Ten days before the car accident that ultimately took her life, my mother in law, Deborah Samples, left the words below in her blog. In honor of the finest Christian woman I have ever known, I leave them with you. A little after midnight on July 2, 2011, that beautiful lady received the fullness of her inheritance. She’s with Jesus in glory and we will miss her greatly.
The Author of our Stories!How many of you have ever read a good book or watched a movie and were disappointed with its ending? I think of one of which we all are familiar- Gone With The Wind- and we probably would not have let Bonnie Blue fall off the horse and die; and depending on our personalities, some of us would have wished Rhett had stayed with the pouty Scarlett, others were happy that she got what she deserved. Yes, if we could have reviewed and edited, we would have ruined Margaret Mitchell’s bestseller! Today, I write to encourage myself and, hopefully, you, in the truth that God is the Author of our stories and He is too wise to try to edit. I will not and cannot explain the theological concept of His sovereignty and our free will but I do believe them both because the Bible teaches both and I believe that He is in every detail of our story. I know that isn’t easy to accept but when we do, we find ourselves at rest as never before. I don’t write today as one who has mastered being the pliable clay in the all-wise Potter’s hands but as one who, like you, is learning to be still and learning (emphasis on learning) to refrain from resisting while trusting that His ordained purpose for me is perfect. Yes, like you also, that is easier on the good days, when the sun is shining, not so easy when the black clouds are forming on the horizon. On those particular days, I find myself asking like the Psalmist-“Why are thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?” Then I begin to praise Him for His goodness toward me and soon, I am asking the same question again. You relate, right? Think with me that if Joseph could have rewritten his story, maybe he would have left out the chapter entitled- “Betrayed and Sold by Jealous Brothers.” Maybe Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth would have kept their husbands alive and we would have missed the beautiful love story or Boaz and Ruth who became the great grandparents of the great king of Israel, David. If David had not been on the run for his life from Saul, we would not be challenged by some great psalms that he wrote which encourage us that we can go on too. Esther would have rather stayed with Mordecai but found herself in the king’s palace and realized that she was there “for such a time as this.” The Bible is filled with these kind of stories, all of which God authored. In the N.T. Testament, we see many of our most beloved epistles written by the Apostle Paul from a prison cell, not exactly the location we would have chosen. It’s from his pen in the Book of Romans that he reminds us that “all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” It doesn’t say all things are good but all things work for our good, dear Child of God. No, we don’t understand and won’t, fully, here. I have bought many little palettes of paint for the grandchildren for inside activities at our house. Rarely, do they include the color black and never have I seen gray in the mix but the artist in his masterpieces will often use those shades as a backdrop and the vibrant hues become brighter because of it. It’s why the jeweler who wants the sale places that diamond ring in a box of black velvet. The brilliance is glorious against the background. I do not understand cancer in kids- I pray for an 18-mo. old named Andrew with stage IV neuroblastoma. He is in Ireland with his parents who, I believe, are missionaries. Each day as his daddy updates on FB his blood transfusion and chemos and sleepless nights, I weep with them but rejoice at his little smile in extreme adversity and his parents’ thanksgiving for a Christian doctor and caring nurses. My children in the ministry got a much needed vacation this week but Jeff has been crippled in much of it because of the painful condition of gout. I wonder why this would happen because he so diligently serves and desired some time with his precious three. I have prayed for them and have trusted that God knows exactly what is going on. “Deborah”, you might say, “Do you think God is in vacations gone awry?” I am learning that God is sovereign or He is not. It can’t be both ways so yes, He wasn’t taken aback by this mishap. One of my dearest friends, a sweet lady who shared discipleship classes with me, is on her way to Wisconsin today to see a specialist concerning “possible” pancreatic cancer. She kids with me on my birthday that I am older than her, from September to November and as she goes, she leaves behind in a hospital an aged mother who is recovering from bypass surgery. My friend retired from work to take care of her elderly parents and now she is too ill to to do so. I am sure she has questions. Would you join me in prayer for her? Do we understand? No! Do we trust God Who does understand fully? Yes! We trust His wisdom and His grace and His love for His children. Does He work all things out for good and His glory? Help us, Lord, to trust in You and Your truth! I posted a song last time that I blogged called Blessings. (Please listen to it if you are a fellow struggler today.)There is a particular line that ministers to my heart this morning. “What if the trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?” It meant even more when I read that the young woman wrote the song after hearing that her husband had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. I began with our desire to rewrite sections of stories because we think that we have a better grasp on the outcome. But let us be reminded and reassured today that God’s story ends perfectly. The ending is really our beginning and from Heaven one day, we will say Amen and amen to His story and our chosen role in it. I am just thankful this morning that He gave me a part, aren’t you? Praying for perseverance for you and desiring your like-minded prayer for me, Pilgrim! These temporary trials serve to remind us that this is not our home. Hallelujah!! – Deborah
[…] Watch as you read this and consider how God was preparing her for her home going! What a blessing this lady was! Source […]
I am so grateful to have been in the class of 70 with so many good people like Deborah who know just where they are with the Lord and how their lives have been so blessed to walk with God – talk with God and have HIM on their side to be with them all day and all night – Deborah – I know – will have a great crown of life now which resides on her head and truly clothed in the brightess white robe. She will live on in our hearts – closer to us all than she could ever be just in knowing her and being in her life – and she in ours. I am reminded as well – when I saw this sign on a church marqee “When you die – it is not what you may have done in your life – but who will remember how you were in their lives – How will you be remembered? It is a honor to be able to be raised up and praised as such a woman as Deborah was and is and will continue to be in spirit in our hearts. God Bless You All and please – give Jesus a chance to LOVE you as he did Deborah. Open your hearts to him and let him come in – that is all it takes — Believe.
