Encouraging Words When Tragedy Strikes by Jaye Lewis

Hello friends,

Tornadoes don't happen in the mountains.  Ask anybody.  The weather in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, where I live, promises to be the safest on earth.  Our weather is tempered by the mountains we love, and though we are not as high as the Rockies, when tornadoes infrequently touch down, they are swiftly sent packing up the next slope, and into the sky.  That's the way it's always been until now.

It happened late at night, when the powerful tornadoes swept through Alabama, and five other states, my community, in southwest Virginia, was the only thing standing in their way.  One. Two. Three. Four tornadoes, raced past the Tennessee/Virginia border and into the small town of Glade Spring.  Then they hit Chilhowie, and barreled on.  But the greatest destruction remained in Glade Spring, along with a tragic loss of life.

It chills me to realize that we are talking about life and death.  Their community, just like ours.  Their homes, just like ours.  Their families, just like ours. Their hopes and dreams, shattered, just as ours would be.  Their grief was so palpable that it tore through my heart, as I realized it could have been me.  It could have been my house flattened, as we slumbered in our beds.  It could have been my family, and my husband gone.

"No man is an island, entire of itself," wrote the great Churchman and poet, John Donne, "every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main... any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

So, for those of us who fared well, who woke up the following morning and wondered who is going to mow my grass?  I hope we remember to thank God that is was not us.  I hope we remember well, that a powerful, uncontrollable natural disaster just may come our way, and if it does, I pray that all are living near a town, just like Glade Spring.

Before the night was over, the rescue sirens were blaring, and every volunteer was on his way.  That means half of three counties.  Betty Blevins was pulled from the wreckage by young hands who wrapped her in their shirts and jackets to keep her from going into shock.  While one stayed to comfort, the rest moved on to others and everyone, believe me, everyone showed up.

The next day, people took vacations to help with the clean-up, and it didn't take long, with hundreds of volunteers, to uncover what was left.  Nothing.  Nothing except prayers, tears, and a hand to hold.  FEMA refused aid, because the cleanup was so fast.  We couldn't possibly need help, because we had so many volunteers, and it was up to the Churches to move in and rebuild. Wow.  So the Churches have stepped in, as they always do, and local aid agencies of every scope, and when donations were requested, empty cupboards and pockets dug deeper still to find enough to share and to heal.

You see, it doesn't take much money to bind the wounds of a small town.  It doesn't make much press.  It merely takes a heart.  So, if in the future it is your life that is wounded, I pray that you are near a town like Glade Spring, as I am, where binding up wounds is not just what they do, but it is who they are.

Be My Rescue  by Jaye Lewis

Oh Lord, please be my rescue
Amidst the encircling gloom;
Be my Savior in the nighttime;
In the morning and at noon.

Lord, be with me at evening,
And at the break of day,
In terror and in safety,
Please Lord, show me the way.

Forgive me all my anger
At the injustice of a few,
When many share my sorrow,
May they too, Lord, be with You.

Please help me to remember
The blessings of Your grace,
And when I meet a stranger,
May I then, too, see Your face.

 I love You, Lord, I love You.
I'm not worthy of Your love;
As I ponder all my blessings,
I know they're surely from above.

Loving kindness from the Father!
Grace and blessings from the Son.
Peace and mercy from the Spirit;
Each is separate, yet One.

May He always be your rescue,
May His name be on your tongue.
May you know Him as your brother,
May He love you as a son.

Bless each and every person
Who calls upon Your name.

May You light and guide each pathway,
Banish all their fears away.

© Jaye Lewis, 2011

For those who read this message, I pray that it falls upon compassionate ears.  Please give what you can to the suffering.  Know that long after you read this, and the cable news has forgotten, that the suffering still goes on.  Dig down deep, I pray, for except by the grace of God, it might be you.

To those who are suffering, who have lost homes, loved ones, and yes, pets, please know that countless numbers of souls have stormed heaven with their prayers, reached deep into their pockets, and that you are not, precious ones, alone.

With love,

Jaye Lewis

www.entertainingangels.org

Encouraging Words for Giving God the Glory by Jaye Lewis

Hello friends,

It’ early-thirty on a Thursday morning, and I’m the only one awake.  I have my hot cup of coffee to chase the cobwebs from my brain, and my weenie dog snoozes on the bed beside me.  My world is pretty sweet right now.  I have only this blog to be responsible for – my lifeline to the world – and I am relearning skills that I haven’t done in twenty years.

