That's my Dad....And that's my Mom.

2/13/11

It has been just over a month since the funeral. I still can't believe how slowly time seems to be going by. I guess when you spend your days missing someone, time can seem to go by slower.

It was Sunday and I woke up with a heavy heart. I knew that a day at Church would definately cheer me up and so I pressed forward.

When I got to Church and was heading up to my Sunday School class I noticed all of the visitors. The busses have been full week after week and we have had so many visitors stopping by the Church. It was so encouraging to see our entire auditorium completely full Sunday after Sunday. You can't help but smile seeing that, no mater how heavy your heart may be.

God has been doing an amazing work in our Church. It seems like a revival has broken out and I can't help but feel like Maddie has been a part of that.

You see, our whole Church lost her too. They miss her too. I'm so thankful for such an amazing Church family who is taking our hands, and walking through this valley with us. We have been so fortunate to have so many wonderful people in our lives.

If you don't attend Church, you should find one. It's like having another family who is there for you all the time. It really is a wonderful thing.

So, as I headed upstairs, encouraged on this Sunday morning, I had no idea what God had in store for me.

Once I sat down and saw the girl's filing in, I sat in awe. My class was packed, and along with my regulars, I had 7 visitors that day.

I opened my Bible and began to teach a lesson on facing giants in our lives. I taught on David and Goliath and wow did the Lord work. I noticed the intent eyes and ears as I taught and couldn't help but take advantage of all the wonderful things that the Lord was giving me.

At the end of the lesson, I began to give the plan of Salvation, never expecting that every little girl in their "knows" God and is saved. Many girls raised their hands that they knew for sure, but there was one who looked confused and unsure.

After I dismissed class, I asked her to stay behind for a moment so I could talk to her more. Two of the other girls asked to stay too. I spent the next 20 minutes talking to them and helping them to better understand the Lord and his son Jesus Christ. The one girl, who at the beginning didn't even know if she believed in God, by the end not only believed but was ready to trust Him!!! Praise God.

I led all three girl's to the Lord and with smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes, the came to know the Lord. What a blessing!

They all hugged me and loved on me afterward and thaked me for showing them in the Bible that they too could know for sure they would go to Heaven. And for showing them how to recieve Jesus in their hearts.

I'm so thankful that God used me this day. I'm so thankful that even in my deepest valley, God can still work. I'm so thakful that 3 more people are headed to Heaven today. And I'm thankful that they will get to meet my sweet Maddie Grace that I talked to them about.

If that couldn't cheer me up, I don't know what would. Maybe it sounds strange, but Rick and I have both stated that leading a soul to Christ makes us feel closer to Maddie. It's like we can feel connected to her knowing someone else will one day be where she is. I'm so thankful for Heaven.

As my day went on, and I was rejoicing, I was still struggling. I think that Satan looks for any window of opportunity to get in and discourage me. I was starting to really miss Maddie and by the time lunch was over, I was in tears.

I cried all the way home and asked Rick if it would ever get easier. For my heart is still so full of sorrow and pain. He began to remind me of what had happened just earlier that morning and how God was working in our lives. He spent all Sunday afternoon holding me and loving on me. I'm so blessed to have him.

As we headed back to Church that night I was ready to hear him preach. Even though he runs his sermons by me and usually asks how they sound, it's like he amazes me every time he stands behind that pulpit. My hubby has got some "preach" in Him! =) If you have never heard him, you should. He's amazing and God has really blessed him with this ability and opportunity.

So, that night he got up and began to preach on Job.
As many of you know the story, Job was considered by God a faithful servant, a perfect(mature) and upright man; One who feared God and fled from evil. He was a man who had much, 10 children, much livestock, and a great household. The Bible says in Job 1:3b so this man was the greatest of all men of the east.

Satan(as he will) tried to get to Job. He questioned what would happen if the hedge(God's protective hand) was removed from around him. He said that Job would curse God. Knowing the heart of His servant, God knew better. He knew Job would not turn his back on Him. He knew his servant.

As I watched my husband stand and preach from this book of Job, listening to loss after loss that this man endured. I found myself rejoicing. Job overcame. He did not give in. He lost everything that he had, but he still trusted in and loved the Lord

And many of you have said it, but it finally sunk in to me.

God finds me worthy.

Praise God, he finds me worthy. He is trusting me with this trial in my life because He knows I can make it through.

And even though day after day, I have to beg Him to help me. He does.

Rick said that night "This cross that my wife and I have to bear is ours. No one can bear it for us. And though some days it may be hard, God has counted us worthy to bear it."

Wow. What an honor. What a God.

And as he continued to preach and speak of the wonderful story of Job, I found myself saying once again, "I can do this!" "I can get through."

Then, what he said next, really pulled at my heart strings.

He said "This weekend has been amazing. We have seen 6 souls come to know the Lord and I'm so thankful to have been a part of that."

"I can't help but think that yesterday as I led a lady to the Lord that my little girl looked down from Heaven and said...

"that's my Dad"

and then this morning as three teenage girls accepted Christ, she looked down again and said...

"and that's my Mom".

(CHILLS)

What a thought. In that moment, I wanted my girl to be proud. I want her legacy to live on. For as the angels were rejoicing of the Salvation's in Heaven, she was there. She heard the cheering and the rejoicing. She was there and she was a witness.

I hope she is proud of me. I'm sure proud of her. I hope I can continue the rest of my days to remember that there is a higher calling and that it is to Heaven. I can't wait to go there when the Lord see's fit. I can't wait to see all those who will be coming with me. I sure hope that you are going too. And if there is any way I can encourage you to make sure you know your going, I will.

Please message me or email me if you would like to know more about getting saved. I always have time to share the Gospel. Please don't wait, for as you know, we aren't confident in tomorrow. Life can be so short. Maddie proved that to me.

And so, as I go through my days I will continue to do my best to stay strong and to know that God has counted me worthy.

I don't know why, but He has.

It has been said to me that this trial can make me "better" or it can make me "bitter." Oh I want to be better. I want to like Job, live for the Lord all my days, and at the end of my life I hope that God will consider me a faithful servant.

Day by day may I point people to Him. And though I will fall and I will fail, may I get up again and press forward. May my wonderful Saviour be proud of me. May my sweet girl continue to say about her parents "That's my Dad, and that's my Mom."

I love that. I love her. Thank you Lord for your blesings on me!

Job 42:12 So the Lord blessed the later end of Job more than the beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand oxen, and a thousand she asses.
13 He has also had seven sons and three daughters.

God is good!