Day Nineteen: January 19, 2011 (The Lord has called Mema Home)

Michael was sick today, so we didn't go to BSF today. However, over the last week I have felt that the Lord may be wanting me to not do BSF anymore. This has been tough for me because the Lord used the study of Isaiah to play a large role in turning my heart towards obedience in coming here. But I feel that was the purpose for me to be apart of BSF last year and that now the Lord wants me to spend that time doing something else. And it is a long drive (an hour and 15 minutes one way) and especially to do with the boys and in the morning (I am real sleepy in the morning). Mike hasn't been very comfortable with me making that drive each week, but has said it was fine if I really wanted to go, but knowing that he wasn't thrilled with it kept coming up in my mind. I have prayed over it and really feel at peace for not continuing it. One reason I wanted to do it was to build relationships with other moms - but what doesn't make sense to me is to drive over an hour to build relationships with other moms that live an hour away, when I can focus that time on somewhere closer to us and more in our area of ministry. There are two other Bible Studies in the area that I am going to pray about joining one of them.

Anyhow, we stayed put today and we were able to go outside for a little bit this afternoon and play. It did us all good to be in the backyard and get some fresh air.

Our picture for the day is from when Michael took all my coupon clippings and put them in the playroom. Jeremiah would roll around in them and play! They had a great time with it:

#19: January 19, 2011


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As I was finishing this post we received a call from Mike's brother that Mema went home to be with the Lord. We knew it was coming - she had taken a turn for the worse tonight and we were told she may not make it through the night. Despite being "prepared" tears are falling. This is the first person that I was close to in my life that has passed away and it is not easy to come to the reality that on this side of heaven we will not see her again. We rejoice with her that in this VERY moment she is seeing her Savior face to face. That in this very moment her frail body is no more and she is dancing before the Lord. That in this very moment the pain that she was stricken with is no more and she is full of life - everlasting life! That in this very moment, the Lord that she bowed her knees to on earth, she is now bowing before Him face to face. And all this is possible because before the foundation of the world God loved us. That he sent His son for us to be a redeeming sacrifice for our sin on the cross. And that Mema trusted in the Lord for her salvation and yielded her life over to Him. Have you yielded your life over to Him?

Romans 14:11
"As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

Lyrics: You Hold Me Now

On that day when I see
All that You have for me
When I see You face to face
There surrounded by Your grace

All my fear is swept away
In the light of your embrace
When Your love is all I need
And forever I am free

Where the streets are made of gold
In Your presence healed and whole
Let the songs of heaven rise to you alone

No weeping, no hurt or pain
No suffering You hold me now
You hold me now
No darkness no sick or lame
No hiding You hold me now,
You hold me now

In this life I will stand
Through my joy and my pain
Knowing there's a greater day
There's a hope that never fails

When Your name is lifted high
And forever praises rise
For the glory of Your Name
I'm believing for the day

When the wars and violence cease
All creation lives in peace
Let the songs of heaven rise to you alone

For eternity
All my heart will give
All the glory to Your name