Janis Lee Colon

Lamentations – Finding Hope Out of Sorrow and Grief

2012-03-04T16:39:00.003-05:00

It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

For most people, when you turn to Lamentations in your Bible, the pages are still stuck together. Right? It’s not enjoyable to read about sorrow – true sorrow. Lamentations tearfully describes the grief experienced when the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC.

As you read, you can feel the devastating pain from every perspective -the observer, the victim, the city, God, and Jeremiah.

An applicational thought: As a healing process for grief, it may help to see the situation in other perspectives, besides our own.

How could such a thing happen to Jerusalem, where God chose to place His name? The people no longer loved or served God. They turned away to follow other god’s. Prophets warned of the impending judgment. All they had to do was to turn back to God. The warnings were ignored to the very end. Then it was too late. Judgment came.

The main question asked when trouble strikes is, “Why is this happening to me?” There are many reasons for why trouble occurs. But Lamentations zooms in on this one thought. It is God’s way of getting the attention of His own who have gone astray. God means what he says and says what He means. Continual persistent disobedience will end in grief. Make an assessment on how you are living your life. Are your thoughts and actions aliened with God’s will? Is He trying to get your attention? The lesson learned here is not to ignore these warnings. But to humbly submit and return to Him.

This book is dark and gloomy. But, wait… there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel! - It’s called Hope! Our sorrow will not consume us, because of the Lord’s mercies and compassion toward us. Even in the darkest of nights, just as the sun will rise afresh in the morning, so His love and mercies will renew us each day. Morning is coming- He is merciful (3:22-24). The Lord is good to all those who humble themselves, seek and wait patiently for Him. God doesn’t take pleasure in grief.

It’s so wonderful to know that no matter how bad our circumstances are the Lord will help us through it. In the end, we can find hope out of the sorrow. For “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Looking Ahead

2012-01-08T15:46:00.015-05:00

As I start this new year, I know that God already knows what will happen. It's wonderful to know that He has it all under control in His will. I will continue on as He leads.

I found this great poem in a simple frame hung on the wall of the Jacksonville Baptist Theological Seminary classroom, where I attend classes to finish what I started over 40 years ago and get my bachelor's degree in Christian Education. It really spoke to me and I hope that it will be an encouragement to you as well. (The poem is like a prayer to God.)

Looking Ahead

I'm looking ahead to those things that

You will have me to do,

Those places You will have me to go,

Those things You have purposed for me.

I'm looking ahead with power,

strength

and determination

Knowing that the past is behind me,

the present is before me,

and the future awaits me.

You know what's ahead of me

You have prepared the way

You have straightened the crooked paths

and smoothed the rough places

Stumbling blocks will become instruments

in Your hand for my good

and Your purpose

Detours will serve as opportunities to tell

others about You.

I can look ahead

because You are my Guide.

Louvenia Lee Aka Love Lee

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Note: Picture is a photograph I took at Deerfield Beach, FL in the early morning.

Is Life Worth Living? A Look At Ecclesiastes

2011-11-10T15:25:00.007-05:00

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

The book of Ecclesiastes is one of three books written by the wisest man that ever lived, King Solomon. He was gifted by God with great wisdom. By reading this book we have the rare opportunity to, sort of, “sit” under his teaching and learn, first hand, from his Godly wisdom.

Solomon examines the question, “Is life worth living? I think we all have asked this question sometime in our lives. In the beginning of the book, Solomon gave 4 arguments as to why life was not worth living. It was vanity. Life, under the sun (physical life without God in the picture) is monotonous, there is vanity in wisdom, wealth is futile, and death is certain for everyone and all living creatures. Then he reviewed these same arguments, putting God into the picture and found that life is worth living, after all: Instead of a monotonous life, it was adventurous, filled with unexpected challenges, occurring each in their own time and purpose. It was a gift from God and being able to enjoy it was also a gift. Even though man’s wisdom could not explain everything, it was better to follow God’s wisdom than to practice the folly of men, because He has everything in His control. Wealth could also have a purpose for the good of others and could be enjoyed to God’s glory. And, knowing that death is certain for all should motivate us to live life to the fullest and make the most of each day we have.

Solomon’s final conclusion at the end of the book is key to living life to the fullest. He admonishes us to fear God and follow His commandments.

When you bring in the good news of the gospel, life becomes even more meaningful, and it is worth living. If you know Jesus Christ as your savior, you can be satisfied, no matter what circumstances come your way, because “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” 1 John 5:12

God has given us His wisdom, His Word, to follow in our daily walk with Him. This earth is not our home, but we have an eternal home in heaven where all the labor we have done on earth is not in vain in the Lord. (I Cor.15:57-58) We need not fear death because Jesus Christ has conquered death (Rev. 1:17-18). And because He lives, we know that we shall live with Him.

Photograph: Janis sitting at the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA.

Thoughts taken from the book: "Be Satisfied" by Warren W. Wiersbe

and Dr. Peter Colon's (my husband) class lectures on Ecclesiastes.

Proverbs – God’s Wisdom Book

2011-08-30T15:44:00.004-04:00

Proverbs 1:7- “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

While driving, I obey the rules very well, but when I know there is someone in authority, like a policeman, watching me, I tend make an extra effort to stay way within the speed limit. It’s the same feeling, but much more when speaking about the fear of the Lord. Just knowing that God is there; that He is the creator, is ever watchful and we will someday have to answer to Him for our lives, should cause us to respect Him for who He is and want to please Him. By studying His word, we can learn how. The Book of Proverbs gives us a good basis to follow.

