Today, March 26th is my birthday. I always grow sentimental at birthday times. I think it is because my parents always made our birthday such a special day. In fact there were years that I had week- long celebrations! I was born on “Good Friday” and a few of my years my birthday has been on Easter! This year I am right in-between Good Friday and Easter!
Well, birthdays are not as exciting now…I think as you grow older and friends and family are busy…there are times when it seems like just another day.
But that is not the case with God. Did you know that He is thinking of you every day! The Bible says that His thoughts toward us are more in number than the sands of the sea!!! Did you know that He cares for you every day?! Did you know that you are never over-looked or forgotten?! Did you know that with God there are no ordinary days?! Did you know that His care for you is nothing less than miraculous?!!!!
Just as I have claimed a life verse, I have also claimed a life hymn. I love the old hymns and it is hard to choose one above another but I have one that sums up for me what I experience in my life because of Jesus!
The name of the hymn or gospel song is “Day by Day”
This song reminds me of the Scripture in Deuteronomy 33:25b which says..”and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.”
Let me share some of the words with you.
Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best-
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Every day, the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He Whose Name is Counselor and Power;
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.
The song ends with a prayer that God that says:
Help me then in every tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy Holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when til and trouble meeting,
Ever to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.
At this my birthday time, may I encourage you to live one day at a time. To live trusting that God is caring for you. To claim a verse for your life and perhaps even a song!
Of course, if you do not know Him as your own personal Saviour..then you need to have a 2nd birthday! Like the birthday songs says. “Happy birthday to you, only one will not do. Take Christ as you Saviour, and then you’ll have two!
I admire people who plant beautiful gardens. I have never done that but I know it takes a lot of time and work. My parents had a “small” garden over several years and they really had to work at it but the results of just the right seeds, water, sun and “TLC” made for the best beef steak tomatoes and green beans this side of heaven!
Our lives are like gardens. They take lots of work! In order for the seeds to produce a wonderful, Christ –honoring crop we must make good seed choices!
There was a time in my life when the seed I was sowing did not produce a very tasty or pretty garden. I did the like the crop that was coming out of my garden! Someone wisely told me to start planting different seed! At that time, I felt I would never see the results of planting better seed, as I was still reaping the results of my bad seed and it seemed it would go on forever. I did, however, make a choice to plant seeds of love, kindness, forgiveness, surrender etc. Well, guess what….new crops starting coming out of my garden! Yes, it took time…but they did come. Yes, I still did reap the results of the old seed for awhile but it was not long until it was all gone and there was no sign of it anymore! Today, I am reaping the benefits of sowing Christ-honoring seed.
What are you planting? The Bible tells us what we sow we will reap! Oh that old Book is so true! If you do not like the crop then start planting different seed! Yes, it might take time and you might have to deal with the old crop for awhile but in God’s time, He will allow a beautiful crop for His glory!(and that is what is important..His Glory!) He is faithful and His Word is true! You can trust Him! He will give thru His Word just the right amount of what is needed for a lovely garden!
My heart has been blessed beyond measure as God has brought to my mind a particular Psalm this month! Now He did this in an unusual way!!!!While with family to pick-up our oldest grandson from camp I took a fall off of a platform onto dirt and stones and broke my left ankle and severely sprained my right one. Needless to say this has been a time of learning for me! I thought I would escape this life without any broken bones, since I had none in my youth, but I was wrong. I know God knew this would have happened to me 10,000 years ago. Isn’t it good we do not know what a day holds for us? Had I known this in advance, I would have stayed home and let everyone else get Josiah from camp!!! Ha Ha!!!The passage that God brought to my mind (after returning home from the ER) was Psalm 91:11,12. This truth was confirmed to me in the middle of the night when I could not sleep and turned on the TV as I often like to watch the music/Scripture videos but never had I seen these passages used but that night Psalm 91:11,12 were there!!! I knew God was using it in my life!The verses say”For He shall give His angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands-lest thou dash thy foot against a stone!!!You see, my friend, God does not promise that there will not be stones….or that we will not hit our foot against them..but He does promise us His protection. I know beyond a shadow of doubt that God’s protection was on me that sunny, hot day in July!How do I have His protection? Well, I will let you in on my secret. I have found a hiding place!!! Verse 1 of this Psalm says because I dwell in the secret place of the most High that I now abide under the shadow of the Almighty. That is God’s promise to me! You see, He is my refuge, my fortress and my God… in Him will I trust!I just injured my ankles. What about Joni E. Tada? She dove into what she thought was deep water and it turned out to be shallow. Her life was forever changed that hot summer day as she became a quadriplegic. Do the same verses apply to her? You bet they do! Joni was just as protected as me for she had the same hiding place!So my question…where are you hiding? When you make the Lord..which is your refuge..even the most High God your habitation or hiding place…you will always be safe.
