Jesus
said: “And do not fear those who
kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul’ but rather fear Him who is able
to destroy both the soul and body in hell.
Are not two sparrows sold for a cent?
And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all
numbered.
“’ Therefore, do not fear, you
are of more value than many sparrows.
Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess
him before My Father who is in heaven.’” Matthew 10:28-32
Have you ever been in the midst of the emotions of losing
someone you truly love and care about and then someone comes alongside and
says something like:
- · ‘Don’t cry. Tears can’t bring them back’ or
- · ‘You should be rejoicing because they are free of the pain.’ or
- · ‘Don’t cry, they are in a better place now’ or
- · “You’re a Christian. You aren’t supposed to be sad when someone dies because they’re in heaven. That’s a poor witness for Him.’ or
- · ‘If you don’t cry, people will think you didn’t love that person.’ Or
- · ‘You must not really believe in heaven or you wouldn’t cry’ or
- · ‘Don’t cry because you have to be strong for everyone else who is sad at this loss’ or
- · ‘OK, you have cried enough. It is time to get back to real life.’
How is it that ANYONE knows the best way to mourn and grieve
from the loss of a loved one? We are
each uniquely made (Psalm 139 again) and saved through a personal journey to
come to Christ and then a personal and unique journey from that Cross throughout our lives
for our good and His glory.
“When Jesus therefore saw her
weeping, and the Jews who came with her, also weeping, He was deeply moved in
spirit, and was troubled, and said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to Him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept.” John 11:33-35
Yesterday before I began my day, I received a text from the
daughter of my ‘Second Mom’, Doris. It
is almost impossible to put into words how the Lord used her example in my
life. I met her when I was 12, a
complete failure in my Mom’s eyes for begging my father to let me come home
from boarding school.
“What shall I render to the
Lord for all His benefits toward me? I
shall lift up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I shall pay my vows to the Lord, oh may it be
in the presence of all His people.
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones.”
Psalm 116:12-15
And when I went to regular school that year, I met this
beautiful grown-up, who saw something in me.
Doris found clever ways to tap into my need to help. She would ask me to help her grade papers for
her or illustrate something for her.
She befriended my Mom and that first year, asked her if she
would let me come to her farmhouse and be the hostess for a Halloween party she
had planned. I do not remember what she
came as but her plan of remaining secret worked. I was gobsmacked at how silly she could be.
She started to regularly ask my Mom if I could babysit her
two sweet children and would regularly bring me home with her. I would stay overnight. Year after year from then on, I would climb
into her noisy and fun Volkswagen and we would motor the back roads to her farm
in Amish country.
During summers Mom, and my brother, Tim would drive out and
spend the day with Doris and her kind-hearted husband, Owen. Mom would often cook, and I would make cakes or
intricate games for the children -- little
Freddy and beautiful Patty -- amazing children and so smart and energetic.
Doris had an additional motive and that came naturally from
her ‘evangelistic’ heart. From the day I entered her classroom until … well, I suspect the day she
finished saying her prayers, somehow she fit me in. And when I gave my life to the Lord at 19,
she was someone I could share with.
She was an exemplary and compassionate junior high school
teacher, loved by the other teachers and her students. And Doris never stopped studying new
things. But she was first and foremost
the only natural ‘Proverbs 31” woman I ever knew.
She sent me a subscription to the RBC, 'My Daily Bread' that became nourishment for my soul for over 25 years. She never missed sending me a card for my birthday and every holiday - the only one who ever did -- and she wrote the most beautiful letters - all of them I have saved - special treasures.
She loved her husband, Owen and her children. And she taught me the value of prioritising
God first, family second and everything else a third or fourth.
Once a Christian, she took me to her ‘War Room’ where she
taught me the amazing value of praying faithfully -- not fitfully. She showed me how valuable and encouraging it
was to keep a prayer diary and to read Scripture every day.
And she washed more feet in their three-fold communion
services that I can ever imagine. She
brought His joy with her into every situation, every room and every heart.
I am crying now as I write this because I have not seen
her since 2006 and have longed for just one more of her tight and warm
hugs. My heart is with Patti and Freddy
and all Doris’ family and all those who were touched by her life.
I know as she has walked into the arms of her beloved
Saviour, Jesus Christ, she will be hearing the words we all long to hear from
His lips, ‘Welcome home, My child!’
Jesus teaching, “’His
master said to him,
‘Well done, good
and faithful slave;
you were faithful
with a few things.
I will put you in
charge of many things,
enter into the joy
of Your Master.’”
Matthew 25:21
Take care, your servant and friend in Christ,
Darlene (who prays for you each morning).
PS: My statement of
faith: https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com You can find the WeakDay Devotion online by
doing a Google search for ‘WeakDay Devotion’.
(Also, there is an android ‘Goggle Blogger’ app you can download to read
them on your phone.)
COVID-19
(NOTE: Words
underlined have a link embedded to provide more details)
Please pray for all those involved in making critical
decisions during this time of pandemic.
Pray for those who have lost loved ones, those who contract the virus,
the healthcare workers, those on the front line and for all those feeling
afraid, lonely or confused. Pray all are
wise, patient and take precautions to contain the effects. For practical information, please visit https://newsaboutcovid19.blogspot.com/
Latest Statistics
·
Today in 215 countries
·
4,971,400 reported cases
·
45,079 in serious condition
·
324,151 reported deaths (some are related to
pre-existing conditions)
NEW PRAYER REQUESTS
·
Ravi
Zacharias – passed into the
loving arms of His Father this morning, too.
Please pray for his family and friends as they grieve.
·
Hans –
a dear friend in Germany, diagnosed with lung cancer that has metastasized, home
for the next three weeks before he resumes chemo. Pray for his healthcare providers, his
patience and wisdom. Pray he is
surrounded by faithful and compassionate Christian friends who will support him
through this journey. Pray for his Mom
(age 83) is unwell herself. Pray their
time together will be filled with extraordinary good memories and love.
·
Scott –
recently married. Pray he finds a job
soon so he can provide for his new wife and two children. Help him reach out for the hand of our loving
Heavenly Father so he recognises God is working in all this for the best
outcome for them all.
·
Penne –
recently widowed after 43 years, the last ten of which she was her husband’s
full-time caregiver. She suffers mental
problems from a childhood experience and has reached out to Patti (who asks for
wisdom and patience). Penne has
‘disowned’ all her family, and although a believer, does not attend fellowship
for support. Please pray for her peace
of mind and God’s guidance.
·
USA President
Donald Trump – As Christians it
is our responsibility to pray for our leaders and know that God has a plan for
the USA through this man. If you doubt
the importance of his appointment, just look at the baseless antagonism against
him. Surely Satan is NOT happy and means to thwart God’s plan. Pray someone helps President Trump and Melania to understand the true meaning of a
personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and that they will both have a
insatiable hunger to read God’s Word for themselves – and that God sends a Bible-Believing
Christian to regularly disciple them in the Truth – and that God shuts the
mouths of the false prophets who regularly circle around them.
·
Fred I – planning a move from California to Tennessee in
the Fall of 2020 (if possible). Pray for
his wise attention to detail, stamina and roaring good health, as he makes
these life changes.
·
Unnamed
– lost both her parents within six months after a lifetime of caring for
them. Her husband’s mother died in
January and his 94-year old father now lives with them. Pray they take time for each other and keep
their faith strong.
Pray for those in full-time service
During this time, when the entire world is struggling to
understand this new ‘plague’, it is critical for us to uphold our Christian
leaders. They will be needed
everywhere. Pray for their wisdom,
safety, ingenuity, strength and for their families.
Pray for those with ongoing health concerns
Many of us have family, friends and loved ones who are
fragile health-wise. It is important to
protect them in practical ways and most important we must pray even more for
them that the Lord will have mercy on them during this challenging time.
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