Joyful Joyce and Amazing God

This past week has been such a roller coaster week of emotions, duties, responsibilities on so many levels. I have wanted to write every day, but no time. 

First, so thankful for the healing words of the Lord from my friend Calvin who assures me that the Lord has justified me and loves me and that I should follow His precepts which I have tried to do before and especially this week going forward. Sometimes, I realize I get a little zealous in my conversation from the every day to world events-last week was a biggie if you were watching Obama and Israel-to my own conversations and revelations from my Lord God and also from fellow bloggers. We don’t meet up ahead of time and all same we are going to blog on the same subject and have the same opinion but it happens over and over. And because we all are Christ followers led by the Spirit,  I believe the Lord is speaking through all of us to the world, so as I said last week, Take Heed!  All of us should be examining our lives to see if we can offer ourselves as living sacrifices to our Lord. And even as I say that, I am wondering if you know what I mean or what the Word means as it is written?  Of course everyone knows what living is, but the dictionary defines sacrifice as the offering of something precious to  deity; loss,deprivation.  Ok , so I am offering my Precious self to my Lord-He says I am precious to Him. and then secondly, the loss and deprivation part: well, that’s exactly what nobody wants to do anymore. We want what we want, when we want it, how we want it; no doing without it, or waiting on it. No having it and losing it.  All of this is one of His precepts for me, besides the trust factor! And guess what this is a hard one too! I am used to going and getting just what I want, when I want it. Now I am in a position where I can not do that in regards to physical possessions. But I have found that even in regards to those that I can have, I am really careful and selective now. I ask myself, what do I really need? Not just want? And I have found that as I am faithful to Him in the small things, He is so faithful to me in the BIG things. Just this week, one more time I was amazed at the overwhelming care of people for my needs that I truly had no expectation of except advice, not tangible help–but even the way that it was given, with such love and care and assurance, it alone brings you to your knees. Thank you Father!!

Second roller coaster was finding out that the gamma globulin that I get monthly for my immunity disorder does have a very rare side effect. Guess what it is? yep, you got it! Clots! And here, supposedly,  I have had  2 in the first year of taking it!  Of course, now the doctor can not raise my dosage either as he was going to do because I have continued to catch the bacterial infections, virus’, and  mold infections that come with this immunity. so what to do? After talking and prayer, we are going to ask to be taken off of the drug.  We will consult with both the MS neurologist and the immunologist who both have said this side effect is so rare ,  but then neither of them know me very well yet, do they? I was also supposed start testing in April for food and drug allergies because for months now I have been waking up with severe itching and hives. It started off that I could just take a couple of Benadryl tablets and go back to sleep but now I usually awaken 2 or 3 hours later and have to take more. Not good. Last night, I tried an experiment. I didn’t take anything except my Coumadin. “that’s the blood thinner I ‘ve been on since last July when I had that embolism–and yes I’ve been itching at least that long.” And sure enough, here it came, very strongly last night. so here is another one to talk to the doc about. Finding out I have sticky blood wasn’t the greatest thing either, but it certainly explained a lot of things-the multiple miscarriages and the tendancy to  make clots. Lots of up and down emotional moments in the decisions, in the new knowledge, in the gratefulness for the new knowledge.

And then there was Joyful Joyce!  Joyce Zahner was the 85 year old mom of my half/way adopted sister Julie. Julie is the same age as the sister who lives in Orlando and has done so much for me and with me. She and Julie were inseparable from the moment they met and their friendship has stood the test of time. And to me, Julie was a little sister and then a friend and babysitter for my two children when they were little before I married my husband. So the Zahners have been in my life, one way or another since I was 16. In the years past when we were visiting in Atlanta, we were often invited out to Julie’s house where she lives with her 2 children and great husband and very often Joyce would be there too. Over the years, Joyce began the same decline that my mother did. She had dementia. It was hard for her as she had been a very smart professional woman. But Joyce never dwelt on circumstances, she drew from within that joy that only comes from the Lord and had peace as she drifted more and more into another realm. She always had a smile on her face. She always was telling you she loved you and you knew that she meant it. And then on her 85th birthday, not long ago, God did a wonderful thing-a little extra birthday present-He gave her a day of clarity. How wonderful that was! And most of it captured on video to be visited and revisited time and time again. At the end of it all, Joyce let her family know that she knew she was going home to her Savior soon.She was tired and so she was ready. She was very careful to give her last instructions about her grandchildren to her daughter whom she loved so much-holding her face between her hands, looking her in the eye and speaking! How very, very precious is that? How amazing is our God to know that we still need our moms to tell us stuff, important stuff? And we all know that after months and years of decline with less and less moments of clarity–to be given a DAY!!  Our God is such a Loving FATHER and He Knows Just What We Need.

