Thanks for stopping by today. Welcome to my blog if you are visiting through Encouragement For Today.
I thought of what I might post today. Maybe a picture of my kids and their Crocs, which by the way have not broken. Then something happened. A friend died. This was not someone I have known my whole life. In fact, I could not tell you her favorite color or what music inspired her. All I really know about her is what I saw in her life. She loved Jesus. She loved God's people. She was passionate about inviting others to know her Jesus.
The first time she was diagnosed with cancer God called me to pray for her. So I did. I prayed for her with my whole heart. God gave me very specific scripture to pray over her. Miraculously she was healed from the cancer. Not because of my prayer but because it was His plan. I will never forget the first time I saw her after the cancer. She walked into the Proverbs office and I met her at the door with arms of love and eyes brimmed with tears. She looked beautiful, still in her wig but wearing a smile that lit up the room. How I praised God!
Then a few short weeks later, I heard the news: the cancer was back and aggressive. How I questioned God. Why God? Why would you allow this again? Unfortunately, I still don't have the answer to that question and probably never will. And really, who is God to tell me why anyway. I watched Anne live without knowing why.
My devotion today was "You Get What You Pay For." I must say, the price Jesus paid for the life of Anne Reynolds Belk was worth it. She lived her life, to the very last day wanting to glorify her Heavenly Father. Oh, and she did it well. My prayer is that when I am called home, the same will be said of me, "The price Jesus paid for Wendy Pope was worth it. She lived her life to glorify her Heavenly Father."
How about you? Is that the deepest cry of your heart? If it is not, ask God to help you glorify Him in all you say and do for all the days you have remaining. Perhaps you don't know our Jesus. Do you want to know Him? Let us introduce Him to you. Nothing would make Anne happier than to know her death brought new life to someone.
Anne, I wish I could see you now, walking the streets of gold by the crystal sea, pain free and full of praise for the mighty God you faithfully served. Your life was blessing to me! How I praise God!
This is a Psalm Anne wrote. I am sure if she hasn't yet, she will sit at His feet reciting it over and over again.
This is a Psalm Anne wrote. I am sure if she hasn't yet, she will sit at His feet reciting it over and over again.
"Hallelujah! Praise Yahweh! Praise God! Though I walk through darkness, my Lord lights my path. Though fear and worry surround me, my Lord shows me the way. Though sickness has not left me my Lord holds my hand. Though doubt creeps in my mind, my Lord lifts me and carries me. He is my strength when I am weak. He never leaves me. His love surrounds me. I praise His Holy Name. To focus on my Lord, I receive the peace He offers me. I praise His Holy Name."
17 Comments:
Wendy, I like your devotional. There are so many things that we do not understand. The Lord wants full access to our lives.
Now we know in part, then we shall know fully even as we are fully known. Your friend is on the other side of the rainbow : )
"B" His Girl
Wendy,
Why did you send me here to make me cry!!!!!!!!!!!
What you wrote was so beautiful. About your devo, no, God does not get what He paid for with me...at least how I see it, but He doesn't see it that way and I'm so grateful for that.
And your blog, Anne is truly a light to the world shining Jesus, even in her death. When I think of beautiful, I think of Anne.
Thanks girl, I love ya:)
Love,
Melissa
I thought I would never buy real crocs. My children have several of the cheap kind given to us by my sister. But I needed a pair for my son and even though he didn't mind wearing girl colors my husband and I did. I broke down and got him a real pair in a boy color. 2 days later the real pair broke. The fake 2nd generation ones now 2 years old are still great and the real ones didn't last 2 days.
Thank you for your blog entry about your friend Anne. My friend Tina battled cancer as well and went to be with the Lord this past May. She was a reflection of Jesus to all she encountered for the 27 years I knew her as my friend. I feel privileged to have been a witness to all God did through her. Thank you for sharing about Anne's walk. It encouraged me that God has given us examples in our lives of people totally sold out for Him, just like you spoke about in your devo today. Thank you for redirecting me to be completely for Him, not halfway.
