Wisdom & Understanding

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.    I Thessalonians 4:13-14 Today, January 29, 2012, marks the 10 th year that my beloved husband left this world to enter his eternal home.   I never much cared for the month of January; I mean the weather is usually gray, cold and dismal. Plus with all the celebrations of Christmas, January has a hard act to follow. But for the past 10 years there has been another reason I did not care much for this month, it reminded me of my husband’s illness and his passing. But this year I have chosen not to dwell on what was the sadness of January. I have chosen to think on the good things…the “whatsoevers Paul talks about in the book of Philippian: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are...

"The righteous care for the needs of their animals..." Proverbs 12:10a Since as far back as I can remember I have been a lover of animals, especially dogs. Had a Collie mix, my brother brought home when I was a kid, loved that dog so much.  Named him Scottie (don't know why). He was my closest companion during those years.  Loved to run in the fields, give him a bath in a galvanized tub out on the front lawn and ride my bike with him galloping beside me wide open, with his tongue hanging out!  But one day he just never came home.  We believed that he was kidnapped, since he was such a beautiful and friendly dog.  I was very sad for a long time about losing him. Then many years later, married with an 8 year old son, here comes into our lives...Scottie...our beloved mini schnauzer mix. We had him for 16 years. My son brought him home from a neighbor whose mini schnauzer had pups. "Mom can we keep him?, "I'll take care of him myself." You know who end...

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  Romans 15:13 While reading "The Shadow of Your Smile" by Susan May Warren, I came across the part in the book where the above scripture was used. In the book it was stated that this was the favorite scripture of a deceased young woman who "Lived life large." As I read that scripture it began to dawn on me about my late husband, a man that always had an urgency to fulfill his calling by God.  There was an urgency; rather it was to simply apologize to someone or to sponsor an outside festival to unite local churches. He would work overtime at his job sometimes specifically to have extra money to do the things he felt God calling him to do, so that "He would owe no one for doing what he felt compelled to do."  I admit, at times I did not understand his urgency; why he had to go and preach in the men's prison, ...