On Saturday, March 16th at 11:45 am, Joyful Joyce went home. This past Thursday and Friday there were joyous celebrations of her life at two churches that we attended. I am very sure that Joyce was watching and laughing and smiling as we all talked of our memories of Joyce. And I am sure too that she would have loved the message of hope and salvation given by the pastors and by the family and friends through the scriptures read and the testimonies given that faith and hope and love were so important to Joyce. Of course, Joyce was warmly welcomed by so many friends in heaven, my parents among them. I am sure they are all up there telling there stories about all of us. 

The glory in all of this to me is that God was so kind to me to let me experience growing up in a family that taught me faith-whether I embraced it or not immediately-I KNEW what was true. He has surrounded me throughout my life with family and friends who love me and whom I love dearly. And now he has placed me back home to be in the middle of them. I say perfect timing, Lord! Thank you!

Jeremiah 29:11-13  For I know that plans I have for you , declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your whole heart.

AND THE LORD KEEPS HIS PROMISES!

Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I obey your word. You are good, and what you do is good; teach me  your decrees. ..  I keep your precepts with all my heart…I delight in your law. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold…Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word.  Palm 119 67-74

I first wrote and underlined this passage in my Bible in June of 2011. I had just gotten home from the hospital after a bout with my asthma. This time the Lord did a lot of work while I was there. I have come home tired! He sold my sofa to one of the nurses and everywhere I turned there was someone to share with! My roommate, her husband, my nurses, even my student nurses. It really was glorious! And this was the scripture the Lord gave to me.

I know O Lord, that your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me. May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is your delight…I will mediate on your precepts…May my heart be blameless toward your decrees, that I may not be put to shame.

Then the Lord brought me back  there 2 months later. ..It seems I hadn’t been studying His precepts thoroughly enough, nor did I have an adult’s comprehension of the passage-just a child’s. So I prayed-and prayed that he would give me a hope that this feeling  would be understood as an adult. To that end, He started giving me passages on health. I always thought they were for someone else-more deserving-but on  August 26 of this year, I got a new scripture. I even told ya’ll not to get too excited! But I was excited-because it did seem for me as I could find nothing for anyone else! this time the scripture is from Jeremiah 17: 7-10,14-15

But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, who confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.  The heart is deceitful  above all things and beyond cure who can understand it?  I, the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve…Heal me , O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved for you are the one I praise.  They keep saying to me, “Where is the word of the Lord ? Let it now be fulfilled” 

I first gave you those verses on August 18th and September 3rd. Then I was due for my Remecaid on September 14th.  Now these dates are important. USUALLY  by the week before the Remecaid is given, I have started hurting-not this time and certainly the week of, or absolutely, positively the week after. But as I write this, I don’t have any pain! Is that not the greatest thing in all the world?  So I would say that this is proof positive that the Lord God keeps His Promises! (now that I know this-there will be forth coming announcements)

Asthma Again! But He Answers So Many Prayers Today!

Guess what happens when you get just a little big for your pants? at least that’s what my Daddy used to say to me, when I was getting a little smart mouth on me. I went back and read what I wrote last night all of which I certainly meant. But I must have been getting a little too smart mouthed for the Lord, because at 3 am I woke up coughing and wheezing like never before. I don’t wheeze. Everybody knows that. But Today August the 7th, 2012 I wheezed for hours! We tried everything but when nothing worked, we just went to the ER.  I didn’t want to get so sick that I would have to stay again. I just wanted my meds and to go home. Of course I got the doc who doesn’t understand about cough variant asthma again. He was so happy I was wheezing-that he could understand and diagnose! So I got my meds (IV Solumedrol-miracle drug) and also a breathing treatment of their special stuff I don’t have at home and after they had stuck  me a half a dozen times we were able to leave!

I am absolutely dependent upon my God for my very breath and that very breath that allows me to talk and do my work. I acknowledge that in all my words and deeds. I can do nothing without Him, but what I can do WITH  Him is amazing and wonderful to me to be used as I am. Truly tonight I am doubly blessed by what my sharing of His  Word and His Ministry did for others, because they shared it back with me. How wonderful is that!!!

