Home Sweet Home – Page 22

March 6, 2013May 14, 2013

My greatest gift to Jackson is . . .

I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

2 Timothy 1: 5

There’s a new baby in our family and I am ecstatic! His name is Jackson Matthew Waligora. He is the youngest son of our son, Matt, and his lovely wife, Lynette. And I am his Nana! We are so happy and thankful!

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We welcomed him yesterday at 10:24 am, 6 lbs. 15 oz., 20.5 in., a beautiful baby who looks like his big brother and sisters and who has darling dimples on his face. When we went at the hospital, we took a card, a soft fuzzy lamb, and a balloon, but his true gift from us yesterday was a blue blanket that his Mommy had washed and ready to wrap around him.

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We have a tradition in our family – it’s the blue blanket for the boys – the pink blanket for the girls. Not just any pink or blue blanket – it’s a certain blanket – a waffle weave with satin binding – the Morgan or Bright Future brand.

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The tradition began with our youngest daughter. She had a spot (or “pot,” as she called it) on the satin binding of her pink blanket: the place where the the edges of the binding met. She rubbed the “pot’ between her fingers while she relaxed and slept. As the months and years passed, the “pot” wore and the beautiful pink faded to a dusty blush, but it was still her special blankie.

The tradition continued with my niece – then passed on to my grandchildren, each having his or her own blue or pink blanket, some cherishing that blankie, some indifferent to it.

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By the time our 11th grandchild, little Jackson, was due, the Morgan and Bright Future blankets were no longer being produced, but his mommy found the Boals Baby Blanket online. It was perfect! And so it became Papa’s and my special gift to little Jackson.

I want Baby Jackson to love that blue blanket! I want him to find his special “pot” on that satin binding and snuggle it and be comforted with that blue blanket for years!

But there is yet a greater gift I can give my Jackson.

The apostle Paul referred to Timothy as his “true son in the faith.” Paul was “filled with joy” when he was around Timothy and was reminded of Timothy’s “sincere faith.” And how did Timothy develop that faith? It first lived in his grandmother!

More than the blue blanket, I want to give my Jackson the gift of faith – “sincere faith.”

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God’s Word promises me that if I have a strong fortress, it will be a refuge for Jackson – a comfort and means of strength (much greater than that of his blue blanket)!

God’s Word promises me that if I delight in His commands, my children and generation will be mighty and blessed. (This promise make the blue blanket look meaningless!)

God’s Word promises me that if I righteously fear the Lord, my Jackson will inherit the land (Far greater than merely inheriting the blue blanket!)

God’s Word promises me that if I am righteous, my children will be blessed. (This gift of faith to Jackson just keeps getting greater and greater!)

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So I want to be a Nana who has a strong fortress in God, who delights in His commands, who fears the Lord, and who is righteous. And someday, let it be said to Jackson: I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your Nana Kathi . . .

NIV References: 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1: 4,5; Proverbs 14:26; Psalm 112:2; Psalm 25:13; Psalm 37:25,26

March 1, 2013March 1, 2013

Pouring out my heart, for Luke!

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Psalm 62:8

In my Bible, in the margin beside this verse, I’ve written these words: “Ron read this to me, 12-28-08.” I don’t know why it was so special at that time. Were we going through a difficult time on 12-28-08? I think I made the note because it was so special to me that Ron shared that verse with me – because it spoke to him.

And today, as my heart is aching, that verse speaks to me.

Yes, I do trust in him . . . Yes, today, I have poured out my heart to him . . . And yes, today, I again find that God is my refuge.

Ron and I left the house at 8:17 this morning. I cried until we reached Jackson. That’s okay. I’m not ashamed of crying. It does not mean I don’t trust God. He understands and He allows it. In fact, the psalmist writes, “. . . pour out your hearts to him . . . ,” and crying is sometimes a part of pouring out my heart. My crying led to praying, and my praying led to praise, and my praise led to singing.

As I write this, Baby Luke is being prepared for surgery. Right now, I’m not singing. I’m crying again.