What He brings our way is His choice…how we respond is ours!!!
Falling At The Foot Of The Cross
As I write this we are beginning the brand New Year! I pray God’s best for each of you in the New Year. After all, if we have what God deems best for us in the New Year then how can we go wrong. Whatever He brings our way this year will be what He wants to use to conform us to the image of His Son, to make us look more like Jesus and to prepare us for His heaven.I had an interesting experience the other morning. It was early and I was lifting the blinds to say good morning to a new day when I noticed something in my yard that took me by surprise.My husband and I like to leave our Christmas decorations up for a little while after Christmas so we have not put away our outside decorations yet.This past Christmas my husband had encouraged his radio listeners to put out a manger scene in their yard and add to it a cross in the background. This was to portray the complete reason why Jesus was born. He was born to die so we might live. He came as our substitute to take our place on that cross for our sin. The innocent came to die for the guilty. John 3:16 says ” For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”Well, what I saw as I looked out my window was the manger scene that we had in our yard with the cross behind it. What is so unusual about that, you say?When I looked out the window, I noticed that Mary had fallen over! I began to laugh as I thought of what she might be saying…”This giving birth is hard work…I am tired and ready to be put back into the shed, please, until next year!”Then I saw something totally different! She had fallen right at the foot of the cross! My mind immediately began to realize that none of us are capable of all the demands of this life. Especially as women, we were never meant to carry the responsibilities of a wife and mother and all the other things that demand our time and energy in this world. We are to literally fall at the foot of the cross and surrender ourselves to the only one who is capable to handle all of these responsibilities. We are to exchange our lack for His sufficiency.The Bible says “If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him.” James 1:5. What relationships and situations in your life are you lacking in….ask of Him…fall in surrender at the foot of the cross and exchange your lack for His “liberal” sufficiency!If you have never asked Jesus into your life to be your Savior then you need to fall at the foot of the cross and admit that your are a sinner in need of a Savior and ask Him to be your very life! He will! Then you can begin that life of exchange at the cross where we surrender all that we are not for all that He is! What a life!
I pray this year will find you living at the foot of the cross!
Who am I?
“Daniel Craig, a name picked for a boy, but a beautiful girl must be named Joy!” These are words from a poem my Mother wrote for me years ago.
Yes, they thought they were going to have a boy and then, there I was, a daughter, who they named Karen Joy Forgan.
Well, I like the name Karen, but my Mother said that from the start they only called me “Joy.” I remember when I started school and they called the role on the 1st day each year, I never responded. As students, when our name was called, we were to stand and say “Present.” That was the way our teacher would know we were there and could get acquainted with us. Every year, when the teacher would say, “Karen Forgan”, it did not register with me since from birth I had been called “Joy”, so I would just sit there in my seat. The teacher had to repeat the name emphatically louder “KAREN Forgan!”…. Then it registered and I stood to my feet and promptly answered “Present, but could you please call me Joy!”
Well, this “name game” continues to follow me all these years later. Now, not only am I legally Karen Joy Forgan who is really called “Joy” but I became (in 1969) Karen Joy Burney. I have at times been listed as Joy Forgan Burney. Some other names I have carried are daughter, sister, sister-in-law, wife, mom, mother-in-law and grandma. Other names I have had are student, teacher, Pastor’s wife, receptionist, friend, aunt, and cousin.
Recently, I had to go to the hospital for an injury to my knee. While I was being transported in the ambulance, they asked my name. I said “Joy Burney.” When I arrived at the ER, they wanted to see my driver’s licensee, which said, Karen Joy Burney. When I handed them my insurance card, it said Joy C. Burney! WHAT?? Where did that name come from? I had never seen that on my insurance card before. Evidently, the insurance company had made a “typo” and put my husband’s middle initial down for mine since the insurance is through his name. So there I am, needing to be treated in the ER, coming in as Joy Burney, having a licensee that says Karen Joy Burney, then having an insurance card that says Joy C. Burney and having other legal papers that say Joy F. Burney! No wonder they were going to reject me! I heard them say, “WHO is this lady really?” Is this a case of a Stolen Identity?
