Monday, November 26, 2007

Moving Forward

Life is busy at our house ... so much just happens in a day, a week. It's hard for me to believe it's been more than two weeks since mom went to be with the Lord... Thank you so much for all of your care, the cards you sent, your comforting words ... Thank you to my wonderful family - you are the best! Girls, you did an awesome job holding down the fort while I was gone ... Don, you're amazing! I love you guys so much ... and now, we're moving forward ...
We have a great post to share about the girl's trip to California with their dad. But before moving forward ...

We shared four verses at mom's memorial service and an excerpt from Charles Spurgeon's 'Morning and Evening.' The verses and passage all have a special meaning to us and I want to share them with you. Ecclesiastes 3:11 is a verse the Lord gave my sister Melanie that day in August when mom shared with us she had cancer. "He has had made everything beautiful in its time." How could that be? Well, five days before mom died, she woke-up from a deep sleep and spent two hours with us - we call that time "the gift." When she woke up, she was radiant - pink rosy cheeks and a gleam in her eyes, the jaundice was gone, her hands looked so young ... He had indeed made everything beautiful in its time. Psalm 62 has been dear to my heart since August ... "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge... One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done." You oh Lord are my strength, my refuge. Psalm 46 and John 14 were also shared. Words of truth for our souls.
We read Mr. Spurgeon's Morning and Evening each day we were together. The day before mom went to be with the Lord, we read her an excerpt from July 2nd...
"Our heart shall rejoice in Him." — Psalm 33:21
"Blessed is the fact that Christians can rejoice even in the deepest distress; although trouble may surround them, they still sing; and, like many birds, they sing best in their cages. The waves may roll over them, but their souls soon rise to the surface and see the light of God's countenance; they have a buoyancy about them which keeps their head always above the water, and helps them to sing amid the tempest, "God is with me still." To whom shall the glory be given? Oh! to Jesus — it is all by Jesus. Trouble does not necessarily bring consolation with it to the believer, but the presence of the Son of God in the fiery furnace with him fills his heart with joy. He is sick and suffering, but Jesus visits him and makes his bed for him. He is dying, and the cold chilly waters of Jordan are gathering about him up to the neck, but Jesus puts His arms around him, and cries, "Fear not, beloved; to die is to be blessed; the waters of death have their fountain-head in heaven; they are not bitter, they are sweet as nectar, for they flow from the throne of God." As the departing saint wades through the stream, and the billows gather around him, and heart and flesh fail him, the same voice sounds in his ears, "Fear not; I am with thee; be not dismayed; I am thy God." As he nears the borders of the infinite unknown, and is almost afraid to enter the realm of shades, Jesus says, "Fear not, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Thus strengthened and consoled, the believer is not afraid to die; nay, he is even willing to depart, for since he has seen Jesus as the morning star, he longs to gaze upon Him as the sun in his strength. Truly, the presence of Jesus is all the heaven we desire. He is at once
"The glory of our brightest days; The comfort of our nights."

And with that ... by God's amazing grace ... I Move Forward

2 comments:

Maria said...

What a beautiful way to transition to "moving forward" . . .

Peggy said...

We are there with you! Praying for you daily. Watching Gods Amazing grace as you "move forward".....