Tommy, I Miss You

Dear Tom,

You passed from this life on October 22, 2011. I can’t help but remember that today would have been your 51st birthday. It’s been almost 6 months since you left this earth, but I still think of you a lot and miss you. I am thankful that you were a part of my life. You were not only a great brother, but you became a wonderful friend to me during the last year and half of your life. I sure am thankful too that I was on that 14 page prayer list of yours that we found out about after your death. There is probably no telling how many times I was uplifted, encouraged or kept from danger because of your prayers.

I am sad on one hand, because I miss being able to talk to you and share times together, but I rejoice also, because I know you were ready to meet the Lord, and you are now in His loving hands! One day, we will be reunited with you in the presence of the Lord, and what a glorious time that will be!!! Looking forward to seeing you again in God’s time.

Your loving sister,

‘lynnie

 

A Passion To Fly

If you read the post before this one, you know that Paul was scheduled for a complimentary first flight lesson on Thursday. Well……………………………………………….it happened, and it was a great experience.  The man in the photo is Rashid, Paul’s flight instructor.  Rashid made a statement to us before Paul had his lesson that really struck me. He said, “You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to learn how to fly. You just have to have a passion for it.” (more on that in a bit) Paul was up in the air flying for about in a hour in the yellow Cessna 15o. While he was flying we spent a little bit of time talking to our contact person for the lesson, and then we ducked out for a quick breakfast at Marie Callendar’s. When we got back to the airport, Paul had landed and was waiting for us.  Paul had actually flown and handled the controls for quite a bit of the trip. The flight instructor told us that Paul did very well, and it was obvious to him that Paul had been doing a lot of study. He said that he asked Paul a lot of questions and that Paul’s knowlege level is already where it should be to obtain a private pilot’s license.  Of course, he needs to get the actual experience of flying in a plane more, but his instructor felt he could get his license within 3 months. (He’s going to have to wait a while though, because you must be 17 to get your private pilot’s license.)

I live with Paul, and it is quite obvious to me that he has a passion for flying. He pretty much has been “stuck” on aviation since he was 8 years old, and has spent hours reading about it and doing his flight simulator. He has begged me before to take him to an airport, so he could watch the planes.  I really haven’t taught him a whole lot about aviation, and most of what he knows he learned from studying on his own. I’ve never had to push him or prod him to study aviation. Why?  It’s because he has a passion for it.

I think back to what Rashid said about flying.  You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to fly, but you do have to have a passion for it.  I wonder what would happen if we got as passionate about living for and working for God as we do about a career, hobby or other things.  You don’t have to have a Th.B, come from a family of preachers or have all the right “connections” to really live for God and be involved in His kingdom, but you do have to have a passion for Him. It’s easy to pray, worship and hear the Word at church, but is this a part of our daily lives too? Do we spend time everyday seeking God in prayer and in reading and studying His Word, or is it just kind of a “side thing” that we save for church or some conference we might attend? I believe God wants us to be passionate about Him. It’s okay to have other hobbies, interests, a career, but God should be the number 1 passion in our lives upon which everthing else revolves. I want to be more passionate about living for Him and helping others to find a relationship with Him. Living for Jesus has put a passion to fly in me.  I am looking forward to “flying away” one day to be with Him throughout all eternity. I may not be a rocket scientist, have an outstanding family pedigree or be a brilliant theologian, but one day, I’m gonna fly! I hope you will fly too.

1Th 4:16-18

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

I’ll fly away;
To a home on God’s celestial shore,
I’ll fly away (I’ll fly away).

Chorus
I’ll fly away, Oh Glory
I’ll fly away; (in the morning)
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by,
I’ll fly away (I’ll fly away).

2.
When the shadows of this life have gone,
I’ll fly away;
Like a bird from prison bars has flown,
I’ll fly away (I’ll fly away) 

3.
Just a few more weary days and then,
I’ll fly away;
To a land where joy shall never end,
I’ll fly away (I’ll fly away)

 

Can You Survive The Delay?

This was the title of one of the messages that was preached at OnCourse Conference, and I’ve been thinking about it a lot.  After this message was preached and the altar call was ended, my husband and I took a walk all across the front of the altar area. The floor was concrete, and every few feet there were puddles of tears where young people had come crying tears of repentance and rededication to God. Many of us have heard it preached for years that Jesus will return again and His coming is very near. He certainly has delayed His coming longer than I thought He would, but God’s Word is true, and He does not lie. He is coming back again for His people. It’s hard to imagine the coming of the Lord being more than 10 years away from now, but if it is, I intend to still be living for Him and looking for His coming. I pray that be your desire too.

Can you survive the delay

Should the Lord not return today?

Will you continue anticipating

Or become over weary with waiting?

If the Rapture seems so far away;

Can you survive the delay?

Will you who were once cleansed within

Return to the bondage of sin?

Some choose to turn about face;

Drop out of the called Christian race.

Can you survive the delay

No matter what some do or say?

The world, the flesh exert force

To knock God’s true servants off course.

Others might be lead astray.

Can you survive the delay?

