Barbara Rainey's Blog, page 17
February 3, 2022
The Barbara Rainey Podcast – New Episode!
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and for many people, it is one of the most disliked days of the year. It creates unrealistic expectations on both husbands and wives and if you are single, it tends to rudely remind you that you don’t have a special someone to spend the holiday with. Love as God intended isn’t full of flowers and chocolate; in His words He says it’s full of patience, kindness, goodness, and many other traits. His love also wasn’t meant to be celebrated only one day a year.
On the newest episode of The Barbara Rainey Podcast, Dennis and I talk about what biblical love looks like. Several years ago, I wrote a 14-day devotional called How Do I Love Thee?. On today’s podcast, we talk about the 14 descriptors of love that are in 1 Corinthians 13. I encourage you to download the devotional and companion hearts as well for the full effect! This is a great devo to do with your kiddos and get them involved so they, too, know about the love God intended for us!
I hope you enjoy going through the 14 descriptors of love as much as I enjoyed writing them!
Ever His,
Barbara
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Play
The post The Barbara Rainey Podcast – New Episode! appeared first on Ever Thine Home.
The Barbara Rainey Podcast – new episode!
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and for many people, it is one of the most disliked days of the year. It creates unrealistic expectations on both husbands and wives and if you are single, it tends to rudely remind you that you don’t have a special someone to spend the holiday with. Love as God intended isn’t full of flowers and chocolate, but in His words He says it’s full of patience, kindness, goodness, and many other traits. His love also wasn’t meant to be celebrated only one day a year.
On the newest episode of The Barbara Rainey Podcast, Dennis and I talk about what biblical love looks like rather than what commercial stores want us to focus on. Several years ago, I wrote a 14 day devotional called How Do I Love Thee. On today’s podcast, we talk about the 14 descriptors of love that are in 1 Corinthians 13. I would encourage you to download the devotional and companion hearts as well for the full effect! This is a great devo to do with your kiddos and get them involved so they too, know about the love God intended for us!
I hope you enjoy going through the 14 descriptors of love as much as I enjoyed writing them!
Ever His,
Barbara
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Play
The post The Barbara Rainey Podcast – new episode! appeared first on Ever Thine Home.
January 31, 2022
Valentine’s Day is Two Weeks Away!
Happy Monday, friends!
“We love, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
Two weeks from today, there will be balloons and flowers galore as we celebrate Valentine’s Day. It’s the florists’ biggest season of the year! And I do love flowers.
As promised, here is how you can sign up for our new “How Do I Love Thee” eBook. Over the next 14 days, you and your family will go through the 14 descriptors of love found in 1 Corinthians 13.
Here is a snippet from the book:
The word “love” is the subject of each verse and each story as if love were a person, because Love is a person. The Bible tells us in John 14, that God is love and Jesus said “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.” So to better understand love, substitute Jesus’ name everywhere the word “love” is written and read “Jesus is patient, He is kind. Jesus does not envy or boast” to the end of the list. He is true Love!
I hope you enjoy this as much as we enjoyed putting it together! You can download the book here.
Grateful for His love and as always,
Barbara
P.S. It’s also not too late to purchase the set of 14 beautiful heart cards that go along with this ebook or the “Be His Valentine” cards for your kids, or our cute new love notes for your spouse! Click here to get them from Etsy!
The post Valentine’s Day is Two Weeks Away! appeared first on Ever Thine Home.
January 27, 2022
Friends and Family #13
Happy New Year everyone!
I do know it’s not happy for everyone. Life is hard and always will be, but God is good and never will that change. Here’s an update on some of our very normal good and bad moments in January.
I’m resorting to a bullet list for this month’s letter as a simpler way to share a lot.
2022 began for us with another round of Covid. Dennis got a positive test result on the Monday after Christmas. That’s twice in less than six months, even with the vaccine. Equally amazing is that I didn’t get it either time! When I took my second test, the longer, more-accurate-they-say one, the nurse who called me with the results said I must have super antibodies. Who knows? Dennis finally started feeling normal on January 5, which also happens to be our Laura’s birthday. I always know he’s improving because he starts teasing again!His positive test and slow recovery meant cancelling our trip to attend the Weekend to Remember speakers retreat. Since Dennis and I began a team speaker approach to our marriage events in the late 80s, he and I had never missed one. This was to be our last official retreat as speakers. We hope they will invite us back one day to attend just for the opportunity to encourage the amazing team of couples who are committed to carrying on the ministry of strengthening marriages.Since my brother’s death in October I’ve spent more time paying attention to our small family farm, since Dennis and I live the closest. Late in the first week in January we drove down for the day and discovered the recent freeze had broken pipes in my now-deceased brother’s trailer in which he lived. Everything else was fine, thankfully. We got all the water turned off to every building, locked up, and came home with a to-do list.God has so kindly provided the help we need to take care of things at the farm even though the nearest town is tiny and would appear to have nothing to offer compared to a city. Yet even in this small unknown place I’ve re-discovered and been encouraged by the old-yet-eternal values that used to be commonplace across our country. The woman who cleans for us after we stayed at the farm fell and broke her heel but chose not to sue us. She said it was her fault and not to worry. We went to visit her and checked on her often, took her flowers and food, and tried to demonstrate our gratitude and genuine appreciation.
Last week I asked her if she knew a carpenter who could fix the rotting deck stairs at my brother’s trailer. She volunteered her boyfriend, who refused to charge us except for supplies because we’d been so nice to her.
In the midst of asking God if He wants me to keep maintaining the farm or sell it, He is giving indications like this that He is in it with me for now. Next week I’ll be there while we get the foundation leveled, a much-needed job. And the man doing the work is someone I met standing in line at Home Depot. Another only-God story of provision.
With Ever Thine Home I’ve been working to finalize our newest ebook, How Do I Love Thee?, a devotion on the 14 descriptors of love in 1 Corinthians 13, and creating several sets of cards for Valentines for our Etsy store. You can find them all here. We are also continuing the search for a managing director and doing a lot of planning and brainstorming for the entire year of 2022. I’ve never had an entire year planned on paper and I’m excited to see how it works … always subject to the leading of the Spirit, of course. He’s in charge, not us.Monday the 10th was the beginning of a new semester of seminary. I’m taking “History of Doctrine,” by Dr. John Hannah, who happens to be a long-time friend along with his wife and family. He has been the chair of the history department for a very long time and has an amazing wealth of knowledge.Here is a link to a chapel message Dr. Hannah gave almost 20 years ago. It will give you a taste of his wisdom and it will be a big encouragement, a warm invitation to more time in your relationship with Jesus. It’s titled “Come Have Breakfast with Me.”
I hope you’re are enjoying these personal letters from me. I’d love for you to forward this to a sister, friend or neighbor and encourage them to subscribe to Ever Thine Home. That will allow them to receive this monthly update, be eligible for free downloads of our ebooks, and be the first to know about new things coming your way.
And don’t forget to watch your inbox on Monday for the newest ebook for personal devotions or for everyone in your family to join in together in learning how to love well. I think you’ll find the stories each day to be challenging and inspirational.
Happy Valentine’s Day and may you learn this month how to love more like Jesus Himself.
He is the Perfect Lover of our souls.
Ever His,
Barbara
The post Friends and Family #13 appeared first on Ever Thine Home.
Friends and Family 22.1
Happy New Year everyone!
I do know it’s not happy for everyone. Life is hard and always will be, but God is good and never will that change. Here’s an update on some of our very normal good and bad moments in January.
I’m resorting to a bullet list for this month’s letter as a simpler way to share a lot.
2022 began for us with another round of Covid. Dennis got a positive test result on the Monday after Christmas. That’s twice in less than six months, even with the vaccine. Equally amazing is that I didn’t get it either time! When I took my second test, the longer, more-accurate-they-say one, the nurse who called me with the results said I must have super antibodies. Who knows? Dennis finally started feeling normal on January 5, which also happens to be our Laura’s birthday. I always know he’s improving because he starts teasing again!His positive test and slow recovery meant cancelling our trip to attend the Weekend to Remember speakers retreat. Since Dennis and I began a team speaker approach to our marriage events in the late 80s, he and I had never missed one. This was to be our last official retreat as speakers. We hope they will invite us back one day to attend just for the opportunity to encourage the amazing team of couples who are committed to carrying on the ministry of strengthening marriages.Since my brother’s death in October I’ve spent more time paying attention to our small family farm, since Dennis and I live the closest. Late in the first week in January we drove down for the day and discovered the recent freeze had broken pipes in my now-deceased brother’s trailer in which he lived. Everything else was fine, thankfully. We got all the water turned off to every building, locked up, and came home with a to-do list.God has so kindly provided the help we need to take care of things at the farm even though the nearest town is tiny and would appear to have nothing to offer compared to a city. Yet even in this small unknown place I’ve re-discovered and been encouraged by the old-yet-eternal values that used to be commonplace across our country. The woman who cleans for us after we stayed at the farm fell and broke her heel but chose not to sue us. She said it was her fault and not to worry. We went to visit her and checked on her often, took her flowers and food, and tried to demonstrate our gratitude and genuine appreciation.
