Unplanned Trip

Uncle Donald and Mom-Mom

Most of the time, any trip that's far away and/or you plan to be there for awhile, there's a lot of planning and preparation. Arrangements need to be made at work. Time off has to be approved. Hotel reservations need to be set. Have the neighbor get your mail. Someone needs to feed the dog. Will a baby sitter need to rearrange her schedule.

After all the plans, phone calls, appointments, and people involved, are ALL in place....swoosh you can already be exhausted.  You're already tired and you haven't even left yet.  Shoot, you've not even packed.

Wow packing...that brings up a whole new list doesn't it?

October 2014, I emailed my Uncle to see if I could come and visit for a week.  (My Uncle lived and helped care for his mother...my grandmother.) I would be bringing my middle school son and 15 month old daughter. Since my son will be on Fall Break...that's when I intended to come for a visit. I gave my Uncle a 2 day notice.

Oh, I failed to mention....this is a 720 mile (one way) trip. 

             Every preparation I should take for this big trip was simply thrown in the trash.

WHY in the world would I do such a crazy thing?

                                                   WHAT was I thinking?

93 yr old grandmother meets her great great granddaughter

My grandmother was 93 years old. The last time I had seen her was for her 90th birthday. I had an extreme sense of urgency that I needed to go see her.  I strongly felt that if I didn't take this 1,400+ mile trip, right then, that this was to be the  LAST time I'd see my grandmother alive.  I sensed that my next trip would be for her funeral. It became important, to me, to see her ASAP.

I stayed a week and loved every minute of it. I got to take several pictures. Heard the same stories and a few new ones. I had the privilege to care for my precious grandmother. I was blessed to tuck her in bed each night.

What a joy to hear her pray for her family. Then I hear my name and my family being lifted up to our heavenly Father.

Then came the day for me to leave. I gave my Uncle Donald a good bye hug and express my gratitude and love for him. Telling my dear grandmother "bye" was difficult. Was this my last hug? Would this be my last trip? Would my next trip be her funeral?

Eight months later, June 15, 2015, my mother calls. She's clearly upset. I just knew it was news that my grandmother had past. But it wasn't.

It was her brother, my Uncle Donald!

WHAT!!!!


REALLY???


WOW!


I spoke, a tribute on June 20, 2015, at his memorial service. I wanted to speak from his nieces and nephew's point of view. He was always so actively involved in our lives.

"In spite of living over 700 miles away while growing up, I learned what all my cousins learned about our Uncle Donald...

1. He would spend every moment possible aggravating you.

2. He would spend time talking and answering your questions.

3. He would spend money, a little or a lot, to let you know he's thinking of and cares about you.

Uncle Donald was one of the most intelligent man I knew. Every time I was around I'd learn something new.

I came up in October 2014 not knowing it would be my last visit with him.

The last time I'd watch and hear him aggravate my son.

The last time he'd spend time answering his questions.

The last time watching hours of Star Trek with my son.

Though he was not here on this visit, I still learned something new...

I read several articles, this week, about his success in track & field, for this community and as well as the state of New Jersey. I didn't know about the "Hall of Fame" inductions. I didn't know about  the scope of his influence on the sport and the athletes.

To his co-workers- he was their friend.

To my grandmother- he was her caregiver and companion.

To my Mother, Aunts, and Uncles- he was their 'Big" brother.

To myself and all my cousins- he was our Uncle.

I believe Uncle Donald made peace with God. He knew he wasn't well. He'd heard his doctor's warnings. I know many people, on different occasions, presented the gospel to him.

I know that in spite of all the amazing tributes, of my uncle, he understood...

       "Mark 8:36 for what shall a man profit, if he shall gain the whole world,

       and lose his own soul."

That's why he often said, "It's just money."

If you have never been a person of faith and a follower of Christ,...I beg that you'd seek Him today.

I challenge you to continue your tribute to my Uncle Donald, with your life now and in eternity by asking Jesus into your life today."

The Bible says..

II Corinthians 6:2b; "...behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

James 4:14, "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."

We do not know when we or someone we know and love has drawn their last breath. We don't know when our heart beats for the last time. Any of us could leave this life and enter into eternity at any moment.

We should plan as if we will live to be 100.  We should live as if this could be our last day.

Are you ready?

Have you made all the reservations?

Are you prepared?

Being a follower of Christ is the ONLY way to be assured that heaven is your eternal home.

         "John 14:6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life:
         no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
         "John 3:36; He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he
         that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God
         abideth on him."

The amazing thing about a planned trip to heaven is.........

     IT'S.......
                  ALREADY......
                                           PAID.......
                                                    
                                                           FOR.......

Isn't that awesome ? A free trip.  The preparations are as easy as A, B, and C.

