In Honor of Mothers
By: Bevan Greiner
God, by His grace, allowed us to have one last Mother’s Day one year ago with our precious Mom. She had survived a very invasive surgery for the kidney cancer from which she was suffering and when Mother’s Day rolled around, she was comfortable, cognitive and as beautiful as ever. What a glorious time the family had as we gathered around the bed to celebrate her, along with God’s goodness. Looking on Mom that day, her beauty and countenance caused me to reflect on all the years of devoted love and service she had so willingly given to God and her family and I realized anew how blessed I was to live and grow under the love and influence of a truly godly mother.
The painting on the cover of this month’s issue is that of a mother eagle caring for her eaglet. The painting portrays the necessary presence of the mother eagle for the well-being and welfare of her little one. This certainly depicts the heart of the mother I had the privilege of knowing for over 45 years. Her unwavering lookout for spiritual predators, her unfailing desire to love, nurture, guide and instruct, her admonition and correction, which could range from a gentle nudge to a stern yet loving reprimand were all in an effort to equip her little ones to one day leave the comfort of the nest and soar with God.
The Scriptures use this very same portrait to illustrate God and His personage. In Deuteronomy 32: 11, 12, we read how God is likened to a mother eagle in His caring for His children. “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.” We see in this portrait, the role of God in the lives of His children; protective, nurturing, instructive, guiding and guarding... all the way.... just like Mom. It becomes very clear that our mothers are made in the likeness of God for it is within them to express these wonderful virtues.
Last Mother’s Day was one I will treasure forever, for it spawned in me such a deep and abiding gratitude for the mother God had placed over me... a mother whose life was marked by loving godliness. May we celebrate our mothers this year with a greater understanding and appreciation for all they do and have done and for the many ways they so beautifully bear the image of God.
ABC’s of a Grandchild
One day Ruth Greiner took a walk in God’s creation with one of her grandkids... and together, they were inspired to pen this poem...
ABC’S OF A GRANDCHILD
A grandchild says: “Let’s take a walk,
And
say our ABC’s,
To tell about what God is like
As we see His flowers and trees.
He’s AWESOME, yes, BELIEVABLE, too,
And
oh, He’s very COOL,
And He’s DELIGHTFUL, this I know,
He’s One no one can fool.
He’s EVERLASTING and He’s FUN,
(To
be with and enjoy,)
He’s very GOOD, He’s HOLY, too,
INCREDIBLE, gives JOY.
He’s KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS,
He’s
MARVELOUS and grand,
He NEVER FAILS, He’s OVER ALL,
He’s PLEASURE, close at hand.
He QUIETS
me when I’m upset,
He’s RADIANT with His glory,
He’s SAVIOR, SHEPHERD, SUPER, too,
And I’ll tell you the rest of the story.
He is SUPERCALIFRAGELISTIC‑
EXPIALIDOCIOUS,
There’s just no word too good for Him,
Such precious things He shows us.
He’s always TRUE, He UNDERSTANDS
When
no one else is caring,
He’s VERY NICE and VERY KIND,
His goodness always sharing.
He’s WONDERFUL, most WISE of all,
He’s
EXTRAVAGANT in giving
The sunsets and the flowers and trees,
He is ZEALOUS for our living.
A walk we’ve had with God above,
He’s heard our every word,
No one could be as great as God,
No one, He’s CHRIST THE LORD.”
“And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
(Deuteronomy 6:7)
I did not have my mother long, but she cast over me an influence which has lasted all my life. The good effects of her early training I can never lose. If it had not been for her appreciation and her faith in me at a critical time in my experience, I should never likely have become an inventor. I was always a careless boy, and with a mother of different mental calibre, I should have turned out badly. But her firmness, her sweetness, her goodness, were potent powers to keep me in the right path. My mother was the making of me. The memory of her will always be a blessing to me.
Thomas A. Edison
Your arms were always open when I needed a hug. Your heart understood when I needed a friend. Your gentle eyes were stern when I needed a lesson. Your strength and love has guided me and gave me wings to fly.
Sarah Malin
A mother is the only person on earth who can divide her love among ten children, and each child still have all her love.
Unknown
Claire’s Corner
The Writings of our beloved Dad
Sleep That’s Sweet
Have you been robbed by a ‘peace thief’ or a ‘sleep thief’? They can be one and the same. The culprit could be worry about the future. Such needless care needs to be placed in the capable hands of almighty God Who has promised us His peace. Don’t allow this divine gift to slip through your fingers.
Another dreadful thief is unquenched concern about something from the past. Sleepless nights seem unending and unforgiving. If your heart is burdened with past mistakes, failures sins or wasted years, put them where they belong—under the blood of Christ—forgiven and forgotten by God. Christ waits to be your pillow, absorbing all worry and guilt, and to be your blanket of indescribable, blessed peace.
