Weekly Word for April 29 - May 6, 2005

Weekly Word - April 29, 20005

“Listen to this . . . Stand and consider . . . the wonders of God.” “Do you know how God establishes them, and makes the lightening of His cloud to shine?”
“Do you know . . . The wonders of one perfect in knowledge,”
(Job 37: 14 - 16)

Ted and I had finally found some time to talk, to spend time listening to each other, telling each other how we felt about things. We talked about how busy we had been, and about the children and grandchildren. We talked about everyday things, and also important things. And then we talked about what was really important, what was in our hearts . . .

“What if I don’t write any more? What if I do something else?” I asked. As I said it, I wondered about so many things - - - should I get a regular job? - - - was I doing what I should be doing? - - - what did Ted want? - - - what did God want me to do? It had been such a difficult few months, and I wasn‘t sure if what I was doing, was worth the sacrifice . . .

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me;
(Psalm 138: 7)

As Ted listened to me, he asked me what I wanted to do, what would make me happy? I wasn’t sure . . . I had been writing for over two years now, telling the stories of the Lord in my life. And still, I didn’t even know who was reading them . . . Would it make a difference if I stopped . . .

The whole multitude - began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen . . .

And some of the Pharisees - said to Him,- “rebuke Your disciples.”
And He answered and said, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”
(Luke 19: 39 & 40)

It was spring, and his wife had left him a few months earlier. He had been coming for counseling and to the bible study for a while, and the head of the ministry asked for his help. The old apartment needed some renovations, and she wondered what he thought could be done to make it better. As he stood in the apartment, his heart sank. The walls, the floor, the ceiling - not to mention the electrical and plumbing - all needed major work and repairs! She asked him if it would be alright to pray there, asking the Lord what to do. A bit hesitant, he agreed.

As she started to pray, he felt it! It was as if his skin was warm and cold, all at once. The feeling overwhelmed him, and He knew God was there! Was he supposed to do the job? How? He had been struggling through his own heartaches and pain, how was he supposed to take on more troubles? Despite his doubts, he told her “yes”, and his life was changed forever! At that moment, he became part of God’s hands and work, here on earth. As he demolished the walls, taking out all that was old and rotten, he found himself in the midst of God’s presence. As the floors and walls took shape, his own life started to change as well. Each day began with prayer, and the days became full of life.

The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; . . . Thy lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting; (Psalm 138: 8)

Did he doubt? Yes, many times! As Ted was working on rebuilding that apartment, there were times when the job seemed too much for 20 men - and he wondered how he would ever get it done! Through the summer he worked, and each day I would head over to the ministry, and visit with Ted. It was during this time, that our friendship grew. In the fall I was supposed to move into the apartment, and so the pressure to get the job done - grew. Then one night, I found him still there as I came out from seeing a client. He had been working all day, and the fatigue showed. He wondered what he was doing - - - was he doing what he was supposed to be doing - - - why was he doing this . . .

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”
“Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart;”
“For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.”
(Mathew 11: 28 - 30)

As I sat with him that night, I found myself listening to his hurts and pain. There was so much work, very little money, and no help - - - and it felt impossible! He had tried to talk with the head of the ministry, but she couldn’t hear him. He wasn’t sure he could do this any more - - - the sacrifice was too much . . .

I listened, and I held him as exhaustion overcame him - and he started to cry. As I held him I started to pray, asking the Lord for help. “Don’t do it for her, or even for me - do it for the Lord” the words came. Hearing those words, I looked at him and told him that this job was “for the Lord”.

When Ted finished that apartment, the beauty of it was amazing! As he worked, Ted gave each day - each moment - to God. In doing that, the Lord was “in” that apartment. Ted’s hands had become the Lord’s hands, and it was a true miracle when it was done! It wasn’t just an apartment, but a home filled with love - the love that brought Ted and I together - as man and wife . . .

“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare, and not for calamity - to give you a future and a hope.”

(Jeremiah 29:11)

As we talked, Ted looked at me and asked: “Why do you write?” “Is it alright if only one person ever reads what you write?” and I thought about his questions . . .

