Just Be

Just Be… The Lord speaks and says: Just be…My beloved; just be…thankful; just be…with Me. Take My hand and walk with Me. I’m always here, always with you. Acknowledge My presence. Let’s just be together. Just be…who I am making you to be. Don’t get up on the potter’s wheel and try to make yourself be what you think you should be because of what you read or see in others. Don’t force yourself to live up to standards you can’t meet. Just be…I’ll take care of the shaping and molding. Just be… obedient to what I speak to you about; just be…responsive to My counsel and direction, but most of all, to My love. Just as clouds obscure the sun, so the circumstances of this life, the demands of daily living, the thinking of your own mind, the thoughts of others, and the things that cry out for your attention, they all obscure My presence. But that does not remove My existence. It does not make Me any less real. When all those clouds are removed, I still remain, bright and shining in My glory, giving warmth and life and joy. When everything else is gone, I am. I am here, loving you, waiting…I am truth and I have found you.

While thinking about the Lord and His lovingkindness, He reminded me of an incident that took place years ago. Rich and I were at the beginning of our friendship, which was on the verge of blossoming into love. He and another friend had decided to attend a meeting they'd heard about rather than go to the Sunday evening college group associated with our church. I started off with a friend to the college group; but her car broke down on the way to the meeting. Rain poured down on us as we walked to get help. Yes, this was long before cell phones. In the meantime, Rich and Stan had changed their minds and decided to attend the college group after all. They were concerned when Sydney and I didn't come. Rich returned to Betty June's where I was living, and waited for me. When I finally made it home, looking like a drowned rat, there he was! He enfolded me in his embrace. Never had I felt so cared for and loved. The Lord told me this is a picture of His love. When we wander through life making messes of ourselves, He is near and waiting to receive us, to embrace us and assure us of His love. To those wandering, I urge, "Come home, He's waiting!"

Same Journey--new vistas

The day Rich passed from earth to heaven, I received from the Lord the direction I was to take: Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected, but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Press on, reach for what is ahead, for the goal, for the prize of heaven. Rich has already taken up citizenship there (v.20) but I am still here. I am not to get bogged down in the past, but to move forward.

The next day: Isaiah 35:10 The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. In the midst of my sorrow, comfort always came when I thought of what Rich was getting to experience!

One Sunday a few weeks later this song spoke to me, bringing tears and encouragement; it seemed to have been written just for me. I Have A Hope: some of the phrases: I have a hope, I have a future, I have a destiny that is yet awaiting me, my life's not over, a new beginning's just begun...

A Different Measure of Success

Words that I often think of in connection with Rich are: zealous, passionate, man of integrity. Today, successful is added to the list. The sermon which I heard at church was titled Principles of Success, based on Joshua 23: 1-16. The pastor outlined four principles from that chapter of Joshua which characterize being a successful Christian. The first was to give God credit and glory for what He has done. The second: Keep your way according to God's Word and obey it. Third: Cling to the Lord, trust Him. Fourth: Love the Lord your God. All of these principles were consistently applied in Rich's life. He told of God's goodness and greatness, giving Him credit for help, provision and deliverance. Whenever he found anything in the Word that he felt was a command to him, he was quick to obey. Throughout the battle with cancer, he trusted the Lord time and again and clung to Him. And yes, He loved the Lord! He kept himself separate from anything that he thought might compromise his commitment to the Lord. As Chris, our son-in-law, expressed it: Well done, good and faithful servant!

Life Goes On--the Journey Continues

Originally, I began writing this blog to chronicle the journey Rich and I were on as he battled cancer. Quickly, though, I saw how difficult it was to do that. When there was hope and expectation, when there were victories, writing was easy. A pattern began to emerge, though, of progress and setbacks; of hope and then despair. What was the use of writing positively, knowing that the next day might bring contradictory circumstances. I only wanted to emphasize the positive. So I stopped. I expected a time would come when the victory would be final and then I could record the ups and downs with triumph. Just now, as I wrote these words a verse came to mind: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 1 Corinthians 15:54 Victory as I foresaw it did not come, but even in death there is victory and triumph, the Word of God tells us. And there's more: "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Yes, Rich left his body, his body died and he's gone to be with the Lord. I've always struggled with the negative aspects of death--thinking that it is defeat and failure. Now I see that it isn't! For one who believes in redemption through the blood of Jesus, the forgiveness of sins and the provision of an eternal home with the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, there is no sting in death, only victory! The sting of death is sin; sin is dealt with through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Victory and triumph and rejoicing are appropriate responses! Jesus said: "I am the resurrection and the life,he who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live." HALLELUJAH!

A Matter of Trust, A Matter of Control

Recently we experienced some trying times dealing with contractors. We had wanted to do some maintenance work on the house, maintenance which was long overdue, but we ( Rich) didn't have the time to do. In the process of dealing with the contractors, we lost confidence in their integrity and the quality of their work. Mostly this was a result of things promised that weren't done and poor workmanship; some was because of lack of understanding on our part; and I suspect the fact that we weren't in control was also a contributing factor. Their actions and failure to follow through with promises caused us to mistrust them. Our lack of understanding and lack of control added to the frustration.

I read this idea in a book about gardening: People attempting to grow vegetables and fruits get the feeling that nature is an antagonist, so they fight back against insects and weeds with poisons, rather than learning how to work with the natural environment. They have this concept about nature because that is what they experience with people as a whole. When I read that I thought how often people have a similar concept about God--they think that He is against them and taking things away from them, and making life difficult for them. They don't know His goodness and His trustworthiness so they put upon Him characteristics of the people they have encountered who were hateful, untrustworthy and unreliable. Also they want control of their life and when God doesn't come through for them in the way that they want Him to, they doubt His goodness. Again it is a matter of trust and a matter of control. What isn't realized is that God is infinitely good and infinitely wise; He of all beings, can be trusted and allowed to be "in control."

Eye witness account

Yesterday and today I've watched the voting process in action. We live just around the corner from the county election board where early voting started yesterday. Cars filled side streets, our street and a vacant lot nearby after the election board parking lot and the parking lots of two churches were full. What a wonderful thing to see--voters purposefully walking up the street to cast their ballot. Whoever becomes the next president will be chosen by these responsible citizens. Ultimately after all the candidates efforts to persuade and convince, the choice lies with the people. Today they are turning out in large numbers to make that choice!