I MISS MY SISTER AND MY FRIEND

I was three years old, and my younger sister, Loretta, and I lived with our grandmother in a little house in Theo, Mississippi. Our mother came to visit one day and introduced us to our new baby sister. Her name was Shelia. She was the first baby I ever remember seeing, and she was so beautiful. She reminded me of a baby doll like Loretta had. I just wanted to hold her and never let her go, but soon it was time for her to leave. We didn’t want her to go but we all said our goodbyes and she was gone.

We were so sad, so I got my mother’s old guitar and told my grandmother I wanted to write a song about our new sister. She got a pencil and a piece of paper, and I began to “play” the guitar, and “sing.” Can you imagine what that sounded like? Years later, I came across that piece of paper with that song written on it in my grandmother’s things. It was only a few lines, so I rewrote it and gave it to Shelia in a picture frame on her birthday one year. She loved it and always said it meant the world to her.

When we were younger, mom and dad would bring her to visit from time to time, and we would go see them occasionally. Then, when she was five years old, she came to live with us. She was my best friend. I could tell her anything. We shared a lot together. I could always make her laugh. Several times, I have said, that if I could clone her, I’d always have an audience to laugh at all my jokes.

She had her share of problems but she didn’t let too many others see them. She had a good fun-loving personality and she usually had a smile on her face. People loved her. She had so many friends. She fought cancer for eight years before losing the battle. I felt so helpless sitting there watching her die, but there was nothing I could do. I just wanted to hold her and never let her go, but soon it was time for her to leave. We didn’t want her to go but we all said our goodbyes and she was gone.

I could never forget her, or the unconditional love she had for me. She’ll always be in my heart. I loved her from the first day I saw her. We were best friends when we were growing up. She never judged or condemned me and she would never allow me to say negative things about myself. She always had good things to say about me, and she always tried to encourage me. There are just no words to describe how much I miss her. I wish I could hear her voice again. I wish I could hear her laugh again, and see her encouraging smile.

Someday, my wish will come true. It’s such a blessing to know that she was saved and we’ll all be together again when Jesus returns. We’ll get to see her again, and Daddy and Momma, and our grandmother, and the rest of our family and friends who were born again before they died. I’m looking forward to that day.

It’s important to know that we’re saved. The Bible tells us that we can know (1 John 5:13). It’s sad when a loved one dies and leaves the family to wonder if they’re saved or not, but it will be even sadder for the person who dies without being born again. As long as we’re breathing, there is hope, but when death comes to our door, our fate is sealed. If we’re saved, we’re saved. If we’re lost, we’re lost. So don’t wait a moment longer. Make that decision today, and live forever in the presence of our Lord. You won’t regret it.

Related Article: What Must I Do To Be Saved?

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Happy Thanksgiving. I’d like to take a few minutes to thank everyone who reads my blog. Thank you for making it worthwhile. I love writing, but without you, there would be no reason to put it on the internet. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart, and have a happy, happy Thanksgiving.

As many of you have noticed, I haven’t been writing much lately. A lot has been going on in my life for the past year. My daughter got married, and my baby boy turned 18. My dad died after five long months of illness. My sister died after fighting cancer for eight years, and I’m still struggling with my own health issues. With all that has happened, I still have plenty to be thankful for.

God has been so good to me. I’m thankful for all the things he's blessed me with, like my family, our home, a way to make a living, and so many other things, but the things I’m most thankful for are his Love, Mercy, Grace, and forgiveness. I was dead in sin, headed down that wide slippery slope to hell. Then Jesus came and rescued me, and put me on the narrow road to heaven. I’m so thankful he saved me. I love him for that and I want to serve him and tell others how much he loves them.

I want to ask each of you to pray for me and my family, for everyone who reads this blog, and please pray that new readers will find this information and be blessed by it. Thank you again for reading, and again, Happy Thanksgiving. God bless you.

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© 2016 Teddy Lynn – All Rights Reserved

My books are available in paperback and digital format on Amazon @ 
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HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

Sometimes life is rough. Sometimes I don’t feel good at all. I’ve had a bad back for many years, and it affects my whole body. My legs and feet, my arms, hands, and neck as well. I’m almost always in pain. I never get enough sleep. I have bad days and better days, but I never actually feel good. Sometimes I feel like no one cares. I’m not telling this so anyone will feel sorry for me. I don’t want that at all.

It’s three o’clock in the morning and I’m awake. In thinking about my suffering, I often try to remind myself that there is always someone who has it worse than I do. I see so many others suffering in this world, and many of them, most of them are in much worse shape than I am. 

My sister had cancer for several years and was always in pain until she died. My dad had colon cancer and had to have surgery to remove the tumor, and before he recovered from that, he had to have gallbladder surgery. It couldn’t be removed because it was so inflamed it was stuck to the other organs. The doctor closed him up and sent him home with drain tubes coming out of his body. That led to more problems and he suffered for several months before he finally died. Then, my mother suffered for years and finally died from cancer.

My cousin almost died after his wife stabbed him in the heart during an argument. I just heard about a woman who was out drinking with her boyfriend and her twenty-three-year-old son. The young man had been in a fight and was still upset on the way home. For some reason, he opened the car door and got out while they were going down the highway. The car ran over him, and another mother lost her son.

More babies than ever are being born with birth defects. Many are stillborn and there are many miscarriages. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain and suffering those parents are going through. On the other hand, many babies and children are being abused and even killed. Pain is everywhere.

I see people every day suffering from some kind of affliction. I know people who have Diabetes, Heart trouble, Cancer, broken or lost limbs, back problems, Emphysema, COPD, and numerous other problems that are visually noticeable. There are many suffering from things that are not so noticeable, though. Things like depression, anxiety, broken hearts, emotional problems, drug abuse, and physical and mental abuse.

Many are having a hard time making it in this life because of all the physical and emotional problems, but many others are suffering because of the economy. Some don’t even have jobs to take care of their families. Our world is a mess.

Being a Christian, I trust God to help me and my family through this troubled world, with all the problems it brings. Even so, things aren’t always easy, and sometimes I get discouraged. Sometimes I’m not happy with how things are going in my life. Sometimes I wonder if things will ever get better, but I know, no matter what happens, Jesus will be there to help me make it through it. I always have hope.

My point, in laying out all these bad things that happen to people, is this; Even though I have Jesus to help me through all my problems, at times, things still seem unbearable, so I don’t see how people make it through those terrible times without Jesus by their side. I wonder about the ones who don’t believe in God at all. Where do they seek comfort in times of trouble? Many times they look for comfort from drugs and alcohol, which only adds to the problem.

The apostle Paul said, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable”(1 Corinthians 15:19). What about those who have no hope in Christ? What about those who have no hope at all? It’s sad to think there are so many in this troubled world, suffering from so many kinds of problems, and they have no hope for the future. No hope that things will get better. I believe that’s the main reason so many people end their lives. They have no hope. Jesus wants us to have hope. The Bible is full of messages of hope. Here are a few verses, that mention hope specifically, to help you with whatever you’re going through.

Romans 12:12  Rejoice in hope, be patient in times of trouble, be constant in prayer.

Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in former times was written for our instruction, that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

Romans 15:13  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may have much hope.

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My Blogs
https://teddylynn.blogspot.com
https://teddylynn.wordpress.com

© 2015 Teddy Lynn – All Rights Reserved

My books are available in paperback and digital format on Amazon @ 
https://www.amazon.com/Teddy-Lynn/e/B01MZDB6L6