Another Life leaves this world...

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Mom, my own heart stopped for a few seconds and the tears fell unashamedly when I heard you were gone.

Never more will I catch a glimpse of your mischievous smile or the ornery twinkle in your eyes.

Never more will I sip a cup of coffee over trivial chatter or "go out" to lunch after shopping.

Never more will I watch you carefully choosing your fresh baby spinach at the Farmer's Market and bartering for the best price.

Never more will I read a favorite recipe hurriedly written in your tight little script.

Never more will I watch you fix a meal, and oh, how you loved to feed us.

Never more will I walk with you in the yard, checking out your newly planted spring flowers.

I will forever hold those precious memories in my heart!

I know your body was tired Mom, but I miss your spirit already!

Your daughter (in law),

Pam

http://www.legacy.com/TheSouthern/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=106274040

We're Back from Pigeon Forge...

This first photo was taken about 30 minutes before service time. We had to get there early to get good seats. We like to sit close to the front. Eight of us and Anna Rose our newest baby went this year. I rented a 15-passenger van... we had plenty of room to spread out and we took the back seat out so we had plenty of room to stack our luggage and snacks for our room. I had made reservations in January and we were able to get adjoining rooms. That was nice because we didn't have to run back and forth in the halls to get to our rooms. We really enjoyed our time together. Of course, we did learn who snores, who grinds their teeth and who takes the longest showers on earth! LOL

Sis Cindy Miller aimed straight for the heart matter of living for God. It was excellent. She's a great teacher and teaches from the Word! I truly enjoyed her. I had read her books but had never heard her speak.

Nap time for Anna Rose and Sis Margaret.

This is what you could call a "hair fixing" production line. I thought it was cute. It was an effort to save time and trying to get everyone ready at the same time. LOL It worked!

Amanda - Results of work.

Ashley, "lookin' good."

As you can see we did have a GREAT time! God was good and even though it started snowing... we stayed for the Saturday morning session and by the time we got on I-40 and I-75 the snow had pretty well let up. We had a safe trip there and home! God is good and we're already looking forward to next year.

Tennessee Ladies Conference 2008!!!

Once again it's almost time for our annual trek to Pigeon Forge, TN for our Tennessee Ladies Conference.  This year our main speaker is Sister Cindy Miller and Sister Carla DePriest will also be speaking.  I'm looking forward to another GREAT year.

This is such an enjoyable time of bonding for our ladies.  I truly enjoy the time I spend with them in such "close" quarters.   :)   We discover our similarities and our differences  very quickly  LOL! 

We each always come away with something just for us and also

for us as a "body" that is actively trying to live like JESUS would desire! 

Having some fun... I don't think she thought I'd really take it.

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There is POWER in PRAYER and FASTING...

"A lot of water has gone under the bridge" since I last posted.  Let's see, where should I begin?

GOD is GREAT and GREATLY to be PRAISED!  I had been diagnosed with Bladder Carcinoma back in 2002.  Had some minor surgery since the CA was barely in the T1 stage.  Which meant the cancer cells were only on the surface and could be scrapped and fulgurated (cauterized).  This was done and I had to have  cysto exam follow-ups every 3-months for 2-years and then every 6-months.  I was just getting to the 1-year follow-up exams when another spot appeared.  The specialist I was seeing at that time changed hospitals and no longer had privileges at the hospital my husband works at.  I had to change physicians in order for our insurance to cover more of the cost!!!  As it turns out... I'm glad I did!  The above Urologist/surgeon had done a biopsy in his office and it came back from the pathologist as CIS or Cancer Insitu!  This was NOT good news!  Bladder cancer spreads very quickly if not caught in time and that is why the frequent cysto exams once diagnosed.

I prayed about another physician, I didn't want to change, but knew I had too!       :(    I had asked my husband to check around with some of the nurses where he worked and find out who they thought were good physicians/surgeons in this field of medicine.  Finally, I had one to call.  He saw me within a week and I was scheduled for the Surgery/Biopsies within another week.  I was scheduled for surgery on January 24th at 7:30am. 

The surgeon wanted to do several biopsies at different locations from my bladder. He warned me of the possibility of a total Cystectomy.    In the mean time, once Bud knew that I was going to have surgery with the possibility of a Cystectomy,  he started a fast without a definite ending date.  He ended up fasting 11-days. 

Now for the GOOD NEWS... after prayer and fasting... there was NO CANCER INSITU and while there were cancer cells present... they were like "lint" on the surface of the bladder... the surgeon did some major fulguration and I'm supposed to have the same thing done again at the end of April.  This was done on an "inpatient/same day" surgery with the possibility (depending on what they found) that I could be "admitted". 

Through all this... after the initial prognosis,  I found a PEACE in the middle of the storm and the fear and worry of the unknown left me. 

All this occurred during our 30-days of prayer!  What a blessing for me! 

I haven't questioned God with "WHY ME"... that isn't important.  We are all on this earth and exposed to many different diseases.  I'm not any better or less than anyone else.  Do I want to live?  Of course, I want to see my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren grow up.  No, I don't want death to come to me before my parents... I don't want them to go through that at their age... I'm an only child.  My death would be devastating to them.  Am I fearful of death?  NO... it would take me to my Heavenly home with Jesus!

Once you've been exposed to the horrid word, "cancer" life is never the same.  Each day is a realization of the Newness of Life and each day is of the greatest importance. 

