Committing to better faithfulness here. If not, it's time to shut her down!
Love in Him,
Merry Christmas: The Greatest Gift
1 year ago
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
What a difference a year makes
Well, it's been almost a year since my last post. That is terrible! However, I have been busy since then. I guess the greatest change has been triple by-pass heart surgery. But God, (don't you just love that Bible phrase) is good and I am fine. A big life style change of course, all for the good.
Committing to better faithfulness here. If not, it's time to shut her down!
Love in Him,
Committing to better faithfulness here. If not, it's time to shut her down!
Love in Him,
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Living Free Online Bible Study
Living Free Fall Online Bible Study | Sign Up
I know friends, it's not like you don't have enough to do. But if the only Bible Study time you have is 11:00 at night in your pj's; here is one for you. I copied this from the web site(at the bottom) Be sure to sign up there and not on my blog. It is on prayer and it's good stuff.
Welcome! We’d love to have you join us for Living Free: Learning to Pray God’s Word by Beth Moore as an online study this fall. Beginning September 17 and each Thursday for seven weeks, we’ll meet back here at the LifeWay Women blog to discuss Living Free together.
Ready to replace false strongholds with true freedom in Christ? As you learn to pray Scripture with Living Free, you’ll realize the life God desires for you. Author Beth Moore explores the somewhat radical idea that we cannot please God by being perfect. The study begins by defining false strongholds, then focuses on five key benefits for every believer:
- Know God and believe Him
- Glorify God
- Find satisfaction in God
- Experience God’s peace
- Enjoy God
With Living Free participants can learn how to develop a Godward focus in life, while beginning to incorporate the key benefits in their lives through practices of prayer and Bible study.
Here’s how the online study will work:
Here’s how the online study will work:
- Fill out the form below so we can know who is in the study and notify you via email when it’s time to “meet” each week.
- Purchase a copy of the Living Free Bible Study Book* here or in your local LifeWay Store. You can get an ebook version here. For those overseas, we recommend the ebook! Living Free, or Viva Libre is also available in Spanish.** We’d love to have you participate if you’re more comfortable speaking in Spanish, too!
- Return to the blog each week to watch a video of Beth we’ve put together just for this study!
- Participate by answering questions in the comments of this blog.
We’d love for you to gather a group from your church, your neighborhood, your school, or your workplace to do the study together. We believe that Bible study is more effective (and more fun!) in community. If you cannot find a group in your area, that’s OK! Join us here and answer the questions in the comments. You’ll still get a lot out of it, and you just might make some new friends!
This online Bible study is not meant to replace the Bible study your church may already do in the fall semester. We want you to study with your local group of believers first! If your group decides to do Living Free as their study, we think the online dynamic will be a fun addition for your group. But if your group is already committed to doing another study, you can come back and do Living Free with us at anytime—the videos and study posts will be live indefinitely.
* Living Free has recently been through a makeover! We absolutely love the new look, but if you have an older version, that’s OK! The content is the same, so you’ll be able to follow along with either copy.
** Este estudio de 6 semanas, combina algunos conceptos clave expuestos en ¡Sea Libre! con algunas prácticas de oración. Viva libre, ofrece una mirada más profunda a la libertad cristiana, al mismo tiempo que identifica cinco beneficios clave de la libertad que Dios desea para cada creyente. Los participantes aprenderán cómo hacer de la oración una conversación con Dios, al usar las palabras de las Escrituras. Como sucede con todos los estudios de Beth Moore, los lectores terminarán con una nueva comprensión de algunas verdades espirituales que les ayudaran a experimentar un cambio permanente en sus vidas. En el libro del discípulo se incluyen ayudas para el líder.
We’re so excited to study alongside you this fall!
