Posted by: admin in: ● July 10, 2009
A Love Story By Merlene
They were in love for 75 years. She was his wife for 73. It is hard for him to realize that so much time has gone by since the day he started loving Cleona because that day is so clear in his mind. He tells me often how fortunate he was to have her close to him through all those years. And I am fortunate too because I, their daughter, grew up in the light of that bright love and it still brightens my life now that she is gone.She was considered plain. He was movie star handsome, but her true beauty shone from within her for all to see. Her red hair earned her the nickname “Red” all through grade school and high school. She had lots of friends but no boy friends before him. She was more interested in her studies anyway and hoped to be one of the first girls from her small school to go to college and then become a teacher. Then when she was a junior a new student appeared in her school. When she first saw him she got her first crush. Not only was he the most gorgeous guy she had every seen but he was smart and nice. He was quiet and kept somewhat to himself. But she could see the goodness in him even without getting to know him well. He graduated without ever noticing her much. And someone told her that he had gone away to college so she gave up any hope of ever getting to know him any better, but knew she would always remember him. He did go to college, but it was 1931 and a week after he got there he was notified that his father had lost all his money and he had to go home. For the next year he worked on the farm and helped his dad in the saw mill, occasionally driving an old pickup truck into town to see a few friends. He didn’t have any girl friends. But Stella, a friend of his brother’s, had a crush on him and, though he wasn’t interested, he sometimes found himself thrown together with her. One day when he was in town his brother came to him and said a group of kids were going out to the river to roast some hot dogs and do whatever kids did in those days – which was certainly different from what kids do these days. He said all right and loaded his pickup up with some kids including Stella who snuggled up by him in the front seat. While they were at the river, though, he noticed Cleona and started talking to her. She had just graduated and was preparing for college. Though he knew who she was, he was seeing her for the first time. She was sweet and warm and he found himself entranced. He suggested that they go to the truck where they could talk easier. He couldn’t believe how easy she was to talk to. Later when it was time to go home, Stella climbed into the front seat of the truck next to the driver’s seat. But he asked his brother to drive so he could sit in the back and talk to Cleona. Stella was visably angry but he didn’t care. For the first time in his life he had found someone he was really attracted to, someone he felt he could talk to forever. But she was leaving for college in a few days, so he told her goodbye and wished her well. A few weeks later he was delivering apples and went through the town where her college was. He decided to gear up his courage and go see if he could find her. Fortunately she was in her dorm room and they spent a few hours getting to know each other a little better. When she came home for Thanksgiving he went to see her. He found out her grandfather had just died and she couldn’t leave. So they spent a few more hours talking on her front porch and then he knew this was the woman for him. And they had never even had a date.From then on they saw each whenever she was home from college. After two years she took a teaching job near her home town and then they could see each other often. They wanted to get married, but it was against the rules at the school where she taught so they got married and kept it secret until the school year ended.She knew how much he wanted to go to college. And she wanted to do whatever she could to make that happen. It took several years before it was possible but together they did it. They moved to a small farm owned by her parents. They worked the farm, she taught school, and they had two babies. Finally he enrolled in a college too far away to go back and forth. So he stayed there and only came home on weekends. While he was away during the week she took care of us (my brother and me), taught school nearby, and did farm work. He loves to tell this story because he knows it is only because of her love for him and her desire for him to realize his dream that it was possible. During the war he quit college and taught school because it was his way of doing his part while other men were away at war. When the war ended he went back. After he graduated he became a minister and we moved to a different state. Quite a move for a girl from a small town in the Midwest. She didn’t mind as long as they were together. They weren’t together as much as she would have liked because he traveled for the church. But I never heard her complain. They were happy with the life they had together. And he simply adored her. He was proud of her and he appreciated her. He looked at her with so much love and so much pride that one would have thought she was queen of something. And