Category: Remembering

Thanksgiving

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou17 Comments

When I was pregnant with my last child, (at the age of 46), I was too sick to join my extended family for Thanksgiving.  So my husband found himself in the grocery store on Thanksgiving Eve, shopping for our family’s Thanksgiving.  He bought frozen mashed potatoes, frozen stuffing, frozen pies, frozen everything and a turkey breast–not a whole turkey, —and then the next day, he put together a Thanksgiving Feast.

Our children still have memories that they share with us about that Thanksgiving—it scarred them because of the horrible food.  

Recently I watched the video of The Great Thompson Flood—where the big message of it was to give Thanks to God in all things.

It’s easy to Thank God when things are going well.  Not so easy when things are not going well.  In fact, generally—when things are going badly—God hears my complaints and how I want Him to change my circumstances.

Somehow I think if I complain loudly enough, I will not have to partake of the troubles any longer—like my children so many years ago—as they partook of the makeshift Thanksgiving feast. 

How wonderful to come into Thanksgiving—with the thought that even in the bad, even in the midst of trouble—God is with us, God is for us, God loves us.   Those are things I am thankful for, and will be thankful for every moment of everyday.

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!!

A Friend Named Sue

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou17 Comments

I first met Sue, when I was 6 years old.  Sue was my mom’s friend.   Sue was a beautiful woman.  Even I, as a child, knew I was looking at an extraordinarily beautiful woman.  Sue had dark hair, and big eyes, in an oval shaped face, with lovely cheekbones, a small nose, and full lips.   However, beyond how lovely Sue was, Sue had spunk, Sue had great wit, Sue was a truth teller and Sue laughed.   My mom and Sue would laugh and all of us kids would join in their laughter:  big, belly laughs; tears running down our faces; holding our tummies; gasping for breath–kind of laughter.

Sue also– “saw”–us kids.  Sue would talk to us kids–as though we were small adults.   She would often ask for our opinions, and she would crack her jokes, and we would laugh and laugh.

When I was 7 going on 8, our family moved a few hours away. (I got to stay with Sue while my parents were looking for a new home for our family—that was a blast!!)    Even after we moved, my mom and Sue stayed close friends.

 After my first year of college, Sue came to visit us.  I was having a particularly difficult time.  In a few month’s time my ex-boyfriend would be marrying someone else, on the exact day he had promised me, we would be married.

Sue spent some time talking with me.  She told me that her first marriage ended in divorce.  She had been betrayed, and thought her life was over.  She told me that despite what she thought, it wasn’t over.  God had a plan.  God used that difficult time to bring Sue to Himself–the lover of her soul, the One who said, He would never leave her, or forsake her.  Hebrews 13:5 

God brought  Sue another husband–one who would be faithful–and would remain her loyal, loving husband for almost 60 years, until Sue passed away this past month.  They would raise two children together.  They would become grandparents.  They would serve God, their church and their community.

Sue took time with me–as a young woman, to give me guidance and hope.  It had been raining while she was talking to me, and she took me outside when it stopped raining.  There in the sky was a rainbow.  Sue pointed it out and said, “That is your promise from God.  There is hope for your future.  You will never have to go through something like this again.”   I don’t know how she could speak with such assurance–but I believed her.  You see, a few months before that conversation, I had decided to trust Jesus as my Lord and Savior.  I was already on a different path, then when I had had my heart broken.

When I graduated from college, I took a job, 4 hours away from my parents.  Sue and her family lived in between my parents and my new place.  I would go home at least once, sometimes twice a month.  I would stop and visit Sue on my way home.  

Two years later, when I went on staff with the Christian organization I had been involved with in college, Sue and her husband supported me with their prayers, finances, and friendship.

When I got married, Sue and her husband were there to celebrate God’s gift of  love in my life–that was 35 years ago.

Sue and my mom remained close friends for the rest of their lives.  My mom would get to see her within the month before Sue passed.

