A Moment in The Meadow with Tonya

-he world is an emptier place today. (March 6,2017)

Tonya gained her heavenly body yesterday.

This post is dedicated to her and her legacy.

Every person needs a friend like Tonya. Faithful prayer warrior and fierce protector of all she loved. And boy! oh boy, did she love! Passionately, wholly and unconditionally.

How do I convey to you the deep abiding friendship that packed a lifetime in 5 short years? Where are the words to describe her vivaciousness, her joy-filled countenance? I need her ability to see the good in reality.

She is in a better place. Her suffering has ceased. Ours hasn't. I can't even bear to look at her husband or her young adult son. They're swallowed up in their own grief.

"Get up, girl!", I can hear her now. "Moping solves nothing."

Oh my word I sure do miss her! We talked or texted every day.

Tonya's heart belonged wholly and completely to her Lord first, her devoted husband, and her amazingly talented son. She tackled every single thing with the tenacity of a bulldog with his favorite ham bone. Before the cancer wreaked havoc with her stamina, her employer was blessed with a stellar employee and her customers were blessed with an honest, on-their-side mortgage officer. Her bar was high and she expected no less than the best and brooked no excuses for sub par work. A few were intimidated by her bold expectations. I may have been a teensy weensy bit intimidated, however, I soon learned Tonya expected much more out of herself than she ever expected from others. She was one of those rare people who could effectively communicate her expectations in such a manner where you accepted those high standards for yourself.

Tonya developed a nagging cough.

CANCER.

A word that sends fear slicing through our hearts. Doubts, dread, and depression pound on our heart's door and faith is put to the mother of all tests.

Tonya would not want me to spend this moment in the meadow bragging on her, her bravery throughout the cancer ride, or how wonderfully she loved her Lord.

Nope--she'd emphatically shake me and demand in her most lovingly, blunt way to brag only on her Lord. HIS GOODNESS. HIS FAITHFULNESS. HIS GRACE. HIS MERCY. HIS SALVATION.

In her honor and in her memory, I want to do just that --brag on God

I truly believe these are things she'd want me to tell you

* He is personal: Throughout Scripture we see God declare a multitude of times His personal relationship with His Children.

EXODUS 20:2 says I am the Lord thy God, which have brought the out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of Bondage.

My sweet, dear Christian friend, HE IS YOUR GOD. Praise His name He has delivered you from the bondage and slavery of sin when you accepted His gift of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus.

*He is faithful: Lamentations 3:23b...great is Thy faithfulness

It doesn't matter what anyone or anything says. God is faithful. Period. Anything else is a twisted attempt to doubt your Loving Creator.

*Eternity is your choice: Everything has an opposite. God/Satan-- good/evil ---life/death---heaven/hell

God doesn't force His way on you. He gives you the choice. However, He is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Way.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. It is simple to accept His free gift of salvation:

That if thou shalt confess with they mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10

Tonya is not in Heaven because of any goodness she'd done. And let me tell you, she did a lot of "Daisy Deeds".

She's not in Heaven because she was a wonderful wife, a fantastic friend or marvelous mom. And she most definitely was ALL those things and lots lots more. No, my friend. Tonya is in Heaven because she confessed with her mouth she needed the Lord Jesus and believed in her heart of hearts that Romans 10:9-10 is the way to Heaven.

If you have never accepted God's plan for salvation, won't you do that today? She would rejoice right along with the Trinity, the angels and the saints.

Thank you for allowing me to share my sweet Tonya with you. Life is truly a vapor my friend. Just as the steam from my tea kettle disappears almost the second it appears, our deeds vaporize into the mist of legacy.

"just two choices on the shelf, pleasing God or pleasing self." (quote I heard at a ladies conference years ago)

What will you do with YOUR Christ? The choice is yours.

Until we meet again my wonderful friend.

Joyfully His

Dianne