Building Library Builds Hope

As most of you know, I've moved into town.  Those of you who know me know what a huge victory this is!  :-)

I LOVE IT!

It's not a mansion, but it's my own space.  And the freedom and the peace that come with it are worth more than I could ever afford in rent.

There are many good things about this move--like having reliable wireless internet; and being within walking distance of the pool, the park, the library, my favorite burger joint, and my doctor.

But one of the very best things about my new home is my neighbor, Mrs. Betty Casad.  I teasingly call her "The Rescue Squad", because she helps.  When the computer falls up, or the thermostat won't behave, she walks her dog, Missy, in this direction; and she helps.

I love her; I admire her, and I am more than a little honored to call her "friend".

For years, Betty and her husband were missionaries of a different sort.  Gene's work was to translate The Bible from English into lessor known--not mainstream--languages.  So they could read God's Word, in their native tounge, without needing any human translator.

One of their major projects involved The Cora Indians, of Mexico.
Betty and Gene lived among them, and worked with them, for years--both in Mexico and in the U.S.

Now, Betty, who still has very strong heart ties to The Cora, is going back!  We should all have one thing in our lives that we are this committed to and drawn to do...

Please, follow this link, and check out her upcoming adventure!  If you cannot invest your money, please, invest your prayers--that she and her group will be constantly covered, and blessed at every step!

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/nayari-language-project

Gobs of Good From Great Grief

Hey,
I know it’s been a long while, and yes, I have a backlog of blog notes that will become entries. Those will be longer.  This is more of a tribute.


One branch of my mother’s family tree has endured particularly terrible suffering, in the last few years. They are fast approaching the birthday (May 17) of their youngest child–a precious little boy named Alex, who went into the arms of Jesus last year. He was only five years old. The tragic accident that took him from us has left those closest to him feeling as though the air suddenly became too thick to breathe. The grief is so very heavy that it's just easier not to move.

I respect their grief. Bigger than that, so does God! Jesus understands. He knew the pain of grief. Recall Lazarus.

John 11:17--36; 40--46:

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.  

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.”

When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him.  When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
“Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

Jesus wept.

Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.

”

Jesus knew the miracle He was about to do. He knew that Lazarus would be eating breakfast with his sisters, the next day! He knew. And still He gave that space to grief...



He feels the weight of that burden with you. He gets that you are gasping for breath, wanting to scream, needing to cry, and needing to be sick--all in the very same second. But just because He understands the quicksand that you are stuck in does NOT mean that He wants or intends to leave you there. No way. Do you really think that Jesus wants to sit there patting patting your hand, and watching you sink in the muck of your despair and pain, until you go "Glub, Glub," and disappear from sight forever? Of course not!! He wants to pull you out. Grab that rope.

Dwelling in grief does not make us noble, and clinging to guilt does not prove our strength. Those two actions only underline our stubborness, and they do nothing to honor those whom we mourn. We owe it to God, to ourselves, and to those we mourn, to move forward. That means giving our grief--all of it, including the guilt, and the anger--over to Jesus. That's when we get to watch God turn what was intended for evil into a blessing--or many blessings, some of which may take years to fully unfold.

Finally, I am listening to an audio book called The Shack; and while in places its doctrine is VASTLY unsound, it does house some nuggets of truth... In the book, God says, 
Just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tradgies doesn't mean I orchestrate the tradgies. Don't ever assume that my using something means I caused it, or that I needed it to accomplish my purposes.
---The Shack

That sort of sheds new light on:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.---Romans 8:28

Here are some absolutes:
God is ALWAYS good.
He NEVER does or condones evil.
God is ALWAYS with you.
God is ALWAYS loving you.

As we move forward, may we cling to these absolutes, and to the one who loves us absolutely. May we find joy in Romans 8:28; and may we NEVER use the very real pain of our grief as an excuse to stop living before we are dead. Those whom we mourn deserve better than that!

************************************
We Love you!!!

Alex (second cousin)

 













Ronny(cousin)

Carla and Tony(Aunt and Uncle)

Fred(Uncle)

Tommy(Uncle)

 

Milly(Mom)

And we thank you Jesus, for holding them,until we can hold them again.