Dearly Beloved
We are gathered here today
To get through this thing called "Life"
Electric word, LIFE
It means forever
And that's a mighty, long time
But I'm here to tell you
There's something else:
The Afterworld
A world of never ending happiness
You can always see
The Son
Prince had tremendous amount of appeal. One of the last articles, after he died, was the article by his female, up-and-coming Chef he hired in LA and took to his home in Minnesota. Prince, evidently, liked to be fed well at any minute and hour. One of the last things Prince said to his chef, who jumped through all time and types of lobster hoops, Prince wanted her to join ... his Bible Study. A life lived a little like King David.
1 Timothy 6:12
1 Timothy 4:7
Fight the Good Fight!
Let there be Light
We went to a funeral this week. For a life well lived and loved.
My mother and mother-in-law, attended the same huge, Dallas, Episcopal Church, said they had been to so many funerals, they said this was like living through the Black Plague. A choice of 3 or 4 a week. When I asked my mother why she would choose to go to so many, she said simply, "It's fun to see the people." And I asked my mother-in-law, and she said, "Yes, odd to hear, but then you get to see who is alive today." But these are the aged funerals, the younger people have some funerals with deep despair, where remarks are made like memories where you would like to turn the page.
However, this one was lovely and people were very kind in their loving memories.
This week, we have talked about our connection within all the world.
The God of Light in all the world.
Going to Preach the Gospel to ALL of Creation
And in funerals, people talk about the end.
I'd like to add in several of the best end, passing on, events.
A couple we have loved for 2 decades, friends of ours, are approaching 80 years old. And in the man's family, they have a Biblical passing. For his mother, and all, all, all 3 of his older siblings.
This is a poignant and powerful story today.
We hear of so many surprising deaths of younger people. A message of Love and Hope. In the last year, even the largest Presbyterian Church in Highland Park lost their 46-year-old Lead Pastor, a huge Church, and he passed in his sleep, due to medication.
James 1: 10,11
And those who are rich should boast
that God has humbled them.
They will fade away like a little flower in the field.
Berean Standard Bible
But the one who is rich
should exult in his low position,
because he will
pass away like a flower of the field.
King James Bible
But the rich, in that he is made low:
because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
11
For the sun rises with scorching heat
and withers the plant;
its flower falls and its beauty is lost.
So too, the rich man will fade away
in the midst
of his pursuits.…
And here is our adventure,
knowing God
and His plans:
Wayne's family had their mother, suddenly, found, to have passed away in her old age. A goodbye to someone loving and loved, found to be in Heaven. And then his next sibling was the same. And the day Wayne called to find his next older brother's family in tears. Father and son had been wood working on a project. A day of fun, with lunch. The son went back to pick up a tool left behind and found his father passed away, as if napping at the table.
This is a passing that has allowed their family peace.
With this to be added in. When all the children were young and lived at home, they had a beloved Golden Retriever named Brandy.
One Christmas, Wayne noticed someone during the Celebration of Christmas was quite unhappy. And Wayne told his family, the dog was sad to be left out. Oh, sure. Wayne, undeterred, found discarded Christmas paper, left the room and found tennis balls. Wayne returned and with a loud voice, called, "Brandy! Brandy! Come Here, Good Dog! You have Christmas Presents!"
And he presented Brandy with unwrapping the hastily wrapped Christmas Tennis Balls. Brandy was so incredibly pleased.
And the family tradition continued for the rest of the dog's long life. Each Christmas, as Christmas was being Celebrated, they would make sure Brandy received gifts before she could become morose over Christmas. The Dog's delight made Christmas even more special and lovely.
As Brandy aged, she was still the same as ever, loving dog. One day, as they went to the Grocery Store, they returned. Brandy had lived a good life. She was taking a nap, that would take her into the Kingdom of God.
The family all agreed, Brandy had left them the best passing, the best gift she could ever present them. And they remembered her for decades as the best Dog.
The next time someone says, this dog was a member of my family, let's all remember Brandy. Jesus did say, "Tell the Gospel to ALL of Creation."
During my 20s, I worked with Club Corp. I had some vacation, and my vacations were memorable. We were newlyweds and rejoiced in a new house cottage. I'd been there almost 10 years before our first son was premature with apnea and needed his mom.
