Tuesday, May 26, 2015

FRIENDS NEEDING FRIENDS NEW JERSEY

Good morning my friends,

Today is such a beautiful day here in Boynton Beach, Florida.  With God’s direction, I moved to Florida three years ago from New Jersey to start another “FNF” Sisterhood. Wow! What a major difference between New Jersey and Florida.  Florida's scenery is such a blessing, no matter how I feel, I am able to look out the window and see green grass, the beautiful sunsets, and palm trees reflecting on the water in the back part of my home.




But I do miss the wonderful ladies from our Friends Needing Friends Ministry in New Jersey, but thank God I can see all the wonderful pictures of the ladies and the ministry’s events Diana Clark sends to me each month.
I love seeing the different program themes that Mary Lou, our N.J. director, produces for the widows. This month Mary Lou invited the township fire company to give necessary information to the ladies. Many of the ladies still live by their selves and need to know the different safety rules in their homes.






Friends Needing Friends is not a support group, it is a “Sisterhood of women” all over the world. We all have learn of many ways to go on in life, and how to serve the Lord by helping other widows. Thank you God for a beautiful, wonderful sisterhood.


Happy Birthday to these beautiful ladies.









May God bless you my special friends from “FNF” New Jersey.



















Wednesday, May 20, 2015

"FRIENDS NEEDING FRIENDS" IS OUR TITUS


     After reading Apostle Paul’s letter to Titus, I began to reflect on Paul’s life. Paul spent much time traveling and preaching. He received little rest. The emotional and spiritual tension he dealt with was worse than the lack of rest. He often met misunderstanding and suspicion.

 Do you know, Paul’s life was much like our lives as widows? We often find it hard to rest – especially at night. The emotional and spiritual tensions are very draining – has God forgotten us? Has our faith weakened?  We are often met with misunderstanding. Why don’t you move? Why are you moving? Why are you staying there alone? Why don’t you go out more? Why did you leave our Saturday night club?


  
   When Titus visited Paul, he was in a cheerful mood. Titus’s friendship brought Paul rest. Their time together was very spiritual and physically refreshing to Paul and helped Paul tackle life with a renewed vigor.

    “Friends Needing Friends” is our Titus. It renews us monthly. Widows need each other when we are feeling discouraged or depressed. Just seeing a friend who “understands” can brighten your day. Just last week, this happened to me as I was food shopping – food shopping for one – a job I really hate. I met one of my “FNF” friends and suddenly I realized – I must stop feeling sorry for myself. I am not the only one who must shop for one; you know, my whole day brightened.

    We cannot do without one another. We are privileged because we have “Friends Needing Friends” to help us meet our needs – spiritually, emotionally and socially.  As widows we need each other.

Let us pray…Lord, thank you for friends who meet our needs. Thank you for the encouragement they give us. Help me to help others as they have helped me. Amen

 By Joanne Lewis    


Jesus is the one who puts music in our heart, music that makes our soul soar, that uplifts my spirit when I am down. He has used music to speak to me often on this widow’s journey.

I have a favorite singer and her name is Lynda Randle. Whatever song she sings always touches my heart and I know it will do the same for you . Now sit back, relax and let the spirit of God bring you closer to Jesus.

God On The Mountain by Lynda Randle

One Day At A Time by Lynda Randle

Walk With Me Lord by Lynda Randle

Through It All by Lynda Randle



Monday, May 11, 2015

As I Journey Through the Valley




Our own Diana has been a member of New Jersey’s Friends Needing Friends for several years and is currently doing all the photography of the events at each meeting. After the passing of her husband, George the Holy Spirit of God touched her life with the ability to express her grief in writing beautiful poetry. The title of her wonderful list of poems is “Simply Put”, “Inspirational Poems of Hope, As You Journey Through The Valley” by Diana Eileen Clark.  Diana believes the Lord has provided a way for her to share this ‘hope’ through the poetry you are about to read – TO GOD BE THE GLORY!


Who Am I?

I looked at life through his eyes;
I made his dream my dream.
Now my life without him
 Doesn’t have a theme.
I have so few opinions
 I can really call my own;
Didn’t think I’d need them.
Never thought I’d be alone,
And have to draw conclusions,
Then state my point of view.
About so many things in life,
I haven’t got a clue.
I’m not sure what I like now,
Or where I’d want to go
For rest and relaxation-
I really just don’t know.
Half my heart is missing;
II feel so incomplete.
To continue on without him
Is really quite a feat.
But on and On I must go.
He’d want me to, and so
I recall the times he told me,
“You’re stronger that you know.”
Strength? O yes, I feel it,
But it is not my own.
By God’s grace I have it,
Through Christ and Christ alone.
Please, Lord, now I need You
To help me find my place.
When I peer into the mirror,
Who’s behind the face?
Who am I now without him?
It’s so hard for me to see.
I know I’m in there somewhere.
Lord, help me to find me.




