Cathy's Corner: Week 12

Week 12 continues the scriptures and thoughts of my Sister-in-Law Cathy Whitacre.

Cathy Whitacre has touched a lot of lives with her special personality. It is with much sorrow that her body cannot fight cancer this time due to other issues.  These are Cathy's daily thoughts which I have been posting a week at a time. She wants to use this time in a positive helpful way and we pray that these scriptures and thoughts might encourage you.

And, I am very sorry to say that Cathy's health makes her unable to continue writing her daily posts. Although, I will continue to have almost a year of posts with her Bible class material she has shared and I am re-creating to share with you. I have saved a special intro for this post. Thank you to Cathy's daughter Christina for writing her thoughts and memories.

Titus 2:3-5 (3) The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— (4) that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, (5) to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

 

I would run across the living room in Bulverde, Texas with great anticipation when I saw my mom bring out her Bible, the markers, crayons, poster board, and construction paper. It meant that we were going to prepare for another Bible class lesson. I say “we” because there is not a time that I can remember when she told me "No, you cannot help". Whether it be the nose for the Snoopy she made for the "Welcome to Class" visual, or the shoes for the "Alexander and The Terrible No Good Very Bad Day" flip chart she used for the application lesson when I was her assistant. She knew from the start it was her job to teach me to not only be a good mom and wife but to give me the skills and knowledge to teach children to love God and His Word.

One of the biggest lessons she taught me was the importance of teaching our children at home. She just did not sing a song and read a passage; she had a time line string going across one of our walls. Mom would read from a visual called Weekly Reader, a bible story curriculum, and when we were old enough we would get to help read. Once the study was complete she would clip a visual representing the lesson to our time line string. Oh how my brother and I looked forward to this. Thirty-plus years ago she did not realize the impact her effort would have on us. She not only gave us the knowledge of God's word, but also planted seeds in us that would blossom as we grew.

Twenty years later my mom and I would take those moments in a different direction. During a long drive one day we would come up with what we thought was a crazy idea, but with encouragement from my dad and husband, along with a passion for teaching children, we would spend the next few years teaching ladies how to teach children’s Bible classes in a workshop called “Hands on Teacher’s". My sister-in-law would travel with us to many states and even out of the country to get ladies excited about teaching and give them helpful tips. What a blessing to stand side by side with such an amazing woman. This is a gift from God that I will never forget.

This year after finding out my mom’s cancer had returned and that my parent’s would be moving to their retirement home close by me, we had the opportunity to move and reorganize her material. One of my greatest joys after my mom passes from this world will be to take my girls to the house and continue teaching them the knowledge my mom shared with me. Each new quarter I have to teach, each VBS, and each mission trip, I know that her wisdom, her visuals, and her hand written lessons will be waiting for me at Cathy’s Corner.

Cathy's Corner

June 6, 2015

Matthew 28:19-20 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, Amen."

This evening the sun shines the brightest on a group of Christians who have donated this past week to the work of the Lord's Kingdom as their work came to a close.

We are told in James 1:17 "Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights,"

There is no greater joy than to listen to campaign workers as they share with us their experiences. Every day the team was blessed with souls to study with, baptisms to follow, adding souls to the Kingdom. I cannot help but hear these souls rejoicing from my front porch as I look out over the mountain.

The seeds you have sown will live long beyond the time you were able to be there.
Everyday will continue to bring you as well as the new converts unexpected challenges. As I have learned on my journey we must "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5

"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Philippians 4:6

As I have waited for this day, it has given me the strength to face each challenge that has come before me. Psalm 34:4 has given me the strength as "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears,"

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing"

Let us continue to pray for our brothers and sisters we left behind and continue to serve them anyway we can that our light may continue to shine.

Matthew 5:14 "Ye are the light of the world, a city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."
May the Lord Bless you as He has me.

Your Sister Cathy