 I want to thank God for Sue–and her friendship to my mom, my siblings and to me. God used her to speak hope into my life when my hope was gone.  She did that by sharing herself, her story, and her Lord.  

May Sue’s life encourage us—to love the little ones God brings into our lives–and speak Life!!

                                                                   Amen!

Sean and Heaven

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou20 Comments

It’s been 11 years since Sean has died.  He was 16 years old.  He had just taken his driver’s training in June.  I remember him coming home and telling me that his driving instructor had had a son die in a car accident.  He told me, “I feel so bad for him, mom.”   Now, my husband and I are the people others feel bad for, when they hear about the loss of our son.

Before Sean died, I used to hear about others losing a child or children, and I could not fathom the pain they experienced.  I would shake my head and wonder how they went on with their life.  I would wonder how they could go on with their faith.

After Sean died, heaven became more of a reality to me.  I did not see life as just existing in this dimension anymore.  Sean was in heaven, and heaven was where I was also headed.

I want to take a minute, and address the issue of heaven.  I remember talking to someone whose husband had died, and this person wasn’t sure her husband was in heaven.  Heaven can be a touchy issue.  Is Heaven for everyone or just some?   How can you know for sure that you are going to heaven?   

Let me just say this—some people can be upset with God, over the topic of Heaven.  They see God as someone keeping people out of heaven—keeping the undesirables out of heaven.  Nothing can be further from the truth.  God has made it possible for everyone to be in heaven with Him when they die.  He has made it possible for everyone to know Him and have a relationship with HIm.  He is not keeping people out of heaven—He has opened up the gates of heaven to usher people in—from all nations and tribes.

However, Satan, the enemy of our souls, does not want us to go to heaven.  He hates us.  He has been working from the beginning to deceive us, to lie to us, and to keep us in slavery to Him.

Jesus went to the cross to save us from this slavery to sin and to Satan.  That means we now can know the Eternal One—– eternally.  This life is not all there is.  There is another life after this one.  One where sin and sin natures are not allowed to enter—where evil is not allowed to enter—so pain, suffering, heartbreak, trauma and tragedy are not allowed to enter. 

However, all those things are in this life—sin, sin natures, evil, pain, sickness, heartbreak, and death.  So, there will be suffering—not for just some, but for all.  Anyone who tells you differently, is selling you something.  The Bible never says that.  Instead—Jesus tells us, “In this world you will have tribulations, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome this world.”  He has overcome this world—He has overcome the pain, the suffering, the unfairness, the hardness, the evil of this world.

What does that mean?  It means He is with us, He is for us, He is dwelling among us.  He loves us.  Nothing will separate us from the love He has for us—not death, not this difficult life, not evil, nothing, nothing, nothing will separate us from Him!!   (Romans 8:35-39)

This God does not want to keep you out of heaven, this God gave everything—His Son—to give you heaven.   As someone who has lost a son—I can honestly say, I cannot understand the depth of that kind of love.  I would never have willingly offered my son.  Never.   

Romans 8:32 says:  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

This means God will freely give us Heaven. 

He will freely give us, Himself. 

He will freely give us forgiveness. 

He will freely give us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.  

Heaven is ours for the asking. 

Jesus is ours for the asking.

  God is ours for the asking.  

“Father, thank you for giving Your Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us, to pay for our sins, one time for all people, so we can know You.  Please come into our lives, and once in, guide us and direct us.  Thank you for giving us eternal life.  Thank you for allowing us to know You, the Creator God of Heaven and Earth.   Amen.

May We Be Encouraged!!

Cochren & Co. – One Day (Official Lyric Video)

My Savior My God (Lyric Video)

Crowder – Come As You Are (Lyric Video)

Glory

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou10 Comments

My Dad was a gifted athlete, especially in running.  I heard from my Dad’s friends and family about how fast he was, and races he won.  My Dad and his three brothers were gifted athletes and played football, baseball and basketball together.  Growing up, I heard many stories about their Glory Days.   I wanted to have my own glory days–but that was not to be.

