Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs

A few days ago I was reading from 1 Corinthians chapter 13, and these words seemed to leap off the page: [Love] . . . keeps no record of wrongs (v. 5). When we have been hurt by someone, especially repeatedly, it is hard to stop thinking about it, and we tend to hold on to the memories instead of obeying God's admonition to forgive. 

From 1 Corinthians 13:5, I am reminded I need to let go of the hurts and not keep rehearsing them in my mind and heart. That is not easy because I feel I have the right to be angry—to retain the hurt. After all, I believe that person doesn't deserve my forgiveness. But neither do I deserve the forgiveness provided through Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

The Lord is continually reminding me that I must love with His love. I have even asked Him to make me a conduit of His love. That is not possible while I am holding anger and unforgiveness in my heart. The Holy Spirit is teaching me that with His help I can rise above the hurt and pain, and show the love of God even to those who have caused me pain and may never ask for forgiveness, and even to those who may never love me. 

Jesus is our example. The love and forgiveness provided through His sacrificial death were made available to all, including those who nailed Him to the cross. As He was dying, His prayer for those who crucified Him was, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).

The Lord, My Helper

Ten years ago I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer and had to undergo chemotherapy, surgery and radiation treatments. At the time I didn’t make it public on social media, and over the years I have shared very little about my journey. 

The diagnosis came a little more than a year and a half after the passing of my first husband, and just a few months after leaving everything I knew to go to another state for a new job. 

Needless to say, at the beginning I was devastated and overwhelmed with fear. I immediately had thoughts of my death and leaving my daughter Bethany an orphan. 

But God had different plans. He provided amazing healthcare and wonderful friends who were by my side throughout the entire difficult process. I am so thankful to all of them! 

Today I am still alive and kicking and in good health! A few days ago I had my annual visit with my oncologist and received another great report! 

I am so thankful to God for everything he has done for me, and that ten years later I am cancer free!! Looking back, I can see the hand of God on my life and now realize the testimony He has given me and the deeper compassion I have for those who are on similar journeys. To God be all the glory!!

_______________

Psalm 121:1-8

I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

Mom's Quiet Light

A few days from now will be the first Mother's Day since my Mom went to heaven. In her honor, I am sharing something she wrote that I recently found among her things...

As I sit here at my kitchen table drinking my second cup of coffee after eating my breakfast, I am feeling the presence of the Lord. I am thinking of God’s goodness, the things we take for granted. All I can hear is the running of the refrigerator, for which I am thankful. Last night the electricity was off. For four hours I had no heat. I put an extra quilt on my bed and went to bed. It’s not a good feeling to be in the dark at night with no heat and not knowing when it will come back on. 

Before going to bed, I looked out my dining room window. The snow had covered everything. It was beautiful in some ways. Everything was dark except a very small light coming from one of my neighbor’s windows and the light of the night against the snow. 

I began to see a flicker of light coming from a car. As the car got closer, the light increased. It’s amazing how much light comes from the lights of one car when everything is dark. That’s how our lives are, shining in a dark world. The Bible says “we are the light of the world.” I would like to know I was that much light to someone. I would like to make a difference in someone’s life.

—Ruth Dean

I believe Mom’s light shown brighter than she realized. In her quiet way she showed the love of Jesus to the people in her life. Thank you Mom for your loving example! 

_______________

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 NIV)

Remembering Wayne

Ten years ago today, my first husband, Bethany’s dad went to be with Jesus. Even though Wayne had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer more than two years before, and I was aware that without a miracle he would be leaving us, there is nothing that prepares you for the loss of your beloved spouse. 

I remember feeling so broken and alone as I drove Bethany and myself home from the hospital that morning. And I was suddenly overwhelmed with the realization that I had become the single parent of my 16 year old daughter, who would soon be completing high school and entering college, and we were without her dad’s perspective and wisdom as she moved into adulthood. Contemplating what I would be facing in the following weeks, months and years without Wayne made my head spin and my heart ache. 

I am thankful to the Lord and many good friends who helped us through that devastating season of grief. Since then God has blessed me with a second wonderful husband, and I am so happy and grateful. At the same time, I am thankful for the life I had with Wayne. He was a loving, godly man, husband, father, pastor and friend. Today, Bethany and I honor him and celebrate his life. Wayne’s godly influence helped to shape us and make us who we are today. 

We love you Wayne and thank God for you and the years that your light shone bright in our lives! 

Eternity—One Breath Away

My Mom recently left this world for her eternal home with Jesus. 

There were six in my family of origin and with her departure, there are now only three. In a period of a little more than two years, three members of my family have died. Dad's homegoing in September 2021 and then my brother David's only three months later were heartbreaking and difficult. But for some reason that I can't explain Mom's homegoing more than the others changed my thoughts and feelings about the afterlife. My belief has not changed, but my perception has. 

Heaven seems so much more real. Eternity so close. I am more aware of the fragility of this life. And I think often of the fact that each of us is only one breath away from eternity. One breath! 

So, it is imperative that we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The Bible tells us He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). It also says that we will all die and we will all face judgment (Hebrews 9:27). 

I want to remind you that there is nothing more important in life than making the decision to accept and serve Christ! Where you will spend eternity depends on it. 

_______________

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

My Dad, My Hero

My Dad went to heaven on September 12, 2021, after a short battle with Covid-19. This is the message that I was privileged to speak at his Celebration of Life Service....

One of the earliest memories I have of my Dad is when I was about five years old. I was on the sidewalk in front of our house playing hopscotch when I cut my foot on a large piece of broken glass. The pain was excruciating and I immediately began crying and screaming. In just moments, my Dad ran out of the house and scooped me up in his arms and whisked me inside, so that he and Mom could tend to my injury. He was my hero, like Superman coming on the scene right when I needed him. 

As a little girl, I thought my Dad was perfect. In my eyes, he could do no wrong. Even though as an adult I know that he was not—because no one is—I think that my little girl heart still sees him as perfect.

From my Dad I learned that the most important relationship in my life is the one I have with my Father in heaven through Jesus Christ my Savior. My brothers will agree that serving Jesus and teaching the Word of God were the joys of Dad's life. I loved to hear him teach, and whenever I had a question about the Bible, he was the first person I wanted to talk to. I remember being mesmerized by what he had to say, and was so proud of his knowledge of the Word of God. His love of the Word was evident in his conversation even as the years passed, right up to the end of his earthly life.

As children, when we awoke on Sunday morning, there was never a question, “Are we going to church?” When we woke up we knew that we were going to put on our best Sunday clothes and head to the house of God. 

Dad loved his children, and he knew the greatest contribution he could make into our lives was not teaching us how to achieve worldly success, but rather it was instilling in us a desire to serve God. That, I believe, was his greatest gift to us.

From Dad we learned consistency, dedication and commitment to the ways of God. Even in the face of heartache, many health issues, and what sometimes seemed to be insurmountable problems, we saw our Dad love and serve God through it all. 

J.T. did not leave a lot of material wealth, but he left us a legacy that continues on. He lives in us as we serve Christ and minister the love of God to others. He was a gentle man, but strong in his beliefs and in his dedication to God. And with every difficulty, he kept his positive spirit and beautiful smile.

I spent the last two days and nights of Dad’s life with him at the hospital. There was never any indication during that time that he knew I was there, but the hours I spent with him are precious to me. I talked to him, I touched him, I sang to him. I am so glad it was possible for me to be there. 

The day before Dad went to heaven, I texted Bishop Mitchell and Wendy Corder to let them know what was happening. Later, I received a phone call from Bishop Corder. To my surprise, he was in Bristol to preach a service that weekend. I really believe this circumstance was God ordained. 

He came to the hospital on Sunday, just hours before Dad passed and ministered to us. Earlier that day the family had made the decision to take Dad off of bi-pap. It was heart-wrenching. Bishop Corder gave us encouragement, stating that we were not making a life or death decision; we were making a Life or Life decision. We had to make a decision regarding a machine. God would decide whether Dad would live on earth or in heaven. He would continue to live; it was just the matter of where he would live. His life was in God’s hands, and it was God’s decision.

This was demonstrated emphatically to us a few hours later….

While my brothers and I had fallen asleep in Dad’s room from sheer physical and emotional exhaustion, I believe God said to Dad, “J.T. it’s time. Come on home.” And Dad quietly slipped out of the room. He left before the nurse came to put him on the morphine drip, and before he was removed from the machine. God proved to us beyond all doubt that He is in control, and He made the decision at that particular time to take Dad home.

Psalm 116:15 says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” We see death as our enemy. But God uses death to bring His saints into His presence. What the enemy means for evil, God uses to accomplish good. God called His son J.T. Osborne home. And now he is with his heavenly Father, and is whole and happier than he has ever been. 

Janet, Keith, Tony, David, all who love J.T., our hearts will always have an emptiness, a missing piece, because of the loss of this great man. But we have the hope of eternity. Those of us who have a relationship with Jesus Christ, we know that we will see J.T. again. 

If he could stand before us now on his two perfect legs, I believe that he would say to us, “Make sure your heart is right with God. That is more important than anything else in your life!"

And I am sure that he would also say….

“It won’t be long. I’ll see you soon!”

The Good News

My Bible reading this morning included these words spoken by Paul: "I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus" (Acts 20:21). This says it all in one simple statement. What all people need is to...

• Repent from sin
• Turn to God
• Have faith in the Lord Jesus

When you do this, it does not mean that life all of a sudden becomes perfect. It does mean that God will work in your imperfect life to accomplish His perfect will!

Paul also said, “My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God” (Acts 20:24). 

The Good News is that Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died a sacrificial death on the cross, was buried, and then was resurrected, so that we can be forgiven of our sins, know Him, live for Him, and spend eternity with Him! There is nothing in our lives more important than this!