Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 42 (Sunday)

Encouragement Post – Day #42 (Sunday) Today began with worshiping our great God with our church family (via Zoom). What a wonderful blessing to see each other’s faces, to sing with one another, and to be fed from God’s word together. We walk together, by faith. We encourage each other, by faith. We trust that our God is working all things together for our good and for His glory, by faith. Without faith, we have no hope because without faith it is impossible to please God. But by faith, we believe that He holds our lives and our ultimate reward of being with Him forever in His all powerful and all loving hands.

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 38 (Wednesday)

Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in His wonderful face…

Hebrews 12:1-3 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 30 (Tuesday)

Encouragement Post – Day #30 (Tuesday) Today started out with the melancholies for me. Does that ever happen to you, or is it just me? Some days I am just downcast for no particular (or at least discernible) reason. For it to have been such a sunny day, made it all the more odd for me to feel this way. Too often, I operate based on how I am feeling. But, through the years I have learned to do this less and less. God gives us emotions for a purpose, but if we are driven by them we will be like a ship tossed at sea. Instead, I have learned over time to trust His voice and His word over my feelings. It takes some training, but with the help of the Helper (the Holy Spirit) who lives in us it IS possible. He is our Fuel Source living on the inside, powering our inner engines so that we rely on Truth rather than our fickle feelings.

John 14:16-17 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”

John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

John 16:13-15 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.”

Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God
by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend

Holy Spirit, living Breath of God,
Breathe new life into my willing soul.
Bring the presence of the risen Lord
To renew my heart and make me whole.
Cause Your Word to come alive in me;
Give me faith for what I cannot see;
Give me passion for Your purity.
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.

Holy Spirit, come abide within;
May Your joy be seen in all I do—
Love enough to cover ev’ry sin
In each thought and deed and attitude,
Kindness to the greatest and the least,
Gentleness that sows the path of peace.
Turn my striving into works of grace.
Breath of God, show Christ in all I do.

Holy Spirit, from creation’s birth,
Giving life to all that God has made,
Show Your power once again on earth;
Cause Your church to hunger for Your ways.
Let the fragrance of our prayers arise.
Lead us on the road of sacrifice
That in unity the face of Christ
Will be clear for all the world to see.

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 12 (Friday)

Encouragement Post #12: (Friday... at least for a few more minutes ;) ) It's late, and it has been a busy day. Work still has to happen, even in quarantine. So, I have been pretty hard at it for most of today. I was thinking about work and its meaning just the other day... have you ever wondered if the work you are doing really matters? I imagine if you're a teacher, doctor, nurse, firefighter, military, etc. you might not question that. But, what about other things like creating music, growing a garden, sewing your children's clothes, writing poetry, making food for a needy neighbor, taking care of an elderly parent, taking care of your grandchild(ren), teaching others "how to", praying for those you love, or even leaving an encouraging word on Facebook, etc. The list goes on and on.

Whatever the work might be, what you are doing right this minute, today, has purpose, value, and meaning. How can you be sure of this? This may sound like an oversimplification, but if that were not the case you would not be here. Until the Lord takes us home, He has a purpose for the work we do. So, during these days at home, when it seems like your days, hours, and minutes feel a bit purposeless at times, be assured they are not. You are God's poem... a unique, original, one-of-a-kind work of art. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Did you know that the Greek word for "workmanship" in this verse is *poeima* ...we are His poem, His masterpiece, His one of a kind work of art. Let that sink in...

The Poem of Your Life
by Michael Card

Life is a song we must sing with our days
A poem with meaning more than words can say
A painting with colors no rainbow can tell
A lyric that rhymes either Heaven or Hell

We are living letters that doubt desecrates
We're the notes of the song of the chorus of faith
God shapes every second of our little lives
And minds every minute as the universe waits by

CHORUS:
The pain and the longing
The joy and the moments of light
Are the rhythm and rhyme
The free verse of the poem of life

So look in the mirror and pray for the grace
To tear off the mask, see the art of your face
And open your ear lids to hear the sweet song
Of each moment that passes and pray to prolong

Your time in the ball of the dance of your days
Your canvas of colors of moments ablaze
With all that is holy
With the joy and the strife
With the rhythm and rhyme of the poem of your life
With the rhythm and rhyme of the poem of your life

Chorus

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 6 (Saturday)

Encouragement Post #6: (Saturday) Even though we are physically separated for the most part, this is the time for the church to find a way to unify. If you aren't feeling this yet, at some point you will: We aren't meant to live in isolation (yes, I am talking to the introverts in the bunch, too). We are meant to live in community, and this means finding ways to love each other well while doing the whole "social distancing" thing. How encouraging that Jesus prayed for us in the hours before He went to the cross that we would be one even as He and the Father are one. When we as His church are one, then the world will believe that He was sent by the Father (John 17:21). I pray that the Lord would reveal to each one of us who are His just what He would have us do, as we creatively look for ways to come together in His name and love one another in a time of severe social restraints.

John 17:13-21 "But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me."

Encouragement Post – Coronavirus Distancing Day 5 (Friday)

Encouragement Post #5: Today (Friday) I am lifting my eyes to the One in Whom I have entirely set my hope. Would you join me in calling out to Him? (I know, :) you probably already have been.) He has given us so many great and precious promises, but He also tells us that we do not have because we do not ask or that we ask and do not have because we have asked with wrong motives so that we can spend it on our own pleasures (James 4:2-3). So today, I am coming in humility to say, "Lord, I lift my eyes to you and know that help can only come from You." When the burden seems heavy, the questions are many, the stresses seem greater... I will say with the songwriter Edward Mote, "When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand." That is true and real peace.

Psalm 121
"I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The Lord will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever."

