Love Constrains to Walk in Faithful and Cheerful Obedience

“Let thy love abound in our hearts and sweetly and powerfully constrain us to all faithful and cheerful obedience.”  
17th Century Writer

Photo: Katherine and Grace having a Bible study between classes.  I could not be more thankful for their mutual love for the Lord, His word, and one another.  

2 John 1-
The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 
because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:
Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.
I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 
And now I ask you, dear lady- not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning-that we love one another.  
And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh.  Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 
Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 
Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God.  Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 
for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.  
Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink.  Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.  
The children of your elect sister greet you. 

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

One week from today, we will gather to honor the memory of our precious friend, Eileen, on Wednesday, June 6th. 

We met her almost 16 years ago at a small non-denominational, family integrated church we attended.  Little did we realize the enduring blessing her friendship would be to our family. She loved us as her own, and we learned to love and serve her in times of need as if she were a member of our family. Eileen welcomed and loved so many! I loved that about her. 

Sadly, Eileen passed away in the pre-dawn hours of May 14th from complications of chronic lung failure.
I miss her so much already. Her godly influence and faithful encouragement to me as a wife/mom continues as I've spent time early in the week reading back on some of some of our emails.
I was reminded of one of her favorite hymns, Great is Thy Faithfulness! What a timely testimony of God's perfect care and provision in her life...and ours, as it'll take time for us to adjust to her absence.
Thank you, LORD, for the blessing of having shared our lives with such a dear one!

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee,
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not,
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Great is Thy faithfulness!  

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided 

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!  

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above;
Join with all nature in manifold witness,
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.

Words: Thomas Chisolm, 1923

Habit of Living

Let my mouth be filled with thy praise 
and with thy honour all the day.
Psalm 71:8

It is always possible to be thankful for what is given- 
rather than to complain about what is not given.
One or the other becomes a habit of life.  
Elisabeth Elliot

This little birdie buddy of mine is a trilly sweet delight to hear every morning as I uncover his cage.  His soft songs of joy encourage my heart, and remind me of how simply beautiful it must be to the LORD to hear prayers of gratitude and praise, to see a heart truly rooted  and flowing with contentment in the smallest of blessings and joys.  
  

"...To be thankful for what is given- rather than to complain...
One or the other becomes a habit of life."  

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.  Psalm 19:14


O LORD, my rock and redeemer-
My soul's security and redemption is found in You alone.  
How I desperately need to linger long in You, that I may meditate and train my heart and mind to think and speak Your praise and honour all the day!!    

Happy Mother's Day!!

The process of shaping the child—shapes also the mother herself. Reverence for her sacred burden, calls her to all that is pure and good—that she may teach primarily by her own humble, daily example. Elisabeth Elliot

As far back as I can remember, my Mother Dear has sought the LORD and persevered with every bit the grace and strength she was given by Him to endure the most challenging of child-rearing circumstances.  I am immensely grateful for our journey together as mother and daughter.  From those days she longed to conceive, it blesses me to know she anticipated me through days of tearful discouragement and prayer as she desired to secure a place under her heart for me to grow and be sustained.  God granted her heart's desire!  Then throughout her pregnancy with me, she persevered the demands and needs of her firstborn, and we all survived!  
She never showed a lack of faith or desire to endure! 

When I arrived, she rose to the challenge of embracing me with her whole heart, meeting my needs for special care and sustenance.  

That could not have been easy, but God gave her faith, a dear friend (Mrs. Milt Corbin, whose memory I cherish), and a family who prayed and camped all the way up the east coast to visit and surround her/us with their presence and faithful love.  

Thank you, Mom, for answering the call to birth, nurture, lead, teach, and encourage me by your giving and loving example of what a mother does.  You still teach me how to smile in faith for what we know God in His faithfulness will do!  

By God's grace and unmerited favor, the LORD chose to use you, a godly mom, in my life to shape my heart for the deepest of longings to be a wife and mother. I have never wanted anything as much, nor have I found anything to be as painstakingly hard, deeply rewarding, or heart wrenchingly sacrificial to live out by faith in the love of Christ.    

Only as I've walked the path of motherhood have I come to know and appreciate what a life of sacrificial love looks like!  

Oh, Dear Mom, how I marvel at the love and life of Christ in you! 

Thank you for the magnitudinous ways you have sacrificed your life for mine.

Thank you, LORD!  

Thank you, Mom!  

I love and treasure the gift of you!!  

Happy Delivery Day!  

Called and Blessed By God

The mother's place is the highest place to which any woman can be called!  
When God puts into your hand a little child...
to care for,
to guide,
to teach,
to watch over, 
to inspire and train for life and eternity---
He puts upon you serious responsibility.
But He also promises the strength you need, and the help for every experience. 
J. R. Miller, 1914, Intimate Letters on Personal Problems

Photos:  My children have blessed me so, and remind me daily  of the countless ways they make me immeasurably thankful to be called their Mom!  Being their mother is a high and priceless calling I do not consider lightly!  Thank you, LORD!  

He Hath Loved Us Dearly

The shadow box was made and given to me by my

sweet friend, Sarah.  It still blesses me so much!  

