Saturday, October 31, 2009

Taking Care of Business

When you’re alone to take care of your own affairs, you don’t have anyone to blame if it doesn’t get done. That’s why it is so important to keep a journal of things you need to do, things you have done and things you want done if you are incapacitated or pass away. Most importantly, make sure someone knows where that list is.

A family member or friend needs to know where all your important papers are kept, which include: insurance papers, deeds, loans, bank/savings accounts, will, living will, power of attorney, medical power of attorney, and funeral arrangements (plot, burial, etc.). It’s also a good idea to have someone else’s signature (someone you totally trust) on your accounts in case of emergency. If you have a lock box, make sure someone knows the code or at least where the code is kept. If you have a safe deposit box, make sure someone else is on the card and knows where the key is kept.

If you don’t want all your affairs to be tied up in court when you pass away, make sure you take care of business now and let someone know who, what, when and where you keep everything. Don’t put off tomorrow what you can do today!

Yes, we need to take care of our financial affairs here and now, but most importantly you need to take care of your spiritual affairs for your eternal future. Do you know Christ as your personal Savior? If you do, that’s wonderful. If you don’t, you have no security for your future. That’s a fact!

The Bible teaches that we can trust God as our source of lasting security, for He is changeless and His love endures forever. The most powerful security in the world is knowing that nothing can separate us from the love of God. When we build our lives on God’s truth, we have a solid foundation that will not crack under the world’s pressure.

If your faith is in Christ, your eternal destiny is secured.  Message: 1 Peter 1:3-4 “What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have Him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in Heaven – and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all – life healed and whole.”

Friday, October 2, 2009

Delicious Recipe

The Encouragers widow support group started a day time fellowship at our church last month in September. It was our first time to meet as a day group and we watched a fun movie, had refreshments and enjoyed fellowshipping with each other. I made Cake Balls to share that has gone over really good every time I make them. They’re so easy to make and thought you might want to make them the next time you meet with family or friends. Try ‘em, you might like ‘em!

Ingredients

1 box of cake mix, your preferance
1 tub of frosting, your preferance
1 pkg. almond bark, chocolate or vanilla

Directions

1. Make whatever flavor box cake according to directions, in a 9X13 pan.
2. Tear up cake and put in a BIG bowl. Now you add a tub of store bought frosting, choose flavor accordingly. Of course, chocolate with chocolate, white with white, cream cheese with yellow, etc. Let your imagination and your taste be your guide!
3. Squish your frosting into your torn up cake until it's like a play-dough consistency, & cake & frosting are evenly mixed.
4. You can either make balls with your hands, or whatever size scoop you want & let them dry for a bit on wax paper, some folks leave overnight; I put in freezer for at least 2 hours.
5. Melt almond bark in medium sized bowl in the microwave .
6. Dip cakeballs into melted bark & set on wax paper to dry.
7. Store loosely covered, they will keep a few days. I put in plastic bag in refrigerator and it will keep a week or so.

Fun fall color combinations
You will need three things for cake balls: cake, frosting and coating. Here are some ideas:

•Devil's food cake with fudge icing and dark- chocolate coating
•Yellow cake with buttercream frosting and orange-colored vanilla coating with green or black accents
•White cake with white frosting mixed with orange and yellow sprinkles and chocolate coating
•German chocolate cake with coconut- pecan icing and milk chocolate or light cocoa flavored coating
•Spice or carrot cake with cream-cheese frosting and vanilla coating
•Lemon cake with lemon frosting and vanilla coating

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Aging Parents

About this time 22 years ago, my mother unexpectedly passed away with an aneurism. We were all in shock, to say the least because she seemed to be in very good health. My parents had recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary and she was a stay-at-home wife, mother and grandmother. She always doted on her children and grandchildren, and of course we were all devastated over losing her so quickly at the age of 62. I can only now sympathize with my dad over his feelings of loneliness and frustration as he tried to go about his daily life without his one and only sweetheart.

After a few months of fighting loneliness, his need to have someone to do things with grew stronger. He then asked a lady from his church to go out to eat and from then on their friendship blossomed. They married a year later and they have been married for 21 years. They are both now in their 80’s.