When I met my husband and started to get to know him, I thought he looked like an athlete.  I knew he swam in high school and college, but he didn’t talk about it very much.  However, after visiting his parent’s home, I found out he had been the New England Champion two years in a row, and went to the Jr. Olympics.  I saw his trophies and ribbons.  He had achieved glory–but  he was rather embarrassed about it.  I could not understand that.  If I had any glory to proclaim, I would have!!

Glory—that’s an interesting word.  It’s one thing for a human to want to have glory–to feel they have a special ability or talent to display, but what about God?

How many times have I read or heard the phrase, “Glory to God” or “To God be the Glory”?

What does that really mean?   Is Glory different for God, than it is for us?  And what is the purpose behind God’s glory?  

Glory has the connotation of honor, splendor, majesty—when it is applied to God.  In a sense it is putting the spotlight on God, and revealing who He is and His attributes.

Hebrew 1:3 says:  The Son, (Jesus Christ), is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

In other words–Jesus Christ, (God the Son), reveals who God the Father is.  Jesus glorifies the Father, and the Father glorifies the Son. (John 13:31)

To what end do they do this?  

Jesus said that His purpose here on earth was to:  seek and save the lost. (Luke 19:10)

For what purpose:   God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has the life, He who does not have the Son of God, does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.  1 John 5:11-12

What is eternal life?  Eternal life is a relationship with God that begins here on this earth when we accept God’s gift of forgiveness because of Jesus’ death on the cross.  (John 17:3, Romans 6:23)

When the spotlight is put on God— it will reveal–God’s love, God’s provision and God’s plan.  These are all found in Jesus Christ.  “ salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind, by which we must be saved”  Acts 4:12

God’s glory is to help us see the way home to Him.  The spotlight is on–so we can find Him.   God wants us to find Him.  Although in reality–it is really God who has found us.

“To God be the glory, great things He hath done, so loved He the world that He gave us His Son, Who yielded His life an atonement to sin, And opened the life gate that all may go in.”

May We Be Encouraged!!


To God Be the Glory Lyrics

1 To God be the glory–great things he hath done,
So loved he the world that he gave us his Son,
who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
and opened the lifegate that all may go in.

Chorus:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father thro’ Jesus the Son,
and give him the glory–great things He hath done!

2 O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus forgiveness receives. (Chorus)

3 Great things he hath taught us, great things he hath done,
and great our rejoicing thro’ Jesus the Son;
but purer and higher and greater will be
our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see. (Chorus)

Peace

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou17 Comments

Many years ago, my husband and I took our young family to the county fair.  Sean was just a baby, and he was in a heavy-duty baby backpack.  We decided to have some lunch and entered the 4-H building–which was in a metal building with a cement floor and had many, many picnic tables lined up in rows.    I had taken the backpack from my husband and was carrying the backpack with Sean in it–in front of me– through a row of some picnic tables.  I caught my foot in the circular leg sticking out of the side of the picnic table, and I fell on top of the backpack, which hit the cement floor before I fell on it, with my baby son Sean, inside the backpack.

Before I could move, my husband, along with every medical person in the building, descended upon Sean and me.  My husband checked Sean over.  His eyes were tracking.  He didn’t even have a scratch on him.  He was fine.  Absolutely fine.

My leg was banged up and bleeding.  I was shaken and scared.   Sean was gurgling and jabbering to all the medical personnel surrounding him.   I still don’t understand how he survived that crash.  As I prayed about the situation, I had a sense of God telling me that He had my child in His Hands.

Years later, my oldest son went to Australia on a mission trip.  He got bit by a poisonous spider.  He had to be taken to the hospital, for them to treat him.  The very same day this happened, we had to take our second son to the hospital in our town to be treated for an emergency.