Last week I asked her if she knew a carpenter who could fix the rotting deck stairs at my brother’s trailer. She volunteered her boyfriend, who refused to charge us except for supplies because we’d been so nice to her.
In the midst of asking God if He wants me to keep maintaining the farm or sell it, He is giving indications like this that He is in it with me for now. Next week I’ll be there while we get the foundation leveled, a much-needed job. And the man doing the work is someone I met standing in line at Home Depot. Another only-God story of provision.
With Ever Thine Home I’ve been working to finalize our newest ebook, How Do I Love Thee?, a devotion on the 14 descriptors of love in 1 Corinthians 13, and creating several sets of cards for Valentines for our Etsy store. You can find them all here. We are also continuing the search for a managing director and doing a lot of planning and brainstorming for the entire year of 2022. I’ve never had an entire year planned on paper and I’m excited to see how it works … always subject to the leading of the Spirit, of course. He’s in charge, not us.Monday the 10th was the beginning of a new semester of seminary. I’m taking “History of Doctrine,” by Dr. John Hannah, who happens to be a long-time friend along with his wife and family. He has been the chair of the history department for a very long time and has an amazing wealth of knowledge.Here is a link to a chapel message Dr. Hannah gave almost 20 years ago. It will give you a taste of his wisdom and it will be a big encouragement, a warm invitation to more time in your relationship with Jesus. It’s titled “Come Have Breakfast with Me.”
I hope you’re are enjoying these personal letters from me. I’d love for you to forward this to a sister, friend or neighbor and encourage them to subscribe to Ever Thine Home. That will allow them to receive this monthly update, be eligible for free downloads of our ebooks, and be the first to know about new things coming your way.
And don’t forget to watch your inbox on Monday for the newest ebook for personal devotions or for everyone in your family to join in together in learning how to love well. I think you’ll find the stories each day to be challenging and inspirational.
Happy Valentine’s Day and may you learn this month how to love more like Jesus Himself.
He is the Perfect Lover of our souls.
Ever His,
Barbara
The post Friends and Family 22.1 appeared first on Ever Thine Home.
January 25, 2022
The Gift of Listening
With so many things competing for our time and attention, how many of us moms are struggling with really listening to our kids? Our guest writer today, Renee Swope, gives us some great insight into this common issue and helps us understand the importance of this gift. We hope you’ll enjoy hearing her wisdom.
I heard my husband, J.J. calling our thirteen-year-old dachshund, Chelsea, to come get her treat. It was part of his night time ritual of luring her to the back door and then to her doggie bed in our laundry room.
Daisy, our beagle, was already in the backyard doing her business, anticipating the reward of a doggy biscuit if she obediently came back and went to her bed.
J.J. eventually gave up and went looking for Chelsea who was sound asleep in her favorite chair in our den. When J.J. and the boys came upstairs, I asked if they thought Chelsea had “selective hearing” because she didn’t want to go to bed or if she was going deaf. I had a feeling it was the latter. We reminisced about how Chelsea used to hear and bark at everything from the ice maker in our kitchen to the wind blowing leaves outside.
A few minutes later, my then eight-year-old, Andrew, came to me with a concerned look and said, “Mom, I hope you don’t go deaf like Chelsea when you get old.”
I laughed and told him it might be nice if I can’t hear everything when I’m as old as Chelsea since she gets more sleep than I do and doesn’t hear us laughing at her. My lighthearted response didn’t wipe the concern off Andrew’s face, so I asked why he was concerned. And he answered without hesitation, “Well, sometimes you don’t hear me now. Like when you’re on the computer and I ask you a question, sometimes you don’t hear me.”
