A New Era

A New Era

Inspired by opening renovated auditorium at Alameda Church of Christ, 9/30/18

Today at Alameda, our congregation opened a new era.

We worshiped the first time in our newly renovated auditorium.

Our excitement is growing due to the newness of the building,

But more for the newness of the vision of the shepherds.

It is a new era in the life of this body of Christ.

A new era of committing to carrying out the great commission

Of reaching out to the community where our building abides

To create a dynamic church making a difference in our city.

My own life is in a new era now as a widow.

It is not with the same excitement I start this era.

There are many unknowns in the era of  a widow's life.

As I must travel without the companionship of a husband.

Now I travel alone through the tasks of life.

My house and heart are empty of my husband.

He is no longer blessing me with hugs, kisses, and song.

My heart is heavy with the grief I feel.

But the new era also has a renewed purpose.

God not only held me up though my caregiving,

He continues to hold me up each and every day.

I do not feel alone because He holds me close.

When the waters of baptism wash over you erasing sin,

A new era begins for the fully forgiven Christian.

The new life takes away the guilt of all past sin

And gives grace to cover the future life to come.

The new Christian is not walking that life alone.

The gift of the Holy Spirit is given to indwell.

Providing strength, wisdom, guidance and fortitude.

Never alone but filled with the presence of God.

Embrace the new era of being a Christian today,

Whether you are brand new or saved many years past.

God’s mercies are new every day giving a new beginning

Each day is a new era of your life living in God's mercy.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I have been in this new era 9 months today. Jerry died December 30. I still think I will come home to find him here and often wake up in the morning wondering where he is. Fifty years of marriage was a long time to now be single again.

Last night, I went with Lynn and Kelly Ann to see Music Man. We have always loved musicals and it was a wonderful opportunity to just get out with family. It was a great production, but also full of difficult moments in my grieving. The last time I was in that auditorium at Oklahoma City Community College, Jerry was with me sitting in the row immediately behind the row where I currently sat in a wheelchair. That was a painful memory to be alone now. Of course, one of the most famous songs from Music Man is 76 Trombones. Jerry turned 76 almost 5 months after his stroke. He could not remember his age so every time he couldn't remember, I would hum that song to get him to remember 76. Then, of course, there were the love songs--tough to sit through without tears!

But it was a lovely evening and so glad I was able to attend with these lovely ladies.

Here is a quote from a recent devotional: "I would rather walk with God in the dark than to go alone in the light." Mary Gardiner Brainard, Not Knowing

This quote tied in well with a scripture I used in the class I teach on Sunday mornings. We are studying women in the Bible and today's lesson was about Deborah. Judges 4:14b says, "Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?" Wow, the times He has gone before me in my life cannot even be numbered. Just on my trip, God put people in my life everywhere I went for me to minister to with my new experiences. He continues to do the same and will also for you. What a comforting thought to know God is ahead of us preparing the way for our arrival. He is not always taking the difficulties out of our path but giving us what we need to get around them! Wow, what a thought!

Today I am thankful for:

1. Worshiping in our newly remodeled auditorium.
2. Teaching ladies class at church studying women.
3. Seeing my grandson, David baptized this morning! Praise God. He began a new era in his life.
4. A wonderful Sunday afternoon nap.
5. Tim teaching a great lesson this evening on David and Goliath.
6. Attending an area-wide worship tonight at Oklahoma Christian with great singing.
7. God giving me words to write.
8. My daughters, Lynn and Kelly Ann (adopted) to attend the musical with last night.
9. New friends being developed at my new church.
10. God going ahead of me to prepare the way.

A prayer request: Lynn has had some voice difficulties ever since school started. She is now continuing to suffer with that as well as a massive sinus headache. Pray for healing.

The Path

The Path

Inspired by the hiking path at Linville Falls, North Carolina

The path led me from the parking lot.

It was tree-lined, covered with shade.

The shelter all around covered my head

Giving me a feeling of security as I hiked.

The goal as I hiked were the rushing falls.

I followed along the guided path

And the reward of the views to come

Kept me going over the ups and downs.

As I walked along the defined path,

I noticed many side paths off the main.

Their destination was a mystery to entice

The hiker with the lure of the unknown.

The path also had rocks scattered as I walked

Causing me to take caution with each step

Many stairs took me to the goal of the view

With hand rails to use to steady my steps.

Some of the path was downhill and easier to travel

While other parts were uphill traveled with effort.

The downhills were easier creating a respite

But the uphill took greater strength and focus.

As I walked along the path using ever-increasing strength,

I came along a bench—a place of rest and renewal,

A pace to sit, breathe deeply, and refresh

To once again move farther down the path.