Once again, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and told me that my children were in His Hands whether they be thousands of miles away from me or in the same room with me.  

 My son Sean did not survive an accident when he was 16.  Many, many times over the past 10 years the Lord has told me, “Your child is in My Hands.”

There are many parents grieving for their babies now in war torn countries.  I have been praying for them.  I have been praying for them all.   Once again, the whisper of the Lord says, “Their children are in My Hands.”    

In the midst of all the evil, the hatred and the grief—the goodness and the love of our Lord —brings————Peace.

May We Be Encouraged.

Photo taken by friend of Mediterranean Sea.

My Dad and Winning the Race

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou18 Comments

My Dad’s parents divorced when my Dad was 10 at a time and place where divorce was very, very rare.    His parents remarried other people, and his stepfather was an abusive alcoholic.  My Dad saw his mother beaten up, and he and his three brothers tried to intervene and stop it from happening, only to be beaten up themselves.  When they got strong enough, big enough and old enough, they were able to protect their mom and themselves.

(My Dad is the second from the left. Shown here with my Uncles.)

My Dad grew up with a great desire to protect and serve others.  He found that desire satisfied in being a policeman.

Yet, in that desire—he had compassion for the people he arrested.  He would tell me that many of them would start telling him their stories as they sat in the back of his cruiser—stories of their own abuse from others and from their own hands—of all the ways their lives had led them to this point in time.  My Dad would listen, and he would encourage them, telling them that they could make different choices– they could get help–they did not have to be the people they currently were– God would help them.   

My Dad knew the truth of what he was saying.  You see– my Dad struggled with alcoholism.  He found help through Alcoholics Anonymous, (AA).  AA helped my Dad know and believe the truth—that his life was unmanageable and God would give him the strength, moment by moment, to live a sober life,  an abundant life, and a forgiven life.

My Dad had a best friend and partner who would eventually leave the State Police and become a Pastor and an Evangelical Speaker, as the calling to speak hope and forgiveness and grace into others’ lives became a fulltime calling.

So many of my childhood memories involve my Dad doing things with us, taking us skating, sledding, camping, and swimming. When I was in High School I decided to join the track team– my Dad ran with me every day to get me in shape for the track season. My Dad was a great runner himself, and in many ways I think my Dad was trying to get me ready to run the race of life. We would run, and he would tell me stories, trying to impart his own passion and drive into my approach to running, into my approach to life.

It was my Uncle Jimmy, not my Dad, who told us the story of my Dad running in the State finals.  He was mocked by the other racers because he didn’t look fast.  When they asked him what he was doing in the race, my Dad replied with a grin, “You’re about to find out”, and he went on to win the race.

By God’s grace and strength, my Dad has won his race in life.  He went home to be with the Lord in October of 2009. His story testifies to all of us that with God all things are possible when we trust and submit to Him.

In sharing some of my Dad’s story, I hope to impart courage–May We Be Encouraged!!

Happy Father’s Day!!!

I am a Recovering Legalist

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou15 Comments

I am a recovering legalist.  What do I mean by this?  It means I like having rules for living life, and I find my worth and significance in following those rules well.  In a sense, a legalist is someone who is trying to establish their own righteousness, instead of receiving the gift God is giving us of His righteousness, based on what Jesus did on the cross. A legalist also thinks that “Keeping the rules” will guarantee them the outcome that they want.

 When I was a young mom with one child, (who woke up several times a night for the first two years of his life), I wondered how I could possibly have more than one child.  I was already in my mid-thirties–and I needed sleep to function.  So when a friend told me about the Ezzos and their methods for getting a child on a schedule, and sleeping through the night–I was all in.

I studied the “Growing Kids God’s Way” program, and I put my 2nd child on a schedule.  He was sleeping through the night between 2-3 months old.  And it worked for my 3rd and 4th child too.  (Not so much for my 5th child.)   I can look back on this program and see a lot of wisdom, but I also see a lot of legalism, and inflexibility.   If one does a google search on the Ezzos, one will find a lot of polarizing opinions on their methods.