I had no idea Andrew thought I couldn’t hear him, and his response almost plunged me into a “bad mom” moment. Memories of recent times I’d heard him but didn’t listen because I was deeply distracted flashed back in my mind.
Although I was tempted to define those moment with shame and guilt, I decided to apologize instead. I pulled Andrew close and told him I was sorry for not listening sometimes. I didn’t want him to fear old age could make it worse, so I explained that me being on the computer was like him watching playing a video game and how it’s like he is in another world and can’t hear me calling him for dinner. He nodded with a smile, and I could see his concern fade.
My example helped him understand, but I didn’t want it to become an excuse to make me feel better. So, I made him a promise I hoped I could keep: “Andrew, I’m sorry. Will you forgive me for not listening sometimes? You’re more important than anything I do on the computer or on my phone. What you have to say matters to me. And I’m going to try really hard to stop what I am doing when you come to me, look away from my screen and listen to what you’re saying.”
Psalm 17:6 reminds me of our human longing to be heard:
I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray. (NLT)
In the same way we go to God because we want Him to listen and answer us, our children come to us because they want to be listened to and heard. Being heard gives them a sense of connectedness, which every child craves and needs.
That night God showed me a valuable gift He offers me and wants me to give my children: the gift of listening. I give it each time I simply stop what I’m doing and turn my full attention to them when they want to talk to me.
The Bible offers the wonderful listening advice: “Everyone should be quick to listen, [and] slow to speak” (James 1:19). This verse encourages me to really listen by leaning in and hearing what our kids have to say, instead of thinking about or interrupting with what we want to say next.
In our culture of constant contact through texts, social media, cell phones, apps, and multiple devices, our attention is divided, and our focus is easily shifted away from those who are in the room with us. Our children need to know they are worth more than the screens in our hands and the competing thoughts in our heads. We don’t need to let them dominate our attention all the time, but when we listen with our whole heart on a regular basis, we give our children a deep sense of value and we develop a heart-connection with them will last long into their adult years.
This article was adapted from A Confident Mom: Simple Ways to Give Your Child What They Need Most, by Renee Swope
Simple Ways to Give Your Child the Gift of Listening
Stop what you are going and give your undivided attentionSilence our cell phone.Make and keep eye contact.Lean in and make sure nonverbal cues communicate you are paying attention.Pray as you listen. Ask God to give us wisdom to process oyur child’s spoken and unspoken thoughts and concerns.Empathize with their feelings and emotions.Let the interaction be about them.Don’t be afraid to laugh, cry, celebrate, or be still with them.Even if your child lets you down, still lean in and listen with appreciation for one of God’s unique children.From Renee’s new book, A Confident Mom
The post The Gift of Listening appeared first on Ever Thine Home.
January 24, 2022
When the Doctor Recommended I Terminate My Pregnancy, I Had a Choice to Make
Today’s post is from my sweet friend Tracy Lane, mom of three, whose life was defined forever by a routine visit to her OB doc during her second pregnancy. Since that day she and her husband have experienced more ups and downs than the biggest roller coaster imaginable. But those curves and twists have taught her lessons about the value of life and about the love of God that have changed her forever. I think you’ll enjoy Tracy’s story today and maybe it will make a difference in your life too.
Two years ago, alone in a dark ultrasound room, I learned that the baby wiggling in my womb was a “mistake.” A doctor strongly recommended I terminate my pregnancy when he saw that my preborn baby’s spine was growing outside of his skin into a big fluid-filled bubble on his back.
The medical diagnosis was Spina bifida. The grim doctor’s prognosis was: He’ll never walk. He’ll never be anything close to “normal.” He will have significant cognitive delays.
“So most parents, two-thirds to be exact, would choose to abort this baby,” the doctor reported with a solemn face.
The shocking elephant in the room is that the only reason we were even looking in depth at my pregnancy was that I’d been given the same advice six years earlier about another baby who grew wrongly in my womb.
Before I ever imagined I’d grow a baby with a gigantic bubble on his back, I grew a baby with half of her heart missing. I remembered a doctor telling me then that I should terminate that baby as well.
The doctors made it sound so sterile. So simple. So nothing at all.
“We can take care of it today.”
“You can try again.”
“This will be private.”
They didn’t say: Excuse me, ma’am we think you should kill your baby.
That’s because the mothers in those dark rooms don’t want their child to die. We just want a way out.