Whate'er my God ordains is right:
He is my Friend and Father;
He suffers naught to do me harm,
Though many storms may gather,
Now I may know both joy and woe, 
Some day I shall see clearly
That He hath loved me dearly.  
Samuel Rodigast, 1676

Many Christmases ago,  Mark and the boys made wooden egg shaped kaleidoscopes to give to our family and friends.  Each egg was uniquely handcrafted, turned on their lathe, and chiseled meticulously .  

A few weeks ago, I brought home the kaleidoscope we'd given Eileen.  As I held it, and looked into it, I thought of how the LORD uniquely ordained and crafted the 16 years we shared.  She loved and encouraged us so well.  Those years were filled with many blessings and the LORD taught us a lot about Himself and one another. 
The last weeks and days we shared were emotionally taxing in ways, but a precious gift, filled with blessings I now look back on and wish I could live again.  

It's hard to accept and understand how there can be any benefit to come out of sad circumstances, but for knowing the God who allows and ordains the many facets of life circumstances, I can accept all are for the good of those who love Him, and are called according to His purpose.  For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified (Romans 8:28-30). 
I'm thankful and prayerful the LORD will continue to work together for good the details of Eileen's living and dying. 
To God be the glory!    

LORD willing...

I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia,

and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go.   For I do not want to see you now just in passing.  I hope to spend some time with you, if the LORD permits.  

1 Corinthians 16:5-7, ESV 

Because of the time and affection Paul invested in the Church of Corinth, he desired to spend time with them, and NOT just in passing.  He cared for them, and was concerned for their welfare.  He desired more than just a few minutes with them. 

He understood his limitations, even with the most willful intentions.  I love that his greater understanding and affection was for knowing the LORD and submitting his will to His providence,  "...if the LORD permits", because He could trust what He would provide.  

The greater purpose of our plans and intentions should be to seek and be satisfied in knowing the LORD's will is our ultimate good, and not our own. This doesn't come easy, but it is necessary, as sacrificial and hard as it may be.  

Photo: Bagheera laying across my desk calendar as if to say, "Well, this was the only way I knew how to get your attention... I need time with you!"  

Happy Birthday, "Big E"

Happy Birthday, Big E!
I hope you Enjoy Each and Every Enthusiastic Emphasis of your Exciting Existence today!
I am thankful for the Exact and Enormous ways you Easily Execute Eager Entertainment, Even to the Excess of Endangered Escapes!
I will Essentially and Ever Envelope them with Ease in my Emotional Element.

I love you, E!
Aunt K~  

It's hard to believe this picture  was taken 22 years ago.  Holding Ethan for the first time, the day after he was born, was a long awaited answer to our prayers.  Mark and I were scheduled to leave town the following day to attend a week long homeschool conference, so Tommy and Mary invited us join them at the hospital to meet their newborn son.  We were beyond excited, teary-eyed, and conflicted with leaving, definitely wanting to stay to celebrate the new addition with our family!  

Hopefully E is not embarrassed by my sentimentalism, as silly as it be, because I posted the above birthday greeting on FB yesterday.  I woke up thinking of him, and the rest just came together quickly. I share it here to have a record for our family who may read my blog book in years to come. 

 I LOVE this next picture of the Gray/Cleland boy cousins leaning over the couch while looking out the window.  It was taken when Ethan was possibly 1 1/2 yrs of age one early December (1997?) overcast Saturday.  Our family drove down to spend the day with the Clelands in Ocala because Mary and I decided it would be fun  for the boys to make Grandchildren stepping stones to give to Poppy for Christmas.  He enjoyed his backyard soo much, we thought he'd appreciate having a collection of path pavers made by the grandchildren who love and look to him as one of their family patriarchs and spiritual leaders.  The headstone read,
"The just man walketh in his integrity:  his children are blessed after him" (Proverbs 20:7).  The path continues with pavers made by each of the children.  We had a blast making the stepping stones that day.  In this picture, the boys were waiting and watching their dads mix buckets of concrete, before we allowed them to go outside to create their impressions.  I remember Mark and Tommy made several 16-18" square frames with 2x4s to pour concrete in to.  Our boys always enjoyed being together, for any reason!  Poppy still has the pavers in his backyard today.  It would probably be a good idea to need to inspect them to make sure they're still in good stepping condition. 


Another reason why I  love this picture is because it shows why "BIG E" was given his name.  Look how little he was compared to the big boys, with dangling feet, he had very much the strength to pull himself up to the upper edge of the couch to look out the window.  Though he was the youngest/smallest boy cousin for five years (until John came along), he always proved he could keep up.  He proved with much enthusiasm his ability to do what the big boys did.  We loved that about him. 

The picture below was taken one week ago at Joanna's graduation. I love that the cousins (and Grace) still enjoy celebrating one another.  E's pearly whites shine in this picture, just like he used to smile when he was a small boy.  

I pray E enjoyed a birthday yesterday that was honoring to the LORD, foremost, and to his parents who still pray today that he will live his life to honor God in a strong and steadfast way.  
LORD bless you, E!!