Showing all posts by joycelambert

I have finished my course !

     Today we bury my brother Dexter, and in doing so we honor and celebrate his life. He was not a perfect person, and if there were do-overs in life, I am sure there are several places he would like to revisit. One thing I do know, for all his bluster, he was a tenderhearted person.  Something he tried to hide from the world.  He was faithful in his living for Christ, and for the last 50 years he has served the Lord as, a Preacher, in the Jail Ministries, RU (Recovery Unanimous) Ministries, in Soul Winning, and as a deacon. He was uncompromising, unbending, and unapologetic about his believe in the Bible and Life everlasting.

     To Jeff, Pam, Peg, Mark, Gayle and I, he was our brother, the one who was an instigator, teaser, ornery as the day was long, and determined to prove he could do what people said he could not. Perhaps that is what made him such an unyielding servant for the Lord, because no matter what the world threw at him, he would brush it off, and remain steadfast in his faith.

     He was also a loyal friend. If he befriended you, he was your friend for life. Which meant he included you in his daily prayers, as he prayed for each one of his children, grandchildren, and the rest of his family and those on his prayer list.  Regardless of what any relationship was like, in this he never wavered. He spent time every day reading his Bible and talking to the Lord, asking for protection, love and guidance for his friends, family, and especially his children, and for God’s will in his own life.

     He was one of my biggest supporters and encourager concerning my blog. He wanted me to tell the world about my beliefs in the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  That is why, as we lay his earthly body to rest, we can do so with joy and happiness, because we know he is now in the presence of the Lord.

     As parents, we need to teach our children to spend time daily in the Word of God, so they will have, a lamp unto their feet and a light unto their paths. Psalms 119:105.  Life is hard enough for children with everything the world is throwing at them on a daily basis, having a light to illuminate their way through the maze is imperative.

     We as authors, must stand firm and refute what the world is trying to pass off as truth. God made man and women, and not a Heinz 57 variety. Many more of our beliefs are being compromised, but thankfully we can say: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1

     Dexter is now one of those witnesses who has gone on before, fighting the good fight, finishing his course and keeping the faith, right up to the very end. We can only aspire to do the same with our own life.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith:

II Timothy 4:7

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12: 1-2

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 20:24

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:14

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Galatians 6:9

Victory is ours!

A big congratulations goes out to the Kouts basketball team, for winning the 2019 Porter County PCC tournament. This is the first time Kouts has won the PCC tournament since 2011. The Kouts basketball team worked hard all season to earn their place in the tournament. The win on January 24, was not a single victory, but a victory for a team with a goal in mind, working together, to earn their right to be called champions. There were times during these championship games when victory seemed an unreachable goal, but with perseverance, camaraderie, along with team spirit, they reached their goal and retrieved the keg from the other team, and the championship trophy. This victory would not have been possible if they had taken their eyes off of the prize, or had not worked together against a common foe. The waiting is over and the title “champions” has come home to the Mustang corral.

The same can be said about another championship win. This battle was fought by my brother, who beat cancer, but was overcome by the preventative treatments, given to ensure the cancer would not return. It too was a long hard battle, with tiny victories along the way, but with occasional setbacks. Throughout his fight, Dexter never took his eyes off the prize. He believed with all his heart, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13.  In the end he could proudly say:  “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” II Timothy 4:7, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” Philippians 1:21.  His, is a victory over death, not the first death of the body, but the second death of the eternal soul. He knew no matter the outcome, he would win in the end, and victory would be his. My brother Dexter L. Graves went to be with the Lord January 23, 2019, after a battle valiantly fought against the after effects of cancer treatments.

As parents it is important that we teach our children about a battle that is waging every day of their life. Show them in the Bible where they need to put on the whole armor of God to be prepared to fight this battle for their eternal souls. Explain to them how life is fleeting, but the reward of eternal life is everlasting. Help your children understand to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord, if they know Christ as their Savior.

We as authors, often use conflict to help our readers develop an affinity with our characters. In the real world, conflict of one type or another is a daily occurrence. There is an evil that is ever present and vying for ownership of our souls. This is our daily battle that no one can fight for us, and only we can gain the victory in this fight, with the help of Jesus Christ.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

I John 5:4

For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

Deuteronomy 20:4

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Ephesians 6:12-13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

I Corinthians 10:13

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 15:55, 57

Hurry Up And Wait!

When I was a little girl, (back in the dark ages), we would write our names and date on the top of every page. We couldn’t wait until the year would change, and we would pass on to the next grade when summer break was over. We couldn’t wait until the summer break, getting to play all day and no homework, school, or teachers! Three quarters of the way through summer, we couldn’t wait for school to begin, so we could get our new shoes and school supplies. Once school started we couldn’t wait until Halloween so we would get a break from school, and go ‘trick or treating’ for UNICEF. The next day we went for the good stuff, the candy and toys! Then, back at school, where we couldn’t wait until Christmas break so we could shop, play in the snow, and celebrate Christmas. We couldn’t wait until Santa came, we couldn’t wait to see what he had brought us. Then we couldn’t wait until New Years Eve, because it was the only time we were ever allowed to stay up all night!
Do you see a pattern developing here? Think about your life, what did you yearn for, and for what did you wish and wait? Were you anxious for your senior year to end, so you could go to college? Did you go to college or start a career, and then couldn’t wait for the next stage of your life to start? Did you meet a boy or girl friend? Did you make plans to get married? Planning the wedding can take what seems like an eternity, and you just couldn’t wait for the day to come to finally be united in Holy Matrimony. Then as you plan your life, you wait for your first child to be born, and then you can’t wait until they say their first word. Then you can’t wait for the first step, etc.. We spend our whole life in a sense of suspension or anticipation. We are always waiting for the next step, stage or thing to happen. We think everything we wait for will be better than what we just experienced, or lived through. Why do we find ourselves always waiting? Could it be because we do not find fulfillment in what we have at the moment? We all long for that excitement of anticipation, and try to capture it in many ways, some very unhealthy. People turn to drink, drugs and even the internet to find the next thing they are waiting for to bring them fulfillment.
For the past twenty nine days I have sat at the bedside of my brother, waiting for him to get better, for a diagnosis and a plan for recovery. I have been impatient, determined and disillusioned. My trouble was I was waiting on Doctors, Nurses and test results, instead of waiting on the LORD! He knew what was happening and what His plan was all along, but I had other things in mind. In the end, the LORD waited on me to be ready to let my brother Dexter go to heaven. He gave me the strength and understanding of His will, to know what was best for Dexter. Even Dexter knew because he had already waited on the LORD, and was confident in God’s plan, but I wasn’t there yet.
I find myself waiting again, this time for Dexter to take his last breath, but now, because I have waited for the LORD to reveal His will in Dexter’s life, I have the strength to ‘let go and let GOD’ have HIS will. Because Dexter came to know the LORD as his own personal SAVIOUR, we know he will have eternal life with CHRIST, where Dexter found his strength.

As parents, I can not stress enough, to teach your children the Bible, and the promises therein. Teach them to wait upon the LORD for their strength and fulfilment. Worldly things all will pass, only what is done for CHRIST will last!

We as authors are given the opportunity to pass on the good news that there is a life worth living, that will bring joy, fulfilment, and satisfaction. What we do with that opportunity is up to each one of us. What will be your legacy? Will you encourage people to run after things of this world that will never satisfy, or to wait upon the LORD for renewed strength, hope, love and eternal life?

Psalms 27:14 – Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Isaiah 40:31 – But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.
Psalms 37:7-9 – Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Psalms 37:34 – Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
Psalms 130:5 – I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
Psalms 25:5-9 – Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

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