I have been so blessed to still have my dad who is 88 years young, still mows his lawn, fishes in tournaments with his bass club, works out three days a week at the fitness center, does chores around the house and much, much more.

Even though he is in good shape and is still very active, I know it won’t be long until my brother and I will have to be making some important decisions regarding his welfare. This came to my attention just this week when he fell outside in the yard and bruised his chest and had to have his hand bandaged from falling in the gravel.

This is where the Serenity prayer comes in: God grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change; COURAGE to change the things I can; and WISDOM to know the difference. Life is always about change and I need to be ready to make those life changing decisions with the help of God. James 1:5, “If you need wisdom- if you want to know what God wants you to do – ask Him, and He will gladly tell you.” Also, Phillipians 4:19, “ This same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”

Monday, September 21, 2009

Day Retreat for Widows

What a blessing it has been to meet other women going through the same things as me and helping each other through this earthly process called "life." We have enjoyed monthly gatherings with good food, lots of fun and laughter and sweet fellowship, which has been wonderful therapy for all of us. There are over 50 women in our church who have lost a spouse and the need is great to minister to them on a personal level.

We are now defining widow as, "a woman who has lost her spouse through either death, divorce or abandonment." Our goal is to love, support, accept and encourage anyone who has a need and we want to be there to meet that need. Ephesians 4:29, "Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them."

A Day Retreat of spiritual refreshment is now being planned called, "It's Not Over...Til It's Over" to be held on Saturday, October 24, 2009, from 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. God has orchestrated and put into place two guest speakers, two worship leaders, pianist, lunch, refreshments, a time to laugh, door prizes, and lots of sweet fellowhip. This retreat is being extended to all widows that want to be blessed and encouraged. It doesn't matter if they are a Christian or not, we want them to know that they are loved. The topics of our guest speakers are, "Moving Forward in Love and Freedom" and "Great Expectations."

Please keep us in prayer so that many women will come and be refreshed in spirit and truth! 1 John 5: 14, "And we can be confident that He will listen to us whenever we ask Him for anything in line with His will."

Friday, September 18, 2009

Comfort Zone

One of the best ways to move forward after the loss of your spouse is to stay busy helping others. God left us here for a purpose and we should seek His wisdom in what we are to be doing while left here on earth. Philipians 2:4 - "Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing."

A few months after I became a widow I knew that God was calling me to get out of my comfort zone. I had been a preschool Sunday School teacher for over 30 years and I always thought that was my life's ministry. My desire for teaching 4 and 5 year olds soon left and I decided to attend a women's Sunday School class instead (I really needed to develop friendships and have fellowship with other women). The Sunday School lessons were just what I needed at that time in my life and I soon felt God calling me into another kind of ministry; I just wasn't sure what kind.

I met another lady at church who lost her husband about 2 months after my loss and our friendship grew. After going out to eat and visiting a few times, we knew we were on the same page and that God was calling us both to get out of our comfort zones. We decided not to dwell on the negatives of life, but to find a way to help others in our church who needed to be encouraged.

One of our pastors and secretary helped us by inviting widows from our church to a meeting, and thus a support group was started. We have been meeting together for one year as of August 2009 and we enjoy food, fun and fellowship on a monthly basis. We also have a monthly newsletter giving helpful tips, up-coming activities and uplifting devotionals. What a fitting name to be called the "Encouragers."

This ministry has blessed me in so many ways and I feel privileged to be a part of God's plan as we encourage each other.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Godly Habits

I try to start my day with prayer and reading God's Word. It just seems to set the tone for my day to go in the right direction and also in making wise decisions. I Really love that feeling of peace and knowing that God is with me throughout the day. Psalm 145: 18 - "The Lord is close to all who call on Him, yes, to all who call on Him sincerely". I also love to listen to good Christian music when I'm doing my chores, typing on the computer or driving in the car. Psalm 146:2 - "I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God even with my dying breath".

