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a Christ-centered,
gospel based
​health care ministry

Abiding Hearts Ministry Blog

Sharing real stories about real people and how God is intimately working through the ministry of Abiding Hearts

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you LOVE one another John 13:35

12/27/2017

 
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By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you LOVE one another

Mrs. Carolyn
May 1, 1931 - August 28, 2017

My choice to be a stay-at-home mom has meant that I have been volunteering almost all of my adult life. When my girls were in preschool I taught Sunday School and AWANA classes. When they were in elementary school I volunteered in the library and was team mom for soccer and softball. High school meant PTF and marching band. Then last year I found myself with my girls mostly grown and some extra time on my hands. I was a nurse for 6 years and was praying for an opportunity to do something health care related. Abiding Hearts answered that prayer. When I contacted Courtney, she connected me with an elderly couple who had significant needs. Mrs. Carolyn had recently become bedridden and Mr. George, at age 91, was doing his best to care for his beloved wife and keep up with the chores. These two quickly found a special place in my heart. I would go to their house thinking I was ministering to them and leave feeling so blessed. Their love for each other and the Lord was inspirational, and they always thanked me for coming. When we prayed together, I would ask how I could pray for them. They always asked me to pray for others in their life even though they had needs of their own.
Then in the summer we could see signs that Mrs. Carolyn’s body was beginning to shut down. She passed away in August. After a brief time away to let the family heal, I resumed my visits with Mr. George. He tells me that I brighten his day, but it’s truly he who brightens mine. His faith in God and love for others hasn’t wavered a bit. And he still has the little glass angel hanging over his bed that I brought to Mrs. Carolyn before she died. She used to say that I was her angel, but now it reminds Mr. George and I that she is singing with the angels in heaven and waiting for the time when he and she will be together again.


~Testimony of Cathy~

….Future generations will be told about the Lord….They will proclaim His righteousness

12/27/2017

 
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It is more blessed to give
Ms. Peggy~July 2, 1928-October 8, 2017
After having three babes within a year I was discouraged with how I would be able to serve outside of my family, but God is so good to continue to lead exactly where he wants you. I had felt the Lord's spirit prompting me to reach out to Courtney and ask about serving with Abiding Hearts despite having three infants. She asked if I would be willing to take myself and my babes to a couple of women in particular that would love to hold babies and have company. The Lord was at work and already answering prayers. Ms Peggy was one of the women Courtney had me meet with. I remember the first time I met her, she did not say much and I was nervous about how time with her would go. As I continued to meet with her, her heart was slowly revealed. Ms Peggy lived simply and believed simply, God loves me so I love others. I have had a personal struggle of feeling that myself or my kiddos might feel burdensome to others and the Lord used Ms. Peggy to break through that lie the enemy planted inside of me. She delighted in seeing myself and my kiddos. Crying babes did not deter her desire for us to remain with her, she would simply join me in rocking whomever needed it. My son is not won over as easily as my twin girls and I remember week after week she tried to find things to win his affections. She tried little toys with no luck. One week when we came to visit she finally won him over with animal crackers. Every visit after that she excitedly surprised Daniel with animal crackers. I can still see him running into her house and expectantly searching for treats he knew she would have for him. I can still see her sitting in her rocker and pulling out a small tupperware where she portioned out the exact amount of animal crackers she intended to give him. I can still hear her saying, "Daniel, look here, I've got some animal crackers," and Dan running into her lap to win his prize. I don't think he was ever hungry for dinner on days we spent with Ms. Peggy and that was just fine with me. It delighted my heart to see him full of joy, in her lap eating animal crackers. It is hard to think about Ms. Peggy without tears of joy. She loved well and delighted in the Lord and in His love for her. And here the humor of God lies because while I thought I was being called to serve, the Lord tremendously blessed myself and my kiddos in allowing us time with Ms. Peggy.

~Testimony of Whitney~
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Merry Christmas! Grace & Peace to You!

12/27/2017

 
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“The grace of God has appeared” and Christ has manifested Himself to us and through us in so many ways this year as we have cared for the widow, sick and elderly through Abiding Hearts Ministry. God has given us countless opportunities to grow in faith and dependence upon Him; and, time after time again, He has proven faithful to guide us day by day. Many of you ask us, “how is ministry?” In pondering the best way to respond, these words come to mind-
Bitter Sweet, Unexpected, Complicated, Hard, Precious, Thankfulness……….

In the last 5 months we have experienced great loss and great joy as we have engaged wholeheartedly in life-on-life discipleship purposed relationships. We have walked alongside two of our widows as they walked through the valley of the shadow of death and into the presence of Jesus; and, even now we are taking those same steps with two other widows. Our prayer is that these two ladies will also be welcomed into the presence of Jesus, but with heavy hearts we have concern as to whether or not they truly have been reconciled to God through faith in Christ. Pray hard that in these last days we boldly and lovingly continue to show Jesus in undeniable ways through our words and actions, and that God works mightily through us to draw them to Himself.

This year we have experienced great disappointment and frustration at the efforts of the enemy to prey upon the widow in weakness and oppression. But, Praise God we have also experienced the power of God enable us to stand in the gap when a widow could not stand for herself. We have seen a lonely widow’s broken family dissolve even further. But, Praise God we have also seen the power of God reconcile a lonely widow’s family after years of separation and brokenness. We are better learning not to underestimate God’s timing and God’s ways; and, we have seen firsthand what he can do through quality time spent investing in someone.

Needless to say this year in many ways has been unexpectedly busy, difficult and time intensive. We appreciate your patience in receiving ministry updates from us. Very little time is left at the end of the day to put ministry into words to share. However, those of you who pray for and support Abiding Hearts are just as much a part of this ministry as we are; and, we truly desire to share with you all that God is doing day by day. It will bless you and it will draw you closer to Jesus as it does us.  It is truly precious and awe provoking to see Him as the Defender of the widow and the oppressed!

We deeply love those that God has brought into our lives through Abiding Hearts. We love this ministry and we are so thankful for the volunteers that faithfully serve with us every single week. This ministry is a beautiful picture that resembles the description of the early church in the book of Acts, and we are so thankful to be a part of what God is doing to advance His kingdom and gather His people.
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    Randy and Courtney Johnson

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  • Home
    • Who We Serve
    • Living Assistance
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  • Who We Are
    • About Us
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    • Testimonials
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  • HONORING WIDOWS
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  • Abiding Hearts Blog