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 4 (Thursday)

Encouragement Post #4: THIS is what we've been training for!! When
times are good, we stay in the Word and gather up all the wisdom, truth,
and hope we can, so that when our worlds are shaken we will be ready.
This is the time when we prove our faith (1 Peter 1:7).

Trouble is a promise with a capital "T" ...straight from the mouth of Jesus. Only today have I realized just how poignant this passage from John 16:29-33 really is, "His disciples said, 'Now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech. Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God.' Jesus answered them, 'Do you now believe? Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.'"

HE HAS already won the victory (1 Cor. 15:57, 1 John 5:4). Stand firm; let nothing move you (1 Cor. 15:58). Let the word dwell [live, take up residence] in you (Col. 3:16). Be filled [and be being filled] with His Spirit [the Ultimate Encourager] (Eph. 5:18, Luke 11:13).

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 3 (Wednesday)

Encouragement Post #3: Let's have BIG FAITH! He IS ABLE! Matthew
8:24-27 "And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the
boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. And
they came to Him and woke Him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are
perishing!" He said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little
faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became
perfectly calm. The men were amazed, and said, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"
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He Will Hold Me Fast
by Keith & Kristyn Getty

When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast
When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fast
I could never keep my hold through life's fearful path
For my love is often cold; He must hold me fast

He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast

Those He saves are His delight, Christ will hold me fast
Precious in His holy sight, He will hold me fast
He'll not let my soul be lost; His promises shall last
Bought by Him at such a cost, He will hold me fast

He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast

For my life He bled and died, Christ will hold me fast
Justice has been satisfied; He will hold me fast
Raised with Him to endless life, He will hold me fast
'Til our faith is turned to sight, When He comes at last!

He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast

He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so
For my Savior loves me so
He will hold me fast

A very full holiday season…

All the wayyyyy back in November, I wrote a post (in my head) about all my preparations for Thanksgiving…. now that the train has traveled all the way down the tracks to May, I think it is high time I posted something here.  In the interest of wanting this to sort of be as much of a journal as a blog, I am going to fill in with some posts about what has gone on since.

November started out with me trying a new project.  I am not much of a decorator, but I love TRYING to do things myself.  I have a set of antique cherry Chippendale dining room chairs that were given to me, along with a dining table, when we moved into our current house thirteen years ago.  The fabric on them, while a lovely color and not terribly worn, was stained in several places where I could not get the stains out.  They were desperately in need of new fabric. I knew this would require disassembling the chair bottoms and completely redoing even the spring coils on the underside of the chairs, as they had slid out of place.  In case you’ve never seen this, the above pic is what it looks like underneath a spring coiled dining room chair seat.

All of the fabric underneath the springs had dry-rotted, so it was no longer supporting the weight of a person, and badly needed to be replaced.  This required removing the old – which had been tightly stapled together and then nailed to the chairs with about 40 gazillion nails – and adding the new.  Removing the old was quite the task, and adding the new took nearly every bit of strength this old woman had.  After crawling around on the floor, pulling, then stapling, then pulling, then stapling, and repeating that until all strips were tightly criss-crossed underneath and the springs firmly in place, it was time to put the padding over the top and to staple the fabric on. 

I purchased a lovely damask fabric in golds and greens which I had kept for about 6 months with no “round tuits.” After cutting the fabric to fit the chair, I took staple gun in hand and went at it with just about all the strength I could muster.  Once I had the fabric securely on, I then stapled a layer of dark cover fabric on the underside to cover the unfinished places.  Lastly, I glued on the trim.  And the above photo is the result.

I absolutely love the fabric on these chairs;

I really enjoyed doing this myself, but I have to admit that I really overdid it trying to get this done in two days and injured my back in the process. They were, however, all ready for Thanksgiving which I held at my home for both sides of the family, including my brother- and sister-in-law and their family.

Of course, I got busy and forgot to get photos once the guests arrived.  But, at least I remember how I decorated the tables.  I was lucky enough to find these lovely cloth napkins in fall colors from Christmas Tree Shoppes four for $2!  What a steal.  The tablecloth was $3.  So, for under $10 I had cloth napkins for everyone. Not only did I feel like my house looked so lovely, but the fellowship was just wonderful…  so much so that I am still looking back fondly on the day and being thankful! 

Home with the Father and His Dad

Riley is healed and whole, safe in the arms of Jesus and greeted by his earthly father and a grandmother he never met.  Just five days ago we celebrated Riley's life with a beautiful memorial service. Those of you who have prayed for our family may wish to view the short video his mom made with pictures and hear the message given by his dad's brother.

Here: http://reconcilercec.org/Sermons/riley-granberry/

We are just beginning to fully realize all that has happened, and yet the peace of God truly does pass all understanding. We have not "lost" Riley, for we know exactly where he is! For Riley's mom, the days ahead will be difficult. . .  no husband, no eldest son. Thankfully, she is surrounded by loved ones and an amazing community of faith.  Their church has gathered around them like nothing I have ever seen.  Though they don't have their dad, the little brothers have men who really, really love them.  For me. . .  I have to think that the boys may be wondering, "First my dad, then my brother. . .  am I next?"  They will really need those in the family and the faith community to come around them and hold them up.  God has a much bigger plan than we can possibly know.  As incredibly hard as this road has been, it has not been without purpose.  Thousands have been touched by Jonathan's and Riley's testimonies of faith and assurance that the Lord of all the universe had them in the palm of His hand.

While giong through this devastation/rejoicing, we are of course witnessing the devastation in our country from hurricane Harvey.  It is almost impossible to get my mind around that much water... it is utterly heartbreaking.  It is also heartening to see people working and helping and loving their neighbors.  God has a plan even in those situations.  We may not know what it is until we see Jesus face to face... but then we will know fully.

"For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12