http://youtu.be/Lay-r2g52SQ
Heard this song in the car this past week.
The words grabbed my heart and plucked
It good and long..
The truth these lyrics reveal has been resonating deep-
"You are faithful forever,
You are perfect in love
You are Sovereign over us."
God is faithful,
Bonnie
Friday, January 30, 2015
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
In Christ Alone
" No power on earth,
No scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns
Or takes me Home
Here in the power of Christ
I stand"
Truth for my heart today.
Thank You Lord~
You are faithful~
Bonnie
PS my daughters and I had fun over the weekend-new haircuts, pretty nails!! Oh how I love these children of mine!!
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Happy Birthday Momma..
If you walk into my dining room which used to be a porch, you can see this on the chinking on the south wall: 1937.
The kitchen is 4 years older, with 1933 scrawled into the east wall.
My momma and a portion of my log home are the same age: 78.
We braved the sloppy, sugar, sludge snow and went to lunch, ate yum food, talked about her mom, received a sunshine assortment of flowers from one grandchild at her workplace, then topped it all off with home made German Chocolate cake at our Bible study tonight.
It was a good day I hope.
Mom has two children. Steve and I.
She has 8 grand children, not including 3 "new" additions to the family with weddings in 2014. She loves them all. Every, single one. Still.
Her husband died from lymphoma at age 49.
Her only son died from squamous cell carcinoma at age 45.
It seems too much, to even read this. I do not want to write a birthday downer,
but when you've had so much loss in your life, it becomes difficult to get upwind, away from the stench of pain and sorrow. To smell newness and life.
Special days like today magnify losses. Years provide perspective.
Mom is short, 5' 2" on a good day, I tower over her and this makes hugging her easy.
I hugged her tonight, and thanked You God for her life.
Thank Your for crafting her--in what we call at the Zowada house-- "the baby pool" of Heaven. You made her wonderful and fearfully---Your Word states this truth of all of us in Psalm 139:14.
Most days when I walk into her "cozy little nest" she has Your Words on her lap. I can tell there is a holy connection and the picture of her with You God, settles in the nooks and crannies of my heart, like butter finds the holes in toast.
I am thankful for the example she sets.
She is generous, she is faithful, she has a fantastic laugh and she is a front lines, stay up at night, prayer warrior.
She has brought many, many requests to Your throne God.
Thank You for my mom. For the gift of who she is. For her prayers answered and ones she still beseeches You for. You know of these Lord, before I even type them.
Thank You for her steadfast faithfulness in how she loves You. Genuine. Transparent. Willing to learn. Studious.
Tonight God I pray she will know Your precious, tender presence in her cozy, little house.
You are faithful God,
Bonnie
The kitchen is 4 years older, with 1933 scrawled into the east wall.
My momma and a portion of my log home are the same age: 78.
We braved the sloppy, sugar, sludge snow and went to lunch, ate yum food, talked about her mom, received a sunshine assortment of flowers from one grandchild at her workplace, then topped it all off with home made German Chocolate cake at our Bible study tonight.
It was a good day I hope.
Mom has two children. Steve and I.
She has 8 grand children, not including 3 "new" additions to the family with weddings in 2014. She loves them all. Every, single one. Still.
Her husband died from lymphoma at age 49.
Her only son died from squamous cell carcinoma at age 45.
It seems too much, to even read this. I do not want to write a birthday downer,
but when you've had so much loss in your life, it becomes difficult to get upwind, away from the stench of pain and sorrow. To smell newness and life.
Special days like today magnify losses. Years provide perspective.
Mom is short, 5' 2" on a good day, I tower over her and this makes hugging her easy.
I hugged her tonight, and thanked You God for her life.
Thank Your for crafting her--in what we call at the Zowada house-- "the baby pool" of Heaven. You made her wonderful and fearfully---Your Word states this truth of all of us in Psalm 139:14.
Most days when I walk into her "cozy little nest" she has Your Words on her lap. I can tell there is a holy connection and the picture of her with You God, settles in the nooks and crannies of my heart, like butter finds the holes in toast.
