It was November 1972, approximately two months after my wedding. I was talking to Daddy on the phone and he told me some devastating news. At least, to ME it was devastating! I listened as Daddy's words seemed to rip my heart out. "Linda, I called to tell you that I am going to resign the church. We have been elected Pastor of Stonewall United Pentecostal Church and we are moving to Houston, TX." I thought I was hearing things. Fresno was my home! I had lived there from the time I was six weeks old until I got married at the age of nineteen, and I had just gotten married! When I left with my husband on the evangelistic field, I expected to be able to go "home" to see my friends from time to time. If Daddy and Mother left, I would never be able to go back and it be the same! I thought about not ever going back to the house I called "home", and I cried. I cried for hours after that phone call. My world had been turned upside down and I wasn't quite sure how it would all work out. But, Daddy said it was the "will of God" so I would somehow have to accept it. A little while later Daddy and Mother moved. We were preaching revivals, so we made our way into Texas and visited them. Looking back, I see how a new life in TEXAS was begun and life was different. There were times I would ask Mother if she missed Fresno and her answer always surprised me. I just KNEW if I was missing Fresno, SHE missed her home, her church, and the saints she loved so much! Mother's voice broke through my thoughts as she tried to explain to me one more time, "I loved living in Fresno. It was home until God changed His will for our life. I can't explain it. I loved the church, the people, and the city, but I'm happy where I'm at."
I have to admit that I do not understand the ways of God. Through the years I have wondered how she could be so happy in one place, then all of a sudden be happy and love the next place as much as she did the first one. After all, Fresno was a mighty revival church! Evangelists LOVED coming to Fresno and preaching for Daddy and Mother. Oftentimes they would call it their "oasis". When Daddy resigned the church, preacher's from everywhere were shocked and said that he must have "missed the will of God" but, Daddy assured me that he didn't. God made changes in Daddy and Mother's life again and again, and I watched Mother adjust to the "new will of God". I never saw her discontented or unhappy. I cannot recall any time in life that I heard her grumble and complain about her "lot in life". She followed Daddy wherever God took him, believing in him, and the decisions he made with God. She was simply amazing!
Fast forward many years. My husband and I were in the "perfect will of God" in Wichita Falls.
We loved our church, our saints, and our home. The church was a revival church and still is. I had the choir of my dreams and loved hearing them minister through song. I can truthfully say, I never got tired of hearing them sing! There were times when they were singing that the POWER of the Holy Ghost would come sweeping into the sanctuary and you could feel UNITY flowing throughout the congregation. Services were changed because of the "spirit of unity" that came from the choir. I also had a Sunday School class that I started and taught for many years. I loved my class and the "style" of teaching that I used. From the day I started the class my motto was: "You never know what to expect when you come to PrimeLife." My heart overflows with thankfulness and love for the saints of God that supported my husband and I through the years. They taught our sons in Sunday School, took care of them when we were out of town, and welcomed our daughter-in-laws to the "family" when our sons got married. The memories flood my mind and they are precious! THEN...all of a sudden, GOD changed His will for our life! No one was more shocked than my husband and I when it happened. I was totally floored to think that we would be leaving our church, our saints, our home, and our security!!!! We were starting to marry the young adults that were just babies when we took the church, or had been born since we were there! Twenty-four years had flown by and we were enjoying the blessings of God in the church and in our lives. HOW could I leave them? HOW could I tell them goodbye???? HOW could I leave the people who loved me and took care of me through times of sorrow, and rejoiced with me in the good times? Then...I remembered...MOTHER! "Linda, I loved the church, the people and the city, but when God changed His direction for our lives..." I knew if Mother could do it...I could do it! I felt my heart was being ripped out when we told our lovely congregation we were leaving! It was one of those times that I wanted to get in the floor and kick, scream, and cry because it hurt so bad! Yes, I'm sure I cried a few bucket of tears, but after I cried and came to grips with what was happening, I felt a deep settled peace down in the depths of my heart. I couldn't explain it and still can't. I just have to say, "When God changes your direction, you can be happy, peaceful, and contented."
The Will of God? What is it? How do you know when you're in it? How do you know when you're out of it? Why does God change His mind? Why doesn't He leave us where we're comfortable? Why is it when you seem to have everything the way you want it He decides He wants you someplace you never wanted to be? Questions...Oh, I've had them, and YOU'VE had them! It would be crazy for me to try and answer the questions. Sometimes, you just walk by faith and know that He does ALL things well! I still do not have the answers, but I do know that down deep in my heart we are "living in the will of God". I'm contented, happy, and at peace knowing that He walks with me, and that He has our life in His hands! That's really all that matters for when God decides He wants you in a place that you never dreamed you'd be, HE makes up the difference and the questions don't have to have an answer! Maybe this is the reason we have started singing this song in the last few years...
