Sunday Words of Encoragement July 26, 2015

We attended a funeral yesterday morning for a dear brother in the Lord. He died a week short of his 97th birthday. We only knew him for the past ten years that we have been at out church. He made a big impression as a simple man who loved God and never missed an opportunity to share Jesus. He and his wife, who is only a year or so younger, have been faithful prayer warriors. She has been suffering from Alzheimer's the past couple of years and only comes to church sporadically now.

Brother Roy’s family shared several lovely stories of his past and his influence on children and grandchildren. Pastor read a poem that Brother Roy carried with him in WWII. I could not find it on the internet so it may have been a private poem. It was very striking. It started by asking for protection and stated along the lines: “do not allow any bomb to burst, unless my God assigns it first.” I will have to ask for a copy.

Pastor also shared bits of wisdom written in the margins of Brother Roy’s Bibles. One was: “Before you shoot your mouth off, make sure your brain is loaded.” Another was “Any man who thinks by an inch and talks by a mile, needs to be kicked by a foot.”

This beautiful song, which I had never heard, was song live.
Celebrate Me Home.

Verses for today:
Psalm 116: (NIV)
7 Return to your rest, my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you.
8 For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,
9 that I may walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.

Lord, I thank you that I had the chance to know Brother Roy here in this world. My DH always joked that they would "ride the elevator together". Although that didn’t happen, I hope he tells you that DH and I are 'on our way'. We look forward to seeing our family and friends – and You, when You bring us home.