Friday's Faith - Merry Katherine’s “Talk” with Me Thanksgiving Day!

Friday's Faith

Merry Katherine’s

“Talk” with Me

Thanksgiving Day!

From my journal on Thanksgiving Day:

11/26/09 First time in 30 years (or maybe ever in my life), Tommy and I have spent Thanksgiving alone. Amidst our grief, we needed it and we loved it. And it has been just what we needed—no demands—just rest, relax, and recreate! …And grieve, and cry, and create!

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Then, as I began my prayer to God, Merry Katherine was there (in my spirit)… responding to my words, and so I responded back… As you may notice, I cry and cry throughout this dialogue with my precious child…

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I miss her Lord.

I’m right here, Mommy.

As I read Romans 8, I am crying over the tender mercies of God toward you. He did things for you that you could not do for yourself. He did things for you I could not do for you either…

I know Mommy. He’s a good God, and I didn’t deserve any of it.

I know precious. Neither do I. He is a good God. He even loves us “in spite” of ourselves. He is so merciful.

Baby, I felt so helpless with you. I couldn’t stop you from your self-destructive path, and it was killing me.

I know Mommy. I couldn’t stop me either. But God did.

He kept you from running too far, didn’t He baby? (More tears) He did for you what I couldn’t. I am so thankful He is such a big God and wise God and loving God. He helped us to allow you to hit bottom, then He wooed you back to Himself. I can never thank Him enough for that. (More tears)

It’s all good now Mommy.

That’s hard for me to climb into because I can’t see any of it! I get stuck in the tragic ending and in all our efforts that were so ineffective to stop you… (More tears)

But Mommy, God calls you to live by faith—to believe in what you can’t see.

That’s why I need to steep myself in Scripture to remind myself of what IS true even though I can’t see it all yet…

Mommy, tell me what He did for me. Write it down to encourage you and to help others too.

You’re right. I know God gets frustrated when we don’t “see” things by faith, and then we miss out on such a blessing. I am tempted to pull away from Scripture, and just want you back here (still want to have my way)—and then I get stuck there.

Faith is not easy Mommy, but you’ve gotta have it or you’re not gonna make it. You’re staying steeped in the sad.

But it IS sad. Four years ago today, you were sitting in my lap at Aunt Dianne’s for Thanksgiving…

I know Mommy and that was sweet, but can you remember too how miserable I was? I had just gotten kicked out of Lee University!

I do remember that. I guess I’ve got to stay steeped in reality and into God’s will and purposes. I know He’s got things He wants me to do in this world, and I’m still so stuck in all my sadness. –You’ve always been such a realist. Thank you for bringing me back to the realities of God’s truth and of your present peace that is such a stark contrast to your struggles here. I guess on this Thanksgiving Day, I need to stay plugged in to the real and the ultimate reality of all that God has done for you, and IS doing for you, and ever praise and thank Him for that.

‘Atta girl, Mommy! You can do it. I’m pulling for you, and God will give you the strength.

I love you baby and miss you so!

I love you too Mommy, and just remember I’m always right here with you!

(More tears) Thank you baby, for your sweet reminders. Happy Thanksgiving, Baby.

Happy Thanksgiving, Mommy! Tell Daddy ‘Hey,’ and I love him!

I will Baby Girl! (More tears) He’s not doing so well either—he misses you terribly and wants to hug you again! Please pray for him.

Tell Daddy I’m pulling for him, and I pray for him ev-ver-day!

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(Ev-ver-day was an inside joke she and her Daddy had! When Tommy visited her kindergarten class for lunch one day, he sat by a little boy named Jackson who was a best friend to Merry Katherine. Jackson looked up at her daddy and said, “Did you know Merry Katherine ‘body-slams’ me on the playground?!” Tommy of course said, “No!” And Jackson replied –the now infamous quote we always say— “Yup, ev-ver-day!”

(You must remember, Merry Katherine has two older brothers, so she had to be pretty tough to survive her childhood!)