God has given me these amazing gifts. He has brought about inventions that have made my life more comfortable and safe.  I have medications which keep me alive and full of gratitude for those who have allowed their minds to conceive of such wonders.  We all have wonderful minds, but do we use them in a way that glorifies the One who gave us this gift?  

Do we keep our minds free of evil thoughts?  Do we hate people we know nothing about?  Do we shame God with our thoughts about who should live or die?  Only God can decide such a thing, and to harbor thoughts of harm to another?  Well, from such things we should run away, and fill our minds with our love of Him.

That is why a continuous relationship with God is so necessary —  not just prayers repeated again and again.  A relationship is based upon love, affection, sharing one’s intimate thoughts, laughing at oneself, and looking out upon the beautiful world that He has given to us, and being grateful to Him.

Oh, how I love my time with God. Just God and me.  I love gazing at the mountains surrounding my home, and the beautiful smoky blue haze which surround them.  I love the sound and sight of the birds which I care for, even and especially in the wildest weather.  I love serving Him through them; and I love serving Him, through my sharing with you.

There is a sadness within me, however, especially as we approach the days of Christ's passion.  I am mindful that I am unworthy of His sacrifice, especially because of the many gifts and blessings that He has given to me.  Thursday of next week is Maundy Thursday, the day that commemorates the Last Supper of Christ, the night that He was betrayed.  Strangely enough, it is also my birthday.

In a garden that night, Christ took my sins upon Himself, along with the weight of the sins of the world, both yours and mine.  From the time that Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit to the end of the world, Christ carried our sins to the Cross, and we are all forgiven if we place our trust in Him.  Wow!

When Jesus cried out with His last breath, "It's finished!" His agony burst through time and eternity, and He bought back what the Devil had stolen in the Garden.  I have limited understanding, but I know that Heaven's gate is open wide, and one day I will live with Him.  Yet still I sin, as though I do not know any better.  I can assure you that I do.  So, every day I repent, with every prayer I say.  Father forgive me for I know too clearly what I do.

Oh Father Dear  by Jaye Lewis

Did You know, Oh Father dear, how painful it would be,

To see Your Son just hanging there, in all His agony?

Did You see ungrateful me running from that sound;

When Jesus groaned his final breath, with silence all around?

Did You know that it would take so long, for my knees to bend

In full surrender to Your love, and so transform my end?

Did You see me long ago, when I was but a child,

Longing for those tender arms from someone meek and mild?

Oh Father, did You see me, when first I knelt in prayer;

When first I felt Your presence and just knew You must be there?

Did You hide Your face in anguish, as I pounded in the nail?

Did You despise my presence when Your Son began to wail?

When I grabbed the whip and beat Him,

Did You hate my presence then?

Was it then that you forgave me, so I could begin again?

I was stubborn, Lord, I surely was, and often I resented!

Why did You seek this stubborn child, and make her so contented?

Oh Father, I can hear Your voice, sweetly calling me.

I long to run into Your arms and feel serenity.

Oh Father, I can feel His pain and every drop of blood,

Washing all my sins away in mercy’s cleansing flood.

To think that You allowed this, embracing every stroke

Of stone, and whip, and curse and lash, before I ever spoke!

It breaks my heart to know that I could cause his blessed face,

To break in utter agony, to save this human race.

So even though my sorrow seems too heavy now to bear,

It helps to know You’re with me here, and You’ll be with me there,

When last I breathe my final breath and see Your glorious smile,

I’ll thrill to hear Your loving words, “Come child and rest awhile.”

© Jaye Lewis, April 10, 2006

With love, and a blessed Passion week,

Jaye Lewis

www.entertainingangels.org

Encouraging Words for the Lonely

Hello friends,

Sometimes it feels like the darkness is closing in.  I know, I've been there.  Alone and friendless.  I've been there, too.  But the darkness can be beautiful, too, much as the picture above, where the bare loveliness of the tree branch breaks up the darkness with hope.

In the darkness of loneliness, I learned that God was very near.  I could reach out with my heart and know Him better, not in some superficial way, but in intimate fellowship, where warmth and hope abide.

Sometimes when depression weighs upon me, I often cry out.

"When?  When, oh Lord, will it end?  How long will I be kept in the dark?"

Then, sometimes as water seeps into the sand, slowly and fully, I will hear a voice in the darkness, telling me I'm not alone.  It is an intimate moment that would be eclipsed in a bright and busy world, where the cares of ones heart are often lost in the din.

