Knowing.

Many of you know that my dad recently passed away.
He was buried on my 59th birthday.
Not what a "daddy's girl" would want to remember about her birthday... or is it?

The last month of his life he came face to face with the reality that his death could come at any time.

He first entered the hospital on June 26th. During the few days he was there he told me that he was ready to go, that he had lived a good life and his only regret was leaving my mom and me. That continued to be his story through his last days.

It was an honor to sit on the sidelines and watch these two sweethearts of almost 60 years make final plans. What songs did he want? Who would sing? That was pretty much all that was left to take care of because for the past year daddy had made sure that things were all in order. He had made a list of everything mama would need to know about their finances and other things.

Daddy always led a quiet, simple life,  becoming a volunteer fireman in 1977.
He volunteered with the City of Greer Fire Department for 36 years before retiring several years ago. Even in retirement he was no stranger to his GFD brothers. That became evident during the weeks between hospitals and hospices. One day a whole shift came to visit resulting in two fire trucks and numerous other vehicles. It was a good day. There was laughter, there was peace.

During the last of his days here on earth I knew what God had called me to do as daddy's sister-in-Christ... worship with him on this side of heaven. With mom on one side and me on the other, I read several scriptures from Revelation to remind daddy of the sights and sounds that he would soon be privy to. After the scriptures came the hard part. I told him as his sister-in-Christ I could not send him off unprepared for what he was about to encounter. I knew he liked the old hymns, but am highly suspect that on that side of glory they might not just be singing the old standards. 

 With that said, Hezekiah Walker began singing "Every Praise".

I held daddy's hand up as a praise offering to our Lord. I have often done that as a kind of "standing in the gap" for those who weren't able to worship for themselves. At one point during the song I asked if he could say hallelujah. Of course he could. He had been rather non verbal that day so it was sweet to hear.
We then prayed and thanked God for everything. I think that was Thursday, daddy headed home to glory around 8:30 Saturday night...

Even though daddy was a always a quiet, soft spoken man, apparently he had made an impact on the men he called brothers at the GFD. They pretty much took care of the service. Daddy took his last ride on the back of Engine #5 which made it's way through the city of Greer. They provided police escorts at every intersection, and when we arrived at the cemetery, there were two ladder trucks extended to the sky with the largest American flag that I have ever seen. It was awesome. We were all so humbled by their display of love toward this simple man.

I guess all he ever did was love well.

Isn't that what we are all called to do?

The hardest part of the day was what's known as "the final call" issued by the dispatcher to the shift commander who stood by the graveside.

#86.

#86.

#86.

Last call for fireman #86, Donald W. Lister.

Fireman #86 has reached his eternal home, safe and sound.

Thank you Don for 36 years of faithful service.

Daddy knew peace.
Daddy knew Father God, Son Jesus and the sweet Holy Spirit.
Thankfully so do those of us who remain here.

Daddy was ready for his final call when it came on July 18th.

I don't know when my time will come, none of us do.

It is our prayer at Wellspring Living|SC and Wellspring Treasures Thrift Store that you know peace because you know Jesus, ready for your final call too.

If you don't... get in touch with me, my phone number or email can be found on our website under contacts, I will gladly share how you too can know peace and have peace through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you do know Christ as your Lord & Savior, but still don't have peace because of situations in your life, respond and say that you would like an appointment with our Director of Ministry, Madonna Hines and we will set that up for you too.

Maybe it's Your Turn!

Do you feel like God’s up to something but not sure what? 

Then why not go ahead and order you a ticket to Living Proof Live with BethMoore and Travis Cottrell… but only if you dare be so adventurous.

You see, back in the spring of 2003, I knew God was calling me to a fast. Not one, three or seven days, but it seemed like it was destined to be forty days.  Call me crazy, but I agreed.  I talked with my husband, Ray, who insisted I talk to our family physician about it too. 

So off I went into the wild blue yonder of fasting and praying.  I had asked a handful of people to pray for me during the fast; did they ever.  It was easier than I imagined it would be. Even preparing meals for my family to eat wasn’t a problem. I made it all the way to day twenty-one and all of a sudden I was hungry and sensed God was saying it was long enough. I was almost scared to eat that day.  I set a place for me at the table and asked for forgiveness if I had totally missed what was going on.  As I placed that first bite in my mouth, Jaci Valesquez started singing “God So Loved” on the radio and I knew it was indeed what He had asked me to do; so ended my twenty-one days with water and juice.

I had fasted before, but it was always a fast I had gone into over something specific.  I had no idea what this fast was about.  I think God just wanted to see if my heart and ears were in tune.

Fast forward to the summer of 2003…God put a prayer on my heart. 

Out of the blue with no prior warning; there He was spilling words out of my mouth and tendering my heart for a certain people group.

The infamous phone call in late September… 

“We have three extra tickets to Beth Moore this weekend if you know anyone who might be interested.”  Did I know anyone?  Yes, me!  

So off Christine, Madonna and I went, clueless that anything out of the ordinary awaited us.

But then Saturday morning happened.  

Before the morning session started a group of ladies came out and danced to “Shackles” by Mary Mary.  After they danced, Beth Moore shared  how to become a Christ follower.  

While Beth was in the back of the auditorium with those who had said “yes” to Christ that morning, my friends went to the book store and left me there unattended.  

I looked over to my left and there sat the only person I knew in Atlanta, Brenda Kelling; she and her family had recently moved to Atlanta.  In conversation I asked if they had found a church home. 

She replied that they had and that she was her church’s representative to Wellspring Living.  

The only thing I knew about Wellspring was the ladies that danced were from Wellspring.  

So it seemed like a sensible question to ask if Brenda’s church was going to have a dance ministry. Right?

Watch out, here it comes… (the God set up)…

“Oh no” said Brenda.

 

“Those ladies that danced onstage this morning used to dance in strip clubs and now they are dancing for the Lord.”

 Did she say strip club? 

Yes she did.

I didn’t say another word to Brenda.  

I just began to cry and went back to my seat.  

My only response, “Lord if that’s why you put that prayer in my mouth and those ladies in my heart, I’ll do whatever it is you are calling me to do.  I don’t know what it is; I don’t have the experience, the money or anything else to do it with.” 

“I do have two hands and two feet to follow, so where ever you lead, I will go.”

So here I am years later, still following and still believing. 

He is still leading and it’s been an amazing faith walk.

And do you know what?  

It really didn’t have a thing to do with Beth Moore.  

It wasn’t about anything she said or did. 

It was about the presence of a mighty God.

So go ahead and order that ticket… He’ll be waiting there for you!

And by the way, Beth and Travis might just have a word for you too!

Beth & Travis will be in Greenville, July 10th & 11th... and so will I!

 Take a walk on the wild side and join us there, God has something in store for you!