Category: my story

He is Alive!

He is Alive!

 

What a beautiful, rainy, windy day this is! Many thoughts swirl in my mind as I consider the significance of this time of year. Ringing everywhere is the sweet refrain: He Lives! Songs of joy, songs of newness of life in Christ, songs of heaven. Do you long for heaven? I pray it’s your sincerest desire to see the LORD Jesus face to Face and to hear Him say: “…Well done, good and faithful servant…enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” (Matthew 25.23)

I so desire to serve the LORD in a manner that brings Him glory and honor. As I think of you all and pray for you, I pray for the LORD to use me to encourage you if you’re needing encouragement and to inspire you if you’re feeling low. I pray that the LORD will be honoured and you will be blessed by what I share with you. Thank you for this privilege—it’s not taken for granted. Sisters, be encouraged—wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, you have a very important charge to keep—you’re a daughter of the King! If things have been hard lately, remember: He loves you and is working everything for good! I say this sincerely, because fiery trials and deep prunings bring forth rich fruit and the thorniest bushes have the most fragrant blooms. You’re a precious rose to the LORD. I am seeking to keep this in mind each day – being a precious rose – and each day brings many things that are heavy or misunderstood or cause misunderstandings, regret and sorrow – thorns and prunings.

It is humbling to me that we live in a time where we’re so abundantly blessed – we’re able to hear or read inspiring and educational messages, we’re able to own a copy of the Word and to freely read it, to take part in singing and listening to beautiful hymns and songs of worship and praise, and to join with brothers and sisters in the LORD for edification—to rejoice in our salvation. We’re so blessed to hear messages of hope and joy in our Saviour—messages regarding the gospel account of the life, death and resurrection of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. But… consider this: if Christ be not raised, then it’s all for naught, it’s a cruel hoax—-there is no point… there is no hope… there is no reason for us to gather each week for fellowship or on any day for that matter; nothing to celebrate. But God!

But God! But God who is rich in mercy – who redeemed us, who, while we were yet sinners, died for us! There is reason, a purposeful design… there is hope… our Savior lives! We have something to celebrate: we serve a Risen Saviour! Alleluia!

Revelation 19.6 —
“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”


Hebrews 12.2 —
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

There was a price to be paid for our sin. He paid. He paid it. He paid it all. “…for the joy that was set before him…”

And He said:

John 14.1-6 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

The night of that day.

After my father died, several years ago now, I sat with him a long while… his head cradled in my arms; I watched as his life faded from his body. The urgency and the struggle of the previous moments had faded into a clinical, impersonal documenting of this significant event. Then it was quiet and was quite sobering to me to see the dramatic difference mere seconds had made… and then minutes passed. I wondered what must be occurring at that moment with the LORD. I was thinking of how at that moment my father was in the presence of the LORD. Alone, the room totally quiet following the disconnection of machines and the perfunctory documenting of his death, I made a mental note of everything around me and silently rejoiced in God my Saviour.

“We are confident, I say,
and willing rather to be absent from the body,
and to be present with the Lord.”

II Corinthians 5.8

When the LORD Jesus was on the Cross and then was taken down to be laid in the tomb… it must’ve been with the greatest sadness that they wrapped His precious body in the cloths… the sobering reality of what had just transpired must’ve been unbelievable—the helplessness unimaginable.

At the time, I was far from my own home and in the room I where I was staying at the time, through the warm night as I lay on the bed, I watched pictures of my father in the theatre of my mind and I cried… the making of memories had ended… all that was left now were the memories and the photographs that documented milestones along the way. No matter how long I waited or how much I wished for his return, it was finished. He would not come to life again… he would not return… it was final. It was many hours before sleep came, just before dawn… and then only for a very short while and I was up and on my way home. It was for real. The death was final. There would be no opportunity to see him again. I learned so much about the love of the Living LORD in those hours. I felt totally alone and the room was quiet. But. I knew I was not alone. I knew that because of what happened on the cross, I never walk alone.