Well, let me share with you who I am really! Several years ago, I established my identity! My identity is not in Karen, Joy, Forgan, Burney, not even in Joy “C”. Or in any of the positions I have had over the past years of my life. My identity is in Christ!
When I was 8 years old, I realized that I was a sinner who needed a Savior, and I asked Jesus to forgive me and to be my very life! At that very instant, Christ took me out of the lifeline of Adam and placed me in the lifeline of Christ.. He placed me” in Him.” As the Bible says, “Old things were passed away and behold ALL things became new.” I became a new creature in Christ. I was given a new past, present, future and name! Do you know how I like to refer to my identity now? I like to say that I am “In Christ, Joy.”
There is no confusion with this identity and no one can steal this identity. Let me share with you just a portion of what this identity means to me.
Because I am “in Christ”,
I am accepted and loved: Ephesians 1:6; Jeremiah 31:3
There is no condemnation: Romans 8:1
I am free: Romans 8:1,2, Galatians 2:4
I have been given the righteousness of Christ: 2 Corinthians 5:21
I am totally forgiven: Ephesians 1:7
I am seated in heavenly places: Ephesians 2:6
I am complete: Colossians 2:10
I am a conqueror over evil: Romans 8:37
I am chosen, holy and blameless: Ephesians 1:4
I am redeemed: Ephesians 1:7
I have obtained an inheritance: Ephesians 1:10.11
I am sealed with the Spirit: Ephesians 1:13
I am alive in Christ: Ephesians 2:5
I am His workmanship: Ephesians 2:10
I am now light: Ephesians 5:8
I have been joined with all believers: Galatians 3:28
I am raised up with Christ: Colossians 3:1
My life is hidden with Christ in God: Colossians 3:3
I have been brought near to God: Ephesians 2:13
I am a member of His body: Ephesians 5:30
I have a bold, confident access to God: Ephesians 3:12
I am always led in His triumph: 2 Corinthians 2:14
My heart and mind are guarded by the peace of God: Philippians 4:7
I am blessed with every spiritual blessing: Ephesians 1:3
I am a son (daughter) and an heir: Galatians 4:7
I am a new creature: 2 Corinthians 5:21
I am sanctified and justified: 1 Corinthians 1:2; Romans 3:24
My old self was crucified: Romans 6:6
I have all my needs supplies: Philippians 4:19
Oh, I want to shout GLORY!! GLORY to GOD! My identity in Christ can never be mistaken and never be stolen away from me!
You see before I accepted Christ into my life, I was unholy, unrighteous, blemished, guilty, condemned, a prisoner on my way to hell and all the opposites of who I am in Christ. Satan would love to steal the identity that I have in Christ but he cannot. I am protected in Christ and no one or nothing can steal my identity. Now that is a real cause for thanksgiving and thanks living!
So, who is this lady, anyway? Let me tell you. I am:
In Christ,
Joy
While watching the Olympics, I was consumed with one word. That word was commitment. Each athlete displayed such commitment for their sport as they went for the gold. Today I would like to extend to you a ‘call to commitment.’
Commitment means an absolute dedication and faithfulness to someone or something.
In today’s’ society commitment has lost all meaning and power.
Commitment is difficult and unless we are willing to recognize that and accept the fact that we cannot do it ourselves, we will never be committed! Only thru Christ can we answer the call to commitment!
Commitment is not just doing something from time to time; it is something that makes up your life!
Christ wants us in our commitments to persevere and not to faint. We are to be focused and devoted.
Let me share with you today some commitments I have made in my life.
My first commitment was when I was 8 years old. I accepted Jesus as my own personal Saviour.
When I gave my life to Christ I found a fulfilling relationship with God and an escape from the hopelessness of this world. Commitment is fulfilling.
“A charge to keep I have
A God to Glorify
Who gave His Son my soul to save?
And fit it for the sky!”
“Let us be faithful to Jesus.
The faith we confessed, let’s renew.
And ask Him this question each morning
Lord, what will you have me to do?”
A 2nd commitment was in Junior High School when I committed my life to full time Christian service. I knew that God’s hand was upon my life and I must be about my Father’s business.
A 3rd commitment was in 1966 when I went to Bob Jones University and graduated from there 4 years later. My parents sacrificed to give me this education, how could I do any less?
A 4th commitment came in 1969 when I married the love of my life.