Proverbs is a Godly wisdom book. We are to use it as a guidepost for our lives. It helps us to follow a wise way to live the Christian life and be a testimony of God’s work in us. It also helps us to make wise choices in our moral life, our relationships and with our responsibilities. The proverbs in this book are not to be used as incantations for selfish gain, but rather as principles for skillful living so that in due course, it will be well with us. It gives us God’s wisdom to maneuver through life’s difficulties and challenges that are ever present.

It isn’t important enough to have knowledge and a good education, it’s more important to have the wisdom to be able to use that education. Computers have an abundance of information but only us humans have the ability to have the wisdom to use that information for good.

Eph 5:15-17 says, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” As a follower of Christ we are to walk soberly, knowing that God is there. Proverbs helps us to know how to do that.

A “must read” book to understand the book of Proverbs is: “Be Skillful,

Tapping God’s Guidebook to Fulfillment”, by Warren W. Wiersbe

Stepping Out Into the Unknown

2011-07-04T21:41:00.007-04:00

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you .When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;..." Isaiah 43:2-3a

We took our little granddaughter to the beach for the first time a couple months ago. Her mom dressed her in a cute pink poka dot swimsuit and covered her head to toe in sunscreen and topped her off with a pretty white hat. She loved it! The water was perfect for a baby- it was calm and at low tide. When she got close, she went straight in to check it out. I tried to imagine what she might have felt as she looked out at the large unending ocean in front of her with brand new eyes. Unknown. Ever moving. Scary. Yet, pretty. Unaware of the dangers, she took that step of faith and found it to be refreshing! She sat down and splashed, picked up sand and threw it back in. What fun! But, we were close behind, watching her every move and ready to step in to help her if she needed it.

As we venture into unknown territories: a new job, moving to new places, graduation, college, decisions on many different things. If you have a relationship with the Lord Jesus and He is your heavenly Father, remember that He is always with you– ready to listen and answer your prayers and help you along. You are not alone. Therefore, sit down, splash, have fun and keep trusting!

"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Note: Picture is an oil painting of my granddaughter that I painted for my Daughter's Birthday.

Some Things Need To Be Remembered-Lest We Forget

2011-05-26T17:37:00.019-04:00

That this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever. Joshua 4:6-7

On a long trip through Georgia, we stopped just south of Macon to visit Robbins Air Force Base Museum of Aviation. It was founded by one of the original members of the Flying Tigers of 1941, Robert Scott. He later wrote a book, "God is My Co-Pilot".

(Peter's favorite group- The Flying Tigers!)

As we walked through and viewed all the different cool planes and displays, Peter and his Dad were excitedly talking up history, like there was no tomorrow. They would make great guides! If they lived closer, they’d definitely be volunteers at the place!

(One of the displays - WWII Pilots getting their flight schedules)

(The Douglas C-124 GlobemasterII - Can you find me in the picture above?)

Peter’s dad, at age 18, was an Air Force crew member on a Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, during the Korean War. This was a huge military air transporter! The sight of it brought up many memories for him.
As we stood in front of this massive plane, Dad shared what his job was and then mentioned, for the first time, that much of the cargo was the remains of the fallen soldiers from the conflict. It was a sobering thought.

Because we took the time to visit, I gained a greater sense of pride, respect and adoration for my father-in-law, my country and the men and women who serve, then and now, in the armed forces. That’s what memorials are for. Without them, we would soon forget.

A Special Menu - Passover’s Three Original Elements

2011-03-30T10:36:00.008-04:00

“Then they shall eat the flesh (lamb) on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.” Exodus 12:8

Did you ever have folks over for dinner and couldn’t decide what to prepare for them? Well, at the first Passover, God told the Israelites to prepare a special meal that would not only nourish them, but will also save the first-born in the home. It was the last meal they would eat as slaves in Egypt. On the plate, that evening, were 3 specific things. Each item had a historical, prophetic and Messianic picture. Did the picture become clear during the life and passion of Jesus in the 1^st Century?

THE LAMB

Historically: This was a sacrifice each family had to make. The first-born in each house was under the judgment of death. The lamb’s life was substituted for the first-born. The blood of the lamb had to be splashed on the 2 doorposts and on the upper mantle of the door. When the angel of death saw the blood, he passed over the house and left the first-born unharmed. Any home that did not have this sacrifice resulted in death for the first born of that house.

Prophetically: This gave a picture of what the Messiah would be…”A SACRIFICE LAMB” (Isaiah 53:6)

Messianically: It was the role of the priests to select the lambs to be offered to God. A Priest by the name of Johanann Ben Zechariah (John the Baptizer) said, as he saw Jesus coming to him to be baptized, ”…Behold! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

UNLEAVENED BREAD

Historically: The people were redeemed from Egypt by the swift hand of God. They had to be ready to leave quickly. They didn’t have time for the bread dough to rise. Furthermore, leaven is a picture of the effects of sin in the Bible.

Prophetically: It is a picture of what Messiah would be like… “A SINLESS LAMB.”

Messianically: It was also the role of the priests to inspect all the lambs for sacrifice. The Chief Priests challenged Jesus’ Authority; the Pharisees & the Herodians questioned his Allegiance, the Sadducees tested his Doctrine and an expert in religious law questioned his Devotion (Matthew 21 & 22). Little did they realize, that in their pursuit to have Jesus incriminate himself, they actually inspected THE LAMB and … found no fault in him.

BITTER HERBS

Historically: Life under Egyptian slavery was very bitter, with much suffering and very harsh treatment.

Prophetically: This is a picture of what the Messiah would become… “A SUFFERING LAMB.”