Wendy,
What you wrote today was so clearly from God. I'm sure you will never know the full impact of your devotion and your blog post but... we are receiving a flood of salvations today as well as women forwarding our "Do You Know Jesus" page to others. Anne spent every moment of her life living for Christ. You have so honored her life and her legacy by allowing God to use you today to reach others in His name, and in her honor!
Love You,
LeAnn
Dear Wendy,
The "you get what you pay for" devotional really spoke to me. But as usual when I read the application questions, I thought, "I'll go back and do that later"... Telling, eh? Thanks for sharing your heart. I will try to go still mine to listen.
:)
I loved your devotional, which is what brought me to your blog today. I will make a better effort to see that God gets what He paid for. Thanks for spurring me on in that.
I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend, but happy for Heaven's gain. She will be more of a treasure there, just as much as she was here on earth. She sounds like a precious person.
What a beautiful devotion today! I am a bargain hunter, always watching where my money goes. As I read " It was then I heard the sweet whisper of my Savior, "Do I get what I paid for?" chills ran through my veins, causing my hair to stand on end. It was almost like He was whispering it in my ear at that moment. You have changed my perspective of Christ's sacrifice, and challenged me to be better for Him. Thank you, thank you!
What a beautiful expression of a rather disturbing question! Our precious Lord gets shortchanged every day; praise Him that He loves us anyway, covering us in His grace and mercy until we tire of our flimsy imitations.
Your dear friend is finally home, receiving her completely authentic reward! I will remember her family in my prayers.
Blessings ...
When my sis is law dies of cancer at 34, the thing that sustained me was the picture of her in full glory dancing with our Heavenly Father on the streets of gold. Thank you for bringing me back to that memory. Now, your friend and my sis are in glory together and what a day that is!
Hey Wendy dear -
Loved your devo today a lot - very insightful. Also loved this blog post. I'm so glad I stopped by...it was beautiful.
love,
holly
Wow!
Thank you for reminding us what's important. You are awesome. You are so detailed in thoughts and emotions.
My hope is that I would hear God saying, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." And to leave a legacy of love and inspiration for my children and women everywhere. My deepest cry to God is that I proclaim God's truth to women-they are the apple of His eye.
God bless,
What a heartbreaking yet joy- filled thing - we ache for her family and friends and yet so rejoice that she is with her Lord and Savior.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Psalm 116:15
Your question in the devotional and the one that God keeps bringing to my mind lately seem to be running on the same track.
Lately, as I struggle with discipline issues with my son, I catch myself telling him frequently, "You aren't listening and following directions. How many times am I going to have to speak to you about this?"
Then, God prompts my heart, "What about you Joanie? You aren't listening to my voice or following my directions either. How many times will it take me speaking to you before you change your pattern of behavior?" OUCH!!
At the end of the day our lives should boil down to one thing: DID I HONOR GOD TODAY? It sounds like your friend Anne did, and it sounds like she challenged those around her to do likewise.
As for me, I join you in praying that when my days here on earth are completed my family and friends will be able to say that I lived my life with strength and dignity as I honored and glorified God with my whole being.
May God bless us with strength and wisdom for the journey
this question left a bunch of 20 year olds speechless when i presented it to them in sunday school shortly after we talked about it that one day... thanks for "jumping" us to be worth it :)
loves~
Thanks for the reminder that we need to live our "every day" as if it was our last. I read a poem once that said that when our life is over, God will not ask us how many friends we had - He'll ask how many people to whom we were a friend. It sounds like Anne had a lot of friends, which speaks well of her and her witness. I hope that I will leave the same legacy for my friends and family. I think of you often and wish we lived closer.
Love from the Be Still Girl.
Wendi
Hey, Wendy!
I read both yours and Renee's posts about Anne. I can picture the wonderful person that she was..a strong, devoted Christian. I am so sorry for the loss of your friend, but I know that the faces of the angels lit up when she arrrived. Thank you for this post.
Your question is a thought provoking one. I want to ponder and pray to see if I am living my life the way that Christ would want me to and that His life was worth giving up for...me! You are just precious.
Love you!
Susan
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