I’ve poured out my heart to God. It wasn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last. God has told me to do so; He knows it’s best because in pouring out my heart, I find that refuge I’ve known for quite some time:

– the shelter in the storm, bringing warmth and the comfort of impending sunshine

– the arms that hold me in the midst of darkness, revealing the coming light of dawn

– the righteous right hand that holds me up and never lets me go

– the ever-present help in trouble, trouble like I’m feeling today

When I think of my little Luke in surgery, my gut wrenches and aches, but

I trust in Him

I pour out my heart to Him

and I find refuge in Him.

And He is ever faithful. (Psalm 145:13b The Lord is faithful to all His promises.)

February 26, 2013February 26, 2013

He is in the palm of God’s hand!

The baby is born! My little Luke – my tenth grandchild! Luke, the “bringer of light”!

I praise.

There are problems. Luke has two holes in his heart and a duct that needs to close.

I praise.

And I pray.

I see answers to prayer. Those answers comfort me. They remind me of God’s love and mercy.

One hole closes – it is healed! The duct closes!

I see miracles! Those miracles strengthen my faith.

I praise.

I pray.

And I wait.

Luke grows. He gains stature, strength, and weight! He nurses well. He is strong and appears healthy, so healthy that when others see him, they don’t know he has a hole in his heart – a hole that has not yet healed.

I praise.

I pray.

I wait.

And I trust God’s promises.

I want that second hole to be miraculously woven, knit, and healed by God’s hand – His righteous, right hand. His holy hand.

The answer I hear is not the answer I want: God is going to bring about Luke’s healing through surgery.

Again, I realize that I am not the orchestrator of this healing. But God is. So I rest.

I praise.

I pray.

I wait.

I trust God’s promises.

And I rest.

It does not come easy for me to rest. I sing. I praise God. It helps me rest. I picture Baby Luke in the palm of God’s hand – His righteous, right hand – His holy hand. Whether Luke is at home in his cradle, nursing in his mother’s arms, or in the doctor’s care on the surgery table, there is no safer place for Luke to be than in the palm of God’s hand.

I praise.

I pray.

I wait.

I trust God’s promises.

I trust.

I rest.

And I thank Him.

I thank Him because he loves Luke even more than I do – even more than Luke’s Mommy and Daddy do. I close my eyes and I see Jesus with little Baby Luke:

“People were also bringing their babies to Jesus to have him touch them . . . and Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me.'”

And so I am bringing Baby Luke to Jesus this Friday morning. And as I do,

I praise.

I pray.

I wait.

I trust God’s promises.

I rest.

I thank Him.

And I know that he is in the palm of God’s hand.

February 18, 2013February 19, 2013

Want to be blessed?

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence.

Jeremiah 17:7

Want to be blessed?

Give Him your burdens.

It doesn’t matter what you’ve done, where you’ve been, or how heavy your burdens. It doesn’t matter what you’ve brought upon yourself or others. Jesus wants to carry those burdens.

He died on the cross for those burdens.

He covered all your sin – past, present, and future – on that cross. He wants to take your sin and your burdens away – as far as the east is from the west! He wants to bury them in the deepest sea!

And He rose from the grave for those burdens.

If you’ll trust Him, He’ll save you and become your hope (everything you’ve anticipated) and your confidence (assurance – not in what you’ve done, but in what He’s done).

It’s a wonderful thing to trust Him and to let Him carry your burdens.

Just say a prayer, something like this: “Lord Jesus, I know that I’m a sinner, and I believe that you died on the cross for my sins. I believe that you rose from the grave. You are my savior!”

Please read Romans 10:8-13

No matter how steep the mountain–the Lord is going to climb it with you. –Helen Steiner Rice

“Lay Down Your Burden; I Will Carry You” Sung by Amy Grant

January 26, 2013March 24, 2015

A blessing and a curse

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1:4

God used so many people to comfort me – close friends, family, acquaintances, neighbors, high school friends. God comforted me so that I can comfort others. I hope to. Comfort others.

My friend is hurting. Her mother passed away. Her mother was her best friend. My friend is an only child. Mother and daughter were as close as seems possible. I wrote her a note of sympathy. In that note, I called her relationship a blessing and a curse. A blessing because of the many wonderful years of memories. A curse because it makes the grief and pain of that loss so much greater.

I used that rhetorical phrase because I have experienced both the blessing and the curse.

The blessing of being so close to my parents, both my mother and my father – the blessing of living close to them, our children back and forth between our homes, often worshipping, working, and vacationing together. The blessing of long life – many years to love and enjoy them – many years of experiencing their love for me.

The curse doesn’t come until the end of the long, blessed life. The curse comes when the suffering begins, and you suffer with the parent, for the parent. The curse comes when he/she passes away and the pain and grief seem unbearable.

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Everyone doesn’t know the curse. I once spoke with a woman whose father had passed away. She said she hadn’t shed a tear! I sat, dumbfounded, listening to her. I didn’t judge her. I was happy for her that she hadn’t suffered grief – that she hadn’t suffered the curse, but sad for her that she hadn’t experienced the blessing!

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The great hope for the believer is that the curse eventually dies. Because God IS the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, the curse dies, but the blessing remains. And the blessing grows and develops, like a beautiful summer flower, with the expectation and hope of eternal life.

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The blessing of eternal life – forever to love and enjoy them – forever of experiencing their love for me.

My friend, I write this for you, today. May you find comfort in the arms of the Father of compassion.

~~ ~~ ~~

Study the Word: Psalm 119: 76; Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 46:1

Pray the Word: Oh, God of compassion and of comfort, may your unfailing love be my friend’s comfort today. Strengthen her, help her, uphold her. Be her refuge and strength.

January 23, 2013

Tomorrow at midnight, . . .

Tomorrow, at midnight, her daddy will be at the back door of the building.

Tomorrow, at midnight, her daddy will pick her up – his precious daughter – his youngest daughter.

She’s coming home – to her new life – free of the addiction, guilt, and darkness of the past.

She’s coming home – to her children – her beautiful children who have weathered the storm and are awaiting the comfort of their mommy’s arms, awaiting the sound of her voice, the coconut fragrance of her hair, and the touch of her fingers stroking the nape of their necks as she sings them to sleep.

— — — —

She’s coming home – to her new home – a big yellow house bathed in love and steeped in tradition and heritage.

— — — —

Her recovery is complete; her debt is paid; her punishment is over.

She will step out and breathe in the cold, crisp, fresh air.

And she’ll thank God for the new life He has given her.

And tomorrow at midnight, I’ll thank God again, as I promised Him last year – and forever and ever – for the new life In Christ He gave my precious daughter – my youngest daughter.

January 14, 2013

So I ask them, “Daddy. Mama. . .”

I’ve been missing them more lately – my daddy and mama. I’ve been wanting to talk to them. Perhaps it’s following the holidays. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been in their house quite often, sorting, cleaning, and getting it ready for new life!

But I think the true reason I’ve been missing them so much is that I’ve been imagining them holding our newest grandson, little Baby Luke. He’s the first grandbaby born since Daddy and Mama passed away and the only grandbaby they hadn’t yet held, so I picture them holding little Luke.

I see them snuggling him. I see the love in their eyes and hear it in their voices. “Oh, Kristen,” they’d say. “He’s just perfect. Why, Josh, he looks just like you!” Tears of joy fill their eyes as they absorb him.

And as I picture this, I speak to them. I don’t know if they can hear me or not. But I know they’re in heaven with the Lord, so I ask them, ” Daddy. Mama. Go to the Lord Jesus. Kneel before Him. Ask Him to heal Luke. Or just touch the hem of His garment and Luke will be healed.”

But I’m somewhat ashamed before the Lord. Speaking to my daddy and mama sounds so much like a prayer to them, and that just can’t be. I want to be reverent. So I confess and wonder again if Daddy and Mama can hear my request.

Then I am suddenly filled with joy. I remember that Daddy and Mama have already gone to the Lord Jesus – many times – in behalf of our little Luke and in behalf of each of our little grandbabies. As I near the house, I hear their prayers, their tender voices crying out to the Lord for us – their family. I stand on the front porch and look through the kitchen window, gazing on their wrinkled, spotted hands, clasped to each other’s on the kitchen table and clasped in prayer. I see their opened Bibles — on the kitchen table or the sofa table or their bedstand.

And I know that those prayers were powerful and effective, that those prayers offered in faith will make Luke well, and that the Lord will raise Luke up, because those prayers are still going before the Father, in the name of their Lord Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

And I thank God for Daddy and Mama. And I don’t miss them quite as much for now.

January 10, 2013

Dear Mama,

Your birthday was last week. I thought of you, celebrating your birthday in heaven. Happy Birthday, Mama. If you had been here, Larry and Becky and I would have brought a cake to you and celebrated. You would have been 88 years old! I would have loved to have you here to celebrate. I miss you, Mama.

I looked through your purse the other day, Mama. Read every little note you had written, cherishing your handwriting, the handwriting that we always laughed about together – scratchy!. I browsed through one of your diaries, the one from 2003, wishing we could be back there again, spending time at your Florida house. Every once in awhile, I look in the mirror and catch a glimpse — of you! I haven’t erased your messages on my answering machine, Mama, but I haven’t been able to listen to them, either – for such a long time now. I think I’ll try again in a few days. As much as it hurts, I want to hear your voice again.

I bet you miss me and you feel badly for all I’ve been going through. If you were here, you would have worried so, and I didn’t want you to worry. But oh, how I long to have you hold me in your arms. Now you understand how things are — here — and there — and what’s best. How the Lord really works things out for good for those of us who love Him. (You really understand Romans 8:28, now, don’t you?) Speaking of the Word, do you read it there? Do you speak it? Or sing it? Or since Jesus is the Word, does He just totally indwell you? Wow! It’s awesome, Mama. You must love it there. Well, anyway, I’ll bet you really DO miss me – you just don’t miss being here – even though you loved the place — the country, the yellow house, the garden, the land.

Speaking of the yellow house, Mama, it’s almost time for Amber to move in. Isn’t that amazing? Of all the grandchildren, she’s the one who will love it the most — will love living there — will love the country, the yellow house, the garden, and the land. She’s the one who will love watching the deer and the turkeys. Well, anyway, today, Jake and Jesse’s cousin moved most of Amber’s things from the storage unit. I’ve been cleaning and getting things ready. I want to have a cloth on her kitchen table. I think she’ll cry to walk into the house and know it’s hers! She’ll have to live there by herself for awhile; then the kids will join her. What a blessed day that will be! But most awesome will be when Jesse joins her. They’ll be a whole family again!

The yellow house was painted; I was so careful to select just the right yellow, and I think it’s perfect! Then I had Jim put all the spindles on the porch rail – the spindles that have sat in the granary for about 30 years. They’re back on the porch were they belong!

And oh how pretty the new porch light looks! I occasionally leave it on overnight – just so I can look over there and see the light. Reminds me of you — of you expecting someone to drive in. Just to think of the years you left the porch light on, waiting for Larry, or for me, or for Becky! Little did I know then that I would do the same thing with my children, and now, Amber will do the same with her children – right back in your house — the yellow house.

And as much as you loved the yellow house, Mama, I’ll bet you don’t really miss it, either. I’ll bet God has given you a new one in heaven – or prepared it for you to have when he takes us all there together. And I’ll bet that yellow house (the one in heaven) has the open stairway you always wanted — and the summer kitchen with the green and cream colored cook stove. And Daddy shares that yellow house with you! Wow!

Can you see us here Mama? Do you know about our new baby Luke? Mama, please touch the hem of the Lord Jesus’ garment in behalf of little baby Luke. Ask our Lord to heal baby Luke. And ask Him to bless our baby boy still in Lynette’s womb. Two new babies, Mama. Two more to fill the empty spots you and Daddy left.

I’m so happy for you, and I can’t wait to be with you and Daddy there someday. Hug Daddy for me. I miss him so much. Tell him I’ll write him soon.

You’re both with our Savior, Mama. What peace you must finally have! That peace is just about beyond my comprehension. I’m always striving for it here – I write about it sometimes. It’s so difficult to be steadfast, but I keep trying. As much as I look forward to seeing you both, I know the first and foremost joy will be seeing my Savior, Jesus. I can only imagine!

(Click here for the link to I can only imagine . . .)

“I can only imagine what it will be like

when I walk by your side.

No more pain. No walker. No wheelchair.

