TESTIMONIES/SORROW-PAIN

God Is Good All the Time And All the Time God Is Good

walkingbyfaith.us In the Sunset of Our Lives Yet On the Dawn of Eternity

Testimony

Dexter Feagin

KIDS NEVER FORGET

Mike Vanderclay was a logging contractor, big man, a man’s man, a Paul Bunion kind of guy. I don’t think he was a Christian, but if he was…he was well camouflaged.

I mention him because about 60 years ago he told my mom: “Take these boys into town to the hardware store and get them everything they need for Cub Scouts and put it on my credit.”

We got shirts, hats, neckties, belts…all the trimmings and I have remembered, thought about, and even prayed for Mr. Vanderclay from time to time in my life. All he did was help provide for us to be in a club, which was such a blessing as my dad had been killed as a result of a logging accident and could not afford those uniforms.

God does say, “Take care of widows and orphans.” “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.” James 1:27

(Dexter shared the following message with our Christian Trail Riders Fellowship group at a Wilderness Trails Horse Camp we were in charge of that year for 10 teenagers aged 14-18 We did several camps over the years which has given us memories of incredible breakthroughs those girls had all because of a horse:)

There are many, far too many kids in tough situations. These girls here at this horse camp come from some of the toughest. I want all of you to know what time you share with these kids is not wasted. Lots and lots of people give money. That’s easy, if you have it to give. God likes that and blesses it.

These girls probably won’t know who gave money, but they will remember who spent a week with them sharing Jesus and horses and your testimonies. “They overcame him (the enemy) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…” Revelation 12:10

Jesus loves it when we remember all He has done for us. He gave His life so we might live with Him forever. May we never forget and accept His free gift.

It is sad to say you don’t have to look very far to find a child, boy or girl who needs someone to care about them. Do you think a young girl with piercings all over her face is maybe trying to say: “Please notice me.” “See me.” It is much like dogs in a dog pound. Ever been to one? Every dog barks their loudest saying, “Please save me, please help me, please notice me.”

Thank you for those who have been a part of Wilderness Trails. Money is a gift, and may God bless those who give. But time spent with these kids…no price tag can be put on a soul and remember: “Kids don’t forget.”

ps Horses are angels without wings. They like you for who you are inside. They seem to be able to look deep into your soul, not just what is seen on the outside. Horses accept you just as you are, and will help you heal, and we all need healing, in one way or another.

Testimony

sunny couch

MAMA'S DANCING

Psalm 30:11 You turned my mourning into dancing; You peeled off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. And…Ecclesiastes 3: 10-12

I have seen the burden that God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live.

When I was a small child, I often prayed for my Mama’s Salvation. She lived for many years with much heartache and pain. She used alcohol as her sedative! I spent many years trying in my own efforts to “save” her from drink! I didn’t like her drinking, but she never got mean or abusive in her drinking. My father, the “love of her life” had left her alone! I know the pain she experienced! But her drinking brought me much pain as a child, and I thought I could change things and tried so many times.

At the same time, she had health issues off and on throughout her life, and I spent many years being anxious and worried about her! I visited her so many times or taking her to the hospital.

The first time she was diagnosed with TB was when I was about 16 years old. Mom and I had finally got to live together for first time since I was about 4 years old. I was so happy to finally get to live with her. So, when she was diagnosed, she was confined to a TB sanitarium! That meant I had to make a decision. Where I would live.

I did go back and stay with Dad’s mother for a few days. But quickly realized I was not willing to let her have charge so went on to live with a friend for the summer. I wanted to finish my high school senior year, but the school would not allow me to live off campus on my own! Wisdom!

I thought the freedom would bring me happiness, but the very opposite was true, which it took a few years before I realized it. I had married for the second time and sacrificed a nursing career (that I was only six months away from my degree), in order to marry! (if I had just waited until he returned from Westpac, I would have had my dream fulfilled!)

During that Westpac trip, there was a six-week period of time, when his submarine was underwater so there was no way to be in contact. It was during that time that Mama was diagnosed with stomach cancer. She would come sit on my bed in the middle of the night and sit and hold my hand and rock back and forth in pain! The doctor had called me and explained the diagnosis and added that I should not tell her about it as he felt she might give up on living!

