Dear Mom,
Where do I begin? You and I have always had such a good understanding between us that words weren't always necessary. Oh, how much I miss you! So many days I think about you and wish (with a heart squeezing pain) that we could sit and visit. Or, just touch your soft hand and soak in your unconditional love. Or, play a game (or 40 !) of Skip-Bo, or Phase 10. Or, how about a cup of hazelnut coffee and piece of homemade pie sitting by the lake- either Lake Superior or Lake Kampeska, (sisters- don't laugh, we enjoyed both lakes!). Maybe the thing I miss the most is your heart that was so in tune with God, and you willingly poured His wisdom and love and yes, even correction out on me.
Now, just think, you are WITH GOD! Amazing!
My precious Mama, you finished the race set before you and you finished well! You did not turn back to the world, when once you set your face towards Jesus- that is where it stayed! Thank you, for such faithfulness, thank you for being Christ to me so many times, in so many ways.
Tears just come trying to "write" you a letter. Can you read this? Do you need to? Probably not, you are in a place of perfect peace and rest. This is for me~ and maybe for others, to know just how much God blessed our family with you!
There will NEVER be another to take your place. I admit, I have actually looked. "Searched in vain", would be more accurate. Jesus knew when He took you home that I would be face gut-wrenching grief, day after day, month after month, year after year. Yes, it has gotten easier...in some ways. In other ways though, it is worse. To know that life keeps snowballing (weird term to use in summer), and I cannot share it with you. You never promised to live forever, you knew that you wouldn't. Mom, you continually pointed us to Christ. You told us that He would never leave us, that His grace is sufficient, that His mercies are new every morning, that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
Mom, the example you were to us daughters is absolutely amazing. You got up early every morning, (not just when you "felt" like it), you had your "time with the Lord", you ALWAYS were dressed,shoes on, hair done, makeup on, perfume on, bed made, READY before breakfast!!! The house may not have been perfect, or have that magazine look- but it was such a peaceful place to be, that when a handyman was there working he asked us girls "Who decorated our house? No, not the decorations...it just feels so nice and peaceful I want to stay" !! We told him that it was our Mom and Jesus!
This letter could go on and on, can't wait till that glorious day when we will be reunited!
I love you Mama, so very much! I am looking forward to seeing you again!
Happy Birthday
Friday, June 1, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel
What a tremendous blessing our family received this past week.
Our church had it's Mission Conference and Pastor asked for volunteers to host missionary families. The Lord nudged my heart that we should do this, so as soon the service was over I offered our home. Only problem was, that I never even had a chance to mention it to my husband...oops! When I talked to Pastor he said it would actually be a national Pastor from one of four countries.
I did finally talk to my husband and he was fine with it, but asked, "what if we can't speak with them, or they can't understand us, or the whole thing is uncomfortable??"
Well, we were just going to need to trust the Lord! I was really excited and prepared our room for this National Pastor from Myanmar. As I tried to prepare the children, I told them that whomever this man was, it was going to be a bit overwhelming to stay with some strange Americans with ten kids!!
Out came the list of "do's and don'ts"...
"Do be quiet."
"Don't make too much noise."
"Do keep the house clean."
" Don't make any messes."
" Be sure to be extra quiet"
You get the idea!
All this worry was in vain~
We found out the night they arrived that we would actually have two men with us, so hubby ran to get the R.V. ready to go and pulled it over to the house. I ran to the store and bought an air mattress and the kids all piled in close to these two precious men of God to love on them, talk their ears off, and show them all their "treasures", etc.
Our time with these Pastors was a huge blessing to us. I think the biggest blessing was how there was no wasted time talking about non-essentials. Every conversation went straight to Who God is, and what He is doing in our lives. We had many similarities with them- all from three very different places in this world. One in Christ!
It was such a blessing to hear them sing "How Great Thou Art" together, first verse in English then each of them sing a verse in his own language. To hear their testimonies, and see that no matter where we are, if we are born again we suffer the same trials and rejoice in the same victories.
One thing that made a huge impact on me was on our last morning together, I asked them for specific prayer requests that our family can pray for them. Both of them rushed to ask us first to pray that they would "Finish well". That is something I heard my daddy say so many times, " It is easy to begin, but the important thing is to finish well!"