The One and only Prince of Peace wants to be master of your past, present and future. He is willing to refurbish you with a new “peace that passes all understanding.” (Philippians 4:7)
Your sleep can be sweet. Let your God keep you safe. (Jeremiah 31: 25, 26) If the God of the universe can’t take care of you, who can?
-William Claire Greiner- 1996
Picture of Grace Lefko, taken by Dallas Greiner
Ruth’s Reflections
The Writings of our beloved Mom
MY MOTHER SAID
(Written in honor of Mother Buhler for Mother's Day- 5/13/2000)
"Have faith in God," my Mother said,
And then she led the way,
As hand in hand she walked with god,
And trusted Him each day.
"Believe God's Word," my Mother said,
As she opened up the Book,
And fed upon it's treasured store,
His promises she took.
"Pray every day," my Mother said,
She worshipped and adored,
She brought her needs and cares to Him,
She loved her loving Lord.
"Perhaps today," my Mother said,
"The Lord will come again,
And I will see Him face to face,
I'll trust Him 'until then'."
A man stopped at a flower shop to order some flowers to be wired to his mother who lived two hundred miles away. As he got out of his car he noticed a young girl sitting on the curb sobbing. He asked her what was wrong and she replied, "I wanted to buy a red rose for my mother. But I only have seventy-five cents, and a rose costs two dollars." The man smiled and said, "Come on in with me. I'll buy you a rose." He bought the little girl her rose and ordered his own mother's flowers. As they were leaving he offered the girl a ride home. She said, "Yes, please! You can take me to my mother." She directed him to a cemetery, where she placed the rose on a freshly dug grave. The man returned to the flower shop, canceled the wire order, picked up a bouquet and drove the two hundred miles to his mother's house.
Hugs and Tugs
By: Wendy Greiner Lefko
I was thumbing through the book my mom wrote about our family the other day and unexpected tears flowed as I read her and my dad's account of losing my sister Cheryl. I hadn't been born yet and though I grew up hearing about Cheryl and her life and passing, I never personally experienced the grief of that loss. Now as both a daughter and a parent myself, to read what they went through in their own words touched me in a new and deep way and my heart grieved anew for the pain they went through. It also gave me fresh insight into the joy they described in finding out they were going to have another baby girl, as my mother specifically had prayed for. To read about the joy my mother felt in the Lord's graciously giving her and my father another daughter after losing Cheryl filled my own heart with joy. To know I was not only loved but prayed for in such a personal way before I was even born touched my heart as if I was reading this story of my life for the first time. They would always miss Cheryl, of course, and no one could ever taker her place, but for the Lord to hear my mother's humble prayer and give her another baby girl, and to know the Lord chose me to be the answer to my mother's prayer is humbling and startling to me even now. I always knew I was wanted and loved beyond measure, I just found a whole new sense of depth and meaning in my mother's words as I read them. It reminded me anew of the specific and wonderful purpose God has for my life, as He does every life He brings into this world, and what a beautiful heritage I have with parents who cherished the children God gave them.
I have a book mark that I look at every day as I keep in in my devotional book. My mother gave it to me a few years ago and I never realized what a treasure it would be to me. She wrote on the back "Wendy dear, You are a treasure from God to us! Love and admiration, Dad and Mom". I can't tell you how those words comfort my heart as I miss my mom and dad and am reminded of my mother's love for me as the daughter she prayed for. My prayer is that I could be as loving and prayerful a mother as she was. And I wish a Blessed and Happy Mother's Day to all of you dear mothers out there.
Prayer and Praise
Giving thanks to the Lord everyday!
-Praise to God for the gift of our mothers and for their loving devotion to God and family.
-Praise for all of your loving gifts, prayers and letters of encouragement this month. We are blessed of God to have you partnered with us.
-Pray for upcoming meetings in May that hearts will be receptive to the gospel.
-Pray that God will meet the needs this month for all of the functional expenses of FCI. He never fails!
-Pray for the families and friends of those affected by the brutal slayings at Virginia Tech. Pray that what was meant for evil, God will turn to good and that through this trial, many will come to experience the comfort and healing power of Jesus Christ through faith in Him.
-Note of interest: Many of you know of the story of Betts Greiner being born and raised, along with her brother Glen, as missionary children in Panama. Their father became the first missionary martyr in Panama back in 1974. After many recent interviews with Jean Barsness, formerly Jean Reimer (Betts' mom) about their experience, coupled with extensive research, their story has been published in the magazine 'AVANT'. The article is also available online at: avantministries.org click on 'news' and the article is entitiled "Hands Of Time". We trust that story will be a blessing to many.
-We rejoice in the great things God has done, and is doing. Please continue to pray for us as we march on for His cause.
With thankful hearts,
The Greiners