girl talk

Friday Funnies

If you are not one of the millions of people who have seen this little girl sing the Lord's Prayer, you're in for a treat. More talk on Monday, Nicole for the girls

So Worth It

As a young bride, I came across some wise counsel that has served me well through the years. Essentially, it was this: it’s often hard to do important things, but it’s worth it. It’s a hassle to get the house and kids ready for a sitter to go on a date night with my husband; but it’s worth it. It requires a lot of effort to arrange a personal retreat; but it’s worth it. It requires sacrifice to serve others in time of need, but it’s worth it.

Sometimes though, when I consider the work involved to bless my husband or a family member in a particular way, I back away from good intentions. Or, I get an enthusiastic start only to abandon my plan to bless a friend when I confront challenges or hurdles I didn’t anticipate.  But when I look back at times in my life when I have persevered, it has been oh so worth it!

This past weekend was one of those times: my four siblings and I got together in Tallahassee, FL to surprise my 85 year old mom for Mother’s Day. No, it wasn’t exactly easy. I had to pack and prepare to leave my husband and son behind. Two of my siblings and I drove fourteen hours to get there. On Mother’s Day we traveled another three hours to take her to the place she and my dad honeymooned 63 years ago. Then we drove fourteen hours home, and I’ve spent a week trying to catch up on all my responsibilities.

But to see how much it blessed my mom? It was absolutely, most definitely worth it!

Every Day Providence

Recently, my sweet 2-year-old misplaced her desire to sleep through the night. Mommy has been hard at work helping her to find that desire again. But it’s meant little sleep for Mommy at night and long days of wanting to crawl into the nearest bed. Mix in a rather nasty cold for the two-year-old and some pregnancy hormones for Mommy and I will leave the rest to your imagination.

But you know what? This tiny trial has forced me to draw near to God. And just as it tells me in His Word, He has been faithful to draw near to me (James 4:8). He has been reminding me of His sovereignty and love. This situation didn’t catch Him by surprise and it is the BEST for my girl and me. Sweet comfort!

So no matter where you find yourself today—in a trial big or tiny. Remember, the Lord isn’t surprised and He has PROMISED to work for your good in all things (Rom. 8:28).

These words from J. C. Ryle have brought me much encouragement:

“Reader, if God has given you His only begotten Son, beware of doubting His kindness and love, in any painful providence of your daily life! Never allow yourself to think hard thoughts of God. Never suppose that He can give you anything which is not really for your good. Remember the words of Paul: ‘He who spared not His own Son—but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things’ (Romans 8:32).

See in every sorrow and trouble of your earthly pilgrimage the hand of Him who gave Christ to die for your sins! That hand can never smite you except in love! He who gave His only begotten Son for you, will never withhold anything from you which is really for your good. Lean back on this thought and be content. Say to yourself in the darkest hour of trial, ‘This also is ordered by Him who gave Christ to die for my sins. It cannot be wrong. It is done in love. It must be well.’"

More on Modesty

Today on Dad's blog you will find:

(1) an index to his recent modesty series

(2) discussion questions to go along with the series

(3) a downloadable PDF of the chapter where these posts originated ("God, My Heart, and Clothes")

(4) and (YEAH!) a 35 percent pre-order discount for the book Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World (thanks to our friends at Crossway!).

Help for Burma

Dear friends, we have a chance to participate in sending aid to those in need in Burma. Here is the information from Sovereign Grace Ministries:

Burma Disaster Relief Fund

As disaster-relief efforts continue in Burma, Sovereign Grace Ministries has the opportunity to provide assistance through ministry relationships we have in that country. We are establishing a Burma Disaster Relief fund and are contributing financially toward aid efforts in Burma.

Any who would like to join us in this effort can donate to the Burma Disaster Relief fund via our website.

Most importantly, please join us in praying that amid the destruction caused by Cyclone Nargis, victims of the storm would receive swift and effective help, and that many in Burma would hear and respond to the gospel.

Undeserved Gift

God tipped buckets of rain on the northeast United States this past weekend. My kids were both sick on Mother’s Day and on my birthday (yesterday) they gave me their colds as a present. Did I mention it was still raining? (Cue mournful violins, please.)

In the afternoon my sweet husband took the kids out while I read a book and watched the news. Cyclone in Myanmar. Earthquake in China. Tornados in the mid-west. I saw an interview with a man whose home was destroyed by a twister. Miraculously his entire family escaped, but he lost everything that he owned.

Nothing like the severe trials of others to put my own (lack of) trials in perspective. “Compared with what I deserve to be, how happy my condition!” a wise man once said.

I deserve to be sick with a cold and to have it rain on my birthday. I deserve to have a tornado rip through my house. I deserve to have my family die in an earthquake. In fact, I deserve far worse! I deserve the wrath of God poured out on my sins forever and ever.

Oh, but my receivings are so infinitely better than my deservings (Valley of Vision, “The Mover”). For God sent his Son, Jesus Christ to bear His wrath in my place. Instead of what I deserve, I am the daily recipient of His love and mercy and grace. He works all things for my good. And I have a home with Him—free from suffering—to look forward to forever.

