Oh, the places we've been!
http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf
I have cool kids. Two cool daughters married two cool dudes…and had a bunch of cool kids. This is baby daughter…who will have a (hopefully baby daughter), with cool son-in-law (officer of the law) and very very cool grandson (cowboy in training), who has just the sweetest sugar! Can’t you tell!!!
I am thankful for this bunch of family I have been blessed with!
My next post was going to be something “positive”…something to get my mind off the part of me I have lost here on this earth. I say, “part of me”, because that is what both of my sweet sisters are…..part of me. But I cannot post on anything else yet. Connie, I totally understand you dwelling on the “heavenward journey”. I can’t help it. I am inserting a copy of an e-mail I recieved from a very special friend not long after we arrived home from Gainesville. The majority of this was also used at Wanda’s homegoing celebration service (funeral). It fits my petite, sweet sister to the max.
Dear Angie,
You and your family remain in my thoughts and prayers through this difficult time. Although Wanda and I were not intimate friends, I did feel as though I had come to know her over the years. I had the greatest respect and admiration for her consistent demonstration of abiding faith and trust in the face of what many of us would consider to be overwhelming adversity. Despite years of pain and trial, she managed to retain a special sweetness I shall never forget. After I received the news, I spent much of the evening pondering the indescribable profundity of Wanda’s absolute simplicity and straightforward sincerity. She did not strive to be a flashy dresser, a vivacious social butterfly, or a dazzlingly erudite conversationalist. She did not seek the spotlight; she did not pursue praise or adulation. In a world where the surface is so often valued over the core, where the cover is prized more than the content, Wanda always seemed to me to be a ray of almost translucent purity and faith. She leaves behind no record of artistic or intellectual genius; instead, she leaves for an adoring family and loving friends the memories they will never forget: memories of faith, hope, patience, sacrifice, determination, and a never-ending quest to know and fulfill God’s will on this earth. Perhaps, after all, that is an even greater and more valuable legacy for us all.
Love, –April P.
Let me say thanks once again, April. You were under His annoiting when you wrote this, almost as if the pen of the Father was at work through your very fingers. These words have and will continue to bless me.
I also need to say a special thank you to Denise….you have uplifted me daily. You are so sweet. Keep the faith, keep praying.
And Lori,….tonight—I just left the supper table at my sister’s. Sharing a meal with Mark and Victoria, Jeff, our daughter April, her husband and baby Cy…..when I left I broke into tears….for it was just a two weeks ago, I sat across the dear face of Wanda and we shared a Sunday lunch. We had quite a time cleaning the kitchen that day! But tonight, I missed her. I cried. So when I arrived in my door and Jeff said “check your mail”, he knew what I had….and he knew I needed it. I cried again Lori. Your sweet card was the tangible thing I needed to hold. To touch. So, sweet sister Lori, thank you. You have blessed me in many ways.
I cannot begin naming names—-for you have all blessed me with e-mails, comments and “bloggity hugs”!
Thank you for your shoulder….yet again.
This awesome picture was created by a special friend ~ her words…”our prayers need to be constant like the tides”. Thank you Lori for the picture….for the thoughts …. for the prayers.
We have noticed something new Rylan is doing. Tracing. Everything. From letters on pages to the carvings in my dining room chairs to the lines on Pa-pa’s face. He is tracing the imprint—-the impression made by something else that has forever changed the image. That is what prayer does. It changes things. It changes hearts, touches lives. Prayer moves the heart of God into action. Not that His heart is ever inactive. It’s not. His heart is always moving, feeling, loving, in action. But when He sees His children on their knees on behalf of another, all of heaven is moved. It is a selfless act of humbling ourselves down to go before the Father for “someone” else.
Sometimes we don’t want to “bother” someone else with our needs. We feel they have enough of their own. But the Lord instructs us in His Word “Pray one for another” James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”.
I began to call on friends and extended family for prayer when Wanda became so sick in December. Pride kept me from calling on them sooner. But when the Doctors report came back with such negativity….I felt like pride was no longer an issue. It no longer mattered what I may look like.