Do you take this man to be your husband? Well, I just can’t make up my mind. No, that is not the way it was.
I am committed to this man unto death do us part. Thru the years, God has given us wonderful ministries to be involved in including starting a church in Westerville, Ohio where we committed our lives for 25 years.
A 5th commitment came in 1978 when I committed myself to motherhood. My three children were born not under my heart, but in it. I could not shirk this responsibility.
A 6th commitment came in 1994 when for the first time, I became a grandparent. I believe we have a responsibility to pour our lives into our grandchildren and commit ourselves to them.
A 7th commitment came in 2000 when my husband and I committed our lives to begin CrossPower Ministries. We must get the message of the victory that was won for us on the cross to everyone who will listen. We told God we would go wherever He opened a door.
I believe God wants us to be committed to others.
Have you ever felt you are drowning spiritually? You feel like your faith is being sucked right out of you…along with your hope, peace and joy? And then a committed member of the Body of Christ comes alongside and breathes new life into you…encouraging you in the faith and you are restored, renewed and ready to continue the spiritual journey?
God has called us to be committed and connected to Him and to each other. We are to bear one another’s burdens.
Pray for each other.
Comfort each other.
Edify each other.
To be devoted or committed to one another in brotherly love, in honor preferring one another.
When we commit ourselves to one another as the church, then we are unified in purpose and we are active in ushering in His Kingdom. Leading people to Christ, watching them grow, furthering the gospel thru missions …..All this is of much more benefit than just standing around and observing.
I believe Christ wants us to know that He is committed to us:
We will never perish.
We are never alone.
All of our needs will be supplied.
His love will never fail.
I believe that we are to be committed to Christ:
To knowing Him
To allowing Him to be our life
We are to commit ourselves to prayer…..being watchful and thankful.
The world has yet to see what can happen when we Christians take a risk and commit ourselves to knowing God thru His teachings, thru fellowship with other believers and thru prayer.
June is the month we celebrate Father’s day and I could not let this month pass without sharing with you about my Dad.
My Dad was the best whistler around. In our home, you could always hear him whistling. I have carried on his love for whistling. He also loved to sing. Both of my parents loved the old hymns and one of the favorite times in our home was gathering around the old upright piano to sing. My sister would play the piano and all of us would sing our parts. Dad knew all the words to all the hymns.
My Dad was a sharp dresser. He also was a very colorful dresser and loved hats and nice shoes! He always looked just like he had stepped out of a magazine. He was so happy that he did not get dressed up to get messed up but to serve the Lord. Someone once told him to live every day as if it were your last, for someday it will be! He tried to live by that.
My Dad was a happy man. He had a smile that filled his face. My children all loved him. He would always encourage us all to “Keep on keeping on.” They lovingly called him, “Papa”.
Dad was a hard worker. He worked many years in the steel mill in Massillon, Ohio. My Mom and Dad worked together in our corner grocery store, Forgan’s Grocery, for over 16 years. He also drove city and school bus. On the city bus, he would let me go along to sing to the riders. On the school bus, the children loved him as he sometimes would dress up as a clown to pick them up for school. In his later years, Dad was the custodian for the church my husband and I started and took great pride in his work.
My Dad called me his “Miss America.” As a little girl, I always wanted to be Miss America and in my dad’s eyes I was!!!! I always knew he loved me.
I miss him dearly but I know he and Mom are waiting for me in our real home, Heaven. I can almost hear Dad singing..
“There’s a land that is fairer than day
And by faith, I can see it afar
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there.
In the sweet by and by
We shall meet on that beautiful shore
In the sweet by and by
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.”
I will see you again, Dad.
Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.That was My Mom, Priceless. My Mother could not carry a tune in a bucket and yet: She is the one who pushed me to develop the musical talent God had given me.She helped me learn my songs and would mouth every word while I was performing my song.She was the calming voice in our home as she sang hymn after hymn while she cheerfully went about her work. My Mom was not afraid of hard work: She would arise early to do her chores and then worked countless hours running our corner grocery store. She kept delicious meals on the table, clean clothes on our backs and a beautiful home.She taught us to work.She got her LPN degree after I went to college as my Dad had a heart attack and she wanted to be prepared to put me thru college. My Mom showed love to everyone: Our home was the gathering place for everyone and anyone. It could just be making root beer floats around the kitchen table, singing hymns around the piano, family reunions or playing games…Mom was always in the center to welcome all. Single, married, poor, hurting, any race or creed, Fun- loving, old, young or anything in-between, Mom loved them and ministered to them. Most important, my Mom loved the Lord: She is the one who told me about Jesus and led me to accept Christ as my own Savior.She was instrumental in leading many to the Lord.She loved God’s Word and taught it to both young and old. She loved to read God’s Word.