   Admit you're a sinner. A sinner is one who sins.  And we ALL have sinned.

   Believe that Jesus died for you.  His death was the payment required to enter heaven.

   Confess your sins.  This doesn't mean that you spill out the entire list of sins and mistakes.  To confess is to agree with God about your sins.

        "Romans 10:9, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord
        Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from
        the dead, thou shalt be saved."


When I die, I KNOW I will go to heaven. DO YOU?

If It Wasn't For God

Dorothy was the oldest of seven girls. Her parents often used her and her sisters in Satanic rituals, sexual pleasures to men willing to pay, and physical/sexual abuse from both of her mother and father. The abuse stopped when her father died when she was eighteen years old. Her mother past away years later from cancer.

I cried as I listened to her life story.  The horror, pain, sadness,  and abuse these girls had experienced were things that were only in fictional novels and movies. Surely not in real life? Parents aren't really that mean? But this lady sat beside me sharing her story. The room was silent. There wasn't a dry eye in the room, except for Dorothy's.

I couldn't begin to imagine her pain. I didn't really want to have a picture of this horrible image in my mind. All I could do was cry. I cried for three days. I cried every time I seen her. I cried every time I thought about her.

Dorothy sat in her chair with a large blanket wrapped around her.  She was cold. She was tired. She was hiding.

Her shirt was covered with her blood. Her arms were wrapped in bandages. When Dorothy gets overwhelmed with the memories and nightmares she cuts herself.

Under the blanket......
                 Under the bandages.....
                                  Were over forty cuts. Self inflicted cuts on top of multiple scars from past cuts.
                                               
She spoke of her abuse in a monotone voice.

No emotions,
                             No expressions,
                                                                No tears.

After a few days, I felt I could talk to Dorothy without crying. I approached  Dorothy and asked if I could sit with her. She smiled and was delighted (I'd like to think she was delighted.)  to have company.

We chatted about our children, grand children, jobs, and the weather.

Then I stepped out on a limb and asked.....

"How do you feel about God?"

Dorothy didn't know about God growing up. Didn't know about heaven. Didn't know about healthy family relationships. She thought every family lived the way her and her sisters did.

After her father past away, Dorothy, started seeing other people and their families. She read all she could about religion and this God she finally heard about.

Dorothy said something that I was not expecting. She straightened up in her seat. The big blanket was dropped down. She looked at me, with a glow on her face, and she smiled and said,.....

"IF IT WASN'T FOR GOD I wouldn't be here."

Really?

In spite all the Devil had done he could not  keep God out of Dorothy's life.

 In spite of the pain.....
                                 In spite of the abuse.....
                                                                 In spite of the scars.....

Dorothy found peace. She found it in the Peace Maker. We serve a Mighty God my friends.

IF IT WASN'T FOR GOD I would be going to hell.
IF IT WASN'T FOR GOD I would not have peace.
IF IT WASN'T FOR GOD I would not have forgiveness.
IF IT WASN'T FOR GOD I would not have joy.

Satan was defeated when Dorothy accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. Dorothy still struggles. But now she knows where to come for help. Dorothy knows that God will never leave her, never abuse her, and He will NEVER stop loving her.

IF IT WASN'T FOR GOD.........where would you be?

Our Love Has Been a Journey

Our Love Has Been a Journey

I couldn't have known

when we first met

that everything

in my life before then

had been leading

me to you...

But looking back,

I realize that every decision

led me to just the right turn,

and that every road,

taken or not,

brought me one step closer

to you and the love we share...

Today, I know for sure

that when our paths came together

and we found one another,

it was really only the beginning

of the most beautiful journey of all -

the journey of two hearts

that beat as one.

Happy Anniversary

with All My Love

Robert 

My sweet husband, of 31 years, can find the sweetest cards.  I you Robert Godfrey.  :)

Be Still

What do you think of when you think of God?


If you could discribe Him, what would you say?




Psalm 46:10 says, Be still; and know that I am God....




God is the creator of the universe. God spoke our world into existence.
Yet, He took the time to form mankind.


God kept the sun still so Gideon would have enough daylight to win a war.


He healed the sick and raised the dead.


The winds and waves obeyed Him.


Virgin born.


         Paid the sin debt of all who will believe.


                                             Rose from the dead.


                                                                      In spite of sin, especially mine, He forgives.


                                                                                  He made eternal life available to all who would ask.


Of all these, and more, there are times that all God wants me to do is to just be Still.




I wonder if He's mistaken.


Wouldn't He want me to do some great work?      Serve on a mission field?             Feed the hungry?
Give shelter to the homeless?             Teach a class?           Donate to an orphanage in a foreign country? 


