Oh Tidings of Comfort and Joy!

Day 341 of Photo Inspirations -- Oh Tidings of Comfort and Joy
From first hand experience, I know that this time of year can cause painful memories of a loved one's parting.  My Dad passed away on December 17th when I was 15 years old, and my Sweetheart passed away on November 16th.  But rather than coddling you and telling you "Just go ahead and be depressed and sad.  You owe it to yourself to feel that way," I just won't, because I know how God has taken me through these times with a garment of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness.  We really have choice in how we live our lives -- knowing the abundant life that is ours because of Christ's birth, or submitting to the "dark side" of woe and despair.  For those reasons, I'm providing how God gave me the LIGHT, instead of the darkness, and how sweet it is to live this way.  Please read the following blog that I posted in 2010, upon the arrival back home for the first time after my Sweetheart had passed away and his funeral.  It's lengthy, but I promise you -- the precious promises I found during that time may be the comfort you need today.   I pray it brings you good tidings of comfort and joy.

"Arriving back to theTulsa Airport after being away for a week after my Sweetheart's funeral, I thought about the changes that I was about to face – not with fear, but just pondering. As I walked through the gate from the jetway, I immediately began to think about how my previous arrivals to the Tulsa Airport had been. I remembered how my Honey would tell me he’d just meet me at baggage claim, but he never did. He would always find a hiding place in the waiting area, where passengers would leave the airline gates, and as I walked through the security door, he’d pop out behind a post or the crowd, and with open arms, grab and kiss me, and let me know how much I’d been missed. He always looked so handsome, dressed so fine, and smelled so good. I’d think “That’s MY man!” In the car, he’d always have a single rose on the console, soft music playing, and give me another “welcome home” hug and kiss. Our travel home would be me, non-stop, telling about the adventures of keeping the grandkids or some other very important reason that would take me away for a few days. Then arriving at home, the house would smell so good (he always made sure it was clean from top to bottom), and soft music would be playing. But, I knew.....tonight, would be different.

My eyes welled up in tears as, this time, he didn’t surprise me. He wasn’t waiting or hiding as he had always been before. But, then….what to my wandering and teary eyes would appear….as I walked out to baggage claim, but my two “Tulsa” grandkids -- running to me with open arms and screaming, “Nana, Nana! We made you cards and presents! Did you bring us something?” Oh, sweet and great distraction from my previous thoughts! Getting into the car, they excitedly displayed their “Welcome Home” handmade cards and ice cream stick creations – one to hold my pens and pencils, a drink coaster and ice cream stick crosses. They were little chatter boxes all the way home, and at my home, my kids made sure the lights were brightly burning, soft music was playing…..and the house was so clean and smelled so good. Of course, Nana brought them gifts that gave them even more excitement. Oh, how my Heavenly Father gave me exactly what I needed, once again – “good tidings of comfort and joy” that comes from a loving Father in the form of the purity of two little children who love me so much.

Once again, I was reminded of God’s blessings to me and how much I have to be grateful for – the most of which is that my Honey is basking in the presence of God, free of pain and living in perpetual celebration. Dear friends and family members have e-mailed me, sent me cards or called me to express their best wishes and I continue to respond that I have been and continue to be wrapped in a blanket of peace and I choose to stay there....in that Secret Place of the Most High -- abiding in the shadow of the Almighty. Also, my promise in Isaiah 26:3 that says, "You will keep him (Donna) in perfect peace, whose mind (Donna's mind) is stayed on you: because he (Donna) trusts in you."

Of course, I have waves of emotions -- when I see his pictures, his clothes, the fingerprints of his life all over this home -- most assuredly, I miss him beyond words....but that doesn't say I'm going to allow myself one moment of grief (definition: deep mental anguish, as that arising from bereavement) or sorrow (definition -- mental suffering or pain caused by injury, loss, or despair). Both of those words talk about "mental" suffering. I refuse to go there. No, I’m not in denial. I’m in that "secret place” of the Most High – abiding under the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1). I have a choice – to be in sorrow and grief – or to celebrate each day that God gives me. I choose to open the windows wide – to listen to joyful Christmas music – to shine the Christmas lights brightly -- to laugh with my grandchildren while making gingerbread cookies -- to call a friend and encourage them –- to raise my voice in song, especially singing, “God is so good”. I will finish strong! I will be a conqueror!

Yes, now I know, from first hand experience, what it means to have a loved one in so much pain; I know what it is to have to deal with financial issues; I know what it is to have a loved one "go home"; I know what it is to not know what tomorrow holds. I am living it and walking through it, and, I can tell you....living in that place of peace -- taking one day at a time, and above all, knowing my Father will take good care of me – is the place to be. He promised it and I choose to believe it.