Messianically: It was the role of the priests and the people to slaughter their lambs.

Jesus was crucified at 9 am. While on the cross, at 12 noon, he hears the shofar blown, signaling the start to slaughter the lambs at the Temple. He also hears the people and the priests sing Psalms 113 through 118. At 3 pm the last line of the Psalms was song, “for his mercy endureth forever.” (Psalm 118:29) Jesus cries out, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) and dies. He is quickly buried in the tomb. Three days later, He is resurrected!

This special menu has a much deeper significance when it’s seasoned with the Life of Christ. The picture becomes focused. It fits together! Jesus was the sinless, sacrificial, suffering Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. We all have sinned and are under the judgment of death. The sacrifice has been made for you. Have you accepted Jesus to be YOUR “LAMB”?

Note: I used a portion from a handout sheet called, “Passover in the upper room with Yeshua” by Peter Colon for the main points.

New Children's Book- Seth and the Mystery of the Passover Lamb

2011-03-02T16:34:00.004-05:00

Just in time for Passover and Resurrection Sunday Season!

Seth and the Mystery of the Passover Lamb is a cute children's book that weaves together the Feast of Passover and Christianity, showing how the two are intended to fit together in God's perfect plan. As a Jewish Christian, 11 year old Seth never really understood his Jewish roots until a trip to Florida where he participates in a Passover Seder with his grandparents. Join Seth and his cousins Ruthie and Dave as they end up in the middle of a crazy mix-up that finally solves the mystery of the real Passover Lamb, Jesus the Messiah.

Written by Bonnie Rosenthal Pearson, a Jewish believer who along with her husband, Dan, work in Jewish ministries. She has written for magazines and is a speaker, musician and dramatist available to minister to both adults and children.

Illustrated by, yours truly - Janis Lee Colon

I had fun doing the illustrations/sketches for some of the fun scenes in this book. Some kids in my neighborhood helped me by coming over and posing for me.

We should have the book soon in early March! And you can buy it from me, on my Book Store page!

I've Got Shoes!

2011-02-05T10:04:00.013-05:00

Some boots I found on a porch in North Florida!

Just after this last Christmas, my husband- sort of in jest, asked me, “So what did you get for Christmas?” I replied, “I got shoes!” Just then, I was reminded of an old song that I haven’t thought about in over 34 years! It took me a while to recall all of it. It was an old southern spiritual called, “Gonna Shout All Over God’s Heaven”. We used to sing it a lot at our weekly youth group, called “Ranch”. One of the verses goes like this…

"I’ve got shoes, you’ve got shoes

 All of God’s children got shoes!

 When I get to Heaven goin’ to put on my shoes

 Goin’ to walk all over God’s Heaven - Heaven!"

I was so excited about remembering this song, that I decided to do a little study on shoes (sandals) in the Bible. There were many references. These are my favorite pairs.

Dirty Shoes -Take off your shoes, when meeting with God: God appeared to Moses through a Burning Bush in the desert and said to him, “…Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” Exodus 3:5

As we walk along outside, our shoes are getting real dirty, picking up all sorts of dirt, germs and grime. So it is with our lives as we are exposed to the world, through the media, books and people, our minds are picking up all kinds of negative things. When we meet with God at Church or in our devotions, we should first, “take off our shoes” – confess our sins and come clean in our spirit in order to hear and receive what He has for us.

Durable Sandals! - “And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet.” Deuteronomy 29:5

God took care of the Israelites during their 40 years of wandering in the desert! Their clothes and shoes didn’t wear out!
Are your circumstances looking pretty bad? Remember that the Lord promises to take of us.

Confirmation Sandal – Boaz negotiated with the next of kin for Ruth’s inheritance and marriage: -“Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging, to confirm anything: one man took off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was a confirmation in Israel. Therefore the close relative said to Boaz, 'Buy it for yourself.' So he took off his sandal.” Ruth 4:7-8

Sandals, back in Old Testament times, were probably one of a kind, a personal, treasured possession, not mass produced like today. The simple act of giving your sandal to another in front of witnesses settled and confirmed an agreement between the two people. The owner of the shoe went home half bare foot and would remember the agreement every time he wanted to wear the shoes – but couldn’t because one was missing! Wouldn’t that be nice to have today? Don’t have to go through all the “red tape” and hire lawyers!

Untouchable Sandals – John the Baptist said of Jesus, “…’I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’” Luke 3:16

Why was John the Baptist, or anyone else not worthy? Because, it was the Sandal of the Son of God!

Love Shoes: a gift- “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.” Luke 15:23

The protocol son lost all of his inheritance and came back to his father with nothing – naked. The father loved him so much that right away, took him in, clothed him and gave him shoes. This is a great picture of God’s love for us!

Gospel Shoes -part of the Armor of the Lord: “… shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” Ephesians 6:15
The Roman soldier was in Paul’s mind when he wrote about the Christian armor that we should wear everyday. The soldier’s sandal had hob nails on the soles to give them more traction and stability to walk on rough terrain. They left prints in the dirt wherever they were at. We should be taking the gospel of peace out into the world and leave an imprint of God’s love and mercy to all who it touches.

Heavenly Shoes: The Bible doesn’t say if we will have shoes in heaven, but it does describe what kind of streets will be there…

“The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.” Revelation 21:21

Heaven will have streets of pure gold. Although shoes like my granddaughters’, pictured above, would be really cool, I would like to think that our shoes up there would be pure white – like comfortable cushy slippers – Because, after all, we will be HOME!

The Gift That Cannot Be Stolen!

