side! It was horrible and I mean HORRIBLE. I thought the guys would never come up from diving and I was sure I was going to loose everything that was within me and wither away to nothing before someone saved me from my obvious fate....death by vomitting!!!!!!!!!!! The anchor was holding steady but I was about to pass out! UGH AGAIN!
Have you ever experienced a time where turmoil abounded and you felt you could not go on? Maybe you were physically sick, like I was that time. Maybe you're spiritually sick or maybe you're even simply sin sick. Whatever, it doesn't seem to matter because we serve a God whose ANCHOR HOLDS through whatever type of storm you shall ever pass through.
When our faith abounds in Him...when we are anchored deep into the arms of Christ....when we have made the conscious choice that we are rooted and grounded firmly in Christ, we can rest assured that THE ANCHOR HOLDS! We shall not be washed ashore, washed aground, torn apart, drown or lost at sea!!!
THE ANCHOR HOLDS!!! We are safe....we've already been rescued!!! HALLELUJAH KING JESUS!!!
Some of the sweetest memories I have in my life, are the ones that were quiet moments spent with family and friends. Moments when hearts collided, smiles were shared and a oneness was felt amongst us. You know what I mean, I know you do! Some of my sweetest memories of my sisters are the ones where we were gathered together, walking, talking and sharing our hearts together. I remember years ago when Nancy J. and I used to walk together every morning. Those were precious times indeed. I miss them as they haven't happened in a long time and as for my 2 sisters and I, there will never be another time I will walk with both of them at my side. Those days are now behind with my sisters illness.
There is a comfort when you walk among family and friends. You feel loved and safe, at peace and a part of a bigger picture.
BUT...When I get hold of this verse......
"I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people." Leviticus 26:12
Oh man.....OH MAN.....OOOOOOOHHHHHH MAN!!!!
You mean HE, God the Almighty, the Creator, the Sustainer of all things....you mean HE walks with me??? I wish you could see my face right now but most especially, I wish you could see my heart. If you could, you'd see it's smiling right now.
At this season in my life, I find greater comfort than ever before in remembering HE walks with me. How incredible to know that Jesus is not a distant God ruling from His throne.
NOT AT ALL! He is here for us....DAILY....HOURLY....BY THE SECOND!!!
Tonight, I am so thankful that my God....MY GOD.....HE WALKS AMONG US!!! I'm never ever alone. That feels so good inside of me to know.
When you're lonely, afraid, sad, happy or whatever state you're in....HE'S right by your side. Why not go for a walk with HIM right now???
For the most part, no matter what we do, we leave behind the EVIDENCE of our actions. If we walk on the beach or new carpet, we leave behind our footprints. We can simply move through any place and leave a hair fallen from our head and our DNA is left behind. If we touch a door knob, our fingerprints are there and can easily be found. If we cook in the kitchen, not only is there a mess there to be cleaned up but even the smell permeating your home is EVIDENCE that you have cooked something.
Now, if we had NOT walked across that sand or carpet, left a fallen hair, touched a door knob or cooked a meal, rightly so, there would be no EVIDENCE of it. We must "do" something for there to be EVIDENCE that we have done it!!!
And so it is with our faith. Anyone can say, "I believe in God." It is extremely easy to speak these words but IF we say we believe in God, then where is the EVIDENCE of it??? Where is the proof that we have left behind from an action that has been accomplished??? What do we do on a daily basis to show the EVIDENCE of our great love for Christ and what He has done for all of us?
Good works are the EVIDENCE of genuine faith, the EVIDENCE left behind wherever faith has gone. In other words, right actions are the fingerprint of your faith. THE EVIDENCE!!!
Where faith exists, the EVIDENCE marks it as genuine.
"Father God, as I walk through this life I've been given, help me to live in such a way that I leave a trail of EVIDENCE of my faith in You. Let that EVIDENCE be sufficient so that someone might follow the trail to You. Thank You God, thank You."
