Special Days

This week of September is always hard.  Dad's birthday is September 4th.  Mom and Dad's anniversary is September 10th.  So of course, I think about them a lot during this week.  But God, in His infinite wisdom has two other special days in this same time frame.

My grandson, Jayden, was born smack dab in the middle of those two special days, September 7th.  We gathered at my daughter's home to celebrate three whole years of life this year. Ironic since it is also the third year since Mom and Dad were killed.  And even though "our" family was way out numbered by my son-in-laws family, it was still good to be together.  My Aunt Sis, Uncle Virgil along with all of my children and grandchildren were there (although we certainly missed Grace, Mike's girlfriends daughter).  It was nice to watch all the cousins playing together and, as Aunt Sis said, making memories.

It is good to have a celebration of life in the middle of these two days because certainly Mom and Dad live!  They are more alive than we are!  Jesus was not kidding when He said, I come that they might have life and have it more abundantly!  

The other special day is also September 10th.  It is my "little" brother, Stephen's birthday.  I want to make it perfectly clear that Stephen is a year older than me.  I only call him my little brother because I have three brothers and he is the youngest of the three but I have the honor of being the baby of the family.  

Mom and Dad were married in 1952.  My oldest brother, Doug, was born in 1954.  Dave was next in 1955 and then Stephen in 1956.  By now I am sure you are able to guess that I came along the following year, 1957.  Clearly, the wedding anniversary came first in this succession of events.  I remember one year when I was about 11 or 12 years old we were celebrating Stephens birthday and Mom and Dads anniversary.  Sitting at the dinner table, Dave had an epiphany moment and blurted out to Mom, "Why did you and Dad get married on STEPHENS birthday?!"  I can still hear him saying and that and laugh when I think about it.  For those of you who know Dave, you understand it perfectly!

On this day which would have been Mom and Dad's 62nd anniversary, I shout out an extra Happy Birthday to my dear brother, Stephen who is, and always will be, one year older than me!  I hope you have a very special day especially knowing that Mom and Dad are celebrating their anniversary in heaven.  Always know that Mom and Dad loved you so much, they got married on your birthday!

Psalm 118:23-25 The Message

This is God's work.

   We rub our eyes - we can hardly believe it!

This is the very day God acted -

    Let's celebrate and be festive!

Salvation now, God.  Salvation now!

    Oh yes, God - a free and full life!

It Is Not All About Me

I love my ladies at the jail!  The group changes often because it is a jail but I dearly love them all!  There was a lady there for several months whom I will call Angela (just like Dragnet, I have changed the names).  At first she did not want to come to Bible study but after a while she began sitting in.  A bit longer and she was participating.  After a few more weeks she accepted Jesus into her heart.  She began reading her Bible, praying, and growing in the Lord.  It was beautiful!

The day of her release was growing nearer and she was excited.  She was ready to go home.  She talked of getting back into church and staying clean.  She was only a few weeks away from her release date when something else popped up.  It was discovered that another county had a warrant out on her for an old charge.  Her release date was now put on hold.  She would be taken to the other county for a court appearance before she would be released.  She was devastated.  She was ready to give up on God.  How could He do this to her?  She began to question her new found faith.

I gave her some Scriptures to read and tried to reassure her that God still had a plan for her life.  He was still in control and He still loved her more than she would ever know.  She got through her doubt and decided that she would trust God even though she did not understand why she should spend more time in jail.  She determined herself to keep walking in faith. 

Another week or two went by when she got a new cell mate whom I will call Linda.  This young lady was scared and hurting.  Angela witnessed to her.  Shared Scripture with her.  Prayed with her. When I came the following Sunday night Linda was ready to receive Christ into her heart.  After she gave her life to the Lord she told me she was ready to take that step because of Angela.  She told me how Angela had helped her and witnessed to her.

I turned to Angela and said, "So if you had gone home when you were originally supposed to go, who would have been here for Linda?  God used you to bring her to salvation!  Congratulations, you have just laid up your first treasure in heaven!"  Angela's eyes brightened as she realized what God had done.  Her life had value!  She was of use to God!  She was so excited.  She said every extra day she had spent in jail was well worth it!  She went home the following week.