No one needed to tell me that abortion means death. A slow death already unfolded inside of me as I faced the reality in my body and in mine and my baby’s future.
Facing this decision meant death for the dreams I had about motherhood. (What little girl ever wished to be a mother who didn’t want the unborn “fetus” moving inside of her?)
It was death for the hopes I had from the first morning nausea, the first day late, and the day I saw two lines on the urine-saturated stick.
Choosing to believe God
I know now that most mothers do not choose to abort a baby because they don’t love enough. It’s because their fear is suffocating.
As a mother facing an indescribable yet palpable amount of imminent and ongoing suffering for my children, in both of those moments it was tempting to make the selfish choice. A mother doesn’t want her child to suffer. And honestly, a mother doesn’t want to suffer either.
I admitted to myself and to my husband that the doctor was right: I really didn’t want a baby with a deformed spine, just like I hadn’t wanted a baby with half of a heart.
But I had a choice to make. Once again, I realized that the little life growing inside of me wasn’t mine. I knew it belonged to God. But now I had to believe it.
God had to remind me …
The only problem was at this moment, especially the second time around, God felt much more cruel to me than a good, loving Father who knew what He was doing.
Besides, lots of doctors and societies are good at convincing scared, shocked, grieving parents that there is an easier way. Still, I chose to believe God’s words in Psalm 139:13-14:
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
God was knitting another baby together in my womb exactly as He wanted him.
Even if it wasn’t the way I wanted the baby knitted.
That day I was scared. But I chose to keep him; I chose life for my son.
Since I had been through this before, you would think this would have been an easier decision. But there were so many things that I had to remember …
I had to remember that nothing beautiful is ever perfect. But I’m glad that somehow I chose to believe again that every life is worth it.
I had to remember that there would be so much more to celebrate than to grieve. Yet on any given day I’d likely be doing both.
I had to remember that that, even though it wouldn’t be easy, every single day with miracle kids would be sacred.
I had to remember that the world would fall in love with their bright spirits and courageous eyes.
I had to remember that these kids change me into someone who knows and cares about all the sick babies and the strong sobbing moms of the world.
I had to remember how many mothers would ache for the news that there was a tiny chance that their “sick” baby could make it, and I was taking that chance!
And I had to remember that their sickness would somehow heal us all.
What was God doing?
Instead of knowing, I laid on the exam table wondering how I’d mother a child who shouldn’t make it and a child who shouldn’t walk.
I wondered about my baby’s brokenness. And mostly what in the world God was doing.
Still … in my wonder, I believed.
I believed that life was worth it, no matter how short or long it lasted. God was already numbering every one of my child’s days (Psalm 139:16). I believed that God could provide whatever we needed.
Mostly I believed that someday, somehow God could somehow, someday redeem the ache of that day.
And since that day I continue to watch and wait while I beg Him for ongoing healing this side of heaven.
The moment Davis was born, I didn’t meet him. The enormous, jiggly bubble on his back sent him straight into his neurosurgeon’s arms instead of mine. Davis received spinal repair surgery when he was just three hours old. But thankfully the surgery worked! Today Davis is a happy, typical-seeming toddler who walks, jumps, climbs, and pets every “Pu-Pu” who walks by our house. The only thing proving he has Spina bifida is a long, jagged scar down his back and the six-month follow-up checkups.
Annie underwent three open-heart surgeries by three years old. Most of the time on the outside she seems like a growing up seven-year-old girl, jumping on the trampoline, riding her bike with friends, taking spelling tests, and growing awkward adult teeth for a gangly smile. The hard part is that on the inside she’s sustained by handfuls of medicine four times a day and by weekly finger pricks to check blood levels. She also faces the looming threat of a heart transplant; we’ve recently been told this is likely sooner than later. We could certainly use your prayers.
In one corner I hold that God is good and loving. In the opposite corner, I hold that their lives are His. He can do whatever He wants to with their days and doesn’t need me to make peace with any of it. He just requires obedience from me as I steward the gift of these dear children.
Annie and Davis, I’m glad you’re mine. And mostly I’m glad you’re God’s. Keep shining bright, my brave ones. The world is surely watching.