I purpose to live out my faith with joy instead of sorrow, dancing instead of mourning, wearing a garment of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness. It is a reality of Christ's redemptive work on Calvary. And here’s the real deal…I can look Death in the face and declare -- "Oh Death, where is your sting? Oh Grave, where is your victory? Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:55,57.

Yes, at this beautiful time of the year…we can all sing the words “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, let NOTHING you dismay, remember Christ, our Savior, was born on Christmas Day, Oh tidings of comfort and joy!”

And He Gives Beauty for Ashes

Day 214 of Photo Inspirations -- And He Gives Beauty for Ashes
#TBT -- Photos of the Previous Home's Front Porch in Ashes and the New Front Porch in Beauty and Blessings.

At our Life Group Meeting last Tuesday night, Freda Gordon​, one of our precious members, reminded us that it had been 3 years, since the August 3rd-4th, 2012 devastating wild fires raged out of control in Mannford, OK -- just a few miles west of Tulsa -- where 400 families, including Freda, lost their homes. They called it a fire storm.  A fire storm is an intense and destructive fire in which strong currents of air are drawn into the blaze, making it burn more fiercely.

Freda's husband of 43 years, had passed away just 3 months before and her grief was compounded by the unthinkable taking place -- a fire that was so out of control, she was left homeless.

Before the fires made it to her home, Freda said that the Lord was telling her: "Get your stuff and follow Me."  She obeyed that voice and retrieved her quilts and family pictures, a few papers, 3 or 4 days worth of clothes and then went to her daughter's home in Jenks.  She said, "I am no hero and wasn't waiting for it to go from bad to worse. Besides...the Lord was really nagging me to GO!!"  And she did.  Thank God, she heeded His voice and was able to get a few of her most precious treasures out.  She was still reeling from the death of her husband, and was in shock and disbelief at the loss and devastation all around her.

At that time, Freda could have retreated, gone under-cover (bed covers), and refused to carry on.  She could have allowed the ashes of depression and despondency to overtake her. But, instead, she refused to give up and her catastrophes turned into her blessings.  She was able to have a new home built in a new location where she has been such a blessing to her neighbors. The most beautiful part of her story -- is that she didn't let her past dicate her future.   She feels purpose, knows she was led to her present community, and is a blessing to everyone who knows her....including our Life Group, and ME.  What a blessing to know her and see the crown of beauty she wears -- instead of the ashes, the oil of joy, instead of mourning, a garment of praise, instead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61:3.

Without a doubt, Freda turned her sorrows into a beautiful, living witness of God's grace and abiding love in the midst of the storm (fire storm, that is).  She is always encouraging others to "quit fighting it, and start living the life God intends for you to live.  It will be worth all of it."  

Freda also says:  "We all have gone through "fire storms". Maybe not in the literal sense like this, but we have all had those times that we feel we are being attacked from all sides and have no way out. God gives us an escape plan."

I love that.  "God gives us an escape plan".  Perhaps, today, you are reeling from storms or life situations that have devastated your world.  Take heart.  God has an escape plan for you.  He knows right where you are and His plans and purposes are to bring you to a safe place.  "For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you, to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

Don't Give Up!

This precious, quiet, unassuming, yet amazingly talented woman is representative of what God does when it seems all hope is gone. A couple of years ago, her husband of 40+ years passed away after a long battle of cancer. As if that weren't enough to cause her to go the way of depression, sadness, mourning and dismay, just a couple of months later, her home in Mannford, OK burned to the ground, leaving her homeless, her quilting business destroyed and certain desire to give up.

What DOES someone do at times like that? Quit? Throw in the towel and be done with it all? Go to a place of retreat and hope that it's just a bad dream? Not on your life. This gal, Freda Gordon, did what I saw on a sign in her home yesterday. She turned the mess to a message, the test into a testimony, the trial into a triumph, and rather than being a victim.....she became a victor.

I took these photos at her home a couple of days ago. They are of this warrior woman who, not only started over from scratch, but was able to have her new home built, and now her quilting business is booming again. She has risen from the ashes and, if you could just know her, you'd see how she has replaced her garments of heaviness for garments of praise, joy and determination. She opened her quilt closet, and I saw many, many beautiful, handmade pieces of art that she handcrafted.

Doesn't that make us believe.....that whatever we're going through today -- that it's just temporary? Let's don't give up. Let's don't give in. Our mess, too, will be our testimony.....and our defining moment of the storm turning into a magnificent rainbow!