Some Thursday Memories and Thoughts

I just saw this on Facebook this morning, and it really spoke to me, so I wanted to share it with you:

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Shared with Public

The Homespun Wife 

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Each morning we present an empty vessel to the Lord. Some scurry out with hardly a thought, as they are in a hurry but running on empty. Others gain only enough to take themselves through the day.

Yet I long to be among those who are filled to overflowing. With the abundance God has provided, they have plenty to share. They pour out kindness, love, grace, gratitude, patience, mercy, comfort, and compassion. Long into the evening, they continue their offering, using up all the blessings God called on them to pass along to others.

These dedicated servants have no fear of tomorrow. They rest in the assurance that God’s storehouse is always full and he will meet them in the morning with everything they will need for a brand new day.

So Here I am Lord….

To worship you

To praise you

To serve you anew

Love To All,

Sherry

*Image/Pinterest

And then next I saw this on Facebook...actually a dear "old friend" sent it to me saying, "Well, that brings back memories."

Dolly Parton singing "He's Alive"

Yes, it certainly did bring back memories. This friend who sent it to me is someone I haven't seen in many years, but way back in the early 1980's she and I used to spend almost every Thursday morning together, having tea and letting our two youngest children play together (my Scotty and her Heather, who were about 2 and 3 years old at the time) while she played the piano and I sang songs...sometimes we did duets...and a few of the songs we would sing at church on Sunday. This was one of the songs we did. I don't think I sounded quite like Dolly Parton (and certainly didn't look that good!), but we sang for the glory of the Lord. My friend Cindy could play most any kind of music on the piano, and it was so wonderful to spend that time together praising the Lord in song. Now my friend lives way out in Oregon and we are both much older and not quite as energetic as we were then. Although she and her husband stay very busy running a ranch and raising cattle, and her daughter Heather lives nearby on her own ranch with her husband and five children (actually her children are almost grown up now too). 

My friend and I also share another kind of "memory", not so pleasant, as we both have had one of our precious children die.  Her son Jeremy died in a tragic car accident when he was just 18 years old.  And my son Matthew, (who was about the same age as her Jeremy and they were good friends and fishing buddies as children) has also passed on to heaven at the age of 41.  We both believe our sons are enjoying all the joys of heaven together today.  Maybe even going fishing like they used to when they were kids. 

I don't know if my friend could still play this song on the piano, but I have a feeling she could...and we "talk" via Facebook about how wonderful it would be to get together again someday and sing and drink tea and remember those happy days. I'm not sure if I could still sing this song, but in my heart and mind I could. And we could rejoice together in knowing that because Jesus is alive, our sons are also alive in heaven.

He's Alive

Song by Don Francisco 

The gates and doors were barred and all the windows fastened down

I spent the night in sleeplessness and rose at every sound

Half in hopeless sorrow and half in fear, the day

Would find the soldiers breaking through to drag us all away

Then just before the sunrise, I heard something at the wall

The gate began to rattle, and a voice began to call

I hurried to the window and looked down to the street

Expecting swords and torches and the sound of soldiers feet

But there was no one there but Mary, so I went down to let her in

John stood there beside me as she told us where she'd been

She said, "They moved him in the night and none of us knows where

Oh, the stones been rolled away, and now his body isn't there"

So we both ran toward the garden, then John ran on ahead

We found the stone and the empty tomb just the way that Mary said

But the winding sheet they wrapped him in was just an empty shell

And how or where they'd taken him, it was more than I could tell

Perhaps something strange had happened there, just what I did not know

John believed a miracle, but I just turned to go

Circumstance and speculation couldn't lift me very high

'Cause I'd seen them crucify Him and then saw Him die

Back inside the house again, the guilt and anguish came

Everything I'd promised Him just added to my shame

When at last it came to choices, I denied I knew His name

And even if He was alive, it could never be the same

Then suddenly the air was filled with a strange and sweet perfume

Light that came from everywhere drove shadows from the room

Then Jesus stood before me with His arms held open wide

And I fell down on my knees and clung to Him and cried

Then He raised me to my feet and as I looked into His eyes

Love was shining out from Him like sunlight from the sky

Guilt and my confusion disappeared in sweet release

And every fear I'd ever had just melted into peace

'Cause He is (alive and alive, He's alive, alive, and alive, He's alive)

(Alive and alive, He's alive, He's alive)

He's alive, He's alive, He's alive, and I'm forgiven

Heavens gates are open wide

He's alive, He's alive, He's alive, and I'm forgiven

Heavens gates are open wide

He's alive (He's alive), He's alive (He's alive), He's alive (He's alive), and I'm forgiven

Heavens gates are open wide

He's alive, He's alive, He's alive, and I'm forgiven

Heavens gates are open wide

He's alive

He's alive (He's alive), He's alive (He's alive), He's alive (He's alive), and I'm forgiven

Heavens gates are open wide

He's alive, He's alive, He's alive, and I'm forgiven (He's alive)

Heavens gates are open wide

He's alive!

And then I saw this on Facebook this morning also, and again, it spoke to me...

Oh, I love this...Yes, our journies may be different, but we have met here on this "path", and may we take the time to encourage each other along the way.  I know many of you have encouraged me with your stories of comfort, hope, and thanksgiving, and I pray that perhaps I have been able to encourage you as well as I share memories or thoughts that God gives me along the way.

Just a quick update...No, Blackie Sue has still not had her kittens, and I am beginning to wonder if she's having a "false pregnancy", which is a real thing. Time will tell...

And as you can see, "Trumpet" is getting bigger every day:

And life goes on...we are blessed and thankful...especially on these post Easter days...it's wonderful to know and believe that Christ is Risen! And because He's  Alive, we too shall live!! Amen.