Reflecting on 2007 & my prayer for 2008...

As I reflect on the past year it would be easy to feel overwhelmed with sadness. In fact, 2007 was a year of pain for me and my family. The loss of my sister and best friend last April 12th brought things to surface in my heart that I never knew were there. I am only beginning to learn that the heating in life's crucible does that though. Wow, the depth of my humanity (that I was truly fashioned from dust) has become so real to me in my walk through Psalm 23rd's Valley of the Shadow of Death.

I am grateful for my circle of precious ones (you know who you are) who have patiently loved me through my stages of grief...praying for me, sending cards and personal notes, calling to check on me, hugging me, letting cry on your shoulder, lending an ear for me to vent as I have sometimes blubbered and even cussed through sobbing tears in expressing my dismay of seemingly uncontrolled circumstance. Thank you for being there...please know that I am truly indebted to each of you...you are true treasures in my life!

Most of all, Jesus has remained my closest companion through this tough time. My tremendous need for Christ to be alive in my everyday, within the caverns of my heart and a light in the dark crevices of my mind. He's been faithful even though my sins have been many. Boldly, yet in humble thanks, I say that I think I will not fully understand the depth of His mercy to me. Maybe in Glory when I meet Him and fathom that Hell is real and by the power of faith on Christ's shed blood my sins were washed away and my redemption becomes reality in eternity!

As we look forward to 2008, none of know what the coming year will bring. However, there is hope in our Lord Jesus Christ because He holds it all in His nail pierced hands and His grace is sufficient for whatever will come. My prayer is that you will grow in your faith, endeavor to praise and trust Him each and everyday, in each and every circumstance and in the trials of life be encouraged by others like I have been.

Finally, as a New Year's Eve blessing to you...Building 429 sings this song, so dear to my heart. It is an adaptation of an old hymn, "Grace That Is Greater". This You Tube time-lapsed video, of some picturesque places God fashioned, is well-worth savoring as you listen.

My prayer for you is that...
You have a Happy and Blessed 2008...
As your walk with the Lord becomes great!

Love ya all,
In Christ,
Ter

Greta has been gone 5 months...

It has been five months today since my sister passed and some days it now seems even harder to face the loss than others. Today has been one of those days...just difficult to face.

By now I am sure people are just tired of seeing, hearing and feeling me grieve. If you have not lost your sister or closest friend then do not judge me. I am not "getting over this" folks so just ignore me if my emotional state is more than you can stand. My true loved ones understand and accept that I am going through the valley of the shadow of death and love me just the same...unconditionally...like Jesus does!

Here is the link to the web page that hosts the tribute our family pulled together, and Bill produced, to share at Greta's home going service. It is different from the one you may have watched online at the website that hosted her obituary. This one reflects the song and words that she wanted to be shared...honoring God's hand on her for her lifetime.

I will warn you it is a tear-jerker. She specifically asked me to remember this song for "her time" and miraculously I was able to eventually recall it.

An Opening Point

Today (now yesterday) was a particularly bright and beautiful May Monday day but inside my head it was anything but sunny! God has blessed me with a sanguine personality (optimistic, very outgoing & talkative). I can honestly say that even though things in my life are never perfect, I can recall only a few times, since I surrendered my life to Christ, that I have not been able to rise to the occasion and see the glass as at least half-full! Yes, it was yet another weepy day for me (the likes thereof have become more frequent as I mourn) and this was not even the typical "offbeat day or two" that we females experience monthly. Today, I really wanted to run away from my life and my reality!

Since my sister, Greta, moved to her eternal home (almost 6 weeks ago) I have felt a wide range of emotion. I have tried to see the spiritual significance in each day and each person I have the privilege to meet or share time with on the phone. But I have to say that with each stage of grief -my emotions have spun both beautiful tapestries of hope and some serious cobwebs of doubt about my spiritual and mental state(s).

After dinner tonight, I sat down and was searching for some comfort "personal words" of encouragement from God's word. Okay, now have you ever done this? Just opened the Bible in a random fashion...as if some message will magically jump off the page at you? Well be warned that the Bible has many "not so pleasant verses" so you may struggle to find the significance of "just any old verse". I am blessed to own several Bibles and the one I picked up tonight was my Women of Faith Devotional Bible. The page I opened to -seemed to be nothing very profound - at least not at first. I just skimmed the blip called Hope which referenced Galatians 6:9 and then pressed on to read the related devotional by some woman of a faith who wrote....

Hope is a word I love. Hope keeps you going when things don't look so good. Hope is the only thing left at times, I love it that God tells us not to lose hope. If we keep hope alive in our souls, we shall reap in due season. When we can't see past the darkness we can always have hope. Isn't it great to know there are seasons to our lives? My season of life right now is raising....precious children...-a great season, but a challenge every minute as well. I need hope that tomorrow may be easier or sweeter."Thank you, Lord, for the hope., You give me minute by minute."

It touched me and then I read the author's name...it was signed...Terry Jones...Point of Grace

You may ask, "So what's the big deal?" Well I will tell you...my maiden name was Terri Jones! I was so surprised - I know this passage and devotion were meant for me for a time such as this! I say that to share this....you can rest-assured that God is a very personal God! He is the ever faithful friend and He never ceases to amaze me. Unlike our "supposed friends and loved ones" who (for diverse reasons may) tend to distance themselves when we need them the most! It is comforting to know that when we sincerely seek His face, He does not run and hide! He meets us at the point of our genuine need!!! PRAISE HIS HIGH AND HOLY NAME AMEN!