Unmoved

This graphic is a screen capture/crop from the list of places I visit. You’ll find it at the bottom on the right side of this page. It’s on the bottom of my list of places because the list varies based on the most recent posting. That one has been there for more than a year. There won’t be any more entries on “The Groves and Their Branches.” But, the link will remain, unmoved.

It’s not a very long blog. Janice started it to witness to people about her life. Though her spiritual heart was bigger than this world, her physical heart was giving out. There had been numerous operations over the years since she beat Hodgkins, mostly because of the radiation used to stop that disease in its tracks. The treatments lengthened her life in one way, but lessened it in another.

We met because we married brothers. We met late in life because they were separated as toddlers and spent 35 years not knowing each other. When the family was reunited, I found a friend who loves and trusts her Lord as much as I do.

Yes – that’s not past tense. She just doesn’t need the faith to do so now. Now she knows the answer to the statement she used to make:

I’d rather live my life believing there is a God and die to find out there isn’t than to live my life as if there wasn’t and find out there is.

Oh, she believed! Her faith could move mountains, if not the hearts of those she loved. She prayed for them, but some failed to understand. I continue those prayers – most certainly not as faithfully as she did, though.

No – today is not a “special anniversary” that brought her to mind. Just a feeling that I’d love to pick up the phone and call her. We do have an appointment, though.

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:1-2 KJV)

My request of my Lord is a picnic, beside the river of life, under the tree of life, with those with whom we’ve shared God’s love and His good news. I’ve mentioned it before and I’d love to continue extending an invitation to join us. The invitation has stood for thousands of years and remains open:

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:6-7 KJV)

The invitation is open to all, so feel free to join in.