This last week I attended the funeral of a friend. Kenny Hodgekiss was a man who affected many lives with his humor, friendship, and by just being the pleasant soul God created him to be. He will be missed by his family and our continued prayers go out to, Teri, Lori, Maw-Maw Elaine, and their families.
His passing from this life to the greater life beyond made me think. We Christians like to make big shot pastors, creative writers, and the newest song singers our “poster” children examples of what it means to be a Christian. We put them on magazine covers and read their blogs. Many of these people are legitimate good people. However, I think we miss the reality testimony of real Christian servants many times, and then we miss the chance to say how much their examples mean to us. Few if any magazine articles are about those souls like Kenny who sit in the background and just do what God created them to do. They don’t blow their own trumpets; they just get the job that other people plan, done. They drive us places without complaint, they hold our hands when we are afraid, they make us laugh, the hold us up in their prayers, they listen when we don’t understand. Like a modern day Barnabas they encourage us.
I remember how Kenny would come by the office when my dad, another quiet lay soul, was going through his recent heart issues. Kenny would let me know he was praying for my dad and give me some time just to have a listening ear. Such people are a wonder; a special God given treasure. I really think when it comes time for the master to honor us in heaven with his “Well done” we will find that he holds something special for those people who served others and put them first beyond themselves. What has been done in the darkness will come to full light. I am thankful that I have had so many people like this in my life who have been appointed to be there just when I needed them most. I will have a lot of “Thank You” time when I get to Heaven.
I hope will all take a moment this week and tell someone who does this kind of ministry “Thank you, for letting God work through you”. I hope we all will live in the legacy of those who encouraged us by being an encouragement this week.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
I love my Dog, Maggie. She is older. That means she is calmer. That means she doesn’t chew things up or pee on the carpet. She has been the quietest dog I have ever had. She loves to be petted and loved on by the kids. To us she is the perfect dog. Of course, I have always said if there were such a thing as reincarnation, I would want to ‘come back” as a dog in this house. They would be loved if they had three legs, one eye, and came with a color that gave their name as “Lucky”
As I said, she is getting older. That has some issues. She wakes Julie up a couple of times a night to go outside. She does this by flapping her ears or even barking if Julie doesn’t get up fast enough. Those of you who don’t know we found her abandoned. She came to us house broke and leash trained. This was after a couple of years without a dog. We had her predecessor, Ginger, since she was a puppy. She was our baby before we had the kids and she loved them like they were her puppies. Maggie does the same; in fact sometimes I think she is Ginger in a Black lab body.
One of the joys of her being older is she helps us as a family learn about treating something and even someone who is older with grace, dignity, and care. She isn’t always ready to run and play, although with her new meds she is friskier then she has been. She takes a pill and a liquid medicine which I am responsible for giving her. She and I pill pop together.
God often brings situations into our life to teach us. Sometimes they aren’t the things we want but they are sent by him so they deserve our correct response. Through obedience we grow, learn, adapt and eventually become happier as we adjust to challenging situations that stretch us beyond ourselves.
Lord, help me learn through the situations you allow into my life today, tomorrow and in the weeks ahead.
As I said, she is getting older. That has some issues. She wakes Julie up a couple of times a night to go outside. She does this by flapping her ears or even barking if Julie doesn’t get up fast enough. Those of you who don’t know we found her abandoned. She came to us house broke and leash trained. This was after a couple of years without a dog. We had her predecessor, Ginger, since she was a puppy. She was our baby before we had the kids and she loved them like they were her puppies. Maggie does the same; in fact sometimes I think she is Ginger in a Black lab body.
One of the joys of her being older is she helps us as a family learn about treating something and even someone who is older with grace, dignity, and care. She isn’t always ready to run and play, although with her new meds she is friskier then she has been. She takes a pill and a liquid medicine which I am responsible for giving her. She and I pill pop together.
God often brings situations into our life to teach us. Sometimes they aren’t the things we want but they are sent by him so they deserve our correct response. Through obedience we grow, learn, adapt and eventually become happier as we adjust to challenging situations that stretch us beyond ourselves.
Lord, help me learn through the situations you allow into my life today, tomorrow and in the weeks ahead.
Monday, August 2, 2010
A Great Day
Sunday 1 August 2010: Today a lot of people got "right" with God. The Prayer service was a great way of focusing our attention on God. It made a good church a great church. God will continue to bless as we become obedient in our daily lives to him. Thank you, Master, for your work. Help us to be open to being broken, shaped, and molded in your hands.
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