For great is the glory of the Lord. For though the Lord is exalted, Yet He regards the lowly; . . . The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; . . .
(Psalm 138: 6 & 8)

I was sick - and hurt - and needed help when I found her, the counselor who would minister to me over the next few years. Through those years, she brought God’s healing into my life. During that time, we became friends. Her life had been dedicated to God’s work for over 25 years when we met. She taught me so much about His Love, and the counseling ministry. As I got stronger and healthier, I wanted to help others - to bring God’s healing to them - like she had helped me! My life had changed forever - because of the Lord - and my friend. But she wasn’t happy - - - she wanted something different - - - she had hoped for more . . .

All through those years of ministering one-on-one to very hurt people, she had a secret hope. It was a hope to do something big - for God! She had gone to many large meetings, where miracles had happened, and thousands of lives had been changed. She wanted to do the same thing - she hoped to be on stage - she hoped for so much more . . .

As our friendship grew, I learned about her secrets - and her hopes. I had seen miracles - I had watched lives changed - she had brought God’s healing to so many people. But it didn’t seem to be enough. Then one day I asked her - “What if God only wanted you to change one life?” “Would it be OK?” “I wish I could say yes - but I can’t” she answered. And the sadness surrounded us both . . .

I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; I have set the Lord continually before me; Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
Thou wilt make known to me the path of life;
(Psalm 16: 7 - 11)

“What if God only wanted you to change - one life?” As I thought about all the stories I have written - the words that seemed to come straight from Heaven - I realized that they didn’t just touch others. Those words were stories that brought Life - to me as well.

Why do I write? I write because it is who I am - it is what brings me fully alive! As I realized this, I looked at Ted and laughed. Has it been a sacrifice? Yes. But it has also been a gift - - - a gift of Life . . .

Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; In Thy presence is fulness of joy;
In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever . . .
(Psalm 16: 11)

What path are you on? Over this next week, will you ask Him to show you - your path - to Life . . .

God bless you in the coming week ahead!

In His Love,
Debbie & Ted Ayers

Weekly Word for April 22 - 29, 2005

Weekly Word - April 22, 2005

Come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For He is our God, . . .
(Psalm 95: 6)

The other day Ted and I were listening to the radio. A new song came on the air, and it caught my attention. The song told the story of a girl who was just starting out in life, trying hard to make it on her own. It told of the excitement of a “new life” before her. The song then seemed to shift to the mother, and everything she wanted her daughter to remember . . . Lessons that the girl had learned growing up. One line caught my attention, and I turned and looked at Ted. This was the line: but don’t ever forget what your knees are for . . .

What your knees are for . . . as I heard those words, I found myself repeating them and looking at Ted. What our knees are for - to pray, to remember to ask God . . . Ted looked at me and shook his head . . . to stay humble . . . And I thought about that . . .

And what does the Lord require of you . . . But to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
(Micah 6: 8)

When I think about the times I have been on my knees, I have to admit - it is usually a time when things were very bad - when I didn’t know what else to do - - - and so I would kneel and pray. Desperate for help in my marriage, I would kneel beside my bed, hoping the Lord would hear my pleas. I had given up any ideas of how to “fix” things, and so the position of kneeling felt like I was defeated - - - without hope - - - and begging for help . . .

Feeling defeated, giving up on fixing it by myself, was probably where I needed to be - - - to finally hear His voice. And that’s just what I heard . . . His voice and His touch on my life . . . It began with me - kneeling beside my bed . . .

With what shall I come to the Lord . . . And bow myself before the God on high?
Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, . . . With yearling calves? . . .
He has told you, O man, what is good; . . .
To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God . . .
(Micah 6: 6 - 8)

Walking humbly with your God . . .

As Norma was growing sicker with the cancer, she became unable to leave the house. So I would spend time with her - just listening when she was able to sit up, or reading and watching television while she slept. We would talk about everything - the past, her husband and son, and even about the Lord and what lay ahead for her. It was so hard to talk about when she was going to die - - - or even about what it would be like when she went to heaven! But we did, we talked about it all! But as I drove home, I would start to cry - sobbing to the Lord - and wishing that it didn’t have to be like this!