2010-12-22T12:28:00.010-05:00

I was struck by a local news flash the other day about a thief, called the Grinch, who broke into a local church and stole all the Christmas presents intended for the needy children in the area. It was all caught on the surveillance camera. The people at the church were devastated and discouraged. When the community heard about it in the news the next few days, people came and donated so many gifts to the church that they ended up with more gifts then they had before! One lady donated her entire collection of Vermont teddy bears! It reminded me of the movie, “It’s a wonderful Life”. I saw this movie afresh the other day and I have to say that it is a “must see” for Christmas time.

The spirit of giving is a wonderful thing, for both the recipient and the giver.

Devotionally, In Genesis 3 the story of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, the Grinch (Satan) stole the wonderful gift of life. The close relationship that Adam and Eve had with God was lost. They were devastated and discouraged, until… the first glimmer of hope was spoken… God will give…

God told them that He would be sending a special person (Messiah Jesus) through the seed of the woman, who would bruise his (Satan’s) head – a serious blow and Satan would merely bruise this person’s heel – a minor thing. (Genesis 3:15)

Another prophetic word of hope was spoken in Isaiah 9:6

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a SON is GIVEN:…and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

A Son will be Given?

“…Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” Isaiah 7:14

Immanuel means God with us.

Matthew 1-2 and Luke 2 give the narrative of Jesus birth. It’s a “must read” for Christmas time. It was foretold that this baby, would be born, but also be given by God specifically to restore sinful man back to God and give him eternal life! All we need do is accept this incredible gift, so freely given.

“For God so loved the World (you and me) that HE GAVE his only begotten Son, That whosoever (that’s you and me) believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

This is why there is a spirit of giving, especially at this time of year- because God gave to us the most precious gift, wrapped in swaddling clothes, laying the Manger – Immanuel -And no Grinch can take it away.

Note: Picture is my granddaughter a couple weeks old under the Christmas tree. - 2009

The Hats That Jesus Wore

2010-11-07T17:26:00.032-05:00

Fedoras! My husband’s hat of choice. He’s got them in different colors, both in straw and high quality felt. He was wearing them, even before the Indiana Jones movies came out! I do have to admit… I love the way he looks in them! And, he always gets positive comments from people everywhere he goes. You know, you can tell a lot about a person by the kind of hat they wear.

I took the liberty to imagine, devotionally, what hats Jesus would have worn by his titles, his work and whom he is.

Prophet’s Hat

The woman at the well knew Jesus was a prophet when he told her all about her life, even though he had just met her.

“The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.“ John 4:19

He prophesied about many things, about people, the future even of his death.

Priest’s Hat

He was the great high priest, holy and undefiled, who did God’s work on behalf of Israel and the world. Since He was taken up into heaven, His work continues by making intercessions between man and God.

"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession." Hebrews 4:14

“ But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:24-25

Hat of Thorns

Not only did he do the work of the High Priest, but he was also the perfect sacrifice- offered once for all.

“who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. Hebrews 7:27

King’s Hat

Jesus, a descendant of King David, answered Pilate’s question plainly.

 ”Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king….” John 18:37

He is now sitting on the right hand of the Father, and will come again to set up His kingdom.

“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

Shepherd’s Hat

Jesus is the good shepherd. He leads and takes care of us, his sheep.

“ I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” John 10:14

I do hope that you:

Recognize His Titles.

Believe the work he did for you.

Know and follow Him daily, because of who He is.

Though he has many hats, and many more, only he was able to fulfill and accomplish the work that all the hats represent.

Day of Atonement- Yesterday and Today

2010-09-01T16:59:00.017-04:00

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. Leviticus 17:11
We have been dealing with blood issues since 2006 when my husband was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (Cancer in the Bone Marrow). We have learned a lot since then. Just recently, he has had his stem cells harvested and is getting ready for a second round since they didn’t get enough the first time. It is an eerie feeling to have your life blood go through a machine, be filtered and then returned back into your body. It certainly does drain a person of energy for a few days…but we all know what would have happened if the blood wasn’t returned back!

During the time of Moses, God instituted a solemn ceremony called the Day of Atonement to reconcile the people back to Himself. Just this one time every year, the High Priest would enter into the Holy of Holies with the shed blood to make atonement for sin. Basically, it was a day of Substitution, Sacrifice and Scapegoat, described in Leviticus 16.

Substitution – Perfect animals (bullocks and goats) were selected to die in place of the individual and the nation (verse 3-5).

Sacrifice – The animal was slain at the great altar and its blood was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies for Atonement (Covering of Sin), (verses 6-15). Leviticus 17:11 (quoted above) states the purpose and the principle for animal sacrifice.

Scapegoat –A goat was sent away from the camp into the wilderness, symbolizing the people’s sins being taken away (verse 21-22).

Messianic Fulfillment

This ceremony was a vivid picture of what Jesus came to do in His First Coming.

He became our Substitute, just like the perfect animals, He died in our place.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

He became our Sacrifice, just like the shed blood of the animal; He shed His blood on the Cross for our sins, not just as atonement, but for eternal redemption!
In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:14

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:12

He became our Scapegoat, just like the goat that took the sins away, Jesus, who had no sin, came specifically to take our sins away.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29

And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 1 John 3:5 (See Psalm 103:12)

Today, our dear Jewish friends have a Day of Atonement, but with no Atonement! Why? It is because in place of blood sacrifices there are good intentions and religious deeds which do not meet God’s requirements. But, in Messiah Jesus, Leviticus 16 has been fulfilled. Consider… would you want an atonement which cannot be obtained today and even if it was, only provided a mire covering or would you want redemption, which is obtainable now by faith to anyone and is eternal.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Have you received this special gift for yourself?

