He "left" the way he lived ... answering His call

This is actually Part II of an earlier post in which I first shared the meaning behind my utmost incredible love for the song "I will rise" by Chris Tomlin.


My repost is due to an even since deeper personal resonance to its lyrics ... in fact, I think I've really figured out some just why it is that this song has been so life impacting to me ... it's directly because of ......... the way in which my Dad lived his.


I suppose I can even say (as much as I'll ever 'here on earth' be able to) that I can even somewhat understand why he had to "leave" us ... which is all because - God spoke and Papamore answered.

Thus, He "left" the way he lived ... answering His call ...


I especially love this part ...
And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
"Worthy is the Lamb"


I believe that is referring to how Papa must have simultaneously heard angel's singing his invitation song while also hearing the longing cries from our hearts begging him not to leave us ... 


But ... in the end, God won ... as He should have and as He always should ... because the bottom line is ... Worthy is the Lamb.  


Christ's death upon the cross has to hold our lives greatest meaning and greatest purpose ... which is to join Him for all of eternity ... in glory.


And soon we too will have no more sorrow, no more pain ... THAT is the silver lining of our grief ... THAT is the immeasurable Hope in our sorrow.


Hope is still there ... He has never left us ... He is still here ...




I Will Rise by Chris Tomlin
There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

There's a day that's drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
"Worthy is the Lamb"

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise


For PapAmore', Arend 'Odee' Lenderink
http://papamore.blogspot.com

Oh yeah? Well, MY Papa is NEIGHBORS with GOD!!!

"Papa's Lil Pizon"

You can't beat that connection, right??!!!  :)

Out of the mouths of babes, right Papa?

You had her pegged from the start ... she truly is one little piece of work.

So as you know, our little Maggie started preschool this year at Grand Haven Christian.  And no surprise here ... she absolutely, unequivocally - LOVES it!

One of her favorite parts of the school day are the Bible lessons.  Of which, without a doubt, brings you much joy to see your little granddaughter's passion for learning everything there is know about His Word.

To be honest, she actually thinks of herself as pretty much THE Bible expert of her entire class (teachers included) ...

And I found out exactly why that is a couple of weeks ago during Maggie's car ride home from school ....

Maggie:  "I do listen very carefully and NEVER EVER have to sit in the turtle chair for being too noisy during God's Word ... BUT! ...  I don't REALLY need to learn more about God and His Book like the others friends in my school do."


Me:  "You don't, huh?  ....... Um ... exactly why is that?"


Maggie:  "Oh you know why, Mama!  It's cuz My Papa is NEIGHBORS with GOD!!"


Me:  "Uh, yeahhh... Yea!  He is, isn't he!"


Maggie:  "Uh huh,  that' why Papa's so VERY important and famous, Mama ... so if I ever don't know something 'bout God, I can just ask Papa to ask his neighbor ... since He lives right next door to Papa's house in heaven ... *pause* ... kinda like Sydney lives next door to me."


Me:  "That's really really cool, Maggs ... you are quite the blessed Pizon to have a Papa who's God's neighbor, huh?"


Maggie:  "Yup ........ Mama, can we paint when we get home?"


*smile* :)

For PapAmore', Arend 'Odee' Lenderink

"The" Song You Sang From Heaven

Whenever we have sung this song in church, (which we have, but not too often) since you went to Heaven ... you were right there too ... singing it right alongside of us, weren't you, Papa?

You were here again ... not in a dream ... not in a memory ... but here.

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
"Worthy is the Lamb"

And although those have been the only times I've actually been able to truly feel and sense your physical presence since you've been gone ... I will not complain, but rather take anything that we might get.  :)

During these 'straight from heaven itself' times, I have distinctly heard your strong tenor voice, I have sensed YOU standing right next to me with all of my acute senses ... I have even caught the very own wonderful scent that is so familiarly uniquely yours ...

I guess if I were to dissect this gift I might wonder why of all the MANY songs I've heard you sing (you did sing nearly all of the time after all, ;-) ... that it's this one song that I have no memory of you ever singing in which you most distinctly have let your presence be knownn to me ... ?

However, with all my heart, I'm just glad to have been able to sing with you again at all ... and without a doubt I know for certain that your angelic self really WAS there during those deeply cherished moments ...

I LOVED it ... I  LOVE you ...

Thank You, Papamore ... I miss you so relentlessly much ... and although there are times when my very soul aches so deeply that I wonder if there will ever be relief from the grief we now fully own without you ... I above all (because you taught me) never question nor stop believing in the fact that I'm going to be there with you soon enough ... Alive Forever ... Together ...

But at least for now it seems, I have Extremely Important things yet to do, right where I'm at.


xoxoxoxo x a google to infinity

"The Song"




For PapAmore', Arend 'Odee' Lenderink
http://papamore.blogspot.com

Sidenote ... if someone reading this just so happens to have some pull regarding the music selection at Covenant Life Church in Grand Haven, MI ... could we please sing this at least once - the more the better, each and every Sunday?

Happy Birthday Papa

Thanks for the amazing gift of "loving me like that" ... which is by far one of the very best gifts I'll ever receive ... I love you, Dad ... always and forever ... xoxoxoxo



For PapAmore', Arend 'Odee' Lenderink

Souls that have been Soaked in Tears

My Papa (along with my Mom - we read this all together, with my girls, on our "peeks of Lake Michigan views" front porch) gave me this awesome devotional shortly before he died called "Come Away My Beloved" by Frances J. Roberts.

The following is taken from it ... I'm actually transcribing the following (so you know I REALLY want to share it, ;) from excerpts of the chapter called Hold Fast.

I think it might speak to some of you, it has to me ... xoxoxo

Hold fast that which you have, and let no one take your crown.
Let no one hinder you in pursuit of the reward.
Let nothing stand in the way of your complete victory.
Let no weariness or discouraging thought cause you to loosen the rope of faith, but bind it tighter and anchor fast to My Word.

My Word can never fail, yes, and I will fulfill all My good promises. Have I not said, "He who seeks finds" (Matthew 7:8)? And have I not promised to reward those who diligently seek Me (Hebrews 11:6)?

Not the dilatory seeker, but the diligent seeker. Not the one whose seeking is in reality only wishing, but the one who has grown so intent in his quest, so wholly absorbed, that he is unaware in his toiling of the sweat upon his brow.

Never stifle the cry in your heart. God put it there.

God puts no special premium on our being perennial spiritual Pollyannas.

His joy springs forth most abundantly in souls that have been soaked in tears.

Not the tears of self-pity -never- but the tears of devotion and longing for him.

Weep. But when you weep, weep in His arms.

Doubt if you must, but candidly tell Him your doubts.

You will be surprised how quickly they will melt away.

His love and His smile will dispel every doubt as silently and surely as sunshine removes frost.

You cannot look in His face and doubt at the same time!

For PapAmore', Arend 'Odee' Lenderink
http://papamore.blogspot.com