O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Thy praise.
For Thou dost not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.
(Psalm 51: 15 - 17)

Because her husband didn’t want her to be left alone, I offered to stay with her, when he needed to go to work. On this night, Norma was sleeping and I was watching television. The doorbell rang, and there stood a friend of Norma’s. I told her that Norma was sleeping, but she wouldn’t leave until she saw her. So I went to see if Norma wanted to have a visitor. I helped her to put on her robe and slippers, and she slowly walked out to the living room. As we sat there, the girl told Norma that God had told her that she wasn’t going to die. She was so excited and wanted to tell Norma that God was going to heal her! As I listened, I watched Norma smile at her friend, and agree to pray with her. I was so surprised as Norma carefully moved from the chair and knelt down on the floor. Kneeling down beside her, I took her hand and the girl took her other hand. We started to pray, and I felt the Lord right there - so strongly surrounding Norma! As the girl finished her prayer, and excitedly said how happy she was that Norma wasn’t going to die - - - Norma smiled, and quietly asked: Will you be too upset if I do go on to Heaven? Kneeling there, I knew that the Lord was preparing Norma - getting her ready to take her home . . .

And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, “Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Thine be done.”
Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.
(Luke 22: 41 - 43)

Kneeling down . . . Humbling yourself . . . Giving of yourself to someone else . . .

I was 17 years old when I first became engaged. I had heard the fairy tales and stories of the man getting down on his knees to ask the girl to marry him. But that isn’t what happened in my first marriage.

He took me to a jewelry store and asked the man to show me three rings. There was a small diamond, a medium size diamond, and a large diamond. As I looked at the three, I can’t say that I loved any of the rings. But I felt like I had to pick one, and so I did. I picked the medium sized ring. I didn’t feel like I could pick the big ring, and I didn’t want the little one - - - and so he bought the middle ring. As we left the store, he told me he would give it to me, when I turned 18 in a few months. I was so excited that night, as he headed back to college - and I was left to keep the secret at home . . .

I told a few close friends, and of course wrote letters to send off to him while he was away at school. I would write while I was in study - and even sometimes in my classes. On this particular day, I had started a letter and hadn’t quite finished it - so I had stuffed it in one of my books. When I got home from school, I quickly changed clothes and headed off to work at the grocery store. That night - all Hell broke loose as my mother was waiting for me, letter in hand, as I got home from work! I called him the next day, crying and telling him all that my parents had said. That afternoon, he was waiting for me when I got out of school. He had the diamond in his pocket, and when he took it out - I wondered what he was doing. He took my hand and shoved the ring on my finger. “You will wear this from now on!” he said, as he drove to my house. Angrily, he told my parents that we were engaged, and there was nothing they could do to stop it! As he left that night, he told me that I had better keep the ring on my finger - or he wouldn’t marry me! That day, was my engagement day . . .

O Lord, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble; Thou wilt strengthen their heart, Thou wilt incline Thine ear.
(Psalm 10: 17)

He asked me three times to marry him - and each time is etched in my heart forever! The first time, believing that God’s plans were for each of us to be on different roads, he asked me anyways. He told me that he believed I was that important, that special - and so he asked - as we both cried and wished for things to be different . . .

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.”
(Mathew 5: 3)

When he asked me again, I could feel the gentleness and love he had for me. “Will you marry me?” he asked quietly. I knew at that moment that he would do anything to make me happy, even if it meant saying good-bye and letting me go. Looking at him, I knew that I couldn’t live without him . . .

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
(Mathew 5: 8)

Bursting into the room, he ran toward me - joy covering his face. I had been stripping wall-paper and was wearing a t-shirt and shorts, with a scarf covering my hair. He took my hand and pulled me up the stairs. As we reached my bedroom, he sat me down on the bed. Then, he kneeled down before me, and I started to cry. As he took the box out from under his shirt, his eyes were shining. He told me to unwrap it, and with hands shaking - I did. It was the most beautiful music box I had ever seen. “Open the cover” he told me. When I did, the song “I can’t help falling in love with you” played as a beautiful diamond glistened at me! “Debbie, will you marry me and be my wife?” Ted asked for a third time, as he knelt before me . . .

The humble have seen it and are glad; You who seek God, let your heart revive.
(Psalm 69: 32)

That was the beginning of our life together! It is a life that looks to God first - for all that our hearts are desiring. It has been an amazing life - as husband and wife . . .

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, . . . Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, For I am gentle and humble in heart;”
(Mathew 11: 28 & 29)

Don’t ever forget what your knees are for . . . they keep us humble - and listening to God. On our knees - we give our lives over to another . . .

Are you ready? Are you willing to kneel down to Him, giving your life and heart to Him? He is waiting to give His Life - back to you . . .

God bless you in the coming week ahead!