3/23/10

 

Mat 24:42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

45  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

46  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

47  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

48  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

49  And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

50  The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

51  And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Luk 12:37  Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

Luk 12:38  And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Jud 1:21  Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

 

Putting On The Blitz

This type of poem is called the Blitz. To learn how to write one, click here.

Coming Through Sacrifice

 

Soon appearing

Soon coming

Coming in clouds

Coming in glory

Glory and honor

Glory and power

Power to rise

Power to change

Change to be like Him

Change in a moment

Moment of time

Moment eternal

Eternal hope

Eternal salvation

Salvation secured

Salvation of soul

Soul redeemed

Soul at rest

Rest from toil

Rest in peace

Peace imparted

Peace of God

God of mercy

God of wonders

Wonders amazing

Wonders unceasing

Unceasing devotion

Unceasing praise

Praise resounding

Praise abounding

Abounding in blessing

Abounding in joy

Joy fathomless

Joy unspeakable

Unspeakable scenes

Unspeakable beauty

Beauty for ashes

Beauty untainted

Untainted within

Untainted by sin

Sin pummeled

Sin defeated

Defeated at Calvary

Defeated by love

Love unconditional

Love sacrifice

Sacrifice through offering

Sacrifice brings victory

Offering

Victory.

Written 1-16-10

 

Sorrow and Hope

Yesterday, my family and I went to the funeral of a very precious lady. Sister Janiver Brown, a pastor’s wife who had a long battle with cancer passed from this life on January 3, 2009. She was really a wonderful person, and her family and friends who spoke at the funeral told of her devotion to God, devotion to her husband and children, her quiet strength, her ability to be a friend and lend a listening ear and of her being a genuine Christian.  I thought of how different this funeral was from many funerals I have been to in the past. I recall a difficult funeral that my husband had to conduct a few years ago. The young man was only 29 and had died from complications due to a lifestyle of drug abuse. My husband prayed with and talked with this young man while he was in the hospital about turning his life over to God. He did seem like perhaps he wanted to make a change, but then he never had the opportunity. The only thing I could really express to this young man’s mother at the funeral was how sorry I was about what happened to her son, that I would be praying for God to comfort her and give her strength and that if my husband or I could do anything to let us know.

There was something different though at Janiver Brown’s funeral and something that is different at the funeral of every person who dies righteous in Christ Jesus. Although there was definitely sorrow there, there was also hope. This is the hope that is spoken of in I Thessalonians and the hope for which I am so thankful.

1Th 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

Could This Be The Year?

This could be the year of our Lord’s return;

blessed event, for which every true Christian does yearn.

In a moment and twinkling of an eye,

Jesus will split that eastern sky.

May we have the spiritual sense to discern

this could be the year of our Lord’s return.

So let us abide both sure and steady;

keeping our hearts right and Rapture ready.

Each day His appearing draws ever more near;

the best choice, to walk straight in godly fear.

This could be the year of our Lord’s return.

Chew on this thought, in your mind, let it churn.

Help us work for you, Lord, like never before;

reaching out to the lost, while there’s still an open door.

With passion, this truth in our souls must burn.

This could be the year of our Lord’s return!

Written 1-1-10

 

Hebrews 10:23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Matthew 24:44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Luke 12:40  Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Romans 13:11  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

13:12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13:13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

13:14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Hebrews 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Jude 1:21  Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

1:22  And of some have compassion, making a difference:

1:23  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Luke 21:34  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

21:35  For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Hebrews 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Titus 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 

Sorrow or Joy

Today was kind of a strange day for me. I woke up still feeling very tired and really not in the mood at all to go to work. I prayed, got dressed and headed out to my morning session. When I got to R’s house, his mother informed me that he was not feeling the greatest. His nose was running, he was coughing some, crying intermittently and clinging a lot to mom. I tried to facilitate communication with him by bringing out a new toy. That lasted for about 5 minutes, and then he was just miserable. After talking with his mom, she decided it was probably best not to continue the session. R actually fell asleep about 5 minutes before I left.  I wasn’t upset about not getting all my hours for that sesssion. Actually, I was overjoyed to be able to leave early and go take care of some errands. I wasn’t glad that my client was sick, but his sickness, which is not pleasant for him, gave me time to take care of some business and have a little time to relax. Later in the day as I was getting ready to go to my afternoon session, I decided to check my work e-mail. Low and behold, I found that my other client had cancelled for today too. This child is also sick. I’m not happy that he is sick, but I found myself rejoicing again that I would be able to have a little more time to do some things around the house. As I was reflecting upon these events, I began to think how an occurence in a life can cause different reactions for different people. I thought about a great pioneer missionary who died recently.  Nona Freeman passed from this life on December 27, 2009 at the ripe old age of 93. This amazing lady had been a missionary to Africa along with her husband and had faithfully served the Lord in the ministry for 70 years. For her family and those who were her close friends, there is definitely some sorrow involved. It’s hard to say good-bye to someone who has been an important part of your life.  How does God feel about the death of this dear lady? I believe the following verse of Scripture would answer the question.