Now Linda is growing in her faith.  Last week Linda got a new cell mate.  Guess what?  Linda began ministering to her.  Witnessed to her.  Shared Scripture with her and prayed for her.  When I went to the jail for Bible study last night, Linda's new cell mate was ready to commit her life to the Lord!  It is a beautiful thing when we share what God has done for us.  It is so simple and yet so powerful!

Most of you know that my Mom and Dad were murdered in their home over three years ago.  They had been at my house the day before.  While I was at the jail that Sunday night, Mom had texted me that they had made it home just fine. Little did I know those texts were to be my last communication with her.  When I came out to my car that night and saw her message, I replied that I had enjoyed our visit and that two ladies had been saved at the jail that night.  Her response was simply, "Hallelujah!"  

Hallelujah indeed!

Luke 15:7 The Message

Count on it - there's more joy in heaven over one sinner's rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.

Three Years

It was three years ago this morning that my parents were brutally stabbed to death in their own home.  In some ways it seems it was a lifetime ago and in other ways it seems like just yesterday they were at my house celebrating Easter.  My friend, Bob Grossman, commented that he sat behind us at the sunrise service that morning.  My adopted momma, Barb Zuspann, met my dad at the church breakfast that same morning as well. 

The phone call from my dear brother, Dave the next morning was almost surreal.  It just could not be.  They had just been at my house the day before.  What was he talking about?  Mom and Dad both dead?  But it was real.  In the blink of an eye they were gone.

In the years since I have been through a plethora of emotions.  For the most part I have been okay but the times when I am not - when life seems to keep throwing me more curve balls - I have sincerely doubted my ability and my willingness to keep going.  Just when I think I'm fodder for the looney pen God's peace comes through and I continue on. 

The constants in my life are many and I know God put all of them there.  My family, kids and now grandkids no less, what a blessing!  My ladies Bible study group - Praying Heiresses on Demand (PhD's), my mixed small group, Sinners and Saints, and the ladies of cell block C in Sangamon County Jail.  They all have blessed me richly and keep me going!

But one other constant that God brought to me is Danielle Loftus.  In a tragic jet ski accident July, 2010, this beautiful 14 year old girl suffered a traumatic brain injury.  Since that time she cannot eat, talk, walk, or even voluntarily move her limbs.  God has laid it on my heart to pray for her.  Nearly every Friday afternoon I go to her house and pray for her healing. 

I know God will heal her.  He has spoken to me that her healing is here.  He has shown me that her miraculous healing will usher in a wave of revival unlike any we have ever experienced here before!  Dad had prayed for and saw many people healed in the years before his death.  He seemed to be most effective when praying for people with head and back problems.  That is Danielle.  My brother Stephen and I both prayed for a passing on of Mom and Dad's spirit after their deaths.  I feel Danielle's healing will come in part because of their faith.

Danielle has just turned 18.  Her class is graduating from high school this year.  She cannot get the years back but God can restore what has been taken from her and her family in other ways.  Let's throw a curve ball to Satan.  Please join me in praying for Danielle and her dear family.  Oh the joy that will be released when droves of people turn their hearts to The Lord!  God is moving and as a friend said recently, He is the ultimate multi-tasker!

Be sure to give your loved ones a kiss and a hug.  Tell them in no uncertain terms how much you love them.  There is no guarantee of tomorrow!

Genesis 50:19-21 (The Message)

Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid. Do I act for God? Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people. Easy now, you have nothing to fear; I’ll take care of you and your children.” He reassured them, speaking with them heart-to-heart.

Beth Moore

I have been privileged to see Beth Moore in person at a Living Proof Live event three times in the past four years. The first time was October, 2009.  Beth was coming to Springfield, IL.  I learned she was coming early in the year and told my daughters and Mom that for my birthday I wanted to go hear Beth Moore teach with my favorite girls.  I bought the tickets, Mom and Dad came into town and off we went to see Beth while the guys hung out.