No sooner had Wanda gotten home from the hospital when the enemy struck in other areas of our lives. Through other circumstances and family members lives. I ask myself, what is up? What is going on? Haven’t we had enough trouble?
The best answer to that was found today on Vicki’s site “Windows to my Soul“….you MUST go read her words to this quote from the book by T. Austin Sparks “Stripping Down to Christ Alone” (1930)…
“We shall soon find a tremendous pressing down of the powers of darkness upon this earth, using the world-powers to such a degree and in such ways as to eclipse anything which has hitherto been. This is in full accord with the Word of God. There will be one, and only one, hope for God’s people: their knowledge of Him in Christ….“
Vicki, I so agree with your thoughts “Friends, we need grace to stand in these difficult times, but this grace is not something God dispenses apart from Himself. The Lord Jesus Christ IS grace – and we experience Him all the more as we continually let Him renew us inwardly in His Word daily”.
My heart aches with the needs of my friends and family. My heart aches for those I have never met, but feel such a bond like I cannot believe could exist. My answer? Prayer. In the times of trials in my life…I can only tell you relief and answers came only after my face was to the floor on behalf of the one in crisis. Only then did I have peace in my heart—-once I had completely surrendered to the Father. On the altar. On the days when my heart and mind was so muddled I couldn’t make a complete sentence —- or so I thought—God could take all of that with my tears and answer a prayer. He could give peace to the muddle-minded-me.
I have put out a unusual request to some of my friends and family that I knew had a need in their life—or if I felt the Lord direct me, for their handprint. In a conversation with my sister Aimee last week we have been talking a lot about the urgent need for prayer for some family situations. I BELIEVE God can do miracles. I sat beside one such miracle Sunday. Her name was Wanda. Yes, my sister Wanda sat beside me —- sisters—–without her oxygen. (Go back and read my post on Sisters of Faith where the doctors said she would always need it!) Can I get a GLORY HALLELUJAH! Some of you don’t know what we faced with her. But that’s okay. You don’t have to know the whole story….just know that God has brought my sweet sister from the door of death back into life. God is not finished with her! The doctors just “thought” she was done. NOT.
We have some more situations in our family that are urgent. We have some situations in our district and churches that are critical. God is on His throne–He knows and sees exactly what is going on….even in the heart. He has not been on a snow-skiing vacation or a cruise! He’s right there—here—where you need Him. Where I need Him. I know there are some needs in our circle of bloggers. God is ready. Able. We are praying. We are believing.
What Aimee and I are doing with our family is tracing (or having them do it if they don’t live near enough to visit) their hand print. Simple, old fashioned, much like your mom may have done to entertain you while you were in church. On white copy paper with a pencil. Or it can be scanned and e-mailed in. We are writing their name, and for our benefit the “specific need” and date. We are keeping these in a book that I’m calling “my prayer book”. No it’s not magical. No, it doesn’t mean anything weird. But I can’t go to them to pray with them, so this will be my point of contact and my reminder of them. I have asked some friends for their hand prints as well, so that I can have a point of contact to pray. This idea came when Aimee remembered that when Emilie Barnes was sick with cancer, she traced off her hand and put it on her website for her readers to copy and pray. I believe in the power of prayer. Not in the power of paper hands. But the power of the Blood of the Lord that was shed for you and me….for by His stripes we are healed. 1 Peter 2:24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed”.
I have said a lot tonight. Much more could be said. But the point is to pray. Pray like we’ve never prayed before. Don’t stop. The enemy sure isn’t going to stop. Trials will continue, but we have a blessed hope. Connie from “Little Red Hearts” reminded me “But behold….we know how the story ends.”
No matter the conflict arising in our families…prayer can change things. She also reminded me of the verse “Wherever two or more are gathered in My name there I will be” (Matthew 18:20) So, sisters, gather in the hands of your family members—near and far—and pray.
Last week I made the decision to write out “Thank you cards”….not the kind you generally think of….but “reminders” for me of all the blessings of God. I would write each day a blessing….something I am thankful for. No matter how trivial some might view it, if it meant something to me, then I should be thankful.