What a glorious gift God has given to me!

A Major in Being a Grandma

“Examples do strangely charm us into imitation” observed the Puritan Cotton Mather. “When we read the lives of them that excelled in holiness, though they were persons of like passions with ourselves, the conviction is wonderful and powerful.”

Last week we read of women who “excelled in holiness” and for me the conviction was “wonderful and powerful.” Judging from your emails the same is true for you.

Tina considered her example as a mother:

I leave this week with a new challenge "How am I sharing Christ with my children every day?  Do they see Christ in my attitude or do they see someone who is grumbling and discontent about the tasks God has ordained for her day?  What is their view of God because of what they see?  Is He a joy or a burden?" 

These women never had the opportunity to influence many from a platform, but still quietly touched the lives around them for Christ because of how they lived each day. Because you shared their stories, they have now touched so many more.  Thank You.

Karen’s thoughts turned to her daughter:

Praying about our daughter's future, college major, gifts she might have, ways to direct her, and then reading about these ladies, that's what I want for her!  How do you major in being a grandma?  What college offers that?  Everything else seems superficial to loving and laying your life down for your Savior and others.

Finally, I think Cynthia represents many of our “new grandma” readers:

Just want to say how much I am inspired by these current tributes.  I was never close to either of my grandmother and now that I am a grand-mother I am trying to find my place in it all. These stories are urging me on in my new role.  Thank you so much!  I’ve been moved to tears.

Thanks to each of you who shared the wonderful example of your grandma with all of us.

A Tribute to Margie Powell Lusk

Last May, my "Grandy" was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.    After seeing a couple of doctors, she was given the news that she had just 4 months to live.  We were devastated, but she wasn't.  She told us that her desire was to die without any surgery or anything to prolong her life because she, at 72 years old, was ready to meet Jesus. Our family was shocked and overwhelmed with grief.  She has always been the rock in our family - the person everyone went to with their problems and their good news.  The person who faithfully pointed her family members to Jesus.  The person who served my grandfather for over 50 years of marriage and made sure that everyone knew how much she loved him. The person who prayed for every member of her family every day.  I can't tell you what a blessing it is to know that someone is calling your name in prayer every single day!

And just as she had sought to glorify God with her life, her prayer now was to "glorify God even in death."  Rather than viewing cancer as a tragic burden, she embraced it as God's good will for her life.  When I was at her home, not long after the diagnosis, she said to me, "Dianna, what can be greater than meeting Jesus?  I get to finally meet my Savior, who died for me!"  I stood in awe the first time I heard her speak those words because I knew only God could grant her such faith in the midst of such suffering.

We lived about three hours apart, and since I was in my last trimester of pregnancy, I couldn't see her as often as I liked.  But we continued our weekly talks on the phone.  I was struck by how she continued to think of others and to see God's hand even during the worst of her sickness.  During one of our phone conversations, I broke down and she comforted & ministered to me saying, "Dianna, don't cry for me.  Remember where I'm going.  But until I get there, know that I will pray for you until my last breathe."  When Hospice began coming at the end of July, she endured some of the more humiliating trials associated with terminal illness.  She never grumbled.  With sincerest gratitude she told me, "Isn't God good to me in sending people to help me?"  It reminded me of one of my favorite things she often said: "I believe God has been better to me than anyone else!"

Grandy didn't live the 4 months the doctor had predicted.  She died on August 14th, exactly one week before my first child was born.  I have never experienced such grief and sorrow as with her death.  But I grieve for my loss - not hers.  She is with her King and although I desperately wanted her to meet her first great-grandchild, the Lord knew what was best.  As much as Grandy wanted to see my first baby, she wanted to see her Savior more.

She often reminded me that she just had "feet of clay." But those feet of clay left a path of obedience, faithfulness and godliness for me to follow for which I am eternally grateful.  I still miss her so much, but I grieve with hope for I know she is worshiping our Savior and one day, I'll worship with her!

Dianna Culbertson

A Tribute to Nora Virginia Sloas Roe

My grandmother, Nora Virginia Sloas, met my grandfather, James Alvin Roe, when they were both students at what was then Eastern State Teacher’s College in Richmond, Kentucky.  They married in June of 1931, and my mother Jean, their only child, arrived in 1932.  That health issues prevented Grandmother from having any more children was a source of lifelong regret. 

As a child I saw my mother’s parents for only one week out of every year, when we made a summer trek to their tiny town near the Virginia/North Carolina border.   Though our long car trip invariably turned into a five-hour bicker-fest between my brother and me, all our strivings ceased upon entering Grandmother Roe’s simple but lovely home, where peace prevailed. 

It was always orderly and clean.  Nothing was ever out of place or lost.  No one ever seemed in a hurry.  There were no angry words or arguments to be overheard.  My grandparents treated one another with love and mutual respect.  Their deep Christian faith permeated their lives and spread its fragrance wherever they went.  When staying with Grandmother and Granddaddy, we recited Bible verses together, and had some sort of devotional or prayer at most meals—which were served on lovely dishes and which included succulent offerings from their well-tended vegetable garden.  My grandparents shared the gospel with my siblings and me regularly.

