Moderators Gregory Matthews Posted June 8, 2018 Moderators Posted June 8, 2018 This announcement is primarily for any of our members and visitors to this forum who may be living in the Central California area. As that is the area in which my sister and I grew up, some of you may know my sister Marcy Johnston (Marciel Matthews). Tomorrow, June 9, she is going to be baptized at the Parkwood SDA Church, 301 Claratina Ave, Modesto, California. She attended the local Adventist school for all 12 years and graduated in 1960. If you knew her, you may want to attend and greet her. Tomorrow will be a great day in her spiritual life and journey. NOTE: Due to the time sensitive nature of this post, I will probably remove it later on. phkrause, GayatfootofCross, LifeHiscost and 1 other 4 Quote Gregory
Members phkrause Posted June 9, 2018 Members Posted June 9, 2018 Praise the Lord!! GayatfootofCross 1 Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Moderators Gregory Matthews Posted June 9, 2018 Author Moderators Posted June 9, 2018 The Baptism of Marcy R: 180606 [NOTE: I am obviously posting this prior to her baptism that is expected to take place later today. But, this is what I would write about her this event. For more, see the post following this one--GM. ] To many attending the Parkwood Seventh-day Adventist Church that June 9 Sabbath may have seemed quite ordinary. A baptism was scheduled, but isn’t that an expected part in the life of a congregation? On one side of the baptistery stood their pastor, Jim Tillay and on the other side stood Marcy Johnston. For several years she had attended both the Central SDA church and the Parkwood congregations. In those congregations she had been nurtured and her faith had gown. She made a decision and after a series of studies with Pastor Tillay, her baptism was a result. Marcy had come from a strong Adventist family with its roots deep into Modesto Adventism. With her family she had attended the Central Congregation before it had moved to its present location. She had attended the Adventist school before it moved to its present location and she had graduated from the Academy in 1960. But her life had not been easy. Few knew of the struggles that she had as a developing young woman whose mother, at a time when Alzheimer’s was not understood, did not even recognize her. The years that followed, were such that would have broken most people. But, instead of being broken, Marcy and God used them as steps to build a better life. Several years ago an old friend, Thelma, became reacquainted with Marcy. A relationship was established. They attended reunions at what is now called Central Valley Christian Academy and Marcy began to reconnect with former school mates. From there Marcy began to attend the Sabbath School at the Central Church and the Worship service at Parkwood. Her baptism on that day is the product of her family background, the witness of Thelma, Modesto’s elementary and academy schools, the reunions that Central Valley Academy now holds and the respective Central and Parkwood congregations, their members and pastors as well as other unnamed people. God works, often not to our time schedule and with people and events that we do not think of as being used by God. Marcy (Marciel Matthews) Johnston is an example of that. Often God uses many to accomplish His mission with no one person being able to take credit for the accomplishment of His work. phkrause and GayatfootofCross 2 Quote Gregory
Moderators Gregory Matthews Posted June 9, 2018 Author Moderators Posted June 9, 2018 For this forum, I am posting more about the life of my sister than I have stated in the post above. Even here, I am posting only a brief part of the struggles that she has had. It should be noted that my sister is quite open about her life and past. There is nothing that I will say here that she does not tell people. The use of tobacco and alcohol is in her past. My Father sent her off to alcohol rehab either three or four times, I have forgotten, before it finally took. She has been free of alcohol for decades now. But, she found giving up tobacco to be harder than the alcohol. Tobacco is very addictive. Her two sons will be present for the service today. One is an executive in a bank in Southern California. The other is employed by the State of California, an accomplished photographer, with an Internet presence, a graduate education and an accomplished writer. Both are runners, with the bank executive running marathons. The second son spent a decade, or more, confined to a wheel chair and about 20 years in rehab. During those years, large amounts of money were spent on his medical care, by his Father. The time came when that was no longer possible and his Mother became responsible for his care. During that time he, while confined to a wheel chair, was charged with attempted murder of people who had assaulted him while confined to a wheel chair! He was not convicted, in part because the victims refused to cooperate with his prosecution. The time came when