Leaving a Legacy

I have written a number of blogs through the years and I am not certain if I have broached this subject or not but it has been on my mind after our Sunday worship service.The pastor was ending a 7 week study of one of my favorite Biblical characters: Joseph. Joseph's life was filled, like each one of us, with mountains and valleys. Yet his reaction to no matter what came "around the corner" was to trust in God's plans and be faithful wherever his journey led. Indeed his legacy to not only his family but to the generations that followed and to those who read his story as one of faithfulness through life's "long run". The pastor stressed four key points which I want to share.

1. Part of living and leaving a legacy is....where you start is not as important as where you finish.

Genesis 50:15-21 

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

2. Part of living and leaving a legacy is...your attitude and reaction are not dictated by your circumstances.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understandiingg. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

3. Part of living and leaving a legacy is...staying faithful in the waiting room.

Psalm 27:13-14

You will see the goodness of the Lord as you wait for his appearing, therefore be strong and take heart and wait for Him.

4. Part of living and leaving a legacy is...being a good forgiver.

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to each other, forgiving as God, through Christ, has forgiven you.

I look at my nine beautiful grandchildren and pray I can leave them a legacy of faithfulness to God. I pray they will see Jesus through me and want to hold HIs hand and be guided through life by Him!

The "Hills"

"I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2

We drove into the "hills" today to a waterfall park near Molina, north of Verona, Italy. Christian and Logan's home school group was taking a field trip to learn to make cheese from a local Italian and then to lunch and hike in the park. What a fun day! The photos tell it all!

Thank-you, Lord, for giving us the opportunity to spend this wonderful day with two active grandsons!

We are blessed indeed to now have NINE special grandchildren and love each day we have with them. Can't wait to meet our new granddaughter, June Yuan Thorpe!

Orphan Ministry

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

These words have recently taken on new meaning as we welcome June Yuan Thorpe into our family.

My heart is overwhelmed with love for this precious little girl! 

Until last year when Rebecca and Steve actually started on the long journey of adoption I had not thought, much to my shame, seriously about the plight of so many orphans and God's directive for believers to do something about it! Why has not the church, (believers in Jesus), stepped up to the plate? How can those wanting to adopt connect with the children who want a family? Is it because of lack of funds? Couldn't believers pitch in here? Is it because of lack of information?  Couldn't believers learn more and educate? Is it because of lack of prayer? Couldn't believers intercede for these precious ones?

So many questions! The mountain seems tall but God is "taller"! He wants all believers to be involved so the question for me is How, God? I have recently begun to investigate churches with active orphan ministries in areas where I live or where I will be traveling to visit. He has planted a seed in my heart and I want to water it and see how He will allow it to grow for His glory.

I challenge each one of you to reread James 1:27 and see if it speaks to your heart. Maybe you can be involved in an answer to some orphans "prayers"!

The sweet fragrance of a girlfriend!

What is a girlfriend? It is someone you are free to share one's feelings, affection, sympathy, empathy, honesty, mutual understanding, compassion, enjoyment of each other's company, trust, forgiveness, and the ability to be oneself. True friends are always "there for you" in the good times and the bad. As I have become older my friendships have become "sweeter", taking on richer qualities, and I'm more aware of their importance, rather their absolute necessity, in my life! If I were to picture a girlfriend I would see a rose. A rose is beautiful inside and out with layers of delicate petals that slowly open to reveal the precious inner radiance. As friendships deepen hearts open to a willingness to challenge and sacrifice for one's friends. Jesus is our ultimate example of the perfect friendship. He sacrificed his life in order to establish a friendship relationship with each of us. Oh, how wonderful to have earthly friends that join hands with Jesus! As I write this I am inspired by my girlfriends, (you know who are!)! I am humbled that you would call me your friend. Thank-you, Jesus, for my girlfriends and please bless them so they can glorify You!

A recent week-end spent with two high school girlfriends!

"I lift up my eyes..."

"I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord,the Maker of heaven and earth."Psalm 121:1-2

God's creative beauty is seen in Norway.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1

Yet, all the grandeur of the mountains, the beauty of the spring flowers, the majesty of the rushing streams, or the peace of the valleys does not compare with the creative mystery of the human soul. 

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139:13-14

Train up a child...

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." I have known the truth of this Bible verse as it speaks to parents and seen it "in action" with my own chidren but does it also apply to grandparents? What is a grandparent's role? I have heard it said that a grandparent can spoil their grandchild all day then return them to their parents to do the hard work of training. This might sound like fun, after all, haven't we as grandparents already "put in our time" raising our own children? Yet as Hunter and I spend time with our 8, soon to be 9, grandchildren I see this verse as applying to a grandparent's responsibilities too. So how do we do this effectively? 

One day, thinking about this question, I complained to my son-in-law that I just couldn't run after the boys like I used to do-physically I was slowling down, largely due to my disease and I was a bit depressed at the prospect of limitations that would affect my relationship with my grandchldren. He responded by explaining that it is not so much what I DO with the kids as just my presence WITH them. Quality and quanity of time does not necessarily have to translate into physical activity. In other words even from a wheelchair, a bed, or 1000s of miles apart we, as grandparents, can "train" our grandchildrren. We just have to be creative and recognize our important role in their lives and seek out ways to be part of their world. So any grandparents reading this remember, you are needed in the lives of your grandchildren. Be involved and you will be training!

Tickle time!

Water fun in 100 degree heat!

Biking together!

Trampoline jumping!

Biking in Europe-The Netherlands-day 7(The End)

On the final day of our bike ride we experienced picture perfect weather. Even I removed my jacket and  felt the warm breezes off the beaches of the North Sea.

A final glimpse of a towering windmill was bittersweet as we crossed a portion of the sea in a large ferry.

At the ferry ticket office it was necessary for us to show a voucher in order to board the ferry boat. Without the voucher to exchange for a ticket we would be denied passage to the other shore. While enjoying the views during the crossing I was reminded of the verse in 2 Corinthians 1:22: "He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put His spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." I have a guaranteed voucher which will safely transport me from earthly death to the shores of God's heavenly kingdom! Praise God for freely giving this gift to me through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus! Be certain, you, too, have that all important voucher!!

 Brugge, Belgium was our final destination and we arrived by early afternoon. Deb and I then had three goals in mind: experience the sites of the market square with its magnificent architecture, eat REAL Belgium waffles and buy lots of Belgium chocolates. Mission accomplished!

A delicious good bye to a memorable vacation!