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,

A Summer of Service

                                                           

Well, we have survived the summer. Grandmother Camp was a roaring success.  We learned all about freedom, our America and some of the people who helped to give us the wonderful country that we have. The finale production was complete with flags, banners, patriotic readings and lively songs. The best thing I learned was from the youngest member, J.P. One day at lunch he said: “ You take what you git and you don’t throw a fit.” Now I understand that little ditty is as old as Methusalah, but I had never heard it.  Honestly!! Our family has definitely learned in the last 8 months that this little truth is so important in the living of life.  Our lives are certainly a lot different than we would have expected 8 months ago.  But nonetheless, we are not throwing a fit, or a pity party.  Sorrowing yes, crying some yes, but the only fit going on is knowing that He is “fitting” us for His Kingdom.

The beginning of our summer started with a miracle of a sort.  I was retired early from my job at the bank.  I had planned to retire in 2 years.  Well, God had a different plan and it is the most wonderful thing that has happened to me since I can’t remember when.  He truly knows best.  He knew I would never willingly quit a good paying job to stay home and help with the new life that we have all been called upon to live.  So I say with the hundreds of others:  “ I do not know how I ever worked 8-10 hours a day away from home. Now my days are filled with much more meaningful work and I praise Him for all of His wonderful ways. Truly His ways are not our ways.  Great is Your faithfulness Lord unto me.!!

Penny had her first experience of teaching VBS (Vacation Bible School). Of course I had to put  my two cents worth in since I  taught 5^th grade VBS for several years albeit decades ago. But mostly I just kept her kids so she could get her “Big Apple Adventure room ready.  The greatest treasure of this years’ VBS was that my granddaughter said yes to the call of Jesus on her little life.  Praise God ! That is why we do it. 

                                                                         

The McComber/Franklin gang had a great time at Disney World with no major clitches. 

They made it safely there and back. Which was an answer to my daily prayer.  It looked like Santa had come when all four kids got their stuff unloaded.  What memories they made.

                                                                    

Then on to being a teacher’s assistant as Penny began to put her classroom together. Wow! What a great job she did.. It was my honor to help her.  It brought back memories of several years ago when I helped Glenda get her first classroom ready.

Today Penny began her first official day of “In-Service”.  Why do they call the week before school starts “In-Service” ? Seems to me they are “In-Service” for 10-11 months out of the year!! Such a good reminder for me as a servant for the Lord that I am to be “in-service” everyday of the year.  I felt really bad because John would have had a big celebration.  Maybe I will be a better servant on Monday August 22 when school starts and have a big send off for all 3 of the Franklins. I am open to any ideas.  I am not the celebrating type, but I can learn.

So, now I am to what I do best; being a nanny, a cook, and a housekeeper and oh yes, a grandmother. Even in the ordinary everyday routine of life we are building memories, growing and learning to be more like our Lord.  

The next big hurdle for us is that August 31, 2011 will be the last official day for our beloved pastor Charles Roberts . He is retiring after 35 years of faithful, loving service to this body of believers at Denman Avenue Baptist Church.  I am happy for him because he is not in good health and as I said above being retired is a wonderful thing.  I know that he will not retire from serving the Lord, but he will be able to do his service as he is able.  I love this shepherd of the Lord and will miss him tremendously. 

Life is all about change though; so we move forward in whatever God has called us to.  Our part is to learn and live in such a way that those who come after us will love and honor the LORD until their time comes to learn and live and pass it on and learn and live and pass it on…that living legacy that we are all building. God’s Word says in  PSALMS 127: 1  “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it…. How’s your legacy building project coming along??

Love in Him,

John Franklin-A Living Legacy

A Living Legacy

      July 6^th, John Franklin’s first Birthday in heaven.  I’m not sure he’s having a party. I hope so because the man celebrated everything for everybody!! I know when Jesus comes and we are on the New Earth we will celebrate all things good, but I’m not sure that’s happening now, never-the-less; I can give my tribute to this man who was adored by his family and friends and respected by everyone that knew him --even if they thought he was a little weird! HA! I’ll never understand why the good die young, but God is Sovereign and we must say: “Yes Lord”.

     I have been researching and preparing for this years’ Grandmother & Papa Camp which is Red, White, Blue, & You.  As you might guess-America’s Christian heritage.  I came across something that was written about Abraham Lincoln that certainly was appropriate for him, but after I read it a couple of times I thought of my son-in-law John Franklin..

      “ He died with every circumstance of tragedy, yet it is not the accident of his death, but the purpose of his life that is remembered”..

     John Franklin’s death is and will always be a tragedy to us who loved him, but he knew his purpose and sought to fulfill that purpose everyday of his life.  Do you know your purpose?  It’s really simple.  Our purpose in life is to bring glory to God our Father who made us for Himself just because He wanted to love us.  John knew this and lived it daily.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY John, and thank you for showing us what we are here for.                                                 

                Save us a place at the table……we'll be along "da-rectly"....

