Jesus Never says "Goodbye"

My in-laws: Terry & Kathy Basham, Dec. 2007

Today as we prepare to say goodbye to my in-laws, I am comforted by my best friend: Jesus. Oh, I know it sounds "ultra spiritual" for me to say that Jesus is my best friend, and I don't mean it in a "pious" way, goodness no! But there is just no other way to put it. A best friend is someone who loves you and stays with you no matter how badly you "blow it". If you could see my life, and all the times I've messed up -sometimes while even trying to do right! - then you would know that I speak the truth. Through all my faults and failures, Jesus has been my best friend. He has been the one who loved me unconditionally.
When I was nine, I said "goodbye" to my sister as she left for Bible college. I remember crying myself to sleep many a night. We had shared a room all of my life, and now I was alone. I felt forsaken. I remember asking the Lord to "comfort" me, as the Bible says that the Holy Spirit will do. Melanie was heading to northern Indiana for college, and it gets *very* cold up there. Mom had bought her a warm comforter for her bed. As I prayed, I would picture that comforter wrapped snugly about me. My next thought was "It's 6:00! Time to get up already!" and another day had begun. Jesus had sat with me through the cold and lonely night. He gently saw to it that a nine year old girl fell asleep despite her fears and sadness. Now that is a best friend, isn't it?
I have said more goodbyes than I would like to count! I've said "goodbye" to my parents when I moved away; to my brother, when he left Arkansas for Florida, and the hardest of all - and seemingly the most permanent of them all - to my Dad when he went Home. (Boy, do I miss him.)
As I sit here in my spot, preparing to face another day, I read from Mark 14: 50 And they all forsook him, and fled. The faithful disciples forsook Jesus as He was about to face the Cross! They failed Him! They let Him down! Just as I have so many times. Yet, what did Jesus do? He kept going. He traveled the dark and lonely path to Calvary. He suffered. He bled. He died. Why would He do this? Of course, so that we could be spared from Hell. But He also did it so that a nine year old girl would not have to cry alone in her bed at night. He did this so that a grown woman would have the strength to leave friends and family for His sake. He did this so that we, the saved, would never be alone again! (Hebrews 13:5)
As I prepare today to say goodbye - again - I am so thankful for my best friend. While others forsook Him, He will NEVER forsake me.

I am so glad that Jesus never says "Goodbye."

The Big Day was a Big Success!

Praise the Lord, our prayers were answered! We had about 65 people at our Anniversary service. Many of them were at one point members of our church. I had heard so many good things about them, but had never met them! It was nice to finally put a face with the name.
The Lord's hand was upon Terry during his preaching. The Holy Spirit was working!
I am most excited about that! Terry preached from 2 Tim. 2:1-10. I'm sure his sermon will be on the website soon, so please go have a listen. I believe it will bless and encourage you.
I sang two songs, and was a nervous wreck, but I felt the arms of the Holy Spirit enveloping me, as I knew He could do. I was leaning so heavily upon Him, that He had to hold me up! He was all I had! I'm so thankful that God made me nervous and high strung! I would not feel as great a need for Him if I were laid back and calm naturally. He's so good to me.
I will try to post some photos of our big day for you at a later time. I just wanted to quickly give you an update, and let you know that our prayers were heard by our Almighty God, and He graciously answered! Once again, I praise the Lord!
To God be the glory, great things He hath done!

The Big Day

Today is our church's 60th anniversary! We have been preparing for it for several months. We have invited 80 people that at one time were members of our church. We're hoping to see a good many of them today, and meet some for the first time, but it is in the Lord's hands. Most of all, we would love to see some folks saved today! Could you please pray for our church, my husband as he preaches and for the services of Northside Baptist Church today? We would be most grateful. I will let you know how God answers our prayers!
I pray that we all are worshiping the Lord today in Spirit and in truth. Have a happy Sunday!

