The Neely Team

For several weeks Mommy and we older girls have been listening to “Evenings with Victoria Botkin,” an online class for women and their daughters. It has been a special experience to listen to the wise, godly counsel and instruction from such a sweet woman. This last week, Mrs. Botkin challenged us to be someone that is easy to love and one who is pleasant to be around. She outlined three distinct areas to help us do this. These have been both thought provoking and convicting to me when I applied them to how I relate to my parents and siblings. Once these areas are learned in the home, they will naturally overflow to everyone else around us and will increase our effectiveness for Christ.

I. Personality

-Your personality is the kind of person you are, based on your outlook on life.

-Others appreciate it when your personality reflects respect, gratitude, cheerfulness, courage, faith, love, praise, enthusiasm, and sympathy.

-Show respect by: greeting politely, not interrupting, being a ready listener, serving, making comfortable and happy, and choosing not to use annoying physical motions or gestures.

-SMILE at those around you. We are commanded to be joyful. (Deuteronomy 28; Philippians 4)

-When it is hard to be joyful, encourage yourself in the Lord your God by meditating on His Word. (1 Samuel 30:6)

II. Speech

-Words are some of the most powerful things in the universe. (Proverbs 18:21; Psalm 33:6-9)

-We will give account for all of our words. (James 3:2)

-Tone of voice is vital in speaking.

-Read aloud to learn to use appropriate voice inflection and gain control over the voice.

III. Deeds

-In every day, find special ways to make those around you feel special.

-When we do not feel like reaching out to those around us and making their day special, it is often because of deep-rooted pride and bitterness in our hearts.

The morning is beautiful here – looks like it’ll be perfect weather for Resurrection Sunday, when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! It’s as if the whole earth is rejoicing in the glory and power of it’s Creator, just as I am rejoicing in His unfathomable love in reaching down and rescuing me from the power of death and sin!!! As one of my all-time favorite Easter hymns proclaims:

Christ the Lord is risen today; Alleluia!

Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Once He died, our souls to save, Alleluia!

Where’s thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia!

Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!

Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!

Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

1Co 15:54, 55, 57 – “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? … But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

ALLELUIA!!!! Praise the Lord!!!

  Several years ago, on January 1, 2001, Grandpapa Neely (my Dad’s father) remarked to his family as we were all gathered to  celebrate the new year, “I have a feeling that the year 2001 will be different from any other year we’ve ever lived.” Little did we know that his prediction would be true in more than just one way! For just a few months later,  while visiting his daughter and her family (our aunt), he was diagnosed with a  Stage 4 cancerous brain tumor. After the first surgery to remove it, he was told that he would have, at most, eighteen months to live. Three more surgeries and seemingly endless chemo and radiation treatments later, the Lord finally called Grandpapa home to Himself, in July 2002.  We had been blessed with the full eighteen months that they predicted, and we were left with an unbelievable spiritual heritage. Though we grieved for his loss upon earth, and though we still miss him greatly, we rejoice in the hope that one day we will be reunited in Heaven through the grace of our Savior!

Last Wednesday marked what would have been Grandpapa’s 76th birthday. That evening, as we sat around the table after supper, Dad pulled Grandpapa’s Bible off of the shelf. The cover is worn; the binding falling apart; the pages are yellowed and wrinkled with age and frequent use. However, it is a treasure beyond calculation, not only for the sake of the Word of God, but also because of the countless insights that are marked along its pages, and the numerous quotes, poems, and thoughts that he wrote on the flyleaves.  Sadly, almost half of my little siblings never had the privilege of knowing Grandpapa, and some were too young when he died to really remember  him well. But what a TREASURE, a wealth of spiritual  RICHES we have in his Bible!!! So even the ones who never knew him can still partake of the incredible legacy he left for us – how I thank the Lord for that blessing!!!!!!!

But getting back to my story… When one of our little ones observed that Daddy had “the wrong Bible” (instead of the chronological Bible that we usually read after supper), he replied, “Well, today was your Grandpapa Neely’s birthday. So I thought that we would read some out of his Bible tonight, and see what he has to say to us.” Immediately, I felt a choking sensation in my throat, and I wondered if I would be able to make it through this without crying. As we read through some of the the things that he had printed inside, some things brought a smile upon recollection; others even made us laugh; many were very thought-provoking; and a few even moved us to tears. As I sat there, I felt as if I had stepped back into time and was once again sitting with Grandpapa, hearing him read or quote these very things…

“FAITH – Forsaking All, I Trust Him”

“If a sermon pricks your conscience, it must have some good points.”

“Some will hate you, some will love you;

Some will flatter, some will slight.