Eventually, even for the very depressed or the very lonely, without warning, the mist of the dawn will break into the darkest night, and rosy sunshine will begin to burst upon the heart.  Wait for it and do something, read, sew, pray, and believe.  The dawn will break and the sky will once more be blue again.

Journey to Healing  by Jaye Lewis

Each night, I'd lay upon my bed...

The pillow cradling my head...

Then, wearily, I'd 'play my mind'

With all regrets, I'd left behind.

The day before, had left me pale...

The future, where I'd, surely, fail...

The times I could have done so much...

To reach a heart, with just a touch.

I saw each one, the great and small...

The loved ones I'd not loved at all...

The hopes and dreams of all the years...

I'd concentrate upon my fears...

I'd missed each moment that I could

Begin again, and done much good.

I'd see, each picture of my grief,

And 'time' would 'steal me' like a thief.

All the joy, within my soul...

The worship that could make me whole...

And, yet, a 'voice', so deep within...

The Light that shines, to heal my sin...

Calls me forward from the dark...

A small caress...a chance remark...

Remembered kindness from a friend...

Belief that this is not the end...

All, come at once, and I can feel,

That, surely, I've begun to heal!

I find a strength, I've never known,

Beyond myself, like 'coming home.'

I looked into my loved ones' eyes,

And I began to realize...

That through the dark and tortured climb,

God had been there, all the time!

© Jaye Lewis, 2003

The journey into depression is a dark and lonely place.  Devoid of feeling, even those of deep faith have felt hopeless, far from family and friends, and isolated from God.  The journey into healing is one that requires of family and friends, compassion, patience, and unconditional love.  I was one who had all the blessings.  To those who have not, I promise you that, even so, you are not alone!

With love,

Jaye Lewis

www.entertainingangels.org 

The Little Black Dog by Jaye Lewis

The Little Black Dog

A Child's Easter Story

The little black dog

By the side of the road,

Watched Him carry

His terrible load.

His tail hung sadly

Where it once was proud.

Who could have guessed

That he'd follow the crowd?

But, then, he'd followed

His Master so long,

Patient and loyal,

His love burning strong.

Just a little black dog,

With no home of his own,

Could not be persuaded

To leave Him alone.

Thirsty and hungry,

He waited to feed

As his Master fulfilled

Every follower's need.

Then the Master would pat

The dog on the head,

And together He'd share

His food and His bed.

Tomorrow the crowds

Would again gather near,

And the dog would raise

An inquisitive ear...

"Happy are those

Who bring peace to others."

"Happy are they

Who treat all men as brothers."

As the Master preached,

He taught them to love;

Then He told them this mystery:

He'd come from above!

This brought accusations;

Some accused Him of fraud;

But the little black dog

Knew He was God.

With love in his eyes

And a faithful heart,

The little black dog

Would never depart.

So, he followed his Master

From place to place,

Always intent on

His wonderful face.

The little black dog,

In a garden one night.

Witnessed in awe,

A terrible sight.

Great drops of blood

Rolled down the kind face.

Never sleeping nor moving

The dog watched in place.

How he wanted to lick

The sweat from His brow,

And give Him some comfort

But didn't know how.

So, he watched and he waited

Patient and still;

And now he was following

Up a great hill.

Not a whine, nor a whimper,

Just a sad pair of eyes,

As he witnessed the pain,

That could not be disguised.

Beneath the Cross On Calvary’s hill,

The little dog watched, submitting his will.

His ears perked up

As he heard a voice.

'Twas the Master,

But, oh, he couldn't rejoice!

"It's finished! Into Thy Hands, My Father!" He cried.

Then the little black dog

Laid down and died.

It was over for him.

His journey was through.

But, he left a message

For me and you.

Follow the Master.

Be faithful and true;

For the Master will always

Be faithful to you.

© Jaye Lewis, 1985

Hello friends: This little poem was written during one of the lowest points in my life. The particulars, now, really don't matter, but I do remember it well. I sat on the floor, sobbing, and I poured my heart out to a God, whom I doubted. My faith had been stripped from me, and I couldn't believe that God really loved me.

Out of my sobs, and my fears, and from a child's heart, this poem was born. I wrote it on a scrap of paper with a dull pencil. In spite of my doubts, and my fear that my doubts just might be truth, a little girl's faith, from long ago, burst forth.