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So, at Merry Katherine’s request, I want to share with you the things I found in Romans 8 yesterday that reminded me of all the many things God has done for Merry Katherine, and many of the things He is going to do for her…

From Romans 8:

Ø Therefore, there is now no condemnation for Merry Katherine who is in Christ Jesus because

Ø through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set her free from the law of sin and death.

Ø For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did for Merry Katherine by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.

Ø And so He condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in her (and in us) …

Ø Her mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.

Ø (Since) Christ is in Merry Katherine, her body is dead because of sin, yet her spirit is alive because of righteousness.

Ø And (since) the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in her, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to her mortal body through His Spirit, who lives in her.

Ø …For Merry Katherine did not receive a spirit that makes her a slave again to fear, but she received the Spirit of daughter-ship.

Ø And by Him she cries, “Abba, Father.” (“Daddy!”) The Spirit Himself testifies with her spirit that she is God’s child.

Ø Now (since) Merry Katherine is His child, then she is His heir—an heir of God and a co-heir of Christ, (since) indeed she shared in His sufferings in order that she may also share in His glory.

Ø …(Her past and my) present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in her and in us…

Ø …Merry Katherine will be liberated from creation’s bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

Ø …She who has the first-fruits of the Spirit groaned inwardly as she waited eagerly for her adoption as daughter, the redemption of her body. For in this hope, she was saved. But hope that’s seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what she already has? But if we hope for what we do not have, we wait for it patiently.

Ø …In the same way, the Spirit helped Merry Katherine in her weakness. She did not know what she should pray, but the Spirit Himself interceded for her with groans that words cannot express.

Ø And He who searched her heart knew the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit interceded for her in accordance with God’s will.

Ø And we know that in ALL THINGS God worked for the good of Merry Katherine who loved Him;

Ø She had been called according to His purpose.

Ø For, Merry Katherine whom God foreknew (knew before the beginning of time, before He created her), He also predestined (chose before the beginning of time itself), to be conformed to the likeness of His Son that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Ø And those (like Merry Katherine) He predestined, He also called;

Ø Those (like Merry Katherine) He called, He also justified (made them as just and holy as Jesus Christ their Savior);

Ø Those (like Merry Katherine) He justified, He also glorified (brought them into Eternal Glory to share in Christ’s glory).

Ø What then shall we say in response to this? If God is for Merry Katherine who can be against her?

Ø He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for her and all of us—how will He not also, along with (giving to her and to us) His own Son, graciously give her (and us) all things?

Ø Who will bring any charge against Merry Katherine whom God Himself has chosen? It is God who justifies.

Ø Who is he who condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and also interceded for her (as He does for us).

Ø Who (could) separate Merry Katherine from the love of Christ? (Could) trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? …No!

Ø In all these things she was more than conqueror through Him who loves her.

Ø For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation (was nor) will be able to separate Merry Katherine (or us) from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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And I say to God's words, Amen and Amen. So be it!

Thank You, Lord, for Your wonders to my child and to me and to all Your children! And thank You for a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

May God bless and keep each one of you close to His heart, for He loves you just as much as He does Merry Katherine, indeed, just as much as He loves His own Son!

Blessed Thanksgiving - Thankful for the Thorns

May you have a

Blessed Thanksgiving!

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“Show me that I have climbed

closer to You along the path of pain.”

Thankful for the Thorns

Sent to me by Jayne Raines Newton, leader of The Compassionate Friends of Atlanta:

Jane says, "This is an amazing story that really hits home. I had tears running down my face as I was reading it. It is so very true!!!!"

~shared by Tony Cincocco





Thanksgiving Classic:

Thankful For The Thorns



Sandra felt as low as the heels of her shoes when she pulled open the florist shop door, against a November gust of wind. Her life had been as sweet as a spring breeze and then, in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a "minor" automobile accident stole her joy. This was Thanksgiving week and the time she should have delivered their infant son. She grieved over their loss.



Troubles had multiplied. Her husband's company "threatened" to transfer his job to a new location. Her sister had called to say that she could not come on her long awaited holiday visit. What's worse, Sandra's friend suggested that Sandra's grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer.



