I have just finished reading the novel "Someday" by Karen Kingsbury, one of my favorite fiction authors. One of the main characters, Ashley is a gifted painter who paints life portraits. Much like we as scrapbokers create life portraits in our albums. Ashley captures moments on canvas to be enjoyed and remembered for years to come.
I was struck as I was reading by how Ashley gathers images for future paintings - by taking mental photos of family moments she wishes to capture on canvas. As a scrapbooker I use hard copy photos to create pages and albums however as a believer who scrapbooks, by adding an element of faith on my pages I am creating "spiritual snapshots" that will be there for all to see for years to come.
Just as we receive "spiritual snapshots" when we read the Bible. Stories and images that jump off the page and form a "snapshot" in our minds of how things were, or maybe what we should be or who we should become. These Snapshots add depth to our lives, give us a reason to soar.
Snapshot: Jeremiah 29:11 One of my all time favorite verses. "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.
Last summer along with my family we attended Creation Fest North West, a great Christian music festival that takes place at the Gorge Amphitheater in Washington State at the end of July each summer. While there I purchased a bracelet that had Jer 29:11 paraphrased on it - This past Saturday I gave it away, that was the plan that God had in mind the whole time.
When I purchased the bracelet, I felt the overwhelming need to buy that particular bracelet, but also the feeling that I would be told to give it away. I loved the bracelet, loved the verse & the daily reminder however this past Saturday as I was sitting and listening to the testimony of a dear lady, I knew the bracelet was for her. So I gave it to her, telling her that her sharing had blessed me and that God told me to give her something.... I shook her hand and slipped her the bracelet and walked away. I was Blessed Beyond Measure because I litened to the little voice in my heart! That is a spiritual snapshot I will carry in my heart forever. And I will Scrapbook a page telling the story!
Monday, April 7, 2008
Saturday, April 5, 2008
SUFFERING
Dear Faithbooking Friends:
The subject of suffering has been on my mind for the whole Easter season. The reason being of course on how our Lord Jesus Christ suffered on the cross for our sins, and also because of my mother-in-law Florence.
Florence entered the hospital at the beginning of February for what was supposed to be a simple skin graft operation to help "repair" a ulcer on her leg that was not healing after many months. The operation was successful, but unfortunately the skin graft did not work, and she developed gangrene in one leg. At one point the doctors were talking about amputating both her legs above the knee...a "bilateral" amputation they called it. Poor woman! During this time, Florence was in extreme pain, and had to be put on morphine. My husband said that he had never seen his mother be in so much pain before. After many consultations with the doctors, and 6 weeks later, on Easter Monday, Florence endured a 6 hour angioplasty procedure to remove a blockage in her upper thigh area. The blockage was removed, but unfortunately, less than 48 hours later, Florence died of renal failure. She was 80 years old.
The truth be told, Florence had suffered most of her adult life. He first born son, died in a tragic bicycle accident, at the age of 8 years old. She also suffered from a mental illness (bipolar disorder), until the day she died. She was a good mother. She never complained. She endured her sufferings quietly.
What I have been thinking about, and what I have learned is that God permits suffering in our lives. This is definitely a mystery. At the same time, suffering is a sign of God's love for us, as well as healing is. Jesus is God's answer to our suffering and the need for spiritual and physical healing. Whenever Jesus cured, it was first to heal spiritually, either by giving or increasing faith. Spiritual healing meant that the relationship between the person and God the Father was restored. The person would then be better able to carry the cross that God had allowed to be present in his or her life. The person would be able to live with joy and peace, and find meaning in life even in the midst of suffering.
Wow!!! While I was typing this out to you, I just had an epiphany on my own life and suffering. God is good! Remind me to share it with you when I see you.
There is no doubt in our minds that Florence is with our Father in heaven, and she is also reunited with her beloved son and her husband. Through all the sorrow of losing Florence, who was also a loving grandmother and great-grandmother, we know that God is good, and there will be graces received from her death. She is finally at peace now.
I am inspired to start on my new faithbooking layout for April. Dianna has once again picked out some beautiful papers and embellishments to play with.
Thank you for listening to me, and I look forward to our next meeting.
May the peace of God be with you.....
Your sister in Christ,
Pam
The subject of suffering has been on my mind for the whole Easter season. The reason being of course on how our Lord Jesus Christ suffered on the cross for our sins, and also because of my mother-in-law Florence.
Florence entered the hospital at the beginning of February for what was supposed to be a simple skin graft operation to help "repair" a ulcer on her leg that was not healing after many months. The operation was successful, but unfortunately the skin graft did not work, and she developed gangrene in one leg. At one point the doctors were talking about amputating both her legs above the knee...a "bilateral" amputation they called it. Poor woman! During this time, Florence was in extreme pain, and had to be put on morphine. My husband said that he had never seen his mother be in so much pain before. After many consultations with the doctors, and 6 weeks later, on Easter Monday, Florence endured a 6 hour angioplasty procedure to remove a blockage in her upper thigh area. The blockage was removed, but unfortunately, less than 48 hours later, Florence died of renal failure. She was 80 years old.
The truth be told, Florence had suffered most of her adult life. He first born son, died in a tragic bicycle accident, at the age of 8 years old. She also suffered from a mental illness (bipolar disorder), until the day she died. She was a good mother. She never complained. She endured her sufferings quietly.
What I have been thinking about, and what I have learned is that God permits suffering in our lives. This is definitely a mystery. At the same time, suffering is a sign of God's love for us, as well as healing is. Jesus is God's answer to our suffering and the need for spiritual and physical healing. Whenever Jesus cured, it was first to heal spiritually, either by giving or increasing faith. Spiritual healing meant that the relationship between the person and God the Father was restored. The person would then be better able to carry the cross that God had allowed to be present in his or her life. The person would be able to live with joy and peace, and find meaning in life even in the midst of suffering.
Wow!!! While I was typing this out to you, I just had an epiphany on my own life and suffering. God is good! Remind me to share it with you when I see you.
There is no doubt in our minds that Florence is with our Father in heaven, and she is also reunited with her beloved son and her husband. Through all the sorrow of losing Florence, who was also a loving grandmother and great-grandmother, we know that God is good, and there will be graces received from her death. She is finally at peace now.
I am inspired to start on my new faithbooking layout for April. Dianna has once again picked out some beautiful papers and embellishments to play with.
Thank you for listening to me, and I look forward to our next meeting.
May the peace of God be with you.....
Your sister in Christ,
Pam
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