I can only imagine what my eyes will see

when your face is before me.

I can only imagine; I can only imagine!

Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel?

What did your heart feel, Mama?

Will I dance for you Jesus, or in awe of you be still?

I’ll bet your danced, didn’t you, Mama?

Will I stand in your presence, or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing hallelujah, or will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine; I can only imagine!

I can only imagine when that day comes

when I find myself standing in the Son!

I can only imagine when all I will do

is forever, forever worship you!

I can only imagine; I can only imagine!” (Mercy Me)

Some day, Mama, some day.

I’ve thought of you so much today, Mama. I miss you so much. I’ll write again after I listen to your voice again on the answering machine.

With love,

your honey girl.

January 8, 2013

How does God summon His power?

My kitchen is filled with staples!

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines this type of staple in the noun category:

a:a commodity for which the demand is constant

b:something having widespread and constant use or appeal

c: the sustaining or principal element : substance

As I prepare meals, I’m in constant demand for bread, milk, salt, oil. When I’m running low on a staple, I need to add it to my grocery list because it’s difficult, if not impossible, to cook and bake without any one of these sustaining substances.

Summon your power, O God; show us your strength, O God, as you have done before.

Psalm 68:28

To consider the power of God is amazing!

It’s awesome!

Psalm 68:28 has been a “staple” to me! I’m in constant demand for it; it sustains me; it is my substance! When I recognize my need for God — to heal or to intervene as only He can; when I don’t know what to do; how to pray; or even if God is listening, I pray this verse. It reminds me of amazing, awesome power of God. And at the same time, I am asking God to show me that power.

I wonder how and why He has to summon it! Does He summon forth His Holy Spirit? Does He summon the angels to work?

1) The first part of our Bible Study is to study that power – a) What, how, why, when, or from where, does He summon His power? b) Whatdo we learn in the Bible about God summoning or calling about His power?

2) Next, let’s consider how he shows His strength (“show us your strength, O God, as you have done before“). a) What has God done in your life that has shown you His strength? and b) What do we learn in the Bible about God’s strength?

Please post your comments / replies to this post. Add throughout the week. Respond to other’s postings. We’ll conclude this study on Wednesday, January 16. (I’m expecting great things on that day – will share more about that later!)

Let’s study the Word together because . . .

“. . . the righteousness that is by faith says . . . The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart. . . that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming.” (Romans 10:6-8)

January 6, 2013

Peace – I want it!

Peace. I need peace. I want peace. Life happens. And life is filled with the results of sin. Sin in the world. My sin. And because of it all, things go wrong. It started as the perfect plan. But sin changed it. So it’s not the perfect plan yet – not until the Lord Jesus takes us to be with Him.

~~

Trust. I need to trust. I want to trust. Trust that God will give me peace if my mind is steadfast, if my mind is stayed on Him (as the Bible promises!).

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)

I first learned and memorized this verse in the King James Version of the Bible:

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee because He trusteth in Thee.”

My mind — stayed on God. If it is stayed on God, I have perfect peace. Sounds simple!

~~

Mirriam-Webster Dictionary defines steadfast as “firmly fixed in place; immovable”

That’s stayed!

I was recently described as being steadfast!

Really?

Me?

I want to be steadfast. But I will tell you the truth as I see it. (All my facades and false pretenses were discarded over a year ago!)

When fears come, it’s difficult to keep my mind stayed. It wanders. It travels to the future, a dangerous place to go, to the unknown.

My mind views the script – a loved one dead and buried – in less than a minute.

A terminal illness. A dreaded call in the middle of the night. The most morbid scenarios. That’s where my mind goes.

~~

Stayed.

“. . . whose mind is stayed . . . because he trusts . . .”

(I read Isaiah 26: 1-3)

He trusts in you, O God. You who make salvation (vs. 1).

Oh, I trust in you, O God. You who make salvation.

You’ve opened the gates. I may enter in. I keep the faith. (vs. 2)

The promise? The God of all grace, who called me to his eternal glory in Christ, after I have suffered a little while, (remember “Life. Things go wrong. It’s not the perfect plan yet”?) Well, God will himself restore me and make me strong, firm and steadfast! (1 Peter 5:10)