she was. Queen of his heart. And so it was for 73 years. Shortly after their 70th wedding anniversary they went into a nursing home together. Still they were mentally and socially active and happy to be together. He loved taking care of her, making sure she got her insulin shots in the right amount, as he had for years. And she in turn made sure he got his eye drops and that all his needs were met. They were an example for anyone who got to know them, as they had been their whole lives. I have never known two people to be so loved by so many people as they were. Then I got a call that she was having chest pains and was in the emergency room. I went to be with them. By the time I got there he had been by her side for several hours and still refused to leave even to get something to eat or to take a rest. It was after midnight, they had put in a heart stent, she had talked to us, and was resting before I was able to get him to go home and go to bed. Another call a week later. She was not doing well. She was back in the hospital. When I got there that day she was getting some tests so I sent him home and I waited in her hospital room. When she came back she was very quiet for a while. And then she began to talk: “I wish I could tell you what happened to me while I was gone because I want you to tell my grandchildren, but I don’t have the words to describe it. I had to lay on a cold table for a long time and I was shivering. Suddenly I felt a “presence” and it seemed to wrap me in a warm blanket. I became very warm and felt that presence tell me that everything was going to be all right.” As she spoke there was a spirit about her that I had never been aware of before. It drew me to her and for two hours we held hands and talked about her life. She had no regrets and felt so blessed to have had the life she did. Especially she felt blessed to have my dad to love her.We took her back to her “home at Rosewood” shortly after. When she told my dad about her experience, he believed that meant she was going to get all right. But she didn’t. She was in congestive heart failure and a week later they called in hospice. He protested because he knew she was going to get all right and there was no need. But he was told if they didn’t accept hospice care that she would have to go back to the hospital so he gave in. But he was angry. He was upset with the hospice nurses because they were just trying to keep her comfortable and not make her well. He was sharp with me – one of the few times in my life – because I was trying to talk to him about the possibility that she might not get better. He said, “I am just not ready to let her go.” She knew he was giving everyone a hard time and apologized to the nurses when he didn’t hear. But she knew too that he wanted her to stay and so she was reluctant to leave him.The spirit that had been with her in the hospital never left her. She was serene and loving, and being in her presence was a joy and a gift. While he was gone to breakfast one morning, I was laying in bed with her, holding her in my arms, telling her how much I loved her. She said, “I know you do. You show me in so many ways that you do. But I know I can’t last much longer. And when I go, I don’t want you to grieve. I have had 93 years and I am grateful for every one of them. I want you to be happy that I have had such a wonderful life. I am grateful for so many things. But most of all I am grateful for your daddy and the love he has given me every day for 73 years. Be happy for that.”When he came back he sat down beside her and took hold of her hand. She said to him, “I don’t know how much longer I can go on like this. “ I watched the dawning realization fill his face. She was staying only for him. “Oh, Sweetheart” he said, “if you need to go, you go. I don’t want you to stay if you need to leave. I will be all right. I promise you I will be all right.” She looked at him and said, “All right. Goodbye.” And closed her eyes. He and I looked at each other wondering if this was it. But in a few minutes she opened her eyes. Then he and I laughed. But he had released her. Two days later she died. Those two days were sublimely happy for all of us. We rejoiced in the love that filled that room. He was kind to the hospice nurses and they couldn’t believe he was the same person. I felt embraced by her serenity and felt anointed to be in the presence of such everlasting love. When she was gone, he kept his word. He let her go. And two years later he speaks often of how much he misses her but never of wanting her back. He believes he is keeping his promise to her to be at peace without her. He recently had a dream. It was very early in the morning and he opened his eyes to see her standing by his bed. She looked to be in her 40’s and she was beautiful. Her eyes were bright and she seemed vibrantly alive. She never said anything but lay down beside him and gave him an embrace. Then she got up and she was gone. He jumped up out of bed and called her name. Oh, it was a dream, he realized. But he is not so sure.
Single Christian Network has more love stories.
Posted by: admin in: ● June 18, 2009
Someone posted this on the singleC.com forums
What do you think? Is this something to heed or just more blather?