In His Love,
Debbie & Ted Ayers

Weekly Word for April 15 thru 22, 2005

Weekly Word - April 15, 2005

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
(John 3:16)

The other day I saw a sign outside of a church. The sign read: “Free trip to Heaven, for more information - see inside . . .” As I read the sign, I wondered why I had trouble with it. It was the truth - - - but it wasn’t the whole truth. I knew it would catch people’s attention - - - but there was more - - - much more . . .

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life . . .” (John 5: 24)

When I was a little girl, I heard the stories about God and Jesus, and about Heaven from my minister and Sunday school teachers. I really didn’t understand all that they were saying, but loved playing with my friends at church! We had to memorize bible verses, and there were prizes for those who learned them the best. I always won lots of prizes! But still, I didn’t know what any of them meant! I would wonder - - - and then go back to playing . . .

By the time I was 14, I had some of the same struggles that every teen-ager feels. I was awkward and afraid, I had been hurt and was angry, and I wondered if I would ever be alright. And then I heard a man on the television. His name was Billy Graham. And he told about a God who loved us, and healed those who were hurt, and saved those who were lost. As I listened, I wanted what he was talking about! But had no idea how to find it . . .

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.”
(Mathew 13: 44)

I was 16 when I met him, and by 18 I was married to the man. He seemed so strong and sure of himself, planning our marriage and our lives. But soon I found myself wondering what to do, as his anger seemed always to be coming at me. He wanted me to work full time, but I got pregnant. He planned on saving money and buying a nice house, but the baby changed all those plans. By the time we had two children, I wondered if there would ever be love in our home. Searching for answers, hoping that God would hear me, I went to a few area churches. At each, I would hope for a miracle. It was here, that I started to see glimpses of who God was, and what this all meant. I found myself praying everyday. And I would wonder if He really heard me. It felt like I was taking each prayer, tying it to a rock, and throwing it! I was trying with all my strength, hoping that somehow, my prayers had reached all the way up - to heaven . . .

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”
(Mathew 13: 45 & 46)

It was 1986, and we had just moved to Connecticut. I hadn’t wanted to move, but again, his plans prevailed. We had a nine year old and a five year old, and I was babysitting my nephew, who was just 6 months old. I didn’t know anyone in the area, and was always lonely. On this particular day, I was trying to get everyone into the car to take them to school. Being normal kids, they did everything possible to make us late! Holding the baby on one hip, yelling at the kids to get into the car, I finally noticed that a strange woman was walking down the driveway. She had a big button on her jacket and papers in her hand. “I’m asking people to vote for me, on election day” she said, smiling. “I can’t vote” I said, “We just moved here from out of state.” Instead of turning and walking away, she looked at me and asked where we were from, and where was I going? I told her that we had moved from Massachusetts, and that I was taking the kids to school. “What school?” she asked, and I found myself telling her the name of the school. “I have a friend who also has children in that school, here’s her name and phone number” and she wrote something down on one of the papers, and reached out to hand it to me.

I must have looked quite shocked when she tried to give me that paper. “You can’t give me that!” I told her. “You don’t know me!” and she laughed and handed it to me anyways.

Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above - coming down from the Father . . . (James 1:17)

That piece of paper became a life-line. I put it on the refrigerator, and would look at it every time I was lonely, sad, or hurt. Finally, drawing all the courage I could muster, I dialed the phone.

She became a friend - and then my best friend. She was a wife and mother, and I liked her right away. She listened when I told her of my troubles, and then would have words of encouragement or hope. I knew she had faith in God, and I found myself drawn to her. Slowly, I learned of her life - one of loneliness and hurts. As a little girl, her parents had divorced and she was taken by her mother into a life of alcohol and drugs. As a teen-ager, she stood in the hospital - watching as her friend died of an overdose. She found herself struggling to survive, with her own little baby. And then, she found “the Lord”. My friend told me about her faith, about God’s healing, and about Jesus in her life. I listened and wondered . . .

My friend let me argue with her about religion. She smiled as I told her my thoughts. She never argued back, or told me I was wrong. She just listened. I was still struggling with my own life and troubles, and my friend got me to start going to a bible study. Here, I heard even more stories about faith and the Lord. And still, I wondered . . .