This poem is incomplete, much as my faith was at the time of my writing. I hoped, but I didn't know if I believed. I no longer had the faith of a child. So, to you parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents, or just to the child, still alive within you....

You finish the story. Tell your children about what happens next. Christ died. He was placed in a tomb, and in three days, He arose from the dead, by His own power. Tell them. Tell yourself. Even if you doubt. Christ is alive. He's alive! HE'S ALIVE!!!

I know this is true, not by my own knowledge, but by the grace of God. I asked that day for my child's faith to be restored. My journey was long, and the road often crooked, but God made my path straight before me. He followed me, until I had the strength to follow Him.

The dog in the picture is my own Happy Dog. He has been by my side for thirteen years. His muzzle is gray, and his eyes are dim, but his faithfulness never wavers. He has taught me more about God, than a thousand sermons, and he has taught me more about myself than I could have ever imagined. Happy Dog is the perfect illustration of the little black dog. In spite of my doubts on the day that I sat on the floor sobbing; in spite of my faint and wobbly walk; God placed in my heart that child's faith that I had lost.

I believe.

With love,

Jaye Lewis

www.entertainingangels.org

Encouraging Words in Times of Trouble by Jaye Lewis

Hello friends,

It is difficult to look at our world, in these later days without a sense of apprehension, fear, and sorrow, even when our personal lives are filled with comfort and peace. We are, after all, brothers and sisters on this earth. Apart from God and His grace, we are all we have. When tragedy strikes others, no matter where, we all feel it. We are the human race, and in spite of catastrophic events, I believe that God is with each of us every step of the way.

I have experienced hunger, beatings, abandonment, and the betrayal of family and false friends, but God has gotten me through. He rescued me, and He has given me a good life, with a kind and loving husband, with two devoted daughters, and the home I never thought that I'd ever have. On the other hand, I have been to God, a false friend who blamed Him for every sorrow. I have abandoned Him, and I have spit in His face, more than once. But through all of that, He has loved me, kept me safe, always been here for me, and my one true friend.

God does not demand perfection, because, well, we're just not perfect. Not even close. He wants nothing from us except our love. Our prayers are the music of His heart. Our obedience is a sweet treasure to Him. When we reach out, He is already there, the perfect Father, the warm arms that hold us close. I have felt those arms encircle me, and I have felt His love filling me. And that, my friends, is what keeps me going back, no matter how far I stray.

He is the peace, in the midst of turmoil, and He is our victory within our defeat. Oh, please, no matter your trouble or sorrow, do not give up on Him, for He will carry you through. I pray for His presence in every aspect of your life. I pray that you will expect Him to be there, and that you will ask Him to give you the victory over your troubles.

Oh please, do not give up. Do not believe that you are alone. For He is closer than your own heartbeat. He has said that He will never forget you, even should your mother forget you. He says, that we are carved on the palms of his hands.

I have walked the weary road of life, with misfortunes every step of the way. I have sought the wisdom of the world, and I have found none. I have sought peace from within and without, and I have found nothing. With every beat of my heart I have searched for meaning in my life, and I have come up empty. The only peace, and wisdom, and meaning in my life, I have found on my knees, at the foot of the Cross of Jesus.

It is true that there are other doctrines, and other faiths, but I cannot speak for them. I can only speak the truth of my own life, my own journey, and it is at the foot of the Cross that my life began to change. Christ is my way. He is my truth. He is my light and my life. And He is my victory.

The Eye of the Storm

Words and Music by Jaye Lewis

Keep me, oh Lord, in the eye of the storm,

Where my heart can beat without fear.

In the silence so deep;

In the warmth of Your love;

I know that Your presence is near.

For though it is dark, and the silence so still,

Your Light still illumines the place.

You are with me, oh Lord;

You surround me with hope;

In the dark I can still see Your face.

In the eye of the storm,

I can hear with my heart;

The beautiful tones of Your voice;

And though I may dread,

The destruction I hear,

In my soul, I still can rejoice.

They surround me, oh Lord, with their visions of hate;

I can see that they've singled out me!

With my hand tucked in yours;

And my hope in Your love,

I know that I truly am free!

So, I wait on the storm, with a joy in my heart,

A gift that I know comes from You.

So, how can I fear? I am safe in Your arms!

In the eye of the storm, You are here!

