Well Done!

Today our family celebrated the gift of a rich heritage from a faithful woman of God. Grandma (and Great) Ruby Edmond graduated to Heaven’s Gates this week after 95 years of faithful service and love for God. As family and friends shared stories of Grandma Ruby one thing became crystal clear: Christ was central and ever present in everything she did in life.

Charlene shares this memory of her Grandma.

Once a year my parents would load all of us kids into our black 70’s station wagon with the classic wood paneling down the sides, complete with the Hi-Fi, 8-Track tape player with only one tape to play for the entire 2 day 18 hour trip. Once we finally arrived at Grandma’s house I remember spending the hot summer days enjoying the best of Oregon’s berries and vegetables. Grandma’s garden was beautiful and when we begged she gave us permission to gather a few of the ripe vegetables. We would also pick the juiciest raspberries and blackberries that were full of delightful flavor. That evening Grandma would make a cobbler complete with vanilla ice-cream, topped off with the same berries we just picked that day.

I also remember the daily family times gathered around Grandma and Grandpa as he opened up his well worn KJV Bible and read to us 3-4 chapters, maybe more, and as a child sometimes it seemed like they read the entire Old Testament. As they finished reading we would all kneel in the living room and pray. Grandma instilled the value and importance of God’s Word in her love and devotion to God, even in her last months listening to the Bible on CD.

Grandma Ruby and Grandpa pastored a number of Assembly of God churches in OR and WA. At their first church in Long Creek, OR., Grandma writes for a year they lived off of her meager SS unemployment and a $10/month gift from a retired Presbyterian minister. Through the next 75 years raising her family, she served the Lord leading worship with a guitar, accordion and piano, lead choirs, lead Missionettes (was the first Missionette Coordinator in the state of Oregon), and Women’s Ministry. Always faithful through each season of life in times of bounty and scarcity, through sickness and death, she lived each day fully devoted to her beloved Savior. Grandma Ruby’s family legacy includes children, grandchildren and great grandchildren that love Christ with the same devotion including two granddaughters who continue in pastoral ministry and share her title, “Pastor’s Wife”.

During the Memorial Service and after hearing more about Grandma Ruby’s life, ministry and her impact on family and her church, I felt the visual scene of Christ greeting Grandma Ruby at Heaven’s Gate: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful (for 95 years) with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” – Matt. 25:21

Giants & Weeds

As I look out across my lawn I am overwhelmed with the weeds of all varieties thriving as if I had thrown out seeds and Miracle Grow together. I am being invaded by an army of thistles, briars, dandelions and other barbarian plants. Some at over 3 feet tall stand mockingly over my roses, strawberries, and decorative bushes like Goliath in the Valley of Elah, taunting, challenging and intimidating. We have mowed-over, dug-out, pulled-up and sprayed but the invasion marches on. Our VERY wet and cool Spring has provided the ammunition for their accelerated growth and multiplication.

I can imagine the scene 3,000 years ago in the Valley of Elah, with the Israelites on one hillside and the Philistines on the other. The Israelites faced an invasion with evil intent to take-over the land they occupied and promised by God. The Philistine’s champion, Goliath, at over 9 feet tall, mocked and challenged his enemy, and behind him the army that had been advancing in overwhelming strength and numbers. King Saul’s troops camped on the hillside intimidated and immobilized in fear. For forty days Goliath called out to the Israelites and issued his challenge, and for forty days the Israelite’s backed down, withdrew in fear and hopelessness. Till a teenage boy came along with grain, bread and cheese for his brothers and the army, heard the challenge, responded to King Saul and said “your servant will go and fight”. With a confidence of God’s protective hand in past challenges of the lion and the bear, and with the assurance of victory in the name of the Lord God Almighty, the shepherd boy David took his courageous (and some seeing the odds may say foolish) stand.

“Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.”
- 1 Samuel 17:36-37

As we know the events that follow, God delivered the most unlikely victory into David’s hand with a simple rock and sling. I can see the men of both camps jaws drop in disbelief and were awestruck as the giant fell in a cloud of dust and watch this shepherd boy draw Goliath’s own sword and cut off his head. Immediately the tide of confidence turned in the Israelites favor as the Philistine’s fled in fear and decisive defeat.

There are times in my life when I feel the challenge is overwhelming, negative circumstances encircle me, an invasion of chaos, disruption and fear seems imminent as the enemy issues a challenge to my life, my faith and my God. We all have those moments when marriages are strained to the breaking point, when life-threatening illness invade a loved one’s body, when our business fails, we lose our jobs, when tragedy strikes, and family relationships become cold and distant. Naturally we hide, withdraw to where we feel safe, defensive, hoping the threat will just give up and go away. But it remains, till we respond as the shepherd boy with confidence and trust in God, and courageously face the giant in the name of the Lord God Almighty.

So, with shovel, weed-trimmer, gloves, and gallons of Roundup, I am ready to take my stand.

Surprise!

As the garage door closed behind me, I climbed out of my car grabbed my computer, the mail and shut the door. Thoughts of unfinished business from the office lingered in my mind as I navigated through boxes, over tools and sports equipment in our dimly lit garage. With a sigh of relief to be home I walked past the front of our parked van. Suddenly a ferocious blur of hair, arms and legs leapt out from behind the van. Instant terror gripped my heart as I instinctually defended myself in my manly way. My body contracted with one leg lifted up, arms tensed and brought in to protect my side, and my defensive verbal outburst sounded like a four year old girl stepping on a snake. My heart rate jumped from 80 to well over 200bpm and adrenaline shot through my system as the ferocious blur came into focus as a blonde, pink and now hysterically laughing little girl. “I got you Dad”, Aliya says as she gleefully jumps up and down in her accomplishment of taking at least 3.7 years off my life.

Why is it my kids, and many others as well, like to surprise, startle and scare their parents? Bryce and Aliya seem to go to great lengths to hide, wait and startle me whenever this evil thought crosses their otherwise innocent minds. Of course as any good father I laugh with them, as I make my way to my bedroom to catch my breath, compose myself, and pick up the shattered remains of my dignity.

In my journey in Christ, I have experienced God’s unexpected surprises as well. Just when I think circumstances have hit rock bottom, God provides, encourages, and strengthens me at just the right time. When I am feeling anxious about our finances, God surprises me. When I become discouraged, down or defeated God lifts me up. When I feel uncertain and stuck God clearly shows the way. As I look back on my life I can give a testimony of God’s presence through numerous unexpected surprises of provision, protection, direction, assurance, encouragement and joy. I can rejoice with the psalmist in his exclamation of praise.

You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
- Psalm 16:11

I think God takes great pleasure in providing for his children. I think he savors the moments of surprise to encourage, strengthen and bless us. In his plan for us, God patiently waits for just the right moment to reveal his work and presence in our lives. Sometimes when God surprises me, I have to take a moment, catch my breath, compose myself and say “Good one…Thank you God”.

To my kids who might have future plans of hiding in the garage, behind closet doors, or under beds…go surprise your Mom. I can’t afford to lose anymore of my hair, heart beats or dignity.