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you . . .” (Mathew 6: 33)

One day, as I drove home from the bible study, I started to talk out loud in the car. Things had gotten even worse at home, and I felt battered and beaten down all the time. As I drove, I started to talk to God. I had heard what my friends had said, and soon, I was yelling at Him “If You are real, I need help! I can’t do this alone any more. I know that I have made mistakes, that I have sinned, please forgive me. If You are there, please come into my life, and into my heart . . .”

“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
(Jeremiah 29: 13)

That day was the beginning - - - the beginning of my “relationship” with the Lord. And it is a relationship. It is walking each day with Him. It is saying “yes” to letting Him into everything in my life. It is knowing that He already knows all there is to know about me - - - and that I didn’t know anything - until He showed me. It is touching the hand of God, and bringing Heaven down here on earth - to change lives and bring healing and Life where there hadn’t been any before.

Now as I look back over my life, I realize that God was never very far away. He was always there, always loving me. He was just waiting for me to open the door, and ask Him to come inside. When I did, not only was my life changed , but Heaven and earth were changed - - - forever!

The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds; but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in it’s branches.” (Mathew 13: 33)

The other day, a friend called me. I listened and heard the fear and worry in her voice. She was facing a very serious operation, and things weren’t looking very good. My own fears and worries started to grow as I listened and thought about all she was facing. And then I asked her: “Can we pray?” I had never prayed with her, although she knew my faith in God. I wondered what she would say. “I don’t know how to” she said. “That’s OK” I told her, “I do”. As I started to pray - - - The Lord was there. He had been waiting, to be asked into her life as well . . .

“Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.
(Jeremiah 29: 12 - 14)

A free trip to Heaven? That isn’t quite right. There is a cost - and the cost is you! You have to say “yes” to opening the door - to letting Him into your life - and into your heart. He is waiting - - - just for you - - - will you believe?

I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
(John 11: 25 & 26)

God bless you in this coming week ahead!

In His Love,
Debbie & Ted Ayers

Weekly Word for April 8 - 15, 2005

Weekly Word - April 8, 2005

“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways . . . That you may live - and that the Lord your God may bless you”
(Deuteronomy 30: 15 & 16)

“Why are some people so mean?” my friend wrote. “Why do they choose to hurt others?” “When they search their souls, what do they see?” he continued. As I read what my friend wrote, I thought about his questions, about what made each of us choose goodness, or wickedness . . .

“But if your heart turns away . . . And you will not obey . . . I declare to you today that you shall surely perish.”
(Deuteronomy 30: 17 & 18)

Quite a few years ago, I met my friend, who I will call Jean. She was actually a “friend of a friend”. I would hear about her from others - about her life and her family - until the day I finally got to meet her for myself. I instantly liked her - she was quiet and sweet - and always willing to help. She belonged to some of the same groups that I did - and so I got to see her, here and there.

Then one day, my friend told me about an awful thing that had happened to Jean’s daughter. The little one was only 3 years old, and had been molested at her daycare. My heart broke as I heard bits and pieces of the story. But Jean’s heart was devastated, as she started the long process of police and court proceedings. I didn’t know her well enough to call her, or even write to her. So I soon went on with my own life, of family and church groups. Finally, at one of the meetings, I saw Jean there. She was sitting quietly, and I could see how sad and broken she still was. It was a small ministry group - working on developing a counseling center for victims of abuse. The leader was telling each of us what she wanted us to do. She then turned to Jean: “and you can get all the court information - with your daughter and all . . .” and the leader turned away and continued on. Jean’s face fell and her eyes swelled up with tears. I wondered where the leader’s compassion had gone - - - why couldn’t she see how hurt Jean was? Jean didn’t come back to the group, and dropped out of church. You see, the daycare provider - - - belonged to that same church . . .

“Why do some people, choose to hurt others?“ To this day, I don’t know why Jean and her family went through what they did. I do know that God didn’t want it to happen. But when it did, He walked with her - helping her through it - when others chose wickedness . . .

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
(John 16: 33)

A few weeks ago, I sat listening to a young man tell me about his faith. We sat in my living room, surrounded by the decorations of Easter. As he looked around, he seemed to judge the decorations as wrong, as he stated: “well I believe that Easter isn’t about eggs and bunnies - but about church and faith”. I looked at the room, full of colored eggs and bunnies, as well as flowers and all sorts of signs of spring. And I wondered . . .

By loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days . . .
(Deuteronomy 30: 20)

As I sat with my young friend, I listened to him tell me about going to church every day during Holy Week. He then told me about all that he had done with his church, helping others and doing so many good things. He was so proud of all he had done - then we started to talk about his life . . . .

He had been married once before, and now was divorced. It had been a very difficult divorce, with a lot of anger and fighting. But now, he was in a new relationship, one that he felt was good. As I pushed him about the future, and what lay ahead, he seemed to get angry, as problems unfolded. His church had rules about divorce and remarriage. And he didn’t think they would give him an annulment. He was living with his new girlfriend, but didn’t seem to think that was against church rules. Finally, he looked at me and said: Tell me where it says I can’t do what I am doing . . .

By loving the Lord . . . And holding fast to Him . . . For this is your life . . .

Loving - holding fast - I wondered about this young man’s choices. Would he end up hurting his new love? What was in his heart? When he searched his soul - what did he see?

“For God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
(1 Samuel: 16: 7)

When my good friend had written about people who chose to hurt others, about people who were mean - - - I found myself writing back to him about what I thought. I told him I was glad that I am not the one to judge another. None of us can see into another person’s heart. We can’t see the hurts and wounds - or why another makes the choices that they do. We can only look at our own hearts - and ask God - to help us . . .

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you . . .” (Jeremiah 1:5)

This past week, a very great man died. He was Pope John Paul II. He had been born in a small town in Poland - where he learned about life and faith from his father. He grew up during a time when the Nazi’s became powerful and killed so many innocent lives. Wickedness was all around him. And yet, this man chose to follow his faith and continued learning about the Lord and his church, even when it was dangerous to do so. Karol Wojtyla had a faith and trust in God - and beliefs that he felt strongly about. They were beliefs about “choosing life” and standing for what you believed in. He worked to help Jews escape during WWII, and later fought against communism. As Pope, he traveled the world bringing a message of faith and unity, wherever he went. He crossed the boundaries of religion, as well as nationalities. This man walked out his faith every day, holding tightly to the hand of God. He believed that , “with God”, he could change the world; and he did! I believe this man loved God. Even though I am not Catholic, I saw such a strong faith, and know that God loved him and chose him to bring a message of God’s Love to all the world.

In looking at this one man, I know that each of us has choices before us. We can choose to live our lives in faith and love - holding on to the hand of God - - - or we can choose to walk in the hurt - and live hurting others and relying on ourselves . . .

“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity - to give you a future and a hope.”
(Jeremiah 29: 11)

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live . . .”
(Deuteronomy 30: 19)

What is your choice? It is my hope that you will choose to ask God into your heart - holding fast to Him - so that you too will have Life! When you do, your life will change our world! The choices you make . . . Change lives - forever . . .

God bless you in the coming week ahead!

In His Love,
Debbie & Ted Ayers

Weekly Word for April 1 thru 8th, 2005

Weekly Word - April 1, 2005

And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me” . . .
(1 Corinthians 11: 24)

In Remembrance . . . Most of us throughout our lives, have “memories” - memories of loved ones, memories of special times or events, memories of hurts and losses. Memories that bring back to us - moments in time . . .

To this day, when I smell burnt toast, I remember Norma. That smell can bring me right back to a time and place - - - to sitting in a diner - laughing with my friend . . .

We had gone to our “special” place - the diner around the corner from Caring Families. We would go there whenever we could find the time. It had great coffee - and they knew us and what we wanted. So on this day, the place was full. We stood waiting for a table in the doorway, talking and laughing the whole time. Finally, a group finished their meal - and a table was ready for us. As we sat down, the waitress came over. She looked a little sheepish - like she didn’t want to tell us what she seemed to have to say! As she poured our coffees (she already knew what we wanted!) - she looked right at Norma. “The cook says to tell you, he won’t burn your toast any more” she said. “He doesn’t want the customers to think he burns the food”. As the girl said it, I watched as Norma got up - and headed straight for the kitchen. When Norma came back - she just looked at me and grinned. It wasn’t too long afterwards - that I smelled it - burnt toast! We laughed and laughed as the waitress brought our breakfast! It is a remembrance of a time and a place - of laughter and friendship - that I hope I never lose . . .

