Mi Tiamo

Titus 2:1-5
1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: 2 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; 3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

Sometimes you don't realize the impact someone has on your life until they are gone.

As I sit here on the eve of the fifth year of the passing of one of the greatest women I ever knew I think about the impact and things I have learned from her life and how she loved with an unconditional heart. As my former wife and I awoke to that dreaded call at 3:00AM that Nona did not have much time left to live a flood of both memories and emotions hit.

Here was a woman who lived life up to almost exactly 100 and a half years to the day, gone. It was a difficult time as there were many unanswered questions.

Prior to moving to Florida, Nona lived with us full time for three years and part time for the five years prior. I never had a grandmother so having her in my home was an experience I would not trade for the world.

Here was a woman who through her pain would pray for everyone through her part time English part time Italian speech. Oh the stories she would tell but better yet the example she would live.

I would eat it up as she and I would sit at the kitchen table for three or four hours talking about God and life. Looking back she may not had understood all I was saying, but all she spoke without saying one word spoke volumes. She believed in honoring the man of the home as the leader and emulated it in a way I had never seen.

Grace, she was full of it. I remember when she would see her grand daughter and I get in arguments she would say "Christo forgive Anna regardless. Make peace with her for it is not good for your health." Then there were the times people would treat her like dirt, which would make me very upset, and she would just sit there, show grace and hold her tongue.

The thing I remember the most about Nona was her passion for God. Even though she did not understand having a relationship with Him all her life she loved Jesus none the less.

I remember talking to her many times about heaven (Paradisio to her). I would ask "Nona are you going to go to Paradisio when you die?" Her response was always the same, "I don't know if I am good enough."

With that response it was difficult to leave her and go to Florida as we felt we were called. Her grand daughter was so stressed about the salvation of her grandmother and the only comfort I could bring was that God would do something miraculous in that relationship.

Upon her 100th birthday we found out from a family member that something happened while she had a stint in the hospital. During the visit with that family member they mentioned that Nona had a visitation from Jesus all in Italian. As Nona laid in that bed she entered into a relationship with Christ that only God could do.

Prior to her passing 5 years ago she told Ann that she was going to heaven as she walked with Jesus.

Yes the older are to teach the younger about temperance, patience and even life, but it it takes a special person who is willing to live like Christ.

Nona, Mi Tiamo (I love you). Thank you for being there.

Christo 

Trusting God in All Circumstances

Galatians 6:9
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 

When times are good it is very easy to trust God. Unfortunately we forget to thank Him and worse yet forget to trust Him in those times as we go with the flow of letting the good times roll.

When the hard times come we run to God yet have a hard time trusting that God has our best interests in mind.

As I started the journey of the darkest time of my life, I found trusting God was a scary place to be and not even know how to do so. As I talked to one of my close friends he mentioned the best place to start was in worship.

Looking back at it today, all I can say is he was right. As we talked extensive hours of God's best in my life I realize that this friend was put at the heart of my life for this very time. Why, because God had my best interests in mind.

Granted we do not talk as much as we did at that time I have found two things that happened. The first is when I talk to my friend my gratitude is continued to him as well as our relationship is as strong as can be; he is a great man of God. The second, and most important, is my conversations with God have become more frequent and in fact more deliberate (even though 3:30AM comes rather fast).

Trusting God has nothing, as I found out, to do with getting what we want. The truth is it is all about submission. Am I willing to submit my ways, my thoughts, my actions and my day to God not knowing what is in store?

As I was driving into work this morning the song "Blessed be Your Name" came on. I have heard the song and have even sung it multitudes of times at church on the worship team, but I have never heard the rendition from Anthony Evans before. Maybe I would had heard the commonly played worship song, but it jumped out as I heard a jazz or gospel version of the song to only remind me of God's goodness.

As the song goes:

"Blessed be Your name
In a land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow.
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
When I'm found in a desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out I'll
Turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be Your name"

Maybe your in that desert, but are you at the point of saying "blessed be Your name?" Trust me it is a hard place to be.

You may be at the place where you are so angry at God for bringing you to the desert place, but you need to get to the place of saying as the old hymn goes "Though none go with me, still I will follow."

God is there. He is the thirst quencher for your soul. He is the light to your path. He is your shelter when the enemy is breathing down your neck. He is the I Am. 

He is GOD (Guiding Our Direction). Praise Him and He will breath the life into you to carry on in the hard times and be your sustainer.

CAL