I was absolutely out of my mind and in great despair! She could read me like a book, and I was sure she would ask me what the matter was as that was her way with me! But she never did! The doctor had said there had been one last test they had wanted to do that would have given proof beyond any doubt, but they could not do it because her lungs kept failing). I asked him if there was any way the diagnosis was wrong then, and he said “no” as they had seen too many lesions such as hers and there was no doubt that it was cancer, and he gave her less but no more than 5 months!

I don’t think I have ever experienced such pain as that. (except maybe when Roger left).

But God! He had other plans for Mama! He heard my cry as a child to “save” my Mama! The next time she went back to the doctor, he told her there had been a miraculous improvement, and that was when she was about 45 or 46 years old, and she lived to be 79.

In 1973 or 1974 she went with me to a women’s conference, very similar to “Basic Youth Conflicts”! Where she began to pray and seek a personal relationship with the Lord!

A short time later she called me one morning and told me she had something she wanted to tell me in person rather than by phone! I had a flat tire! So I called her and said I couldn’t get there, but she told me this. “I had been talking to the Lord and told Him I had been in a lot of pain, and talking to Him about it and it didn’t seem He was answering, and what was the problem, when I heard Him say, ‘Accept Jesus Christ as Your Savior’, to which I replied, well I do, I do! Then I spent the rest of the night singing the Hallelujah Chorus!”

And my Mama walked with God from that day forward.

I also began to recognize what the Father had done many years before when she was diagnosed with cancer. He was answering my prayers, as a child for her salvation (as well as my father’s) and I believe without a single doubt that Jesus touched her and healed her, for Salvation!

I did tell her one day of how she had been diagnosed those many years earlier, but I don’t think she fully accepted it. But then I knew that was not to build her faith, but mine! I have always been ever so thankful for God’s great love for her! I can’t wait to see her with a brand-new body, dancing before the Throne of God!

When she died, the Lord spoke to me with His Words in Psalm 30:11 “You turned my mourning into dancing; You peeled off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.”

I wanted to put that verse on her grave marker. She and my dad had loved to dance when they were young, and I heard tell they were quite good at it. Now I can picture her up there dancing and dancing and dancing and singing the Hallelujah chorus!

How thankful I am! Who knows, she might be dancing with my dad, again since he is there also.

That is another story.

To heavy to bear

A Glass of Water

During one lecture, a professor suddenly picked up a glass of water and held it up. He stood there quietly, just holding it, as the students began to glance at each other, waiting for an explanation. Ten minutes passed, and he still didn’t lower his arm.

Finally, he asked: “Tell me, how much do you think this glass weighs?”

The students started guessing: “Maybe a couple of ounces!”

“Four ounces!”

“Five!”

The professor smiled. “Honestly, I don’t know either. To find out, we’d have to weigh it. But that’s not the real question. What happens if I hold this glass for a few minutes?”

“Nothing,” the students replied.

“Right. Now, what if I hold it for an hour?”

“Your arm will start to hurt,” one answered.

“Correct. And what if I try to hold it all day?”

“Your arm would go numb, you’d be in serious pain, maybe even need medical help,” another said as the class laughed.

The professor nodded calmly. “Exactly. But tell me—did the weight of the glass ever change?”

“No,” came the reply.

“So why the pain in the arm? Why the tension in the muscles?”

The room fell silent.

Then he asked: “What should I do to get rid of the pain?”

“Put the glass down,” someone said.

“Exactly!” the professor exclaimed. “Life’s problems work the same way. If you carry them in your head for a few minutes, it’s no big deal. Think about them for too long, and they start to hurt. Dwell on them all day, and they paralyze you—you won’t be able to do anything else.”

