The time of his life

Do not weep for him, he is having the time of his life

I waited to walk until the wind and clouds cooled things off this evening and as I walked, I thanked the LORD for the beauty of the clouds and colors and Little Mac came into my mind.  Maybe because he would have been 55 on the 21st.  I don’t know.  But I thanked the LORD for my 1st little boy, my 3rd child.  He was a clown as the picture indicates.  And I thanked GOD for sparing my laughing little one from the evils that face the children of today.

Thinking of all this I felt I should tell you how I learned how to trust GOD. 

Mac’s job ended in California and when he couldn’t find work Mac followed the urgings of his brothers and we moved to Colorado. I didn’t know anyone except Mac’s family who were not very friendly.  Like others who didn’t get to know me, they thought I was stupid since due to my profound hearing loss I often misunderstood so answered in strange ways. 

We had not completely unpacked yet from the move and it had been a long day. Mac was at a Union meeting, I put the girls to bed, but for some reason I let Little Mac stay up a little longer. He was just seven months and 23 days old. “Pinky,” as his dad called him, was playing in my pots and pans on a low shelf around the corner in the kitchen. HE scooted (he did not crawl on his knees, he scooted) into where I was on the couch. For the first time ever, he pulled himself up to a standing position and hanging on to the edge of the coffee table, walked around it slowly laughing as he went until he came to me. Reaching up to me, I pulled him up into my lap and soon he was asleep. I tucked him into bed and went off to bed myself.

In the morning, as was his habit, my husband left me sleeping and went to check on the kids before making his coffee. He woke me moments later by handing me the cold, lifeless body of my son and saying, “Momma, the baby’s dead.”

Even though Mac told me he’d already tried, I struggled in an attempt to breathe life back into my son. When it didn’t help, I began to cry out to GOD.  Although I knew how to pray, all that I could think to pray that moment was “Our FATHER who art in heaven, hallowed be THY name, THY kingdom come, THY will be done….” I could go no further for I knew without a doubt, don’t ask me how, but I really understood that this was the will of GOD to take my son to be with HIM in heaven.

Some react and say, “GOD would never do that!”

I Kings 14:6-13 tells of a little one taken, and the prophet says of him, “because in him there is found some good thing toward the Lord,”

 Then in 2 Samuel 12:10-23 we are told of King David’s little one being carried into heaven.

The merciful landlord let us out of our lease, and we move right after Little Mac’s death. Then our daughter Kari turned three and while she was climbing in the back yard of our new place, a cinderblock fell off the fire pit and broke her leg. Then we learned our 6-year-old Jeri had begun sleepwalking when a neighbor pounded on our door in the middle of the night having Jeri’s in tow.

I felt like I was going crazy.  I knew the only way to retain my sanity was to seek anew the GOD I met when I was 12 and living with my grandmother. For although I had called out to the LORD a few times since in desperate situations, basically I had ignored GOD since I moved up to live with my mother in Northern California when I turned 15.  I was 24 at this time.

 With my in-laws there to watch the girls, I ran down the street to a little church I’d seen there.  I was hoping someone there would help me find my way back to GOD. But no one was there.  Then a few splashes hit me in the face, and I realized that it had begun to sprinkle.

I looked up into the sky and saw a cloud formed in the shape of a great lion and a laughing baby on its back holding on to the lion’s flowing mane. Words penetrated my consciousness, “Don’t weep for him, he is having the time of his life. Weep for yourself and your daughters.”

Hearing the voice, peace enveloped me as I believed the words GOD had spoken into my spirit. “For faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word [rhema] of CHRIST” (Romans 10:17). There was no question, I knew Little Mac was having the time of his life and that brought me joy.

Many say that Little Mac’s life was wasted. I don’t believe it for a moment. Through Little Mac’s death I turned back to GOD with all that was within me and was radically changed.  Plus, his dad upon seeing his son’s body in the casket declared, “This is not Pinky.  That is not my son.  The light is not there. It has to be somewhere.”  Mac began believing in life after death and would one day come to believe in JESUS.