If you’re participating in the study, feel free to download this share square to use on your blog, instagram, twitter, pinterest, etc., to encourage your friends to join you! Remember to provide a link to this post so they can sign up, too. Here’s a short version you can copy and paste: http://bit.ly/LivingFreeOnline
Love in Him,
Thursday, February 5, 2015
KEEP TELLING THE STORY
I just celebrated my 67th birthday. We went to Johnny Cace's in Longview Tx.
They are closing down after 66 yrs in business. Up until about 10 years ago we celebrated almost every wedding anniversary there. So when I heard they would be shutting the doors in March; I decided why not one last celebration there. The interesting thing about that was that
we had to wait 2 hours to get a table. The owner told us that if the crowds were always like this night they would not be closing!
So what does one do while you wait 2 hrs to eat? You talk to the people around you of course.
I was blessed to be sitting beside this 80-something sweet lady who had to tell me about her daughters, granddaughters, and great granddaughter. How they were dancers and educators and had traveled the world. She herself was an accomplished pianist and had 3 grand pianos in her home. Then because that only took about 15 minutes, she told me again and again and "did I tell you about my dancing daughter"? Well, you get the picture.
When we finally were seated my sister -in- law and I then got to talk. She asked me a question that has prompted this post. ...................."So what do you do all day now that you are retired?"
Well, that only took about 3 sentences and she said, "Hmmm".... I began to rehash that in my mind. What DO I do all day? Clean, cook, study my Bible, stay in touch with out of town (out of state) family.
Some of that cooking is providing for church family in times of need, but still.....
.seems mighty paltry to me.
Now the old me would have said, "So what?" You put in your 37 years of time, you deserve it. But I had to go to the Lord and ask, "Is this what You want me to do? I was peacefully reassured that I just need to stay available to Him and be obedient and feel comfortable telling and re-telling my story; just like the lady in the restaurant did. She was proud of her family and what they had done and still do. It was pure joy to tell a complete stranger about her life.
My question!
Would you want to tell and retell your story and what your day consists of to a complete stranger?
More than that, are you comfortable before the One Who really matters about what you spend your time doing? If you are, then go for it! Live it to the fullest. If not so much...then ask Him to sit down with you for a 2-hour span and tell you what He wants your life to look like.
Now would I have chosen to wait 2 hours to eat? NO! Would I have chosen to sit beside a senile little old lady with more adventures under her belt than I knew possible? Not before that night? Next time though, yes!
Your point, you might ask? It's this. Take some time .... yes, even 2 hours and think about how your life is and what you want it to be like when you get 80.
As I always say. We are building our legacy NOW! Today is part of your history and part of that story that you will get to tell when you're stuck in a restaurant with a younger-than-you person. Will they want to hear about your life even once?
Love in Him,
They are closing down after 66 yrs in business. Up until about 10 years ago we celebrated almost every wedding anniversary there. So when I heard they would be shutting the doors in March; I decided why not one last celebration there. The interesting thing about that was that
we had to wait 2 hours to get a table. The owner told us that if the crowds were always like this night they would not be closing!
So what does one do while you wait 2 hrs to eat? You talk to the people around you of course.
I was blessed to be sitting beside this 80-something sweet lady who had to tell me about her daughters, granddaughters, and great granddaughter. How they were dancers and educators and had traveled the world. She herself was an accomplished pianist and had 3 grand pianos in her home. Then because that only took about 15 minutes, she told me again and again and "did I tell you about my dancing daughter"? Well, you get the picture.
When we finally were seated my sister -in- law and I then got to talk. She asked me a question that has prompted this post. ...................."So what do you do all day now that you are retired?"
Well, that only took about 3 sentences and she said, "Hmmm".... I began to rehash that in my mind. What DO I do all day? Clean, cook, study my Bible, stay in touch with out of town (out of state) family.
Some of that cooking is providing for church family in times of need, but still.....
.seems mighty paltry to me.