Cease from man and look above you;

Trust in God and do what’s right.

Though the road be rough and dreary,

And its end far out of sight,

Foot it bravely, strong or weary;

Trust in God and do what’s right.

Perish policy and cunning,

Perish all that fears the light;

Whether losing, whether winning,

Trust in God and do what’s right.

Simple rule and safest guiding,

Inward peace and inward might;

Star upon our path abiding,

Trust in God and do what’s right!” 

“If we please God, does it matter whom we displease? And if we displease God, does it matter whom we please?”

One poem that is not written in his Bible, but which he quoted to us regularly, still makes us laugh:

“Whenever you feel like a grump, and you look like you’re down in the dump,

Oh, how I dread when you get out of bed, and go moping around like a frump!

BUT… When you can get up and say, “My! What a wonderful day!”

It’s hard to be sad; you’ll surely be glad, for God is Who made it that way!”

“Don’t be afraid of opposition. Remember, a kite rises against, not with, the wind.”    – Dr. Harvey Springer

“Nothing is ever settled until it is settled right; and nothing is ever settled right until it is settled with God!”

“My fear is not that I will fail, but that I will succeed in things that do not matter in eternity.”

“The Clock of Life” by George H. Chandler

“The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power

To tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour.

To lose one’s wealth is sad indeed; to lose one’s health is more;

To lose one’s soul is such a loss as no man can restore.

The present only is our own; live, love, toil with a will.

Place no faith in the future – for the clock may then be still.”

“Death is not extinguishing the light; it is putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.”

These are just a very few of the things that are written in Grandpapa’s Bible. However, probably my favorite is a poem called, “We’re Home,” by Willard Thomas. Daddy read this one at Grandpapa’s funeral, and to this day, I cannot read it or hear it being read without the tears coming to my eyes. That night around the table, Dad started to read it, but tears forced him to stop at the end of the first six words. Then he looked around the table, and, sure enough, we were all crying! After some shaky laughter and much debate over whether to finish reading it or not, he finally mustered up the will-power, and read the sweet, heart-stirring lines. This was the heart cry of Grandpapa; one which my parents have taken up and still press untiringly on toward; one which is my heart’s desire for my children someday; and one which I pray will continue to be striven for in our family until the Lord returns!

“Over the years when the children would come in, they would call out, “Mom, Dad, we’re home.”

I guess we just always assumed it would be like that, we would never be alone.

But with the passing of time, circumstances, life, and duty robbed our home of this youthful beauty.

Oh, they still drop by from time to time, or call us on the phone.

They stay a while and then they leave because this is no longer home.

Now when Mama and I go out and drive around and roam,

In jest I open the door and call out, “Children, we’re home.”

It just echoes through and empty house and brings my eyes to tears.

They no longer run on little feet to meet us, and fill our hearts with cheer.

Precious memories of two fine girls and a boy,

Thank God memories are one gift of God that time cannot destroy.

One last request I would make to my God, that beyond Jordan’s dashing foam;

That Mama and I could hear our children call out, “Mom, Dad, we’re Home.”

Psalm 16:6 – “The lines are fallen unto me  in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.”

The Lord uses many ways to remind us of simple truths at various times in our lives. One way He chooses to do this is through fellowship with other believers. I had the opportunity to experience this first hand this last weekend, with our blessed visit from the Wilkes Team! We were able to spend a few days with them, and during the whole time it seemed I was constantly challenged and encouraged through the conversations that took place as well as in just observing the godly actions of the Wilkes and my own family. On Saturday evening, I finally took the time to write down the things I had been reminded of in my journal. What a blessing! (It was well worth staying up the extra time to do it!) Here are some of the things the Lord reminded me of through their godly examples and words:

- acknowledge the Lord in all my ways (Proverbs 3:5-6)

- seek a gentle, meek, and quiet spirit (I Peter 3:3-4)

- consistently honor, obey, and love my parents (Exodus 20:12; Colossians 3:20)

- treat my siblings with love and respect (Ephesians 4:32; I Peter 5:5a; Hebrews 13:1)

- pray without ceasing and constantly be seeking guidance, grace, and wisdom from the Lord (I Thessalonians 5:17)

- maintain an attitude of humility and dependence on the Lord (I Peter 5:5b; James 4:6-7; Isaiah 57:15)

- choose topics of conversation that are encouraging and uplifting to the listeners (Ephesians 4:29)

- accept all people where they are in life but seek to lift them higher toward the Lord (Ephesians 4:29; I Thessalonians 5:14)

- be ever ready to share what God is doing in my life (I Peter 3:15)

