Tag Archives: blessed assurance

A Tribute to Mother

 

A Tribute to Mother

Katie Geneva Phillips Kinslow – My Mother and BFF

Mother celebrated her last birthday with us twenty years ago by staring at the huge stack of beautiful birthday cards on her table. I wondered if she recognized any of the names. Did she realize it was her 90th birthday? I took comfort in watching her smile as she carefully handled the cards, hoping that each brought blessing and pleasure to her for the moment.

Soon, all too soon, she would again be taken to the ICU and from there to a skilled nursing facility. Having the positive assurance of Heaven made our expected parting so much easier. This reassurance was repeated several times before she went home. “Mommy, I’ll keep you forever if you want me to; but, I’ll let you go be with Jesus when you are ready.”

Holding her hands in the ICU, I sang old familiar hymns to her. It had been months since she could communicate verbally; however, a few stanzas of “Rock of Ages” would spur her to “hum” along with me. Her hums and my singing left much to be desired to the outside world, but I knew in my heart that our Father in Heaven was honored and my precious mother was comforted. Amazingly, we who never sang in public could not have cared less who heard our duet.

Days later, in the skilled care nursing home, I caressed her tiny, cold hand and recalled all the work those hands had done in ninety years; good work and honorable. I thought of all the care she had given to others; of how much those who didn’t get to know her have missed. I wanted her to go to the home prepared for her in Heaven, but the miss was huge already.

At 6:40, God answered my prayer, and Mother peacefully went to sleep. No more pain. I was blessed to be holding her hand and singing to her:  “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.”   Thank you, Jesus.

My prayer for you today is that those in your care are ready to go to their final home and that they know Jesus personally. I pray that you have that assurance for yourself. What joy to know where Mother is; I look forward to seeing her again someday.

Today’s article is from pages in my book, MY MOTHER MY CHILD: available through Amazon.com, me, or Shady Oak Marketplace in Buffalo, MO.

Please drop me a note. How can I pray for you? Are you assured of Heaven? Be sure.

Hugs,

Susie

What Does Abundant Life Mean to You?

What Does Abundant Life Mean to You?

One of Many Abandoned Churches

He was rugged looking: skinny, tattered clothes, stringy hair, and a scruffy beard. Perched like a pigeon on the edge of the pew, he was soaking up every word the pastor said.

After the service, I met Joe; the most well-scrubbed shabby person I ever knew. In the same way that his appearance spoke volumes of his prior lifestyle, his firm handshake and broadening smile warmed my heart.

“…I have come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10b Joe clearly had met Jesus personally. He was saved, rescued, and turned around leaving drugs and old cronies in the dust as he made his way to God’s house. He understood abundant life more than most.

Some would say the abandoned church building, the aging well-known pastor/musician and his wife, and Joe have seen better days. Perhaps, but I’m not so sure. There was joy here, pure joy. New life in Jesus spilled out all over the place as the tiny congregation lifted their voices to their Lord. Abundant JOY. Abundant PEACE. Abundant COMFORT. Abundant ACCEPTANCE. “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine…!” Hungry souls had found peace and rest; they knew what they had in Jesus.

Click here to enjoy some of that preacher’s original music.

In this tiny town in SW Missouri, an aging preacher/musician and his wife have opened an abandoned church building to the “least of these”. Addicts and alcoholics and the down and out are finding love and compassion, healing, and restoration, one weary soul at a time. New Life! Abundant Life. Not on things, bank accounts, prestige, but simply based on the overpowering soul-saving Love of Jesus.

My heart longs for that newness of life; that joy unspeakable and full of glory!  I pray for that for my family, our churches, our pastors, and our congregations. Holy Spirit, fall fresh on us. Take away the worldly view of the abundant life we have come to rely on; to desire; to work to attain. Renew in us a right spirit.

My challenge this week for each of us is to check out our own “Abundant Life”. Lord, teach us to be grateful for what we have; for our families; our friends; our home; our jobs. Grant us opportunities to share Jesus with those who have no hope. Life without Jesus offers nothing. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me.

Hugs,