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...

On a trip to Dallas last month, we visited with a friend who has been a church planter for many years.  He's involved in other ministries, too, and his love of the Lord takes him to India from time to time.  These trips have opened his eyes to many things over the years but one of the most significant lessons he's learned lately is how to gain power. Power is something people have craved since the beginning.  We want something, so we try to find the power to get it.  Some people take by force.  Some control by coercion or gentle persuasion.  Some wheedle and whine to achieve their goals. Somewhere along the way, we began to equate money with power. We've allowed satan to lead us to believe that we can achieve almost anything we want if we have enough money.  In  Gone With the Wind , Rhett Butler told Scarlett that generally money can buy happiness or at least some pretty close substitutes. We've let this mixed up thinking guide us even in t...

I actually started writing this post on March 1st.  But the words just wouldn't come.  So I paused, stepped back and waited.  Still nothing.  This blog doesn't exist as a forum for my thoughts.  I only want to write what God has put on my heart - to encourage you to read, to meditate on and memorize His Word.  No shallow ramblings, if possible, we all have more important things to do with our time. So why am I writing now?  I think I finally heard it. Silence. I'm not a big fan of silence.  It can make me uncomfortable.  When others are around, let's keep the conversation going.  When alone, turn on the TV or radio or music - something anything to fill the silence.  But sometimes, I just need to let the silence speak. God speaks today in lots of ways.  I'm convinced He loudest speaks in times of silence.  What a shame that I rarely listen! Maybe - just maybe - if I let the silence develop a little - maybe then p...

I've spent the past few days in Dallas with my husband and several good friends at the Linger Conference at Watermark Church.  The conference is designed to give you the opportunity to get out of your regular routine and linger in the presence of God.  It's been excellent - wonderful praise and preaching.  It's been good to get away. I've enjoyed the time spent with my friends.  I see these friends almost weekly in our Wednesday night class. What makes this weekend different is that we actually stopped to spend time together, to linger with each other. Weekly, in class, we're focused on that week's lesson and little else.  We come in, get ready for class, have class, put things away and go home.  We visit some but not for long - no time!  This weekend, we shared meals with each, sat next to each other, worshiped with each other, took breaks with each other, discussed the messages with each other - we took time for each other. Time away.  Time...

We traveled to Austin last week to witness our grandson's baptism into Christ.  It was a wonderful day and treasured time with the family. When we're driving like that, my husband and I talk about where we are in life and where we want to be.  We make lists and set goals and talk about plans to accomplish what we've talked about.  It's funny how much we repeat ourselves and how many times we set the same goals and plans.  If you look at a list from ten years ago, it would probably look much like the one we made last week.  I guess that's because we plan to head in generally the same direction today as back then.  I wish we'd get more checked off our list, but there are some basic things that I hope we never finish. I hope we always enjoy being together.  The other day we were at an appointment and the client asked me how it was working together, with my husband day in and day out.  I told her truthfully it was wonderful.  I've been worki...

For years, my friend Carol has been encouraging people to read the Bible daily.  Just like I've challenged her to memorize Scripture, she has challenged me (and just about everyone else she talks to) to join her in daily Bible reading.  She talks about it, she prints up reading guides, she hands them out, she leaves them in public places. But more importantly, she does it herself.  Yes, for years, she has read through her Bible annually. She'd be the first to tell you that daily Bible reading has changed her life.  It has given her comfort and guidance in difficult times.  It has convicted of her of changes she needs to make in her life.  It has encouraged her. Do you want to make lasting changes in your life? Read the Bible. Do you want a calmer, more peaceful life? Read the Bible. Do you want to have direction in your life? Read the Bible. Need help coping with family or personal issues? Read the Bible. Written long ago, the Word of God i...