60 Year Supporter- Dawn Murphy

October 14, 2019 6:07 pm Published by Grace Fabian 1 Comment

Dear Friends, 10/14/19

I know that you love the book of Psalms as much as I do. How often we have read the words that were the perfect expression of how we felt. For instance, after Edmund’s death I memorized Psalm 18 and lived with “the cords of death encompassed me, the snares of death confronted me…”

Yesterday I studied Psalm 139—

“You hem me in…”

“You have laid your hand on me…”

“If I settle on the far side of the sea…” (yes, over there in Papua New Guinea) “

your hand will guide me, hold me fast.”

What a great wonder that God is totally familiar with each of our lives.

The Psalm goes on to say that he saw us while we were still in the womb (verse 13). This word put alongside Galatians 1:15 and Jeremiah 1:5 should stop the abortion industry dead in their tracks.

I love the truth in verse 17 that He has “precious” thoughts of us. So often we have negative/anxious thoughts of ourselves. But he loves us, never forgets us (25:6) and is also looking out for us (53:2).

Well, thank you for sharing my sweet time with Jesus on my back porch this morning.

Beyond the richness of God’s Word each day, I also spend some time in my hymnbook. Today I pondered the words of “May the Mind of Christ My Savior” by Kate B. Wilkinson.

May the mind of Christ, my Savior, live in me from day to day, by His love and pow’r controlling all I do and say.

May the Word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour, so that all may see I triumph only thru His pow’r.

May the peace of God my Father, rule my life in ev’rything that I may be calm to comfort sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me, as the waters fill the sea; Him exalting, self abasing—this is victory.

May I run the race before me strong and brave to face the for, looking only unto Jesus as I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me as I seek the lost to win, and may they forget the channel, seeing only Him.

Kenneth W. Osbeck in his book of hymn stories suggests that we take the 6 prayers of this hymn and use one each day to pray and worship. I love that. Let’s do it.

As I shift to prayer I remember my little family on “the far side”. Adoption is rare there so people ask, “You already have two children, why would you adopt a child?”

“The real reason is that because our Father God loves us so much, Heidi and I just want to pass on some of that same fatherly love to this little boy.” Stunned, the brick layer looked at his partner and said, “Have you ever heard of anything like that?”

And have you heard anything like this? Having a friend and financial supporter for 60 years? Yes, her name is Dawn Murphy. I attended her church my first Sunday at Practical Bible Training School. I happened to sit beside her. She invited me to come home and have lunch with her. Throughout the ups and downs of both of our lives she has faithfully supported and loved me. She is 91 now and still bright and loving the Lord.

This reminds me of the determined words of the heaven-seeker in The Pilgrim’s Progress: Other hardships I expect, but this I have resolved on…to run when I can, to walk when I cannot run, and to crawl when I cannot walk…I thank Him that loves me, I am fixed; my Way is before me, my mind is beyond the River that has no bridge…

In the pleasure of your friendship and the wonder of his grace,

Grace