A beautiful pillar of strength and grace passed into the arms of Jesus yesterday. She’s survived by her husband Doug, and their two teenage children.

As hard as it is for those of us left behind when a loved one passes, Jeanette is now living in true glory and is praising God face-to-face, not with sadness or regret–only love. Jeanette and I talked and prayed a lot over the issue of peace and rest. Now she has both, thanks be to God.

It’s interesting to me, but not at all surprising, that many of the verses God gives us about peace involve also our hearts. I think He knows how much the two are connected and I know that there is an emotional response in our hearts to the peace that comes only from Christ. Here are a few verses I’m praying and using to renew my mind with Truth as I honor and remember Jeanette, seeking out God’s peace and searching for His voice to comfort my heart:

Jeanette
Isaiah 57:1-2
Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die.

Revelation 14:13
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!”

2 Timothy 4:5b-8a
… Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you [what a ministry Jeanette had to me, to her family, to each of us who knew her. What a walking example of the Good News that comes in Christ alone]. As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God…. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me–the crown of righteousness, which the Lord will give me on the day of His return…

Rest
Hebrews 4:10
For anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.

Comfort
Isaiah 49: 9b-10
The Lord says…”Come out into freedom!”… They will neither hunger nor thirst. The searing sun will not reach them anymore. For the Lord in His great mercy will lead them; He will lead them beside cool waters [and give them comfort and rest].

Peace
Philippians 4:7
You will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 48:18b (Jeanette heard and listened to the Lord)
… you would have peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.

John 14:27
I {Jesus} am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

John 16:30
I {Jesus} have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world!

Colossians 3:15
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

May the Lord be with your spirit. And may His grace be with all of you (2Tim 4:22).

We love you, Jeanette. Amen.

I finally saw this movie yesterday. A+mazing.

Why hadn’t I seen this sooner? I’m afraid I can’t quite do it justice–it was good beyond words–but I will give you my two cents.

Stellar cast, great plot (based on a true story), and incredible characters. Bertie (short for Albert) is an unlikely hero whose stammer keeps him on the verge of fear and failure both politically and personally. The cause and genesis of his stutter is discovered through a series of unorthodox practices implemented by an eccentric speech pathologist Lionel Loague; the process is as humorous as it is revealing. As you witness Bertie’s successes and minor set backs you find him to be, in fact, quite brave. It is this very visible internal struggle–the fear and the courage–that endears him to you.

I must say that the other elements that provide the backdrop and setting for the storyline are unexpectedly poignant: England on the brink of war, the commoners and the royalty, and perhaps most significant, the passing of duty and expectation from father, to son, and finally to brother.

But what kept me fighting back tears most were the actual words themselves in his speech at the end. Uttered so long ago, they still hold the weight that resonates when a leader with integrity, overcoming adversity, speaks on the issues of honesty, loyalty, impending chaos, and the faithfulness of God. As the screen shifts back and forth between the man who had conquered so much of the war inside himself and the people–the soldiers, the mill workers, the newsies on the streets–it is impossible to deny the perplexing and integral courage that both the man and the country are forced to exude in the face of possible defeat and failure. As history shows, both prevail in the end, but the journey is long and the cost is great.

This brilliant story is made all the more rich by a cast who portray the characters with a humble humanness and promising poise. I have rarely been this inspired to be better. I already want to see it again. Two thumbs up!

Steph Underwood is my hero.

She’s pretty great. Those of you who know her probably know how smart and gorgeous and kind and generous she is, but you may not know what a joy she is to be with–just be with. She’s incredibly easy to be with. And I’ve found that this is a rare and beautiful trait.

There are people you enjoy lunching with, or just having coffee and a quick catch up. There are others that you enjoy in a deeper more intimate setting, like a bible study or church. There are some you look forward to seeing weekly–and perhaps others that you’d rather enjoy in smaller doses. There are people you love to travel with or spend weekends with; there are some you want at your parties because they’re fun and others you’d prefer for more laid back times because they are ok with being still and allowing the conversation to lull into comfortable silence.

Steph is that rare breed that you want in all of the above mentioned circumstances.

I love her very much and am eternally grateful for her friendship.

Everything’s GREAT! I can totally see, which is a miracle itself! Mama, Grandmama, Grant, and Georgia have been excellent nurses 😉

Yesterday I got to go to prayer–awesome–and take mama for the first time to meet everyone in the group–including Patti and Marty and Miss Betty and many many others. It was great and she loved it.

Now I’m off to play with Steph and (assuming I don’t get snowed in at her house) I’ll get to see Nida Sunday and hug her neck! Which is a much needed play date.

LASIK is awesome and everyone should get it! Don’t wait a minute longer if you need corrective vision.

Today I will be given new eyes, Lord willing. I’m pretty pumped. They have this new technology which makes Intralase a “bladeless” procedure. I think the idea is that they use air pressure to separate tissues, rather than having a blade cut through the eye tissues. Whatever. I try not to think about all that too much. It should be quick and painless (15 min per eye!) and I should have 20/20 or better vision TOMORROW! For someone with eyes as bad as mine (-4.00, -4.75) that is good news, my friend.

Click here to see where I’m getting it done and here for an explanation of what it is (it’s not gross, I promise; I wouldn’t be able to post it if it were). Pretty awesome!!

Mama and Grandmama are coming to play with me for the next few days and then I’m headed to TN/KY to play with Steph!! Can’t wait!

More on the results after my 1:00 procedure!!!!!

-L