In the same way, He took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
(1 Corinthians 11: 25)

A few years ago, I worked as a “Home-health Worker”. I worked through the local hospital, helping the elderly and disabled to stay in their homes. One of my clients was an older woman who I will call “Mary”. I saw Mary every week. As I would walk into her home, she would ask me who I was - and why was I there. Mary suffered from Alzheimer’s. So Mary had an aide come to her home three times a day - just to make sure that she remembered to eat, remembered to turn off the stove, remembered the things she needed to do - to stay in her home. Each time I went to her house, I would re-introduce myself, telling her that I was there to clean and help her. She would ask me questions about my life - the same questions over and over again. And then, she would tell me stories of her own life. She could remember that she had 9 children - - - and two of them were girls. She could even remember their names. Although I did find out from her daughter - that she didn’t remember where each lived recently - or that one of her sons had died.

Each week, as I visited with Mary, was like a brand new meeting for her - as she asked again - “who are you?“ Even so - I grew to like her - and care about her. She was sweet and caring - loving her children and her husband. Even though I heard the same stories each week - I didn’t mind it. She told me about the house that she and her husband moved in to - where they had their bakery - and raised their children. She told me each week - that she was married to a baker - and all about her children. She also would tell me about her sister - the one who was a nun. I would worry about Mary - and her ability to stay in her home. There were days when I got there - that the stove was turned all the way up - and I feared for her safety. But somehow, Mary kept on living there - little by little losing her every day memories - and yet remembering days gone by.

Then one day, I asked her how she fell in love with her husband. As she looked at me, her eyes became bright - and full of love. She told of a young girl - one of 11 children living in her parent’s home. She told of her father being a butcher - and using a horse drawn wagon to bring meat to the housewives in town. And then she told of her church. She would walk to church each Sunday - passing by the local bakery. As she walked by - a young man came out - just to smile and say “hello”. As Mary told the story, I asked her if she immediately liked him. “No” she told me. He was a bother and she told him to go away. I laughed as she continued to tell me about being a young girl - being wooed by this handsome young man. “It was Easter” she told me. And she had just walked home from church with her sisters. Inside her house, she found a box on the kitchen table. Inside it - was a cake. “It was beautiful, and it had my name written on the top” she said. As I watched her face - I could see that young girl - smiling and falling in love.

Mary died a few months ago. She had slowly slipped away from her children and family - as the disease took it’s toll on her life and memories. Little by little, Mary had disappeared. And then I wondered, about the reunion in Heaven, of the young girl, who had fallen in love, with the boy who had baked her a cake . . .

Behold, I tell you a mystery; . . . We shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, (1 Corinthians 15: 51 & 52)

This past week, I found myself working on a “Memory Book”. It is a book that my brothers and I plan to give our parents on their 50th wedding anniversary. In the book, I put pictures and letters - stories of times gone by. Both my parents are now facing serious illnesses - in this - their later years of life. But the pictures show times of being young - falling in love - and having children. When I look at the book - I wonder what they will remember - what “moments” in time will be left as their legacy . . .

And as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. And just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly . . .
(1 Corinthians 15: 48 & 49)

Two weeks before Norma died, I found myself helping her to go outside - helping her to sit on the ground and “feel” the grass. As she ran her hand over the grass, I watched - and felt her making a “memory”, an imprint of the grass beneath her hand. It seemed like she wanted to “remember” that moment - and take it with her - when she left this earth. It is a “memory” that I took with me, as well . . .

But we shall be changed, in a moment . . . For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
(1 Corinthians 15: 51 & 53)

There is a new song that both Ted and I heard the other day. The song is “Making Memories of Us” by Keith Urban. The song tells the story of loving another - and wanting to know everything - about that person. It tells of Making Memories that will last - forever. The song reminded us both of our own love and marriage. For us, there have been so many special “moments” - times that felt like gifts from the Lord. There were fireworks over Niagara Falls in winter, special dinners by candlelight, times when the love we felt for each other - was more than we could ever have imagined - - - it is a love that has changed my life forever - - - a love - that will never die . . . .

for love is from God; and every one who loves is born of God and knows God.
(1 John 4: 7)

This past week, we celebrated Easter. A time of "re-birth" and "new life". It is the completion of God's Love for each of us. It is my hope and prayer, that during this very special time- you will allow God into your heart - and into your life! When you do, The "moments" of love - the handprints of God in your life - will change - eternity . . .

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen - are eternal.
(2 Corinthians 4: 18)

God bless you in the coming week ahead!

In His Love,
Debbie & Ted Ayers