I am thankful for the example she sets.
She is generous, she is faithful, she has a fantastic laugh and she is a front lines, stay up at night, prayer warrior.
She has brought many, many requests to Your throne God.
Thank You for my mom. For the gift of who she is. For her prayers answered and ones she still beseeches You for. You know of these Lord, before I even type them.
Thank You for her steadfast faithfulness in how she loves You. Genuine. Transparent. Willing to learn. Studious.
Tonight God I pray she will know Your precious, tender presence in her cozy, little house.
 | |
| My brother and my daddy and me, in | the U.P. |
 |
| Mom and I at Hannah's wedding 7-14 |
 | |
| 4-14 Grand Canyon! A dream made real. | :) |
You are faithful God,
Bonnie
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Rachel's Random Ramblings: A Changed Heart
Hey everyone, this is Rachel. You've probably heard of me, but in case you haven't I'm Bonnie's daughter. Like my mother, I also blog, though mine are definitely not as put together as my moms! I recently wrote a post about broken hearts, speaking from my own experience and what I learned from the pain and heartache that came with it. Mom wanted me to share it with you, so here is a snippet from yours truly.
Rachel's Random Ramblings: A Changed Heart: I've been trying to decide whether or not to even approach this topic... It's personal, painful, and could easily turn into a long r...
Rachel's Random Ramblings: A Changed Heart: I've been trying to decide whether or not to even approach this topic... It's personal, painful, and could easily turn into a long r...
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Happy New Year?
Yes, it is. My joy meter is off the chart.
Learned today that my friend, Becky Lynn Black, you know the gal who I visited over a year ago? Her book http://direct.energion.co/becky-lynn-black
is now available in Spanish and soon, in Chinese! If you want to be blessed, and encouraged by this gal's story and her faith in God during trials/cancer, you really should order it and read it!!
Finally, I got around to ordering it today. I was there, in her bedroom, while she dictated to her daughter. A few chapters, like maybe 6 and 7? My mind is fuzzy, but when I read it, I'll remember.
I witnessed my friend’s body, being taken over by cancer, but I heard her precious voice brimming with joy, peace and punctuated by such laughter, while she remembered her life in Ethiopia, her marriage, taking Dave to Ethiopia for the first time and life with Jesus, her Lord. Oh how she loves Him! Her memory was so sharp, I was amazed!!
She had a strong desire to get it finished before she passed away and she did! You did it Becky Lynn!
I know when I read it, I will cry. I will be able to hear her voice you know?
She suffered greatly, but she loved God in it. There is something beautiful about
a person willing to accept their suffering and praise Him through it. The world doesn't understand it. Christians want to have it "make sense" or for God to give them "reasons." Like if we had those reasons, then we'd say, "Oh, ok God. Now I get it." No, if we did have those things, then we'd argue it all the more. By nature, we want to be in charge..
Today?
I miss my friend. Early on, we "met" via email. Turns out we had a cancer connection. Her encouraging words filled my in box! I was then able to meet her face to face. That's when I heard her tell her life's story to her daughter. I could learn so much more from her if she were here on Earth..
We spoke of going to Ethiopia together, if "the Lord willed." she would say. What a blast that would have been you know?
Yet--God has her with Him. She is in His presence. One day I will see her again and we will spend eternity together.
This is the hope I have because I have placed my faith in Jesus Christ.
He is our reason. My reason. Becky's reason.
For living, for dying, for suffering, He is our reason.
Going in to a new year, remembering my friend, excited to read her autobiography, waiting for the snow to get deep enough to snow shoe in,
beginning school Monday, and loving my sweetheart of 30 years--
I am grateful.
Here is Paul motivating us as believers, to have an eternal perspective:
"For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
while we look not at the things which are seen,
for the things which are seen are temporal,
but the things which are not seen are eternal."
II Corinthians: 4:17,18
One more:
"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure
and steadfast and one which enters within the veil.."
Hebrews 6: 19
Happy New Year!