For an exciting re-enactment and explanation of this observance, consider purchasing the DVD, “Messiah in the Day of Atonement”, produced by The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, in which Peter portrays the High Priest. The photo, above, is a scene from this DVD.

A Set of Strong Waves

2010-07-20T15:44:00.003-04:00

“…Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” Matthew 8:26

When we learned of my husband’s diagnosis of Cancer – Multiple Myeloma. It was the first mayor wave of distress that came over us some 4 years ago. Peter was engrossed in producing a gospel movie called, “Rossvally: From the Synagogue to the Saviour”. He had spent most of the previous months filming at various Civil War sites and re-enactments. When the doctor saw his blood results, he said, “You should have been an actual casualty! Not an act!” We were shocked. Why would God allow this to happen now?

A month later, the second wave of distress hit. My right arm and leg began to go limp. Two bone spurs in my neck were pinching my spinal cord so much that the doctor expected to see me in a wheelchair. Five days later, I was on the operating table.

All along, a third wave had been mounting. It spiked 9 months later, during Peter’s stem cell transplant. Alzheimer’s had overcome my dear, sweet mother. Her personality had completely changed to a negative one. It was unbearable. I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown.

But…like waves, these distressing circumstances began to subside and the Lord helped us through. He was in the “boat” with us. The many prayers of faithful people gave us the added strength to stay a float!

He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Psalm 107:29

A Few Thoughts on Shavuot -Feast of Pentecost

2010-05-24T12:15:00.008-04:00

"And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God:" Deuteronomy 26:10
Growing up, I really never heard that much about this feast. Most of the time, the emphisis was just on the fact that the Church started and the Holy Spirit was given during this celebration after Jesus death, burial and resurrection in Acts 2:1-5.
Deuteronomy 26 gives us the background to the Feast of Pentecost. It was a harvest feast. The first fruits were to be brought in a basket and given in worship to God at the Temple in Jerusalem. I love celebrations where food is involved!
We can find in the old Jewish sources that there are 3 unique aspects about Shavuot from which we can taste nuggets of devotional applications.
1. The first fruits of the land may not be brought to the temple before the feast day began. And the feast was celebrated 50 days AFTER Passover.
We must first have a Passover before we can have a feast of Pentecost. We must first be saved, or redeemed with the blood of the lamb. Jesus was our sacrifice, whose blood was shed for our salvation. (1 Cor. 5:7)

2. The fruits must come from one’s own land. The people could not bring someone else’s produce that they didn’t work on.
Jesus provided the power for us to produce special fruit in our lives through the Holy Spirit. We cannot worship the Lord with someone else’s “fruit”; it must be produced from our own life.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Gal. 5:22-23

3. The fruits can be brought to the temple continually from the beginning of the feast throughout the summer and fall all the way up to the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles and Hanukkah.
We can keep producing and giving our fruits to the Lord until He comes again!

We just came back from a ministry trip to Honduras. Peter taught at a Pastor’s conference series on all the Feasts of Israel. It was well received. We saw how the Holy Spirit has produced much fruit in the lives of those who attended. We are excited to know that even more fruit will be produced in many more lives until He comes again!
I was glad also for the opportunity to take some unique pictures. Here are some of my favorites.

A Special Hem

2010-05-01T10:25:00.004-04:00

"Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well." Mark 6:56

Hems, I’ve sewn many. Usually they are the last thing that needs to be finished for a garment. The hem line in my life time has gone from the very top of the leg to the ankles and everywhere in-between.

During the Lord’s ministry here, I have no doubt that the hem of his garment was near his ankles. It gets cold in Israel, believe it our not! I got to visit there one summer and was surprised that I had to wear a warm jacket in the evenings and early mornings.

The Lord’s hem was probably very dirty and frayed from all the rugged roads and miles that he walked. It might have been wet and probably smelled a little like fish, since he was in and out of fishing boats at times.

There was something special about this hem. It was accessible to all; close to the ground. Many dirty hands were grabbing his hem when he walked by. No one noticed. But, Jesus did. These needy people with faith reached at the very edge, the farthest border. Behind him, low. Yet, even at this very insignificant, lowly place of Jesus’ being, there was cleansing and healing to all of them.

Do you need healing? Feel the filth of sin on your heart, mind and soul? It doesn’t take much faith, a little will do. Just reach out and touch his lowly “hem”. If your hands and heart are dirty, He knows and wants you to come to Him just as you are. Let Him cleanse and heal to your soul.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37

” The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

Note: The garment pictured is Peter's first century garment that he uses in his special presentations. It was hand made in Israel. The Close Line is one of my watercolor paintings.

Resurrection Morning

2010-04-03T10:43:00.008-04:00

Morning is my favorite time of the day. It’s so peaceful, quiet; the birds wake and start singing. I especially love the beautiful golden glow of the sunrise on the trees, ocean, lakes, grass and flowers, dispelling the darkness of the night. I imagine it was such a morning in Jerusalem long ago. As dawn was breaking and the morning sun was ready to cast its golden rays to light up the city, Mary Magdalene and the other faithful women, who followed Jesus from Galilee, were making their way up to the place where they laid him, after his death. They were lovingly carrying a mixture of special spices, such as spikenard, myrrh, aloes and fragrant oils (John 12:3-7, 19:39, Luke 23:56), they had quickly prepared just before the Sabbath started, a couple days before. They had seen how Jesus’ body was hurriedly wrapped up and laid in the tomb, for lack of time. They wanted to honor him by preparing his body for burial in the proper way. Understandably, they were worried that they wouldn’t be able to roll the stone away. I’ve seen the grave stones in Israel. I know I wouldn’t be able to move it without some help. They were startled and frightened by a sudden rumbling noise. They stumbled to the ground by the shaking earth beneath them. It was a great earthquake. After regaining their balance, they were glad that their jars of ointment were still in tact. So, they drew near. A strange brilliant light was shining. It was brighter than the rising sun. The stone was rolled away! The guards were stunned! Their fear grew. As their eyes adjusted to the brilliant light, they saw the Angel. He gently said to them, as he held out his hand, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.” Instantly, great joy rushed in their hearts, dispelling their fear and sadness. Then they saw Him! He has risen! He has risen, indeed!