And when I have shared how GOD comforted me by forming a cloud and telling me my son was having the time of his life, many grieving gals have been encouraged and strengthened just as I was that day when the FATHER of mercies and the GOD of all comfort spoke those very words to me.  (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).  So, you see that though dead, Little Mac has an ongoing ministry, his life was not wasted!  GOD uses all things for an end result of good to those who love HIM (Romans 8:28).                     

Hugs

Sharon Manning

Opportunities

Who doesn’t want opportunities?

Before JESUS ascended into heaven, he told the disciples that they were to be witnesses for HIM and would have the power to do it.  That was their and our main job until HE comes back for us (Acts 1:8).

When there are struggles and problems coming at us like flaming arrows (Ephesians 6:16), “It will result in (lead to) an opportunity to witness” (Luke 21:13). “For I will give you words and wisdom…” (Luke 21:15).

Just yesterday, I had an email conversation with a gal I have never met.  She is struggling with fears.  Since, I have been there and done that, through many troubles, and have experienced the deliverance of GOD each time, I was equipped to witness to, comfort, and instruct her with the very comfort and instruction I had received from the LORD HIMSELF (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Problems result in having something to share, and Luke 21:13, 15 promises you will have that audience (opportunity) to witness and be given to what to say.

But the Comforter, which is the HOLY SPIRIT, whom the FATHER will send in MY name, HE (the HOLY SPIRIT) shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).

JESUS also said, “He that believeth on ME, as the scripture says, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water (the fruit of the SPIRIT).(But this HE spoke of the SPIRIT, which they that believe on HIM (JESUS) should receive: (John 7:38-39).

The needed words will issue forth, like a baby thrust forth out of the womb.  The struggles, the problems, and even the temptations, will give birth to a testimony.  Now, just think of newborn who makes a lot of noise at first!  Did you ever think, she is just giving her testimony concerning what just happened?

The next time you have a problem, remember this is GOD setting the stage for you to pass a message from HIM to others.  Praise the LORD in all things, we are more than conquerors through HIM who loved us and gave HIMSELF for us! (Romans 8:37).

Looking unto JESUS, the author and perfecter of my faith.

Hugs

Sharon

Comforted by GOD

Those first years I got to be at the amazingly beautiful mountain setting of Camp Elim I had the joy to be both a counselor with a cabin full of rowdy girls at our camps and on staff when we did rental camps.  The young director would gather the staff together for devotions beginning with worship songs.  It was an introduction to worship music for me since my church held to the wonderful hymns in the hymnals.

Dan would have us sing songs new to that day such as, “Make me a servant,” and “YOU are my hiding place.”  To this day they and so many like them bring me into GOD’s holy presence.

Has GOD ever hidden you? Hidden you in terrible times and from people speaking words without knowledge? HE has for me. Let me tell you of just one of those times.

HE (GOD) found him in a desert land and in the wasteland, a howling wilderness, HE encircled him and instructed him, HE kept (protected) him as the apple of HIS eye (like an eyelid protects the eye by closing). As an eagle stirs up its nest (and forces its young to leave and learn to fly), it hovers over its young, spreading its wings (to catch them if they falter), taking them up, carrying them on its wings (Deuteronomy 32:10-11).

When I learned my Daddy died, I flew out to the desert area of Lake Havasu City where he’d lived. Then hesitantly, after much whispering they told me. Dad had grown weary and had given up. He got to the point where he felt he could take the intense pain no longer.  It had been several years since his central nervous system broke down, and any movement or even a loving touch sent searing pain through him.  HE was in nonstop agony. Then one day, after placing signs to warn his beloved wife, Bethy, to stop at that spot and call the authorities, Dad hung himself.

After I was told, I couldn’t just sit there and listen as they hashed the events over and over. I had to get away from the talk, from the people, from the assumptions. I had to go talk with my LORD. Leaving the house, I began walking up and down the hilly streets. As I walked, I talked to GOD through my tears. From within came a song I’d recently heard so began singing it.  The words changed here and there as I sang the song, as the prayer it was. GOD heard and seemed to lift me up, pull me close, and hold me tight.

