I am sitting in the emergency room with my Mom. She had a stroke in March of this year (2011) and she has had good days and bad days. Some days she is lucid and joking like her pre-stroke self and in a matter of minutes, she has taken a mental trip to a place and time from years long gone. You just never know where she might be when you enter her room at the rehab center. She always knows who we are, but the current location seems to be an elusive wisp that is difficult for her to grasp. She's still Momma.
It is interesting to have observed the progression of her thoughts over the last few months; Kilgore, Corsicana, Tyler, Dallas, Overton, and other towns where she spent her childhood and youth. All these places and the stories that go along with the memory wisp are sometimes amusing, some times sad. She seems to always be traveling home to Nederland from these places and almost always she is with Daddy. Sometimes she was alone because Daddy had to go and find a house or do something else, but he was always coming back for her and she would be home tomorrow.
I have tried to figure out what all the bits and pieces mean -- they are sort of like trying to piece together a document that has been through a shreadder -- and I have discovered one very interesting fact, Mom seems to be going through her memory file and dealing with things that have been pushed way back into the deep recesses of her memory filing cabinet. To me it appears she has decided it is time to clean out the drawer and she is dealing with each thing, big and small, but equally important to her at the moment. When she has thoroughly dealt with every nuance, she mentally stamps it "finished" and moves on to the next item in the file.
Each memory and thought has become pages in Mom's life, bound together with the peace that only God can give. So today, I realized she is just turning the pages of her book, her life, and we get to re-live it with her.
....As you see at the top of this posting, part one was written in August. Today is December 13, 2011. Mom passed away on September 7, 2011. She went gently with Daddy watching over her, holding her hand, and he was kissing her as she took her last Earthly breath. In that split second, Mom left the protective care of Daddy, her Lover and Hero, and walked into the sheltering arms of Jesus, Mom's Redeemer and King. Dad had protected and provided for her for 70 years, now Jesus will care for her for eternity. So while she is waiting for us to meet her over there, she is enjoying a most joyous family reunion, Aunt Ruby and Uncle Elmer, Birdie and Calvin, Ruth and Claude, Little Bart and Baby Andy, all there, all together, and love abounding.
"Mom, we miss you, but we will keep you close to our hearts and talk about you often...see you soon,"
BJ
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
A View From the Top of the Trash Heap...
I have sung a jillion songs, written a bunch, and met more people than you can count. I have sung at religious conventions and in the tiniest of churches. I held the hand of the president of a major jewelry company and sang “You Light Up My Life” to him, as we stood spotlighted in the middle of a ballroom. I have sung the goodbye anthem at the home going of many precious saints, and some not so precious. I have sung the proclamation of the strength and longing of young love as they promised, “before God and this company,” to hold on to each other through the bad times as well as the good times. The recompense for my labor came in many forms, money—the folding kind—sometime even enough to cover my traveling expenses, and on one memorable occasion, a note card with the words, “Thank You,” printed on the front and nothing more. But money was never my goal or I would have taken another road. Singing is a labor of love.
Even with all the songs I have sung about “victory,” “love lifting me” and “I still believe,” I was not prepared for the events that led to my sitting up here on the top of the trash heap. But here I am and the world has a very different look from this tremendous height. From up here, surrounded by the junk I once considered treasured possessions, there’s a special light that shines and can be found in no other place. Truth is what shines on top of the trash heap. Everything else has crumbled and the only thing left is Truth.
It is from the top of the trash heap that you can see people for what they really are, just individuals scrounging around in their neighbor’s trash looking for a valuable trinket to steal away. The funny thing is, from this vantage point, the air is pure and refreshing. In the middle of being cast aside by people you trusted, cared for, and exposed your heart to, God is closer and He makes His presence known in a stronger way than is possible down there where all the living is taking place. Maybe the trash heap isn’t such a bad place to be. I know one thing for sure, I don’t want to return to the artificial life again, I want to produce an “honest day’s work” in return for the Master’s Touch.
Paul said it so eloquently, “I know what it’s like to be rich and I know what it’s like to be poor.” Paul committed his enemies into God’s hands for justice to be meted out however and whenever God chose. I commend Paul for that type of forgiveness, but that kind of thinking only comes from the top of the trash heap where there is nothing else to lose. Paul also stated, “I have fought a GOOD fight, I have KEPT the faith, and henceforth, a crown of Righteousness is laid up for me in heaven.” At the top of the trash heap, the only thing that remains is you, your honor, your loyalty to God, and your right-ness. You are stripped naked before God, the Righteous Judge, the Truth, the Everlasting Father, and the account is tallied. Paul had been stripped and tallied and only then could he proclaim he was worthy to receive a crown of Righteousness.
It was from the top of the trash heap that Paul sang praise and worship choruses to God at the midnight hour in that raspy preacher’s voice of his. I can imagine the words, “I will praise the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord, the humble shall hear thereof and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me. Let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my sin.” You see, Paul didn’t mind being on top of the trash heap, because he had been there before and would probably be there again. It seems that this pleasure seeking world resents being reminded that deep inside each of us is a giant void that only God is big enough to fill completely and when He does, it really doesn’t matter that you’re on the top of the trash heap or not. You are basking in His presence receiving the “tan of His Glory.” It is on top of the trash heap that you realize that “It’s not about you at all,…..It’s ALL about HIM!”
