The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, and The Truly Amazing

The Good...

That 2 would become one March 7, 1962

The couple would have 2 daughters and raise them to know the Lord.

That from one couple and their hearts being drawn to families 

would encourage their daughters and son-in-laws as we each raise 8 children for the Lord.  

Do you think they ever imagined this is what would happen nearly 50 years ago?  

And the story isn't over. 

The Bad...

Life is not eternal on this side of heaven.  We WILL be separated from loved ones for a time. 

Our bodies will fail one way or another.  

Sin entered this world and took us all down a path of destruction.  It doesn't take long when you have a child to see the selfishness show up.  Or if we want to really get honest just look at our own lives.  We have hearts that desire for our own good.  We want what we want, when we want it.  Whether that be an apple, knowledge, money, power, comfort, etc.   

As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” ... For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 

Romans 3:10-12 and 23 

The Ugly...

For the wages of sin is death...Romans 6:23

We have to say our good-byes.  There is a 100% death rate on earth.  

We will all die (unless the Lord comes back) one way or another.

Mom in her wisdom asked that the graveside be more addressed to the children, her grandchildren.  The curiosity of these little boys trying to figure out this life and death thing as they have watched their Grandma and Granddaddy live it out to the end.  We let them look around, touch, ask a gazillion questions over and over.  From running to playing, giving out hugs, and then back to looking at the grave again.  These kids are still processing what does it mean to live this life.  

What does it mean we are sinners.  What does it mean to be forgiven.  What is eternity.  

The Truly Amazing...

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Romans 5:8

We discovered my dads written testimony as we went through pictures the other day. 

 We already knew he knew the Lord.  His life was evidence of that!  

But to be able to read that at the age of 12 he gave his life to Christ 

was a blessing to all his grand kids and those at his funeral. 

 He did just this....

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved ... For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:9-10, and 13

I have to ask...

Have you ever come to a place where you have confessed your sins and your need for a Savior? 

This picture is proof there is more to life for me and my family.  

(I wish you could have seen what we saw in his last days.)

Dad is laying in bed because his body was so weak he couldn't move.  

But he had moments of awe and amazement on his face as he laughed and enjoyed seeing glimpses of heaven.  It may look like my dad and mom are enjoying laughing at a conversation but dad was not aware we were in the room at this time.  His joy is pure joy of what was to come. 

Mom lays beside him patting him on his chest saying, "I wish we could see what you are seeing" as his grin grows even bigger.   

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

Romans 5:1

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

At dad's memorial we played a video clip with a song "Come to Jesus".  The video clip ended with a picture of Jesus walking away as he waved us to come.

As only a 5 year old can do at a funeral...Brady was in true wiggle form. 

Between tears, giggles of joy at a life well lived, and a child asking to go to the bathroom.  

You never really know what kids are grasping or distractions they are causing.  

Not only did he ask me and his dad to take him to the bathroom but he leaned over

'tap, tap, tap' on Grandma's shoulder...."Grandma, 

will you take me to the bathroom?" LOL  

He made up for all of it at the end of the song when he raised his little hand to the sky 

and with the sweetest voice said,

 "Fly to Jesus Granddaddy!"  

Dad would have gotten the best giggle and joy hearing his youngest grandchild utter those words!