One of the Brothers said "The more you depend on the Holy Spirit, the more power you will receive, the more you will see God work"
They have risked everything this world can offer them for that very end!
When they had to leave it was hard, we had to say "goodbye" to two new brothers- nobody likes to say "goodbye" to family. They have already emailed and called and blessed us even more.
How sweet to know we will reunite with our brothers someday soon!
Oh, in case you were wondering, they "bonded" with our LOUD, MESSY children with no problems!
What a blessing~ wish I could share it with you...
Our church had it's Mission Conference and Pastor asked for volunteers to host missionary families. The Lord nudged my heart that we should do this, so as soon the service was over I offered our home. Only problem was, that I never even had a chance to mention it to my husband...oops! When I talked to Pastor he said it would actually be a national Pastor from one of four countries.
I did finally talk to my husband and he was fine with it, but asked, "what if we can't speak with them, or they can't understand us, or the whole thing is uncomfortable??"
Well, we were just going to need to trust the Lord! I was really excited and prepared our room for this National Pastor from Myanmar. As I tried to prepare the children, I told them that whomever this man was, it was going to be a bit overwhelming to stay with some strange Americans with ten kids!!
Out came the list of "do's and don'ts"...
"Do be quiet."
"Don't make too much noise."
"Do keep the house clean."
" Don't make any messes."
" Be sure to be extra quiet"
You get the idea!
All this worry was in vain~
We found out the night they arrived that we would actually have two men with us, so hubby ran to get the R.V. ready to go and pulled it over to the house. I ran to the store and bought an air mattress and the kids all piled in close to these two precious men of God to love on them, talk their ears off, and show them all their "treasures", etc.
It was such a blessing to hear them sing "How Great Thou Art" together, first verse in English then each of them sing a verse in his own language. To hear their testimonies, and see that no matter where we are, if we are born again we suffer the same trials and rejoice in the same victories.
One thing that made a huge impact on me was on our last morning together, I asked them for specific prayer requests that our family can pray for them. Both of them rushed to ask us first to pray that they would "Finish well". That is something I heard my daddy say so many times, " It is easy to begin, but the important thing is to finish well!"
One of the Brothers said "The more you depend on the Holy Spirit, the more power you will receive, the more you will see God work"
They have risked everything this world can offer them for that very end!
When they had to leave it was hard, we had to say "goodbye" to two new brothers- nobody likes to say "goodbye" to family. They have already emailed and called and blessed us even more.
How sweet to know we will reunite with our brothers someday soon!
Oh, in case you were wondering, they "bonded" with our LOUD, MESSY children with no problems!
What a blessing~ wish I could share it with you...
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Theres Nothing Out There By The Eshes - Music From CD Home
There's Nothing Out There
Now since you've known the blessed Savior,
And since you've felt His cleasnsing power,
How can you can go back out there and deny Him?
There's nothing out there for a soul that's once known God.
There's nothing out there for a soul that's known God,
No peace nor pleasure can be found.
There's nothing but sorrow and dissapointment,
There's nothing out there for a soul that's once known God.
He's the God of Love, He's the God of mercy,
He's the God of judgment, He's judging you.
How can you go back out there and deny Him?
There's nothing out there for a soul that's once known God.
I'd rather die than to fail my Savior
Or bring reproach on His dear name;
Nor give the devil a chance to say there is.
There's nothing out there for a soul that's once known God.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Hard? Yes, but worth every effort!
Just a pretty picture from our time in Florida.Tears came to my eyes as I read a family's blog, many times over the years it has encouraged me in my journey of motherhood. Why the tears? Like a wave crashing on the shore, it hit me- everything I so admire about these young people and their testimony, is the result of intentional parenting.
I like that word, intentional. It sounds so full of purpose and direction, like you know where you want to go and you know how to arrive!
There are many times that I scratch my head and wonder, "Now, where was I going? .
Knowing where we are going and how to get there is directly in line with what we love.
As a young person I heard a little quote countless times...in fact, if I were to look back I could probably find it already on this blog somewhere!
