I once read:
Never underestimate the valuable and
Important difference you make in every life you touch.
For the impact you make today
Has a powerful rippling effect on every tomorrow.
Anonymous
This rippling effect of one man’s life would touch me down stream years after he and his wife jumped head first into those deep waters on search and rescue missions for those marriages drowning in the rip currents of their choices.
A Godly couple living the example
“‘till death do we part”.
Two ordinary people who taught on marriages every Sunday afternoon for decades; who spent the remainder of the week throwing out life preservers and life-lines for those willing and not willing to grab hold for another chance to live.
The cries of those hurting kept these two up at night searching the desperate waters for marriages about to be lost at sea; with some marriages ditching the radar altogether of being found.
Such was the man in this marriage.
A man who wanted to charter his own boat, navigate life his own way, regardless of the distress flares and signals from his drowning wife.
But an ordinary man with an extraordinary call for marriages kept throwing out life-lines for this husband to stop swimming against the current of God and jump into His boat of surrender and freedom.
Life-line after life-line the search and rescue continues, never losing sight of this couple at sea.
When one day a worn out man takes hold of the one unwilling to give up the rescue.
A surrendered heart and a marriage restored.
His legacy continues.
Never underestimate the valuable and
Important difference you make in every life you touch.
For the impact you make today
Has a powerful rippling effect on every tomorrow.
Anonymous
Yes, never underestimate the difference you make in the lives of those you touch.
Two ordinary people intersecting the path of two others needing life preservers, now jump head first into those deep waters on search and rescue missions of their own, for those needing resuscitation of a new beginning.
This impact of one man’s life now touches me down stream years later through my future brother ‘n law with an introduction to his brother, who later became my husband.
One man’s life changed my heartache and single life of raising two young children without a male influence into joy forever.
THANK YOU
By Ray Boltz
…….
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave.
Surrendering and saying “yes” to God changes everything.
The love between my brother ‘n law and wife re-ignited the flames of their heart which could only be attributed to the Author of Love Himself.
Their passion for one another is evident in his wife’s smile and smiles of their grandchildren.
Their commitment
‘till death do they part
Is celebrated on their 40th wedding anniversary renewal, a day almost lost at sea had it not been for a search and rescue mission of two called by God to marriages.
My husband and I for years sent an anniversary card to our brother and wife who kept in covenant to their wedding vows, because we wouldn’t be celebrating anniversaries of our own had they not grabbed hold of that life preserver.
Remembering that love is patient, kind, not envious or boastful or proud, never dishonoring, not self-seeking or easily angered, keeping no record of wrongs, rejoicing in truth, protecting, trusting, hoping and persevering.
Holding on to the life preserver of love which never fails.
A love my husband and I shared with others at our 25th Wedding Anniversary celebration, all because two people decided to stay married, who officiated our renewal, whose rippling effect on our lives is now splashing down stream to our legacy.
I am a life, that’s been changed,
My brother ‘n law Joe has affected many other lives as well; I would greatly underestimate the impact that flowed down stream from his life.
A devoted marine and love for his country, Joe honors the veterans who sacrificed everything to serve.
Joe alongside his daughter serves during the holidays, preparing a banquet before our soldiers, our country’s finest.
Joe ministers in the trenches of the hurting, the forgotten, the addicted; a band of brothers leaving no man behind.
Joe is a dreamer; a diligent servant and provider for his family.
Joe’s love for laughter and heart for God ministers in huge waves to his family.
More than anything else, Joe’s ability to connect with children is his biggest splash.
A marine to the core, Joe passes on his military passion to rise up in young soldiers a heart for Christ.
Joe is our Toys ‘R Us kid at Christmas.
Well, maybe not.
Joe’s house has been a house of hospitality, a hospital for hurting these past twenty seven years, open for anyone who knocks or needs a soft pillow to lie on.
Joe who is no stranger to the mission field,
Recently graduating from a program in missions, believing one day to hand out life preservers on the other side of the world again.
Joe’s life has been poured out on many with others still waiting their turn down stream.
Sadly for us, a celebration and graduation of a different kind has taken place for our dear Joe as he stands before the sea of lives he’s touched, those waiting for him as he enters the gates of heaven.
Flags fly at half-mast in the hearts who loved him dearly.
A country says good-by to one of its finest soldiers; a void visibly seen.
A choir of angels sing as our brother takes his first steps on those golden streets of heaven.
THANK YOU
By Ray Boltz
….
As Jesus took your hand
As you stood before the Lord
He said, my child look around you
For great is your reward.
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave.
…..
Bishop used to remind us that good seeds sown in death always produce an abundance of fruit.
A basket overflows at harvest because Joe lived to give his life away.
Just days ago our Joe walked thru the front door of heaven when we earnestly prayed for this door to open.
But God had a different plan.
Our hearts grieve yet rejoice as Joe has already seen Jesus.
This family couldn’t be any happier.
We stand and salute a soldier for his life well lived.
Welcome Home Papa Joe.
Welcome Home.
Apples of Gold Encouragement 