May you, also, experience great joy in knowing the living Risen Savior this Resurrection Sunday, as well. (My thoughts were taken from Matthew 28:1-8. 1 Corinthians 15 is also a great chapter to read on this subject.)

A couple weeks ago, Peter and I were up in North Florida for a week long Bible conference. We got up to catch the sunrise one morning with camera in hand. These are some of my favorites from that beautiful morning.

Purim

2010-02-25T21:24:00.003-05:00

At the end of this month, the Jewish people will celebrate a fun festival called Purim. The word Purim means “lots”. Haman, the bad guy, casted lots to determine the day in which all the Jews of the land would be destroyed. This happened centuries before Christ in the Persian period. The story is found in the book of Esther. I encourage you to read it. Talk about a great story! As you read through, take note that there are 3 certainties found in the story that are standard characteristics of the Jewish people in their history. These certainties are also present day realities to all of us, who love and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. The first certainty is Persecution. Haman wanted to destroy the Jews. Many bad guys throughout history have tried…Pharaoh of Egypt, Nebuchadnezzar, and Hitler, to name a few… But, it is impossible. Read Jeremiah 31:35-37.

Our present reality, as believers, is that we will also suffer persecution and the world will hate us (II Timothy 3:12 and I John 3:13).

2. Providence is the second certainty. Esther, a Jewish girl, became Queen of Persia, “For such a time as this”. She was chosen to be in a unique position to help save her people and enable her uncle, Mordecai, to be placed in high position so that he can help care for his people. Providence is “the Hand of God in the Glove of history”. He was in control all along.

Our present reality, as believers, is that God is still in control. “All things work together for good to them that love God…” Romans 8:28
You are where you are, “For such a time as this”. He can use you for His glory in whatever situation he has put you in.
3. Preservation (Protection) is the third certainty. To His people, Israel, God is faithful to His promise that they will never be extinct from the earth.
“ blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; Genesis 22:17. God cares about His people and He protects them. “Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 121:4

Our present reality, as believers, is that we are protected in Christ Jesus as found in Romans 8:35-39
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? … For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The Gospel can be illustrated by Esther’s actions.
Esther was under the decree of death. – We are all under the decree of death because of sin, Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23.
Esther feared the king because he had the power of life and death. – We are to fear God who has power to destroy both soul and body in hell, Matthew 10:28.
Esther approached the king and was received. – We can come freely to the Lord Jesus and he will never cast us out, but will raise us at the last day, John 6:37, 40.

We can all be encouraged by Esther’s example. She was a beautiful woman, who had the courage, with God’s help, to do what needed to be done, for such a time as this!

The main points in this post were taken from a sermon given by my husband, Peter Colon.

Orchids and Announcement!

2010-01-08T14:50:00.004-05:00

“Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:” Isaiah 42:5
I had the privilege to participate in an art show with Women in the Visual Arts at the American Orchid Society in Delray Beach, FL this month. I took advantage of the time to walk around the facilities when I dropped off my 2 photographs to show. They have a beautiful place there. If you are ever in the area, do stop by. Glad I had my camera with me! These are some of my favorites.

The last one looks like dancing fairies!

Announcement:
“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Psalm 139:14
A little miracle has happen since my last post. I am now a Grandma! My daughter, Sarah, gave birth to a beautiful little girl, Juliet Christine, December 17th. She weighed 6 lbs, 11 oz. Peter and I had the privilege, along with our Son-in-Law, to be present when she was born. She is truly a little angel sent from God, so small, helpless and fragile.
Thank you, Lord, for this precious gift!

Christmas Dove

2009-12-13T18:48:00.003-05:00

Last Sunday my husband and I visited a retirement facility where he was invited to speak at their chapel service. He spoke on the history of Hanukkah and how it connected to Christmas. Did you know that there is a connection? A great article on this subject is in The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry archives at http://foi.org/thelightshinesbrighterstill Many Jewish people, who live there, heard the message over their Television. The Chaplin and his talented wife beautifully decorate the common areas with Christmas Trees, winter scenes, wreaths and angels. The most notable is their beautiful manger scene, displaying all the Christmas story figures and the entire town of Bethlehem.
I was drawn to the Christmas tree near the entrance of the Chapel. It had just 2 ornaments repeated all around the tree. One was a merry-go-round horse and the other was a flying dove holding a star and a heart. It was so pretty. It inspired me to paint this picture that very afternoon.
Jesus is:
The Prince of Peace- symbolized by the Dove. Philippians 4:7 “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
The Light of the World – Symbolized by the Star-John 8:12 “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
The Gift of Love - John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
These are only 3 of the many names of Jesus. I pray that you will all have that wonderful Peace, Light and Love given by God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas!

Note: Visit us at www.PraiseExpressions.com for a free download of this picture in size 5x7 for use in your home. While you are there, explore all the great inspirational gifts available and more!