No!


He just wants me to simply be STILL. 

There's nothing simple about being still. Just ask a child in a church service. LOL  A child wiggles and giggles in BIG church.  Moms try every trick known to man to get their child to listen to what the preacher is saying. 


A flick 
A Pinch 
A tug 
An Evil eye 
Last but not least.... Take em out. (of the sanctuary...that is)


Parents go through the pains of teaching children how to sit, somewhat, quiet and still, because the greater good is in the lessons learned from the message.


Lord, forgive me for being wiggly.


Have you ever be drawn into a story and you didn't even realize how much time had past?


Why?


Because you were lovin' every second and every word.

Forgive me Lord for not being like the deer that is thirsty at the brook.

Forgive me Lord for not being like Mary and sit at your feet in worship.

"I feel the touch of hands so kind and tender. They're leading me in paths that I must trod. I'll have no fear for Jesus walks beside me. For I'm sheltered in the arms of God.


So let the storms rage high.  The dark clouds rise.  They won't worry me.  For I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God. He walks with me.  And naught of earth shall harm me. For I'm sheltered in the arms of God."


Three years and twenty five doctors later, I am still waiting. Is it MS? Tumor? Brain Injury? Numerous symptoms, loosing mobility, loosing vision....


 Things I am NOT loosing......my FAITH,  my Family, and  my Friends.


Lord today I renew myself to You.  I give you ALL of me.  I love YOU.  I praise You. I worship You.


I am S T I L L. 

I CAN.......

I can't walk fast.           I can't run.         I can't get the ladder out and clean the gutters.

I can't use the post hole digger.         I can't lift over 3 lbs without triggering my movements.

I can't reach both hands up at the same height.   I can't raise my right leg.    I can't stop moving.

I can't walk far.         I can't stand long.           I can't have a day with no pain.      I can't sleep well.

I can't work in my yard like I use to.    I can't drive far.

                                                                                   I can't get the groceries.         I can't sing.


BUT....................................................
                                                                               
                                          I CAN................................................


I can sit.
                I can pick up my grand daughter.
                                                                                 I can laugh.
                                                                                                 
 I can hold a child on my lap.

I can sing with my grand daughter.  She doesn't mind if I can't reach the high notes anymore.

I can hug my kids.
                                  I can talk. 

                                I can tell my family and friends that I love them.


I can kiss my husband.      I can hold hands.      I can walk.       I can stand.


I can see.
                 I can touch.
                                       I can write.
                                                            I can speak.
                                                                                  I can cry.
                                                                                                    I can forgive.
                                                                                                                             I can love.
                         I CAN......


I can trust in the God who loves me.

I can believe the Word of God when it says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

I can know that the God of the Bible is the same God that's in my heart.

I can surrender to the God who died for me.

I can accept this path because He holds me.


I can.
                       I will. 
                                              I am.



Can you?

Hospitality

Kids always have the most interesting and unusual questions to ask when they are either at the dinner table or in the car. 

Our youngest son, Todd, asked one day while we were driving home from a week end away....."What is hospitality?" 

My husband, Robert, and I looked at one another.  We wondered where did that come from?  What made Todd think about "hospitality"?    "DAD" knew he could handle this one.  (Because it wasn't about..... sex.) 

Robert answered, "Todd.... It's when you're hungry and someone gives you food.  It's when you're cold and someone gives you clothes."

Todd, feeling like he totally understood his father's definition, replied, ...

"So.....

...hospitality is when you're itchy and someone gives you Monkey Butt powder?" 

We cracked up. LOL

Not too sure about Todd's view on hospitality.  But Jesus did speak about it.  He encouraged us to be hospitable.  To be a servant.  To help the widows and orphans.  To love others.

Romans 12:13 "...distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality."

"Christian hospitality differs from social entertaining.  Entertaining focuses on the host:  The home must be spotless; the food must be well prepared and abundant; the host must appear relaxed and good natured.  Hospitality, by contrast, focuses on the guest, their needs...whether for a place to stay, nourishing food, a listening ear, or acceptance...are the first importance.  Hospitality can happen in a messy home, it can happen around a dinner table where the main dish is canned soup.  It can even happen while the host and the guest are doing chores together.  Don't be afraid to offer hospitality just because you are too tired, too busy, or not wealthy enough to entertain."*

Some of the best memories I've had with friends are when we ate whatever I found left over in the refrigerator.  Go ahead.  Start opening your heart. Your home.  Your refrigerator. Your wallet.

Maybe....

...Just maybe....

...someone may be itchy....do what Todd would.

Give them... Monkey Butt powder. :)

* Life Application Bible footnote

Children Becoming Believers

Do you see what's going on in this picture?   Can you see a seed that was planted?  Do you realize there was an opening to the very throne of God?