The first story is from one of my candidates, an attorney  who is a believer and because of our shared faith, it has been easy to become friends. When we were first talking about the particular position, she had already had a first interview and really liked the person, already liked everything she had read and heard about the firm; but she asked me-Cindy ..”How will I know that this is the right opportunity for me?”  I told that’s easy. You turn to Isaiah 30:21 and read where  it says that God will whisper in your ear the way in which you are to go. She liked that apparently, looked it up and claimed that promise for herself.  Today she reminded me and said...”Remember when you told me???” 

Yes, I remember. Turns out she’s had this horrendous case for 4 years. Everyone including the senior partners of her firm wanted her to settle -for a $1million-but something in her just said this isn’t right. So she prayed about it and the job possibility as well and then laid down to go to sleep.  Then clear as a bell, a voice said, Don’t settle, you’ll win the case. She said,“Cindy I knew that was God’s voice telling me what to do just like you and the scripture said He would. But if you hadn’t told me that I would have thought it was my imagination and I might have settled. In the meantime, because we are preparing for court, all of the right, needed pieces are dropping in from heaven and we are going to win our case.” Of course I am very happy that she is going to win that case, but I was happier and so blessed by the fact that she would take what the Lord had said through me and do it and of course the Lord  would act-He does not lie- but my thrill was that she brought it back to me to tell me. Oh that was incredible how blessed I felt!

The second story started a couple of weeks ago. I might have mentioned in a posting that I had met someone from London who had introduced me to an attorney in Washington, DC.  This young woman and I are going to be fast friends if we ever get the chance to have a full conversation. Our first one was 15 min-but we did get a lot crammed in there. For starters the most important thing-the way that I could help her right now.  You see, she lost her dad just about 5 weeks ago now. At 3 weeks she was just like I was when I lost my dad-a mess. Even thought you know absolutely where your father is and you wouldn’t want to make him come back for any reason, you still miss him so much. Here it is 3 years later and I still miss him the same. But at least I don’t hurt like I did when I was first grieving-I couldn’t really think straight even. I was such a mess that my dear BSF (Bible Study Fellowship)  friends said you have to go to GriefShare. What is GriefShare? I had never heard of it, but dutifully I went online and found a group that met at a place and time convenient for me and I went.  Of course I went to be comforted.  I needed comfort.  What I found was hurting people who in many instances had no hope at all.  I went to all the meetings and thought why don’t we (our church) have a GriefShare Ministry? I should learn not to think thoughts like that! Because of course I wound up as a GriefShare leader for 2 1/2 years until God took me away from it because of my immunity issue.

So back to my friend. We talked about her grief and she really was barely hanging on. Oh, how I understood!  So of course I told her about GriefShare and what it had meant to me. I asked her if she were near a computer and she was. I told her to type in GriefShare.org and then her zip code and it would bring up any and all meetings close to where she lived or worked depending on what she needed to be close to. She was so surprised to find a good many. I urged her to call and make arrangement to attend. check in.  And here is my blessing: I called her tonight just to check in with her,  had to leave a message, she called me back. She was at her first GriefShare meeting and was calling me back during their break! She sounded quite happy and said she’d call me tomorrow and then she thanked me again for telling her about GriefShare.

I would love to take credit for being so good at listening and anticipating needs, but I ‘m not. Any Good Thing In Me Is God and He is the one who knows all things, knows all needs. I was once again simply the conduit that He used to do His work.  I am so privileged to be that person.

I do thank each one of you who prays for me. I can’t begin to tell you what that means to me.  Your comments, encouragement, and examples sometimes have kept me going when I just wanted to stop for a while-when I just need a little break. I am going to ask you to pray for something specific for me and my sisters this time. Women of Faith has their annual conference in Orlando in October 12-13. My Orlando sister and I have always gone to the conferences for years! We love them. This year, we’ve invited our other sisters. The youngest one has a 3 yr old and a 2 yr old and of course that means leaving them with Dad.  On a Thurs and Fri night no less.For her to come she needs his cooperation and really his desire for her to come be with us. My Philly sister I am asking tomorrow. I ask that she would want to come to this conference and that it and we would be important to her to come as she is important to us to ask to come. I know my God is big enough to handle these requests, but there’s power in numbers and I happen to know I need the power for these requests to be answered positively.

So please all of you pray I believe it could be life changing for all of us. Thank you and I love you all with the love of the Lord God.

Todays’ News-Aurora Colorado Mass Shooting

In Isaiah 24-most of the chapter is about how the Lord God is going to devaste the earth-this will happen in those last 7 years before Jesus comes back to triumphantly defeat Satan at Armageddon.  Already we are seeing the beginnings of this as our world’s face is ruined and people scattered due to “natural weather events” which are more violent, more often, in evey place in the world than ever in history.