Then, when my kids were approaching the teen years, I read a book called, “I Kissed Dating Goodbye.”   I thought it was great.  It was about trusting God to bring the person He wanted you to marry into your life, and not dating, until you were sure–this was the person God had for you.

The book was about following rules, and guaranteeing outcomes.  It was quite legalistic, written by a very young man with little life experience.  The author has since retracted everything he wrote in his book and his wife and he are divorced.

Here’s the thing–I like answers.  I want formulas–(i.e.: If I do this—then I can expect this to happen.)

Here’s the thing–that is not life.  At least not always.   There are certain things we can count on–until we can’t.  For instance—in my entire lifetime, and in everyone’s entire lifetime—the Sun rises and sets—the Sun exists.  However, we know that someday–the Sun will not exist anymore.  The earth will not exist anymore.  Why do we know this?  Because God tells us this.  (So does science–but God told us this first.)

Which brings me to the point of this blog—God knows I like things I can depend on.  He knows I want answers.  He knows I like rules.   So what does He give me?  He gives me—Himself.  He tells me, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”   He tells me, “I AM.”   He tells me, “I am the Rock.”   

So often, He desires to give me Himself—and I have settled for so much less.  I have tried to establish my own righteousness, when He has given me His.  I have tried to pay off my own sins, and make myself worthy, when He has already done this for me.  He did it for you too, over 2,000 years ago.

I ask you to join with me, and praise and thank the God who patiently brings us back to Him–for He is the One who gives us life—life abundantly and life eternally.

May We Be Encouraged!!

If you could do anything in the world, what would you do?

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou10 Comments

If you could do anything in the world, what would you do?  There was a time when I would have said that I would want to travel.  To me, that sounded like paradise–having adventure, excitement, experience.

On one of our family trips down to Florida, we were asked to sit through a marketing session for vacations and timeshares. Our kids were fairly young, and it sounded really amazing—wonderful resorts, beautiful scenery, fun things to do and see–I was so tempted to sign on the dotted line.  Fortunately, my husband was not such a soft sell, and we did not sign on the dotted line.

Seven months after Sean died, our family took another trip to Florida.  We went in the month of March.  I remember thinking in the cold, wintery months of January and February–that I just had to hang on until March, and then I would be in sunshine.  

That trip did help get us through that winter.  But I learned a really important lesson on that trip–I was still taking “me” on the trip, and “me” was really grieving.  The trip could only do so much–it did provide a measure of escape–but I could not escape from myself.  I could not escape from the fact that my son was dead.

We went to Sea World on that trip, and every sight was a reminder that Sean was not with us, and he would have loved it all.

The realization that a “trip” could only do so much really helped me a great deal.  I used to long for trips–thinking that they would be the key to happiness and fulfillment.  Now I know they are not.

In fact, realizing that has helped me find a measure of contentment.  When Covid hit, and travel was very limited—I was content. 

Even now, when I think about traveling, and going to many places—I don’t have the motivation I used to have.  I know that the trip is not going to bring me that which will fill me.

“Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” Hebrews 13:5

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.  So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 1 Tim. 6:6-8

I love these verses, because they tell me what my heart knows to be true—things, trips, money–these things and the desires for these things will never satisfy me–but God–He will, He does, and He is the only One who can.

May We Be Encouraged.

Today, I polished the silver.  This is one of the things I do before I decorate for Christmas.  One of my favorite Christmas gifts from years ago is a silver tea set from my late mother-in-law.  I had not asked for one, but as soon as I opened it, I imagined many tea parties in which this tea set would grace the center stage.

I have had the privilege and honor of hosting many tea parties over the years.  They have been times of sweet, sweet times with other women.   They are a reminder to me of what the Lord can do.