Tracy Lane is the manager of content strategy for FamilyLife. She is the author of numerous articles, coauthor of Passport2Identity, and guest on multiple FamilyLife Today broadcasts. Tracy and her husband Matt have three children. Follow her special needs motherhood journey at HeartForAnnie.wordpress.com . Find her on instagram @HeartForAnnie.
The post When the Doctor Recommended I Terminate My Pregnancy, I Had a Choice to Make appeared first on Ever Thine Home.
January 20, 2022
Pro Adoption is Pro Life
This week, as we mark the anniversary of the Roe v Wade ruling in 1973, I wanted to send a quick note about a talk Dennis and I gave a few years ago about the sanctity of life. In this podcast called Pro Adoption is Pro Life, we share five truths we’ve learned around God’s command to care for the orphan. Those points include: lead the fatherless to the Father, find ways to go near orphans, give sacrificially, empty your state’s foster care system, and become pro-life and pro adoption.
In about 30 minutes, we cover some serious ground explaining each of those ideas and what each one could look like for you and your family.
We also created a download of these five bullet points so you can print them out and hang the card in a place where you will see it and remember to pray about how you can be involved in the support of orphans and orphan care work.
On a fun note, we are now on all major podcast platforms, so simply search for The Barbara Rainey Podcast and you will find us there!
Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts
Click here to listen on Spotify
Click here to listen on Google Play
I hope you will give this podcast a listen and pray about your involvement!
The post Pro Adoption is Pro Life appeared first on Ever Thine Home.
January 17, 2022
One Amazing Story From the Marshall Fire
Today’s post is by my best friend, my husband Dennis. He is man of many gifts, one of which is telling stories. It’s always been true of him but I’ve just recognized it clearly in these last four years and both of us are learning and relearning things about each other. Today he is telling a story about a dear friend of ours, David Sunde. Dennis and David have worked together in various ways for forty years. They have a lot in common, but most importantly is their commitment to and love for the truth of Scripture. This is a story you will want to read.
For my friend David Sunde, 2021 will be never be forgotten.
It began with the loss of his wife of 61 years, Sande, who died after a long bout with Alzheimer’s disease.
It ended with another great loss, like a bookend to the year, the loss of everything he had … or ALMOST everything.
David was at lunch with a friend at noon on December 30. As he was driving home the traffic gridlock was incredible, and he didn’t know why the traffic was gridlocked. But he stayed in the traffic because home was the only place to go.
When he pulled into his driveway, the raging wind and smoke made visibility almost zero. It was at that point that his cell phone rang. It was the first of many defining moments that would let him know that God was with him.
A neighbor was calling him and urgently pleaded. “David, don’t get out of your car! Don’t go inside your home … BACK OUT OF YOUR DRIVEWAY AND HEAD EAST! NOW!”
The only possessions David had with him were his cellphone and his jacket.
As he backed out, he saw a wall of raging red smoke and fire bearing down on him at nearly 100 mph, sweeping through the perimeter of his neighborhood.
He weaved his way out of his neighborhood and made his way to the Rec Center about a mile from his home. But as he started to pull in, he noticed that a line of cars was trying to get out of there too.
The only place he knew to go that was a safe distance away was a Walmart about 10 miles from his home. The trip normally took 15 minutes. On this day it took 90 minutes.
He parked his car and headed into the store. Another defining moment was about to take place.
He walked to the shoe department, remembering that was the only place that he could sit down for a moment and collect his thoughts.
“What am I doing here?”
David and Sande had asked that question before about their purpose and mission in life over 60 years ago when they decided to go to Dallas Theological Seminary and then invest their lives in college students with Campus Crusade for Christ, now Cru.
Our friendship began when David and Sande helped us launch FamilyLife back in 1976. And as members of our Weekend to Remember speaker team, together they spoke at well over 100 of these conferences to over 50,000 people. He remains a trusted friend.
He was and is a great Bible teacher and equipped thousands of college students and laymen and women how to do life God’s way.
Sitting there in the Walmart shoe department, David knew a pack of water would be essential. He walked a few aisles to his left and found a 6-pack of water.
He knew he couldn’t just stay in the store, so decided to head out to his car.
It was then, as he was walking down the aisle toward checkout, when he felt the presence of someone beside him.
He glanced to his right and there was Kirk Jamison, owner of KT’s BBQ. For the past two years David had been attending a men’s Bible study on Wednesday mornings with Kirk.
“David, what are you doing here?” Kirk asked.
