If you read the last entry made by Mattie you already know our last visit to the nursing home was not easy. I've started going to "Whispering Pines" because my neighbor, who most of you have prayed with me for for quite some time, is now a resident there. Mattie had a hard time for different reasons than I, but none-the-less pray for her too as I intend to keep taking her with me weekly.
My request is for Mamie, my neighbor. She does not have peace about where she is going after death and is challenging me more and more on that subject. I have had to get more bold with her about some issues that she doesn't see as sin. She is from the generation of "deep south" mentality, in which there is a prejudice against other races, especially blacks. She considers them inferior to her own race, and never hesitates to speak with derogatory words towards them even in the presence of my 11 year old daughter. I had to get really bold last week when one such incident came up. I had to tell her how wrong it is to talk so about the very people who, ironically, are taking care of her now that she is in this home. She is certain she is a Christian, but we all know there is a current of hatred that runs under such an attitude. I John makes it plain that we can't say we love God and hate our brother at the same time. Her pride in the religion she was taught by her parents keeps her from repentance. They had the same attitude, therefore it must be okay. To repent would be to have to admit that her parents where wrong. This will take a miracle, but I believe God wants to do just that.
I stood up for the righteous way with a measure of boldness last week, but I must confess if Mattie had not been there I may have brushed it off. I am ashamed to admit I have brushed off this attitude before. It isn't easy being confrontational. I felt I was arguing, and the Lord warns us against arguing with unbeliever in I Tim. I left feeling uncertain if I had really been saying what the Spirit wanted me to say.
As I was seeking God about these things while later slapping sandwiches together for lunch, the Spirit came to me and reminded me of what Jesus said about the Jewish leaders. That they wouldn't have known they had sin if He had not come as a light to shine against their darkness. He raised a standard and then they knew they had sin. They had to make a choice. I was later reminded by Bud in his sermon, that when Peter preached on the day of Pentecost some of these same religious people, who just shortly thought they were doing God a favor by crucifying Jesus, now pleaded with Peter on how they could be saved. Some of them, however, a short time later stoned Stephen.
Pray for me. We need to be covered tomorrow as we will make our weekly visit. I feel things are coming to a head. Mamie herself, who is 89 says she knows she is still here because she is not ready to meet the Lord. Pray I will speak boldly. I want to avoid arguments, but I know now I must speak boldly to Mamie about this, or she may never see it as sin. Pray for Mamie. That she won't let pride ruin her soul. Pray for Mattie, that she won't shrink back from the opportunity to dig her well deep by loving these poor, rejected people at the nursing home.
Stephanie, thank you so much for encouraging her by your response to her blog entry. Others on the outside can sometimes say things better than a parent. Thanks for helping Mattie to dig her well!
I will change the subject now and give you all a praise report. Mark is going to get the spinal decompression treatments. Multiple conformations, including encouragement even from the medical doctor he has been seeing, make it clear this is the way to go. There are to be 20 treatments lasting over a 5 week period. He is not suppose to lift more than 15-20 lbs. This will be tricky finding work while at the same time obeying doc's orders. I am through, however, worrying over provision. He knows my needs before I ask. How absurd would it be for me, of all people, whom God has proven a million times He can handle the provision thing, to have the audacity to worry. Anyway, I believe God is going to use these treatments to heal Mark. Maybe you all could believe along with me, just as you have so faithfully prayed us through so much already. Thanks to all!
Peace and Blessings!
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3 comments:
I will be praying for you Bonnie. I lived next to an elderly lady who was the exact same way and was even on the "missions" board at her church. I would sit with her in her home on stormy nights and eat peaches and oatmeal cream cookies. I feel bad because I was so young and didn't know how to talk to her about it. She is now deceased and I hope that she was saved dispite her ignorance. I think it is possible. I always wondered why she wanted a 1/2 Mexican girl to visit with her, but she did. I am happy for Mark and I know that God will provide for ya'll.
You, Mattie & Mamie have my prayers. I can see God in all this looking back to the very beginning. This is one of those hidden 'mundane, menial' things that has an eternal aroma. God is at work in you in this and I can see His hand all over it. He has heard and He is very near all 3 of you. I love you so much!
I meant to ask you today how the nursing home went. I know things don't happen in the time we want them to but each visit means something. You all have invested a lot in her.
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