A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
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Wednesday,
August 21, 2019
John and
Cathy
(Part
3)
"Love
To The End"
Message
summary:
God's word to Israel
in Jeremiah 31:3 is
a timeless
expression of His
unchangeable
character, "I have
loved you with an
everlasting love;
therefore I have
continued my
faithfulness to
you". We can first
of all gain great
assurance from this
truth and secondly
we can seek to apply
it to our marriage
and family.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"He loved them to the end" (John 13:1). "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you" (Jeremiah 31:3).
When I conduct a wedding ceremony I like to get to know the extended family if possible. I was blessed at the wedding for Joe and Taylor I officiated on Saturday to see two families come together whose love for their children was very evident. Their enthusiasm for expanding their love by receiving yet another family member (in-law) was also very evident.
Although we have known Gary, Taylor's father, for several years from our weekly chaplaincy visits to Kleen-Rite, only recently have we become familiar with his family, including his mother-in-law and father-in-law who are featured in our lead photo. Taylor is their only grandchild, so after a long engagement due to Taylor's and Joe's educational priorities, her wedding was an occasion they both looked forward to with great anticipation.
But Saturday's wedding also had a specially heartrending distinction and the family has given us permission to share their story, along with the lead photo. It is our hope that it will encourage others who might also identify with them in the painful trial they are undergoing.
The bride's grandmother, Cathy, now has "advanced stage dementia" and was unable to attend the wedding or the bridal shower for that matter. The family is lovingly caring for her at home but Saturday morning she was transported to respite care so her husband could attend the service. The photo above shows John, her husband of 48 years, sharing a kiss with her as she was taken away. She will be returning to her home later this week.
We have prayed for Cathy and John since learning of her deteriorating health over the last several years. In a story I read recently a daughter described how she felt about her mother's dementia: "You feel a gradual loss. My mother was such a bright, active woman. She was so well-read, you could talk to her about anything." If it's a spouse with dementia you lose a partner. If it's a parent you lose an authority figure. Some have described their experience with their loved one as "the long good-bye".
I visited with John for a few minutes before the wedding and he told me this is not what he had expected for his retirement years. But the love and respect he has for his wife is visible to all who know him. We noticed that he had a photo of Cathy at his place setting during the reception dinner. When Brooksyne visited her later at the respite location, on the nightstand next to her bed, was a 5X7 framed photograph of her and John. The boutonniere John wore at the wedding lay next to the photograph.
He has stood well in this hard test. As I conducted the wedding service for his granddaughter and new grand-son-in-law I considered what a living example of vow-keeping the newly married couple had sitting right before them on the first row, demonstrating what enduring love looks like.
Today's text is a comment by another John in introducing the final days of Christ's life on earth before his death on the Cross for our sins. During this time He gave some of His deepest teachings. The full verse states, "It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end."
We are called to follow Christ's example and in this passage we have a tremendous example to follow. Let's just focus on the phrase, "He loved them to the end". Virtually all standard versions use this phrase although some state, "the very end". The Amplified Classic Edition Bible renders it this way, "He loved them to the last and to the highest degree."
We need that same kind of love in marriages and families. The enemy seeks to destroy relationships. He delights in broken marriages and estranged families and we can easily see how it has affected so many families and society at large. Jesus told us, "The thief (the devil) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).
God's word to Israel in Jeremiah 31:3 is a timeless expression of His unchangeable character, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you". We can first of all gain great assurance from this truth and secondly we can seek to apply it to our marriage and family.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
Prayer: Father,
the greatest
expression of Your
love is Your
faithfulness to us
in all areas of our
life. Though the
devil seeks to steal
and destroy, You
came to give us an
abundant life.
Likewise You have
made us in Your
image and sent Jesus
in the flesh to show
us the highest
degree of love in
the human realm. We
want to faithfully
express our love to
those entrusted to
us; whether it is
our spouse, parent,
child(ren), or any
other in our family
setting. Just as You
have loved us with
an everlasting love
and therefore
continue Your
faithfulness to us,
help us to love our
family members to
the very end by
continual love and
faithfulness to
their every need. In
the name of Jesus I
pray. Amen.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"He loved them to the end" (John 13:1). "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you" (Jeremiah 31:3).
When I conduct a wedding ceremony I like to get to know the extended family if possible. I was blessed at the wedding for Joe and Taylor I officiated on Saturday to see two families come together whose love for their children was very evident. Their enthusiasm for expanding their love by receiving yet another family member (in-law) was also very evident.
Although we have known Gary, Taylor's father, for several years from our weekly chaplaincy visits to Kleen-Rite, only recently have we become familiar with his family, including his mother-in-law and father-in-law who are featured in our lead photo. Taylor is their only grandchild, so after a long engagement due to Taylor's and Joe's educational priorities, her wedding was an occasion they both looked forward to with great anticipation.
