life and rebirth
Jack’s funeral was held while I was away this week. It was hard on so many levels. I was literally a thousand miles away. I was teaching, on call and on point. My students deserved a teacher that was enthused and excited. The conference deserved a keynote that would encourage and motivate them toward their dreams of writing.
But the details that floated to me from home were beautiful.
Over 900 people came to celebrate Jack’s life. The large church was filled. Flowers blanketed the podium. A choir sang. People worshiped. But then at the end they played one of Jack’s sermons. His voice filled the church as he simply talked about faith in Jesus Christ, what it meant to him, what it could mean to others.
My son called and I could hear that it moved him. He said that hearing Jack speak the Word was powerful. Richard said that he was moved by the fact that so many shared their stories of how Jack’s life touched them. Many had become believers due to Jack’s ministry — but not always from the pulpit. It was those one-on-ones I was talking about in the last post. Sitting around talking about Jesus. Many walked away from those conversations with renewed or new faith.
Jack’s life on earth is over, but the rebirth of new life and new faith goes on.
What a legacy.
Posted by Suzie @
10:27 am |
if you can’t be the poem…
If you can’t be the poem, be the poet.
Today Richard’s uncle Jack passed away. I don’t know if anyone ever accused him of being a poet, but I believe his life was inspiring.
Jack became a part of the Eller family over 50 years ago. It all started when he spun in and out of Ab Eller’s driveway with his hotrod car to court a young girl named Dessie Eller. Her father might not have appreciated Jack’s shinanigans, but Dessie certainly did. They married. She was only 16, but it was a commitment to love for a life time.
Jack was bigger than life. A preacher. A pastor. A father who shamelessly loved his daughters. A man who still winked at Dessie and teased her, even if she was fussing at him (deservedly so, I am sure). A grandpa who loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren like crazy.
He was a handsome man. In the older days they would have called him dapper. But he was far too young for that title. Handsome works just fine.
He was a little bossy and opinionated at times, but gentle and fun at the same time. How does that work? I don’t know, but it worked well for him. At the Eller get-togethers you would find him in the kitchen, hands immersed in soapy suds, telling us the best way to do it. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
7:35 am |
This week on Christian Momlogic
We’ve been busy over at Christian Momlogic. Lots of giveaways. 385+ women have joined this thriving community. I hope you’ll join us. Here’s what is new this week at Christian Momlogic:
Posted by Suzie @
7:38 am |
when you have no words
If you came over from Encouragement for Today, welcome! I shared the story of when my son was hit and critically hurt by a drunk driver. If someone hurts me, I’m strong, but when it affected my child I felt weak. Lost. The faith that was as close as a whisper seemed far, far away.
And yet even then — in those times we have no words or little faith — God is sufficient. He’s enough. In fact, He’s more than enough.
I learned that I didn’t have to have the right words. I could dig deep and trust in what I knew: God is. He’s unchanging even when I feel as if my whole life and strength has shifted. There was a deep well inside packed with moments and events and truth that had built over time and relationship with God.
Perhaps your well is not as deep as you wish. You are a new believer. You’ve been battling for a long time. Let me sit with you for a moment, sister, and share some water with you. Because that’s one of the first things to do when you have no words. Let someone who does have words come alongside. We need each other.
Ephesians 1:17-21
Dear God, I keep asking you, the glorious Father, that you may give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that I may know you better. I pray also that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened in order that I may know the hope to which you have called me, the riches of your glorious inheritance in the saints, and your incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of your mighty strength, which you exerted in Christ when he raised from the dead and you seated him at your right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Amen.
This power is for you. It’s not just a prayer. It’s an offense against the darkness. It’s shining the brightest light possible into the shadows and nooks and pushing it all into the light so that you can see clearly. You are not alone in this.
When you have no words, it’s okay. Because God knows your heart. It’s not about praying a perfect prayer, but slowing down, getting still, basking in the one truth that no one can ever change: God loves you.
Ephesians 3:16-19
I pray that out of your glorious riches you may strengthen me with power through your Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith. And I pray that being rooted and established in love, I may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
I wish that I could say that this was the only time that I have had no words, but it wasn’t. There have been other times, even recently, that I struggled. In those times I slowed down. I acknowledged the battle. I rested in His love. I recalled the truth and His promises. And then I remembered one more thing.
God knows me best. I don’t have to hide my doubts. My fears. My struggles. In fact, that’s the epitome of faith. It’s staring at the battle, fully armored, God behind me, around me, over me, before me. Knowing it’s not my strength that will carry me through this, but it’s God’s strength inside of me that will endure.
On the other side is growth. I’ll emerge trusting — not in my own abilities or super faith or strength — but in Him. Because when I have no words and I call out, He already knows exactly what I need.
Romans 8:26-27
And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weaknesses; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Please let me know how I and my friends at Proverbs 31 can pray with you today.
Suzie
On Friday I’ll choose a comment from today or any of this week’s posts for a copy of Jennifer Kennedy Dean’s book, Unhindered. Or if you’d rather have a copy of one of my books, that’s great too.
Posted by Suzie @
4:39 am |
Inspiration Journey Day #4: LifeHouse
If you don’t want to get pregnant, you won’t.
This came up in a recent conversation about abortion, a topic I care about a lot.
“Let’s balance the “don’ts” with some tangible help,” I said. “What about the 13-year-old who is a victim of incest? What about the girl who is pregnant and doesn’t know where to live or find her next meal because she’s on the street if she keeps the baby. What do we do for that person?”
Thus, another inspiring person. Rather than pointing fingers, Becky Turner is changing lives. She’s passionately prolife and also provides assistance to young moms – get this, free of charge.
LifeHouse provides a Christian family home setting undergirded by counseling, instruction and post-partum support. LifeHouse relies on faith and the support of the Christian community to change and save lives.
They’ve been doing this since 1988 when a group of committed believers joined together to open a Christ-centered residential facility for pregnant teens and young women. The basis of their ministry comes from James 1:27 (Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world).
Becky Turner says, “As the church we proclaim that abortion is not an option – and this is true – but we do not always provide assistance to those mothers who do choose life for their baby. In the over 20 years of ministry we have shown the love of Christ to over 440 women and their precious unborn babies – these girls/women are our heroes.”
LifeHouse has two homes in South Houston, TX. One is a 4 bedroom, 3 bath home with an attached 2 bedroom/1 bath apartment that is fully paid for and can house up to six residents. The second home is in the middle of remodeling but will open on July 1st and will also house six residents.
Turner says, “These girls/women that come to our homes do not just receive room and board but are provided an example of what it is like to live in a family that cares for one another. The Houseparents’ role is critical as they demonstrate unconditional love to many who do not even want to be loved. It is an amazing thing to watch as the Holy Spirit begins to soften these women and the self-preservation walls begin to come down and the trust level is increased between the resident and the Housemom and Housedad. Many are then ripe to receive God’s free gift of salvation and are fertile ground for rich discipleship to occur.”
The heart of what they do at LifeHouse is to model family and community.
Check out LifeHouse here
If you want to do something, check out the registry for their 2nd LifeHouse home. You can buy something and it will be sent directly to LifeHouse!
Posted by Suzie @
6:53 am |
My hope
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, “I used everything you gave me”. Erma Bombeck
Posted by Suzie @
7:48 am |