One of my first positions was with the Club Corp magazine before it closed and rather sadly went then into Club Corp's insurance department. The highlight was I worked with a woman in her 50s. She was lovely, a very lovely Christian. She wanted to hear about my parents' divorce and how my mom was coping. I really enjoyed Meredith, she went to bat with me over the daily grind. I'd gone on vacation and asked where Meredith was. They said she was gone. And my supervisor was sorrowful and grim. OH, NO! MEREDITH! And our supervisor - she said. "Oh, not Meredith, her husband!!!" WHAT! Meredith and her husband went to Church. He was 52 years old. They were in Church, holding hands, she noticed he went to sleep during the Sermon. And she smiled, he had said it was a busy week and he was tired. She squeezed his hand and was grateful for him. They had been married over 25 years. After the Service ended, she went to wake her husband Bob. He had passed to Heaven, in Church, as peacefully as anyone would ever hope.
Meredith had loved Bob with all her heart.
And knew Bob was in Heaven with the Lord. And in this sincere peace, she met and married, successfully again, within a few years.
Then I had some vacation in early winter I needed to use or lose.
I chose to paint the porch of our new cottage. And as I painted, I realized down the street, people were gathering in front of Mr. Bothwell's house. And crying. Hugging, crying and crying as if their hearts would break. About 15 or 20 people arrived by car and I felt that the tears in my eyes due to the beauty of what I was witnessing and their privacy, would end the painting for the day.
A few hours went by, and it occurred to me, I'd better tell Edward why the porch wasn't painted. And I got to call him. His phone line rang over to Edward's supervisor's secretary. Shirley answered the line. I greeted her and told her I'd leave a message for Edward: I was painting the porch when Mr Bothwell's family arrived, apparently lovely Mr Bothwell, age 92, had passed on. His family was grieving and I felt that they needed their privacy, plus I was crying for them, soooo the porch isn't painted.
Shirley said, "Excuse me." And I heard a nose blowing. She came back on the line and I said, oh, Shirley do you have a cold? "Noooo, Anne Laurel, do you and Edward live on Westbrook by White Rock Lake?" Yes... we do. "Do you know that my name is Shirley Bothwell???" OH. My God. I didn't realize! And Shirley wept to say what a wonderful man Mr. Bothwell had lived grace upon grace for 92 years. Which I had already known.
And then you consider, Dallas had 4 million people and Edward and I had never known that Mr. Bothwell had lovely family we already knew.
Mr. Bothwell at age 92, had lived easily at home. And mowed lawns for the appreciative neighbors he had known for so many decades.
One of his many graces upon graces.
So too, the rich man will fade away
in the midst
of his pursuits.…
1 Timothy 6:12
1 Timothy 4:7
Fight the Good Fight!
Abba, Father!
WE PRAY
BLESSINGS
Catholics and Catholic Priests say
Catholics have the best deaths.
Because every time, in Church,
they pray
"Be with us now, and in the hour of our passing"
You, Father,
answer
Prayer!
Thank You, Father.
and
GIVE THANKS
FOR YOUR BLESSINGS
FOR YOUR BLESSINGS
THANK YOU
The safety
of Your people.
The safety
of those
helping the earth
to heal.
Let evil and practicing evil
depart
far
from us
and our children.
With Your Help
We will act justly
and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with You, our God.
Gentle rain for California
putting out the fires
speedy insurance
claims
and fast rebuilding
realizing the standard building codes
even of Reagan
were safe.
Peace
Dwell in me,
Dwell in us,
Dwell in those we Love,
Help us to seek You first.
And we will finish well,
in Jesus Christ.
Help us seek and find
and bring,
to become,
more Heaven
to this earth.
They ALL SAY
THE GRAHAM MINISTRY
SAMARITAN'S PURSE
IS
DOING INCREDIBLE
SHAKE NORTH CAROLINA
SHAPE NORTH CAROLINA
SHAKE NORTH CAROLINA
SHAPE NORTH CAROLINA
Love and Mercy and Work.
GIVE TO
SAMARITAN'S PURSE
Please.
And in Jesus - This Hope.
Faith and Love - we will rise up Believing Jesus.
Amen
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment