The Times of Your Life–Part 5

DSC_0111, originally uploaded by Shirley Buxton.

A significant part of almost any Apostolic service is its music, and the recent conference in Visalia certainly reflected this pattern. Karen Harding was the worship leader and she, along with the praise team she had gathered, did a splendid job. The excellence of form was exceeded only by the soul-stirring emotion and spirit such music elicits.

Karen is a joy. She is an artful, ambitious, hard-working, talented, funny, and God-loving woman, and we were distinctly blessed to have her in charge of the music for this conference.

Other outstanding singers used their beautiful voices to worship our God. Summer Schexnayder and Jana Allard who both have incredible voices were among those. Pictured here is Stephany Parkey as she lifted her exceptional voice in praise to our Master.

Adorable Bryn Allard was the youngest singer.

The Times of Your Life–Part 3

Lil White and Time, originally uploaded by Shirley Buxton.

For more than 30 years, I believe, my dear friend Lillian White was the ladies ministries president of the Western District, and it was under her leadership that our ladies conferences were begun. In the beginning we referred to them as ladies retreats, as they were held in rustic retreat settings.

During the 25th anniversary conference in Visalia she was honored in many ways. One involved calling her to the front and presenting her with an elegant single crimson rose. She is a beautiful and very dear woman of God. I have seen Lillian faced with extreme challenges, and while I have seen her hurt–and expressing such hurt–I cannot recall ever seeing her angry with anyone. Truly, I cannot…and I have known her intimately for more than 50 years.

In this column, I want to add this personal tribute to Lillian White. The richness of my life has been enhanced by knowing her, and any skills I may possess in a similar area are to a great extent a result of sitting at counsel with her, of talking in private with her, of praying and crying and rejoicing together…over a very long period.

She is deserving of any honor and praise extended to her.

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My devotional blog is here.

The Times of Your Life–Part 2

DSC_0093, originally uploaded by Shirley Buxton.

Nita Hodges is the Ladies Ministries President of what is now the Southern California district, and without a doubt she is among the premiere of Apostolic speakers. The highlight of the services yesterday occurred in the morning session when she spoke. Perhaps the word is overused, but there is not a better one to describe those sacred hours than powerful.

The topic had been announced as: The Bible–God’s Word to His people, and her presentation was anointed and impeccable. The conclusion of the service involved women gathering in groups with their loved ones as they presented Bibles to them. Mothers gathered with daughters and grandmothers with granddaughters. It was a dynamic moving service.

Beautiful Sarah fell on the neck of her grandmother, Maxine Wilson, as together they spoke of their love for each other, of the work of God, and of His Word.

Not only was it older women making presentations to their granddaughters, but young women were giving precious copies of the Bible to their daughters.

 

I was positioned so that I watched Tiffany Groggan as she presented a Bible to her young daughter. I cried too as I watched them cry, and pray and read together.

 

 

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My devotional blog is here.