THE OTHER MAN WITH THE WHITE BEARD 

After reading Charity's post, I was realizing that I have had more of those "I miss Grandfather moments" during the holiday season than I have experienced the rest of the year.  Maybe it's because Christmas is the time we traditionally think about sharing with family and having time to enjoy one another.  Maybe it's because I remember several childhood Christmases when Grandfather and Grandmother were able to be with us.  As I pondered this I realized that Grandfather embodied so many of the qualities that people generally associate with Christmas.  Charity's post did a great job of demonstrating this.  It is during this season that people extend uncommon generosity and kindness, especially to those who are in need.  Grandfather always had time for those who were down and out.  Whether it was picking up a hitch hiker and sharing the Gospel and some encouraging words, or blessing a single mother with the money he had in his pocket,  he always was looking to meet the needs of others.   Christmas is a time we put family first.  Grandfather was an example of this every day of the year.  He was so good about giving a quick call to share some encouragement and to let us know how we could be praying for the needs of others in the family.  Most of all, Christmas is a time that people are focused on Christ. It is so refreshing to walk through places like Walmart and hear songs like Joy to the World, and O Come let Us Adore Him.    Grandfather left his family a legacy of faith by daily walking out his salvation and seeking to keep Christ at the center of every aspect of his life.  I pondered these things and a smile came to my face as the thought came to my mind, " The other man with the white beard."  The world created an icon that is supposed to represent Christmas, but their guy does not hold a candle to the man who embodies the Spirit of Christmas in my mind. 

I want to wish all my extended family a very merry Christmas! We pray for blessing and provision in your families this coming year.

Elisha 

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

As we traveled through the hours of driving, Sarah and I listened to stories and visited each other.  We were running out of CDs. I hesitated to put on the Christmas carol CD that Daddy gave to us, when we lived in Maryland. I knew it would make me miss him so much, but I knew he meant for us to enjoy its happy music, and praises to God.  At least I wanted Sarah to be able to enjoy it. 

It was about the middle of the third song, when Sarah was crying in the back, saying, “Mommy, I used to like the Christmas songs, but now it seems like the only thing they’re saying is, ‘Grandfather’s not here. Grandfather’s not here. Grandfather’s not here.”  How well she described my feelings!

A few days later, as Sarah and I headed for groceries, we hoped to bless someone’s day, the way Auntie Marie does. She buys a treat for the cashier and gives it to them with the receipt and a Bible tract.  We stashed a few tracts in our pocket.

As we approached the store, we saw a grandmother-looking lady and a lady about my age ringing the Salvation Army bell.  The younger one was singing carols by herself, w/ no accompaniment, just using her hymn book. I joined her carol and Sarah put her gift into the barrel. The ladies we so happy to have someone join in, and Sarah and I sang more carols.  When we finished, we had a tract in hand to give them. Yet, before we could give them ours, they handed one to us!  I laughed for joy and showed them the one we had planned to give.

Sarah went inside to buy the ladies some drinks and treats with her gift money and savings.

Margaret, the elder of the two ladies, was born a Siamese twin, whose brother died at 6 months old.  She wasn’t expected to live past 1yr. and was predicted to be a vegetable.  Her bone was eaten away ( ½ inch in one place I think ).  She had cancer, but through prayer, God healed her and filled in her bone. She now has been a widow for 11yrs. Also, she just lost her sister this year.  She knows grief and God’s comfort.  She was able to pray for us with great compassion for Mother, who is missing Daddy so very much! 

We sang more songs until our voices wore out. Sometimes others passing by would join us too.  The singing wasn’t that lovely by musical standards, but it was very joyous, and by passers showed they were happy for it.  Even one of the store employees (who was the choir director for years) said he was hearing us from his office, and couldn’t wait to join us for at least one carol.

The ladies kept joyously saying how kind God was to send us there that day.  And I kept thinking how precious it was to be able to carol.  When we were doing it to spread the Gospel, it was easier for us not to cry.  This time I felt like the music was saying, “This is what Grandfather wanted! This is what Grandfather wanted! This is what Grandfather wanted!”

Stepping Stones to Eternal Life

The liberal soul shall be made fat: 

and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

 Proverbs 11:25 

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Titus 3:5-8

Faith Of Our Fathers (our Daddy)

1. This song was always precious to me! Now this is our first Father's Day without our our Daddy on earth. I could only cry thankfully, when I tried to sing along as God's children sang it in the congregation today. 

1. Faith of our fathers, living still,
   In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword;
   Oh, how our hearts beat high with joy
   Whene’er we hear that glorious Word!
   • Refrain:
     Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
     We will be true to thee till death.
2. Faith of our fathers, we will strive
   To win all nations unto thee;
   And through the truth that comes from God,
   We all shall then be truly free.
3. Faith of our fathers, we will love
   Both friend and foe in all our strife;
   And preach thee, too, as love knows how
   By kindly words and virtuous life.
   
   
   I want this to be burning in my heart always!
   
   We get to rejoice that Daddy now is getting some fellowship of his dreams, with the fathers of faith throughout time!... and best of all our precious redeeming Heavenly Father, face to face!
   
   
   Love,
   Charity
   

   

Trust in the LORD

Trust in the LORD, and do good

Dwell in the land

And feed on His faithfulness

Ps. 37:4

Hi Everyone,

Life here has been crazy for me the past month or so, not being sure which end is up. But all things considered I’m feeling very well in spite of my shakeups. What often rescues me and sets me right is acknowledging the things God had and does provide.