When I first moved to town, I was asked to join with 3 other women and have a bible study.  We were all young moms with young children.  We didn’t have a plan for what to do with our children during the study, and so we were constantly interrupted by them.  

A few years later, I decided to start another mom’s bible study.  I saw that moms in my area needed a place to be encouraged in their roles as moms.  I talked with my husband and asked if we could hire one of the college girls we knew to watch the kids during the bible study time.  I would ask the other moms to chip in to pay for the sitter, but knew that my husband and I would make up the difference for whatever gap there might be.

I also decided to train the other women who came to lead the bible study—that way, they could start and lead their own studies.  (I had been on staff with a Christian ministry–and this was one of the things I did as part of my job–lead bible studies and train others to lead studies.)

The study met in my house for a few months.   Then two of the women who came decided to take what they learned and start a mom’s bible study at their church.  They hired a babysitter to watch the kids–and so it began.  

That bible study is still going strong–28 years later–at what is now my church. (I had the honor of being involved in leadership at this bible study–and hosting some tea parties for the moms who came.)  This is what the Lord can do—and only what the Lord can do.  This bible study is one of the ministries of the church–so they provide childcare, so that women can come and be ministered to.

It is good for me to look back at these types of examples—so when I come to huge obstacles of faith–I see that it is not my faith in myself and my abilities—it is always and always will be God who overcomes, God who does the miracles–God who moves the mountains.

Recently—my family has been enduring huge, huge trials and tribulations.  A beloved member of my extended family is in the hospital, in critical condition, needing God’s healing touch as gifted Doctors and Nurses seek to help him with their skills.  

Another family member was literally brought back to life by the Lord, through a series of miracles.

A few family members have had difficult times bringing precious babies into the world.  Yet–they did–and we have precious, precious babies in our family now!!

Through all these things, we have seen and experienced the goodness and compassion of the Lord.  How He loves us!  He loves us, when we can’t go one more step.  He loves us when we are bereft.  He loves us, when we are afraid.  He loves us when we are waiting for His answers.  He simply loves us.   Oh how He loves you and me.

May We Be Encouraged!!

Many years ago, my husband and I took our young family to the county fair.  Sean was just a baby, and he was in a heavy-duty baby backpack.  We decided to have some lunch and entered the 4-H building–which was in a metal building with a cement floor and had many, many picnic tables lined up in rows.    I had taken the backpack from my husband and was carrying the backpack with Sean in it–in front of me– through a row of some picnic tables.  I caught my foot in the circular leg sticking out of the side of the picnic table, and I fell on top of the backpack, which hit the cement floor before I fell on it, with my baby son Sean, inside the backpack.

Before I could move, my husband, along with every medical person in the building, descended upon Sean and me.  My husband checked Sean over.  His eyes were tracking.  He didn’t even have a scratch on him.  He was fine.  Absolutely fine.

My leg was banged up and bleeding.  I was shaken and scared.   Sean was gurgling and jabbering to all the medical personnel surrounding him.   I still don’t understand how he survived that crash.  As I prayed about the situation, I had a sense of God telling me that He had my child in His Hands.

Years later, my oldest son went to Australia on a mission trip.  He got bit by a poisonous spider.  He had to be taken to the hospital, for them to treat him.  The very same day this happened, we had to take our second son to the hospital in our town to be treated for an emergency.

Once again, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and told me that my children were in His Hands whether they be thousands of miles away from me or in the same room with me.  

 My son Sean did not survive an accident when he was 16.  Many, many times over the past 10 years the Lord has told me, “Your child is in My Hands.”

There are many parents grieving for their babies now in war torn countries.  I have been praying for them.  I have been praying for them all.   Once again, the whisper of the Lord says, “Their children are in My Hands.”    

In the midst of all the evil, the hatred and the grief—the goodness and the love of our Lord —brings————Peace.

May We Be Encouraged.

Photo taken by friend of Mediterranean Sea.