The Lord started speaking to me some verses that went along with some of them. I have been amazed at the things I have been taking for granted. But when January 1, 2008 makes its grand arrival, I will have filled 100 cards with notes of thankfulness. I am learning to appreciate things more. I am learning to praise God “from whom all blessings flow”.
The picture may not appear at first glance to “go with anything I have written. But just wait…..
Our ladies ministry has a special “tea” once a year to raise money for missions. The tea always has a theme. Last year was my first year participating in said event. I enjoyed it immensely. God was good. My sister Wanda, and our sweet friend Wilma, prepared our table with delicacies from our kitchens, and we set the table with finery. There were grand displays of God’s goodness all around the room.
This year the theme is “The Glory of Autumn”. Last year I had purchased 6 plates and 6 cups and saucers from TJ Maxx. I liked the brown and cream dishes. I liked the feel, the colors and the look of the dishes. But though I searched in every nearby city I could only find 6. We even called some friends in neighboring larger cities and gave detailed description but to no avail. Six was all it would be. Well, if you know anything about TJ—you know that unless it is a “big brand” you aren’t likely to ever see it again. I had called Jeff one day (had a brain storm to check e-bay), and asked him to look on the back of the dishes for a name….he replied…”microwave and dishwasher safe—Fine China”.
My heart really wanted to use these dishes this year for the tea. However, I needed 8. How many do I have? Six. Well, I am THANKFUL that I have friends that love me enough to “keep an eye peeled”. My sweet friend that scours TJ for goodies constantly called me a few days ago and said, “Angie, you aren’t going to believe this….I think I have found your plates.” The way it went down is so “GOD like”—–read on!
If you faithfully trudge through the aisles at TJ Maxx, you know very well how “full” the dish shelves are. Sometimes, you have to literally dig and stack your way to what you want. This store was not any different. Stacks of plates, cups, bowls, platters simply covered every shelf. Every shelf but one. On this lone shelf sat two…..yes I said 2 plates of the sweet brown rose pattern. All alone. Displayed in such a strategic way that she would not miss them. Might I suggest that an angel came through the store just before she did and unearthed them from the piles of china and stoneware and pushed EVERYTHING else aside so that they would not be missed? Well, believe what you will, I happen to serve a God that when He says He will give us the desires of our hearts, I believe He actually meant it. Do you realize that 6 + 2 = 8? Yeah, I thought you’d pick up on that!
Well, not only did He supply the plates…..but my friend’s sister….while on her vacation….was sent a picture on her phone of “what to look for”….and low and behold…..2 cups and saucers. What do we have???? WE HAVE A SET OF EIGHT!!!!! That is what kind of God we serve ladies! He cares about our “tea parties for missions!” I am thrilled beyond words that He took the time to take care of this small detail. Could we do the tea without them? Absolutely. I could have even borrowed some pretty white dishes from my mother that would grace the table with refined elegance…..The dishes themselves will NOT save one soul. But maybe the witness of God’s miracles will impact someones life.
What we enjoy in life matters to God. We matter to Him. Our faithfulness to Him is important.
Psalm 37:3-6 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
We must Trust in Him, dwell with Him (daily walk), delight in Him (be joyous over Him), commit our ways to Him (dedicate our lives daily to Him) and He will gladly shower us with His love, mercy, grace and ……plates, cups and saucers!—-the desires of our hearts! Our hearts desire should be what HE WANTS in us.
Trust Him. Walk with Him. Invite Him to “ride” with you daily. Be joyous over Him–rejoice out loud to Him of His wondrous love and mercy! Your “cups and saucers…..will run over with His best!
Now, as to the book pictured…..I didn’t forget to mention it—-I am having another “GIVE AWAY”. No tricks—-just a treat for someone—-just make a comment that you’d like to be included and I will tell you more about the book and the day of the drawing on Friday.
For more….”Thankful Thursday” post head on over to sweet Iris’ place and be thankful! It is amazing how you will feel refreshed in spirit when you start thinking of all that we have to be thankful for!!! By the way….Iris, I missed you….glad you are BACK!!!
Jeff & Angie 