Friday, December 16, 2016

No disappointments

Sixty-seven years ago tonight, in Minneapolis, Minnesota a blizzard was raging outside the church where Dr. O.E. Sanden, Professor of Science at my school offered me his arm. We walked down the aisle to meet my smiling, handsome groom. Together  Ted Stone and I committed to a lifetime of following the Lord.

Yesterday was my 88th birthday. Calls, Emails, texts and cards came from Indonesia, up and down the East Coast, down to a jungle in Belize, a dozen people in a half dozen states, many Californians, Oregonians and the Hawaiian Islands. You have encouraged my heart. Thank you. My last call was from son Jeff.  I said to him: "Son, I cannot even imagine not being married to your dad in Heaven." "Mom, there won't be any disappointments in Heaven.". Beautiful words. Wonderful words. Wonderful words of life!

Last Sunday, the fog had closed in all around my home. It was a perfect afternoon to hunker down and watch a no-brainer movie, but  I was scheduled to play at the foot of our mountain at Triassic Winery.It's beautiful. My son Doug built it. The owner is a Christian. He loves my music. I can share Christ and play anything I want to play. The Grand piano is one of the grandest I have ever played. It's a Cadillac. I have played many a Model T and many models of organs, keyboards and pianos in between..

Dee was the second baby born in our first pastorate in Bakersfield, California. Then, Fruitvale Community Church was small. It grew quickly as the Word of God took root. Today RiverLakes Community Church covers a city block and continues to reach a lost world. Last Saturday morning our beautiful Dee spoke for the Women's Fellowship outreach Christmas brunch. She brought a clear, powerful heart-felt Gospel message. I am so proud of her. Yesterday, after lunch at her home near the top of our mountain Dee, Madi Jane, Doug's youngest, home for the holidays  and I wound down the mountain a couple of thousand feet to my house. While Dee paid my bills and balanced my check book Madi Jane sat on my bedroom floor and looked at photos of our family that gathered here for many years.  Now, we fourteen are scattered from Heaven to Philadelphia, Couer d' Laine, Idaho and Southern California. But we shall, in His time gather again.  ...at the Throne of God.

Years ago in our first pastorate in Bakersfield, the Lord brought together young wives and mothers to form the Choralaires.  We recorded and sang on Family Radio from San Francisco to Phoenix, ...for our church and for clubs, civic groups and here and there in southern California. Yesterday, Steve, missionary to China for many years, Emailed:  "I sure would like to hear the Choralaires again." This morning, from Southern California, came a call from Darlene: "Those ten years of singing were the happiest of my life!" She couldn't read a note of music, but she sure could lip sync!  From Nita in Arroyo Grande: "I am remembering the beautiful Christmas songs we used to sing."  I think I can hear her clear, sweet voice as I write, singing ...

No room; only a manger of hay.
No room; He is a stranger today.
No room; here in this world, turned away.
No room; no room.

Angels in Heaven up yonder
Watch with amazement and wonder
To see the Son of the Highest treated so.

No room; here in the hearts of mankind;
No room; no cheery welcome to find
No room; surely the world is blind. 
No room.  No room.

...but there's room at the Cross for you. 

Love,  Jo                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

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