A great quote on Paul & II Timothy:  “It’s always important to listen to the words of a dying man.”

-Bill Tolar

Read the book this weekend.

“Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow-ripening fruit.”  -Aristotle

“It’s a simple formula; do your best and somebody might like it.”  – Dorothy Baker

Today’s Verse:  Proverbs 10:9 The man of integrity walks securesly, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.”

Kayla McDaniel is a special Dry Creek friend.  She’s writing a memoir of the tragic loss of her young son Wyatt and her subsequent decision to seek out Jesus for healing, hope, and salvation.

Below is chapter 4.

If you’d like to help Kayla with editing, comment below or email me at curtiles@aol.com

Chapter 4

Fellowship Teaches Us Love

I John 1: 7 (NIV)

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His son, cleanses us from all sin.

This is a verse I learned from Colleen Glaser, a beautifully spirited woman, who became my mentor in my search for Christ. Colleen brought me the book, “Praying God’s Word”, by Beth Moore. She arrived with this book a few weeks after the funeral, and just in time to save me from one of my worst days.

As I sat, waiting for God, Colleen showed up with a book that she thought might help me through the times when my pain was so great that I could not find the words to pray. She had a Psalm highlighted for me, and shared it with me. She explained that though I was having doubts, and my intense suffering kept me from seeing the good and feeling the love around me, it was a fact that God was holding me together. Colleen promised me that God would not forsake me. She then opened my bible to other scriptures to prove her vow…

Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

“God is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in Spirit”

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)
For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

I must admit, these scriptures gave me a little ease, but of course, not for long. I did realize however, that this was one of the most loving people I had ever met in my life. I soon realized that all of these beautiful people from the church were the most amazing people, so full of love and trust and faith. Where I dreaded their visits, only a few weeks ago, because of Colleen’s visit that day, I was slowly beginning to look forward to them.

The more that I opened myself up to these people, the more love and ease of pain I experienced.  I was supported and loved completely by Mrs. Judy Reeves, who is one of the funniest Christian women anyone could ever imagine. She even had a way of making me laugh, even when I was crying! She even insulted me on one of her visits, without even realizing it… It was very funny though; she said as she was leaving one afternoon, “next time you can come visit me so we can have some real coffee!” That was the funniest insult I had ever gotten!

Brother Kevin Willis and his wife Kathy were a big inspiration for me. Kathy wrote the kindest words to me that I had ever read, while Kevin, who has know Scottie for many years, tried repeatedly to minster to him. Kevin also kept Daniel and Zachary occupied as often as he could.  Again though, this was only a temporary ease. I agreed to read scripture and participate in church services. I was looking for any way to ease the pain I was suffering. Unfortunately, with the beginning of my spiritual journey, came the doubts and fears of…”What if it isn’t real?”, or “What makes us right and the rest of the world wrong?”

These doubts lead to a deepening of my despair and fear. I began to question the validity of God. He had not yet showed himself to me since the first horrible day this all began… It was a month ago already, and my pain only eased momentarily when Benji and his wife, Dawn came over, or when Colleen came, or when Kathy and Van stopped in. This was not God; these were just loving and caring people who felt sorry for me! I didn’t realize it, but through their fellowship, I was learning to be more open, and I was experiencing love and compassion, but still, NOT GOD!