                                           

Love in Him,

Lanita's Listening

    
      One of my favorite TV preachers is Charles Stanley.  He has a favorite phrase: "If you're listening, say Amen." As I began to prepare for my Sunday School lesson for Sunday I realized the new unit is going to be about Freedom. So what, you might ask.  Let me share with you the last four lessons and see what you think. The unit four months ago was Grieving and Comfort (John's moving to heaven only 1 month past); after that the month of lessons was on Leadership ( fired from a job of 32 years); the month we're ending Sunday is on Proper Perspective on Possessions (still adjusting to half the salary- I retired and am drawing Social Security and Bank Pension, but that is half what I was making. Now, as I look ahead the month of July we are going to study Freedom (Grandmother & Papa camp will be an attempt to teach our Christian heritage to the 4 grandkids ages 4-10. It's name this year is Red,White,Blue, You..and begins July 11th).

                                                                  
       Until today I had doubts about that being any fun and perhaps not age appropriate.. Now I know I am right on track.  In fact, I just believe He might be reading my mail...or ......could it be, let it be...that I am finally listening to Him.. Jeremiah 33: 3 is known as God's phone number. Believe me I know His number..for He says: "Call unto me and I will show you great and mighty things which you don't have a clue about." (Lanita's paraphrase)
      
       Pray for us as we continue to meld 2 families and especially pray for Grandmother & Papa camp. I want my grandkids to know that this is a great country that was originally founded on Christian principles. God bless our America. This land is our land, God ordained it's founding; and I want them to know that.

Love in Him,

DIRT FOR WEEDS

Now I know 2 posts in the same day is going to blow my daughter Penny from Living Above-Away, but I was reading Charles Spurgeon last night and he says in one of his Farm Sermons that we should go out into nature more often because that's where God put the first man and that being so He will connect with us there in so many different ways.  And also after reading "Lessons from Gumbo" also from  Living Above (Can you tell that I like Living Above)??  I decided to mow my yard this morning. I had used the weed eater but missed a tall blade of grass at the edge of the drive-way.  So I just bent down to pull it up the old fashioned way; you know hands & knees.

 And then came the lesson.

  It takes very little dirt for a weed to grow & flourish. Do you know that blade of grass that was causing such an unsightly view of my otherwise perfectly mown yard was in hardly no soil, just a little dirt and lodged between 2 rocks..Unbelievable!! However, if you want a plant to grow, especially one that will give you food, it takes good soil, fertilizer, water and lots of tending. So if you only want weeds in your spiritual life it doesn't take much.  Any old dirt or rock will do, no special food, and no tending.  Just do nothing and there you will have the best crop of weeds Satan can give you.  BUT if you want a flourishing crop of spiritual food you must first Know the Gardner and then sow your seed in His Word and just watch a crop of bountiful things grow, but not without tending everyday.

 Jesus has an excellent parable about this in Mark 4:1-9 . I won't go into it, but the words I will share with you from this story are: no depth and withered away.  Not words I want to be associated with!!

Remember it only takes a little doing nothing for a weed to flourish.  Pull them out everyday .. " All it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing".. (Jim Elliott--I forget??? ) I know some of you out there will know who that was by.. 


Share with us:  How does your garden grow??

ANCIENT BOUNDARY LINES

God's Word is always relevant, but this morning as I ready Proverbs  22:28  which says:

"do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set"

my legacy theme just jumped out at me.  When we neglect our extended family ties this is basically what we are doing.  For years I have been "away" not estranged, but just unconnected with my 2 brothers and their families; and I only live one hour away from them.  But this year has been the year of reconnecting with them and it has been such a blessing.

  

Blog friends do not remove the ancient landmark which was set by your fathers.  No matter what... and I do realize there are a lot of "whats" out there to hinder this, but do all you can as often as you can to keep in touch with those that your fathers & mothers established for you.  There is a reason why God set you in that family and it was not just so you would have a sibling when you were young.  Our family ties mold us & are a tool for God to use in our lives.  Keep the home fires burning. 

REAL LIFE

Sometimes what we want to do and what we do, gets covered up by "real life".  I have been away for a few weeks now and I miss my connection in this "world".  However, there is a reason.  My work has been very hectic and my heart has been really heavy for a co-worker whose daughter is in a life threatening health situation. She has recently had a baby and she now has MRSA. It is still touch & go. So all of my extra energy has been given to prayer and support for this one in my life.  It is especially near to my heart because this young woman is my youngest daughters age (35).  To think that my Glenda or Penny could be in a situation like this just overwhelms me at times. But then I remember our great God, Jehovah- Rapha, our  Healer. I go to Him and find the comfort and energy I need to not only fill in for her mother at work, but stay the course in prayer.  So to all of Lanita'sLegacy followers please be patient.  I will return and after all, that's what legacys are made of --REAL LIFE....you have my heart...