I've been on the mountain with Jesus.
I've been in the valley so low.
But not one time has He failed me.
When to Him with my burdens I go.
So, let me walk with you Jesus.
Don't ever leave me alone.
For without you I could never.
No, never make Heaven my home.
Maybe I'm talking to someone who has had questions about the "will of God" in your life. Maybe you've been questioning "why" your life has been changed from what you would call the "norm". I don't know what you've been facing, but I do know God has not left you! He is still walking beside you! If you can somehow pull yourself away from the question marks, look to Jesus and trust Him, you will be able to lift your head and feel peace in your spirit! Keep walking with Him! Focus your thoughts and mind on the One who does ALL THINGS WELL, and let His presence comfort you as you walk with Him. HE has "YOUR WHOLE WORLD" in His hands!
As I sit in my home this morning my mind races over the last few weeks! Really, I need to look at the calendar to see where I've been, what I've done, and remember all the people I've seen. Life has been flying by so quickly that it seems a blur.
We arrived home last night from a wonderful Thanksgiving and Layne Family Reunion in Wichita Falls. We got to spend several days together. We had not been together with most of the family since Daddy passed away in 2004, so it was wonderful getting to spend time with each other. To say we had a nice time doesn't begin to tell you how awesome it was to be with my family! All the different personalities complimented each other and we played together, cried some tears, and laughed a lot.
Family...there are no words to adequately describe a family. I looked it up in the dictionary and Mr. Webster's description of a family is cold, and without feeling. His definition is: a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children considered as a group whether dwelling together or not...the traditional family. Oh, I know the dictionary gives the basic information on words and their meanings, but when I think of a family I think of love, respect, care, and protection. I could talk a lot about "the family unit", but it would take days to express my deep, inner feelings about family and what it means to me.
Thanksgiving 2011 will be etched in my memory forever! As we gathered for our Thanksgiving meal, it was a very touching time. I was busy snapping pictures as my husband prayed over our Thanksgiving Meal, because some events must be captured on "film". I listened to the very familiar voice of the man I've loved since I was twelve years old and I heard the emotions in his voice as he offered thanks. I looked across the table and saw tears on the face of my sister. We all had been through some life changing times this year, so for some there were tears of sorrow, for others tears of joy, but for ALL a prayer of "thanks". Each family had experienced life's "ebb and flow" and we had come through 2011 with thankful hearts. God had certainly been good to the Elms/Hurst/Holley families this year!
One of my favorite times of our holiday was the night Ronda went to the piano. It wasn't planned. There were some playing games, some reading, a few crocheting, children playing in the floor, others on their computers or iPads/iPhones, but everyone enjoying being together. As the piano played familiar songs I heard someone start singing. Then, someone else joined, then another, and another until we had a full choir from the eldest to the children. The blending of family voices was beautiful! Not only was it beautiful, but the presence of God flooded into our hearts as we sang for over an hour. It seemed there was no stopping place! I'm glad we caught some of this on video. As I watched and listened to the video my ears picked up on a beautiful sound. We were singing, "I've got a mansion just over the hilltop, in that bright land where we'll never grow old. And someday yonder we will never more wander. But, walk on streets that are purest gold.". Breaking through the "adult voices" I heard a child's voice...I've got a mansion just over the hilltop. In that bright land where we'll never grow old..." It was pure beauty! I watched our two oldest granddaughters as they sang the "old songs" and saw the passing down of Apostolic heritage! My heart was made glad as I saw the past and the future joined together! From generation to generation...
It was a pleasure of mine to sing with Gene and Karla again. During our family time of singing I looked at Karla and had her start singing..."If the son never shines again, I still believe..." It was hard for her to get through the first verse as she was overwhelmed by life and the losses our family had experienced, but she quickly gained strength and her voice grew stronger as we got to the chorus..."The sea could swallow up the mountains. Kingdoms could crumble to the ground. Rivers could turn to babbling brooks and the whole world cease to go around. Heaven and earth could pass away. Man could cease to be. But, God will always remain the same...I still believe!" We all felt the depth of the words to this song, and knew that we had once again been touched by the hand of the Creator of which we sang. Through the words of this song we once again knew that God held us in His arms as our loved ones were taken from us, and we could "still believe".
