DEDICATED to MY MOM

June 1st Dedication to my Mom



Every June starts out with me remembering my mom for her birthday and as this weekend goes by, she is fresh on my mind and in my heart. I recall how my dad for years, while she lived and even after, would give her beautiful red roses. Most likely, the reason God sent me a rose bud for this Mother's Day that quickly bloomed and died (So although I don't have a beautiful dozen like dad, this one beautiful rose is for you, mom with all my love and thanks!) *and to honor YOU on your b-day! Thanks for all the great tasting cakes you made for our birthdays. Sorry I don't take after you in that area of your expertise :0( Some day I should share your story because although I do not know much, your childhood was not easy. Being my mom, probably wasn't that easy either. Yet, I've been told I look like you (your younger days, I hope) and that makes me feel good, but I hope that my aging is not as difficult as yours and so filled with sickness. 

What kinda initiated this, was after listening to James Robison share about Betty and their recent loss of their daughter, Robin, from her battle with cancer (truly heaven's gain)(just because I went to their site to hear Beth Moore's recent teaching) and was so touched by James' heart. For some reason, I wandered from there at Life Today's ministry website to James Robison's beautifully written tribute "Goodbye to Sweet Robin", to YouTube with Big Daddy Weave (who I don't know all that well, but like him and his songs, so this was all God's leading) and came upon this beautifully written song (among others) ... 

Now I do realize that this is not the kind of song you'd share for someone's birthday, and my mom did not die on her birthday but in December, however she suffered from many illnesses during my childhood and probably before, until she was 65, so I know that she no longer is suffering. It was only this that brought me some "peace" when she passed away so very long ago, but inscribed on my heart with indelible ink; her love and gift of hospitality. How she loved being a homemaker and how wonderful she was at this! 
As you could see, if you came by and read my Mother's Day post, I was not taking or dealing well with it at all this year ...  it reminded me of the Mother's Day that followed my mom's departure from her earthly home to her heavenly place (Dec. 1986) ...  I was OK until then, and it all came rushing back on that Mother's Day (1987) which is when I fell apart (finally) at my loss of her and my last memory of her (not good at all, at her bedside in the hospital with my older 2 siblings and our dad) clinging for her breath, wrestling for air as my dad tried to give her a loving kiss. I was holding her left hand, my older sister at my side and my older brother next to my dad. 

So when I saw myself heading down that way this past Mother's Day (probably in lieu of the loss of so many memories and family treasures in the fire of our MN house last fall) I had to do something positive to change the course of my thoughts, mind and heart, which I did by taking another adventure I had yet to do here where I live in Mexico - a short boat trip to "Rock Island" (Isla de la Piedra) and the beautiful beach on the other side.






 

Anyways, this song also starts out, like Sharon's recent post ... the "Why Child" and had me thinking that perhaps my feelings were of remorse or regret (and out of a sense of guilt I had to write this) that came from a comment I made honestly on Sharon's post about "honoring our parents" (in my case, not honoring them, by my rebellious actions/words but I sought and received their forgiveness so now that's under the blood of Jesus). This song made me think of this again... and reading a great book that I just shared but I'll be moving that post to the 7th ...

So "Hold me Jesus"
Please forgive me
Be my Prince of Peace
surround my family that are now with You  and celebrate my dear mom's birthday in Your Heavenly Glory
Thank You for taking my mom's illnesses giving her Your final healing as she rests in Your Peace
She did the best  she could with me  gave her all for me and our family
so until we are reunited  send her this rose with all my love give her a big hug and Thank You for making her my mom
Let's celebrate  in "Fields of Grace"
Your aMazing Grace overwhelms me however this is how I would celebrate "If you I died tonight"
because I know where I will spend  eternity
Happy Birthday Mom! I love you!
added from the end of another post I had here when I rearranged
*Happy Birthday Mom!* You have entered into His heavenly peace since 1986,  wow that's a long time. I pray we will all join you there.  Yes, peace is the presence of Jesus! [from the end of another post now on SONday] I love you and miss you more and more! EnJOY His Peace!

Eternal Rest Prayer / Réquiem Ætérnam from the Roman Catholic Church

"Eternal rest grant unto him/her (them), O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon him/her (them). May he/she (they) rest in peace. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."

Yes, Sharon, I wonder "WHY" far too often and question, question, question ... even this, that is engrained in me from my days growing up as a Catholic and all the funerals ... 

Why do we pray for REST or PEACE for the departed? 

If they knew Jesus, then they have been granted that ... eternally. It is those of us who remain, who need the PEACE when we sense the loss and so often we need to slow down and REST! Yet the day will come for each of us to either have HIS PEACE and REST forever, or we will be one of those that perish.

My prayer is that E.V.E.R.Y.ONE who hears/reads this today, receives a message for your personal salvation and eternity rests on this, SO THAT N.O.N.E. which means, not ONE will perish but have eternal life in Jesus Christ. He WON and wants you to know God personally through Him.

Follow the STEPS to PEACE (pdf)now for we never know when our day will come. 

COMMENTS are CLOSED

"The GREAT HOUSE of GOD ~ A Home for Your Heart"

by Max Lucado

The Thomas Nelson description of "The Great House of God" by Max Lucado starts out with ... 

"God's greatest desire is to be your dwelling place. The home for your heart.

