Devotions with Pastor Fran

Love the People God Gives You!
Ezekiel 36:25-27 I will sprinkle clean water on you and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to follow my laws.

Have you ever noticed that the older we get the faster time flies by? Seems like only yesterday I had a house full of small kids, then a house full of teenagers, then one by one they went off to college and then on to marriage and now my house is empty except for one temperamental calico cat. Time has become a precious commodity. It’s been five years now since Arnie went home to be with Jesus. Seems like just yesterday! My grandkids are now getting married and having kids of their own. My youngest daughter just turned 30 and has two children of her own. Seems like just yesterday I came to Wanamaker and it’s been 18 years. Wow, where does the time go?

Time leaves you with just the memories, those cherished memories that sometimes are so vivid that it seems like just yesterday. The memories of the day my first child was born and the day our first adoption happened when I realized just how much God loved me and would entrust me to raise a child for Him. I remember so vividly the day I was sanctified, filled with the Spirit, and totally transformed as I gave my whole life and everything I had to Him. When I think back to that memorable day, I can still see in my mind the yellow sunflower wallpaper on the wall and still feel that tingling sensation I felt that day from my head to my feet. That day will forever be etched into my memory! That was 45 years ago! God gave me the verses in Ezekiel 36:25-27 and they are still my favorite verses today!

Little did I know what God had in store for me that life-changing day; that He would call me to raise 14 kids for Him, that He would call me into full-time ministry, that I would live such a great full life with Him, that I would finish my life out as a widow trusting Him and Him alone for my every need! And I am reminded once again that our memories are what we are left with.

The older I get the more precious the years I have left become. Mondays so quickly turn into Fridays. Days turn into weeks and weeks turn into months and months into years! Here it is almost the end of another year! When I try to envision where I will be in five years it can be very frightening. Whatever time God has left for me, I really want to take the time to enjoy the ones God has entrusted into my life. I want to say the things that need to be said and to live my life as a witness to those who need to see Jesus.

There is a new song out by the Bowling Family. The words say it all.

I got a call this morning
I can’t believe he’s gone
Thought he’d be here forever
But one more time, time proved me wrong.
Thought I should call to say hello
But I’m reminded once again
That life’s a vapor in the wind.

Love the people that God gives you
They’re a gift that heaven sent
Live and laugh and make some memories
Cherish every moment spent
‘Cause none of us are here forever
That’s a proven fact
Love the people that God gives you
‘Cause one day you’ll want them back

Each day the mirror tells the story
I wonder where the time has gone
Children laughing round the table
That now have children of their own
There may be things you need to say
So while today is still today
You have the chance to hold them close
One more chance to let them know

Love the people that God gives you
They’re a gift that heaven sent
Live and laugh and make some memories
Cherish every moment spent
‘Cause none of us are here forever
That’s a proven fact
Love the people that God gives you
‘Cause one day you’ll want them back

Oh and the list keeps getting longer
Friends and family that I miss
But when I think of what matters most
It all comes down to this

None of us are here forever
And that’s a proven fact
Just love the people that God gives you
‘Cause one day you’ll want them back
Love the people that God gives you
‘Cause one day you’ll want them back.

Love ya,
Pastor Fran