What we read, see, hear or say will affect how we live our lives and it shows the world around us what's inside. The mind is a constant battlefield, so why not feed ourselves good, clean nourishing food for our souls. Matthew 12:35, "A good person produces good words from a good heart"; Matthew 12:37 - "The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned".

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Friendships

There’s a song that says, “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world”. I love that song because it reminds me of one of the things I enjoy most - people. I grew up in a family that was very active in sports and family activities like fishing, camping, swimming, skiing, bowling and playing card games. Those special family times together helped me understand the true meaning of friendship.


As a child I was very shy, but having an older brother that was always pulling pranks on me taught me to take up for myself (or holler, “mama, he’s picking on me”). I had to always be on guard for what was about to happen next when I walked around a corner, because I knew he might jump out and try to scare me again. Even now, 60 years later, my brother is still a little mischievous, but I know he would help me if I ever needed anything and I consider him a good friend.


I think God created us to have fellowship with HIM and also other people. Friendship is a wonderful thing to have. If you are typical, your friends range from casual acquaintances to those who would die for you. Sometimes friends are closer than our own brothers or sisters. Friends share affection, companionship, confidences, consideration, devotion, faithfulness, fellowship, helpfulness, loyalty, partnership, support, sympathy, trust, and understanding. Friends are special. Above all, God can be our very best friend. His friendship is a role model for all other friendships. Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Stay Tuned

It’s been 1 ½ years since I became a widow and my brain still gets foggy occasionally. By foggy I mean hard to focus or concentrate. I guess that’s to be expected from time to time after suffering a huge loss. When that happens, I usually go out in my yard and start pulling weeds or move some flowers that I think would look better in another location. Working in my yard and digging in the dirt is a good place to talk to God or just listen to nature. Sometimes I go out on the back patio and swing, remembering all the family activities that have taken place in the back yard over the last 38 years. Those were good times and I cherish all the happy memories we had with our kids, neighbor kids and now grandkids.


Since I’ve been retired, I have the opportunity to pick and choose when and where I spend most of my time. Staying in tune with God is my first priority and I love attending Sunday School, Church, Bible Study Fellowship, Encouragers (our widow support group at church) and especially praying and reading a daily devotional. I’ve also been reading a lot of books on Heaven lately; I guess because that’s where I know my Christian loved ones are and that’s where I’ll be one of these days. 1 Corinthians 2:9 – “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him”.


Some other things I enjoy and also helps keep me stay tuned into God is to be around His people (family and friends), enjoy His creation (fishing, gardening, traveling), and to encourage those I come in contact with; even if it’s just a smile. Job 29:24 – “When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them”.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Family Ties

Remembering how my life has changed over the last 60 years, I can’t help but reminisce about my younger days. Growing up my family was always together, whether going fishing, swimming, skiing, traveling, or just working around the house. Back then we didn’t have cell phones or computers to keep us occupied, but we did have a lot of fun just being together. Those family activities gave me a sense of security and that’s what I wanted for my children when the time came.
I married my high school sweetheart after dating four years. Four years later we started our family and had our first daughter; and three years later our second daughter came along. We did everything together like going to church, fishing, swimming, bowling, softball, and many other family activities. Sure, we had our struggles, but God helped us get through those tough times and our family stayed together.
Becoming grandparents was a wonderful experience and of course we wanted to be a part of their lives, just like our family had done in the past. We were there when our first three granddaughters were born and I was there when our grandson was born– it was important to be there to greet them as they came into this world.
When my husband of 43 years passed away from cancer, it was God and our family ties that helped me as I went through the grieving process. The Bible talks about both an earthly family and the family of God, which is all believers united together by the bond of faith. James 1:18 – “In His goodness He chose to make us His own children.” Having a wonderful earth family and a loving church family has meant more to me than anything this world could offer.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

New to Blogging

I am new to blogging, but not new to writing. I write the monthly newsletter for the widow support group at my church. Since my occupation was a secretary, I can't seem to rid myself of the writing bug. I am not sure what I will be writing about exactly, but I would like to post things that would be an encouragment to others. My favorite Bible verse to share is 1 Thessalonians 5:11 - "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."