© Jaye Lewis, 1999

www.entertainingangels.org

Thank You for the Sunset by Jaye Lewis

Hello friends,

Every once and awhile, I share a poem with you, that I have written. I would like to share more, because each poem illustrates my relationship with God. He is our Father, after all, and He listens to our prayers. While He doesn't grant our every wish, He loves our prayers. He loves to hear from us, because the desires of our hearts are music to God's ears.

Thank You for the Sunset by Jaye Lewis

Thank You, God, for the sunset

And for the end of day;

When the rosy sky above me

Simply takes my breath away.

Thank You for the mountains

Which fill my every view;

Reminding me of the joy I feel,

When I spend the day with You.

Thank You, God, for the grace You give

Which fills me with delight;

From the early morning sunrise,

And through the darkest night.

Forgive me, Lord, for my faithless heart,

When my soul is filled with grief,

When my body simply fails me

And I pray for swift relief.

It’s hard to face the daylight,

When a soul is wracked with pain.

Yet I cannot resist Your love

So I return again.

Lord, I am blessed with children

And a husband filled with grace.

I can see the love they feel for me,

When I look upon each face.

I wonder why the loneliness

As I struggle through each day?

I pray that You will come to me

And take my pain away.

These are the questions that I have

As I talk to You within;

Yet I am grateful for Your love

Which forgives my every sin.

I pray for those who read this,

For I know their struggle too.

May they be blessed with sweet desire

To spend the day with You.

© Jaye Lewis, February 2010

With love,

Jaye Lewis

www.entertainingangels.org

Doxie of My Heart by Jaye Lewis

Good-night sweet prince, my little man;

With muzzle now so gray;

I see you racing down the hill

Just like a pup at play.

With every leap your faithful heart

Fills mine with terrible fear.

I know the days are growing short,

And soon you’ll not be here.

You are my little troubadour.

You are my shining knight.

Ferociously you keep your watch

Just aching for a fight.

More than rubies is your worth,

More than silver or gold.

I wouldn’t trade the world for you,

So brave you are, and bold.

Ah, sweet prince, I love you so,

I doubt I can live without you.

When your heart forgets to beat,

I’ll tell stories all about you.

Yet, I’ll go on without your love,

So funny and so wise.

The sweet devotion in your heart,

Shines deep within your eyes.

Has it really been so long,

Since we first fell in love?

A tiny puppy in my hand

Was sent by God above?

I sob my grief before its time

I cannot let you go.

I raise my voice to heaven and ask

Why this must be so.

Good night sweet prince, my little lord,

Doxie of my heart.

I’ll treasure every day with you,

Until we two must part.

© Jaye Lewis, May 1, 2010

Happy Thirteenth Birthday Happy Dog, My Sweet and Loving Prince!!

Who Knows? By Jaye Lewis

Hello Friends,

This is a subject that has long been on my heart. It has lain heavy, like a great heartache. Who knows the condition of our pet's souls? From those who believe that we all merely melt into the ground, with no hope of any afterlife, to those who believe we can kill a chicken and find wisdom, to those Christian theologians who profess to know the mind of God -- all profess to know the condition of an animal's soul.

I have often said that someone who abuses an animal is just as likely to abuse a human being. The study of human psychology, or abnormal human psychology, has proven it to be the case. However, this is not an intellectual treatise. This is from the heart of a woman who believes the words of Jesus when He gave His sermon about worry.

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" Matthew 6:26 KJV

"Therefore do not worry...." Matthew 6:31 KJV

Jesus has given us a perfect example of our worth, compared to the value that our Father in Heaven places upon these little creatures. The significant phrase is "more value than." We have more value in God's eyes, than the value of His precious creatures whom He feeds. God feeds these wonderful creatures, because they have value to Him. He loves them.

Jesus tells us in another part of Matthew, just how precious are these small creatures.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will...Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29, 31

A copper coin was not worth very much in Bible times. Yet Jesus was not telling us to have contempt for the little birds. He was holding them up as an example of how precious we are to God. We have value to Him. He loves us.

Let's take a look at that Scripture with today's yardstick. In America, a copper coin would be a penny, which is worth very little. So, perhaps we could say we are worth many pennies. Doesn't make us seem worth very much does it? But that's not what Christ was saying. He was saying that our Father in Heaven has placed great value upon us, though I sometimes wonder why. He was saying to our stubborn, hardened hearts that God loves us, and His love is worth everything.

It's not about us. It's about God. He holds the yardstick, not us. We are not to place value upon ourselves. He is the one who places the value. We are to be as humble as the smallest sparrow who comes to my back deck to feed.