I have rambled enough... perhaps I've not expressed this as I'd like... but I want to give my God all the PRAISE, GLORY and HONOR He deserves!  God is good all the time... Good and Bad times!  He is there all the time!

Who Knows about...???

I am concerned!

This morning on my way home from the hospital where I had an appointment for some pre-op testing for some exploratory surgery I will be subjecting myself to next week. :( I had tuned the radio in to listen to Chuck Swindoll's radio program... I was appalled, disappointed, and concerned about what I heard.

Dr. Swindoll was talking about a Jay Leno show he had watched where the comedian was talking about "The Week of the Bible". He proceeded to ask different ones (simple) Bible questions, and the answerers amazed me! I know that I've been raised with Sunday School and by parents who were teaching be Biblical truth... but the answers to these questions...

• Did Adam and Eve have any children? (NO)
• What happened to Lot's wife? (who was Lot? She turned into an Angel)
• Who was swallowed by a whale? and they gave a hint... Jooo... (Joe Dimaggio (sp?), and some other name. One said... A whale???? )
• What were the names of the two cities destroyed, one being Sodom? (Sadam Hussein...)
• How many commandments were given to Moses? (5, 20, I remember the one I think about not coveting your neighbors wife...)

We don't realize that the Generation-X and the upcoming generation of little ones... don't have a clue about God. I remember when we were living in Illinois and some of the Youth went into the inner city of Chicago to do Outreach and they were overwhelmed at the youth who didn't know who JESUS was. To them the word JESUS was just a curse word.

I wonder what we are heading for. These are tempestuous times and I am so concerned for our youth. They have lost all connection to the Bible and God and to them when the question on the street was asked, "Who is Jesus?" They didn't know or they said he was a man years ago who started a cult, or he thought he was God, but they don't think he was.

We really need to pray for this generation and their salvation. It's open for all... but belief is a must. What do we do if they don't believe? They are so hungry for "something" and they don't know what. The devil is trying to deceive and devour... are we going to let him take these precious ones? Oh yes, I know... ultimately it is up to the individual... but we must be willing to tell them!

I'm home from work and supposed to be studying for my insurance exam Saturday... but I just had to express this while it was on my mind. I'm wondering, just what does this generation believe!

Outreach is Reaching out... we have to try even if they push us away! We have to give them the chance to believe!

Three Strands

 Three Strands 

"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken" ~ Ecclesiastes 4:12

Have you heard the old saying... "There is strength in numbers", or the "more the merrier?" I could go on and on with different quotes on the benefits of a group of people with the same purpose at heart. The Church is a place where people of the same beliefs meet together and become unified with one purpose.

Many groups meet for "causes" and often after the reason for their cause is accomplished they disband and may never meet each other again. The Church isn't like that. We are bound together through our Savior, Jesus the Christ! The Messiah! We are strengthened by our "togetherness" and we encourage each other to "walk on", keeping the faith!

We all need each other! Oh sure, we each go our own way after the church services...but as we go about our daily routines we know there are others out there who are doing the same thing. And that should we need them...they're there for us! Sometimes even more so than our immediate family.

We become more than just "acquainted" with each other. We begin to learn each others personalities, quirks, likes and dislikes. Isn't it wonderful that God puts so many different kinds of people together that probably wouldn't have ever become friends if it were not for Him? I'm so thankful He does that! I would have missed meeting some wonderful people throughout my lifetime simply because there may have been something I initially didn't like about them or we were so different (I thought! That first impression thing.) that we wouldn’t even have tried to pursue a relationship. What I would have missed!!! There truly is power and strength in numbers...

One Heart, One Mind, One Soul, One Purpose, bound together with cords that cannot be broken, bound together with love, His love, a love that reaches beyond all boundaries!

Love truly conquerors ALL!

My Prayer: O God, you are my dearest friend. Thank you for my church family. Thank you for the strength and encouragement they provide. Help me to be the same for them. In Jesus' Name

Originally published by P K Childers on 4/28/2005 for injesus.com Heart2Heart Women's Ministries © 2005 Pamla K Childers

2008

 

 It's here...2008           Are we ready?

I believe this will be a year filled with many changes in this world and even in our individual lives.

We'll soon be going through a Presidential transition that will mean many changes for all of us.  There are serious situations, politically, and otherwise, bubbling and boiling in our nation and in the WORLD at large... that we really don't know what to expect. 

All I know... I must be READY!  I must STAY READY!  I must be on GUARD and ALERT day and night.  I don't want to be subtly wooed into the mold of this world's thought patterns and trends.  I want to adhere to the WORD of GOD and be found acceptable in His sight.  Not one of us knows the day nor the hour that we will meet our creator!  We'll all (most likely) meet that moment at different times.  It would be wonderful to RISE to meet HIM as a Body... but I know I just want to be READY whenever that time reaches for me.  I don't want to be found complacently drowsy, lukewarm, or heaven forbid ASLEEP! 

There's so many things I want to see take place and want to be here for... things I'm believing God for.  But His WILL is all important to me and if my time is shortened on this earth...then so be it.  He knows why and I won't question God.

Our blessed HOPE...His soon appearing.

How GREAT is our GOD... How GREAT is His NAME...He's the GREATEST ONE, and forever the same.  (Oh yes) He rolled back the waters of the mighty Red Sea, and He said (a promise) I'll never leave you, so just put your TRUST in me.

What a beautifully true old chorus that is!  GOD is great and greatly to be PRAISED!

Have a blessed NEW YEAR with JESUS!