Elaine continues in her transition toward glory, with less and less response as time goes along. More on that in a minute.
THANK YOU
“Thank you” to the many who sent Facebook birthday greetings on the 15th. The calendar says I’m 82 but I don’t feel like it. I plan to serve God according to His calling upon my life, for as long as He gives me breath. The message of “Life in Christ” and “The word of the cross” is worth proclaiming.
HIS PEACE
The morning of my birthday I was reading JESUS CALLING in my quiet spot, trying to process emotions regarding Elaine. I had read the text and was ready to look up the scriptures at the bottom, when I got a text message from a niece in VA. She quoted Numbers 6:24-26, which I read and was encouraged.
Then back to JESUS CALLING – and would you believe it, the same scripture was there. Praise God!
Then a daughter-in-law stopped by with a birthday card – – with the same exact scripture and all within about two hours. Three times! God knew my need for peace.
THE PROCESS
Seeing Elaine lingering, and being so helpless and getting thinner and thinner, is hard. It’s fertile soil for Satan and all kinds of thoughts and doubts come to ones’ mind.
But then a preacher friend dropped by today and repeated what the Hospice nurse told me this morning, which is what my sister-in-law said this afternoon – which is what son Mark has been saying. That is, the human body was made to live, not die, so in spite of a persons’ will to transition into heaven the body will continue to fight for life until there is a major failure in a system that sustains it. Elaine’s heart and lungs are still strong, and she had a healthy diet, so we give her the best possible care, and wait. “Lord Jesus, ‘Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done – -!’”
Yes, it is true that sometimes people “will” to live in spite of a failed body, until we “release” them to pass on, but Elaine’s situation is apparently also true.
So – – God loves us. His plans for us are good. He is trustworthy. I am weak but He is strong and I find my peace in Him.
Ken
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Happy belated birthday, Ken! You are such a blessing to all. Your attitude and submission is an inspiration. Love you both, snd yes Numbers 6:24-26 is so appropriate for you. Love from Bill and Alice
“Thank you!” for your warm words. Please come by if you’re ever close – it would be a treat so see you again. Such wonderful memories of our times together here and there. I still remember the first time you two came through our front door. We were all trying to figure each other out, as strangers do, but God immediately connected our hearts and Elaine and I were so enriched! I will miss her desperately in so many settings, including how generously she extended hospitality to many. What a woman!!
Ken, thank you for this update. I’m praying that Elaine’s body, mind and spirit will know the peace that passes understanding and that the Lord will comfort and strengthen you all.
Mike, thanks for being here for the service. What a blessed surprise! And yes, Elaine did know that peace that passes understanding – and now she understands, as she worships our Lord Jesus in a whole new way. Thank you for your prayers.
Praying for both of you. Watching someone you so dearly love slowly pass into the arms of Jesus is difficult. May he comfort you and give you strength as you continue to persevere, trusting in His timing.
Yes, it was very difficult. Dying can be ugly as the body struggles to live on. It was amazing though, to see the peace on Elaine’s face all the way through. No furrowed brow – just tranquility. Every Hospice person who came, commented on that. May God be praised! Thank you for your prayers!
So beautiful. Partnering in prayer. Bernie
Bernie, we were held up by the prayers of the saints in that journey, and we still are. Thanks for your part in that. Ken
Dear Ken and Elaine,
Thank you so much for sharing your heart and so encouraging to know you are leaning on the everlasting arms of our Lord, and committing Elaine to His hands as well. I am so sorry to hear about Elaine and what she is going through. Dan Miller forwarded me your blog, and after reading what you wrote, the verses in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 came to mind and I would like to share it with you as well. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:16-18
I also want to thank you and Elaine for your faithful service to the Lord and your partnership in ministry in Bible translation work. You two have given so much of your time, talent and treasures to achieve God’s eternal purposes for the cause of giving God’s Word to those who do not have it. I am truly grateful to the Lord for Elaine’s part and knowing her personally too. Now she is about to take her final flight home to be with Jesus, but like you said – we will continue doing what He called us to do until we finish our task on earth for His glory! “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” Ephesians 3:20-21 – Our love and prayers – Nard and Sandy
Wow Nard, thanks for that. That is a beautiful scripture. And wow – Elaine and I have been soooo enriched by involvement in support of Bible translation for 50-years. And now – – she is meeting some of those who came to know Jesus because of it. What a privilege it is, to invest our lives into making God known to the ends of the earth. And I “receive” the blessing that you ended with. “God be with you!”
We send our prayers to you as overcomers. We pray for our peace. In the Hebrew, when it says ‘The Lord bless you and keep you’ it gives a picture of the Lord kneeling before you and offering His gift. Isn’t that amazing? Pete and I remember happy times in Kenya with you and Elaine in ‘golf course’ Nairobi and Kibogo,Thika. God bless you and keep you, much love ,Joan and Peter Palmer, (UK).
Oh wow, what a special treat to hear from you. And yes, the picture you described IS amazing. Thank you. And yes, such wonderful memories of our times in Kenya. You two brought some beautiful color to that part of Elaine’s and my journey. “Thank you” again! God be with you!