- keep godliness and godly character as a first priority in my life and obtaining knowledge as a secondary one (II Peter 1:5-8)

- control my tongue (Proverbs 10:19; James 1:19-26)

- be immersed in the Word of God – read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it, share it, but most of all, live it (II Timothy 3:14-17; Psalm 119:11; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2; Psalm 119:15)

- do not allow bitterness to dwell in my heart (Hebrews 12:15; Ephesians 4:26-27,31-32)

- seek to have such a close relationship with my Creator that His joy and glory radiates from my face, words, and actions (Isaiah 49:13; Habakkuk 3:18; James 4:8; Philippians 4:4; Psalm 71:8; Psalm 63:1-2; Psalm 50:23)

Thank you, Wilkes Team, and the rest of my family, for allowing His Light to shine through you and encourage me in the right direction once again. The Lord is good!

One of the things that I set as a goal for 2010 was to read last year’s journal. I have a two-fold purpose in doing this. First of all, it’s interesting to see what all we did last year and refresh my memory on the little stories, incidents, and happenings that I didn’t remember. I also enjoy looking back to see what I was doing on “this day” a year ago! Secondly, I often write down thoughts, spiritual insights, and Bible verses that have special meaning to me at different times of my life, and it’s encouraging to go back and see God’s hand working in ways that I didn’t notice at the time, or have already forgotten. While reading through a few days ago, I found today’s entry (January 25), and it included a verse that the Lord showed me that day, which I hadn’t entirely forgotten, but needed to be reminded of!

Psalm 81:10b says, “…open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.” That seems to be very commonplace language, but the more I meditated on it, the more I found. (God’s Word is like that: perfectly inexhaustible, just like He is!! I Corinthians 2:7-10; Psalm 90:2) In the context, the Lord is speaking to the children of Israel, recalling the signs and wonders that He had done for them since the beginning of their nation. He reminded them of the ways that He had miraculously preserved them as a people, protecting and helping them, and delivering them from bondage in Egypt. Then He pauses His narrative to deliver a singular plea and promise, “… open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.”

When I first read this, it reminded me of Matthew 7:7 – “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” God promises that “…[He] shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”, and that “…no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” But we must “ask,” “seek,” and “knock.” As I pondered this, I immediately thought of the example of baby birds. When they are first hatched, they are tiny, defenseless, and totally dependent on their parents for their warmth, shelter, and food. Anyone who has cared for, watched, or studied birds knows that the chicks seem to be hungry all the time. Often, looking into a nest, one can see several little mouths gaping, waiting for their parents to come fill them with the life-sustaining food. However, what if one day, the babies decided that they could live without their parents’ help? What if, when feeding time came, their mouths remained stubbornly shut, refusing to take the nourishment absolutely necessary for survival? Of course, we know that they would soon die of starvation.

As God continues His story in Psalm 81, He sadly tells of Israel’s response to His promise in the next verse: “But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.” Our Father is more than willing, yea, He longs, to bless us, but we must prepare the fields of our hearts to receive His showers of blessing! In verses 13-16, we see God lamenting over what He wanted to give to His children, and which they stubbornly refused: “Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.” What a sad commentary on the perverseness of the human heart!! And yet what a beautiful elaboration of the mercy and love of the Lord and His desire to bless His children!!!!

In a way, we are much like baby birds, dependent on our heavenly Father to care for us. We cannot possibly make it on our own; He is the One Who created us(Isaiah 64:8), and He is the only One Who can keep us alive, both physically and spiritually! However, as the story of the children of Israel sadly illustrates, we must be willing to receive His blessing. If we shut up our hearts, pursuing temporal allurements and insisting on our own way, we will soon perish in our sin, starved of the life-giving support from the Word of God and His Holy Spirit’s work in our lives (Jeremiah 5:25). God will not force Himself upon us (Genesis 6:3); He has given us a free will, and though He calls us to leave the world’s shallow pleasures and follow His loving path for us, He ultimately leaves the choice to us, for He wants us to choose to love Him! (Isaiah 57:15-16; Revelation 3:20) We must forsake the idols of self, possessions, position, or aspiration, and seek His will for our lives, living only to give Him glory. (Mark 8:34-37; Mark 10:21) Then, when we have given up the idea of finding contentment and peace outside of Him, and have turned our whole heart over to His control, He can pour out His matchless grace upon us (Jeremiah 6:16)! He wants to bless us; He holds out His gifts and offers them to us (I Corinthians 2:9; Isaiah 64:4); all we have to do is “open our mouths wide, and He will fill them” with the goodness and blessings that only He can give!

Psalm 31:19 – “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!”