Now the old me would have said, "So what?" You put in your 37 years of time, you deserve it. But I had to go to the Lord and ask, "Is this what You want me to do? I was peacefully reassured that I just need to stay available to Him and be obedient and feel comfortable telling and re-telling my story; just like the lady in the restaurant did. She was proud of her family and what they had done and still do. It was pure joy to tell a complete stranger about her life.
My question!
Would you want to tell and retell your story and what your day consists of to a complete stranger?
More than that, are you comfortable before the One Who really matters about what you spend your time doing? If you are, then go for it! Live it to the fullest. If not so much...then ask Him to sit down with you for a 2-hour span and tell you what He wants your life to look like.
Now would I have chosen to wait 2 hours to eat? NO! Would I have chosen to sit beside a senile little old lady with more adventures under her belt than I knew possible? Not before that night? Next time though, yes!
Your point, you might ask? It's this. Take some time .... yes, even 2 hours and think about how your life is and what you want it to be like when you get 80.
As I always say. We are building our legacy NOW! Today is part of your history and part of that story that you will get to tell when you're stuck in a restaurant with a younger-than-you person. Will they want to hear about your life even once?
Love in Him,
Friday, May 9, 2014
REST vs.IDLENESS
Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time. John Lubbock
"And idle mind is the devil's workshop".
You know, I looked this morning and I could not find that in the Bible. But even if I missed it...the saying is "an idle MIND, not body! Ok be honest! How many of you mothers out there feel guilty when you're "just reading a book"?? Your mind is not idle, but your body is getting a much needed REST.
This is in the Bible and spoken by none other than Jesus: And He said to them, "Come ye apart by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. (Mark 6:31)
Have you been there? Anybody?? When I was first made aware of this verse the one teaching gave his interpretation:
"Come ye apart and rest or come ye apart."
And I can hear you now. "Lanita, you don't have my schedule". You're right I don't and there was a day when I too did what you are doing. But the "legacy" part for you is to tell you that my body has suffered for it and I can no longer do what I want to do even though I have the time. Why? Because I pushed and pushed and pulled and pulled and never took time to rest. And I'm here to tell you; STOP occasionally and REST!!
My prayer for all of you out there that are meeting yourselves coming back or worse: you've lost yourself along the way... is taken from an obscure verse in Genesis:
"Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree."
(Genesis 18:4 )
Love in Him,
Thursday, May 8, 2014
FOR THE YOUNG AND OLD-THINGS TO REMEMBER
This is an old piece, but I came across it this morning in one of my prayer journals. It did me good to revisit it because I am older now than I was when I first read it. So, I am sure I need to remember it's advice more now than I did when I first read it. You can read it & weep or read it & laugh, but hopefully we will read it & heed.
17th Century Nun's Prayer
Lord, thou knowest better than I know myself
that I am growing older and will someday be old.
Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking
I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.
Release me from the craving to straighten out everybody's affairs.
Make me thoughtful, but not moody: helpful, but not bossy.
With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all,
but thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.
Keep my mind free from the endless recital of details;
give me wings to get to the point.
Seal my lips on my aches and pains.
They are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is
becoming sweeter as the years go by.
I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of other’s pains,
But help me to endure them with patience.
I dare not ask for improved memory,
but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness
when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others.
Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally, I may be mistaken.
Keep me reasonably sweet;
I do not want to be a saint *- some of them are so hard to live with –
but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil.
Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places,
and talents in unexpected people.
And give me, oh Lord, the grace to tell them so.
*Just one correction of this nun..if you know Jesus personally, you have no choice ..you are a saint.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Mothers Day Mentoring
With Mothers Day upon us; I just wanted to remind all of us women what Titus 2 says:
"....the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things...that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands that the word of God may not be blasphemed. " (NKJV)
Now in all honesty...many of these words we do not even remember what they mean! Discreet, ???chaste..??? Read it with me in the New Living Translation:
"....Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their home, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the Word of God. .."
OUCH! Not a problem understanding those words. Don't shoot the messenger. God said it first through Paul.