America is a Great Ship of State that is Sinking
Given by Gwen Shaw in 2000
America, thou art a great ship of state that has sailed the stormy seas of history in these last centuries. Thou hast been known for thy great beauty, thy luxury, thy advanced and modern technology, for thou art ahead of many nations in inventions and the comforts of life. Thy renown has gone out to all the world and thou art the envy of the nations. Many seek to copy you and be like you. You have been the model of freedom and expression. And you have sacrificed and sent humanitarian and spiritual help to all nations. Your sons have died on many distant battlefields to free nations of tyrants. You have shared your wealth with the needy, the starving and the lost. Your goodness has been carefully monitored by the angels who keep the record.
But you are like the great Titanic which thought itself to be unsinkable. And your pride in your greatness has blinded you to the true state of your demise, for beneath the waters of visibility, in the fog of your pleasures and the lusts and greed that is possessing and controlling you, you have struck an invisible “iceberg,” and alas, your ship is cracked and torn open in its hull. You are unaware, for your prophets are not sounding a true alarm of the actual damage that has been done to you, and you are a doomed ship that is sinking fast.
IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
Of that fact, there is no doubt! America, you are a sinking ship! It is only a matter of time. Your intercessors, by working the “water pumps” of many tears can only delay your final end. But they cannot keep you afloat for an indefinite period of time.
And I weep in the heavens for you, for I am the One who created you, blessed you and made you great. I did it because of your founding fathers and mothers who loved Me and made great sacrifices for Me. They left homes and loved ones to be faithful to My Holy Word. They came to you through fire and through blood, and they built you up stick by stick, stone by stone and life by life.
But now, thou art sinking, yea, thou great ship of state, thou art sinking, because thy captains have not been “on deck.” They have been sleeping in their “staterooms” of luxury and worldliness and sins of every nature.
Moreover, the danger is magnified and thy loss of life is multiplied, by the fact that thou has not enough life-boats to save all who are on board. Many will be lost in the depth of the stormy seas when your ship goes down.
AMERICA WILL DO GOOD TILL THE LAST HOUR
But even in this last hour, as thou art sinking, thou shalt, because of thy intercessors who are amongst thee, send forth messengers as arrows that are flames of fire, lit by the Holy Ghost, into the nations of the world.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED BY THE PROPHETS OF GOD
In the days of your visitation I have sent my faithful servants from many nations to warn you of your lukewarmness and your worldliness. I sent them from Africa, England, Germany, China, Russia, and Korea. I even sent Dumitru Duduman from Romania to warn you. But what have you done with these messages of warning? You have called for the musicians to play you another song, and you have opened another bottle of liquor to drown out the convictions of the Holy Ghost that would put the fear of God in you so that you might repent.
I beg you, do not scoff nor reject the messengers I have sent with My Warning Message. Accept it, and repent! In your mouth it will be bitter, but it will ease your stomach, and it will save some lives.
IN THIS FINAL HOUR THERE WILL BE ONE FINAL VISITATION OF THE MIRACULOUS
This is the final hour of visitation, and like I did in Topeka, Kansas; Azusa Street, Los Angeles; and like I spoke through men like Evan Roberts and George Whitefield, I will blow one more time across this land. But it will be a revival wind that is mixed with woe and danger, for this nation did not heed the gentle, loving breeze of the Holy Spirit, nor the sweet cooing and breath of the Dove; therefore the fierce hurricane wind, even the terrible, tempestuous wind, called “Euroclydon” will now blow across all of this land, and there will be no place to escape to.
PRIDE HAS BLINDED SOME
I cannot use those whom I used in the past who are sending a false sound. They have become tinkling brass and sounding cymbals because they do not serve Me out of love, nor in holiness; and their fear of Me has departed, for their pride in the great things I have done through them has blinded them.
Your show of religion will vanish; for I have heard you, whom I have once anointed and used greatly, now mocking Me and My signs and wonders. You have lost your first love for Me. Without this love, you cannot know truth, for Truth is Love, and Love is Truth. I am the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life. God is LOVE! Listen, and learn, oh, ye proud of heart!
