|
2016 An Amazing Gift 12 6 16 |
2015 Flowers And An Empty Tomb 3 30 15 & 10 3 20 |
|
|
|
Scripture: Matthew 25:35-36 "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you took me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me." Message: Twenty-five years ago, my husband and I were experiencing the Empty Nest Syndrome. When we saw Wednesday's Child1 on TV, a program showing older, hard-to-adopt children needing a permanent home, we felt this was for us. After going through months of learning what to expect, I wondered if George still wanted to go through with an adoption like this. When I asked him how he felt about it, he quoted Jesus, "Whatever you did for one of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did for me." That did it, and we adopted our beautiful thirteen-year-old daughter. Well, she came with many problems, such as fear, rejection, anger, and rebellion. Those were hard years, but she was ours and we loved her through the pain. Advance forward twenty-five years. She has turned into a wonderful, family-oriented, loving, compassionate, honest, and hard-working wife, mother, and grandmother. I am in awe of the person she has become in spite of the hardships of her youth. She brings me such joy. What began as a gift for her has become an amazing gift to me! Prayer: Father, at Christmas time I am acutely aware of Your marvelous gifts. Thank You for my amazing daughter, but more than that, thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. Shirley Ashley 1. From ChatGPT: "The line you've provided doesn't seem to directly copy any well-known, protected content, but it is referencing Wednesday's Child, a specific program. If you're simply mentioning the program in a factual way as part of your own personal story, it shouldn’t infringe on copyrights, assuming you're not using their logo, trademarked material, or excerpts from the program itself without permission." |
|
Monday, March 30, 2015 & Saturday, October 3, 2020 - "The Connection" Series |
|
Scripture: Matthew 28:6a (NIV) – “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” Message: I was taking a friend to place flowers on her family’s graves for the Easter holiday. The cemetery was filled with beautifully colored flowers of all varieties. There were people everywhere sprucing up the gravesites, trimming the grass, and raking the leaves. I was amazed at all the activity that was being done for those who could not see it. When my friend asked where my husband was buried and if I, too, was going to decorate his grave with Easter lilies, I had to stop and think for a minute. “No,” I answered. “He is not here. He has gone to join Jesus and cannot see the flowers. I will enjoy them myself in remembrance of him and what Jesus did for him and for the World when He left the grave.” Prayer: Father, thank You and may I never forget the sacrifice of Your only Son and how He left that empty tomb for my salvation. In Your name I pray. Amen.
Shirley Ashley |
|
|
