Monday, March 23, 2009

MAGNOLIAS 563

Surfing with Jesus
Pastor Gene A. Dasher Sr.
gene@SurfingwithJesus.com
#56303232009

Are You Needed? Yes, I've read this before but it blessed me again as I pray it will bless you today.

MAGNOLIAS

By Edna Ellison

I spent the week before my daughter's June wedding running last-minute trips to the caterer, florist, tuxedo shop, and the church about forty miles away..

As happy as I was that Patsy was marrying a good Christian young man, I felt laden with responsibilities as I watched my budget dwindle . .

So many details, so many bills, and so little time. My son Jack was away at college, but he said he would be there to walk his younger sister down the aisle, taking the place of his dad who had died a few years before. He teased Patsy, saying he'd wanted to give her away since she was about three years old!

To save money, I gathered blossoms from several friends who had large magnolia trees. Their luscious, creamy-white blooms and slick green leaves would make beautiful arrangements against the rich dark wood inside the church.

After the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, we banked the podium area and choir loft with magnolias. As we left just before midnight, I felt tired but satisfied this would be the best wedding any bride had ever had! The music, the ceremony, the reception - and especially the flowers - would be remembered for years.

The big day arrived - the busiest day of my life - and while her bridesmaids helped Patsy to dress, her fiancé Tim walked with me to the sanctuary to do a final check. When we opened the door and felt a rush of hot air, I almost fainted; and then I saw them - all the beautiful white flowers were black. Funeral black. An electrical storm during the night had knocked out the air conditioning system, and on that hot summer day, the flowers had wilted and died.

I panicked, knowing I didn't have time to drive back to our hometown, gather more flowers, and return in time for the wedding.

Tim turned to me. 'Edna, can you get more flowers? I'll throw away these dead ones and put fresh flowers in these arrangements.'

I mumbled, 'Sure,' as he be-bopped down the hall to put on his cuff links.

Alone in the large sanctuary, I looked up at the dark wooden beams in the arched ceiling. 'Lord,' I prayed, 'please help me. I don't know anyone in this town. Help me find someone willing to give me flowers - in a hurry!' I scurried out praying for four things: the blessing of white magnolias, courage to find them in an unfamiliar yard, safety from any dog that may bite my leg, and a nice person who would not get out a shotgun when I asked to cut his tree to shreds.

As I left the church, I saw magnolia trees in the distance. I approached a house...No dog in sight. I knocked on the door and an older man answered. So far so good . .No shotgun. When I stated my plea the man beamed, 'I'd be happy to!'

He climbed a stepladder and cut large boughs and handed them down to me.. Minutes later, as I lifted the last armload into my car trunk, I said, 'Sir, you've made the mother of a bride happy today.'

'No, Ma'am,' he said... 'You don't understand what's happening here.'

'What?' I asked.

'You see, my wife of sixty-seven years died on Monday. On Tuesday I received friends at the funeral home, and on Wednesday . . . He paused. I saw tears welling up in his eyes. 'On Wednesday I buried her.' He! Looked away. 'On Thursday most of my out-of-town relatives went back home, and on Friday - yesterday - my children left.'

I nodded.

'This morning,' he continued, 'I was sitting in my den crying out loud. I miss her so much. For the last sixteen years, as her health got worse, she needed me. But now nobody needs me. This morning I cried, 'Who needs an eighty-six-year-old wore-out man? Nobody!' I began to cry louder. 'Nobody needs me!' About that time, you knocked, and said, 'Sir, I need you.'

I stood with my mouth open.

He asked, 'Are you an angel? The way the light shone around your head into my dark living room...'

I assured him I was no angel.

He smiled. 'Do you know what I was thinking when I handed you those magnolias?'

'No.'

'I decided I'm needed. My flowers are needed. Why, I might have a flower ministry! I could give them to everyone! Some caskets at the funeral home have no flowers. People need flowers at times like that and I have lots of them. They're all over the backyard! I can give them to hospitals, churches - all sorts of places. You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to serve the Lord until the day He calls me home!'

I drove back to the church, filled with wonder. On Patsy's wedding day, if anyone had asked me to encourage someone who was hurting, I would have said, 'Forget it! It's my only daughter's wedding, for goodness' sake! There is no way I can minister to anyone today.'

But God found a way. Through dead flowers.

'Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.'…

THIS IS SO TRUE, BEING NEEDED IS SO UPLIFTING TO EACH OF US.

Remember:

1John 1:9 "If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Send prayer request to: gene@SurfingwithJesus.com.
Web Site: http://SurfingwithJesus.Blogspot.com/







Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Gone Home to Glory #562

Surfing with Jesus

Pastor Gene A. Dasher Sr.

gene@SurfingwithJesus.com
#56203042009

GONE HOME TO GLORY!

What a beautiful day for Sis Mae Camp. She has gone home to glory and I can see her rejoicing with Jesus. Of course she did her share of rejoicing here also. What a precious Saint. It was always a thrill when Sis Camp was able to come to church. She always said there was just something special about that hill on Union Grove. Anyone who ever worshipped there knows what she means.

Sis Camp had not been able to be with us for awhile because of her health but wherever she was the presence of the Lord was always present. I remember one time right after she went to the Nursing Home, we stopped by to see her and she wasn’t in her room but we found her in the dinning area. The lady helping her said she loved to be with her because she is precious. I said well she is quite a speaker too. I ask Sis Camp if she would like to share a verse and as she began to quote the 23rd Psalm glory bumps just rolled up my arm as they are now.

I don’t think the worker knew what to think when Sis Camp raised that little hand and begin to glorify God. Wow! What as thrill to have this experience. And when you ask to pray with her you were the one that left with a blessing because she knew how to touch the throne of grace.

Sis Camp loved all of us but most of all she loved her Savior Jesus Christ. I’d like to share another blessing she bestowed upon us. One year when she was able to come more often I ask her if she would speak on Mission Sunday. She agreed and we set up a chair up front so she could be comfortable. After devotional time I turned her loose and did she ever get loose. She pulled her little Bible out and started reading and quoting the Bible and feeding us with love and care. My wife taped it and shared it with her family later. What a treasure just to be in the house of God that day and feel his presence as she praised our Lord.

Many of you never knew Sis Camp in this life but those who did have precious times to help us and strengthen us until we meet her in Heaven. I just had to share a moment or two and let you know life was not a gravy train for this dear lady but she knew how to take lemons and make lemonade out of it.

Perhaps something is going on in your life today that you need Jesus to take care of. Let me share this same Jesus with you that helped Sister all these 92 years and let you know she made it and she would tell you to leave it in the hands of the Lord and you will make it too.

Remember:

1John 1:9 “If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Send prayer request to: gene@SurfingwithJesus.com.
Web Site: http://SurfingwithJesus.Blogspot.com/