In SICKNESS and In HEALTH

Two dear friends of min, Ken and Lyn Overton have walked this road with Jesus during their marriage.They both honoured those marriage vows they made way back in 1975.

They have both struggled with unforeseen health issues and both were at the brink of death, but they were each aware that Jesus walked through those waters with them. And held the towering waves of devastation at bay.

Paul O'Rourke captured their amazing story and named it appropriately: Where There's Life, There's Hope. 
I have read this book a couple of times and  never cease to be moved and encouraged by the devotion of this couple to each other and to the Lord Jesus, their Saviour.

2004. To quote from the book:  "The doctor who treated Lyn, DR Craig Bowker, said she was the first person he had seen to have survived such serious complications from a blood clot causing heart failure and a stroke. Lyn's recovery has been to my mind miraculous of that I have no doubt."

2009. And surgeon Dr James Roberts-Thomson said Ken's recovery was miraculous. "Ken had only a 10% chance of survival when he was diagnosed, and his chances of recovery halved as a result of the many complications he encountered."

But survive they did, even if after such suffering and testing of their faith. Both said their experiences had drawn them closer to each other and most of all to God. Ken says, "Life is fragile and we are very aware that we are guaranteed only this moment. Despite our remarkable healing, one day we are still going to die, but it's God who holds our breath and still does."

Secret Photographer

Morgan Tarpley is a very happy young woman. She is an award winning journalist from Louisiana and has just announced her engagement to Steven. But she says "none of this is a surprise to God. Only to us, who were not expecting it, as we've known and prayed and thought of each other for years."

Five months before, Steven had felt called by God to a ministry in Wales. When he returned Morgan suggested they meet for coffee so he could tell her a about his time there.

Four hours later, they parted in the car park and Morgan - who by this time really felt drawn to Steven - believed that it was just a meeting between friends. And that's all there was to it.

But Steven was determined not to rush into it but wait on the Lord's timing. Sometime later he invited her out to enjoy a day together at the zoo. Morgan had an inkling something might happen, but she says they walked and walked all day before Steven led her to a lovely spot where a stream flowed under a bridge.

"Yes! She said yes!"

Steven then turned to her and handed her a letter he'd written. Morgan says she read aloud all the precious things a sweetheart would say and her eyes welled up with tears. And right then Steven got down on one knee and proposed marriage.

She didn't hesitate and after he slipped on the beautiful ring, she hugged and kissed him. At that point Steven looked at his photographer mate who'd been following this with a telephoto lens, and beat the air with his fist as in the picture, capturing this joyful moment. Morgan says that it was the perfect proposal for her. A secret photographer, a heartfelt handwritten letter, a sentimental place, and the man I loved."
She goes on to say, "I thank God for bringing us together. How important its was that I waited on God's time. It's the best thing I will ever do in my life."  
Her favourite Bible verses follow:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding. Think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you in all the right paths." Proverbs 3:5, 6.
                              And

"We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God; those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8: 28

Thanks Morgan for sharing your joy with us. We do wish you all of God's blessings on your future life as you walk together in His ways.

BEST FRIENDS for LIFE

I hadn't really thought of this before, but it's so true.

I met my husband at a Youth For Christ rally and found a real soul mate. We were both interested in serving the Lord and so discovered we had this in common.

We kept company for two years before we were finally married. In that time we began singing duets together in Christian services.

I had other nice boyfriends before, but I never seriously thought of being married to them. As love grew from our friendship we knew we wanted to spend our whole lives together.

We have never once regretted our decision and enjoy our times together in whatever we're doing. We are so grateful to the Lord for allowing us to meet as we truly feel two halves of a whole. As the Holy Bible says, "The two shall become one." I know some couples want to have time alone to do what they are interested in, but we simply want to share each of our interests together. That also applies to the household chores. I cook the meals and my darling husband washes the dishes. I never asked him to, but he likes to share the workload.

We have both learned to be forgivers. There are bound to be times in a marriage when disagreements arise and sometimes harsh words are said. It is then we remember the Bible tells us to "not let the sun go down upon your wrath." Then we admit our wrong treatment of the other and seek forgiveness. We try to work out the problem, 'give and take' style, then put it behind us. And never to hold grudges for if God has forgiven our sins, then why should we not forgive our loved one?

As the years go by we have grown even closer together and know that whichever one of us leaves the other in death, we will be reunited in heaven. Not as husband and wife, but as worshipers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

MOTHERS' DAY TRIBUTE - Life's Tapestry

How I miss my dear mum!
This is me singing a song I wrote as a tribute to her because of my Christian upbringing. I have often sung this song on Mother's Day. I can still remember the expression on her face when she heard me sing it for the first time.

Life's Tapestry

There's a pattern to Life with its joys and its strife
And we each have our work here to do.
Like a tapestry planned by the Master's own Hand
From each mistake we learn something new.

How it all floods my memory. Was that little child really me?
With my needle and thread, making mistakes instead as I worked on my first tapestry....

Then my mother reached down, "What a lesson you've learned." And she smiled as she dried up my tears. "Dearest child listen well, on mistakes you can't dwell or all your life you'll have heartaches and fears. For the Lord that we love sent His Son from above, and He died on that old rugged tree. And the blood that was shed, like a beautiful thread through the pattern of Life sets us free."

Who nows what my future will be?... His Design I can't always see,
Yet strand by strand,  He is guiding my hand as I work on my life's tapestry.

My dear mum is with the Lord now and one day we'll be reunited when Jesus calls us Home.
That's why He came to earth, to teach us how to live. He forgives our sins and offers us true salvation by believing on His death on the cross where He offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. 

Thank you Jesus 

A Different Kind of Romance

Amanda Deed is an author with a fresh touch. I reviewed her book on Goodreads:

An unusual story which I enjoyed because of the way it changed my feelings for the main protagonist. Yes, it was Henry's story all throughout...never mind what others were doing. A fellow who I would never be attracted to in the least and yet...why was he like this? Amanda Deed convincingly slips in the reasons, chapter by chapter. It's a clever plot and I didn't want to like this fellow. Even so sympathy is a strong emotion and you'd have to be cold not to see what happened then to a child is happening all too often today. Ah, but love is an even stronger emotion and that's what overcame his daily battles of self-loathing to win against all the odds.

 Some of Amanda's thoughts on the Bible book of I Corinthians:

 I was thinking about this passage last night, and a whole new level of depth opened up for me. It specifically mentions a few areas where love is important – communication, knowledge, faith and generosity. If we have all these things perfect, but don’t act in love, they are useless.

The thing is, this spreads to every area of life really. I mean, how many times do we hear on those reality cooking competitions ‘there is no love in this food’? Even if they used the right techniques and skills and it looked great, sometimes there is just not that extra wow that comes with love.

And again, when you listen to a skilled musician or watch a graceful dancer — without the love, it all becomes mechanical and doesn’t have the same impact.

It’s like love is the invisible foundation beneath all of life and without it, the world is colourless and meaningless. A world without love is no world at all.

Of course, when you think that GOD IS LOVE, it all makes sense. He’s in everything and He’s everywhere. That love — HIM — underpins all of life. So then, without Him, there is no life. When everything else is gone, love still remains. I’d say He’s a good thing to hold onto then.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 
 [1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV]