Greetings Beloved!
You probably noticed I did not post anything the weeks of January 16 and 23, 2013. Most of you know by now, that my dear sister, Sharon Denise Fuller, past away quite suddenly on January 8, and, we were very busy planning her services and attending to all the other issues surrounding this time line event especially to take some of the pressure off our parents, James Quinton and Hazeline Murphy Fuller.
Speaking for myself: your prayers, calls, emails, texts, Facebook messages, visitations, cleaning the garage, sodas, meals, money, shopping, etc. really meant a lot and helped me to get through it all. Also, knowing that she’s made her transition to be with GOD gave me peace beyond measure since death is an event that we will all have to do eventually. As I was going through the motions, I was reminded to remind you to do what you can to prepare as it will go a long way in helping your loved ones honor your wishes as well as focus on grieving and all the other emotions that come with this event versus trying to find your social security number because they need that to file the death certificate and on and on and on.One of my girlfriend’s shared that she’s already done her obituary…call me strange but what a blessing for her husband and family!
Another thing that stuck with me throughout this experience was how much time and how many opportunities my family and I actually spent encouraging others. I was reminded of my girlfriend, Jackie Shinn, who lost her husband suddenly. When we all got to her house, after we had heard the news, it was her who consoled us for we were at a total lost for words. This then reminded me that God does not put on you more than you can bear. And, though sometimes, the words of “she’s or he’s in a better place, etc. may sound hallow” there is power in these words, there’s even power in people showing up and not speaking but just to be there with you in your grief.
I have the following challenge this week for all of us. It reminds me of one of cousin Paula’s and my favorite movie PAY IT FORWARD. I pray the outcome is that we are all blessed to be a blessing to each other. And by just taking the courageous act of encouraging someone else we will break down walls, other barriers and barricades people have erected to make it through life and continue to depend on GOD but maybe, just maybe, begin to depend on each other. Remember, family and friends are “a little peace of heaven GOD gives us here on earth.”
Challenge: Courage is gifted thru “encouragement” why not encourage 5 people before noon tomorrow?
Related to ENCOURAGEMENT: Synonyms: boost, impulse, goad, impetus, incentive, incitation, incitement, instigation, momentum, motivation, provocation, spur, stimulant, stimulus, yeast
QUOTES:
“Be like your Master. Enable someone else to be a winner. Look at the people close to you and quit trying to beat them, or use them, or to control them. Look at them and say, “Hey, if you win, I win.”
“If you focus on how far you’ve got to go, you’ll be discouraged. But you need to look back at where you were before you started climbing – way down at the bottom of that mountain, looking at climbing the whole thing. Look at how far you’ve come! Look at how far Jesus has brought you! The same Lord who brought you from the bottom to this point will take you the rest of the way.”
“It doesn’t matter if a million people tell you what you can’t do, or if ten million tell you no. If you get one yes from God that’s all you need.”
― Tyler Perry
SONG:
Sometimes, you will find that YOU WILL HAVE TO ENCOURAGE YOURSELF: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y6BHfaUUYo
SCRIPTURE:
Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, to enable them to fulfill the purpose for which they are called.
Revelation 21:1-4 And I saw new heavens and a new earth, for the first ones had passed away; and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, that is, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And then I heard a great voice from heaven, which said, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them, and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there will be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither will there be any more pain, for the former things have passed away.
Isaiah 40:28-31 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God (Yahweh), the Creator of the ends of the earth, faints not, neither is weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint; and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but those who wait for Yahweh shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.
Psalms 126:5-6 Those who sow in tears will reap a harvest of joy; for though they may weep while going forth to plant their seed, if they persevere, they will undoubtedly return rejoicing—bringing their sheaves with them.
Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on Yahweh, and He will sustain you: He will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who are weary and weighed down with heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in spirit. Indeed, you will surely find rest in Me! My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away; look, new things have come!
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (KJV) Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Love, Joy and Peace,
Debra J. Ellis
P.S. I do have a “Planning Document” someone gave me for this life event…I will share soon.
And, remember to take care of yourself when such an event occurs, I actually went walking a few mornings and made sure I drank water and ate a little.
Reminder AND/OR for those of you just joining us either by contacting me or I personally added you: The purpose of Fast Wednesdays is to draw near to God on this specific day of the week fasting and praying in whatever manner the Holy Spirit is leading you as sisters in Christ…some have fasted from social media, coffee, or observed a traditional fast with no eating from sunrise to sunset with only liquids for the day, no deserts, etc. I know many of us for various reasons participate every week but in different manners. This has still been beneficial and the sisterhood continues to grow!
The key ingredient is that we are doing this together as sisters, of all ages, in the Lord both chronologically and spiritually in accordance to: A God-Filled Life Titus 2:3-5 “Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior.”
Note: Please share Fast Wednesdays with your friends and/or send me names to add to the distribution list. For now, I will post in three places: email (djf52055@gmail.com), Facebook (Debra Fuller Ellis) and blog
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