My point is that animals are precious, especially our pets. They are not only precious to us, but they are precious to God, and I don't see why that is not crystal clear. I have heard more than one preacher extol on the worthlessness of animals, citing one of the most misunderstood passages in Scripture.

"Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?" Ecclesiastes 3:21

That is the single line in Scripture that a Christian preacher will seize upon to teach a doctrine that the Bible doesn't even speak about: the false doctrine of animals without souls. It infuriates me. It makes me angry because that is NOT what that Scripture says. Look at the end of that sentence. There is no period. There is no exclamation point. There is a question mark. And the first two words hold the key. "Who knows...?"

Who knows? You? Me? Them? No. That is why we must not take Scripture out of context. Read the entire passage. Shoot! Read at least a paragraph. How did a question turn into a statement? I don't know, and it makes me heartsick. I am no theologian. I make no claim to be. However, where the Word of God is concerned, I tread lightly. We must not pretend to know it all. We know little, especially when we try to understand the heart and mind of God.

On a very human level, however, I am certain that we have been given these close relationships with God's creatures, who were created before us, so that we might learn from them. They teach us a lot about ourselves. And according to the Son of God, they teach us a lot about God.

Who knows? Only God knows. We can only hope to try.

With love,

Jaye Lewis

www.entertainingangels.org

A Good Seed by Jaye Lewis

Hello friends,

When Edmund Branch arrived in China, in 1899, he had such high hopes. The young missionary had dreams of converting all of China to Christianity. Edmond spent twenty years learning the many different dialects of the people, and he gave thousands of sermons. He was well known, and loved, by everyone who knew him.

When "Fa-dil," as the Reverend Father was known, arrived in a town, the whole village turned out, and they shared with him, all that they had. Edmund was often reminded of the "Widow's Mite," the parable that Jesus spoke of, where the rich came to the Temple and offered great wealth, asking for God's favor. Then a widow came and gave a paltry sum, but Jesus said that she gave the greatest gift, because she gave "all that she had." So, were the Chinese people to Father Edmund Branch. They gave him all they had.

In spite of his popularity throughout the villages, Edmund was despondent. In the twenty years that he spent, preaching in China, he had only one convert, a young boy of humble birth. He became Fa-dil's assistant, lighting candles on the altar of the primitive church, and serving as his altar boy. In that time the young man got married, and his wife converted, but no one else converted to Father's faith. They remained Buddhist. Finally Father "Fa-dil" gave up, in despair, and he returned home. He was a failure, and everyone knew it.

For forty-five more years Edmund served in obscure parishes, this humble missionary, who served God without a single convert. Finally, at the age of eighty-five, Edmond retired from the active priesthood. However, he couldn't resist one last trip to China, and to the village where he had baptized that one young boy. Fa-dil stepped out of the Twentieth Century automobile

and into the era of yesterday, when he had first placed his foot on the soil that was China. He had wired ahead, the time of his arrival.

An old man stepped forward to meet him, bowing with respect, and smiling broadly. Then he ran to embrace the Father, his beloved Fa-dil. Tears rolled down Edmund's face, as he embraced his only convert. Soon the entire village emptied out of the huts, and they all lined up to kiss Fa-dil's hand.

"Fa-dil," said the Chinese elder, "will you baptize my family?" For they had all become Christians, because of their saintly grandfather, who had taught them the Gospel.

"Certainly, I will!" Edmund smiled, thinking ironically, that he'd finally made a couple more converts.

"Where is your family?" Edmund asked, puzzled?

In halting, yet very good English, the, now, much older convert of Edmund, grinned his answer.

"Here they are!" He cried.

His arm swept to include all the smiling faces, who waited to kiss Edmund's hand. Hundreds were lined up, maybe a thousand people, lined up to kiss Edmund's hand and request Baptism. Every person baptized in the following days were all the descendants of the young boy whom Edmund had baptized. You see, Edmund had not been a failure after all. He had merely planted a good seed, and just as Jesus said, he had reaped a thousand-fold.

To the end of his days, Edmund never forgot the day he baptized nearly a thousand people. He cherished the lesson that he had learned. Success is not measured in the amount of the harvest, but in the depth that one sows a good seed.

With love,

Jaye Lewis

www.entertainingangels.org

Encouraging Words: Growing Old With Humility by Jaye Lewis

Hello friends,

It is difficult for me to choose which Book in the Old Testament that I most closely identify with. The Old Testament has taught me many things about God, the Bible, and myself. No Old Testament figure has had more of an influence on my life than David. Hero he may have been, and hero he may remain, but David's heart belonged to God. It was before God that David knelt, not in pride, but with humility.

