This is a special article.  It is dedicated to my husband. On May 25th, we will celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary.  In meditating on Building Together Across Generations, I realized that good solid marriages build bridges to the next generation.  When Darryl and I met in 1972 in a rickety house in the central area of Seattle, I did not dream that he was the answer to my heart cry!  As most young girls, I would think about being married and wonder about my future Prince Charming.  However, as a realistic, practically bent young woman, I knew he would not be perfect, nor would he whisk me away to a fantasy castle to live the life of a princess. (This was not my desire anyway!)

What a season to live in.  What an amazing time to serve the Lord.  Have you had your faith tested?  Has your love been stretched?  How about your hope?  1 Corinthians 13:13 reminds us that now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. No matter how difficult your roads, these three “graces” as they are sometimes referred to are eternal, which means they should be a part of our real life as well.  The word “abide” means to live or reside in a place.  Isn’t it fortunate that we, as believers, no matter our season or station in life can have these three amazing additions to our lives? 

I want to tell you the story of my encounters with grief and what I have learned over the past year. I hope it helps any of you in a similar situation.

My mother died at 42 after a long battle with ovarian cancer. I was 13, my sister was 15. My brother was married and expecting their first child. Each of us bore our grief differently.

In the September edition of Charisma magazine Ron Luce (president and founder of Teen Mania Ministries, a Christian organization reaching millions of young people) made a statement which caught my attention.  He stated “Though it may come as a surprise to some of us, our kids have gradually transferred ownership of their hearts
from us, their parents to their friends or the culture.  Kids care more about pleasing their peers than pleasing Mom and Dad.  This type of thinking begins gradually, but every little step is a sign that their hearts are being lured away.”  

A few weeks ago Darryl and I were privileged to attend a production of “Snapshots” at Lighthouse Christian Center.  This production is made up of individuals sharing “snapshot” personal stories of God’s involvement in their lives.  Our daughter Elizabeth performed one of these snapshots based on a childhood experience.

Right before Mother’s Day I was given the privilege to speak at a Mother/Daughter Tea at Living Faith Christian Fellowship in Oak Harbor, WA. Pastor Linda Jenkins told me the theme was “Legacy”. The word “legacy” had been reverberating in my spirit for weeks before then, and I knew that I needed to share with their women.

A legal will is used to determine the allocation of material acquisitions. Yet this is only

Dear single sisters and those that love them;

I am writing to you because I felt God wanted you to know that you are important to the Body of Christ. We appreciate you. We might not always know how to show our concern, our care or our support as best as we could, but we do need you and the value you add to our lives.

Psalm 127:3-5
Sons are a heritage from the Lord, Children a reward from him
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior, Are sons born in one’s youth
Blessed the man whose quiver is full of them
They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

Most parents are almost too aware of the major enemies their children must face as they leave home. Yet at the same time many seem to be clueless and almost paralyzed on how to prepare their children to contend with these enemies.

Gratitude, something we all like to receive. It is something we would agree needs to be active in our hearts (especially if we want to be in agreement with the Word!). But, is it something that those that know us, would describe as one of our attributes? Celebrating Thanksgiving once a year is just a beginning. God instructs us to be thankful, not only because it brings honor to Him, but because it is actually beneficial to the “thank-ee”.

An invitation to share with a group of ladies from All the World Christian Center in Grants Pass led to this fun, revealing and connecting exercise. God gave me this idea briefly during a time of prayer for this specific meeting, but it can be adapted for a variety of settings.