Abundant Grace

In referring to his "thorn in the flesh," the Apostle Paul wrote this:

"Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, 'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.' That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses...for when I am weak, then I am strong."

I must confess that I have often asked God to take away the grief, the heavy heart, the loneliness, the sadness that I feel. I think He is doing that, gradually, and I am thankful. But I'm impatient and want instant healing. However, the Lord speaks through this passage and says to me, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness."

I'm glad He doesn't say, "You need to be strong, and then I will be strong." Rather, He is saying, "I'm at my best when you have nothing left." All that is left is to rest in Jesus. To believe His Word. To allow Him to do His work. To know His timing is perfect. To thank Him for His faithfulness.

Changes

I have not posted on this blog for a very long time. These have been very difficult and often dark months. In my last post I wrote about Christmas shopping and the anticipation of that holiday. Less than two weeks later my sweet husband of almost 41 years died unexpectedly, passing from this life to eternity in the presence of the Lord he loved and served. Devastated. Shocked. Heartbroken. Half of me missing. Indescribable sadness.

Yet, I have survived for one-and-a-quarter years. I praise the Savior who welcomed home the man I had shared my life with for more than four decades, all the while holding me in His arms so that I would not fall apart. He has proved Himself loving and faithful. He is a great God.

My blogging these past months has been on Caring Bridge, and I will continue to write there. Keeping two blogs? That would be a stretch for me. I don't know if anyone even reads this blog, but I likely will not be back here for a long time.

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all." 2 Thess. 3:16,18

A Shopaholic I Am Not!

Today I went Christmas shopping for the second time this season. (I am too smart to go on Black Friday, having done that once with my daughter. We agreed that we never wanted to repeat that experience.) I am pleased to report that I am done with my shopping except for a few snack gifts. We lovingly refer to these in our family as Wacky Food Gifts, and they are always good for a laugh.
When I was young I looked forward to Christmas shopping because at that point in my life I enjoyed going from store to store looking for the best bargain and the perfect present for my husband or one of our children. I was young. I am now old. It's work to do what I did today, and I am exhausted. So, next year I plan to shop starting in September. Wait, that's what I said last year. And the year before. And the year bef...
I was hoping to find in cyberspace a cute image of a stressed shopper that I could add to this post. But I've been away from the blog for so long I can't remember how to do that!! And my granddaughter isn't available to help me. See, I told you I was old.

The Last Quarter

No, I'm not down to my last $.25, not yet at least. This is the last quarter of the year. That is hard to believe. I know all the Christmas letters you'll get (maybe even write) will say "Where has the year gone???" Well, I'm going to get a jump on those and say it now. Where has this year gone? How could October be here already?

Obviously time didn't pass more quickly this year than in any other year. We still have 24 hour days, 7 day weeks, etc. I think we just become so busy with life that our days seem to disappear and we stand back as if watching an express train fly through the station, mouths agape, wondering how it passed by so fast.

The Apostle Paul wrote this in the letter to the Ephesians:
"Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

That's my desire as 2009 races to its end. I want to be wise in how I live and take every opportunity to tell others the good news of Jesus. The days are not only evil but they are short, with no promise of tomorrow. This could be the last quarter. Be careful, be wise.

Is Fall Really Here??

I heard today that a cold front may push into this area tomorrow or Wednesday, bringing drier and cooler air. Could that be? Are we really that close to the end of this oppressively hot, muggy summer? The heat just wearies me.

My native Floridian soul is longing for a cool morning on my little porch with a cup of hot coffee and a dog at my feet. Ahhh. Just the thought of it lowers my blood pressure and pulse and puts a smile on my face.

Fall is my favorite season, and each year I can hardly wait for its arrival. Its signs are more subtle down here in the Sunshine State, but they are here: cardinal vine in full bloom, fuschia colored berries circling the stems of the Beauty Berry, yellow leaves dropping from the wild cherry trees. It is nothing like Vermont or even North Carolina, but there is color here in Autumn. You just have to know where to look. And you can see it best from the front porch, coffee in hand...

PS. The picture is definitely NOT Florida, but isn't it beautiful?

Finally Home

On Tuesday night my mom peacefully passed from this life into the presence of her Savior. She had tried to fight off the pneumonia, but was far too weak to do so. Because of the care she received from Hospice she was without pain, and in those last hours was completely at peace.

There are few words to adequately describe our gratitude for the staff at Hospice House in Hudson, and at the Hospice Care Center in Spring Hill. The doctors and nurses at both those facilities were such a comfort to Mother and to me. I am so grateful.

I will miss my mother, but I know that she is with Jesus. Thank you for your prayers for our family. I felt the peace of God, a perfect peace, as I sat in Mother's room on her last day here on earth. I'm confident that was because of the friends who were lifting me up in prayer, and I am grateful.

Hospice

My mom is now in the care of Hospice House. She is quite weak and tired, and I don't think she has a long time left before she enters the presence of Jesus. While she is ready to go and even asks God to take her home, she is naturally reluctant to leave those she loves so much here.
My prayer is that the loving Father will give her peace about coming home to spend eternity with Him, and that she will pass peacefully from this world. "For to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."