~Valerie

He Knows What Is Best

Well, I suppose it's time to tell you the news. I have not had the courage to tell my kids yet, but I will go ahead and tell you. My in-laws are moving back to Illinois. They arrived here on April 19, 2007 and have been working here since that time. They have been such a blessing to me and my husband during their time here. My mother-in-law has been our church pianist, made lots of clothes for the girls, they have both babysat for us occasionally.My Father in law was Terry's soul winning partner. They have been faithful to services. To say they will be missed is an understatement. It feels like such a giant step backward in our ministry.
I am torn. My Father in law is called to pastor, and he's been between ministries while he's been here. He has an opportunity to preach in Illinois, so I'm happy for him about that. I'm only sad for us.
I was recently thinking about the void that will be left when they leave and was *very* depressed about it. I was telling the Lord all about it. "What will my kids do, now Lord? They don't have any friends. They absolutely live for Friday afternoons so they can run down to the camper (which is parked on the property) and see their Granddad and Grandma, and "camp out" with them all night! What will they do when the camper sits empty and they sit lonely?" I went on and on crying on the Lord's shoulder about it. Which, by the way, is the One to Whom we should complain. He understands that we are dust, and He's the only One who can solve our problems anyway. He answered me. He asked, "Valerie, don't you trust Me, after all we've been through together? Do you doubt that I do know what's best? Don't you know I love you, and I will never leave you - even if your entire auditorium sits empty, I am there." He brought to mind the following verse: Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Make no mistake, I hate the word "Goodbye". I hate the separation that that word brings. I will be sad about this, so I'm just embracing it. I know I'm going to be sad, but that's okay. I also know to Whom I should cry, and I know the One who will give me strength to go forward despite the things that appear to be set backs to me. God can do anything. I believe that He is going to do great things through this "set back". And even through my tears, I believe that He does know best.

He was with Us

The banner in the front of our church announcing our NEW Bible Study!!

We began our Ladies Bible Study at Northside Baptist Church yesterday. I was sooo nervous! I awoke at 4:55AM due to nerves! I headed to my devotional spot and could seem to only pray "Lord, I'm really nervous. What was I thinking. I'm so nervous. Please help me do this today." I said this over and over.
Finally, I decided to read my Bible as my prayer time didn't seem to be getting me anywhere, or was it? As I began my reading, the Lord really gave me comfort and encouragement. He showed me this verse:
Mark 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
What a blessing it was to hear from the Lord at the very moment that I needed Him.
He was clearly saying "You know what, you're right to come to Me for help because you can't do it. But I can." My prayer time was working after all!
And He surely did come and meet with us. The ladies had a wonderful, cheerful Spirit - despite the early hour! Isn't that how we should feel when we get together with God's people? I think so!
We basically just had an introduction to the study yesterday. I explained that the point of this study is to help develop devotional habits. I don't want to meet and fill in all the answers in our books and go home and not crack open our Bibles for a whole week. I want everyone to be reading God's Word daily. It will change your life. We had ten ladies there!! Praise the Lord! That is nearly 100% of our ladies in the church. We had one lady who is not in our church come, so that was an added blessing from the Lord.
If you think of it, please be in prayer for the eleven remaining weeks of our Bible study. I would love to see some lost ladies find us, and find Jesus at the same time!
I will keep you posted.
Do you get in God's Word everyday? If not, maybe you'd like to do this study with us, long distance. Here's the information to order the book we're working on. Even if you are in your Bible daily, this will be a great addition to your walk with the Lord.

The Man God Used

Walter, Melanie, Stephen and Me in Florida, April 2004. The last time we'd all be together before Dad died. What a gift that trip was!

Today is my brother-in-law, Walter's, birthday. I will never forget the way he came to our rescue several years ago. My Dad had just gone to Heaven on July 29, 2004. Then, my husband's grandfather died August 28, 2004. Terry missed some days of work because my Dad's death, and then we missed another whole week when his Grandfather died. We were broke. The money for the trips to the funerals, the missed work...it wasn't looking good for us financially. We were two months behind on our rent. I had mentioned to my sister, Melanie, about our woes and no one else.
Walter is very good with money. He is a wise steward of what God has given him, and God has blessed him. We were praying - and we were scared. Our landlord had already stopped by our duplex and said we had ten days to pay, or he would have to very kindly "kick us out". I was expecting our third baby. In my mind, I could see us bringing her home to our "cardboard box"! However, my Savior intervened! Walter is the man God used to keep us from eviction.Walter mailed us a check for $400 during that time in our lives. No words could ever sufficiently thank him enough for what he did for us. He doesn't casually give money away. I am so honored - and blessed - that he was willing to do that for us.

Walter, I will never forget your kindness to us during one of our darkest hours.
May God bless you richly on this day and throughout the year.

Happy Birthday!

~Terry, Valerie, Lauren, Mitchell, Leslie & Laci

Thank you, Lord.

Hello, Everyone.
I'm sorry I haven't posted lately! I've been feeling sorta "blah". Maybe I can post something of interest tomorrow.
In the midst of my ups and downs, I have had the Lord encouraging me. Whether by an uplifting e- mail or a surprise package in the mail (we'll never forget it, Kristy!), the Lord is always with us. He is not only with us in "Spirit", but He often manifests Himself in real, tangible - and Divine - ways.

Thank you, Lord. I sure couldn't get along down here without You.