One More For JC

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. (John 15:10) I went to my niece’s 1-year old birthday party over the weekend in which my sister put together a beautiful collection of pictures set to music.  At the end of the presentation, she included a tribute to the members of the family that we had lost over the years – the most prominent of which being my Dad.  Not too many days go by where I don’t think of him, and all the good times we shared.  I also think back to some of the amazing events that transpired at the end of his life; one of which occurred on the morning of his viewing, just as I was sinking into perhaps the saddest moment of my life.  I remember wondering how I would find the strength to make it through the next couple days, as I happened to turn on the radio.  Remarkably within seconds, a song named “Father’s Love” by Bob Carlisle came on that I had never heard before.  As each verse

I thank my God every time I remember you. (Philippians 1:3) Every once in awhile a song will come out that really hits home; Bon Jovi’s latest single “ (You Want To) Make A Memory ” is one of those songs.  From the first time I heard it, I couldn’t help but think back to last year, when I spent a lot of time trying to do just that.  A day that really sticks with me was my birthday last April, when my Dad played the keyboard and my family sang me Happy Birthday in both English and Polish (an annual tradition).  When I blew out the candles on that birthday cake, I had a feeling it was going to be the last time I did so with my Dad and Grandmother.  I cherished every moment of that song and that night, and tried to “make a memory” that would last a lifetime. Unfortunately, this April 15 th , the seat at the keyboard was empty and there were two less voices in the chorus.  But thankfully the good Lord Jesus was by my side again that day, and I had the rest of my family “sing the m

Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:14-15) Simply put, I love this verse.  It loudly proclaims Joshua’s single-minded focus to love and serve the one true God, with no qualifications or restrictions (i.e. “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord…but only if he does X, Y, and Z!”).  No restriction was added, because Joshua was blessed enough to know that no restriction was needed.  How blessed are all those that have come to the same place in their lives?!  Through the grace of God, I count myself greatly blessed to be one of those people.  I turned over t