The Natural Geographic often shows photos that have captured in graphic detail various natural disasters, moments of kindness, and compassion in the mist of wars.  Then awards are bestowed on the photographers. 

But there's no greater honor than to capture a moment where a living soul has the opportunity to have the Holy Gospel planted in their heart. 

I have directed Children's Church ministries for 24 years.  I've led over 400 young boys and girls to the Lord. Workers that helped over the years had an active part in leading hundreds of children to the Savior. I'm so grateful the Lord allowed me the opportunity to lead all 5 of our children to the Lord.

Leading children to the Lord should be handled with care.  Children naturally want to please.  They want to please their teachers and then they want to please Jesus.  If Jesus says to "Come unto me." They want to come.  This is why the scripture says, "Come as little children."  Children believe and trust easily.

As they get older or for those who have experienced tragedy and abuse their hearts get hard.  The commands of the Lord and the appeal of the scriptures becomes easier to reject. 

If your young child is eager to "be saved".  It is wise for you, the parent or teacher, to exercise caution so not to give him/her a false sense of "salvation" because they are so eager to love and obey Jesus.

Many teens and adults acknowledge there may have been a time when they were preschool or elementary school age, that they remember asking Jesus into their hearts.  But now they are not sure that they were really saved.

Should children not be encouraged to become "Christians"? "Christ followers"? "Believers"?

God forbid.

 

The scripture would NEVER give an example, of His will, by using an illustration that is wrong or unattainable.  "Come as little Children..." "Anyone hurt one of these little ones...it's better that a millstone be hung around their neck and thrown in the river."  The Bible is clear...Jesus truly loves children.  He died just as much for a child as he did for teens and adults.

Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven Mt. 18:3

Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Mark 10:14

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. Mark 10:15

What an opportunity for an individual to be able to testify that they have served the Lord "all" their lives. 

Older believers have the same "one regret".  "I wished I had followed and obey God when I was younger."  "I've waisted so much of my life."

Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and life.

When a child comes to you wanting to be "saved" ask them some simple questions.

1.  What did you want to ask me? Or, why did you come up front?

Most children may have an answer that has absolutely nothing to do with being saved or confession of their sins.  I've had many children need...

To go to the bathroom.

Thought it was time to go home.

Wanted to get out of bed.

My puppy is missing.

My mommy is sick.

My grand father died.

Pray with them about what it was that they have said they wanted.  Don't put word in their mouth. 

They don't need your help expressing true conviction of their sin.

By putting words in their mouth, you miss the blessing of hearing a true repented heart of a child.  And you may give them a false assurance of a salvation that they weren't really ready to accept.

2.  If, in their own words and without an adult implying what they wanted to ask, ...And the child really does ask or say, " I want to ask Jesus in my heart." Or " I want to be saved."

This is when you ask them two questions...

1. Have you sinned?  If they say "No" than you thank them for wanting to talk to you and ask Jesus...but they need to wait.  I know you may be tempted to point out facts that you know they have SINNED. LOL  But conviction must come from their own understanding of their choices. 

You may take a moment to pray with them...thanking God for their willingness to accept Jesus in their heart.  And asking God to help them clearly understanding they are sinners and they need Him in their heart.

2. Do you what to ask Jesus in your heart now or do you want to wait til another day? 

A LOT of children's workers are so eager to announce how many children "got saved"...they quickly get these children to confess something they are not ready to confess.  They are coached into going through the motion of asking Jesus in their hearts. 

Once again, thank the child for coming up.  Pray with them for understanding. I would ask my children if they wanted ice cream?  Or see their grandmother?

 It wasn't until there was nothing they would rather do...that they are then ready.  A couple of my children have even said, "If I don't ask Jesus in my heart I will go to hell."  And "I will be the only one in the family that will not go to heaven."  They were under spiritual conviction.  This was good.

When a child shows strong readiness to accept Jesus in their heart, than you explain, with scripture, what they need to do.  You don't need a lot of scripture.  A young child, 5-6 years old, could be shown only one scripture.  I use John 3:16 for any age.  Some like to use/read the "Romans Road".  I have a simple explanation of salvation in a previous post, Don't Put Christ Just in Your Heart....put Him in your LIFE

Then tell the child that you are going to pray first.  Afterwards you want to hear them pray.  Not that hearing is any of your business.  But it does help you know if the child has a personal understanding of what they were asking God for.

Be sure you pray short and simple.  Pray in a way that gives the child an example of how they can pray.  Then let them know it's their turn.  And get ready for your heart to be richly blessed as you witness your child or a child become a "child of God". 

 Hallelujah! Praise His Name!