Nuggets of Thanks from a Banquet Table of Blessings

2009-12-01T09:05:00.007-05:00

Thank you Lord…
For Jesus- my Savior, Redeemer, Shepherd and Friend.
For my Family- their love, humor, faithfulness, and support.

For the special smiles I get from my precious mother, now in poor health, both in mind and body.

For my creative husband, who makes life very interesting! And every precious moment we share.

For new experiences and involvement- release of our movie, Dr. Rossvally, movie premiers, first art show, Historical Society, membership in 2 local art societies, murals, 1st commissioned paintings, Mother in nursing home and 1st grandchild!
For all the new friends, brothers and sisters in the Lord, we have met this year in our travels and ministry.

For…fun times, trying times, hard work, rest

For our country- it’s history, liberty, honor, freedom for all.
I can go on! There is still much more… leftovers for another time.
Oh! One more bite…THANK YOU… for visiting me here in blog land.
God bless you!

Stepping into a new change in our family

2009-10-20T12:36:00.005-04:00

“ ... thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Psalm 139:13b-14
Our family has been getting ready for a special day…the birth of our first...grandchild. For our daughter and her husband, it is their first child. It is a new phase in life: From husband to father, daughter and wife to mother, Father to grandfather, mother (that’s me) to grandmother, brother to Uncle! We are all stepping into a change in the path before us and are all excited with anticipation to welcome this new life into our family. Ever since that glimpse of her little heartbeat at 8 weeks, we were in love with her and the Lord knew her. His hands are gently holding her safe in her mother’s womb. I’m enjoying this special time with Sarah, visiting baby stores, cleaning and painting the nursery and raving over all the adorable baby clothes people have given her already. In all this preparation, I’m re-living my experience of my first pregnancy and birth of Sarah. The circle of life …is come around!
Little Juliet, we welcome you into our family with much joy and love!

A Memorial of Blowing of Trumpets – Rosh Hashanah

2009-09-18T11:43:00.007-04:00

“Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.’” Leviticus 23:24-25
This is the 5th of the 7 unique observances given by God to the Jewish people. It has been observed, off and on, throughout Jewish history for thousands of years! We, as believers in the Lord Jesus, should understand the significance of these observances as well, for they add firm foundation, more clarity, and deep richness to our faith.
In the 2nd century the rabbis adapted the title of “Rosh Hashanah”, meaning “Head of months”, to mark the civil New Year. It also marks the beginning of the Fall High Holy Days – Rosh Hashanah, Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot).
Traditionally, it is believed that 3 books are opened in heaven – The book of the thoroughly Righteous, the book of the Intermediate or “semi-Righteous and the book of the thoroughly wicked. (Talmud Rosh Hashanah 16a, page 63 Soncino) Everyone hopes that their names are written in the first one – thoroughly Righteous. Revelation 20, in the Bible, talks about books being opened.
It is also believed that Satan goes before God to accuse the people of their sins, but the blowing of the shofar confuses him. (Talmud Rosh Hashanah 16b, page 61 Soncino) Believe me, we tried this… Peter blew the shofar in a crowded church foyer to get every ones attention and it worked like a charm!
“Tashlish” (casting) is performed. This is a ritual of throwing bread crumbs containing yeast into a moving flow of water that flows into the sea, symbolizing that our sins are cast into the sea, never to be remembered again. This is a beautiful visual illustration of God’s love and forgiveness
“He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:19
Visiting gravesites of relatives and friends and leaving a memorial stone is also customary. This practice started in the 16th century. You can really see this in Israel. Many of the grave sites have little piles of rocks on them.
Today, candles are lit to start the Sabbath. Kiddush: the cup of Sanctification or “setting apart” is drunk, the people will eat Challah bread dipped in honey to start off the New Year sweet and fish to symbolize fertility and immortality.
In order to see how the Messiah fits in all this we must look closely at what was done in Biblical times. Back then, this day was viewed as a Sabbath day- a day of rest. The shofar (ram’s horn) was blown to warn the people of impending judgment for sin and also to call them to the temple for repentance. Sacrifices were offered in their behalf.
As believers in the Lord Jesus, we have heard the shofar’s warning in God’s word, of the coming judgment for sin. This is just one of many:
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18

But, God has also made provision to escape this judgment.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
The sacrifice has been made once for all. Jesus paid the debt that was owed, giving all, who accept it by faith, a true Sabbath rest for all eternity with God.
“Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:12
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Romans 5:1

Are you still excited about what God has done for you? I pray that during this season you will get a refreshment of enthusiasm for God’s love and salvation for us.

For those who still need to consider this…
Ask yourself:
Have I heard God’s warning…The wages of sin is death?
Have I accepted His provision for my sin… The gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord?
Do I have eternal peace now…by faith?

I pray that you will be able to answer “yes”.
If not… let me encourage you to…
“Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.” Isaiah 55:6
Read a more in-depth article about Rosh Hashanah at: http://foi.org/atrumpetinzionpart2

A Day at the Beach

2009-08-22T15:19:00.000-04:00

My art loving friends and I went to do some sketching at the beach. I wanted to get some ideas for a beach painting I want to do. It was so windy. Every time we started to draw, our paper and pencils were blown away. It reminded me of another time I went to the beach with my family to eat a relaxing dinner and enjoy the scenery. As soon as we parked, got our table and started to put the food on the plates, the sky darkened and the wind suddenly started blowing so hard our plates, plastic ware, and napkins went flying before we took a bite! We struggled to pack it up again to go home to eat. Skirts, hair, bags and we were blown back to the car, laughing all the way home. Sometimes our plans or good intentions get changed through no fault of our own. It just happens. I have learned to be flexible.
Well, our intention to sketch at the beach was also changed. But, I still wanted to get an idea for a beach scene painting and spend time with my friends. So, I pulled out my camera to take pictures of possibilities for a painting. I said, “Let’s go for a walk and let me know when you see a good shot for a picture.”

