by Marilyn Ehle
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“I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4 TNIV).
When I asked if she was in pain, her lips moved only slightly and I bent low to hear the murmured words: “No pain.”
She is a woman whose hair was always beautifully curled, her clothing always chosen with care to be colorful, stylish, yet simple. Her back was straight as she walked with dignity. She read widely with favorite authors as diverse as Charles Colson, F. B Meyer and Alexander McCall Smith. Her sense of humor frequently caught us unaware. Wisdom gained through long experience was quietly shared.
Life Lesson: Biblical perspective on the end times
Experience It: Walk in the power of the Holy Spirit
She loved entertaining and to be invited for tea was an occasion to remember. The table held beautiful china and flowers, tiny homemade scones were ready for clotted cream and rich red jam, and the tea—at least two flavors—was hot and poured into delicate cups.
Today her thin white hair spreads straight on the starched hospice pillow. Her garb is a clean but faded hospital gown loosely covering patches, tubes and wires. Her bruised and swollen body lies still on the bed.
It has been over a year since Mary met with our small group on Sunday mornings. A nasty fall broke bones and exacerbated an already severe case of arthritis. Diabetes flared. Ambulances moved her between home and hospitals and care facilities.
During these long grueling months Mary never lost hope. While never denying the reality of her situation, “when”—not “if”—was her mantra. “I’ll have you come to tea when this is over.” “When the pain eases, I’ll be able to read long books again.”
Doctors now say a massive infection has invaded her frail body. She will soon die. But this morning we spoke together of heaven. Her friend has come from California and they talked together of roller skating in Africa as children and how Mary will surely skate again in heaven. We sang hymns together. Mary feebly asked for (and received!) a ”chocolate mocha frappé from Starbucks.”
When I heard the whispered words, “No pain,” I realized that very soon Mary will not only be released from debilitating physical pain, but she will no longer suffer from scarring childhood memories, excruciating family wounds, and all the other tough stuff of life. Soon, very soon—perhaps in the coming hours—her hair will again be her crowning glory, she will be robed exquisitely in white, she will walk regally—and then bow painlessly—before her Savior.
~Father, what a privilege it has been to know Mary. I am only one of the thousands whose lives have been touched and blessed by her presence. Take her soon to yourself, Father.
Questions: Who do you know who has lived long and faithfully for Jesus? How has that person affected your life? Just as we should prepare for all the practical end of life decisions, how can we prepare ourselves spiritually? What “heavenly promise” is important to you?
About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/marilyn-ehle/
Tags: debilitating, hope, infection, pain
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I attended a funeral yesterday of a 52 year old lady from our church. According to her wishes the entire self-planned 1 3/4 hour service was focused on a salvation message.
She had touched many lives through her living and many also through her dying of cancer as she struggled with the many questions that came with it.
The real message that came through though was the assurance she had at the end that Jesus was there for her. When asked what she would like written on her tombstone, she had thought a while and answered “Safe in the Arms of Jesus”
The whole service was a challenge to me to wonder what I will leave behind, and what I can do to impact that.
my mother died May 3, 1994 and it was her request to be cremated and to have her ashes spread over a place in West Virginia that she had loved to visit. As a service we had a memorial service the following sat. i had seen people i hadn’t seen in 20 years that day. this is what my mother would of wanted was for the people who loved her to be talking and laughing at a wake for her. in talking to one person there he said that everytime he heard one person talking and laughing he expected to hear MOM laughing right along with him. we well always have are memories of her and she will always be in our minds and hearts.
Praise The Lord for answered prayers about your computer, dear Chris, we KNEW He’d come through for you…And He will do that for others who wrote prayer requests in yesterday to the blog. We can have our Lord’s JOY in spite of any and ALL earthen circumstances…Nehemiah 8:10!!! And? It sounds like your precious Mom had “the JOY of the Lord as her strength”.. She has a special daughter in Canada who is learning that beauty, too! Rejoicing with you, dear Chris!!! Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness in ALL that concerns us! Let us know how your dear legs are doing, too! We’ve prayed for relief and healing!
And, Marilyn Ehle, your friend Mary “will” skate the Royal, Golden paved streets of Paradise..And that beautiful crown of hair “will” be restored..along with all that was important to her on this earth..for from your beautiful words? She serves HIM still..never giving up Hope! She’ll have a tea table in Heaven and rejoice when all the earthen work here is finished…May we all live this life as joyfully and well as Mary has…And never lose His JOY which truly is our strength on this earth! We should all be like Mary and never lose our hope…right up until our last earthen breath! When am bombarded by earthen things? I say Nehemiah 8:10 out loud and remind myself!!
Thank you Lord for the example of my Mom, Grandmother and earthen Sister..who lived for your glory..for Sisters in you right here at this blog who live for your glory …and for dear friend and mentor, Frieda in CA who is 82 years young and vital and still serving and giving you All Glory…Amen and Amen for precious examples in this life!
Amen and Amen.
I love many of the Heavenly promises and it was hard to think of just one.