It was amazing!  Beth taught on John the Baptist.  Afterward I was in the kitchen getting ready for dinner. Mom and Dad were in the living room and Mom was going through her notes telling Dad the highlights of what she had learned.  It was so sweet listening to her.

I found out that Beth was coming to St. Louis the following June so I got tickets for my daughter, Mom, and Dad to go. He was one of a handful of men with a whole bunch of women but he did not care. That weekend she taught on the image of God.  She literally began with Genesis 1 and ended with Revelation 22. She nearly hit on every book in between.  My head was swimming by the end but it was well worth it!  My parents really enjoyed it and we talked about what we had learned for months!

Little did I know that the following April they would be killed.  I am so grateful that we went to hear the in depth teaching on God's Word together.

When I heard that Beth was coming to Springfield again this October and I knew I had to be there.  I was blessed to have my daughters go with me. Beth taught on John Mark, the quitter. John Mark came from a well-to-do home. He had a fairly easy life. He went on a mission trip with Barnabas and Paul but when the going got rough he quit and went back home. Thankfully, Barnabas did not quit on him.  He took John Mark under his wing and mentored him. He went from being a quitter to a worker.

He ended up leaving the easy life behind to serve his Lord. He worked on mission trips. He ministered to Paul and to Peter at different times when they were in prison. He was with each of them near the end of their lives. He went on to write the Gospel of Mark!

I am blessed to have Godly parents, Godly grandparents, Godly aunts and uncles, Godly cousins, Godly great grandparents...well you get the idea. But only I can do the things God leads me to do and go where God tells me to go.  No one else can do it for me.

Beth talked about each one of us being a stone as the temple of the Lord is rebuilt.  We all have a part in the building of the church.  She then commissioned us to go and do the things God is calling us to do.

In the weeks prior to Beth Moore coming to Springfield, God was working overtime in my life! It was to the point of being overwhelmed but in a very good way! I have never felt such peace and joy! I feel that God is ready to unleash His Spirit on our community. The things that Beth shared just confirmed what God was saying to me and so many other women that I have been praying with.

I will be sharing more about the coming spiritual awakening in the days to come. Honestly, I am still trying to sort it all out! In the meantime, consider the Scripture that Beth opened the Friday night session with:

Ephesians 2:18-22 (New Living Translation)

Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.

Morning

Most of you know about Danielle Loftus.  I have written about her here before.  She is now 17 years old but when she was just 14 she was injured in a jet ski accident.  She has been in a semiconscious state ever since.  

Her family is an amazing testament to faith in God!  They hold firmly to the fact that she will be completely healed and restored in this world.  Even though outwardly she shows little progress they cling to the hope of the Lord.  They believe in His promises.  But in the meantime they painstakingly care for her.

This is not an easy task and while they do have their moments but overall they live a very positive life.  It is amazing to see this faith not just in her parents but in her younger sisters as well.  If you ever have times that you may be feeling sorry for yourself just go to www.PrayForDanielle.com and in no time you will realize how petty your problems truly are.

I was listening to Danielle's mother, Lynell, recount the story of Danielle's accident.  She told about the initial event, the helicopter lift to another hospital, the excruciating days of not knowing whether she would live or die.  The night she and her husband surrendered Danielle to the Lord and the promise they received that she would be healed.

Those days grew into weeks, months, and now years.  There have been very small signs of recovery but Danielle still needs constant care.  She still has no motor skills.  She must still be fed through a feeding tube.  Everything must be done for her.

As Lynell was telling this she was asked how she could keep thinking Danielle would still be healed?  Wasn't she just setting herself up for disappointment?  Lynell's response still rings in my ears.  She said, "If I did not have hope, how could I go on?  It is that hope every morning that gives me the energy I need for that day."

It immediately reminded me of the Scripture I had just been reading in Lamentations.

Lamentations 3:22-24 (New Living Translation)

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
    His mercies never cease.

Great is his faithfulness;
    his mercies begin afresh each morning.

I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
    therefore, I will hope in him!”

I can still hear my Mom's sweet voice singing as she worked around the house.  She loved to sing hymns.  One that she liked to sing was Great Is Thy Faithfulness.  The end of it goes like this:

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

God is faithful.  His promises are true.  His love is everlasting.  Hallelujah!