Through personal experience and observation as
I journey through the valley, I have discovered…

GRIEVING is a necessary process for healing, uniquely different for each of us and, at the same time similar. You cannot imagine that anyone else has ever felt as you do or thought your thoughts, but the Bible says there is no trial or temptation that befalls you that is not common to man (belonging to human experience)…and God, in His compassionate nature, promises to give you strength. Endurance and the means of escape (Read I Corinthians 10:13)

Healing takes time, and you cannot rush the process. You must work through the many stages and emotions – sorrow, anger, guilt, regrets, depression, anxiety, denial, resentment, tears – all are natural. It is important, however, not to get “stuck” in any one area. If you do, seek professional help.  




   
                      GRIEVING is like swimming against a swift current, trying desperately to go back where you were, but it’s impossible to fight the force of the water.  It just keeps pouncing against you constantly. Exhaustion takes over, and you either go under or turn around and let the current carry you, floating awhile to regain your strength. Then you begin to swim again, but this time with the current. Slowly you gain some control and direction, but the direction must be forward – there is no turning back.
I entered the water with Jesus Christ. He is my life preserver; I will NOT go under.  If you entered the water without Him, send up a spiritual SOS now! He is waiting to cast a lifeline to you; all you have to do is ask.














Monday, May 4, 2015

NAOMI - A FAMOUS GRANDMOTHER IN THE BIBLE


Naomi - A Famous Grandmother in the Bible



Ruth & Boaz were the parents of Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse and Jesse was the father of King David and King David along with the others were in the Lineage of Jesus our Savior.

Naomi Teaches the Widow that
Honesty is the Best Policy

Naomi had lost her husband and two sons and was left with two daughters-in-law to support and no means for doing so. Here she was in this foreign country with her life crumbling around her. Her grief was deep and her pain so intense that she felt like there was no way out. And you know what she did?

She blamed God. She railed at him about his reasons for not stopping the plague from killing her sons. In Ruth 1:13 she cried out, ‘The Lord Himself has raised His fist against me.” It’s conjecture what she said and did, but regardless, she was just plain angry and beat down. Have you ever been in that position?
  


 It was at this point that Naomi made the decision to return to Bethlehem, a long dangerous journey of over 70 miles. You would have thought that when she finally reached her destination, alive and with her beloved Ruth at her side, she would have heaved a sigh of relief and rejoiced in God’s goodness to her. But that isn’t what she did. “The Almighty has greatly afflicted me,” she called out to them. Her physical appearance was so greatly altered from when she lived there that she was barely recognizable, stooped by grief, bitterness, and poverty.

Before we become too harsh with Naomi, think of all the adjustments you’ve had to make since the loss of your spouse. Perhaps you too have suffered loss of income, family home, and are afflicted with grief and loneliness. Naomi refused to hide her sorrow or bitterness. She believed in God’s sovereignty and attributed her suffering to His will.  I like this about Naomi. There was no pretense about her. She didn’t pretend everything was okay when it wasn’t. She didn’t respond with, “I’m fine, thank you,” when she felt like screaming. She was in the bosom of her own people and felt free to express her true feelings. I think Naomi’s advice to you would be to not play the martyr and say what you think is expected of you when trusted family and friends inquire. People ask how you are because they want to know, they’re concerned and want to be of help. Saying, “Oh, I’m okay,” or “I’m hanging in there,” doesn’t help you or them. Feelings are fickle; we know that. But, they are real to us when we experience them and Christ is touched with the feelings of our weaknesses.
  


 Be honest with yourself and your family/friends and solicit their prayers for your comfort and emotional well-being. God will hear yours and their prayers. In fact, He longs to do so and bring you back to total wellness again.



By Shari Hervold



New Jersey Friends Needing Friends Meeting - April 27,2015

There was a lot of fun and laughter at our April’s meeting in New Jersey.  It was decided to have a “hat parade” where each lady was to decorate a bonnet and there would be a prize for the prettiest.  The good Lord said in Esslesiastes 3:4 A time to weep and a time to laugh and that’s just what was planned, a time to laugh.

The winner for the prettiest hat was Mildred, and may God Bless her!


Enjoy seeing some of the ladies and their beautiful creations.












The guest speakers at this fun-filled meeting was Bonnie & Dan Pearson presenting Passover Table and The Seder Plate.

Thank you Diane Clark! You did a great job taking all of the above pictures.