He paused, then finished with this: “That’s why it’s so important to put your problems down at the end of each day. Don’t go to bed carrying the weight of them. Rest, recharge, and you’ll wake up ready to face tomorrow with strength and clarity.”

pain

jesus knows your hurt - Song by Dallas Holm

The pain some people bear
No one would believe
The hurt that's sometimes there
Makes it hard to see
That in the darkest hour
There is still a way
Listen to these simple words I say

Jesus knows your hurt
Jesus feels your pain
Jesus knows just how you feel
’Cause He's felt just the same
Jesus knows your need
Better than you do
Just hold on to Jesus
He's holding on to you

Sometimes you feel alone
Does He really care?
Has He left you on your own?
And does He hear your prayer?
Well, He has never left you
Or forsaken you one day
Listen to these simple words I say

Jesus knows your hurt
Jesus feels your pain
Jesus knows just how you feel
’Cause He's felt just the same
Jesus knows your need
Better than you do
Just hold on to Jesus
He's holding on to you
Just hold on to Jesus
He's holding on to you

sorrow - grief

Grief is an emotion common to the human experience, and we witness the process of grief throughout the biblical narrative. Multiple Bible characters experienced deep loss and sadness, including Job, Naomi, Hannah, and David. Even Jesus mourned (John 11:35; Matthew 23:37-39).

After Lazarus died, Jesus went to the village of Bethany, where Lazarus was buried. When Jesus saw Martha and the other mourners weeping, He also wept. He was moved by their grief and also by the fact of Lazarus’s death.

The astounding thing is that, even though Jesus knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead, He chose to partake of the grief of the situation. Jesus truly is a high priest who can “sympathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15).

One step in overcoming grief is having the right perspective on it. First, we recognize that grief is a natural response to pain and loss. There is nothing wrong with grieving. Second, we know that times of grief serve a purpose.

Ecclesiastes 7:2 says, “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.”

This verse implies that grief can be good because it can refresh our perspective on life. Third, we remember that feelings of grief are temporary. “Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). There is an end to mourning. Grief has its purpose, but it also has its limit.

Through it all, God is faithful.

There are many Scriptures that remind us of God’s faithfulness in times of mourning. He is with us even in the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4).

When David sorrowed, he prayed this in Psalm 56:8: “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” (ESV). The touching image of God catching our tears is full of meaning. He sees our grief and does not disdain it.

Like Jesus entered into the grief of the mourners in Bethany, God enters into our grief. At the same time, He reassures us that all is not lost. Psalm 46:10 reminds us to “be still” and rest in the knowledge that He is God. He is our refuge

(Psalm 91:1-2). He works all things together for the good of those He has called (Romans 8:28).

An important part of overcoming grief is expressing it to God. The Psalms contain numerous examples of pouring out one’s heart to God. Interestingly, the psalmist never ends where he began.

He may start a psalm with expressions of grief, but, almost invariably, he will end it with praise (Psalm 13; Psalm 23:4; Psalm 30:11-12; Psalm 56). God understands us (Psalm 139:2).

When we commune with Him, we are able to open our minds to the truth that He loves us, that He is faithful, that He is in control, and that He knows how He is going to work it out for our good.

Another important step in overcoming grief is to share it with others. The body of Christ is designed to ease the burdens of its individual members (Galatians 6:2), and fellow believers have the ability to “mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15).

Often, the grieving tend to shun others, increasing feelings of isolation and misery. It is much healthier to seek counseling, and group settings can be invaluable. Groups offer listening ears and helpful encouragement, camaraderie, and guidance in working through the grief. When we share our stories with God and others, our grief is lessened.

Sadly, grief is part of the human experience. Loss is part of life, and grief is a natural response to loss. But we have the hope of Christ, and we know that He is strong enough to carry our burdens (Matthew 11:30). We can give our hurt to Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

We can find solace in the Holy Spirit, our Comforter and Paraclete (John 14:16). In grief, we cast our burdens on Him, rely on the community of the church, delve into the truth of the Word, and ultimately experience hope (Hebrews 6:19-20).

walkingbyfaith.us In the Sunset of Our Lives Yet On the Dawn of Eternity

Encourage One Another

WHEN LIFE IS HARD

Testimony

Dexter Feagin

Testimony

sunny couch

To heavy to bear

A Glass of Water

Precious truth

jeremiah 1:5

Day 41 is coming

pain

jesus knows your hurt - Song by Dallas Holm

sorrow - grief

loss

PAIN

never alone