When Mary came to the tomb early on the first day of the week, she must’ve been weary with grief, but still managing enough strength to do what must be done for a proper burial she mustered the courage fulfill her personal obligation. What an honour it would have been to assist in caring for the LORD in this way. What a breathtaking thing, then, it must have been for her to arrive and to see what she saw. Then later, can you imagine her astonishment at hearing the voice of the LORD say her name…

Mary… He was Alive!

Alive!

He IS alive!

And now looking back on Resurrection messages, I see even more how marvelous and miraculous is the message of the cross. Isn’t it incredible to think of the fulfillment of Scripture and the perfect fulfillment of every detail: proving Scriptural accuracy!? In the eyewitness account of His death, we read of the confirmations that He had indeed died and then reading further we know that He did indeed rise from the dead and was truly alive. We now benefit, not only in His having the price paid for our sins, but with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit…We know Him! We know Him and He knows us by name – He knows our hearts.

Romans 8.16 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God”

Having witnessed and experienced the momentary bewilderment of witnessing death and then to have watched the preparations carried out to confirm it…. And now to think that the LORD did in fact experience death, *yet* He lives! I can only bow my head and then look up and say, “thank You.”

I can only say, “thank You.”

He lives today! This is the Good News. He is Risen.

He is our Hope — Christ in you, the Hope of Glory!

 

Mama Lolli Pop

After seeing our family’s singing debut (with the happy birthday video we made for Timothy so could see & hear us singing to him from the other side of the world) our friend called me, Mama Lolli Pop.   I already have a mousy voice — but increase the speed of a video a few notches, and I really have a mousy-lolli-pop voice.

Well, then, I just had to share a pic that makes me smile – the lolli pop is totally and completely coincidental!! Samuel and Hannah had walked to First street… looked through some of the antique shops and ended up at Sammie Jo’s candy store where Samuel bought a lolli pop. It proved to be too much for him, so he passed it on to ‘melia. I didn’t realize she was hanging on to it when she went to take a rest… so, couldn’t pass up the photo op when I went in to check on her. so, I guess this makes her — baby lolli-pop?

melia lolli pop a

Happy Birthday, Mr. Rogers

And thanks, for the memories.

Today would’ve been Mister Rogers’ 80th birthday. I didn’t grow up watching much television at all and so, not even Mister Rogers very often, and our children didn’t watch television and I don’t think our grandchildren watch ‘reruns’ of Mister Rogers. But I saw the show a number of times over the years — enough so, that I do remember many of the songs and remember them well enough to have the right inflection and timing. Do you remember the songs? Want to hear them again? “Hear” you go!

As a child, I remember going to our neighbor’s house and watching the show sometimes – that, and Sesame Street – which I pronounced, See-Same street, and was mockingly corrected for not saying it right. You know the: (ha ha ha) “You’re saying it wrong! Don’t you know how to say it?! It’s Ses-ah-meeeeeeeeeeee street (aha ha haaa)! ” If I have any phobias at all, by the way, it’s saying things incorrectly when correct pronunciation really matters. And to some children, correct pronunciation really matters.

I just try to handle situations the way Fred Rogers would’ve handled them with children and I think it all works out just fine. And that’s one of the things I most appreciated about the program — his loving enthusiasm and his kindness and patience. It was honour and gentlemanly behaviour that Fred Rogers demonstrated that also has stayed in my memories of him through the years.

I received an email that included some interesting bits about different men who are unsung heroes. I noticed that there were some amazing notes on Mr. Rogers. Sensational and unbelievable notes, really! And when notes are that amazing or unbelievable, they usually are the latter: un (or not) believable.

Though the notes in the emails had the heartwarming Mr. Rogers as trained US Navy Seal and listed the reason for his long sleeves and sweaters was to hide his the numerous tattoos he received in the military days, much of what was written and circulated in email was untrue. What’s true of him, though, is that he did spend his life attempting to make life sweet for countless millions of children — children who came to know and love their friend, Mister Rogers.