"This poor man cried out," David acknowledged speaking of himself, "and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." Psalm 34:6.

David knew who he was. He was no wimp, as we would say today; yet he knew that every victory he ever had, whether against another, or against his own human failings, God was his victory.

I first read about David at the age of twelve. The Bible was forbidden to me, yet I disobeyed and I read it in secret. I must admit that I had backing from my mother. I'll always be thankful for her encouragement.

I was raised in the old Catholic Church, where personal reading of the Bible was forbidden. The Pope was called the vicar of Christ on earth, and the priest represented Christ to us in our own Parishes. Much of the Catholic Church in my childhood, actually stood in the way of a personal relationship with God. David, on the other hand was a shining example of a man whose relationship was so personal, that he willingly and humbly opened himself before God, fully expecting wrath, yet gaining God's mercy and His love.

That is where I want to live my life with God, personal, exposed in His sight, admitting of my sins, and repenting from them. I want to throw myself upon His mercy, knowing that I don't deserve it and cannot earn it.

David danced before God. He celebrated Him in his life, in spite of his sinful ways. David hated his own sin. Once he realized that He hurt God, and hurt Him he did, David humbly repented and begged for forgiveness. Because of this, God not only called David friend, but He called him His beloved. That is what the name David means, "beloved."

This is the relationship I desire to have with God. I try to live my life with humility, and often, I fail. I try to be brave in the face of tragedy, and boy, I really fail at that. But I try, and sometimes, by the grace of God, I am victorious, and when I am, I praise His name.

I know that someone reading this might be confused as to what I mean. I'm so sorry. How difficult it is for me to express what all this means to me. I can only confess that God is as real as my heart beat, which I can feel but cannot see. He is more powerful than a strike of lightning, which can be seen, but little understood.

There are so many things in nature that are as mysterious as faith in God. For instance, gravity is one of the weakest forces in nature, yet it keeps the planets from colliding, and from throwing ourselves into the sun. Why? Science can teach us many things, but only with limitation. Science can tell us how the sky is blue, but they cannot tell us why. There are so many diseases that once were deadly, yet in our understanding of nature which surrounds us, there has been found a cure.

Really? You might say. Name one medicine that has given us a cure which has changed the world, you might demand. Okay. Penicillin. Penicillin changed the world. Where did it come from? Mold. Even when I was a girl, penicillin was so powerful against infection, that one shot was enough to cure you. Now we have so many derivatives, such as Augmentin and Amoxillin, which are made in a laboratory. Science can discover but it cannot create. Science can only imitate that which God has done.

There are so many miracles that God has done, within my own life, which fill me with wonder and humility. Praise His name. In my blog I have enumerated so many of these events. If Science would only consider that there is a God, and that they need Him, what wonders and medical cures could be brought about. If Science would have humility and acknowledge God, many secrets in nature might be understood.

Humility before God is not something that comes easy to me. I like to whine and complain first. I even manage to blame God for many troubles that I have brought about myself. I am a messy, clumsy child of God. I often wonder if He rolls His eyes at me. And, why am I still here? That question I cannot answer I cannot find, but I enjoy every moment that I spend with Him, and loving Him makes my heart smile. He is my first love, and whether I am going to like tomorrow or not, I pray that I will accept it with humility.

The Touch of His Hand by Jaye Lewis

I have been to the top of a mountain

Where the air is crisp and clean.

I have seen the Gulf meet the ocean

In a tempest of blue and green.

I have heard the deepest silence

In the eye of the hurricane;

Yet, in the storm that raged within me,

I found the sweetest Name.

The Name that created the heavens,

And rules them to this day;

The Name that rules, within my heart

Can never be stolen away.

Where ocean greets the gulf stream;

Where shore meets the sunlit sand;

Where mountain meets the heavens;

I can see the touch of His hand.

In awe I seek the distance,

Where galaxies collide;

This God of minute detail,

From Him I cannot hide.

He follows my every footstep.

He's sought me all my days.

He's taken residence in my heart

And teaches me all His ways.

I do not learn that easy.

I struggle as David did.

Yet, He sought me in my darkest place,

Where I thought that I was hid.

And, still, He seeks the corners

Of the soul that is burdened with sin;

He pierces all the secrets,

And spreads His Light within.