My Mom loved to laugh and so many times she and I got what we called “the crazy giggles.”She always told me that the Joy I would give to others would be the joy that would come back to me.
My Mom loved beautiful poetry and was a poet herself. She wrote each of her children special poems and if I needed a poem for a special occasion, she would write one for me. God called her HOME at the early age of 65, just 5 years older than I am right now as I write this tribute. The night before she died, I kissed her and called her,” My Angel Mother.” The next day, an angel flew into her hospital window and called her by name and she was gone. Absent from the body, present with her Lord!I miss her so very much but I am so glad she taught me that Heaven was my real HOME. I will see her again and I rejoice in that.
Happy Mother’s day, Mom and thanks for everything. What a heritage you have given me!
For years now, my husband and I have led a “faith-based” ministry called CrossPower. When God called us to this ministry, we had no idea what all it would entail. We only knew that He wanted us to get the message of “victory through the finished work of the cross” to everyone who would listen. We promised Him that we would walk through any door that He opened for us. That is exactly what we have attempted to do over these past years. We are totally dependent on the love offerings and support from others for the ongoing of this ministry. Several times through the year we send out a prayer/news letter to our small mailing list. In this letter, we let people know of the needs and happenings of this ministry. Without fail, God has always had people prepared to respond to the needs and come to the fore front to help us. We never cease to be amazed at the Lord’s provision through His people.
The other day, I was thinking about this and asked myself this question. How do you respond, Joy, when you are approached with someone’s need? I think there are many responses.
1. I can look at the need and be emotionally touched and yet go on my way.
2. I can look at the need and feel compelled to help in some way and lay it aside and never act upon that nudging.
3. I can have good intentions to help but procrastinate and hope someone else will step up to the plate.
4. I can be bothered by someone else having a need when I have needs of my own.
5. Or….I can realize that I am privileged to help someone else in the same manner that God has raised up others to help me!
I so want God to increase a giver’s heart in me. I know first hand that the verse that says “it is better to give than to receive” is so very true. When I allow God to use me to bless someone else, I am blessed! How often, however, do I go through steps 1-4 before God can finally bring me to #5.
Now, I am not just talking about financial needs. I mean any need, for example:
Someone needs food or a meal prepared.
Someone needs in home care or just someone to come in and be there.
Someone needs encouragement.
Someone needs something fixed.
Someone needs their house cleaned because they are ill etc.
Someone needs child care.
Someone needs prayer.
Someone needs transportation.
Someone needs help for a project their child is doing or a mission’s trip they might be taking.
Someone needs a place to stay and you have the means to keep them with you.
Someone needs some yard work done as they are not able.
Some ministry has a need for workers, prayer or financial help
These are just a few of the needs I could think of right now. Of course, there are many more.
But the question is “how do we respond?” I do not know about you, but I want to be counted among those who will rise and help in time of need. After all, our Saviour is known as an “ever present help in time of need” and we are to be like Him.
If you do not know Christ as your own personal Saviour then your 1st response needs to be to say “Yes” to Him and invite Him into your life. Then He can begin to use you in the lives of others.
If you do know Christ, then I ask you again…..How do you respond to the needs of others? Something to think about! My prayer is “Oh God, make me a giver…a responder to those in need!”
Today I would like to talk to you about an unusual subject. The subject of “unlocked doors”!
I remember when we never used to lock our house doors except for night time before we went to bed. That was then, this is now. Anymore, you cannot keep your doors unlocked even in the daylight hours or even you garage door opened. I finally started keeping my doors locked, even in the day time.
There is a time, however, that I do unlock them. If I think there is any possibility that one of my children will be stopping by, I leave my door unlocked. Why? Because I want them to be able to walk in and feel like I was waiting for them and expecting them. It’s that “open door” policy. My door is always open to my children and grandchildren. They are family.
Well, two times last month something happened. I knew my daughter was off work and I just knew she would stop by to visit so I unlocked the door. The day passed and no one came. Sadly, I locked the door as I went up to bed that evening. A few weeks later, my son was coming into town for a few appointments. We had not talked ahead of time, but I just knew he would stop by to visit with me so I unlocked the door.