David then shared how he had ended up in Walmart.
Kirk could tell that David was a bit shaken and confused by all that was going on and said, “Come with me.” Then Kirk drove him to Boulder to the home of a friend where he was staying.
He explained how God had provided the house for him … and also for David. “You can stay here with us,” he said.
Over the next 24 hours David would discover that his house, and a thousand others, had been completely incinerated by what is now called the Colorado Marshall Fire.
Here’s what’s left of David Sunde’s home
Superior, Colorado, before and after the Marshall Fire (Nearmap).
The next day David headed out to get a few necessities. He realized that he had a vital call later that morning with the insurance adjustor and that his cell phone had not been charged. There was no place to pull over and charge his phone, so he pulled over in a church parking lot.
He quickly connected his phone to the charger. He watched a massive 18-wheeler pull into to that lot and park. Because David’s car was the only car in the parking lot, the driver got out of his truck and walked across the parking lot to David.
“What are you doing here,” the truck driver asked?
David told the truck driver what had happened and that he was waiting until his phone was charged to call the insurance adjustor.
The truck driver then said, “That’s why we’re here. Before you leave, could I pray for you?”
As the trucker prayed, David broke down and began to weep at yet another timely provision from God.
The truck and truck driver were from Samaritan’s Purse, an evangelical humanitarian and disaster relief organization. As David shared the story with me, he began to cry again. He said, “That trucker is a ‘warrior’ caring for people at points of their deepest needs.”
That’s what they do.
Another defining moment. David was NOT alone. God was with him in his valley. Step by step, showing him the way.
Then Tom Shirk called. Tom’s the pastor of Calvary Church in Boulder, and as they talked, Tom said the church wanted to help him and offered David a check for $5,000. David called that check, “the signature of God” providing for his needs.
Glenn, another lifetime friend of David’s called to ask how he was doing. In their conversation David shared about the two bookends of 2021 – how it started in January with his wife’s departure to heaven, and ended on December 30 with the raging fire that took everything else he had.
Tearfully, David then shared how he felt with Glenn, and asked, “What’s left?”
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a few moments … and then came yet another defining moment in Glenn’s response: “You! YOU are left!”
No, God isn’t done with David Sunde.
And He’s not done with you or me either. Regardless of what you are facing today … God is with you and wants to use you.
What’s your assignment today?
Perhaps it’s a simple act of kindness to someone who is giving you trouble. Or deciding not to give up and quit, but instead persevere … like David.
Or in all my years of writing, I’ve never quite faced a situation with a friend like this where I’m asking my friends to help my friend. Would you go to David’s Go Fund Me page and perhaps be his next defining moment with a gift to that fund?
Whatever you do be sure to take the step of faith that God has for you. He is with you.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
The post One Amazing Story From the Marshall Fire appeared first on Ever Thine Home.
One Amazing Story from the Marshall Fire
Today’s post is by my best friend, my husband Dennis. He is man of many gifts, one of which is telling stories. It’s always been true of him but I’ve just recognized it clearly in these last four years and both of us are learning and relearning things about each other. Today he is telling a story about a dear friend of ours, David Sunde. Dennis and David have worked together in various ways for forty years. They have a lot in common, but most importantly is their commitment to and love for the truth of Scripture. This is a story you will want to read.
For my friend David Sunde, 2021 will be never be forgotten.
It began with the loss of his wife of 61 years, Sande, who died after a long bout with Alzheimer’s disease.
It ended with another great loss, like a bookend to the year, the loss of everything he had … or ALMOST everything.
David was at lunch with a friend at noon on December 30. As he was driving home the traffic gridlock was incredible, and he didn’t know why the traffic was gridlocked. But he stayed in the traffic because home was the only place to go.
When he pulled into his driveway, the raging wind and smoke made visibility almost zero. It was at that point that his cell phone rang. It was the first of many defining moments that would let him know that God was with him.
A neighbor was calling him and urgently pleaded. “David, don’t get out of your car! Don’t go inside your home … BACK OUT OF YOUR DRIVEWAY AND HEAD EAST! NOW!”
The only possessions David had with him were his cellphone and his jacket.
As he backed out, he saw a wall of raging red smoke and fire bearing down on him at nearly 100 mph, sweeping through the perimeter of his neighborhood.
