Sad news for us -- but rejoicing for them

On Thanksgiving Day, I was privileged to attend a special gathering at the home of George and Jan Cross. Jan had been battling cancer for about four years. Her family and some friends came to her bedside on this day to give thanks for His goodness. Pastor Mel Weaver and others led us in songs and thoughts from God's Word. It was truly a precious time at Jan's bedside. Three days later, Jan was welcomed into her heavenly home. Her memorial service was held the following Friday evening at Grace Chapel. It was a beautiful time of worship led by her family.

Jan had accompanied me to India on a missions trip in 1994. We had also worked together in several settings. She was one of my very dear friends, and even though we did not see one another often in more recent times, she will be missed.  One of my most impressive memories of Jan is the day she had completely severed an index finger with a power saw. She scooped it up, drove herself to the hospital, and told them, "sew it on, I'm a pianist." They did sew it on, but it was inoperative -- and yet Jan continued to play piano beautifully. What a gal.

That's not the end of the story. Just two days ago, I received a call from India. My good friend, Marian Butler, also joined the heavenly host. I'm sure she was surprised to find that Jan had gotten there first. Marian hosted us in India, and introduced us to many folks to pray with and arranged for us to minister in various churches. Marian and I loved the River of God. She visited the states on numerous occasions, and always cooked Indian curry for me when she came. In fact, Marian taught me how to turn leftovers into a tasty curried feast. I'll miss her phone calls. She would say, "Hello, Sweetheart! This is Marian in India . . ."

Lord, thank You for memories so sweet........... and for gracing my life with their friendship.

I'm a proud mama

I spent time with my younger son, Blain, today. That in itself is always a blessing. We enjoyed a curry buffet at Passage To India -- a double blessing! But the greater delight was in learning that he had recently been called upon to fill the pulpit on a Sunday morning. Here is just a few lines of His message:

"Best friends are willing to go the extra mile for one another. There is nothing that we would not attempt to do to lighten the burden of our best friend. We sense the pain, the suffering, the stress, and the needs of our friends and we step in to lighten the load.


"These are just a few attributes of true friendship. Christ presents all these to us. He desires fellowship, quality time with each of us. We have found so much stuff to occupy us that often we neglect quality time with Jesus. Are we as open and intimate with Christ as we are in our best friendships? We put aside this time on Sunday to be with Christ, but does our friendship with Christ offer quality time with Him the remaining six days of the week? I have to confess that my time is sometimes pretty limited. What would you or I be willing to change or give up in our lives that we would be able to give the time needed to improve on a true relationship as a friend with Christ?

"I have been challenged this week in my preparations to look closely at my relationship with God as a true friend. Am I open with Him about everything, or do I beat around the bush in my conversation with Him? Do I even bother to consider Him in everything that I am about? I offer to you this morning that regardless of where you feel you are in your personal relationship with God, He desires your friendship even more. What can you do about it? He wants us to stay in touch."

That's good stuff! Don't you agree?