I did not go to the Texas race (it was not in the original budget for the year and I was scheduled to go to the Iowa race until 6/11/09. That was the day my wife's mother, Doretha Huffman, went to be with the Lord. Please pray for my wife and her father and brothers as they grieve the loss of this dear woman of God.
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28. He said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Doretha’s faith in Jesus Christ was consistent and non-negotiable. She did not like sin. She served Christ without wanting any human reward or recognition. As is says in Matthew 11:28, Doretha obeyed Jesus’ command. All her life, she came to Jesus………….. Recently, she was weary and burdened.
Oswald Chambers wrote:
“Come to Me….” Where sin and sorrow stops, and the song of the saint starts. Do I really want to get there? I can right now. The questions that truly matter in life are remarkably few, and they are all answered by these words – “Come to Me.” Our Lord’s words are not, “do this, or don’t do that,” but – “Come to Me.” If we simply come to Jesus, my real life will actually cease from sin, and find the song of the Lord beginning in my life.
Have you ever come to Jesus? Look at the stubbornness of your heart. You would rather do anything than this one simple childlike thing – “Come to Me.” If you really want to experience ceasing from sin, you must come to Jesus.
Jesus Christ makes Himself the test to determine your genuineness. Look how He used the word come. At the most unexpected moments in your life there is this whisper of the Lord – “Come to Me,” and you are immediately drawn to Him. Personal contact with Jesus changes everything. Be “foolish” enough to come and commit yourself to what He says. The attitude necessary for you to come to Him is one where your will has made the determination to let go of everything and deliberately commit it all to Him.After a day of loosing his wife, making funeral arrangements, and visiting cemeteries, Henry (her husband) and I embraced at the end of the day and he looked me in the eye and said, “Praise the Lord”. I replied, “yes Henry, praise the Lord”………. What an example of a selfless attitude.
While this selfless attitude was admirable, how could he say that after loosing his wife of 62 years? What was he thinking? Where was the sorrow? Where was the sadness? Friends, the grief was there, but it was replaced by the overwhelming joy of knowing that she is home in heaven with Jesus and their son Timmy, and that someday, he will join them in there.
I will miss her dearly. She loved me as a mother. She respected me as the husband of her daughter. Her generosity overwhelmed me. Her heart to serve the Lord encouraged me. Her selfless pride convicted me.
Do you have that overwhelming joy that Henry has? Can you say “Praise the Lord?” Doretha went to Jesus. Is it time for you to come to Jesus?