But Saturday's wedding also had a specially heartrending distinction and the family has given us permission to share their story, along with the lead photo. It is our hope that it will encourage others who might also identify with them in the painful trial they are undergoing.
The bride's grandmother, Cathy, now has "advanced stage dementia" and was unable to attend the wedding or the bridal shower for that matter. The family is lovingly caring for her at home but Saturday morning she was transported to respite care so her husband could attend the service. The photo above shows John, her husband of 48 years, sharing a kiss with her as she was taken away. She will be returning to her home later this week.
We have prayed for Cathy and John since learning of her deteriorating health over the last several years. In a story I read recently a daughter described how she felt about her mother's dementia: "You feel a gradual loss. My mother was such a bright, active woman. She was so well-read, you could talk to her about anything." If it's a spouse with dementia you lose a partner. If it's a parent you lose an authority figure. Some have described their experience with their loved one as "the long good-bye".
I visited with John for a few minutes before the wedding and he told me this is not what he had expected for his retirement years. But the love and respect he has for his wife is visible to all who know him. We noticed that he had a photo of Cathy at his place setting during the reception dinner. When Brooksyne visited her later at the respite location, on the nightstand next to her bed, was a 5X7 framed photograph of her and John. The boutonniere John wore at the wedding lay next to the photograph.
He has stood well in this hard test. As I conducted the wedding service for his granddaughter and new grand-son-in-law I considered what a living example of vow-keeping the newly married couple had sitting right before them on the first row, demonstrating what enduring love looks like.
Today's text is a comment by another John in introducing the final days of Christ's life on earth before his death on the Cross for our sins. During this time He gave some of His deepest teachings. The full verse states, "It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end."
We are called to follow Christ's example and in this passage we have a tremendous example to follow. Let's just focus on the phrase, "He loved them to the end". Virtually all standard versions use this phrase although some state, "the very end". The Amplified Classic Edition Bible renders it this way, "He loved them to the last and to the highest degree."
We need that same kind of love in marriages and families. The enemy seeks to destroy relationships. He delights in broken marriages and estranged families and we can easily see how it has affected so many families and society at large. Jesus told us, "The thief (the devil) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).
God's word to Israel in Jeremiah 31:3 is a timeless expression of His unchangeable character, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you". We can first of all gain great assurance from this truth and secondly we can seek to apply it to our marriage and family.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
Prayer: Father,
the greatest
expression of Your
love is Your
faithfulness to us
in all areas of our
life. Though the
devil seeks to steal
and destroy, You
came to give us an
abundant life.
Likewise You have
made us in Your
image and sent Jesus
in the flesh to show
us the highest
degree of love in
the human realm. We
want to faithfully
express our love to
those entrusted to
us; whether it is
our spouse, parent,
child(ren), or any
other in our family
setting. Just as You
have loved us with
an everlasting love
and therefore
continue Your
faithfulness to us,
help us to love our
family members to
the very end by
continual love and
faithfulness to
their every need. In
the name of Jesus I
pray. Amen.
John, escorting
his loving daughter
Julie, alongside
his son-in-law Gary,
after the wedding
ceremony this last
Saturday. Gary is a
friend we see in the
course of our
chaplaincy visits.
Today we
would like to share
three photos of the
variety of mobile
roadside produce
displays we saw
yesterday traveling
through Lebanon and
Lancaster Counties!
Altogether we
probably passed six
or seven produce
stands or orchards.
This
farmer brings his
melons out to the
roadside using his
John Deere lawn
tractor with a small
cart on Prescott
Road.
This
handmade cart is
near the Lebanon
Valley Rail Trail on
Lawn Road. Notice
the wheels and
handles.
A creative
use for a small
children's wagon on
Harvest Road.
"God of All My
Days" Video
Casting
Crowns
In my worry, God,
You are my stillness
In my searching, God, You are my answers
In my blindness, God, You are my vision
In my bondage, God, You are my freedom
In my weakness, God, You are my power
You're the reason that I sing
In my searching, God, You are my answers
In my blindness, God, You are my vision
In my bondage, God, You are my freedom
In my weakness, God, You are my power
You're the reason that I sing
"She Still
Remembers Jesus' Name"
Video
Booth Brothers This is
a very touching song for any
family member whose loved
one has lived for Jesus but
is now suffering the effects
of dementia.
"Yes, I Know"
Video
Gaither
Vocal Band
"Power of the
Cross" Video
Gold City (This coming
Sunday evening Gold City
will be at the Music In
The Park in Lebanon
PA.)
Finally today:
For local
readers: We invite you to a
special concert this coming
Sunday afternoon for a hymn
sing where Brooksyne will be
singing with the choir of
Calvary Church. The
congregation will join in
many of the hymns as well.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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