Fred Rogers warmed our hearts, this is true; but many details of his story, as told in the numerous email messages, are just tall tales. He actually graduated from Rollins College in Florida with a degree in music in 1951 and then began a broadcasting career — a career that would continue uninterrupted for 50 years, In that time he also studied for a Bachelor of Divinity degree and became an ordained minister in 1962. He didn’t live in fear of his past days or hiding a secret past as a trained Navy Seal killer. Mister Rogers was a truly a gentleman who devoted his life to encouraging the lives of children — this is how he’s remembered today.

So… it’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood… where’s your sweater? Are you singing?

It’s a Beautiful Day in The Neighborhood
Fred Rogers

It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood,
A beautiful day for a neighbor.
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?…

It’s a neighborly day in this beauty wood,
A neighborly day for a beauty.
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?…

I’ve always wanted to have a neighbor just like you.
I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you.

So, let’s make the most of this beautiful day.
Since we’re together we might as well say:
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
Won’t you be my neighbor?
Won’t you please,
Won’t you please?
Please won’t you be my neighbor!

Happy Birthday, Timothy!

We’re sure missing our boy today… on his birthday, and every day. Hannah made a birthday cake for Timothy, put it on the Red Plate… we lit the candles and sang the ‘happy birthday song’ while the camera was recording. So, here we are, early this morning, singing to our boy… 7500 miles away.

Happy Birthday, Timothy. We’re missing you! From all of us, with love.

Fearing God, not man

An incredible amount of interest and controversy has arisen in the wake of the judge’s decision regarding homeschooling in California. And, it’s not surprising that the education system is watching this matter probably as closely as parents who home educate their children in that state and elsewhere. There’s a great deal at stake here in our nation, because, as many have stated and I have also written many times, as California goes: so goes the nation. And parents across the nation are concerned about the ramifications of this ‘ruling’ in California because of the assault on ‘freedom’ and on the home. Many public school educators believe their role as public-school teachers is paramount to the success of society – even though what’s being taught is often immoral, anti-family and ungodly. We, as homeschoolers, believe that it’s not public education, but home and family, that has the preeminent role in the success and future of society. We have come to see that, in general, it is public education that has brought the demise of the home and ultimately and profoundly, society.

As in a previous post, I know am taking a huge risk here, stating the belief that much of the demise or degradation of our society is a result of the humanistic public education system. It is based, in part, on that premise that we will never send our children to government schools — to do so would be counter to faith, counter to Scripture and the mandate of the Lord to Christian fathers and mothers to train up their children in the way they should go. I cannot even post here some of the links to articles I have read recently regarding what’s being taught in government schools, what’s on some reading lists, what’s in some curriculum and in some libraries in grade schools, and what many teachers are teaching in classes in the states.

 

Acts 5.24-42

“24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chirf priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow
25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said,

We ought to obey God rather than men.

30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”

 

pamelasig2.jpg

the endearing bouquet

rosecolouredglasses.gifTruly, one of the most surprising and endearing gifts I ever received was a bouquet that Samuel brought me from our front yard. Now, the other children had been bringing me flowers from the yard, one from the neighbour’s yard and some from a home down the street. Well, we had to take care of the instruction and training on issues of ownership, theft and trespassing — even with best intentions, those last two things were clearly wrong. Even if the neighbours had better flowers, you know, my most favourite flowers or even the most beautiful flowers in the world and I ought to have them as presents.

I smile when I see this picture bcz Sam had brought me the most beautiful Azalea bouquet. For the life of me to this day I do not know exactly how he managed to cut that azalea, but he did. It was a unique azalea tree that I had been sort of trimming and pruning so that it would continue to look more and more like a flowering tree. His face lit up with delight and his eyes sparkled as he came in with the bouquet and handed it to me. I was astonished — speechless — really at the sight of that azalea tree — the one in my hand and what I imagined was left in the planter. He was so earnest and sincere and too little to go out of the yard to gather the better flowers from the neighbour’s yards. I had a very difficult time attempting to maintain composure. But I did, I suppose and all I could tell him was, thank you, this is very beautiful. And when I told him he mustn’t cut anymore of this sort of flower, bush or tree in our yard or, remember, in anyone’s yard, he innocently told me there wasn’t anymore… this was all of it.