Psalm  116:15Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

 

 

Not every death is precious to the Lord, because we read in the book of Ezekiel….

Eze 33:11Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

 

I imagine that every day the heart of God is grieved by those who did not serve Him passing into an eternity that is a hopeless end, but those who serve the Lord in truth and die in Christ have an endless hope and a wonderful eternity of unbroken fellowship with Jesus! Because we are human, there will always be an element of sorrow involved with death, even if the person who dies was ready to meet the Lord. However, in God’s eyes, the death of the saint who faithfully served Him is something valuable, something He treasures.

When our time comes to pass from this life, will we bring God sorrow or joy?  By His grace, I plan to be one of those in whom He will take pleasure.

 

 

Forever 21

A few days ago, I accompanied my daughter on a little shopping trip. One of the stores that she wanted to go to was Forever 21. As she was walking around looking at clothing and hair accessories, I began to do a little wandering around the store and some thinking too. My thoughts turned to the name of the store, Forever 21. Why would someone want to be 21 forever? It seems in our country that 21 is an important age. For one thing, you can legally drink liquor. (not that that was a milestone I was looking forward to – I’ve never been a drinker.) 21 is a youthful age. You are not a kid anymore, but an adult. Most ladies at this age look pretty good and physically speaking, probably feel pretty good too. I can look back and think of the energy I had at that age. I sure don’t have it now! There is a sense too of having your whole life before you, which can be an exciting thing. But to be 21 forever? When I turned 21, I hadn’t even been married a year. I was in good shape, looking forward to the future and felt like I had a good head on my shoulders. However, there are so many things I would miss out on by staying this age forever. I would never know the joys and struggles of having children, the grace of God to make it through life’s trials, new friendships and relationships and hopefully wisdom gained through my mistakes and experiences. Now, I am 46. Would I want to stay this age forever? Not really. Although I can look back and see how I’ve grown mentally, spiritually and physically(that unfortunate middle-aged spread), I know this is not the ultimate for me. In fact there is really no age in which I will “have arrived”.  There will be things I like and dislike about every year that God allows me on this earth. True satisfaction, I believe for every Christian can’t be found in any age, because there is no perfect age or perfect circumstances for our life.

 

I thought of this verse in the book of Psalms.

 

Psalm 17:15  As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

 

The perfect forever,

 

Forever in the presence of Jesus Christ!

 

Backyard Luau

The weather was just right for our first Backyard Luau for Youth ALIVE on Thursday night.  Although there weren’t as many kids as I had hoped would be there, we still had a fun time.  Below is the scoop on our luau and a few pictures.

The Food – Hawaiian Chicken, Slow Cooker Kalua Pig, fresh pineapple and banana chunks, macadamia nuts, chocolate covered macadamia nuts, Haupia(a coconut pudding dessert, which kind of looks like tofu-the kids thought it was disgusting) and Volcanic Punch.

The Music - Hawaiian Playground CD by Putumayo Kids

The Kids - Alyssa, Andreas, Bell, Jen, Matthew, Oscar, Paul and Zach.

The Games- Hawaiian Mad Gab, Pass The Coconut(kind of like hot potato), Parrot Ring Toss Game, Dinosaur Golf Ball Catch

The Lesson - The Ultimate Paradise – We talked about how we all look forward to the fun, rest and relaxation of vacations. A couple of kids told us about their best vacation.  Although we can have a good time on vacations, there is really no such thing as a perfect paradise on this earth.  Things can go wrong on vacations such as kids getting sick, money that gets stolen, lost luggage, flat tires, etc. , but one day if we follow God’s salvation plan as outlined in the book of Acts, Jesus is going to take us to a place where there will be no more crying, pain, death suffering or anything that can hurt us.  The best part about heaven is that there will be no sin there and we will see Jesus, the One who died for us, and we’ll be with Him forever.

 

 

Eternal Hope

Eternal Hope 

In Heaven God devised a plan

before the world ever began,

to bridge the gap that sin did span

and come as man, and come as man.

    

The world lay in spiritual dearth

since Adam sinned his sin on earth,

but God came through a virgin birth

to show our worth, to show our worth.

    

And so to earth my Jesus came.

He healed the blind. He healed the lame.

Salvation’s way He did proclaim

O praise His name! O praise His name!

    

Though many could not clearly see

why God took on humanity;

He gave His life upon that tree

for you and me, for you and me.

    

But that’s not where the story ends.

The risen Christ, His Spirit sends;

empowers us to be His friends.

Our hearts He mends. Our hearts He mends.

   

Since I’ve been baptized in His name

and felt Him take away my shame,

now boldly I can make this claim.

I’m not the same! I’m not the same!

    

His witness He calls me to be.

My goal, to serve Him joyfully

In aiding fallen men to see

they can be free! They can be free!

    

When comes the day my life is o’er

and time for me will be no more,

I’ll see the One that I adore

On Heaven’s shore, on Heaven’s shore.

    

So happy in that land of rest

Partaking of God’s very best

No more trial and no more test

Forever blessed! Forever blessed!

    1-21-08   

This type of poem is called a monotetra.