God is faithful,
even in suffering,
even after death,
even during living,
He
is
faithful,
Bonnie
Learned today that my friend, Becky Lynn Black, you know the gal who I visited over a year ago? Her book http://direct.energion.co/becky-lynn-black
is now available in Spanish and soon, in Chinese! If you want to be blessed, and encouraged by this gal's story and her faith in God during trials/cancer, you really should order it and read it!!
Finally, I got around to ordering it today. I was there, in her bedroom, while she dictated to her daughter. A few chapters, like maybe 6 and 7? My mind is fuzzy, but when I read it, I'll remember.
I witnessed my friend’s body, being taken over by cancer, but I heard her precious voice brimming with joy, peace and punctuated by such laughter, while she remembered her life in Ethiopia, her marriage, taking Dave to Ethiopia for the first time and life with Jesus, her Lord. Oh how she loves Him! Her memory was so sharp, I was amazed!!
She had a strong desire to get it finished before she passed away and she did! You did it Becky Lynn!
I know when I read it, I will cry. I will be able to hear her voice you know?
She suffered greatly, but she loved God in it. There is something beautiful about
a person willing to accept their suffering and praise Him through it. The world doesn't understand it. Christians want to have it "make sense" or for God to give them "reasons." Like if we had those reasons, then we'd say, "Oh, ok God. Now I get it." No, if we did have those things, then we'd argue it all the more. By nature, we want to be in charge..
Today?
I miss my friend. Early on, we "met" via email. Turns out we had a cancer connection. Her encouraging words filled my in box! I was then able to meet her face to face. That's when I heard her tell her life's story to her daughter. I could learn so much more from her if she were here on Earth..
We spoke of going to Ethiopia together, if "the Lord willed." she would say. What a blast that would have been you know?
Yet--God has her with Him. She is in His presence. One day I will see her again and we will spend eternity together.
This is the hope I have because I have placed my faith in Jesus Christ.
He is our reason. My reason. Becky's reason.
For living, for dying, for suffering, He is our reason.
Going in to a new year, remembering my friend, excited to read her autobiography, waiting for the snow to get deep enough to snow shoe in,
beginning school Monday, and loving my sweetheart of 30 years--
I am grateful.
Here is Paul motivating us as believers, to have an eternal perspective:
"For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
while we look not at the things which are seen,
for the things which are seen are temporal,
but the things which are not seen are eternal."
II Corinthians: 4:17,18
One more:
"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure
and steadfast and one which enters within the veil.."
Hebrews 6: 19
Happy New Year!
God is faithful,
even in suffering,
even after death,
even during living,
He
is
faithful,
Bonnie
Friday, December 26, 2014
Immanuel, God With Us
Christmas 2014 came with many changes.
I have a new son and a new daughter!
TWO weddings in one year~ and I lived through them both!!
Tim and I are acutely aware of how richly God has provided
this year. Gifts are eternal; family, God's written Word and
Immanuel--baby Jesus wrapped in pink, soft, newborn skin..
Here are some highlights from today:
No snow here~ :(
I am grateful tonight. Or should I say, this morning? I can't sleep, so I thought I'd give you these faces.
One of the most precious gifts Mom has ever given hangs around my neck. A cross, gold, with some engraving on it.
Mom has been going through old photos lately. She passed out some of them to us, each of us, for Christmas. There was My Dad. My brother loving on his nieces. Me as a baby. Dad's old huntin' dog Pat. And her puppies. And Mom and Steve..
One for me was
of her and my brother, standing in the door way of her apartment in Traverse City, in 1990; in it, our Mom is wearing the cross he just bought her.
And now it's mine. 24 years later.
Fitting for Christmas~ a cross. Jesus was a baby, in a manger, but He
had a purpose for being on the Earth He created.
He came to teach us how to live.
Then, 33 years later, He died a lonely, horrific, criminal's death, an atonement for our sins, on a cross. A wood one, heavy, with splinters I imagine.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS? REMEMBER WHEN THE ANGEL SAID "I have good news of great joy?" The God Incarnate had come to earth, and He had a plan
to deliver us from sin and death. This is Good News!!!!!