THE PRAYERS OF OUR ANCESTORS STILL AVAIL
Great trials and tribulations will come to this nation. But the prayers of your ancestors have come up to My throne, and I hear them and will rise up in your midst, and you shall know that I, the Lord your God have spoken!
HANG THE TEN COMMANDMENTS BACK ON THE WALL!
Open your heart directly to Me. Turn back to Me and the Bible as your only source. Put the Ten Commandments back on the walls of your government buildings; and LIVE BY THOSE LAWS! DO IT NOW! EVERY MOMENT COUNTS!
SAINTS, HOLD STEADY, LET GOD DO WHAT HE HAS TO DO!
I will do things in this nation which I have never done before. Hold steady, as I begin to discipline you. I will warn some of you ahead of time, and you will be able to rescue others out of chaos. Do not ask Me to hold back My judgments. I must do what I must do, or the final destruction will be even worse.
GOD IS GOING TO BLESS HIS CHILDREN WITH UNEXPECTED WEALTH
As the gold falls, I will send financial blessing. I will now do something in the banking system to loosen the wealth to My people. The wealth of the Egyptians will be given to the oppressed and the down trodden who have been the “slaves” of the tax collectors.
There will be great investments made by many to build the Ark of the Lord. Use My wealth wisely, for it belongs to the Kingdom of God. Never ever use it to make yourself wealthy. It belongs to the things that are eternal. Touch not the gold nor the Glory.
Posted by: admin in: ● June 15, 2009
Before signing up on any Christian dating site, make sure that you read the terms and conditions of joining. A good dating site from Christians will not charge you any fees. Check the features of the dating site to verify whether you need them or not. For instance, there are sites that focus on helping Christian seniors connect while there are those that cater solely to young single Christians. Make sure that you agree with all the terms and conditions of the dating site to avoid problems in the future.
Christian dating has taken a new turn thanks to the internet. Nowadays, you can find websites catering to single Christians who are interested to date like-minded individuals. Because of that, dating is quickly improving and becoming more convenient and possible to do. Many of these sites cater to helping single Christians find true love, but there are also those that focus on helping them find new friends who share the same values and beliefs. Here are some tips on how you can get the most of the online dating service.
For Christian singles only
Find out if the site is really meant for Christians only or if it allows people from other religions to sign up, too. Remember that there are social networking sites on the internet catering to the public, which means that anyone can sign up. Joining these sites is not so bad but your chances for running into fellow Christians can be slim or none at all. Therefore, make sure that you are joining a social networking site that boasts exclusivity to Christian dating.
Christian dating sites generally have features you can find in any other social networking site. These features include chat boards, forums, and personal messaging. You are also required to upload a profile that enables people to read more about you. Do not forget to upload a picture of yourself so people will know how you look like. Be sure that everything that you are stating on your profile is true because basically, lying is unbecoming of a Christian and will decrease your chances of meeting a Christian single who is right for you.
Single Christian Network gives you a chance to join the Christian dating scene. By registering in this website, you can start meeting real Christian singles who are willing to befriend you. Most of our clients have already found success in relationships and marriage with the help of our services. In fact, you can read about their experiences on the testimonials published in this site. Learn more about the Single Christian Network by exploring the features of this site.
Posted by: admin in: ● May 8, 2009
At Single Christian Network some people were posting that it is adultery for a divorced woman to be remarried.
I disagreed. Here is what I wrote:
Here is what I have discovered:
Jesus came to heal us, not condemn us.
He came to set us free, not drive us into captivity.
The gospel is a message of hope. It is good news.
Here it is, just as written. No words changed:
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and
YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
I know there are people that want to take the bruised and broken hearted and bruise them even more.
I know there are people who want to weigh down the hurting with even more troubles and sorrow.
They want to take the easy yoke and make it hard. They want to take the light burden and make it heavy.
If someone tells me that they would forbid a woman who is being abused to get a divorce, I would say again:
“Shame on you. You distort the gospel message. You take the hope and forgiveness offered by Jesus and make his words a heavy burden. You know the words of a book, but the spirit has not pierced your heart. You don’t know Jesus.”