He weaved his way out of his neighborhood and made his way to the Rec Center about a mile from his home. But as he started to pull in, he noticed that a line of cars was trying to get out of there too.
The only place he knew to go that was a safe distance away was a Walmart about 10 miles from his home. The trip normally took 15 minutes. On this day it took 90 minutes.
He parked his car and headed into the store. Another defining moment was about to take place.
He walked to the shoe department, remembering that was the only place that he could sit down for a moment and collect his thoughts.
“What am I doing here?”
David and Sande had asked that question before about their purpose and mission in life over 60 years ago when they decided to go to Dallas Theological Seminary and then invest their lives in college students with Campus Crusade for Christ, now Cru.
Our friendship began when David and Sande helped us launch FamilyLife back in 1976. And as members of our Weekend to Remember speaker team, together they spoke at well over 100 of these conferences to over 50,000 people. He remains a trusted friend.
He was and is a great Bible teacher and equipped thousands of college students and laymen and women how to do life God’s way.
Sitting there in the Walmart shoe department, David knew a pack of water would be essential. He walked a few aisles to his left and found a 6-pack of water.
He knew he couldn’t just stay in the store, so decided to head out to his car.
It was then, as he was walking down the aisle toward checkout, when he felt the presence of someone beside him.
He glanced to his right and there was Kirk Jamison, owner of KT’s BBQ. For the past two years David had been attending a men’s Bible study on Wednesday mornings with Kirk.
“David, what are you doing here?” Kirk asked.
David then shared how he had ended up in Walmart.
Kirk could tell that David was a bit shaken and confused by all that was going on and said, “Come with me.” Then Kirk drove him to Boulder to the home of a friend where he was staying.
He explained how God had provided the house for him … and also for David. “You can stay here with us,” he said.
Over the next 24 hours David would discover that his house, and a thousand others, had been completely incinerated by what is now called the Colorado Marshall Fire.
What is left of David Sunde’s home
Superior, Colorado, before and after the Marshall Fire, Sept. 11, 2021 and Jan. 2, 2022. Nearmap.
The next day David headed out to get a few necessities. He realized that he had a vital call later that morning with the insurance adjustor and that his cell phone had not been charged. There was no place to pull over and charge his phone, so he pulled over in a church parking lot.
He quickly connected his phone to the charger. He watched a massive 18-wheeler pull into to that lot and park. Because David’s car was the only car in the parking lot, the driver got out of his truck and walked across the parking lot to David.
“What are you doing here,” the truck driver asked?
David told the truck driver what had happened and that he was waiting until his phone was charged to call the insurance adjustor.
The truck driver then said, “That’s why we’re here. Before you leave, could I pray for you?”
As the trucker prayed, David broke down and began to weep at yet another timely provision from God.
The truck and truck driver were from Samaritan’s Purse, an evangelical humanitarian and disaster relief organization. As David shared the story with me, he began to cry again. He said, “That trucker is a ‘warrior’ caring for people at points of their deepest needs.”
That’s what they do.
Another defining moment. David was NOT alone. God was with him in his valley. Step by step, showing him the way.
Then Tom Shirk called. Tom’s the pastor of Calvary Church in Boulder, and as they talked, Tom said the church wanted to help him and offered David a check for $5,000. David called that check, “the signature of God” providing for his needs.
Glenn, another lifetime friend of David’s called to ask how he was doing. In their conversation David shared about the two bookends of 2021 – how it started in January with his wife’s departure to heaven, and ended on December 30 with the raging fire that took everything else he had.
Tearfully, David then shared how he felt with Glenn, and asked, “What’s left?”
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a few moments … and then came yet another defining moment in Glenn’s response: “You! YOU are left!”
No, God isn’t done with David Sunde.
And He’s not done with you or me either. Regardless of what you are facing today … God is with you and wants to use you.
What’s your assignment today?
Perhaps it’s a simple act of kindness to someone who is giving you trouble. Or deciding not to give up and quit, but instead persevere … like David.
Or in all my years of writing, I’ve never quite faced a situation with a friend like this where I’m asking my friends to help my friend. Would you go to David’s Go Fund Me page and perhaps be his next defining moment with a gift to that fund?
Whatever you do be sure to take the step of faith that God has for you. He is with you.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
The post One Amazing Story from the Marshall Fire appeared first on Ever Thine Home.
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