Now we have mass killings starting-sometimes for stated reasons- like in the name of Allah, or “we hate everybody–but in Colorado, just a guy who went into a theatre armed and ready to kill and once done, just giving up to the police-no explanation, no brave words. I guess he didn’t like the movie! Of course this all plays into our Attorney General’s hands and his “we have no right to have guns policy” and his determination to get rid of what we Americans have always considered our inalieable right to bear arms. He will say if we had a no guns policy this would not have happened. I say if you are the criminal element, you can always put your hand on a gun. It will be the average citizen who will be hurt in this.

Still, the reason for my writing this morning is not my particular soap box, but to call you to pray for these families who have been suddenly hit by death or were one of the more that 40 wounded.  Pray this :You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord , the Lord is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26: 3-4

Remeber, the countdown has started in heaven. Things are only going to get worse here. Don’t delay your witness to your loved ones, your friends, your neighbors. What will it matter what they think when very soon they are facing eternity without a safety net? The ONE you could have told them about-if you believed enough, cared enough, loved enough-because this is what it comes down to. Satan will get them otherwise.

Oh how I love you all with the love God has put into my heart! How I understand so much better Paul’s writings now and his willingness to be poured out for those so that they too could know his Savior. As I told a Doctor this week, after you’ve had the Lord in your corner in the ER, how could you not tell everyone you meet of HIM and His love for them-and His Plan for their Salvation?

A Familiar Passage John 14:7-14

I can’t begin to do justice to this passage. It is so deep with meaning in different directions-but I am following just one today early as I read it and tonight before I sleep as I read it again. Key verses for me are  if you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.  Philip said, ” Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”.  Jesus answered” don’t you know me,  Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say ‘Show us the Father?’ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me? The Words I say to you are not just my own. rather it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.  And I will do whatever you ask in my name so the  Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it.

So for me, the parts that made the Holy Spirit in me stand up and shout were:I am in the Father and He is in me. And that seeing Jesus is seeing the Father, knowing Jesus is knowing the Father. This is a huge concept even today!  We get up every morning and go through our days and pay some attention hopefully to the Lord in some way, shape or form-we have dinner, play with the kids, bath routine, bed routine, and tomorrow it starts all over again. What for? We know Jesus. We claim to. He says that knowing him is knowing the Father. The Father, Our creator of heaven and earth, who by His very thought keeps everything together and in motion. So what ? Well, if you plan to go to heaven instead of hell you might give some thought to getting to know the God of the Universe, King of all Kings. He is a BIG GOD. He is not a benevolent old man up there administrating heaven! He is a HOLY God and He says we should be HOLY as HE is HOLY. How can we do that? That’s like telling me to quit drinking water. I can’t talk without it. How do I be Holy?

And then there is the final part of that passage.  the Son wants to bring glory to the Father, period and as long as what you ask is going to bring glory, he says you may ask me for ANYTHING in my name and I WILL DO IT. This is where you find out what brings Him glory-sometimes its the smallest thing, because it pleases Him to please us/me. This is where you learn trust. Because you believe that He will do what He says He will do. For me this was a harder road than I would have ever believed. I thought I trusted. But I didn’t. God knew I didn’t. He told me so. And then He said…but you will. I would tell you it is so much easier to do it His way in the beginning than your own way. You will find in searching for that peace and trustworthiness in every other place but God’s House, that it was right here waiting for you all the time.

One other thought-when we answer that door and invite Him in. the Holy Spirit comes in to stay. This is where again, you trust, because your mind can’t get around the idea of the Trinity. But this is what I know. the Holy Spirit is God also. So just as the Father was in Jesus and Jesus was in the Father, so is the Father in the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit in Him. And like Jesus, all things are said and done to glorify the Father who sits on the throne of the Godhead. Now think about this, don’t miss it; the Holy Spirit which is in the Father and the Father is in Him is also in You. That means that the Father is also in YOU. This is truly the greatest of all gifts that the God of the Universe, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, our Creator of all things could give, He is IN YOU. He makes you able, Jesus says to do things even greater than He did. I am not talking about those things this morning-just His indwelling and the miracle of it all-but do you see now why He would say Be Holy as I am Holy?  You are my Righteousness? Your body is the Temple of God? this is all why.

There are so many other important parts in this particular passage, but these spoke to me today. How long do I have to have those quiet times with my Lord in the morning? either because He has come for me, or persecution has-and I’ll be the first to go. Because we are so close-on the very edge of eternity. I am so ready for this and then I think of beloved friends and family that I know don’t know my Lord Jesus and I think, tarry, just a little while more…surely they will come. if you are that person, don’t wait another day, another hour, another minute. Don’t take the chance. He’s standing at the door and knocking still, may I come in???