When you think about it; you are both the older woman and the younger woman in every instance of your life. We learned this recently from Priscilla Shirer in the Gideon study. So, you should be mentoring someone younger than you and you should have someone older than you that you can go to and say HELP!! In fact you are probably already doing this, but have just never thought about it. Who is it that's younger that comes to you with questions? Maybe your daughter? Maybe a younger woman at church? You are that woman's mentor. Who is it that you go to when you need advise with anything that has you stumped? That person is your mentor. It doesn't have to be planned or regimented. Just avail yourself and it will happen..
My mother went to be with the Lord 20 years ago today and I still miss her. And I am so grateful for all she taught me. My prayer is that I am being a mentor, an admonisher to all the women that God brings me in contact with.
Passing the faith along.. This is the way it's done ladies. Until next time, I hope you all have a glorious Mother's Day.
Love in Him,
"....the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things...that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands that the word of God may not be blasphemed. " (NKJV)
Now in all honesty...many of these words we do not even remember what they mean! Discreet, ???chaste..??? Read it with me in the New Living Translation:
"....Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their home, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the Word of God. .."
OUCH! Not a problem understanding those words. Don't shoot the messenger. God said it first through Paul.
When you think about it; you are both the older woman and the younger woman in every instance of your life. We learned this recently from Priscilla Shirer in the Gideon study. So, you should be mentoring someone younger than you and you should have someone older than you that you can go to and say HELP!! In fact you are probably already doing this, but have just never thought about it. Who is it that's younger that comes to you with questions? Maybe your daughter? Maybe a younger woman at church? You are that woman's mentor. Who is it that you go to when you need advise with anything that has you stumped? That person is your mentor. It doesn't have to be planned or regimented. Just avail yourself and it will happen..
My mother went to be with the Lord 20 years ago today and I still miss her. And I am so grateful for all she taught me. My prayer is that I am being a mentor, an admonisher to all the women that God brings me in contact with.
Passing the faith along.. This is the way it's done ladies. Until next time, I hope you all have a glorious Mother's Day.
Love in Him,
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
MANY LITTLE THINGS
It has been many months since my last post ; but this morning I just have to share a life moment . My last post was "One Thing". Well, today I want to talk about Many Little Things. So often we forget to praise Him for the many little things He does everyday for us. I hope to instill in my children and grandchildren that LIFE is made up of "little things" and not just the big life changers. So what's all the little hallelujahs about?
Back in the summer Glenda gave me a pair of earrings that said "My Grandkids Rock". Well, you might guess where this is going...yes, I lost them. Now, they came from Sam Moon so not a great monetary loss, but I loved those earrings and wore them a lot. I looked where I knew I had put them and only found ONE!! Well, I looked and re-looked (bookshelf in bathroom) and still no earring. So I gave up and Penny said, "don't worry Mom we'll get you some more." Isn't it funny how when you get older the little things are what matter and the big things you've just learned to trust God for??? Oooo...that will preach!
Anyway, yesterday I picked up one of my devotional books that I keep on that bookshelf in the bathroom AND inside that book was the missing earring. Now you tell me how that earring jumped inside that book? I do not even read this particular one that often, but this day I decided to. Well, NOW my devotional that day had nothing to do with what was printed in that book (sorry Kay Arthur), but it was all about this little thing that God had given to me.
JUST ONE MORE and I'll let you get to your own "little things"........
This morning I got to looking for a book..RABBONI by Phillip Keller. Of course this Sunday is Easter and since this is the Name that Mary called Jesus at the garden tomb, I thought that it might have some insight for me. I was so delighted to find the book relatively easily. (My library is in terrible disarray) However, the last section (106) pages was missing!!! And of course that was the section I needed for my research. Well, once again I'm on the hunt and not for Easter eggs!. I gave up. Then I thought no, it's got to be in that library! So I started searching shelf by shelf, book by book. Hallelujah!! There it was!! You've been there. So happy, happy, happy to find something that has been lost. (ooooo..another sermon). Well, that's TWO Little Things in as many days that God has blessed me with.