The later it got in the afternoon; sadness came over me that he was not going to come by. Later he called and he was on his way back to his house. After I hung up the phone, I went to the door and locked it again. Now, that is not always the case. There are many times when I unlocked the doors and they came and what a special time we shared.
I remember my parents and how they longed for me to stop by. So many times, I did not take advantage of that opportunity and now there is no “home” to go to anymore as my parents are both deceased.
Am I just a spoiled Mother? I was heavy hearted by my children not coming by especially when I had unlocked the door for them! Then it hit me! UNLOCKED DOORS!!!!!
My Heavenly Father has UNLOCKED DOORS everyday. He has told me in His Word that I could come boldly before His throne. He is waiting and wanting me to come. He loves to visit with me because I am His child. I am a part of His family. He has the “open door” policy with me. I am welcome at any time for any reason. His message to me is “Come”!
I wonder how many times, as my Lord sees me going off to bed, that He is “heavy hearted”. He was waiting for me with an unlocked door and I never came. He wanted to listen to me, comfort me, forgive me, direct me and guide me. He wanted to tell me of opportunities that He had for me, but I failed to come. He wanted to bless me and talk with me and He wanted me to bless Him and talk to Him. An unlocked door is set before me every day to go to my Heavenly Father. What do I do with that open door? How often do I just pass it by?
There are things that are different between my Heavenly Father’s open door and my open door.
Sometimes, I am away and not home. My Heavenly Father is never away. At night, I lock my door, He never locks His. One day, this home of mine will no longer be here as I will pass on. My Heavenly Father’s door will be open for all eternity. I always have a home to go to even though my parents are gone and so will my children and grandchildren.
Father, forgive me for not taking advantage of the “open door” policy that You have. Forgive me for the times I have not come. I understand when my children do not come…they get busy and I know they really care about me anyway. Thank you that through Your grace and mercy, You understand when I do not come. But, oh the sweet fellowship there is when the children do come and how I am blessed when I walk thru Your open door. Thank You for this lesson You taught me through “unlocked doors.”
When I was a little girl, my mother had a bell that was hanging on the wall of the back of the house. Whenever she wanted us to come home, she would ring the bell and we would come running! Usually it meant that playtime was over and it was time for supper or for us to go somewhere. I must admit, sometimes when I wanted to get out of a situation and I would tell my friends that I could hear the bell ringing and I had to go! Then there were other times that I did not want to leave my play and pretended that I did not hear the bell. Just the other day, I was thinking about the old bell. One of our dear friends was called HOME to heaven suddenly on May 10th. I was thinking that he heard the bell and God said it was time to come HOME.Then I thought of my Mother since we just recently celebrated Mother’s day. She heard Heaven’s bell over 20 some years ago. My thoughts turned to a picture of everyone standing around the stock market while the bell is ringing and everyone is clapping. How much more for us as Christians, when the bell is rung and we are called HOME …I wonder if so great a cloud of witnesses are clapping as we enter in.Most of all, we want to hear “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” from our Lord! Are you ready to hear the bell when God says it is time to come home or are you so wrapped up in the “fun” of this world that you don’t want to let go? Perhaps some of you are longing to hear the bell but it is not time yet. Keep on keeping on until the Lord rings that bell for you. There is an old song that says, “When they ring those golden bells.” I would like to share the words with you. “There’s a land beyond the river, that we call the sweet forever, And we only reach that shore by faith’s decree.” “One by one we’ll gain the portals, they’re to dwell with the immortals, When they ring those golden bells for you and me.” “Don’t you hear the bells now ringing? Don’t you hear the angels singing? ‘Tis the glory hallelujah Jubilee.” “In that far off sweet forever, just beyond the shining river,
When they ring those golden bells for you and me.”