Refuse Him Not

I have quite a few notebooks with Dad's sermon notes.  One seemed to jump off the book shelf tonight.  I picked it up and turned right to a page that was dated 11/10/1957 - exactly one week after I was born.  This intrigued me.

Dad had titled it "Refuse Him Not".  It is just an outline on one page with the traditional three points and several bullets under each point.  Dad used Hebrews 12:25 as his main Scripture text.  He had this portion typed out in his notes: "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh".  Of course, this is the King James Version but the meaning is clear.  Dad went on to explain the various ways we refuse to listen to God as well as some reasons we should listen.

He pointed out that this was a personal warning; a positive warning; a present warning; a purposeful warning; and a passionate warning.  I can just hear Dad preaching this.  I know he would have been passionate in his delivery because he had a heart for people.  He did not preach to condemn but to transform.

 

Dad's last point under the heading explaining why we should listen simply said this: "Because of the Spirit that moves him to speak.  'God so loved the world...'  The strongest force in the universe."  That is the point that struck me the hardest.  Love is the strongest force in the universe.  It was because of this force that Mom and Dad dedicated their lives to spreading the Gospel.

This is why I know it is so important to forgive Jose.  Because God so loved the world.  Because God so loved Jose.  He gave His only Son for Jose just as much as He gave His Son for me

Is there someone God is nudging you to forgive?  Time is too short on this earth.  Love as God loves you.  Forgive as God forgives you.  If you have not experienced the transforming power of God's love, I pray that today you will allow Him to become Lord of your life. 

Hebrews 12:25-28 (New Living Translation)

 Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 

An unshakable Kingdom.  What a wonderful promise!  May we all heed His voice.  Refuse Him not.

Family

My Dad's family had their reunion in July.  It was a wonderful event as always.  There were over 90 people present.  Most families would consider that to be enormous but it is about average for the Willingham clan.  It is a weekend affair and family members literally come from all over the world to get together.  We begin on Friday evening with a cookout and end on Sunday with our own church service followed by a luncheon.

I was honored to be able to share briefly with the family on that Sunday about the hearing and some of the details of Mom and Dad's case.  Since the hearing this has been on my heart to share with all of you.  I have just struggled to actually put into words what I was feeling.

Time and again I have stated and even shared through this blog that I offer forgiveness to the young man, Jose, who confessed to participating in the murders and has been charged with stabbing them to death.  I sincerely meant that but I had never been in the same room as Jose.  I prayed earnestly before the hearing that I would still be able to offer forgiveness after seeing him in person.  God answered my prayer!

As I was sitting the small courtroom it struck me that there was not one person there in support of Jose.  Keep in mind that this young man is from Springfield, MO.  He has many family members living right there.  No one came to court on his behalf.  No one.

There were some people there who had dealings with him before and were there to make sure he was not getting out this time either.  Of course, several of our family members were there.  It truly broke my heart to think of this young man having to face this all alone.  I was able to feel forgiveness for him in my heart and even offered up a prayer as I sat there looking at the side of his face.  Even as he sat emotionless through the horrific testimony.  Even when he shook his head disagreeing with something the detective on the witness stand said.  My heart broke for him.

Yes, I still want to see justice done.  Yes, I am still praying he will have a change of heart and plead guilty so our family does not have to suffer through the trial process but I will still pray for him.  I pray for his salvation.  I pray for his family and the heartbreak I am sure they are feeling.  I am praying that God will be glorified through it all.

I am so grateful for my family.  I am grateful that they support my brothers and me.  I am grateful that they love the Lord and serve Him with all their hearts.  I am grateful for their prayers on my behalf.  I am so blessed!

2 Samuel 7:28-29 (The Message)

 “And now, Master God, being the God you are, speaking sure words as you do, and having just said this wonderful thing to me, please, just one more thing: Bless my family; keep your eye on them always. You’ve already as much as said that you would, Master God! Oh, may your blessing be on my family permanently!”

And, Lord, please bless Jose and his family.  Give them peace.  Return their honor.  In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.