Most of the time when I think about the words FINAL DESTINATION, they conjur up a plane ride to somewhere and the last leg of my journey. Most often, those plane rides take me to either one of my sisters homes either in Pennsylvania or California. I love traveling and being headed for just about anyywhere, always have.
But 31 years ago, I made the decision about where MY FINAL DESTINATION would be. I'm heaven bound when I leave this earth and I often long for the day.
Today during our youth nursing home visitation time, two ladies especially blessed our hearts. Their joy and peace in Christ dripped off of them and literally spilled out onto all of us who were there. When we walked up to 91 year old Mrs. Henry, her smile lit us all up! Although she recently suffered a broken hip, you would never ever know. Mrs. Henry never complains about anything. She praised her Lord and Savior for caring for her, helping her sleep so well and feeling better than she felt she even deserved. Her joy was obvious to each of our youth and spoke volumes to them. Then there was a new friend to us, 99 year old Mrs. Juanita. Her words of wisdom touched the girls and nearly made them cry. Her love for Jesus was open, forthright and so precious. She encouraged our youth to live for Him and daily prepare their lives for the day they too, would meet Him face to face. She and Mrs. Henry both were so appreciative of our visit but they blessed us more than they know.
After our visit today and our sweet conversations with these ladies and others also, it fills my heart with joy to know that MY FINAL DESTINATION won't be by plane.
MY FINAL DESTINATION????? I'm heavenbound....HALLELUJAH!!
Ever gone shopping looking for "just" the right outfit maybe for a particular occasion? Maybe it was a wedding, get-together, backyard bar-b-que or a special date. Of course, you've just got to have the shoes AND the jewelry to match the outfit also. When it's all finally purchased and put on, you feel like a million bucks and can't wait to go out in it.
As nice as clothing ourselves in just the right outfit is, God says the following...
"As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12
Hmmmmmmmmm.....sounds to me as though clothing ourselves FIRST in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, are MUCH more important than what we're clothing ourselves with on the outside. "Clothing" ourselves is a choice. When we go shopping looking for that perfect outfit, we don't just stand in front of the racks and know the outfit is gonna work. We "choose" to try it on, it doesn't just jump off the rack onto our body. We have to choose what to wear and take the time to clothe ourselves in it.
The same is applicable here. It is a daily choice to clothe ourselves in those things which God knows are more important.
So....WHAT ARE YOU WEARING tonight??? What will you wear tomorrow???
It's your choice.
Salt....most everyone loves it! It seasons just about everything well and seems to inhance the flavor of so many foods. It can be used for more than just seasoning food. Here are some of its' many uses...
Salt can clean a stained a coffee pot
Salt can kill weeds
Salt can soothe a bee sting
Salt can put out a grease fire
Salt can help keep your windows frost free in winter
Salt can keep your wicker furniture from yellowing
Salt can remove water stains from your wood furniture
Salt can clean your fishtank
There are dozens and dozens of interesting uses for salt that I just learned myself.
BUT....THE most useful and interesting use for salt is not found in our homes but found in the Word of God....
"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with SALT, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:6
When we think of SALT, we don't think of seasoning our conversation with it, but the Word tells us the importance of paying close attention to our speech.
"Lord, help us remember every time we open our mouth, to let our conversation be full of grace and seasoned with salt. There are many who hear us every day Lord. Let our words reflect the love we have for You so that the Gospel might be spread."
Hey....PASS THE SALT PLEASE!!!
Did you know that YOUR SMILE can make my day?
Did you know that YOUR SMILE can wash away my tears?
Did you know that YOUR SMILE can make me forget my problems?
Did you know that YOUR SMILE makes feel good all over?
Did you know that YOUR SMILE helps me to remember all that I am thankful for?
Did you know that YOUR SMILE warms my heart?
Did you know that YOUR SMILE lights up YOUR face as well as mine?
YOUR SMILE "CAN" make a difference in "MY" life AND the lives of others.
Will you share it with someone now?? How about tomorrow??? How about the next day??? Don't forget how important YOUR SMILE is!!! Someone's gonna need it soon and it might be me!!
