After Patt’s traumatic fall I thought and prayed a lot about the words I could share that would glorify God and honor His work in and through Patt’s life. What words would best describe this beautiful friend He brought into my life? Humble, Loving, Joyful, Full of Zeal, Kind and Gentle, Silly and Sassy and a bit stubborn at times, Forgiving, a Fighter, a Prayer Warrior, Patience, Endurance and Sincerity. The first passage of scripture the Lord brought to my mind is from Romans 12 “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.”
This passage describes Patt. God used her as a beacon of light in the midst of a dark world. One day before Patt fell, she finished writing her testimony and Cathy typed it for her. Now Patt had always told us that many years ago she had written her testimony, but had been unable to find it, and she often commented on wishing that she could find it. The day before Patt’s Celebration of Life service, we unexpectedly received that original testimony in the mail from Patt’s sister in Nebraska. She found it packed away in a box somewhere.
The Friday evening after Patt had fallen on Wednesday I was crying at the reality that we would soon say goodbye for now, and laughing at some sweet memories of Patt. A silly memory came to my mind: About 3 months ago Patt started talking about wanting to find herself a husband. In jest we talked about this and suggested that perhaps a cat or a dog would suffice, and in all seriousness we warned her that there are crazy people in this world and that she was not to go looking on Facebook for a husband. In the midst of laughing at this memory, something profound pressed upon my heart. I heard these words, “her Bridegroom awaits.” My mind immediately went to a passage in Revelation 19:6-8 “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory!For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given to her to wear.” The One who planned and numbered every one of her days; the One who left his throne in heaven and gave Himself for her is Jesus, the Bridegroom, The Lamb of God. Revelation 22:4 tells us that she now sees Him face to face. Her life and her story have really just begun as described in these words from the last chapter of the last book in The Chronicles of Narnia written by CS Lewis: “the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And, for us this is the end of all the stories…..but for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page; now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on Earth has read; which goes on forever; in which every chapter is better than the one before.”
God’s faithfulness and love were undeniable in Patt’s life, and her faith in Him prevailed as you will clearly see when you read both of her testimonies which I have included below.
With eternal thankfulness to God for Patt’s life and witness,
Courtney
This passage describes Patt. God used her as a beacon of light in the midst of a dark world. One day before Patt fell, she finished writing her testimony and Cathy typed it for her. Now Patt had always told us that many years ago she had written her testimony, but had been unable to find it, and she often commented on wishing that she could find it. The day before Patt’s Celebration of Life service, we unexpectedly received that original testimony in the mail from Patt’s sister in Nebraska. She found it packed away in a box somewhere.
The Friday evening after Patt had fallen on Wednesday I was crying at the reality that we would soon say goodbye for now, and laughing at some sweet memories of Patt. A silly memory came to my mind: About 3 months ago Patt started talking about wanting to find herself a husband. In jest we talked about this and suggested that perhaps a cat or a dog would suffice, and in all seriousness we warned her that there are crazy people in this world and that she was not to go looking on Facebook for a husband. In the midst of laughing at this memory, something profound pressed upon my heart. I heard these words, “her Bridegroom awaits.” My mind immediately went to a passage in Revelation 19:6-8 “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory!For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given to her to wear.” The One who planned and numbered every one of her days; the One who left his throne in heaven and gave Himself for her is Jesus, the Bridegroom, The Lamb of God. Revelation 22:4 tells us that she now sees Him face to face. Her life and her story have really just begun as described in these words from the last chapter of the last book in The Chronicles of Narnia written by CS Lewis: “the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And, for us this is the end of all the stories…..but for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page; now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on Earth has read; which goes on forever; in which every chapter is better than the one before.”
God’s faithfulness and love were undeniable in Patt’s life, and her faith in Him prevailed as you will clearly see when you read both of her testimonies which I have included below.
With eternal thankfulness to God for Patt’s life and witness,
Courtney
Patt's First Testimony written in 1997:
Patt's 2nd Testimony written 24 years after the 1st one:
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