ANOTHER WRONG DIAGNOSIS!-2ND OPINIONS ARE ALWAYS NECESSARY

From Romans 3:2-3 (Paul had just asked what what advantage was there to being a Jew) Much in every way! FIRST OF ALL, they have been entrusted with the very words of God! What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness?  Not at all!  Let God be true, and every man a liar.

The scripture I have chosen may seem a little strange to you.  But to me it says that regardless of  whether people have faith, God is faithful. This was especially important in regards to my brother in law.  Those  were praying with me for him to agree to go to Moffit for a 2nd opinion, will remember my concerns for his fatalistic attitude.

Our first appointment was 2 weeks ago last Thursday. They took a lot of blood for their own testing and talked with him about possible treatments. When we went back last Wednesday for more blood tests and a review of what they had found, we were shocked. After thinking that he had  CLL Leukemia for 3 years,  he doesn’t!

He has splenic B cell marginal zone lymphoma. This is a totally different blood cancer than the leukemia; which of course means that the chemo for the leukemia would be far different  that what will be needed for  the lymphoma. On Tuesday this coming week, he will have a bone marrow biopsy as well as a blood transfusion. (He has gotten severely anemic) Then we will all go back on the 12th. We are to get final  results,  which means for sure the name of what he has! They are still freaked! They will tell us what the latest blood results are, what the bone marrow biopsy showed and finally what treatment is recommended and hopefully everything they know about the lymphoma. The doctor we’ve been talking to and who has been ordering his tests is a CLL Leukemia Doc and we hope to be moved to a  Splenic B Cell marginal zone lymphoma doc.

So again, all I can say is that I am so very thankful to our Lord for HIS faithfulness. I was reading earlier today in Isaiah-yes, my favorite book! and there it said The Lord has NEVER broken a covenant with His people, but His people have broken every covenant with Him.  So  this week  I ask you my friends and fellow believers to pray again for him-for that breakthru- to-for the right doctor, for all of the remaining tests to go well.

Here is a second time in our family that a second opinion has perhaps made a life and death difference.  I  think that everyone with a serious condition or looking at a surgery should get a second opinion.

LYMPH NODES-SPLEEN: SPLENIC INVOLVEMENT BY FOLLICULAR LYMPHOMA This illustration depicts the classic appearance of spleen involved by follicular lymphoma, namely the presence of discrete, miliary, small, white “pearly” nodules throughout the whole parenchyma. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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A Tribute to My Dad re-written almost 4 years later

I am Cynthia, soon nicknamed Cindy, the first born of the Hungerford clan.  I was the first girl in several generations in the family and so a big surprise for everyone.   My dad cared for me in those first months of my life as he was finishing his PHD and my mom was working as a designer in Knoxville.  I’ve carefully read my baby book and believe that for the first time in his life my Dad experienced unconditional love with me. He wouldn’t have characterized it as such, because he didn’t know what it was nor had he experienced it aside from my mother’s love. But as I grew up and until he went to be with Jesus, Daddy and I had an understanding and a special relationship. 

I believed everything he said and tried — until my teens anyway — to do everything he wanted me to. In first grade, I told my teacher that my dad said the moon was made of green cheese. She said absolutely not! But I argued with her and got sent to the principal’s office. I explained that my dad said it—so it was true! Poor Daddy, he had to go down to the principal’s office and explain and apologize!

When Dad died, I had all these flashbacks of him and me. At six, my first Christmas I remember the handmade doll furniture for my doll. My first bike and teaching me to ride without training wheels. A Halloween parade where he made me the most a awesome tail that curled and pitchfork for my devil costume—this was before we knew any better!

When I broke my arm playing Tarzan and Jane and he ran all the red lights to get me to the hospital. The weekend trips around Texas, to San Jacinto Memorial, to New Braunsfels where I rode my first horse.

Of course in my teens things changed a lot! I wanted to be a part of the crowd. Dad didn’t want me out there at all. I seemed to get grounded all the time. When I was 15, I was grounded and had to ask him to please let me go with my boyfriend to his prom-he relented and let me go. But I had to be home by 1am and couldn’t go to the beach with everybody or have breakfast with them. I didn’t understand why? When I was 16 and had my birthday party at home and the kids started dancing—he shut it down. I was mad at him for a long time. I didn’t care that our church preached against dancing and he was a deacon—and needed to adhere to the church’s doctrines. But that was Dad-at that point in his life he was still about works and earning his salvation.