Now get out there and SMILE!!!!! AND SMILE BIG!
"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones."
Proverbs 17:22
For months now, I have searched my ancestry and found some very interesting things. But, THE most important thing that I want to know, I can find little about. It's so cool to know that some of my family served in our military, held positions of honor, owned land and businesses and came from Ireland, England and beyond. They had children and grandchildren like me, husbands and families.
BUT....what I want to know is this.....Did they know Christ? Were they passionate about their relationship with Him? Did they spread His Gospel and serve in their local bodies of Christ? How I wish I knew and how I wish I could talk to them. So much I'd like to know but more than anything, I want to know if we shared our FAITH and if I am a product of them because of the faith they had. Did they pray for me? Did they ask God generations ago that I would know Christ as my Lord?
I'll never know them but this I do know. THE best way to thank them is to do the same for the generations to come of my family that I will never know.........PRAY for them. Tonight, I am reminded that just as sure as I sit here and think of them, they must have thought of me.....me and my family and so many more. So tonight, I pray for those whom I might never know and I remember this from Psalms...
"The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation." Psalms 33:11
WHO ARE THEY???? I shall never really know but how incredible to know that God knew them.
"The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself."
Galatians 5:14
Be honest to yourself right this second.......
Isn't this THE BEST RECIPE in life that you could ever try??? What a novel idea, huh?? Loving our neighbors as our own selves??? You've got to be kidding, right? You mean I should love others, including my nasty complaining neighbors, just like I love my own wonderful self???
Uhhh, duhhhh.....YES!!
This is a command that is very often, probably daily often, difficult for those of us who have human flesh (THAT"S ALL OF US!!!) We are prideful selfish people naturally. We want what "we" want and it is easy, extremely easy for us to get caught up in ourselves, our own families and our own lives and forget that we are also commanded to love "others" beyond our own families, just as we love ourselves.
God commands us to love our neighbor as much as we love our own bodies and lives and that's a LOT, a REAL lot!
THE BEST RECIPE????? It doesn't start in finding the right ingredients in our pantries and then whippping up something spectacular to lay before our families on the dinner table.
THE BEST RECIPE begins and ends with the Word of God.....not the word of what man thinks is best but what the Word of God says and HE says loving our neighbors as ourselves is what is what we must do.
So what are you waiting for??? Get out there and love the unlovable, forgive the unforgiveable, and love BIG those who you don't feel drawn to love. We are commanded to do this......so get out there and start loving BIG!
It's THE BEST RECIPE!!!
We, at RRC, are so blessed to have many who are COMMITTED.
Commitment seems to be difficult for many, but for those who are solid as a rock in the commitmentedness (is that a word???)....I want to thank you!
This week, we saw Bobby and Donna head up an incredible VBS program that was off the charts great! I do not mean to not mention ALL of the others who were COMMITTED every night to being there, but I do want to specifically thank these two for their dedication and love for our children.
On the last night, since our girls won the Pennies for Missions drive, Donna got to throw a pie in Bobby's face!!! BUT.....Bobby ended up getting Donna too! It was great!
Also on the last night, the children were told to GO FISH! Fishing as in sharing the Gospel with others and spreading the Good News! The snack that night was a pretzel rod, a red licorice twist, a spoonful of white icing and some cracker Goldfish. They were asked to tie the licorice onto their pretzel rod, stick some icing on the end of their "line" and GO FISH! I loved ending the week with this concept being taught to my grandchildren. Karli, Easton and Titus attended and it tickled my heart to know the powerful lessons they were being taught, as well as all the other children.
THANKS RRC....to all you who were COMMITTED this week and accomplished the task of teaching our children well. Only in years to come will the fruits of your labor be known.
And for the rest of us.....the question must be asked....what is holding you back from making a commitment to our church and its' ministries??? Maybe this is the week to ask God for direction in where He'd like you to COMMIT.
Thanks God for those who are COMMITTED!!