Here are some of my favorite feeling words:
brave
calm
carefree
cheerful
confident
delighted
elated
enthusiastic
excited
flattered
free
friendly
glad
grateful
high
happy
hopeful
impressed
joyful
loving
optimistic
passionate
peaceful
playful
pleased
wonderful

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him (Ps. 37:7a)
Joseph

The Lady Behind the Gentleman

Charity posed a question about whether this blog should also include our thoughts and appreciation of Mother/Grandmother.

I say, “Of course, how could it not?” Daddy would not have been who he was, and we would not be who we are without the enduring faith and love of our mother/Grandmother.

Growing up, I always felt that I knew no better example of God’s love, how he leads us, how he looks after our best interest, than I had in my mother. In many ways, she has been the family cornerstone.

Is it possible to write a blog about Daddy/Grandfather which does not also display our admiration for Mother/Grandmother? I don’t think so.

Here is Daddy's Letter of Encouragement to Write. I think it's from 2011.
Love,
 Charity

My Mother’s Precious Faith 

I saw my Mother

Get up in the night.

Satan was trying

To fill her with fright.

He was threatening to steal

Her joy and her might.

She put on God’s armor

And increased her fight.

She sang praises to God

Through her tears in her plight.

My siblings were there

Like Aaron and Hur,

To lift Mother’s hands

And help her stand sure.

She thanked God for thing after thing

He had done,

Like making a way for the lost

Through his Son.

She named out her blessings

Of late and the past,

Reminding herself that

God’s love always lasts.

She prayed for each of

her children, their spouses

grandchildren, and great grands,

great-great grands, their houses.

She prayed for the neighbors

And church and our country.

She read from God’s Word,

 to trust Him completely.

In her sufferings she claimed,

“God is good and He’s right!”

With God’s Word and His praise

She put Satan to flight!

                                               Thank you, Dear heavenly Father!  

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I Need to Know...

Should this be a private blog? Some family members are having a difficult time getting to the blog. Should I make it public so that they can read it without needing to have a gmail account?

~~~♥~~~ 

I posted this question around the middle of March, but no one responded. I reposted it yesterday, but since I still have no input on this, I have decided to allow anyone to read the blog. Please let me know if you think this blog should be private.

One thing to consider...several people said that they are not able to sign-in even though I sent an invite to their email. So, if anyone thinks this blog should be private, I would be delighted if he or she would take over sending out email invitations and helping those having difficulty with sign-ins.

Those who have not already accepted an invite to this blog will need one if they want to make a blog post. If you email me with your email address, I will be happy to send you an invite. (I may have to send you multiple invites to make it work...just hang in there.)

Lots of love and happy blogging,

Hope

Daddy's message: Lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Oh! I love Daddy singing "Happy Birthday! Thank you for sharing it, dear Clare. Thank you too, dear Hope, for posting it so lovingly and skillfully! I don't have any other recordings of Daddy singing, but I love hearing his simple voice, so full of love for his family and for the Lord.

When Hope and Bill sent us that link of "Peace In The Valley" sung by Tennessee Ernie Ford, I also enjoyed listening to him sing "Whispering Hope". I only knew of this song because Daddy sang it to us a few different times, over the phone.  During the last two years, when we were sad many times, we called him for prayer, and he often would sing this to us. Then he would have us sing a song of God's praise also.

The message is precious, hearing Ten. E. Ford sing it. Yet, he just can't do it like Daddy.

Lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, 

and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus.

 Heb. 6:18-20

Whispering Hope

1. Soft as the voice of an angel,
   Breathing a lesson unheard,
   Hope with a gentle persuasion
   Whispers her comforting word:
   Wait till the darkness is over,
   Wait till the tempest is done,
   Hope for the sunshine tomorrow,
   After the shower is gone.
   • Refrain:
     Whispering hope, oh, how welcome thy voice,
     Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.
2. If, in the dusk of the twilight,
   Dim be the region afar,
   Will not the deepening darkness
   Brighten the glimmering star?
   Then when the night is upon us,
   Why should the heart sink away?
   When the dark midnight is over,
   Watch for the breaking of day.
3. Hope, as an anchor so steadfast,
   Rends the dark veil for the soul,
   Whither the Master has entered,
   Robbing the grave of its goal;
   Come then, oh, come, glad fruition,
   Come to my sad weary heart;
   Come, O Thou blest hope of glory,
   Never, oh, never depart.

Whispering Hope by Tennessee Ernie Ford

I posted this song because of Charity's post. As she said, it is not the same as hearing Daddy sing it, but, If like me, you have never heard the song, it helps appreciate the lyrics of Charity's post.

I could not find any complete version of this song.

♥ Hope

Story Sketches by Charity

Music to Make Grandfather Proud

I hope it is okay that I posted this video. If not, please let me know.

Love, Hope

By Jacqueline ~ Posted on Facebook

You don't have to be famous, wealthy or beautiful to have a huge impact on the world around you. My granddad proved that very well in the 83 years he was with us. He is one of my biggest inspirations. He loved music. Loved adventure. Loved trying new things. I remember when I was young, as I'd play my violin, he'd say gently "You can do better than that! Improvise, Improvise!" and I thought "No way, that's uncool. Like, seriously, the book doesn't say to do it that way.." But over the years I've realized the importance of trying new things, creating new sounds, and playing beautiful music. I am an adventurer, I am persistent, I never give up when I set my mind to do something. And I know where I got many strengths from. Grandpa is in a better place now, and I miss him like crazy, but as they say..."don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." ...♥

 

(Jacqueline gave me permission to post this here.)

Happy Birthday to You From Daddy 2013

Clare asked me to post this for you all.
Just insert your own name. ☺

Dear Mother and Family

Joseph's Writing

Review of "Heaven is for Real"

 

Hope is the quiet confidence...

Dear Nieces and Nephews ~