Life with my dad was not easy as a teen, but after I married my Dennis at 29, I seemed to finally grow up and when we moved toTampa in 1984, I purposed to have a closer relationship with both my parents. This led to much visiting and really getting to know my father as a person. For this, I really have to thank my husband. Because it was to him that my dad opened up. Dennis is a little older than I and studied and read quite a bit about World War II. I guess he encouraged my dad to talk, because talk he did! I would be around for some of it, but I would use that time to take my mom out to shop, do her hair, nails, etc. So Dennis would fill me in when I questioned him about the rest of the stories!   For the first time, I heard about his early life and his war years. I finally understood why he was the way he was—military straight, absolutes because of his nuclear physics education and lack of love in his home growing up. When he stood at my mom’s funeral and said  that she was the first person to love him unconditionally-he was being truthful.  I am glad that I had come to love him unconditionally long ago.  First in obedience to God‘s word, but then simply because I loved my dad and could never stay mad at him long!

After mom’s funeral, he came to stay with Dennis and me for three weeks.It was a precious time I am so thankful for now. We talked about his salvation experience and his great regrets in his life. How very much he loved his children, but couldn’t express it. How proud he was of everyone for their teaching their own children about Jesus. That we, his children were believers. That was his greatest legacy.                                          I was sent a card by one of my staff at work.  It said  “Remember that your father left the world a legacy in the good and caring person that you have grown to be. And in this time of sadness may it help comfort you to know that he is still a part of all you are and do.

I had thought to write a Father’s Day tribute, but this one which I tweaked a little from the eulogy for him is the best one I could have ever written for him. The Bible has a lot to say about Fathers. They are to honored.  We are to heed their instruction. In fact it says several times to honor and to heed. At least in the last years of his life, my dad knew I loved him-even on the day that he thought that he would lose my love if he told me his story. All I cared about was that he had a story!

The day that we cleaned out his apartment and we were on our way home coming across I-4. I was crying and praying. I asked the Lord for a sign that Mom and Dad were up there with Him and singing and dancing… I knew (or thought I knew, I was wrong) that God didn’t give signs but please God give me a sign. I need a sign so much. And just a minute or two later, here comes a little red plane buzzing by our car and then up in the sky he goes and begins to draw…a … smiley face…and then he is writing…Jesus…loves…you! well, there was my sign. How else could an airplane draw up by our car, then do draw a smiley face and write Jesus love you-right after I have asked for the sign? to read a sign in the sky, you have to be in just the right place as we were. I called all my sibs and told them. I think they were just as happy to hear this as I was to see it!

There have been a lot of changes in the family since Daddy died. My youngest sister has had 2 little boys a year apart. My oldest granddaughter has accepted the Lord Jesus into her heart.And she has a new sister who is now 3. A couple of my brothers kids have graduated high school and started college and he and wife Lesley had one more little girl  and my sister’s kids-Anna graduated college this year and Beau started this year and made DEAN’s list. Dad would have been proud.  He would have been thrilled with all the babies! He might have had a hard time interacting with children especially as he got older and couldn’t hear, but there was no one that loved having his family around more than he did.

I am better with my grieving now of course than I was even a year ago. But I still cry and I still miss him-and my momma too of course. I had no idea that they were so much my foundation–but in losing them, I found my God who said He would now be my father. He would be my Rock and my Foundation. He would provide for me, protect me, care for me, teach me all things-including trusting him implictly. Hard lesson to learn but wonderful peace to have. Not that He was not there before, but now it is only Him. I love you, Daddy.

HERE ARE MY NOMINATIONS FOR THE MRS. SPARKLY’S AWARD

I have chosen after MUCH thought 6 bloggers who have influenced me and encouraged me and I thought were deserving of such a high falutin’ reward as this one. So here is the award, here is what you must do with it, and lastly my nominations.

You must choose 5-10  bloggers that you think exemplify Mrs Sparkly. Known for being very elegant and having high expectations, who is committed to maintaining integrity, good manners and behavior, ..as well as a rich sense of humor.

Rules: Answer the following ten questions and nominate the 5-10 blogs that you think deserve the award.

1. Describe yourself in seven words.
2. What keeps you up at night?
   

   Mrs Sparklys’s Award

3. Whom would you like to be?
4. What are you wearing now?
5. What scares you?
6. What are the best and worst things about blogging?
7. What was the last website you looked at?
8. If you could change on thing about yourself, what would it be?
9. Slankets, yes or no?
10. Tell us something about the person who nominated you.