Still praying for you and yours. Love you bro.
Jeff and Amy, I just heard of this accident and the passing of your mother. My heart goes out to you and I am sure that you are right in your assertion that she is with her Lord and saviour. I don’t know many details at this time, but my heart breaks for the sorrow you must feel in losing her in your lives. I hope that Amy is doing well. Please let me know if there is anything I can do. The two of you are in good hands with each other.
We are so heart broken in the loss of Mrs. Deborah. My own daughter, Jennifer, loved her so much. I know she always prayed for my grandchildren lifting their lives up to the the Almighty Father we serve and that has always touched my thoughts for Amy’s precious Mom. She is waiting for us now in the presence of our Lord. Man, what a happening! My family will continue to speak frequently to our Saviour in regard to your family for grace and comfort til we meet again. Love to each of you.
Sis Amy & Bro Jeff,
We have been wrapping you all in our prayers for the past couple of weeks now. The Lord’s ways are not always our ways, but they will always lead us to an eternal victory. What a beautiful testimony your Mother has shared with all who have known her and have followed her writings. They remind me of my own Pastor’s writings. What a blessing to all of us.
The Tweets and the Blog writings have kept us all informed as to what is going on in your lives as well as keeping our eyes on the Great Physician who alone has the power to restore. The Lord Jesus has not failed in either case.
We pray that you will soon be back at home with your dear children and husband. The Good Lord still has a great plan for your life. Our desire is to simply continue to be a part of it.
We Love You Both,
Mick & Lorna
Sorry for missing such a godly lady but we should rejoice knowing that she is now with our Lord Jesus.My mother had been the piano player of our church in Cairo at that time when the congregation was pretty similar in number to Meadow Baptist Church.When she departed to Heaven, some 38 years ago, one of the pastors in her funeral commented that she was holding her harp and singing praises to Lord Jesus in heaven, refering to Revelation 5:8.I think that our beloved ones in Heaven can see us, based on Hebrews 12:1, where the writer refers to the “cloud of witnesses”.
We are praying for complete cure of Amy and we trust in our Lord and Savior Jesus who so loved us while we were yet enemies that He died for us.He will rebuke any complication of surgery just as He rebuked the roaring sea and the wind while the disciples were in the ship.Pastor Jeff, we know you are blessed by the grace of our Lord and you will get over this just to be stronger in your ministry,
Sam & Zack.
I never met Amy’s mom but feel I’ve gotten to know her a little through Jeff’s blogs these last two weeks. What a glorious time she must be having today in Heaven. I know you will miss your mom, Amy, but when we know our loved ones are in glory with Jesus, it’s a little easier to let go. And, oh, what sweet memories you must have of times spent with her. I am praying for all of you during these days. I’m especially praying the last two days for relief from pain for Amy – both physical and now emotional. Hopefully, you will soon be home with your dear family around you and many friends that want to help. God’s blessings and love to all of you. May you feel His presence and comfort as only He can give.
What a testimony!! What a blessing!! What a wonderful, godly lady, she was! She is at home with Jesus today, in heaven!!!! Thank God for her! She will be missed here on earth!! Loved Deborah!!
Jenny
What a godly example Miss Deborah was to all of us! Thanking God for her wonderful testimony and for taking her home to be with Him. Praying for the Samples and Lyle families. We love you all.
I am so sorry about Mrs. Samples. She was truly an inspiration.
I know you all will miss her terribly.
We love you all and are praying for you all.
Mary
What a beautiful testimony to a woman of faith! Her homegoing should be a coronation celebrating a life of faith, hope and charity. She is meeting those gone before and her most precious friend, Jesus! Those who love her will certainly miss her, but she is receiviing her crowns, her mansion and praising Jesus with the saints in glory. This is the hope of every Christian. When my precious grandmother, Rebecca Osterhus passed, her children called her homegoing a coronation not a funeral. She also lived a life of faith, trusting in the Holy Scriptures’s promises every day of her life. Praise the Lord!!!
Carolann
I have never known a time in my life where a parting felt so right. Bitter/sweet are the words that stay in my mind. May the joys of Heaven receiving Deborah rain down on each of you. What a precious story and legacy she leaves. Amy… I’m holding you close in my heart. Wish I could hold you in my arms. Continuing to pray for Alicia and Landon as they deal with the loss of a grandmother like no other. Praise God for his mercy. Hold on… He’s still working, hallelujah! LOVE TO ALL OF YOU!!!
I can’t tell you how many times I have read and shared this very post over the last couple of weeks. We truly do preach our own funerals, and her sermon is one that brings glory to our God and Savior Jesus Christ! Love and prayers from the Willis family.