GCR Women

I received the call I never wanted to get but always knew would come one day.  My dad is being placed in hospice care and won't live much longer. He'd be 92 this coming June 12th.  Oh, what he's seen and done in his life!  Raised on a farm, served in World War II in Europe, brought up his own family, was a deacon and then an elder in our home congregation, worked in England, Wyoming, St Croix USVI, Venezuela, established a little Christian congregation in Belmopan, Belize.  But to me, he's Daddy.  Sweet smile, unending patience, deep love for Mom, faithful servant of God. His influence on me has kept me going when I didn't want to, encouraged me to "do better" as he prayed each day. He studied the Bible with seekers from every walk of life. He visited the sick and those in prison.  He tried to please the Lord in all he did. Now it's time for him to go home.  The Lord has watched over him this far and won't forsake him now.  Even after death...

I think Spring may actually be here.  The pecan trees and mesquites are budding - usually the last ones, holding back, skeptical that warm weather is here to stay and no late frost will surprise them. Sometimes I think I'm as distrusting and skeptical as the pecan trees.  I look around and wonder if things will continue to deteriorate, if things will get much worse before they get better.  I should be more like the tulips and daffodils who push their tender shoots through the cold, hard ground long before winter is over, displaying their beautiful blooms as a sign of hope and better, warmer days ahead. But just as the warmer weather gives me cause to hope, so our Lord reminds me that He is still in charge and will triumph.  He hasn't forgotten us.  He has beautiful plans to make Himself known. We believers see Him in nature - the rising sun, the changing seasons.  We see Him by faith in His Word and each other.  We know He is sovereign. His go...