Will the earrings make my "look" as I wear them? NO! Will that portion of Rabboni that I will
read impact my Sunday School lesson? Probably not! BUT GOD, wanted me to see that HE is in the little things of our lives. And if we miss them.....well, we miss most of life.
Don't miss His Life today. Glory in the MANY LITTLE THINGS that HE provides so richly for us to enjoy.
Love in Him,
Saturday, August 4, 2012
ONE THING
I rarely go to the movies; and even more rarely do I remember one special quote from a movie, but this is my all time favorite:
Curly: Do you know what the secret of life is?
[holds up one finger]
Curly: This.
Mitch: Your finger?
Curly: One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and the rest don't mean......(unnecessary expletive)
Mitch: But, what is the "one thing?"
Curly: [smiles] That's what *you* have to find out
Points for you if you know which movie this is!!
It's from the 1991 movie "City Slickers" with Billy Crystal and Jack Palance. The sequels were not nearly as good as this one.
Do you know what that "one thing" is for you?? In my Bible reading for today from
Psalm 27:4 David says:
"The one thing I ask of the LORD--
The thing I seek most--
is to live in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
delighting in the LORD'S
perfections and meditating in His Temple."
So did this mean that David wanted to go to Temple or to church everyday? I think not. But I do think the last two phrases are a clue to what he was trying to say..........
delighting in the LORD'S perfections
and
meditating in His Temple
Oh Lord, may delighting in and meditating on You be the one thing in my life above all others.
Love in Him,
[holds up one finger]
Curly: This.
Mitch: Your finger?
Curly: One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and the rest don't mean......(unnecessary expletive)
Mitch: But, what is the "one thing?"
Curly: [smiles] That's what *you* have to find out
Points for you if you know which movie this is!!
It's from the 1991 movie "City Slickers" with Billy Crystal and Jack Palance. The sequels were not nearly as good as this one.
Do you know what that "one thing" is for you?? In my Bible reading for today from
Psalm 27:4 David says:
"The one thing I ask of the LORD--
The thing I seek most--
is to live in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
delighting in the LORD'S
perfections and meditating in His Temple."
So did this mean that David wanted to go to Temple or to church everyday? I think not. But I do think the last two phrases are a clue to what he was trying to say..........
delighting in the LORD'S perfections
and
meditating in His Temple
Oh Lord, may delighting in and meditating on You be the one thing in my life above all others.
Love in Him,
Friday, August 3, 2012
A CLEAN HOUSE
I was reading about Josiah this morning at II Chronicles 34 where they "came across" The Book of the Law as they were cleaning and restoring the Temple. Oh, you can just feel the drama and anxiety as Josiah tears his clothes in despair. My question: Will they have to "clean house" to find your Bible?
Now, those of you who know me, know that I study my many Bibles everyday-more or less- BUT--that doesn't let me off the hook because the Holy Spirit really pierced my heart at these verses. So I prayed and reminded the Lord that this is part of my routine, but still this gnawing.. So, OK, what Lord? Speak Your servant is listening! Then I got what He wanted me to see: The real Temple is within us.
Is this "house- this Temple" clean enough to find His Word not only dwelling, but active and alive within?? Or will I have to search and restore to find it?? OUCH!! The good news is that Josiah fully restored the Temple of His God and it started by a complete reading of the entire Book of Covenant! They didn't get out by 12:00 that Sunday!!
Do you need to clean house today?
"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139: 23-24.
Love in Him,
Now, those of you who know me, know that I study my many Bibles everyday-more or less- BUT--that doesn't let me off the hook because the Holy Spirit really pierced my heart at these verses. So I prayed and reminded the Lord that this is part of my routine, but still this gnawing.. So, OK, what Lord? Speak Your servant is listening! Then I got what He wanted me to see: The real Temple is within us.