 

1. joyce–http://joycedevivre.wordpress.com
2. Jo–http://momentumofjoy.com
3. Sandy –http://lbtk.wordpress.com
4. jen–http://jennifershope.wordpress.com
5. dee–http://lilliessparrowsandgrass.com
6. debra–http://tellgodthankyou.wordpress.com

If there were an encourager award, I would be sending one of those to each of

Mrs Sparkly’s Award

you. It is because of your belief in me and incouragement in my writing along with

lot’s of how to’s that I am writing more than ever today and now feel that God has

given me a ministry than I can go out into the world with His words without

actually going out and endangering my life all the while making a difference in 

someone else’s. I do stand in awe of you ladies! I am privileged to call you friends

and encouragers.  I am sure that our Lord has a special crown for you in heaven that is even better than 

Mrs. Sparkly’s, but she will have to do right now!

A NEW AWARD “THE MRS. SPARKLY’S TEN COMMANDMENTS AWARD”

Well, you could really knock me over with a feather tonight when I saw this  new award. I really, really appreciate and treasure each award. For me it is telling that I am on the right track saying and doing exactly what my Father wants me to do. This week has been full of those validations. I didn’t realize that I needed them so much! But my Father knew–and made sure that I got just what I needed-just as He always does.

Last night I spoke with one of my candidates. His father had passed from this life to eternity on Saturday. I spoke with him very briefly Sunday and he had mentioned that he had thought of me when he was with his father in his last half hour of life. I didn’t quite know what to make of that. But then when we spoke yesterday he explained. You see, often when you are speaking of someone’s hopes and dreams, you speak of faith as well if it is important to the person and to him it was important.  So we had exchanged a few stories over the last 2-3 months we’ve been talking-one of them was about my dad who has also passed on. It seems our dads were alike.  We commiserated with each other a bit, but I also had told him about how I had found out 1 week before he died exactly what my dad’s story was. I asked because I was afraid that he had not story at all. Instead he had quite a story-a brilliant mind (he was a nuclear physicist) regardless of what the Bible said, he still thought he needed to earn his way into heaven –he tried for over 60 years! When I finally got him to tell me about it. He said, “I’ll tell you, but you won’t love me anymore”. You see my Dad still didn’t understand unconditional love or grace. Even after he “gave it all up” as he called it and knew that at that moment the Holy Spirit truly came into his heart-He still had a very difficult time believing that anyone would love him unless he behaved a certain way, or acted a certain-even me.  I, of course, simply put my arms around him and told him how much I loved him –that I had always loved him even when I was mad at him. I didn’t stop loving him. He still asked me if I was sure that I still loved him-because his life had been a lie and he had been a hypocrite. I just looked at him through my tears and said, “that’s why Jesus came, Daddy.”  A little over a week later, he was gone, gone to be with my mom and Jesus in heaven.

So somehow in sharing my story and maybe other stories –I never know later what we’ve talked about-just that we’ve connected. I know my candidate a little better, they know me a little better. So whatever I had shared apparently helped this young man make absolutely sure that his dad was going to make it to heaven as well.  I am in awe of a great and mighty God that puts people together to help one another-sometimes when you don’t even know you are helping–but God knows-because He knows the future and everything that is going to touch me in any way, shape or form and it’s got to be filtered through His fingers. I am comforted by that knowledge.

So now we are going to talk about the Mrs. Sparkly’s Ten Commandments Award

The “Mrs. Sparkly’s Ten Commandments Award” has to do with a woman of the same name, known for being very elegant and having high expectations, and who is committed to maintaining integrity, good manners and behavior, as well as a rich sense of humor. I have been told  that I am elegant. I have been told that I have too high expectations of me and others. I have been told that I have integrity, good manners, and good behavior (thank you, Mama) But I don’t know about the rich sense of humor. I often don’t get the jokes. I do take things too seriously even when people are trying to ‘lighten up’. But I am trying to be better and ‘lighter about everything’. So again, I am grateful for the award and will try to live up to its name and keep its commandments.

 

RULES:
The rules for this award are that you must answer the following ten questions and nominate five-ten blogs that you think deserve the award.

 

 

1. Describe yourself in seven words.

 

Christ follower, Bible Student, Wife, Mother, and Mimi (grandmother0 

 

2. What keeps you up at night?

sometimes it’s God telling me to pray for something specifically, sometimes it’s reading too many blogs, sometimes, its writing too late., sometimes it’s my asthma.