"It's not what you know, but what you love!" This will be our guide, that is why it's so important what we love, and Whom we love.
If I am in love with Jesus Christ and the Word of God, all else will fall into place. The "how to" will become infinetesimal.
Step by step, the Savior is waiting to lead, guide and actually go before us in every situation!
Our family is singing this Sunday night, the hymn we are going to sing has become a sort of theme song for us.
I like that word, intentional. It sounds so full of purpose and direction, like you know where you want to go and you know how to arrive!
There are many times that I scratch my head and wonder, "Now, where was I going? .
Knowing where we are going and how to get there is directly in line with what we love.
As a young person I heard a little quote countless times...in fact, if I were to look back I could probably find it already on this blog somewhere!
"It's not what you know, but what you love!" This will be our guide, that is why it's so important what we love, and Whom we love.
If I am in love with Jesus Christ and the Word of God, all else will fall into place. The "how to" will become infinetesimal.
Step by step, the Savior is waiting to lead, guide and actually go before us in every situation!
Our family is singing this Sunday night, the hymn we are going to sing has become a sort of theme song for us.
May the mind of Christ my Savior
1 May the mind of Christ, my Savior, live in me from day to day, by his love and power controlling all I do and say.
2 May the word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour, so that all may see I triumph only through his power.
3 May the peace of God, my Father, rule my life in everything, that I may be calm to comfort sick and sorrowing.
4 May the love of Jesus fill me as the waters fill the sea. Him exalting, self abasing:
this is victory.
5 May we run the race before us, strong and brave to face the foe, looking only unto Jesus as we onward go.
Kate B. Wilkinson
This describes intentional living, doesn't it? This clarifies all those questions that we have as mom's, about the whys, wheres and hows!
Be encouraged today! No matter where we are today, we can move upward. Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, holding fast to the Truth- may we love the Lord. He will take care of all results.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Answer the call
Our theme for the new year in church is "Answer the Call"~
In the past few weeks we have heard about four people that God called in a special way. These messages have been a huge blessing to me.
The one that God used the most in my life was about Martha.
Luke 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said,
Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her
therefore that she help me.
Luke 10:41 And Jesus answered and said unto her,
Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
In the past few weeks we have heard about four people that God called in a special way. These messages have been a huge blessing to me.
The one that God used the most in my life was about Martha.
Luke 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said,
Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her
therefore that she help me.
Luke 10:41 And Jesus answered and said unto her,
Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
The point was "Don't just do something, sit there!"
Will I ever really learn to CONTINUALLY "Be still and know that I am God"?
It is the prayer of my heart to trust the Lord, trust Him even when all is falling to pieces about me. To take time to sit at His feet and learn of Him, and when I am there to not be distracted by anything else. Even "good" things.
The measure of our spirituality is in direct proportion to how much time we spend with Jesus, in the Word.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Is it working again?
For reasons unknown to this technically challenged person, Blogger quit letting me us the "publish post" button. Months ago. All of the sudden it started working again. I think. If you can read this, let me know.
Hey, as my dear, sweet, loving husband says, "I can pick my bloggers again!"...I know, that is really gross, but since only family reads this- you all still love me, right?
On the more serious side, I was praying about some burdens today and the song "God's been Good" started playing. My spirit was immediately revived in me as I reflected on that truth! He is always good and always right!
O.K., I'm off to finish painting my bedroom, doing 4 loads of laundry, cook two more meals for this family of 12, do a reading lesson with 2 boys,...why do I always list what I need to do? Now I only have enough energy to drag myself to the nearest easy chair~ Whoops, there goes my perspective again!
Hey, as my dear, sweet, loving husband says, "I can pick my bloggers again!"...I know, that is really gross, but since only family reads this- you all still love me, right?
On the more serious side, I was praying about some burdens today and the song "God's been Good" started playing. My spirit was immediately revived in me as I reflected on that truth! He is always good and always right!
O.K., I'm off to finish painting my bedroom, doing 4 loads of laundry, cook two more meals for this family of 12, do a reading lesson with 2 boys,...why do I always list what I need to do? Now I only have enough energy to drag myself to the nearest easy chair~ Whoops, there goes my perspective again!
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