Is this "house- this Temple" clean enough to find His Word not only dwelling, but active and alive within?? Or will I have to search and restore to find it?? OUCH!! The good news is that Josiah fully restored the Temple of His God and it started by a complete reading of the entire Book of Covenant! They didn't get out by 12:00 that Sunday!!
Do you need to clean house today?
"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139: 23-24.
Love in Him,
Sunday, May 13, 2012
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY
On this Mothers Day 2012 I just want to say that I feel my legacy is well in hand with my two godly daughters. If I went to be with the Lord today, I know they would carry on just fine without me. It has nothing to do with anything I have done, but all to do with the Great God that lives within them. There is no greater blessing or Mothers Day gift than to know and hear from your children that they love God supremely and their families foremost. I praise the Awesome God Who is Sovereign and Ruler over all for His great mercy toward this mother and grandmother who for most of my life did not have a clue how important showing them Jesus was. But in these last days I now realize that it is their only hope. Praise You God for Your Unspeakable Gift to me and my family.
Love in Him,
Sunday, March 18, 2012
The Best
I realized this morning that the Lord really wants me to get back to this project Penny inspired me with 3 years ago; then disaster stuck and I have pretty much abandoned it. So in obedience I am going to post "something" today to try to "prime the pump" (probably be a littler older if you know what that means) of this well.
If you ever do not know what to say my grandmother always said: Just say something good you are thankful for. So here goes. I have the best family in the whole world. I have a husband that is a rock, two daughters that are a chip off that rock and a son-in-law that tries to keep his chaotic life smooth & running..and grandkids. Well, you know that I have the cutest, smartest, and sweetest in the whole world. I have the best church family in all of the kingdom and last but not least the One and Only True God in all the world; which is why I have all the above just mentioned. Without Him I would be and could do nothing...but with Him... I can do all things through Christ His Son Who strengthens me.
Now, if I behaved like I believed that (which I do) I would not have to try to leave a lasting legacy ..... it would just be a natural product of the remains of my life.
Oh God..... make it be so and thank You for all of Your blessings today, especially those I have just mentioned.
I close with an appropriate verse that just happens to be my favorite:
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for
wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jer. 29:11
in Him,
If you ever do not know what to say my grandmother always said: Just say something good you are thankful for. So here goes. I have the best family in the whole world. I have a husband that is a rock, two daughters that are a chip off that rock and a son-in-law that tries to keep his chaotic life smooth & running..and grandkids. Well, you know that I have the cutest, smartest, and sweetest in the whole world. I have the best church family in all of the kingdom and last but not least the One and Only True God in all the world; which is why I have all the above just mentioned. Without Him I would be and could do nothing...but with Him... I can do all things through Christ His Son Who strengthens me.
Now, if I behaved like I believed that (which I do) I would not have to try to leave a lasting legacy ..... it would just be a natural product of the remains of my life.
Oh God..... make it be so and thank You for all of Your blessings today, especially those I have just mentioned.
I close with an appropriate verse that just happens to be my favorite:
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for
wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jer. 29:11
in Him,
Friday, December 30, 2011
ONE YEAR TRIBUTE
John was a different kind of "regular guy". OK, he was not a regular guy . He spoke his mind and he had the confidence of a giant.
John was all about celebration. He celebrated everything. From a pay raise to a cured hang nail John found some way to make a celebration out of it. And I just know that he is having the time of his life in heaven. Because heaven is the celebration place folks and if you are going there and you do not like to celebrate; you better get in some training before you get there. And just know, that little speech was for me. Until I met John Franklin, I did not know how to celebrate, but I learned a thing or two in the 81/2 years he was in our family.
John was also very serious about some things too. He was very serious about souls being saved and people growing in the Lord. He was also serious about his family knowing that he loved them. He showed that he was serious about these two things by actions not words. He did some of the craziest things just to show Penny how much he loved her. He also did some awfully time consuming elaborate things to minister to people so that they could see his care and not just hear it from his mouth.