Grandmother Roe told me jokes and stories at bedtime, and often she would let me fall asleep listening to her precious LP recording of “The Sound of Music”.  She forgave me when I wrote with red pencil on her white chenille bedspread and when I threw a dart at my brother (despite the fact that I had been earnestly warned against committing both of these foul deeds!) True, she served us some strangely unfamiliar vegetables (to this day I detest okra) but there was something comforting and stable about being in her home.

Upon becoming a Christian at age 15, I began to realize the wonderful heritage I had received from my grandparents.   I knew that my conversion had likely been a fruit of their years of faithful prayer on my behalf.  One of my most cherished recollections of my grandmother occurred several years after my grandfather died.  I was then 24, a college graduate working at a job I desperately disliked, pursuing a career I emphatically did not want.  I deeply desired marriage and motherhood, but nothing seemed to be happening.   So I wrote my dear grandmother a letter and asked if she would join me in praying that my husband would arrive on the scene--soon!  I wish I had saved her return letter (a sad casualty, no doubt, of an over-zealous cleaning spree) but I remember it vividly.  In it she told me that she had been praying for my husband since I was born.   She agreed to pray on a daily basis.  However, she also gave me some wonderful advice that left an immeasurable impact.  “Your grandfather” she wrote, “was the greatest man I ever knew.  He loved and served the Lord with all his heart.  Don’t settle for anything less than God’s best when considering marriage.”  The rest of the letter was a testimony to the faith of my grandfather and the joy of living life with a godly husband.  Her words were both exhilarating and sobering.  I determined to try to become the kind of woman that such a man would want to pursue. 

Fast-forward twenty-two years.  Next month, my husband and I will celebrate our twenty-first anniversary.  Yes, we were married a little less than a year after I sent that letter to Grandmother Roe—a reminder that the effective prayers of a righteous grandmother avail much!  Geoff and I had been friends and had served together in various ministries in our church for several years, and of all the single men I knew, he was the one I respected most.  I couldn’t believe it when he asked to court me--but that’s another story.  I had the joy of introducing him to Grandmother Roe during our engagement, and after our wedding she told me, “Every time I’m around him and see His devotion to God I like him more.”  The Lord had done “exceeding abundantly beyond all that we asked or imagined.”

In the years that followed my wedding, Grandmother’s physical health deteriorated to the point where she needed daily medical care and could no longer maintain her spotless home and extensive gardens.  She would not allow my parents to care for her in their home, as my mother’s own health was poor.  Our week-long stays at Grandmother’s house were replaced by short visits to the cold, twelve-by-twelve institutional cubicle of a room where she lived out her last years, surrounded by sick, frail, witless, and often hopeless elderly men and women.  Her sharp mind, her unshakable faith, her ready humor, and her grateful heart never faltered.  She lived to meet only one of my five children (and two of my sister’s seven).  During her final days at the rest home, she redeemed the time that God apportioned to her by reading the Word, writing encouraging letters, and praying for the salvation of her great-grandchildren.

Carol Sawyer

A Tribute to Shirley Wilhelm Critchfield

I love my Nana! She was one of the funniest, most thoughtful, and coolest grandmothers that you will ever meet. She loved to spend time with her grandchildren and she especially loved to see them have fun and enjoy life. She loved to teach her grandchildren how to sew, garden, cook, play Double Solitaire and just love living life. She was a strong believer in the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and she lived every day in light of eternity.

When my Nana was diagnosed this past August with pancreatic cancer, she knew that she was about to face the most challenging circumstance in her life. But, in light of that she lived every single one of her last days for God’s glory and never gave into the pain. I never heard her complain once about her intense stomach pains and her extreme discomfort. She loved her children and grandchildren even through the intense pain.

Right before she was diagnosed with cancer, my family and I were visiting Chicago. My nana and grandpa came to visit us and then had us stay in their house on our way home, even though my nanny was in extreme pain. Even though she was very uncomfortable, she still walked around the entire city with us and even went to the American Girl Place. She was so mindful of others and she always considered others better than herself. During a time of intense pain, she went out of her way to love my sisters and me and spent quality time with us. I was able to visit her about a month before she passed away. She was not feeling very well that weekend, yet she made sure that she spent every moment that she could with my cousin and me. Some of my favorite memories of my Nana are from just spending time with her on that trip!

My Nana went home to be with her Savior last November. I miss her terribly, but I know that right now she is rejoicing around the throne and praising her Savior without anymore pain, sadness, suffering, or sin. She is sitting at his feet marveling in the glory of our Savior and experiencing his love which is like none other on this planet.

Nanny – I love you so much and I can’t wait to once again hear you sing praises to our Savior and to see you honor Him with all that you have! It will be a marvelous day when I get to walk through the gates of heaven and once again run into your arms and get the biggest and bestest hug ever!! I love you Nanny!

Corinne Glab