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I originally wrote this devotional on 10-03-2007 when a dear friend of mine passed away. The reason that I am using it again is due to some very sad news that I received this past Thursday. In this devotional I talk about my friend Rick and the joy it was seeing Him come to Christ. However, right now that joy is halted due to receiving some devastating news this past Thursday. Rick’s 25 year old son Nathan was found murdered on the beaches of California. He was beaten to death and then buried in the sand. His body was discovered by beach employees. Rick and Sue received this devastating news later that day. Please if every single one of you right now, bow their hand and say a quick prayer for my dear friends, I am confident that it would help them in this painful journey that they have begun.

Rick was one of those guys you couldn’t help but like.  His easy going nature and kindness exuded from him whether you were meeting him for the first time, or if you had known him all your life. So when my husband began working with him in 1985, it was just natural that Kirk sought out Rick’s friendship.   Over the months Kirk began sharing with Rick his own story of how Christ got a hold of his life and changed him from the inside out. I believe Rick was drawn to Kirk because his own personal life was a mess at the time. Outwardly, Rick looked like he had it all together. He had a good job, happily married, and had adorable four year old twins. But inwardly, Rick had a deep secret. He was an addict, and it was taking a major toll on his life. After accepting an invitation from Kirk to visit our church one Sunday morning, Rick surrendered his life to Jesus.   It is so amazing to hear him tell others what happened next. That Sunday night, Rick got his stash out and began rolling his joint like he had been doing for years. He put the joint to his lips and instantly something inside Rick’s mind clicked. He immediately took the rolled joint along with his bag of marijuana and flushed the drugs down the toilet.  Rick walked away and never looked back. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old had gone and the new has come!  2 Corinthians 5:17.

It was fun witnessing Rick’s changed life.   Within months Rick led his wife to Christ, and later they were both baptized at Round Lake professing to the world their new transformed lives.    Rick was a living testimony about the divine power that is available to anyone who sincerely puts their trust in Christ.    His story is a true spiritual “rags to riches” kind of story.   One person in particular, who was truly impacted by Rick’s conversion, was his very own mother.   She had known for many years about Rick’s addiction, but she felt powerless in trying to help Rick. Life for Rick’s mom was not easy due to the aftermath of going through a divorce that left her raising 4 children on a single mother’s income.   So when Rick came to his mom and told her about the hope he found through his newfound faith in Christ, she too immediately grabbed hold of that faith.    Prior to her conversion, she would often pray to die so that she could escape the pain of living. Now she was praying so that she could live life to the fullest, until it was time for her to die.   Joan’s life never did get easy for her, but her attitude and purpose for living was altered so much, that she would never let anyone know about her own hardships. In fact, she made it her mission in life to pray for other people and their needs and problems.   If you needed prayer, Joan was the one you called. She has touched a tremendous amount of lives during these past years while she diligently served the Christ she loved.   However, her mission on this side of glory has ended.   When I opened the paper this past Sunday and found her obituary I could not help feel joy in the midst of my sadness. The obituary said it so well, Joan spent her time studying the scriptures and applying them to her daily life. She was a prayer warrior and many lives have been affected by her dedication to prayer.

Joan’s life here is ended, but her impact will carry on for generations. Joan was close to 60 years old when she first found Christ, and she was 80 when she was called home to heaven. She was given only 20 short years to serve the Lord, but what a powerful 20 years it was. Her mission has now been completed, as she receives the gift of her salvation. I know she heard these words last Thursday as she passed from the arms of her family into the arms of Jesus. “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”    Matthew 25:23  

We will miss you Joan. But thank you for accepting your mission with such zest and zeal. Your diligence in wanting others to find what you found so many years ago has paid off. You are forever loved. See you soon!

The time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight,

I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness,

which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on this day—

And not only me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Apostle Paul in  2 Timothy 4:6-8

"Point of Reference" from Fred Price

The In-Between-Times