He Giveth

 

He giveth more grace

when the burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength

when the labors increase;

To added affliction He addeth His mercies,

To multiplied trials His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed

ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources

Our Father's full giving is only begun.

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth and giveth and giveth again.

Annie Johnson Flint (1866-1932) 

 

 

***

Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,
 
that he may exalt you in due time;
 
casting all your anxiety upon him,
 
because he careth for you.
 
1Pe 5:6-7 

Today’s Witnessing Widows

 

Good morning Ladies ~ Today we have three more of our sisters telling us about what has helped them in their time of grief.  May we all be encouraged and may we in turn, encourage other widows.

Let us remember what it says in 2 Corinthians 3

God brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.

These three ladies are from Florida.

First we have M.D.

She writes that “the food, the visits, the hugs of family and friends brought the love of God close to my heart.”

Blessings at this time were:

Special hugs from people that I barely knew.

Finding God’s peace in my solitude.

***

Next we have S.S.

She writes: “I can get up in the mornings and thank God I can stand and walk.”

God has blessed me over and over again.

Thank you God.

***

Our last testimony today is by E.M.

She writes: “If I feel down – I get on my knees and ask for His help.  He lifts me up – I can always feel His presence.

He brought my friends to me – My lord never leaves me – He is always there for me – Prayer is a great blessing.”

***

Each of these ladies had the same special song that has helped them through their grief, and it is ‘How Great Thou Art’.

I am going to post three different versions of this song. They are all wonderful.  God has touched and blessed many hearts and souls with this wonderful old hymn. It has been performed through the years by many, and still being performed even now.

“How Great Thou Art" is a Christian hymn based on a Swedish poem written by Carl Gustav Boberg (1859-1940) in Sweden in 1885. The melody is a Swedish folk song. It was translated into English by British missionary Stuart K. Hine, who also added two original verses of his own composition.

 

This first rendition will be by George Beverly Shea.

If my memory serves me correctly, I heard him when I was a little girl when we went to this huge gathering in California.

This video is from 1957.

George Beverly Shea

Susan Boyle - How Great Thou Art

How Great Thou Art by World Outreach Worship featuring StikYard

 

Thank you ladies for your encouraging words written from your hearts, and for reminding us all of this wonderful old hymn.

May the words of this song fill our hearts with love and adoration for our Mighty God.

 

Celebrate God-Won Victories, Then Move on in His Strength

 

The Christmas holidays as well as New Year's can be a time of looking back with nostalgia and, for the widow and those dealing with loss, a time of grief, even depression.  But we are learning through the study of God's Word that there are principles that we can learn from the lives of those chronicled therein that can safely guide us around these minefields of life. 

I am reminded of how the children of Israel responded to the miracle they had just experienced in crossing the Red Sea.  The story is recorded in Exodus 14 and 15.  It is a story that is familiar to most of us.  The Israelites were being pursued by the Egyptians as they approached the Red Sea and, as Moses stretched forth his hand, the Lord caused the sea to part and the Israelites walked through on dry land.  The Egyptians followed them, but the Lord caused confusion to overtake them and when they had gotten to the middle of the seas, Moses held out his hands and the Lord caused the waters to come together drowning all of the Egyptians as well as their horses.  One can only imagine the fear that arose in the hearts of the Israelites as they saw that they were being pursued by sophisticated soldiers with strong horses and chariots and they were a group of people with old as well as babies, male and female, making them no match for the Egyptians.  They were angry at Moses and God and even despaired of going on.  But God assured them that he would rescue them...and he did.  In chapter 15 we read of their song of praise to God for his deliverance.

There is most likely not a widow reading this who has not been through a time of confusion, grief, anger, even to the point of despairing of life, only to find that God is faithful to His Word and that He never left you comfortless in spite of the pain you endured.  Now, as 2014 looms ahead of you, you can look back with gratefulness and ahead with anticipation.

Shari

Our Christmas meetings

 

Good morning Ladies,

What a lovely meeting/luncheon we had this past Monday.  Everyone looked wonderful decked in lots of color, hearts were filled with Christmas cheer.  We came loaded with gifts for newborns for the First Care center. We played games, sang songs, Kathy Caprio gave us an uplifting talk and our luncheon was delicious!

I am combining photos from the ladies in New Jersey from their Christmas meeting with some of ours.  They had snow we had lovely, warm, balmy temperatures.

Click on photos for larger views.

 

 

Wedgwood Country Club 

Washington Township ~ New Jersey

Brrrr, cold but beautiful snow.

Palm Beach National Golf & Country Club

Lake Worth, Florida

Beautiful palms and colorful blooms

I love this entry.  Don’t these ladies look cold?

The reason we wear jackets and sweaters down here to our meeting is because it is so cold indoors.

Look at this beautiful fireplace with roaring fire and that lovely tree.

Here is our lovely Florida tree, but no fire, the air-conditioner is running.

Some of our New Jersey Ladies

Some of our Florida Ladies

Dotti ~ our gracious and lovely founder.

Kathy ~ our wonderful and lovely speaker

This sweet lady is Doris.  She had a birthday earlier this month.  She is young at heart, very spry, always willing to help set up for our meetings, and she is 97. She is a real delight to know, a real sweetheart.

“Birthday Girl”

Here are our gifts for the newborns of First Care in our area. We all had so much fun getting and giving these gifts.

Dotti and Peggy who do so much for our group with the gifts.

This lovely young lady is Donna Irizarry from ‘First Choice’ who told us a little about this ministry, for young unwed mothers. May God richly bless this ministry as it reaches out to touch and save lives with God’s healing love.

****

Now, here is our group photo. What a lovely, happy group of ladies.  I am so glad and thankful for this group in my life. This isn’t all of our ladies, as some couldn’t be here for the meeting that day.

Thank you Donna for taking this shot.

Click on photo to see the bigger picture.

******

Now that Christmas is almost here, let us remember why we celebrate this day.  It is because God came down in the flesh as baby Jesus, who would grow and live and give His life so that we might be saved and dwell with Him forever. If you have not asked Jesus to be part of your life, please do so today. It is real easy. Just tell Him you are a sinner and wish to be saved by His grace. Invite Him into your life and you will be greatly blessed now and forever.

We, dear ladies, are in the process of being restored. God is our Strength when we are weak, and He is our Joy. As we grow in His Grace and Tender Mercies, let us be thankful for all that He has done and for what He will do in the future.  We don’t know what the future will bring, but we do know who holds our future. God Almighty. He works all things out and it is all good, and for His Glory.

Love and hugs to all of you. 

May you feel the Love, Peace,

Strength and Joy of God flowing

through and surrounding you

each and every day.

Merry Christmas and Have a wonderful 2014.