“Oh, SON of GOD enfold me, with the SPIRIT of YOUR love, come and fill my heart and satisfy my soul. Take all that holds me and YOUR SPIRIT like a dove, descend upon my heart and make me whole. JESUS, OH JESUS come and hold YOUR lamb, JESUS, OH JESUS come and hold YOUR little lamb.”

As in Deuteronomy 32:10-11 GOD found me in the desert, HE encircled me with HIS love, flooded me with HIS peace, and protected me from the words without knowledge, by drawing me into HIS arms, and carrying me on HIS wings.

There are times when someone is hurting and there are no words to say. I will hold them and sing softly into their ear, “O SON of GOD enfold her with the SPIRIT of YOUR love come and fill her heart and satisfy her soul ….” 

For GOD says in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be GOD, even the FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, the FATHER of mercies, and the GOD of all comfort;WHO comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of GOD.

So, GOD is to this day using even that tragedy of decades ago to help others just as HE says HE will (Romans 8:28).

Times come that are completely out of our control.  Times of pain and helplessness when there is nothing we can do. It can be paralyzing, and we become confused not know how to cope or what to do. At those times we must cry out to GOD in our need, and HE comes to hold you and strengthen you.  In HIS time GOD will instruct us in what to do.  The LORD did it for me and HE will do it for you.

Looking unto JESUS, the Author and Perfecter of my faith.

Hugs

Sharon

What makes you happy?

My kids and I have been bombarded with one hard thing right after another so as I read the Bible this morning the LORD put a smile on my face as I read one of HIS promises.

Behold, we count them HAPPY which endure. Ye have heard  of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the LORD; that the LORD is very pitiful, and of tender mercy (James 5:11).

That promise enables us to be HAPPY during the struggles for the joy set before us for the LORD is full of mercy and will reward those who endure.  I had to share it with my kids and the promise brought a smile to their faces too.  The Word of GOD is living and ministers to us! (Hebrews 4:12).

Then there were complications during my grandson Zachary’s surgery when a pin broke off in his leg, then they couldn’t get his oxygen level up so we started praying and asked others to pray.

GOD heard and answered our prayers and reminded me of another verse..

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in GOD which raises the dead:  Who delivered us from so great a death (past), and doth deliver (present): in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us (future); Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks (to GOD) may be given by many on our behalf (2 Corinthians 1:9-11).

GOD reminded us anew the rewards of joint prayer today and through HE was glorified.

Hugs

Sharon

As YOU really are

This morning I was kinda down and the Word was kinda dry until I stopped and told GOD how I felt and that’s when HE put a song in my heart;

As YOU really are: Show me YOUR ways, teach me YOUR paths, free me from all of my fears, trusting in YOU is so easy to do when I see YOU as YOU really are. As YOU really are GOD and KING, as YOU really are MASTER of everything, help me to see YOU to see YOU as YOU really are. As YOU really are risen and living, as YOU really are Just and forgiving, help me to see YOU to see YOU as YOU really are.

After singing the song to the LORD I returned to reading.

1 Thessalonians 4:6 Message “Don’t run roughshod over the concerns of other believers. Their concerns are GOD’s concerns and HE will take care of them”

Some who have been on my heart and whose concerns seem so heavy came to mind and it was like GOD saying, “Sharon (you know GOD always calls us by name), those concerns are MY concerns and I am working on their behalf’.

They were such wonderful words, a balm for my aching heart comforting me, and so like our LORD the GOD of all comfort who comforts us in all of our difficulties so that we may comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Then the HOLY SPIRIT (John 14:26) reminded me of how GOD told me to pray for those same people many, many years ago as CHRIST HIMSELF prayed for Peter… that Peter’s faith would not fail but that when he turned back around that he would strengthen others (Luke 22:32).

The HOLY SPIRIT then reminded me of Hebrews 7:25 that JESUS can save us to the uttermost because HE ever lives to pray for us just as HE prayed for Peter that his faith wouldn’t fail and it didn’t.

Isn’t our LORD amazing in HIS gentle love and comfort?
Hugs
Sharon