Yes… I could see that.

So, this pic was snapped sometime after that fateful deep tree pruning (and presentation of the most endearing bouquet I ever received) when some growth began to appear.

 

hannah samuel azalea

It looks like they’re eying the remainder of the tree, doesn’t it? I wonder what snack they were eating.

hannysamueltoday

I think things all worked out okay.

 

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Standing in the Presents of God

No, that wasn’t a typographical error. I suppose it might even seem as though I misspelled “presence” for what may have seemed like an intro to a Brother Lawrence book. But no.

Tonight I’m feeling like I’m standing in the presents of God. Maybe even buried in the presents of God — for He is and has been ever faithful and abundantly gracious to me — to my husband — to our family. And not only to me, to us or to ours alone, but to all of us. Exceedingly and abundantly gracious.

I smiled at the error of standing in God’s presents last week when Amelia, drawing what she was hearing during our morning family breakfast and Bible study time, shared her picture with the family. She drew a large stack of presents –packages, neatly wrapped and tied with ribbons and bows — presents stacked high in a heaping pile. And beside the pile was a man standing in God’s presents. Wes asked Amelia to describe her picture and she happily and boldly shared that Moses and Aaron were standing in the presents of God! Inside I laughed at the innocence of the drawing… the lack of understanding and knowledge of the presence of God. I smiled at her sweet delight at how wonderful it must have been for Moses. Indeed it must have been!

But the more the days passed, the more I began to realize that I am, in reality, standing in the presents of God. Just today, I was profoundly aware of the freedom to read God’s Word, the beautiful children seated at the table reading their own copies of the Bible and the meal we shared together was plenty. I thought of the delicious, cold filtered water that I freely drink, the lights I turn on in every room of our home and the clothing I couldn’t quickly decide which dress to wear, the buckets full of grain and oats and assorted other foods, cabinets full of choices, a refrigerator full of lots of different foods to make into meals for this family… and on and on the presents were piled high all around me.

And then the floor that needed to be mopped because there was dirt on it but it is not made of dirt. And our windows close and curtains hang there just to look pretty and serve no other purpose. The school books, the herbs and vitamins, the fruit and the shoes — plenty for each child. Coats – coats for work and for play, for dress and for casual. Coats. Presents of God.

Timothy phoned from Ghana, West Africa… hot and tired, achy and sore from long, hot days of work in the sun. Still cheerful, I marvel, with none of these things. Presents of God. As I type this tonight in my bright little room, a candle on my desk and a cup of delicious tea beside me, Kathryn is on a plane traveling to London and then on to Jinja, Uganda. 7000 miles away, tomorrow she will walk in red dirt to see little children she loves. And it will be worth every moment, every mile. She will have no running water and intermittent electricity — no so-called luxuries. She will be joyful – indeed- and yet will have none of these things. Presents of God.

As I practice the awareness of the presence of God, I am humbly mindful of the presents of God and His merciful kindness and lavish provision on our behalf – and I haven’t even touched on the greatest of all gifts — the gift of salvation. As I stand in the presents of God, I pray I do not neglect gratitude nor take for granted the Giver of these gifts — and as I lie down to sleep I will be humbly standing in awe of the presence and presents of God.

—pamela

[edited to correct that it was Amelia’s drawing; 2-26]

Kathryn…

At long last… today’s the day…

Kathryn leaves for Uganda this afternoon and so we’re busily wrapping up last minute details…  attempting to pack whatever can possibly fit in to eight hours and two suitcases.

I’ll update her letters and photos as I receive them.   Thank you for your prayers to the Lord on her behalf.  She’s a marvelous young woman and precious daughter and friend.

—pamela