Would you allow me to share one of my happiest birthdays ever with you? I share this to perhaps encourage you who are Mothers. I have known for a long time now that I am not the perfect Mother. Oh, I think we all start off wanting to be but because we are human, we stumble and fail in so many ways. I often remember reading Proverbs 31:28a. which says “Her children arise up, and call her blessed:” and thinking, “I wonder if I will ever in my lifetime experience such an honor”…not because of my children, but because of me! So often, we as Mothers must be firm and sometimes “crack the whip” so to speak. So that our children learn to stand on their own and be ready to meet the big world that is awaiting them after they are no longer under the umbrella of a Father and Mother. Often that is not understood by our children. Then there are so many times (at least for me) where I was a complete failure and there was no way my children could have called me “blessed”…and yet…God in His mercy watched over and protected them and me! Well, this past March 26th, I celebrated my birthday. Oh, all of my birthdays have been special but this year, I felt “blessed.” Here are the events. A few weeks before my birthday, our Daughter, Angela who lives in Oklahoma took time off from her job and boarded an airplane with our youngest Grandson, Micah to come and visit me! Do you have any idea what that does to the heart of a Mother and Grandmother?! What a wonderful visit we had! Angela also called on Sunday to wish me “Happy Birthday!” Then on Sunday, our Daughter, Amy and Daughter –in-law, Mandy prepared a delicious meal for the other family members and me. It was the first meal we all shared together in our new home! To complete the meal, our other 3 Grandchildren, Josiah, Bryior and Cyrus baked me my favorite birthday cake…. Angel food cake …complete with icing and decorations. Our Son, Tim was there with his special love and hugs even though he was in great pain as he awaits back surgery. Here are some of the words from the cards they gave me: “Children do not realize””As children, we can’t comprehend or fully realizeThe meaning of our Mother’s love,How tender and how wise,Her patience and her guidanceHer helpful, caring ways,The special, thoughtful things she doesTo brighten up the days.Years go by, before we knowThe depth of her concernThe love in her protectiveness-It takes so long to learnIt’s these and many other things That makes her grow more dear,More admired and more appreciatedWith every passing year.” Another card said: “Blessed is the mother who follows the LordBlessed is the mother whose faith keeps her goingBlessed is the mother who meets all your needsBlessed is the mother who shares so much love.” I share this with you…. Not to “toot my own horn” (for I am so unworthy) but to encourage any of you Mothers who are thinking “will I ever in my lifetime be called “blessed”? I will look back on this birthday as one of my best ever. I was also honored by my Husband, received phone calls from my brother, sister and mother-in-law and many lovely cards from friends. Praise God that He looked beyond my faults and saw my need. I thank Him for His purifying and trying of me that He might bring me forth as gold. I thank Him for calling me to repentance. I pray that I will allow Him to be on the throne of my life so that others will see Him in and through me. I thank Him that even though I was not the perfect Mother, He gave me ”perfect” children….”Perfect” for what I needed to shape and form me to be more like Christ. I thank Him for the reward of being called “blessed!”
Mothers…may you too be encouraged!
This past Valentine’s day…I did something I had not done for a long time! I am sharing this with you as a testimony to the great LOVE of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I have a disease called Menieres Disease. It is a malfunction of the middle ear that causes unbelievable vertigo. I have it so bad that I experience what Doctor’s call “drop attacks” where I literally fall to the ground and am spinning out of control.
Last July the attacks became almost unbearable and increased in frequency. I was pretty much home bound. In fact, the one time I did go out, I had an attack and was in a car accident. The Doctor said that I was not to drive for 6 months and if I did not have anymore episodes in that time frame then I could start driving a little and proceed with caution. This doctor had actually lost a menieres’ patient to an auto accident.
Well…it has been 6 long months of depending on someone else to get me to my destinations. Everyone has been so helpful..especially my husband and son. I do not know what I would have done without them.
So by now I am sure you have guessed what I did on Valentine’s day this year of 2006…that’s right…I drove, and even by myself for the 1st time in 6 months.
Was I apprehensive..yes! But I felt so showered with the love of my Jesus that I knew it was going to be ok. His Word tells us that “perfect love casts out fear”(1John 4:18). I used to think I had to be the one with the “perfect love” so the fear would be cast out….then one day I realized that it was Jesus who loved me perfectly and so I did not need to fear. I am held in the palm of His hand.
There is a song I love so much and the words say this:
“The eyes of God are upon me, He sees everything I do
The arms of God are around me; they keep me safe and secure.
And he knows where I am every hour of every day
He knows each thought I think, He knows each word that I might say
And although there have been times I’ve stepped out of His will, I’ve never been out of His care.”
This month as we have celebrated the love of family and friends…let’s not forget to celebrate the never-ending Love of a SAVIOUR whose watch care over us is greater that we can comprehend. The Bible also tells us that His thoughts toward us are more in number than the sands of the seas.(Psalms 139:18)
Are you facing a challenge…are you apprehensive about reaching out to do something…let Jesus wrap you in the arms of His perfect, never-failing love and feel the fear slip away!!!