Marcy recognized that she had to make a tough decision. She threw her son and his wheel chair out on the street and he was forced to live under a near-by bridge. But, in reality, it was the needs of her son that helped Marcy to overcome her issues and to get her life back again. Today, your if you were to see him walking down the street, you would never imagine the years that he spent, unable to walk, in a wheel chair. Marcy's long journey back is told in part in my previous post. Taken together, with this post, I will suggest that it is a story of God involved with the lives of people here on Earth and working. along with other people to bring them into salvation. She has never been financially well of and that continues today. but, God has provided the basics. Yes, Marcy is not perfect. But, she is on a spiritual journey that continues beyond today. JoeMo, phkrause and GayatfootofCross 3 Quote Gregory
GayatfootofCross Posted June 9, 2018 Posted June 9, 2018 1 hour ago, Gregory Matthews said: Yes, Marcy is not perfect. But, she is on a spiritual journey that continues beyond today. Amen! phkrause 1 Quote For all Eternity God waited in anticipation for You to show up to give You a Message - YOUR INCLUDED !!! { a merry dance }?️? " If you tarry 'til you're better You will never come at all " .. "I Will Rise" by the late great saved Glen Campbell If your picture of God is starting to feel too good to be true, you're starting to move in the right direction. "My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite." Romeo and Juliet
Members phkrause Posted June 9, 2018 Members Posted June 9, 2018 Praise the Lord!! GayatfootofCross 1 Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
LifeHiscost Posted June 9, 2018 Posted June 9, 2018 Yes, Marcy is not perfect. But, she is on a spiritual journey that continues beyond today. If she were perfect, she would be very lonely. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 1 John 4 God is Love!~Jesus saves! Quote Lift Jesus up!!
Moderators Gregory Matthews Posted June 10, 2018 Author Moderators Posted June 10, 2018 The following is a photo of my sister at her baptism today: phkrause, Planey and GayatfootofCross 2 1 Quote Gregory
Moderators Gregory Matthews Posted June 10, 2018 Author Moderators Posted June 10, 2018 The following is a photograph of my sister and her two sons whom I previously mentioned. phkrause and GayatfootofCross 2 Quote Gregory
Moderators Gregory Matthews Posted June 10, 2018 Author Moderators Posted June 10, 2018 For those of you who are interested, the following is a photo of myself, my sister and my wife. Nan, JoeMo, Planey and 2 others 5 Quote Gregory
GayatfootofCross Posted June 10, 2018 Posted June 10, 2018 Such joy! Quote For all Eternity God waited in anticipation for You to show up to give You a Message - YOUR INCLUDED !!! { a merry dance }?️? " If you tarry 'til you're better You will never come at all " .. "I Will Rise" by the late great saved Glen Campbell If your picture of God is starting to feel too good to be true, you're starting to move in the right direction. "My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite." Romeo and Juliet
Moderators Gregory Matthews Posted June 10, 2018 Author Moderators Posted June 10, 2018 Yes. She considered it to be a great day and she let the people know. The pastor and I have spoken a number of times on the telephone, as this developed. But, we have never met in person. During her baptismal studies, she had told the pastor that she was weird. A few days ago, she informed him that he would find me to be weird also. Stan, Nan, JoeMo and 1 other 3 1 Quote Gregory
Stan Posted June 10, 2018 Posted June 10, 2018 I celebrate with your Friend. Quote If you receive benefit to being here please help out with expenses. https://www.paypal.me/clubadventist Administrator of a few websites like https://adventistdating.com
Administrators Gail Posted June 10, 2018 Administrators Posted June 10, 2018 Wonderful news! Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
Moderators Nan Posted June 10, 2018 Moderators Posted June 10, 2018 Wonderful happenings and encouragement to never give up praying and hoping for those we love. GayatfootofCross 1 Quote
GayatfootofCross Posted June 12, 2018 Posted June 12, 2018 On 6/10/2018 at 2:40 PM, Nan said: Wonderful happenings and encouragement to never give up praying and hoping for those we love. Hi Nan! Nice to see you. Quote For all Eternity God waited in anticipation for You to show up to give You a Message - YOUR INCLUDED !!! { a merry dance }?️? " If you tarry 'til you're better You will never come at all " .. "I Will Rise" by the late great saved Glen Campbell If your picture of God is starting to feel too good to be true, you're starting to move in the right direction. "My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite." Romeo and Juliet
Moderators Nan Posted June 12, 2018 Moderators Posted June 12, 2018 Thank you. I plan to be around more. ? Quote
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