One of my favorites is Isaiah 43:2 “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
Not only do I love that promise….I have found it to be true in my life..over and over again…..and know I will stand on that promise again and again.
I believe there are several ones that either have been in my life or are presently in my life, that are living and will continue to live a long and faithful life in Jesus. Through their love and friendships, even though the Lord has distanced one….I have learned so much. Their lives in themselves have had such a impact on others…on myself and there is a glow about them that illuminates Christ’s love for me and for other lives they touch. I am so blessed ….that God allowed me to cross paths with these precious ones.
As I stood in church today…..tears filled my eyes as we sang some old old hymns……’What a day that will Be….When My Jesus, I shall see….When He takes me by the hand and leads me to that Promised Land……..
Also:
“But until then, my heart will go on singing,
Until then, with joy I’ll carry on
Until the day my eyes behold the City
Until the day God calls me home”
I love the promises and how I love the old hymns! I’m so thankful today….for our loving Savior..for His endless mercy, grace and forgiveness…….One that loved me in my sin, drew me to Him, convicted me of my sin and need for Him in my life…..and made me His dear child.
I long to see my precious mother when I get to heaven…..but the One I long to see first, is Jesus…..
I remember a lady by the name of Evelyn that was in the small church we attented, she was suffering from cancer yet she still made it to church, at times only by the grace of God because of her pain. She was graceful and determined. She loved the Lord and didn’t mind sharing. She taught for years the childrens classes and VBS. May we all grow old in grace and make others desire our faith that never fails.The price we pay here on earth will never compare to the price he paid for us. Blessings to all.
My Grandmother Josefina has lived a long and faithful life for Jesus, until today. She has been in pain for the last couple of years, and even though her body is deteriorating and she can no longer walk on her own, you can still see her singing to God every morning and always smiling.
I think of her and her testimony anytime I feel like I cannot go on, and life gets too hard. I remind myself of all the trials and tribulations my Grandmother has gone through and she is still still faithful to Jesus and Jesus to her.
As I see her and see the that her earthly time is about to expire, I am in awe and excited to see her go back Home to her Creator.
I still have long ways to go for me to be even be a fourth of the woman of God my Grandmother is, but I sure keep trying.
She always tells me “wake up thanking God for every single limb and every single joint in your body and know that every step that you take is the step he has set forth before you to take.” Read the Holy Word every day and ponder upon it for your life.
I only pray to God to give me His strength and love when He takes her home…
this is a very special devotionalfor me to day as our 88 year old specail friend kate lies in her hospital bed the family has all come in and all they are doing for her is keeping her comfortable. she is a wonderful person and a christian and we love her dearly it will be hard for us as it will be for the family but she said she is ready.
sharon b
marilyn thank you so very much for the wonderful devotion to day it ment a lot to me it is only a matter of time before
he calls her homebless you
sharon b
It isn’t quite 2 years since my passed away and all I could do was cry through the devotional. My mom loved the Lord with all of her heart. My mom was a minister before she was married and was faithful in her walk with the Lord My dad loved Jesus to. I know i will see them some day!
The Lord rescued me from a potentially bad sitution at birth when my bith parents could not look after me. So I had the priviledge of being raised in Christian home. Growing up if there was a service in the church I was there either with my parents and never missed. My birth parents don’t know the Lord. It is rather confusing I am related to them as well! and see them and my siblings ralatives from time to time. I thank God for my godly heritage! A girl from Ontario Canada
Thank you Lord for these wonderful spirit filled ladies and their beautiful prayers for one another. Amen
Dear Jersygirl,
You will be ministered and blessed her at this devotional blog. I was just talking to a friend….about how thankful I am to have discovered these ladies. It was ordained by God and His timing is, was and will always be perfect!
For me, when I came here, it was a time of difficulty. I felt defeated with no hope. As those here ministered and shared, I began to hear the Lord thru their testimonies and encouragement.
I truly believe that today, I have new eyes…..as they have been opened thru this ministry. My heart is different as the Lord, I believe, broke it…so He could begin re-molding…re-shaping my heart.
I am beginning to really “know” the joy that so many have spoken and am experiencing a freedom I have not known.
So welcome Jerseygirl! You are in my prayers….as I read your comment yesterday. God is so good and I am a testimony that He works through what seems impossible to us. In fact, it is impossible without Him!
God is good…All the time.
I am going through the same situation. I praise God for His Presence to me during this most difficult time. My dad is in the final stage of cancer.I have prayed to God to take daddy home.I have Christian parents who not only explained the Christian walk but demonstrated it to us in their walk with Him.
I came home to take a shower and hurry back to his bed. I was inspired to check my e-mail. I found this devotion and had to respond.Yes, this is God telling me He heard and will answer my prayers.Please pray for my family as we are taking care of our parents.God is good and I know He will supply all our needs.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
susan
my heart goes out to you. i will be praying for you and your family
sharon b
One of my best friends died of cancer last year and I thought about this email. I wondered why God would taker her so young and I now know that she is in a far better place, free of pain and I shall see her someday.