The view at the end of the long and lovely path

Was worth the rocks, steps, upward and downward

Bringing me to see beautiful Linville Falls

Giving me rest, peace, joy, and beauty.

My path through life is similar in many ways.

God defines the path through the beauty of abundant living.

He lays out the goal at the end of our path

And provides eternal rest, peace, joy and beauty.

But along the way, it is often challenging travel.

There are rocks of discouragement, depression, and death.

Some rocks are easy to step over in my way

But others take faith and strength from above.

God often provides hand rails for me to hold

As the path goes sharply up or down

Some paths in my life move easily down

But others take greater strength to upward climb.

Many paths along the way cause my attention to stray.

The mystery of the side path draws me away.

Should I see where that path leads into the woods

Even though it is away from my goal ahead?

God gives me my path and holds my hand each day

To strengthen me every day to move toward the goal.

The path is clearly marked if I seek Him

His word becoming my GPS—God Positioning System.

But Satan is also wanting to be my guide along the path

Providing many side paths to lure me away

Putting rocks in my life to slow me down

And wanting to lead me astray with his deceit.

Follow the defined path God provides

Take the benches of rest in His sheltering arms.

Turn to Him for strength along the way

And arrive safely at the goal—the view of your heavenly home.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

My trip ended last week but the recuperation and getting caught up at home has taken some time. Being gone 3.5 weeks is a very long time. However, I wouldn't have cut it any shorter with all the wonderful people and places I saw. Catching up is just difficult.

Much grieving took place along the way on this trip. The ocean is such a healing place--full of God's power and serenity. I treasured every step I took along the beaches.

Isaiah 25:1 - "Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago." Being able to share what God did for Jerry and I during our 22 months together after the stroke can be summed up in this one verse. God was perfectly faithful. He never left us or let us down once. He did wonderful things day by day giving us the special time He did even though it ended in temporary separation. I know from other verses in Psalm 139 that our lives were planned many years ago and written in a book. I need to spend the rest of my life praising and exalting my God for what He did! Will you join me?

Today I am thankful for:

1. Being able to travel safely as I did for 25 days adding 3,306 miles to my car.
2. Wonderful rain this weekend bringing fall-type temperatures.
3. Seeing my friends, Dick and Jeronia, yesterday in Tulsa as he is recovering from a stroke.
4. Visiting with my brother and sister-in-law, James and Nelda in Tulsa.
5. Finally getting caught up on sleep, mail, and odds and ends after such a long trip.
6. Remembering my sweet guy daily with joy and tears.
7. Having a husband who is worthy of being missed.
8. Safety traveling to Tulsa yesterday in a horrible rain storm.
9. Kelly Ann helping me tonight with projects.
10. Having a God who is worthy of my constant praise for his faithfulness!

The Waterfalls of Life

The Waterfalls of Life

Inspired by Linville Falls, North Carolina

By Lois Cox

Water rushing, constantly rushing

Falling over rocks ever downward

Ever flowing with no end in sight.

Where Why? What? Comes to mind.

Water running ever on its path

Slowing only for a pool to rest.

Then back to the swirling rapids

And the rush builds again.

Life is like a waterfall moving

Starting so small so far from here.

Then building and growing as it moves

Slowly emptying at the end.

As you rush through life,

Enjoy the calming pools

Rest to gather strength

For the rapids still to come.

God is with you in the rush

And He provides the pools of stillness.

God guides your moving path

By creating the channels of life.

The pools of stillness are God’s reprieve.

His way of providing a time of peace.

Draw close to Him in the quiet

And He will meet your needs.

The stillness gives needed rest

And helps to build your strength.

He draws us close to Him

To prepare us for what is next.

Welcome these pools of respite.

Grow in the times of quiet

Because soon you will move again

To the rapids of busy life.

Some day the waters of your life

Will reach its end here

And empty into the ocean of God’s eternity

Where the pools of His love and peace await.

Here is a quote I gleaned from a TED Talk I listened to this week. "Grief is a raging river and you have to get into it because when you do it carries you to the next place. It eventually takes you to open land somewhere where it will turn out OK in the end." ~Simone George. This trip has plunged me into the raging river and helped me immensely in my grieving process. Seeing friends from long ago, ministering to people individually or speaking to them in a group, and being in God's nature has helped me move to a new place farther down the grief journey.

Philippians 1:4-6 - " In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." I believe God is doing a good work in my by allowing me to share with others my testimony of His amazing care through my time of caregiving. I know when my work is done here, He will take me home to join Jerry. What a win/win situation!