Come along and walk with us…

I loved all the bright colorful umbrellas dotting the shoreline.

Be careful ! The yellow warning flag is waving! Waves were high and the surfers were having a great time.

Even though our plans changed, we still had a wonderful time walking, talking and enjoying the fresh air and our friendship. We are happy you came along, too!

A Window...

2009-08-02T14:46:00.000-04:00

Lets you see inside… out… and satisfies your curiosity…
Gives a view…
Lets light shine in…out…
Reflects and casts shadows…
Protects against the elements- rain, snow, wind...
Let’s air in… and out
Can relax…or alarm
Creates the mood…
Is a place for cats to sit…for birds to rest or lay their nests
Is a perfect place to put a potted plant…
Of opportunity
Of heaven
In nature
Of hope.

(If you can think of any more, please leave them in the comments below!)

(Picture on the right: My kids back in the Chicago days.)
Unusual windows always catch my interest. A couple of years ago, when Peter and I visited England, we found out that the designer of the lobby of one of the old hotels in London was the same man who designed the main lobby and ornate staircase of the Titanic. Since we were walking by, we had to see it for ourselves. The resemblance was there right away! (We had seen it in the movie…) The ornate stairs were lit by the natural glow of light coming through these beautiful windows. Each one had a different emblem on it: a Crest, a flowered heart and a cross.
The crest reminds me of family and honor. All my actions reflect on my name and family. The flowered heart reminds me of compassion. May I always have compassion for those in need. The Cross, which I was delighted to see, reminds me of my faith. May I always be a “window” in which the light and love of Jesus can shine through.
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

On another day, while visiting the Lawnswood Cemetery in Leeds, I took a picture of this window, as it gave me a spooky feeling. It reminds me of the seed sown among the thorns in the parable of the sower.

“And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” Mark 4:19

What a contrast to the staircase windows above! I know I don’t want my life to reflect a window like this. Lord, help me keep the “window” of my mind and heart clean in your Word!
Amen.
(Photographs will be available for download at www.PraiseExpressions.Com)

Mrs. Coulson: From Rossvally the Movie

2009-07-21T12:03:00.000-04:00

“When I found you on the battle-field you were so far gone that I thought it hardly worth while to pick you up; but when you opened those large blue eyes I thought you had a mother somewhere who might, at that moment, be thinking of her boy.” Max L Rossvally

When my husband, Peter, asked me to play the part of Mrs. Coulson, I hesitantly said, “Oooookay.” I had never played a part in any drama or play in my life! I’m a shy person. But, this was a definite nudge from the Lord. It was scary. This was the climax of the movie! I had to show a lot of emotion. How was I going to pull this off as real? Well, it took a lot of prayer! Two days before the filming, I got dressed up in my period costume and practiced in front of the mirror over and over again all day long. Then, I had Peter film me with our video camera and recorded a whole disc. As we watched it on our TV, I thought, “This just might work!” Then, my kids came over and we showed it to them. As soon as I came on the screen, they started laughing and couldn’t stop. They’d never heard me talk and look like that before. I got insecure, but I left it in the Lord’s hands.

The next day we all met at Boca Raton Bible Chapel for the filming… No pressure! Everyone was excited. Peter and I brought all our Civil War period outfits for everyone to use. The extras were people from the church, West Park Baptist Church, our weekly Bible study group, family and anyone else we could find! It took all day to film the scene for just those few emotional minuets in the movie!

I tried to put myself in Mrs. Coulson’s shoes, as a mother. Her only son was horribly wounded at Gettysburg. She couldn’t be there to gently wipe his brow, give a word of comfort or kiss goodbye. I can’t imagine the sorrow she felt when she received Charlie’s Bible and letter, informing her of his death. But yet, she testified at her church of the wonderful hope she had when she said, “Oh! It is a great joy to know that I shall meet my boy with Jesus in heaven…”
“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8
She was a poor widow from Brooklyn. She told her son, Charlie, when he was five years old, never to touch strong drink. That was the cause of his father’s death. She promised God, that she would raise him to” warn young men against the bitter cup.” Faithfully, she led him in daily Bible reading and prayer, as well as took him to Church. It was there Charlie, at 9 years old, accepted the Lord and dedicated his life. Though he served for only 3 months as a drummer in the army, he continued daily Bible study, prayer and fellowship with other believers. This devotion, along with his mother’s prayers, gave Charlie, who at the time of Gettysburg was now 17 years old, a strong faith to be able to withstand the pain of a double amputation with no drugs. He was more concerned about the soul of the war-hardened Jewish doctor who treated him than for himself.
“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because … he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again”. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Mrs. Coulson is an example of many mothers in home situations today: ill health, bad marriage, widowed, destitute, alone, living in a time of current uncertainty. The lesson I learned is to trust God and His Word. Continue in prayer. Admonish my children to do the same. There is no guarantee that the road will be easy. Mrs. Coulson’s certainly was not. But, God is faithful and all things will work together for good (Romans 8:28). What God desires is faithfulness to His Word. He blessed her efforts and joy by letting her see the fruit of her son’s witness in Rossvally’s testimony of salvation. It has been an honor to portray this dear woman in the film.

http://www.rossvallythemovie.com/

Shaw, S.B., Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer, Grand Rapids, MI.: S.B. Shaw Publisher, 1895, page 36-41.