I sit here today, reflecting on memories of childhood.
What
wonderful memories of tons of Aunts and Uncles. Who actually are my Great Aunts
and Uncles. Who are an amazing display
of the kindness and greatness of Jesus love in the flesh form of humans. Yesterday Jesus welcomed my Aunt Peggy Hines into
His loving arms and I am positive he said “well done my good and faithful
servant”.
She had a graciousness about
her that she cared deeply and kept anything that had to do with her family. She
would pull out the books and show them to anyone who visited her.
My Uncle Sam her husband has the best laugh. I can hear it
as I sit here writing. It is filled with such Joy.
It has often been a comfort
over the years remembering my pap and all his siblings laughing and carrying on
at family times. When my pap died I was nine and I can still feel the hug Uncle
Sam and Aunt Peggy gave that was so full of love. Everyone in the Hines and Matthew families seem
to have this in common a deep affection that brings with it unspeakable Joy and
love wrapped in graciousness.
Our family has even 2 Peggy Hines’ one was my Father’s Aunt
Peggy, the other is my mom! The most important things in life really are
whatever the Father is doing. I am
looking to Jesus to whisper what God the Father wants me to do in this time. He
already gave a way for ministry here in AR for this weekend. Over the years with each death of a relative,
friend, or life threatening illness or accident I take the time to feel and
respond to the nudge.
The nudge is ever so gentle but there with a strong firm
love…asking me….Are you about My Father’s business….Are you giving ALL the
Joy, Love, peace, patience , gentleness, kindness, self-control that you have
been given?.....Are you willing to sacrifice to love deeply and well…. Are you
willing to give what can last a lifetime…. As I am thinking about these things….I
was given each of these by a family that is not blood but a bond found in Jesus
through adoption.
God’s goodness and mercies are abounding in our everyday
lives. Why is it; it takes the life is but a vapor to get our attention? Jesus
has been using the Holy Spirit to impart this all along. Why must it take an abrupt
halt to our lives for us to listen to the whispers? Father, I am so sorry for all the times I have
not listened well or followed through on this nudge. I ask your forgiveness and
the forgiveness of those whom I have not left a lasting love and deep remembrance
of Jesus and The Father. I ask The Holy
Spirit of Truth to rest upon me and speak so much firmer and with a resounding
in my deepest innermost to love well, to love deeper, to forgive more, to
forgive deeper, and to give away the most precious parts of my love you Father.
Let me love without regrets. Please Father Let my children, family, friends,
and future family, future grandchild, future son-loves, future daughter in love
know this deeply for an eternity that I loved not only Father God, Jesus and
the Holy Spirit deeply but that it reflects onto them as a love for them. Let
it be a source that carries them back to the Father in a time of need or grief.
Let this be just like it has been impart and freely given over to me. This is
such an enormous legacy of loving deeply not just here on earth but from the
throne room of Heaven.
I am so Thankful for Aunt Peggy and Uncle Sam. I am more
thankful for each person in our large family that loves the Father and in turn
loves each of us with more than enough. I know we don’t have the big family get-togethers
like we did when I was a kid. I am not sure why but it is a shame that we aren’t
loving as deeply as we once did. I think this may need to change. I want this
type of love to last and bring us back to heaven in our times of grief,
tragedy, or loss.
I see heaven invading this place. All of the Glory is for
you God. I Praise your name Jesus! God I look to you I won’t’ be overwhelmed.
Give me wisdom, you are where my help come from! Give vision to see like you do. I will love
you Lord my strength, I will love you Lord my shield, I will love you my Rock,
I will love you for all my days!
I leave you to listen and soak in The Honor of the Father! Jesus lives and I will Honor Him forever!!!