"Had she lost a child? She has no idea what I'm feeling," thought Sandra with a shudder. "Thanksgiving? Thankful for what?" she wondered. "For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life, but took her child's?"



"Good afternoon, can I help you?" Sandra was startled by the approach of the shop clerk.



"I.... I need an arrangement," stammered Sandra.



"For Thanksgiving?" Sandra nodded. Do you want the beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call the 'Thanksgiving Special'? I'm convinced that flowers tell stories," she continued. "Are you looking for something that conveys 'gratitude' this Thanksgiving?"



"Not exactly!" Sandra blurted out. "In the last five months, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong." Sandra regretted her outburst, and was surprised when the clerk said,

"I have the perfect arrangement for you."



Then the bell on the door rang, and the clerk greeted the new customer, "Hi, Barbara... let me get your order." She excused herself and walked back to a small workroom, then quickly reappeared, carrying an arrangement of greenery, bows, and what appeared to be long-stemmed thorny roses. Except the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped: there were no flowers.



"Do you want these in a box?" asked the clerk.



Sandra watched for the customer's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers! She waited for laughter, but neither woman laughed. "Yes, please," Barbara replied with an appreciative smile. "You'd think after three years of getting the special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over again." She said, as she gently tapped her chest.



Sandra stammered, "That lady just left with, uh.... she left with no flowers!"



"That's right, said the clerk. "I cut off the flowers. That's the 'Special'. I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet."



"Oh, come on! You can't tell me someone is willing to pay for that!" exclaimed Sandra.



"Barbara came into the shop three years ago, feeling much as you do, today," explained the clerk. "She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had just lost her father to cancer; the family business was failing; her son had gotten into drugs; and she was facing major surgery."



"That same year I had lost my husband," continued the clerk. "For the first time in my life, I had to spend the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too much debt to allow any travel."



"So what did you do?" asked Sandra.



"I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly. "I've always thanked God for the good things in my life and I NEVER questioned Him why those GOOD things happened to me, but when the bad stuff hit, I cried out, "WHY? WHY Me?!" It took time for me to learn that the dark times are important to our faith!

I have always enjoyed the 'flowers' of my life, but it took the thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort!

You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others."



Sandra sucked in her breath, as she thought about the thought that her friend had tried to tell her.

"I guess the truth is, I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God."



Just then someone else walked in the shop. "Hey, Phil!" the clerk greeted the balding, rotund man. "My wife sent me in to get our usual Thanksgiving arrangement... twelve thorny, long-stemmed stems!" laughed Phil as the clerk handed him a tissue wrapped arrangement from the refrigerator.



"Those are for your wife?" asked Sandra incredulously. "Do you mind telling me why she wants a bouquet that looks like that?"



"No... I'm glad you asked," Phil replied. "Four years ago, my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we were in a real mess, but with the Lord's grace and guidance, we trudged through problem after problem. The Lord rescued our marriage. Jenny (the clerk) told me she kept a vase of rose stems to remind her of what she had learned from "thorny" times. That was good enough for me. I took home some of those stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific "problem" and give thanks for what that problem taught us." As Phil paid the clerk, he said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special!"



"I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life." Sandra said to the clerk. "It's all too... fresh."



"Well," the clerk replied carefully, "my experience has shown me that the thorns make the roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember that it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love. Don't resent the thorns."



Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on her resentment. "I'll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please," she managed to choke out.



"I hoped you would," said the clerk gently. "I'll have them ready in a minute."



"Thank you. What do I owe you?"



"Nothing. Nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me." The clerk smiled and handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach this card to your arrangement, but maybe you would like to read it first."



It read:

"My God, I have never thanked You for my thorns.

I have thanked You a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns.

Teach me the glory of the cross I bear; teach me the value of my thorns.

Show me that I have climbed closer to You along the path of pain.

Show me that, through my tears, the colors of Your rainbow look much more brilliant."





Praise Him for the roses; thank Him for the thorns.





~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author Unknown