Go to Him! Wait no longer!

He desires to save your soul.

Go, now, to your Savior, Jesus!

His Love will make you whole!

And if you already know Him,

Hold Him close within your heart.

Be a guiding light to others

And His love will not depart.

© Jaye Lewis, 1999

With love,

Jaye Lewis

www.entertainingangels.org

Growing Old With Diabetes by Jaye Lewis

Hello friends,

It's hard to believe that we're into a new year. I hope that this finds you all well. No, I mean it. Being well does not mean that all sickness is gone and you're ready to hit the snowy slopes. If that is true, than I congratulate you, but to me, being well is a state of mind. Being well means I WILL NOT GIVE UP!!

Having diabetes can mean a lot of depression, especially after the holidays, because during the holidays, we usually gain weight. Here we are, another year older and not much wiser. Diabetes is a diabolical illness. It is a tenuous balance between weight-gain and weight loss. It is especially difficult to lose weight since the loss of a single pound can send your blood glucose levels spiraling downward. Exercise, along with diet, can mean ups and downs that boggle the imagination. I've been doing both, and it is very slow, since a little too much, along with not enough testing could send my blood glucose suddenly down into hypoglycemia and shock. So I'm being careful.

I test about six times a day. I've had doctors who have denied prescriptions for more than three times a day testing. If you have one of those doctors, send them packing. No one should have the right to play God with your life. I'm a great patient, as long as I have a good doctor. I've fired more than one doctor, and I've told off a few others. It's important that you have a doctor who makes you feel confident and cared for. The bottom line, however, is this: you are the only person who cares most about you. You must be your own physician. You must know more and care more for your own body than any doctor you will ever have.

The irony of all this is that when you do take care of yourself, and you must, often the doctor finds you less appealing. Have you ever had a doctor who said, "I have to get off the phone! I have sick people to care for?!" Ah yes, I have had that doctor, more than once.

One of the problems with growing old with diabetes, are the other diseases that also attack your body. It feels, sometimes, as though I'm falling apart bit by bit. Like an automobile, first a fender falls off, then the steering wheel, then the side mirror, then the tires, then the motor... Well, you know. I also have asthma, trigeminal neuralgia, arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetic neuropathy, heart arrhythmia due to my medications, and so forth. You, also, have a host of medical conditions, and the whole package can cause depression and a desire to give up.

I have had friends who gave up. A friend of mine periodically would decide, today I do not have diabetes. Then she would stop her medication, head to the pancake house, and she would order everything on their menu. She would then proceed to eat her way into the emergency room of the hospital. She hurt her friends, her husband, her children, and she hurt herself.

Another friend would simply take the day off from diabetes, stop her medication and head to the bakery or a restaurant and eat whatever was chocolate and available. Why they did this, I never understood. For them it was a way to take control, but they held hostage everyone in their family. We do not have that right. Going off of our medications and deliberately eating everything in sight is NOT taking control. It is letting the disease take control of us. My family is worth more than that. Any sacrifice, any struggle is worth the effort, for myself and for them. We must put our health, and the love of our families, before our selfish desires.

My friends, if I seem as though I'm preaching, I hope that you will forgive me. If I am preaching, it is only to myself. I have been selfish. I have worried my family. And the worst of all things has happened in my life, giving me a frightening wake-up call. My precious husband, the love of my life, has had a heart attack, and he almost died. Praise God, he survived through life changing surgery. Immediately the whole family went on his diet.

Because of this near tragedy, I am eating better than I have in a long, long time. Slowly, I am backing down on my insulin. Slowly, I am taking baby steps with exercise, all the while realizing that every step forward requires an adjustment in my thinking and an adjustment in my medications. It's not easy, but very slowly, I am losing weight, and I am feeling encouraged. I have gone from I can take control to Please God, take control of my life!

So, this new year, I have not, nor am I making new years resolutions, dooming myself to failure. I am reevaluating my life and my choices, and choosing to be all that I can be, through the grace of God, for Him, for my family and for myself. So help me God!

Heavenly Father, I know that there is for me, and each of us, a time when we must say good-by to this world, and enter the eternities. However, for today and tomorrow, I pray that you will grant me the time to glorify you with my life until You come for me, to take me home. I love You, Lord. You know that, because you can see my heart. I have been lazy. I have been willful. And, worst of all, I had given up. Please Lord, light my path, and make it straight before me, as only You can.

With love,

Jaye Lewis

www.entertainingangels.org