August, 2002
Beverly Parr
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Scriptures That Can Strengthen Your Faith
The Word of God is Powerful! It can lift you up, strengthen your faith, and defeat your enemies. When the difficult times come, RUN to to the shelter and security of God's Word and feed on the fact that, "God is your Father, Jesus is your Saviour, and the Holy Spirit is your Comforter." You can "speak the Word" to the storm of your life and watch it fall destroyed at your feet. Below are some of the scriptures that I spoke to my storm and I am alive to tell you that God is faithful! There is no "magic" here, just fact!
Healing, Victory Scriptures....
Healing, Victory Scriptures....
1. The Word of God will save your life.
My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. (Prov 4:20-22 NKJV)
2. God’s Word will not fail.
Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel
3. God’s will -- healing-- is working in you.
for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Phil 2:13 NKJV)
4. The Spirit of Life is making your body alive.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.(Rom 8:11 NKJV)
5. God is for you.
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. (2 Cor 1:20 NKJV)
6. It is God’s will for you to be healed.
And behold, a leper came and worshipped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean. Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (Mat 8:2-3 NKJV)
7. Obey God’s Word and be healed.
and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you." (Exo 15:26 NKJV)
8. Serve the Lord and healing will be yours.
"So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. (Exo 23:25 NKJV)
9. God takes all sickness away from you.
"And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt
10. Obey all God’s commandments and receive all His blessings.
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. (Mal 3:10 NKJV)
11. One of God’s benefits is healing.
Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psa 103:1-5 NKJV)
12. God’s Word is healing.
He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. (Psa 107:20 NKJV)
13. God wants you to live.
I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the LORD. (Psa 118:17 NKJV)
14. Choose to live. Be a fighter!
"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; (Deu 30:19 NKJV)
15. You will live a long life.
With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation." (Psa 91:16 NKJV)
16. Jesus bore your sins AND your sicknesses.
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. (Isa 53:5 NKJV)
17. God will restore your health.
For I will restore health to you And heal you of your wounds,' says the LORD, 'Because they called you an outcast saying: "This is Zion
18. You can take authority over the sickness in your body. "
Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Mat 18:18 NKJV)
19. Agree with someone for your healing
"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. (Mat 18:19 NKJV)
20. What you say will make a difference.
So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. (Mark 11:22-23 NKJV)
21. Believe, and you will receive.
"Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. (Mark 11:24 NKJV)
22. Plead your case to God.
Even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance; Let us contend together; State your case, that you may be acquitted. (Isa 43:25-26 NKJV)
23. Have someone lay hands on you for healing.
"And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mark 16:17-18 NKJV)
24. Worship God.
"Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. (John 9:31 NKJV)
25. The devil wants to kill you; God wants to heal you.
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10 NKJV)
26. You are redeemed from the curse.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Gal 3:13-14 NKJV)
27. You will not waiver in your faith.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (Heb 10:23 NKJV)
28. You can have confidence in God and His Word.
Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. (Heb 10:35 NKJV)
29. You can find strength in God and His Word
“.... Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'" (Joel 3:10 NKJV)
30. Jesus Christ has never changed. What He did in the Bible, He will do for you today,
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Heb 13:8 NKJV)
31. God’s highest wish is for you to be well.
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
(3 John 1:2 KJV)
32. Be anointed with oil by a Christian who believes in healing.
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (James 5:14-15 NKJV)
33. Jesus has already paid the price for your healing.
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed. (1 Pet 2:24 NKJV)
34. Be confident in your prayers.
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. (1 John 5:14-15 NKJV)
35. God answers the prayers of those that keep His commandments.
Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. (1 John 3:21-22 NKJV)
36. Fear is not of God. Rebuke it!
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Tim 1:7 NKJV)
37. Cast down those thoughts and imaginations that don’t line up with the Word of God.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, (2 Cor 10:4-5 NKJV)
38. Be strong in the Lord’s power. Put on His armor to fight for healing.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; (Eph 6:10-17 NKJV)
39. Give testimony of your healing.
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (Rev 12:11 NKJV)
40. Your sickness will leave and not come back again.
What do you conspire against the LORD? He will make an utter end of it. Affliction will not rise up a second time. (Nahum 1:9 NKJV)
"Father, I pray today for those reading this posting. If they need forgivness, give them a repentant heart and draw them to the alter of forgiveness where they will find You in a real and wonderful way. Reveal Yourself to them, strenghen their faith and let them know that You control every storm. Help them come to an understanding that the only real peace, health, and love comes from You. We thank You for the answer that will come and we believe You are faithful to Your promises. We pray this in the authority of Jesus' name! Amen - So Be It - It is Done!"
May the Lord bless and keep you!
"Father, I pray today for those reading this posting. If they need forgivness, give them a repentant heart and draw them to the alter of forgiveness where they will find You in a real and wonderful way. Reveal Yourself to them, strenghen their faith and let them know that You control every storm. Help them come to an understanding that the only real peace, health, and love comes from You. We thank You for the answer that will come and we believe You are faithful to Your promises. We pray this in the authority of Jesus' name! Amen - So Be It - It is Done!"