Today I am thankful for:

1. Wonderful time visiting Nashville.
2. Great renewal of friendship with Sandra from 40 years ago.
3. Stimulating spiritual conversation with Sandra.
4. A quiet place for my morning quiet time on their back porch.
5. The beautiful lake today to sit and visit with Sandra.
6. Learning more about my trip to Israel in March (I am staying with my tour hosts).
7. God's nature and being able to spend time close to God.
8. God's care on my long trip.
9. Being able to share tonight at Sandra's church.
10. God doing a good work in me through my testimony.

Pray for my travels home tomorrow--back to Oklahoma!!!

People in my path

God has been truly amazing on this trip with the people He has put in my path to minister to on my journey. Last Sunday, I sat in the middle of a pew in church and an older couple sat down next to me. In visiting with the wife, it was obvious very soon she was suffering from either dementia or Alzheimer's. She was very pleasant but kept repeating herself to me over and over. After church, their daughter met me, and I shared what I was doing in my travels. She invited me to join them for lunch which I did--always better than eating alone! After lunch, we visited some more letting her know she would be in my prayers as her future has a lot of caregiving in it. Her father is also in failing health. She works full time giving her a very full plate. She agreed it was no mistake we met that morning at church. I plan to keep her on my prayer list and hope to be of a continuing encouragement to her.

Having lunch with my great nephew yesterday who is studying at North Carolina University was also a wonderful experience. He is a very sweet young man who agreed to meet with me. We hadn't seen each other for probably 10 years. When you are 18, that is HUGE. We visited easily learning about his interest and goals. What a wonderful trip. Also getting to have lunch with Paul and Mara on Monday before they caught a plane out of Raleigh was another blessing. God is truly the perfect arranger!

Today I am traveling to Hickory, NC to see other great friends from my past. North Carolina is very pretty and loaded with trees. They are wonderful but cause issues when you can't see what is at each exit until you get off to look. I don't like to stop at a gas station that isn't a big one for safety reasons so often have to get off and on a few times before finding one I am comfortable with for stopping.

Luke 4:18a - "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, . . " God has been healing my broken heart with each mile on this trip. Yes, I have had plenty of times when tears flowed freely but so many opportunities to reach out to others. It is hard to stay down when you are helping others raise up. God is truly amazing in His care and the healing He continues to bring.

Today I am grateful for:

1. The wonderful visit with Susan (see picture). Susan is the daughter of the couple I stayed with in Timnath, CO.
2. Beautiful North Carolina.
3. Safety in my travels.
4. Seeing Paul and Mara.
5. Seeing my nephew, Harris.
6. Walking through the Raleigh Aboretum.
7. A wonderful family to learn to know in Raleigh.
8. Such pleasant travels--very happy to be on such a long trip.
9. Opportunities to help others.
10. The healing God continues to give my broken heart.

No Fear with God

Yesterday I enjoyed walking around Charleston, South Carolina--a very historic city. The visitor center told me this was a walking town so just park and walk. I did as he said and parked close to the south end of the city and then walked around. Everything was great until I needed to go from one tourist area to another and needed to walk through 10-15 minutes without the safety of other tourists around me for security. I became very uncomfortable when in these situations. Jerry was such a comfort and security for me.

God is that now. I knew even though I was uncomfortable, God was with me and giving me safety no matter where I was. It is still quite an adjustment to be alone in a city I am unfamiliar with for visiting.

Psalm 4:8 - "In peace I will lie down and sleep,  for you alone, Lord,  make me dwell in safety." Since Jerry first had his stroke, God has helped me lie down at night, fall asleep, and sleep soundly. Of course, during that time, God knew I needed the rest to be able to get up to my job of caregiving again the next day. Now, it is to allow me to sleep without fear being alone. I need to adopt this verse for day time as well. I also need to be careful not to put myself in uncomfortable situations.

This morning, the sunrise at the hotel was gorgeous. It greeted me as I left the room to go down for breakfast. I was thankful for the room. This is Labor Day weekend, so it took the third exit outside of Charleston before I found a vacancy! 

Today I am thankful for:

1. A good night's rest finding a room last night.
2. A church close by this morning to worship God.
3. The gorgeous sunrise to greet me.
4. Safety yesterday when I felt apprehensive.
5. God blessing me so much in my travels.
6. Wonderful waffles for breakfast!
7. The historic sites of Charleston yesterday.
8. A surprise meeting tomorrow in Raleigh, NC with Paul and Mara from Wisconsin!
9. Moving on to more friends this week to reconnect with on this trip.
10. God being with me every night to sleep well.