Jesus said it this way:
Speaking of the scribes and the Pharisees:
All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
They had the words down. They had the rules and the law and they were perfect.
And Jesus rebuked them because they knew not the truth.
Posted by: admin in: ● April 24, 2009
J.D. Payne | 08 Nov 2004
We as Christians are admonished to have a zeal for the faith. But as Paul says in Romans 10:1-3: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” So we must be cautious that we are NOT establishing our righteousness but the righteousness of God.
A definition of this in a worldly sense is:
Fanaticism (n.) Excessive enthusiasm, unreasoning zeal, or wild and extravagant notions, on any subject, especially religion; religious frenzy. Possessed with or motivated by excessive, irrational zeal.
I feel that in many ways, in many of the Christian forum board posts, individual discussions and other Christian interactions, including church and small groups, we have passed into the realm of fanaticism or, as the above definition elaborates, “Possessed with or motivated by excessive, irrational zeal.” Especially when we get into fighting to have our own viewpoint or perspective dominating over everyone else’s view.
Peter tells us that we are to approach things from an entirely different viewpoint. A point of humility and meekness. It is here in 1 Peter 3:15-17, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.”
Because we are supposed to…”ROM 14: 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. CO1 10: 23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. TH1 5: 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”
Obviously these are not MY words, but scripture from the Word of God, whereby we know, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Think before you speak. Are your words uplifting or do they offend? Do your words enlighten and teach, or do they accuse? Do your words show love and respect, or do they ridicule and condescend (deal with people in a patronizingly superior manner)? From the abundance of the heart a man speaks. And we should ONLY be speaking in LOVE….
So, I leave you with this thought. We as the body of Christ should be a living example and testament of the glory of God shining forth through His children. We should be that peculiar people BECAUSE we are a royal priesthood and a holy nation. WWJD, what would Jesus do? Not a lot of what we are doing these days! Be mindful of the other person as if you life depended on it, because when you are standing face-to-face with the creator of the universe — it just might!
Be blessed, be loved and be at peace,
J.D. Payne is an author that blogs here: http://www.adeeperfaith.com
Christian Singles can find Christian Dating here.
We as Christians are admonished to have a zeal for the faith. But as Paul says in Romans 10:1-3: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” So we must be cautious that we are NOT establishing our righteousness but the righteousness of God.
A definition of this in a worldly sense is:
Fanaticism (n.) Excessive enthusiasm, unreasoning zeal, or wild and extravagant notions, on any subject, especially religion; religious frenzy. Possessed with or motivated by excessive, irrational zeal.
I feel that in many ways, in many of the Christian forum board posts, individual discussions and other Christian interactions, including church and small groups, we have passed into the realm of fanaticism or, as the above definition elaborates, “Possessed with or motivated by excessive, irrational zeal.” Especially when we get into fighting to have our own viewpoint or perspective dominating over everyone else’s view.
Peter tells us that we are to approach things from an entirely different viewpoint. A point of humility and meekness. It is here in 1 Peter 3:15-17, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.”
Because we are supposed to…”ROM 14: 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. CO1 10: 23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. TH1 5: 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”
Obviously these are not MY words, but scripture from the Word of God, whereby we know, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Think before you speak. Are your words uplifting or do they offend? Do your words enlighten and teach, or do they accuse? Do your words show love and respect, or do they ridicule and condescend (deal with people in a patronizingly superior manner)? From the abundance of the heart a man speaks. And we should ONLY be speaking in LOVE….
So, I leave you with this thought. We as the body of Christ should be a living example and testament of the glory of God shining forth through His children. We should be that peculiar people BECAUSE we are a royal priesthood and a holy nation. WWJD, what would Jesus do? Not a lot of what we are doing these days! Be mindful of the other person as if you life depended on it, because when you are standing face-to-face with the creator of the universe — it just might!
Be blessed, be loved and be at peace,
J.D. Payne
J.D. Payne is the webmaster for
http://www.pathwaysofgrace.com