Yes, some of John's friends and family thought he was weird (even me sometimes), but I think maybe when we get to heaven and we are reunited and all the pretenses are gone; some of us stuff shirt-traditional-Pharisees might just see that John was closer to reality than we ever thought possible ..
My life is richer because I knew him. Our family and the world has suffered a great loss because he went to heaven sooner than we think he should, but God is in control and for whatever reason He took him at 41 I will rejoice that I got to know him on this earth for as long as I did... and I can't wait to see him on the other side...And prove him wrong about so many things we disagreed on theologically..HA! Like it will make any difference then.
WE MISS YOU JOHN--FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS
Love in Him,
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Legacy Building Afternoon
I had a great time this afternoon with my grandchildren while their mommy is sick. It got me to thinking though. In years to come will they remember a cloudy Sunday afternoon when their mommy was sick and grandmother played DSI games, read Bible stories, and helped with Awana bible books memorization? We worked on the hardest twelve in the Bible. Even Bible woman grandmother had to brush up on these 12. How would you do?
Hosea Jonah Habakkuk Zechariah
Joel Micah Zephaniah Malachi
Amos Nahum Haggai
Obadiah
These are the hardest to remember because we do not use them very much. I mean; when is the last time your pastor said "turn in your Bibles to Zephaniah 2"???
Anyway, I was just wondering .........someday in the future will the brother & sister be reminiscing and say: "remember the afternoon not long after our daddy died and mommy was sick and grandmother read to us, played DSI games with us and helped us learn the books of the Bible, then dressed us in our Bible hero costumes for Awanas???
Not tooting my own horn here, but just pondering where all of this will end up? Hopefully more than just a memory, but if that's all; it was worth it to this grandmother.
We are leaving a legacy; but our question should be of what "sort" it is?
Make a memory today.
It will do your heart good.
Love in Him,
Hosea Jonah Habakkuk Zechariah
Joel Micah Zephaniah Malachi
Amos Nahum Haggai
Obadiah
These are the hardest to remember because we do not use them very much. I mean; when is the last time your pastor said "turn in your Bibles to Zephaniah 2"???
Anyway, I was just wondering .........someday in the future will the brother & sister be reminiscing and say: "remember the afternoon not long after our daddy died and mommy was sick and grandmother read to us, played DSI games with us and helped us learn the books of the Bible, then dressed us in our Bible hero costumes for Awanas???
Not tooting my own horn here, but just pondering where all of this will end up? Hopefully more than just a memory, but if that's all; it was worth it to this grandmother.
We are leaving a legacy; but our question should be of what "sort" it is?
Make a memory today.
It will do your heart good.
Love in Him,
Thursday, October 6, 2011
AND..AND..AND
Well, it seems that grandson #3 aka J P has been the inspiration of both the Pickard women's blogs today. J P talks very well, but sometimes he has a hard time getting it out and you can tell he's trying to get together what he wants to say and he will say "and"..."and"...."and" which I learned this morning in my One Year Bible that this conjunction is very biblical..The reading in Psalms was a psalm of Asaph(the choir director) Psalm 78:1-31, but the part I want to focus on is verses 1-8.
(1) Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth!!
(2) I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, (3) things that we have heard
and known, that our fathers have told us. (4) We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and His might, and the wonders that He has done.
(5) He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children, (6) that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, ..and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.
Now for J P, his ands are to keep his mouth moving while he thinks of what he's going to say next. But what are all of these 9 "ands" for; AND what can we learn here? This whole Psalm is about telling the good news about our great God to the next generation.
So, AND what??
and known
and His might
and wonders and appointed
and arise and tell
and not forget
and not be like rebellious fathers
We have a story to tell to not only the nations, but to our very own children and grandchildren..It was commanded in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 6-good reading for all)..that was not an option if you were an Israelite. The story of how God chose them and carried them and protected them and made them into His people out of all the peoples of the earth.