 

 

3. Whom would you like to be?

 

Me. I am finally satisfied and at peace with who I am, and what my “perfect” body  is to God

 

4. What are you wearing now?

 

Jeans and a knit top my daughter gave me

 

5. What scares you?

 

is not standing up for my God and Savior enough or if it meant my life-could I do it-like others are having to do in the world today.  I used to be scared of dying of an asthma attack but the Lord cured me of that!

 

6. What are the best and worst things about blogging?

 

the best- is reading what God puts into the minds and hearts of others that so reasonates with me, that you form true bonds, friendship, love and caring for these people you haven’t physically met, but that doesn’t matter because you KNOW them. the worst thing is not having enough time to read all the blogs I want to read. I could read 24/7 for a week I think and still only mabe make a dent.

 

7. What was the last website you looked at?

 

One of my client’s websites

 

8. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

 

I would not talk so much

 

 

9. Slankets, yes or no

 

No….if  Diane said no, then I’ll say no.

 

10. She is absolutely so loving and giving. She is always concerned about the other person-not herself. I am not surprised that she is constantly be awarded  because she is such a dear, sweet, giving person. She listens, if she can help fix something she does-she’s the best editor I’ve ever had. I love her. She’s Diane and would you all join with me in tell her to put up the website called writerwannabe…because she already is, right???

 

 

Last Night, Obedience & Holiness, Tonight Righteousness

2nd Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now, there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord , the righteous Judge will award to me on that day–and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

This scripture has a lot of meaning to me. First, it is how I would have described my mother and her life in Christ. This was read at her funeral, just a few 3 1/2 years ago. I still miss her every day, but I know that when I am taken to heaven one way or the other, I will see my parents and so many who have gone before me. If she has not already laid her crown at Jesus’ feet, she will be wearing it and because I too long for His appearing in that day, I will be given one–still that is not exactly the righteousness I want to talk about tonight.

The Holy Word talks about righteousness a great deal, going all the way back to Genesis, when He God credited it (faith) to him as righteousness. 1st Samuel says the Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and this is the way the world will be judged–in righteousness.

So what exactly is righteous? Webster’s dictionary says it is acting or behaving in accordance with what is just, honorable, and free from guilt or wrong. then it adds the words virtuous, noble, moral, ethical. I would disagree a bit with that definition in light of what God says about it. Because I have personally known people that were perhaps virtuous, but not exactly what I would call sterling character. So maybe Webster’s is a little off too. I think you can be ethical, moral, noble and even virtuous without any relationship with God our Father. I know people who are tremendously good people who are all those things but without a Savior.

In 2nd Corinthians 5:17 It says that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. All of this is from God-nothing we did ourselves. He reconciled  the world to Himself in Christ, not counting mens’ sins against them. Or to make this very personal, not counting my sins against me! And so if we are now reconciled, then we are Christ’s ambassadors…. as God was making His appeal through you.  I have to stop here again and say, yes that has happened to me numerous times, when He has just taken over, given the message, and then reconciled that person to Him. That is an awesome thing to be a part of!  The appeal is to be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be  sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  2nd Corinthians 5: 18-21

But still what is this righteousness? Well it is described as Robes of Righteousness  and also a necklace of Righteousness which can become tarnished because of  lack of obedience. Faith is also credited as righteousness. He credited Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham that by their faith, became heirs of righteousness that comes by faith. Then Issac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses’ parents, Moses, the prostitute Rahab, and even more with Gideon, Samuel, David, the prophets–they too were credited by their faith to righteousness.  And so then I must ask what is faith?  Hebrews 11:1 gives us the perfect definition.  Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

So I see a pattern. Do you? Faith which leads to obedience and obedience which leads to holiness and holiness to righteousness which is defined by us as the Lord’s Righteousness, The robes of Righteousness, and the Righteousness that has been credited to me because of my faith!  I’d call that a perfect circle, a double whammy! The more you do, the more you do.

And that is true for me, the more you study God’s Word and talk with Him, the more you want to. I used to wonder what anyone could pray about to God for a whole night. Now I know.

I told someone earlier tonight that until the last 2-3 years, I thought I could choose when to be obedient and when to pursue holiness, but it doesn’t work like that! When you give your heart to Jesus, He is going to uphold His part of the covenant. That part is to refine you like gold and make you ready for heaven. So no, you don’t get to choose, once you’ve made the choice for HIM, eventually He will get you in a place where you can’t do anything but obey Him and once you are, you’ll find it rather pleasant, because His burden is light, remember, and then it is so easy to start pursuing holiness, excellence, faith.