Kenny L.’s in the Church Triumphant

A child going to Heaven

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel

of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners,

nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Psalm 1:1 (KJV)


Those of our church family have another friend who will be waiting for us when it’s our turn to enter Heaven. He and his wife will greet us, He, with his great big smile and a great big bear hug. She, with her beautiful smile and quiet presence.

We didn’t know he was as ill as he was until about three weeks ago. He will always be remembered for his trademark sense of humor and his gentle caring attitude. He teased those he loved; some of us he REALLY loved.

Kenny lived a full life with lots of activity. He had been a Boy Scout leader, working with some who became Eagle Scouts. He had worked as a school custodian for several years. There he took the time to listen to all who needed guidance.

He, his late wife, and their son chose to drive from another town every Sunday to worship with us. Almost five years ago, he went through a major health crisis. During that ordeal, his family almost lost him four times. God allowed him to stay with us these five years. It has been our privilege and blessing to have him with us since his other serious illness.

A dear friend called me late in the afternoon the day of the funeral. She had accompanied two others down to the town Kenny and his family called home for the calling the night before. She commented on the picture boards. All the pictures showed Kenny and Sue Ann smiling and enjoying life.

Kenny lived his faith. Our pastor told of the last time he went to see him. Pastor John said, “I’ll see you, Kenny. Kenny didn’t miss a beat. “I’ll see you, John, in heaven.”

Those who were able to visit him in the hospital came back and told us the same thing. Kenny was ready to go to Heaven and spend time with Jesus and with his wonderful wife.

His children chose to bring Kenny to church for his celebration of life. His son, Kelly, still had the bulletin from Sue Ann’s service almost three years ago. It was Kelly’s wish to have the same music for his dad’s service.

Kenny was ready to go to heaven. He lived his faith every day. It is my wish that everyone would have that outlook.
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Note: Transferred to the Church Triumphant was on the face of the bulletin for this home going. I have seen it used for other funerals at the church.

Wait For God

“I say to myself,’ The Lord is my portion; therefore

I will wait for him.’ The Lord is good to those

whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;

It is good for those who wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”

Lamentations 3:24-26 (NIV)



Waiting is not always my long suit. I used to prefer quick action to my needs but as I have matured in chronology and in faith I have learned to wait. We, as Christians, have to learn to be patient and, yes, to wait for what God has in store for us.

God is our allotment; we willingly wait for Him to act. God smiles on those who place their confidence in Him, those who seek Him and obey His rules. Jeremiah, the author, tells us it benefits us to patiently wait for the Lord’s saving grace to be imparted to those of us who seek Him.

When we have doubts and issues confronting us, we can remember that God is our Savior-He will save us from our sins, if we ask Him that God is our healer; He heals all our diseases, and that God is our friend. He is always with us. We can place our confidence in Him.

Waiting is not always fun, not always easy but we have to wait for God to step in and act on our behalf as well as others. We might not always get what we want but we always get what is best for us or the situation.

God in Us

“If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And we know and rely on the love God has for us.” 1 John 4:15-16 (NIV)



This is a basic statement for belief in God. All we have to do is accept Jesus as the Son of God. As we grow spiritually, we feel more at ease with witnessing for the Lord.

When we begin to live for Christ, we communicate His love to those around us in very small yet practical ways. Sometimes, just listening to a friend is all it takes for that person to feel God’s love in a special way.

If a friend has a difficult time dealing with an issue her family faces, we can pray with the person. We may be able to send an encouragement card to her or him.

We do ministry because we learned that we've become Jesus’ hands and feet. We work for the Kingdom’s enlargement because God has commissioned us to be His instruments, His vessels.

Our motivation is His love, His endless wonderful love.

Jesus’ Example

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me. Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

." MT 26:3639 (NIV)



Jesus sought a place where He could commune with the Father. The eleven disciples traveled with him to the garden. He departed from most of the group, taking his three closest followers with him a bit further.

He asked the trio to keep watch and pray. He was discouraged about the events to come. Our Lord knelt down a few feet away and communed with God. We can barely imagine his thoughts.

While we reflect on the events of Holy Week, we look at Gethsemane as a time of surrender for Christ. He approached His Father alone, as we all must do in the midst of a difficulty, fell face down before God as an act of humility. He had told the disciples he was sick to his soul, overwhelmed with sorrow. He prayed for His own will to be laid aside and for God’s will to be carried out.

He did this because He chose to give us an example. When we or those we know have times of great sorrow or stress, we should go off by ourselves and seek God and His guidance.

As of this writing, my husband faces yet another health issue, we see a specialist the day after Easter. Please keep Jim and me in your prayers.

A Question for Jesus

In my walk with the Lord I have had times where something concerned me to the point that I would say to myself or to others, “I’ll ask Jesus when I see Him.”

One I would like to ask Him deals with why He submitted Himself to the horrors of being scourged and the severe trauma of being crucified like a criminal.

“Lord, why did You put yourself through such humiliation? The scourging tore Your skin to shreds. You were so weak the soldiers found someone to carry your cross. They drove nails into your ankles and into your hands. The soldiers gambled to see who received your clothes. Your friends abandoned you. The crowd mocked and taunted You. Yet, You were perfect; You did nothing to deserve that treatment. WHY?”

Jesus will look at me with eyes of compassion, reach around me with His strong arms and draw me close to Himself. He will speak softly, “I did it because I love you. My Father and I want you to be with us in paradise someday. I took all your sins and those of all other people upon myself so you may be able to enter into My home and live forever. I love you that much.”

He Loved Us First

We love him, because he first loved us .1 John 4:19 (KJV)



God saw us in our unformed state, before He wove us together. He knew the selfish bend in our personas. He was aware of how we could be able to hurt one another. Yet, He loved us anyway.

He foresaw nations waging war on nations, governments bringing out the ire of their people. God watches as nations rise and fall. In spite of all this He allows those forms of government to flourish.

Our God uses great restraint when He sees we haven’t done right in His eyes. He actually forgives us our sins; all we have to do is ask Him to. He also exercises patience and grace to us when we fall away.

The important thing is God loves us, as we are-warts and all. He doesn’t see us as selfish, undisciplined, and mean children. We belong to Him and he loves us, no matter what.

God has prepared a place for us in His home. From the beginning of time, He planned for us to live with Him forever.

The Crucifixion

A Prayer from 2009
______________

(John 19:1-27)

Dear Jesus:

They trumped up charges against You; they were that afraid of You and Your message. You did nothing wrong.

They nailed you on a cross—a fate reserved for the vilest criminal. But You asked God

to forgive them.

You became sin for us all, especially me. We all deserve to die and receive punishment for what we have done. Yet, you took our place, even mine.

Your followers watched as You agonized. They felt intense sadness as they heard You crying out; they smelled death the whole time.

But this was God's plan for You. One you wrestled with in Gethsemane and finally yielded to because of Your great love for Your children.

I find I appreciate You more as I walk closer to You. Thank You for accepting God's plan,

Amen