OH, Parents, Grandparents, Christian relatives....if we do not tell them everyday that there is still a God Who is in control and Who loves them and wants them to follow Him ....Who will? AND will you AND will I commit to do that today?
Thank you J P. The word "And" is a very good word.
Love in Him,
(1) Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth!!
(2) I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, (3) things that we have heard
and known, that our fathers have told us. (4) We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and His might, and the wonders that He has done.
(5) He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children, (6) that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, ..and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.
Now for J P, his ands are to keep his mouth moving while he thinks of what he's going to say next. But what are all of these 9 "ands" for; AND what can we learn here? This whole Psalm is about telling the good news about our great God to the next generation.
So, AND what??
and known
and wonders and appointed
and arise and tell
and not forget
and not be like rebellious fathers
We have a story to tell to not only the nations, but to our very own children and grandchildren..It was commanded in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 6-good reading for all)..that was not an option if you were an Israelite. The story of how God chose them and carried them and protected them and made them into His people out of all the peoples of the earth.
OH, Parents, Grandparents, Christian relatives....if we do not tell them everyday that there is still a God Who is in control and Who loves them and wants them to follow Him ....Who will? AND will you AND will I commit to do that today?
Thank you J P. The word "And" is a very good word.
Love in Him,
Thursday, September 29, 2011
OLD AGE AND GRAY HAIRS?
 |
| Grandmother & Papa |
There was a wonderful passage in our One Year Bible reading this morning that I just had to share since it speaks directly to this legacy thing that I haphazardly try to perpetuate on this blog. Now I do not consider myself "old" and I only have a "few" gray hairs, but this verse gave me such comfort that I have gone almost all day in it's strength. Rejoice with me in God's ever faithful Word!
17 "O God, from my youth You have taught me, and I still proclaim Your wondrous deeds.
18 So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim Your might to another generation, Your power to all those to come.
19 Your righteousness, O God , reaches the high heavens. You Who have done great things, O God,
Who is like You?
20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth You will bring me up again. 21 You will increase my greatness and comfort me again.
22 I will also praise You with the harp for Your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to You with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel
23 My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to You; my soul also, which You have redeemed.
24 And my tongue will talk of Your righteous help all the day long, for they have been put to shame and disappointed who sought to do me hurt.
Love in Him
Thursday, September 22, 2011
TRIBUTE TO CHARLES M ROBERTS
Charles Roberts - Pastor
Today I want to honor Bro. Charles Roberts who was my pastor for 34 years...... truly a living legacy. He retired on August 31, 2011 and his last Sunday to preach in that capacity was Sunday Sept. 18, 2011 as we celebrated his long tenure at Denman Avenue Baptist Church.
How do you honor such a man? He was my Pastor, is my friend, my brother and perhaps the greatest counselor outside of the Holy Spirit that I've ever had. Two words come to mind as I try to describe him: FAITHFUL and LOVING . Everything he did as our Pastor he did within the context of these two attributes. He did not always say what I wanted to hear, but I knew they were wise words that came from his lips and would ultimately be for my good.
I am not so sure that my legacy thus far would look like it does if it hadn't been for this godly man in my life. He has seen all of us through some of the roughest times: illness, sin, death, disappointments, divorce, job loss, aging.... and some of the happiest times: children born, new homes, children married, grandchildren, spiritual growth, retirement.
Selfishly, I am a little anxious about not having a pastor that "knows" me and my "stuff" at this trying time of my life, but I know my God and He too is Faithful and Loving and all His Words are true. So I will continue to serve and live as Bro. Charles taught us over the years; by being steadfast and faithful to the cause of Christ and His body at Denman Ave Baptist Church..
THANK YOU BRO. CHARLES for all you have done and all you will continue to do in the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May all who come behind us find us faithful.
Love in Him,
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