Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts

Saturday, June 1, 2013

ODE TO A HOUSEWIFE - A silly song of encouragement to mommies

When I was having our two kids in 1979 and 1980, it seemed like so few women had the opportunity to be home with their kids.  I appreciated that opportunity so much!  It was sort of lonely sometimes.  I wrote this as an encouragement to them.

Copy & Paste the following link into your search box:

https://vimeo.com/145313986

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

MY SON - Thoughts on how Mary must have felt.

Thinking back on how it all began, it seems so long ago,
I was so young, just sixteen years.  How quickly by years go.
One night the angel Gabriel spoke words that seemed so odd;
He said I’d conceive and bear a Son, for I had found favor with God.
I was amazed, bewildered and said, “How can this be?”
He said the Holy Spirit would overshadow me.
I said, “Father, I’m so unworthy, just a handmaid of the Lord,
But I’ll obey, yes, let it be according to your Word.”
I don’t know why the Lord chose me, it makes me shiver still;
But even then I knew enough to just obey His will.
 

We had to travel to Bethlehem at the time the child was due.
The night we arrived in the little town the prophecy came true.
The inns were full but we managed to find a stable in which to stay.
So I set clean cloths to make a bed in a troth we filled with hay.
And on that night I bore God’s Son - Oh, what a precious boy!
Already with eyes full of wisdom, He became my deepest joy.
As Jesus grew there never was a time when he was bad.
I never had the problems that the other mothers had.
When I felt discouraged, He always seemed to know.
I knew the time was coming when my Son would have to go,
But I had no way of knowing His impending agony.
Not even in horrible nightmares was my Son - nailed to a tree.

They had no case against Him.  They paid witnesses to lie.
When Pilot offered Him freedom, the crowd screamed for Him to die.
And so they ripped at my Son’s flesh with ruthless whips that tore.
That body I had nurtured, they battered o’re and o’re.
They hated Him and spat and pulled out handfuls of His hair.
But through that wretched torture, He loved all the people there.
See - He knew inside that vicious crowd was never going to win.
And as was written, in three day’s time my Jesus - rose again.
And finally I understood the sacrifice He made.
We’re free from sin; the penalty of death is finally paid!
 

If you my friend have ever had a child of your own,
Perhaps you’ve had an inkling of the pain that I have known.
For you in future ages, whom I have never met,
I beg you to accept my Son for He has paid your debt.
And now He rules from heaven and we His glory share.
My friend, accept His precious gift -
We’d love to see you there!

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

A LOVE STORY TO LOVE!


   She giggled like she was being tickle-tortured by her daddy.  He wasn’t even touching her little underarm; merely suspending his index finger an inch away from it.  But she could hardly bear the anticipation of the touch that would send her into squeals of laughter.  Wasn’t that just a few years ago?  How is it possible that today is her fourteenth anniversary of being married to her wonderful, amazing husband??  And the three little ones that have come from this God-made union are little miracles; every one of them.

   She was 18 when she began to realize that her love was growing for this handsome young man of 25.  And then, that life-altering AVM in his brain began to bleed leaving him partially paralyzed on the right side of his body.  She only left his side when the hospital made her leave for the night.  But inside of that damaged brain, he was still in there – his mind clear, witty and good-humored as ever.  And her love grew still more.

   Through months of physical therapy and tender-loving care from his precious family, he began to recover much of the use of his weakened right-side; a walker, a cane and then independent walking.  His right shoulder, arm and eventually the dexterity of his hand was restored.

   But what was permanently destroyed was the dream he had for his future career.  Matt had been a pilot; actually he was a flight instructor.  This he would never do again.  He redirected his future career to the one God had planned instead.

   He loved to fly and it was gone - but when God takes something treasured away, He often graces us with something even more precious.  For Matt, it was our daughter.  She joyfully loved him and committed herself to being his help-meet for life.

   Her dad and I just trusted God for their future lives together and He, once again, has exceeded our wildest expectations.  We can only thank Him and praise Him for His marvelous, amazing grace!!
 
Ephesians 3:20-21 

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

--AND AMEN!!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

I AM EVE - Seeing myself in the women I've come to know in the Bible

 
 
I Am Eve

I am Eve:  I defy the One Who created me.  I choose to do the very things that separate me from living in oneness with Him.
I am Rahab:  I seek satisfaction in things and people that bring no fulfillment.
I am Bathsheba:  Breaking my promises.
I am Sarai:  I have trouble believing that God can keep his promises.
I am Naomi:  Feeling at times abandoned.
I am Ruth: Seeing that there is one true God and He is to be followed no matter what the cost.
I am Esther:  Pleading before my Heavenly Father’s throne for strength and guidance when my actions will impact others.
I am Sarah:  Following my husband to a new land knowing God has a wonderful, but unknown plan for us there.
I am Mary:  Astonished that God chose me to be a vessel through which He would do His work.
I am Martha:  Getting distracted with all the busy activities and missing what really matters.
I am Sally:  Lost, Blind, Found, Saved, Doubting, Struggling, Faithless, Faithful, Prayerless, Prayerful, Astonished, Distracted, Transformed, Hopeful, Growing, God’s Woman – Eternally!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Tuesday, September 4, 2012

AND THEY WERE WATCHING... a poem about integrity

And They Were Watching
S. Bentley


He went to work and did his job
And now and then shared his faith in God
And those around all watched his life
His love for God, his kids, his wife
And they were drawn, not by his words
But by what their eyes could see


And they were watching - they always do
You never notice but it’s true
Watching me and watching you
What is it they see?


He preached the gospel on T.V.
“The Lord shall bring thee victory!”
But many tender souls were crushed
When news arose of his crimes of lust
They were repelled not by his words
But by what their eyes could see
 
She was the mom of one small boy
She taught him faith in God with joy
And as he matured that boy could view
That in fact his mother’s faith was true
And he was drawn, not by her words
But by what his eyes could see
 
He was a man who shared his thoughts
Then lived it out before those he taught
He asked them all to come follow Him
Then laid down His life to free them from sin
And they were drawn, not just by His words
But by His magnificent deeds!
 
And they were watching - they always do
You never notice but it’s true
Watching me and watching you
What is it they see?


Monday, April 30, 2012

MY DAD (for his 80th birthday)


YOU ARE MY DAD I WAS YOUR GIRL

WE LOVED AND LAUGHED YOU WERE MY WORLD

THERE WAS FISHIN’ AND CAMPIN’ AND SKI-IN’ AND WATCHIN’ TV

MIKE AND RUSS PLAYIN’ FOOTBALL

AND DONNA CHEERLEADIN’ THE TEAM



YOU ARE MY DAD I WAS YOUR GIRL

YOU MADE ME FEEL I OWNED THE WORLD

THERE WERE SPANKINS’ AND TALKIN’ AND LOVIN’ AND LECTURIN’ TOO

ALWAYS KNOWIN’ THAT YOU AND MOM

WANTED THE BEST WE COULD DO



YOU ARE MY DAD I WAS YOUR GIRL

YOU LOVED ME SO YOU WERE MY WORLD

THEN A GUY COMES ALONG TO SWEEP ME AWAY IN HIS ARMS

LIKE A WHIRLWIND CAUGHT UP IN ROMANCE;

FELL IN LOVE WITH HIS CHARMS



HOW MANY NIGHTS YOU KEPT VIGIL FOR ME?

HOW MANY TEARS WERE CRIED?

HOW MANY HURTS, HOW MANY JOYS,

HOW MANY PRAYERS APPLIED?



YOU ARE MY DAD I’M STILL YOUR GIRL

YOU BROUGHT THE LORD INTO MY WORLD

THERE’LL BE CHRISTMAS AT SHILOH

WITH PAPER RIGHT UP TO OUR KNEES

THERE’LL BE EASTER EGG HUNTS

WITH THE CANDY RIGHT UP IN THE TREES



YOU ARE MY DAD I’M STILL YOUR GIRL