May the Lord bless and keep you!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Are You Searching For the Meaning of Life?
There are a lot of people going here and there, following this idea or that concept, looking, searching for the meaning of life. Drugs, alcohol, sex, 12-step programs, counsellors, self-help books, meditation, motovational seminars, and even attending revival services cannot satisfy the need to find some kind of meaning for living -- for taking the next breath, to continue on, unless you understand the simple fact that your life has purpose and value.
A few years ago, I watched the movie, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" -- a tedious, asinine waste of time, but one point really captured my attention. The characters searched the entire galaxy for the oracle who could answer the question, "What is the meaning of life?" After almost 2 hours of off-the-wall attempts at comedy, they find that the oracle is actually a super-computer that, after a very complicated set of calculations, answered the question. The meaning of life is.....42.
For some reason, the thought has kept coming back to me..."The meaning of life is 42" and I started doing some study in the Word of God to search out the meaning of life for myself. As a lark, I decided to apply the concept of "42." I checked out the 42nd book of the Bible, Luke. Luke is full of the Good News of the Gospel, that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh to redeem mankind and repair the breech between God and man -- an excellent passage of hope, but I did not feel that is where God was taking me so I looked on. I check out the 42nd chapter of Genesis and that, too, was a really awesome example of God's Plan for man in action, but still that was not where I believed God wanted me to end my search. I checked out every 42nd chapter in the Bible. Finally after quite a few days of searching and revelling in the thrill of the reminder that God's love and mercy is deep and rich, I found my answer.
The meaning of life really IS 42......Psalms 42!
1 As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?[b]
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”
4 When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance.[c]
6 O my God,[d] my soul is cast down within me;
Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon,
From the Hill Mizar.
7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will say to God my Rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a breaking of my bones,
My enemies reproach me,
While they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.
This simply means, our reason for being is to fellowship with God, to love Him, worship Him, and give Him honor. It does not matter what hardship or sorrow comes our way, God's love for us never changes and we have the confidence that, when we reach up, He will reach down and envelop us in His presence.
I have been low and I have been on top, but in every situation, I have found God to be faithful.
If you are going through a difficult time and there seems to be no way out, remember this, when you cry out to God, admit you need His help and forgiveness, He will lift the burden off your back --- the situation may not change right away, but He will give you peace, courage, and strength to make it through to the other side.
BJ
A few years ago, I watched the movie, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" -- a tedious, asinine waste of time, but one point really captured my attention. The characters searched the entire galaxy for the oracle who could answer the question, "What is the meaning of life?" After almost 2 hours of off-the-wall attempts at comedy, they find that the oracle is actually a super-computer that, after a very complicated set of calculations, answered the question. The meaning of life is.....42.
For some reason, the thought has kept coming back to me..."The meaning of life is 42" and I started doing some study in the Word of God to search out the meaning of life for myself. As a lark, I decided to apply the concept of "42." I checked out the 42nd book of the Bible, Luke. Luke is full of the Good News of the Gospel, that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh to redeem mankind and repair the breech between God and man -- an excellent passage of hope, but I did not feel that is where God was taking me so I looked on. I check out the 42nd chapter of Genesis and that, too, was a really awesome example of God's Plan for man in action, but still that was not where I believed God wanted me to end my search. I checked out every 42nd chapter in the Bible. Finally after quite a few days of searching and revelling in the thrill of the reminder that God's love and mercy is deep and rich, I found my answer.
The meaning of life really IS 42......Psalms 42!
1 As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?[b]
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”
4 When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance.[c]
6 O my God,[d] my soul is cast down within me;
Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon,
From the Hill Mizar.
7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will say to God my Rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a breaking of my bones,
My enemies reproach me,
While they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.
This simply means, our reason for being is to fellowship with God, to love Him, worship Him, and give Him honor. It does not matter what hardship or sorrow comes our way, God's love for us never changes and we have the confidence that, when we reach up, He will reach down and envelop us in His presence.
I have been low and I have been on top, but in every situation, I have found God to be faithful.
If you are going through a difficult time and there seems to be no way out, remember this, when you cry out to God, admit you need His help and forgiveness, He will lift the burden off your back --- the situation may not change right away, but He will give you peace, courage, and strength to make it through to the other side.
BJ
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Introduction
Hello, Welcome to The Meaning of Life, as I see it. The information posted here is my personal opinion and may or may not agree with yours. My goal is to encourage you in your Faith in God and share my thoughts about the Word of God and how it has impacted my life throughout my 40 years of evangelistic and pulpit ministry.
This said, I leave you today with this thought.....
"There is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still!" (Corrie ten Boom)
God is bigger than anything you are going through today. If you but reach out to Him, He will more than meet any need, fight any battle, and WIN....because God is on your side and He loves you.
This said, I leave you today with this thought.....
"There is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still!" (Corrie ten Boom)
God is bigger than anything you are going through today. If you but reach out to Him, He will more than meet any need, fight any battle, and WIN....because God is on your side and He loves you.
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