Awesome Wonder

HOW GREAT THOU ART!
I dedicate this writing to my Mother whose favorite song is "How Great Thou Art"!

" O Lord my God. When I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds Thy hands have made." My eyes moistened as I sang the words to this familiar hymn, this morning at church. By the time we got to the chorus, my hand was up as a witness to His greatness. "Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee..... The cares I brought into the sanctuary this morning melted away as we sang with power, "HOW GREAT THOU ART, HOW GREAT THOU ART!"


Being caught up in my own worship, I suddenly began to notice the hands fly up as each was blessed by the beautiful words. My eyes went to a young woman who raised her hands, I'm sure with thankfulness for the new life that she carried within her. A friend raised her hand giving worship to the Lord that has sustained her during her husband's long illness. But the raised hand of one of our elderly saints grabbed my heart most and filled my heart with hope. With oxygen flowing, He had to be supported by his nurse as he determinedly stood to his feet. Though barely a whisper he sang with powerful conviction ..."When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation. And take me home what joys shall fill my heart." Instead of an open hand he raised his hand in a fist as if to declare victory as the words passed his frail lips. "Then shall I bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, MY GOD HOW GREAT THOU ART, HOW GREAT THOU ART!

Whether raising a young family, caring for the ill or facing the challenges of old age, He is still our Sustainer! My God, how great you are!

Fish Tales

Several years ago my husband and my dad went on a fishing trip to Canada together. My dad was just beginning to feel the effects of COPD which would eventually take his life. He was easily winded and had to rest often but enjoyed himself completely.


My husband tells of a time when he found my dad hanging on to the fishing pole for dear life. Dad had been fighting a very large Northern and was completely spent. When Larry came up to my dad, he asked him to take the pole for awhile and he did. The big fish, according to my husband, made giant circles and then would jump entirely out of the water, exposing his grand size. After a brief rest, my dad asked for the pole back and again started to fight the big fish. As before the Northern made his grand rounds, jumping up out of the water in all his splendor. It seemed the grand fish was tiring when he made one more round and again came out of the water with great force but this time he ceremonially spit the hook out of his mouth right in front of my weary dad. I'm sure this was a big disappointment for my dad but this is a favorite story that my husband fondly tells. My dad even enjoyed hearing the tale over and over again.


This year Dad has been gone twenty five years but his fish tales still linger and are told often. Before he died he accepted the Lord as his savior so I know that he is fishing on bank of a river somewhere in heaven today.


Happy Father's Day to my Dad in heaven and my dear husband.

　

Precious Memories

She is more precious than rubies. Proverbs 31:10

I thought, as I always do, about my Mom as I popped the bread into the toaster and prepared my hot chocolate. I remember watching Mom, as a kid, place a couple a dozen pieces of bread in the oven and at just the right time she would pull them out and turn them to the other side. She prepared cocoa, as we called it, with real milk and cocoa and, I can still see the toast piled high on the platter as a treat for us all. Memories as wonderful and warm as the delightful, chocolaty liquid still fill my heart every time I eat this "delicacy".

I once heard that if you are stressed or overwhelmed, you should sniff a box of crayons to take you back to those carefree, childhood days. Cocoa and toast is my ticket back to my Mother and a time less complicated.

This Mother's Day I will think of the times, when I was raising my kids, Mom would buy me just the right gift to lift my spirits. Many times it would be a special face cream, a fragrant bubble bath or some new perfume that would remind me that I was not only a wife and mom but a woman who needed to be pampered with such extravagances once in awhile. She always knew what would do that for me and I relish these fond memories as much as I still savor cocoa and toast.

At 89 years old, Mom hasn't made me toast and cocoa for awhile but she still gives me something nearly every time I see her to help a "girl" feel good about herself. I love her and praise God for her, not just because she is my mom, but because she sees the needs of the "little girl" in me, who still loves cocoa and toast.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I love you!

His Face

We have a new granddaughter, her name is Harper Kensleigh and she is beautiful. She lives in New York so I have yet to hold her but I have seen her face a short time after she was born thanks to a wonderful feature on my iPhone, called Facetime. We were actually able to see her Daddy holding her, as tears came to his eyes he introduced us to this little miracle of God. All we could see was her little face peeking out of her cocoon of blankets. Oh, how I longed to kiss that tiny face, and will in a few days.
Face! Have you ever thought about how many ways we use the word face? How will we face tomorrow, she put a happy face on the situation or he had a long face. The bible is full of references to "face". The face of God or the presence of God is used, multiple times, like Numbers 6:25-26.
The LORD make His face shine on you. And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.
And Psalm 31:16 says;
Make Your face to shine upon Your servant; Save me in Your lovingkindness.
Everyone knows someone who has a perpetual sour face. The kind of face that looks like they just sucked on a lemon. On the other end of the spectrum, we know people who exhibit perpetual joy on their faces. I prefer the joyful face myself.

After being in the presence of God on Mount Sinai, Moses' face was radiant, the bible tells us in Exodus. It shined so bright that Aaron, his brother, and all the Israelites were afraid of him until he spoke to them. The bible says that each time Moses was with the LORD his face again would be radiant. I could do without the glowing face but I hope that my face and my life reflect the peace that comes from talking with God the Father and Jesus Christ each morning. Unfortunately, my "glow" sometimes leaves me as I face the crazy world we live in and the problems of just living. Again, like Moses, I must go to God to receive His light again.