"For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
It all began with a tiny, innocent, vulnerable baby..
Our Savior.
Jesus.
Merry Christmas dear ones,
He is faithful,
Bonnie
I have a new son and a new daughter!
TWO weddings in one year~ and I lived through them both!!
Tim and I are acutely aware of how richly God has provided
this year. Gifts are eternal; family, God's written Word and
Immanuel--baby Jesus wrapped in pink, soft, newborn skin..
Here are some highlights from today:
No snow here~ :(
 |
| Mom, enjoying her grandkids! |
 | |
| Tyler and Hannah married 7-12-14 |
 |
| Nathan and Margret married 8-9-14 |
 |
| Tim and Bonnie married 11-17-84 |
 | ||||
| All our "gifts" |
I am grateful tonight. Or should I say, this morning? I can't sleep, so I thought I'd give you these faces.
One of the most precious gifts Mom has ever given hangs around my neck. A cross, gold, with some engraving on it.
Mom has been going through old photos lately. She passed out some of them to us, each of us, for Christmas. There was My Dad. My brother loving on his nieces. Me as a baby. Dad's old huntin' dog Pat. And her puppies. And Mom and Steve..
One for me was
of her and my brother, standing in the door way of her apartment in Traverse City, in 1990; in it, our Mom is wearing the cross he just bought her.
And now it's mine. 24 years later.
Fitting for Christmas~ a cross. Jesus was a baby, in a manger, but He
had a purpose for being on the Earth He created.
He came to teach us how to live.
Then, 33 years later, He died a lonely, horrific, criminal's death, an atonement for our sins, on a cross. A wood one, heavy, with splinters I imagine.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS? REMEMBER WHEN THE ANGEL SAID "I have good news of great joy?" The God Incarnate had come to earth, and He had a plan
to deliver us from sin and death. This is Good News!!!!!
"For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
It all began with a tiny, innocent, vulnerable baby..
Our Savior.
Jesus.
Merry Christmas dear ones,
He is faithful,
Bonnie
Sunday, December 14, 2014
A wedding, a death and a funeral-all in one day
This is my mom and I at my daughter's wedding this summer. To have her there was such joy to my soul.
Go to this link to see more shots from that day in July! See Armantrout wedding
www.pinktrilliumphotography.com
4 weeks later, we had the privilege of watching our son marry Margret..it was a beautiful August wedding, with a full moon at night! They left the scene in a tunnel of sparklers!
Yesterday though?
I experienced all these things:
A wedding. Not my children's but one I wasn't part of. Or welcomed to.
Pain in my heart, mingled with joy for them.
A death. One of my family members has passed away due to cancer. I was simply too busy~ to get down there and visit~ pain in my heart, mingled with guilt. Oh Jesus, forgive me!
A funeral. A dear Christian woman, who had been my massage therapist through my cancer treatment and beyond, left this world for what is truly her home: Heaven.
No pain in my heart; only sorrow mingled with great joy.
At her funeral (memorial service) a passage of Scripture was shared which
pryed my pain up off the floor of my heart.
It was from the Gospel of John. Jesus was talking to His disciples about leaving them. They didn't understand really. He told them their relationship to Him was like He was the Vine, they were the brances. Without Him, they would bear no fruit.
Then He states: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me, you may have peace. In this world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
It took a funeral, (a memorial service) for my heart's pain to be lifted. The wedding I wasn't invited to? I now had peace. The kind that Jesus gives during painful storms, trouble and life's pains.
When I walked in the door, my husband told me about my relative's passing..
All I could think of was "in Me you may have peace.."
A wedding. A death. A funeral/memorial service. All in one day.
I find it stunningly wonderous that God chose for me to attend that memorial service, to hear that passage of Scripture and to use it to minister to my aching heart.
Thank You God. I love you. I choose Your peace today
and my heart will "take courage"
because You, that infant in a manger,
grew up to be a man,
and Overcame the World.
He is faithful,
Bonnie
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