He doesn't want to be merely a weekend getaway. He has no interest in being a Sunday bungalow or even a summer cottage. He wants to be your mailing address, your point of reference, your home...always. He wants you to live in the Great House of God. ..."

and this is exactly how I felt as I read "The Great House of God ... " making God my dwelling place, through the detailed schematic of the house plan correlated with the "Our Father" prayer ... truly sensing this as a welcomed "... home for my heart". Only Max Lucado could come up with this spectacular new take on a scripture passage so well-known as a prayer by most; the prayer that Jesus used to teach us to pray in Matthew 6:9-13. I have read many teachings on the "Our Father" prayer base, its structure and how we are to pray this and the power and meaning in each line of the "Our Father"  yet this one refreshes and stirs even a greater longing in me to "come home". 

Max Lucado, as always, never disappoints, and wittingly walks us through the floor plan and rooms in the House of God, via a well structured plan using the Lord's prayer, taking us on a tour of the home God intends for us:

"...Warm your heart by the fire in the living room. Nourish your spirit in the kitchen. Seek fellowship in the family room. Step into the hallway and find forgiveness. 

It's the perfect home for you. After all, it was created with you in mind. There's only one home built just for your heart. No house more complete, no structure more solid."

Indeed, my heart was kindled, as I read the Kindle version, (pun intended) by the living room fire ... my spirit nourished in the kitchen, and I found a fresh forgiveness as I stepped into the hallway; seeking fellowship in the family room after establishing step by step from the foundation of trusting in God as Our Father, Abba, all the way to the Chapel, relying on His power. Max does not even leave out the walls that Satan has a part in, nor the roof beneath God's grace. I enjoyed learning again from a different perspective each line of the Our Father and how it relates to the home built just for our hearts. 

Although, I loved passing through each chapter, room and portion of this great prayer, the Throne Room, was my favorite; as we touch the heart of God. Yet truthfully and actually, as I entered each one, they in turn became my new favorite, because of the gifted way that Max Lucado paints so vividly with words. It is not at all difficult to understand how Max Lucado is a best selling author time and time again; the reason he is one of my favorites and one of the most requested of books by me. You can't go wrong with any of his books, but this one is highly recommended by me for a delightful, brilliant, master filled journey of 13 parts in God's Great House, where you'll be at home!!!

"... So come into the house built just for you. 

Your Father is waiting."

"It's the perfect home for you. After all, it was created with you in mind. There's only one home built just for your heart. No house more complete, no structure more solid.

The roof never leaks. The walls never crack. The foundation never trembles."

In the current events of the world, you will find security in this home for your heart and soul, a spiritual shelter and refuge! I need a foundation that will never tremble, a roof that will not leak and walls that never crack because I have been cracked, leaked many tears, and trembled in the tests of my faith. This book and this new look at the 'Our Father' prayer and image has reassured me of God's complete love and a home built in my heart, Solid in Him.

The added bonus of a wonderful study guide, well written by Steve Halliday, makes this book ideal for individual, small or large group studies. It's definitely a new treasure in my home.

Praying the Our Father will now create a new concrete image in my mind, heart and spirit of Abba, Our Master builder and heavenly Father, who Jesus methodically taught us to pray, honor and glorify each and every day so that when we "ask one thing of the Lord that we may dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Psalm 27:4), we will realize the importance of each part and each room designed specifically with us in mind. God's House, not only is Great, He is Great and has invited us to make Him at home in our home. Welcome Him in now! He will shelter you, stretch you, humble you, provide for you, meet you, encompass you, build you up, nourish you, restore you, reveal Himself and His will to you each day as you pray "Our Father ... " this way as Max ends his book and God is glorified

"Our Father Thank You for adopting me into Your family.  who is (art) Thank You, my Lord, for being a God of the present tense:   my Jehovah-jireh (the God who provides),  my Jehovah-raah (the caring Shepherd),  my Jehovah-shalom (the Lord is peace),  my Jehovah-rophe (the God who heals), and my Jehovah-nissi (Lord, my banner). in heaven, Your workshop of creation reminds me: If You can make the skies, You can make sense out of my struggles.  Hallowed be your name. Be holy in my heart. You are “a cut above” all else. Enable me to set my sights on You.  Your kingdom come. Come, kingdom! Be present, Lord Jesus! Have free reign in every corner of my life.  Your will be done, Reveal your heart to me, dear Father. Show me my role in your passion. Grant me guidance in the following decisions:(list them)   . . . On earth as it is in heaven. Thank You that You silence heaven to hear my prayer. On my heart are the ones You love.  I pray for . . . (list them) Give us this day our daily bread. I accept your portion for my life today. I surrender the following concerns regarding my well-being . . .  And forgive us our debts, I thank You for the roof of grace over my head, bound together with the timbers and nails of Calvary. There is nothing I can do to earn or add to your mercy. I confess my sins to You . . .  as we also have forgiven our debtors. Treat me, Father, as I treat others. Have mercy on the following friends who have wounded me . . . (list them)  [as I let.it.go] *my addition* And do not lead us into temptation . . . Let my small hand be engulfed in Yours.  Hold me, lest I fall. I ask for special strength regarding . . . (name it)  Our Father . . . give us . . . forgive us . . .  lead us . . . Let Your kindness be on all Your church. I pray especially for ministers near and missionaries far away.  For Yours—not mine—is the kingdom I lay my plans at Your feet. Yours—not mine—is the power I come to You for strength. Yours—not mine—is the glory I give You all the credit. Forever Amen! ~Max Lucado~

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this eBook free from the publisher, Thomas Nelson through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. 16 CFR, Part 255._