O LORD God of hosts, restore us; Cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.
Psalm 80:19
As I kiss the face of my sweet Harper Kensleigh, my prayer is that she will seek the face of God and that the God of her parents and grandparents will "Make His face shine upon her and save her with His loving kindness.

Two Mites!

As I walked into the church sanctuary, as usual, I glanced over the crowd to see if my daughter was there. When my eyes focused on her, she was as beautiful as ever, and I was proud of her courage! You might think that to be a strange thing to be proud of but I know the effort that accompanied this small miracle. You see my daughter suffers from bipolar 1 disorder and I know how hard it is for her to do the simplest thing, like even showering. Once a spontaneous young woman, she now has to plan every event of her life even going to church. Things
that once was second nature to her takes great effort. Even as I read things from her site this morning, I know that she has set it up to help others when she herself is a very dark time.

Yesterday she cried, as she shared her frustration at not being able to do all she wants to do for God. The ups and downs of her emotions prevents her from doing all she would like and in days past was able to do.

This made me think of a story in the bible that I knew but had not given a lot of though to until now.

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,worth only a fraction of a penny.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything–all she had to live on." (Mark 12:41-44 NIV84)

I thought of how most of us give out of our abundance. Today I write out of the abundance of my soul. Even though I sometimes suffer from depression and I feel there is nothing I can give that could possibly make a difference, today comes easy but my daughter today would throw in her two mites as she is suffering greatly with depression.

How lovingly the Lord spoke of this widow who gave everything she had. How lovingly the Father looks upon my dear daughter as she sits in church with a smile on her face, ready to worship the only One who can help her through these dark days. How powerful is her witness to God's amazing grace!


Sent from Jeanie!

Heaven

Have you ever taken a trip planned by a travel agent? Does your soveneirs include a well worn travel brochure? Once, when we sent for information for a fishing trip to Wisconsin, we received a beautiful brochure with highlights that made you almost taste the fish you would catch. The cabins looked luxurious but rustic, with a beautiful view of the lake from the front porch. Today I thought of what the brochures would look like for our trip to heaven, what would the features be that would make me want to go there. I picture the view from the porch of my mansion! Would it look out on a lake stocked with every kind of fish? Would my dad be waiting for me there? Will the golden streets reflect the colors of the beautiful flowers growing everywhere? Will there be paw prints on the floors of my mansion? Jesus said there will be many mansions for He was going there to prepare them for us.

Romans 8:18 tells us that "what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later". Imagine with me the suffering that takes place here on this imperfect earth and then think of it as NOTHING compared to what will come. Are you there yet in your minds eye? That hopeless disease, that chronic pain, or that impossible situation will mean nothing in light of heaven. Can you imagine? I can't!

Can you even phathom no tears in heaven? The bible says in several places that there will be no tears because they will all be wiped away.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7 :17

In the back of my bible, one discription of heaven was "a place of perfect happiness and eternal communion with God". As much as I love the idea of perfect happiness and a mansion prepared just for me, I am blown away by the last four words of that discription, "Eternal communion with God"!

I talked with a friend, who was only days from entering that "City" and as she dabbed her eyes, we talked about what she would see in Heaven. We discussed how there would be no tears in heaven only peace and happiness. We wondered if there would be pets in heaven and if we would know out loved ones. Since she had a great since of humor even during this trying time, I asked her to give me a signal with an uplifted hand when she could see glory. We both laughed through tears. The next time I visited her, she talked only in whispers and as I came close to hear her, she whispered in my ear that she had not seen "glory" yet, but she had heard angel's wings fluttering behind her. Within days she entered "eternal communion with God" as she met Jesus there! I know when I get to heaven, I will see Bonnie there. Her body will be whole and her voice will be strong as she tells me about the sites of heaven. But then maybe words will not be able to describe that "eternal communion with God".

　

　

Elderly? Me?

As I listened to the local news, my attention was piqued by the announcers words before he went to a commercial break, "elderly woman frightens would-be robbers".  Thinking this ninety something woman had gotten one up on these criminals, I waited patiently for the complete story.  As the anchor returned he began the story with the brave woman's age, startled, I did not hear the rest of the story.  The elderly woman of who he spoke was my age.  Elderly!  This word crept to every cell of my brain. Elderly?  Me?  I felt wounded. I felt hurt.  I felt.....elderly!  Not a good day for this girl!

Really, I am not afraid to die but I mourned the impending loss of "my" life!  Where had the years gone?  What should I do with the years I have left?  How can I hang on to these years that seem to run through my fingers like sand?  I had just realized, in my mind, that I had gone from late-ish  middle age to elderly!

Since that evening I have pondered "elderly" often and have searched the scriptures for answers.  I found that even in my "old age" God still cares for me and is not done with me yet.

My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. (Haggai 2:5 ESV)

I learned that, just as in my youth, I should depend on him.

After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” Galatians 3:3

My heart was lifted at the familiar verse from Matthew.

And behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20 ESV)

Now, excuse me while I take my nap!