One night was just "family fun"! It was WONDERFUL! All the adults, young adults, teens, and children...together...singing silly sings, acting them out, and being one big crazy, happy, family! Someone started out..."Father Abraham had many sons..." You guessed it...as the song went on I watched as almost every person in the room was doing all the motions! It was hilarious and awesome! I have video of it, but would not dare share it with the world lest I get thrown out of the family! Ha-ha! Memories were made that will be forever in the minds and hearts of the children and adults! I loved listening to the laughter! The giggles of little girls were priceless as Uncle Nathan told the story of the "big mouth frog"! Then, I heard the screeching giggles, and their voices as they said, "Get Papa", and the hearty laughter from Papa Elms as two of our granddaughters attacked him trying to pull him off the couch! It was great! He was laughing uncontrollably! Aww...I smile as I remember and my heart overflows with happiness and thanksgiving!
We are coming to the end of the Year 2011. Time has flown by this year, and we are heading into 2012. At times I wonder what the New Year will bring, but I don't have to wonder who will be in charge of it. I know that Jesus will be guiding our lives this year, just as He has all the other years, so I am looking forward to the beginning of the rest of our life. Who knows...at the "dawning of 2012" we could be singing around the throne! We won't have to sing about our "mansion just over the hilltop" anymore for we will already be there!
Last night, while sitting on the plane my heart overflowed with thoughts about the two celebrations we attended last week. One celebration was the wedding of my nephew, Nathaniel, and his beautiful bride, Sara. With all the beauty that surrounded them, the love from friends and family, and the sweet looks from bride and groom to each other, I was made glad to see the beauty of two lives meshing together and a bright future being formed. A couple that's given their lives to God to do His perfect will is beautiful to watch. Congratulations Nathaniel and Sara!
The other celebration was not one that we look at as being a"happy occasion". As Heaven was rejoicing over a child of God being ushered through the gates of splendor, we were saying good-bye to a "mighty man of valor". Bishop Kenneth F. Haney walked among us and was a leader to all who knew him. He fought many battles and as we celebrated his home-going we knew he had won the war!
No longer would he fight the battles of sickness, pain, and death! He had fought the "good fight of faith", never wavering in what he preached and living each moment to please God. Through every battle and every test that was thrown at him he chose to live above reproach, guiding those who were following him down the road of truth and righteousness. Bishop Haney was a man who lived what he preached, never backing down, or giving into the pressures of the negative spirits of this world.
I have known Bishop Haney all of my life and I never questioned his walk with God. I never wondered about his integrity of wanting to do the right thing. My family has been blessed to be in his presence on occasion and never did we hear a negative word come out of his mouth. He was all about "lifting up the name of Jesus" and being loyal to the men and women around us who were part of our great organization, the UPCI. I am thankful for the opportunity to have known this great leader and friend. From this perspective, I am sad that we have lost yet another warrior in death.
Even though I am sad at the loss of Bishop Haney, I have to stop and re-think what has actually happened. In Heaven, there was a big celebration that took place on November 10, 2011. As I think about Heaven and try to understand what my mind doesn't really comprehend, I do feel like I can see a little clearer from "heaven's point of view". The first celebration was a newly wed couple that was beginning a "new life" together. The second celebration was a man of God who was ending "life on earth and beginning a new life for eternity". In view of what I have experienced this week, I can rejoice in BOTH of these celebrations. If I could see what God sees, I believe He sees a young couple walking onto the platform of revival, excited about the future of the Church, and will enjoy the many souls that will come to know God through their ministry. They walk onto the stage with other committed preacher's and wives who are part of a growing church, an Apostolic movement that is moving forward seeing the miraculous happen through the power of God! On the other hand, an elder, a soldier who has fought many battles has made his entrance through the gates of splendor, rejoicing because he has "won the war"!
Bishop Kenneth F. Haney, you have left footprints for us to follow. We will be careful to continue walking in the clear path you have made. Thank you, for the many messages you preached about "holding onto that which was once delivered to the saints". Thank you, for the vision of reaching the lost. Thank you for never letting us forget why the Church is here! Your voice was heard loud and clear and it lives on is walking up and down the corridors of our minds! We will continue "contending for the faith" and will preach without "fear or favor" making sure we "cross that finish line", and when we do...I know you and countless saints of all the ages will be waiting to welcome us HOME!
