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I was given a copy of “Warwick” by the author, Tony Riches, in exchange for an honest review. I really liked this version. I have read several stories about the other players in the Wars of the Roses and this is the first time I have heard his story. Great historical content. A good representation of the politics of the Royal Courts. A Good read. I give it 4 stars and can recommend to European History lovers.
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On March 26th my Dad, Eddie Max McCoy Sr., passed away. My husband and I drove from Wisconsin to Washington state to be with family for the funeral service, in the town my parents retired in. A “Celebration of Life” memorial is being planned for a later date. So on the long trip over, I had time to think about the things we could celebrate about my Dad’s life.
My Dad wasn’t perfect. He had his flaws. He was just a tad stubborn, sometimes he lacked patience, and his temper ran on the warm side. His life was full of mistakes, bad times, and some wrong choices (like most lives). He did have his shining moments. There were successes as well as failures, mountain top experiences as well as the valleys, and many, many good times.
Dad wasn’t the perfect parent, but he loved us all, was a good provider, and genuinely wanted our lives to be better than his was. That stubbornness also came out as tenacity and he never gave up. Through every bad time, he stuck it out. He showed us how to fight back and to expect things to get better. He had a peculiar sense of humor that all of his children and grandchildren will remember forever. God gifted him to be a story teller and we grew up hearing stories about his life. (Some were great examples of what not to do!) Dad also was artistically gifted. He loved to paint and sculpt. I am thankful for that as we will always have his artwork to remember him by. If Dad ever saw someone needed a hand, he was quick to step up.
Though patience wasn’t always one of his virtues, there were times he had the patience of Job. Some of my fondest memories are from when we went camping as kids. He patiently untangled lines, unhooked snags, and for me, baited my hook (I couldn’t do the worm thing). To this day I still love to fish (my husband still untangles my line and baits my hook). He left all of his kids with so much. Yes, we tend to be stubborn, and some of us tend to have a bit of a temper, and we are still learning to be patient, but we also all have some artistic ability, we can all tell a story, and like him, we all know how to help out in a pinch.
The most important thing my Dad ever did was to put his trust in God and give his heart to Jesus. Two times my Dad had died and was brought back. Both times, though his body was going through terrible issues, his spirit experienced something totally different. One of those times, as my Mom drove him to the hospital, his body convulsed and it was all she could do to drive and keep him on the seat, but later, by Dad’s account, we found out that his spirit was in perfect peace. He experienced no pain, worry, or regret. Just perfect peace. I too have had one of those experiences and can confirm the peacefulness of the passing of our spirit. So I am confident that though his body has passed away, my Dad still lives, in peace, with the Prince of Peace, where there is no pain, sorrow, or regret.
So, my Dad wasn’t perfect and his life certainly wasn’t. But his life was full and is most definitely a life worth celebrating. He will be sorely missed by many.
I firmly believe that his hope, for us who are left behind, (and my prayer) is that you would follow his example. Place your trust in Father, and surrender your hearts to Jesus, so that when it is our time to give up these mortal bodies, we too can be with him in Heaven.
All Christians are on a journey with the Lord. Sometimes we walk away from Him, sometimes we stumble and bumble our way, and sometimes we stay on the path that He has set before us. The important thing about our walk is not that we have made mistakes or have seemingly failed at times, but that we can always get back on the right path. The pages of this devotional come from just such a journey.
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John 14:12-13 (NIV) “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
How many of us have read this verse and felt a little overwhelmed? Or we read about the things that people like Moses, David, Elijah and the twelve did, and wish we were just like them? We want to do something grand. We would love to have our shadow heal those who need it, to have a showdown like Elijah and the prophets of Baal. But deep in our hearts we may be begging God to just help us get through the day. I know I have been there. I have heard and said the words, (and most of us can admit that we at least have thought them at one time) “I’m not Jesus!” (or Elijah, or Paul, Etc).
So then why does God expect us, and Jesus tell us Himself, that we will do the works He did and even greater?
We have to start by looking at Jesus. He is the Son of God! No doubt about it. Deity. Period. However, when He came to legally get back everything that had been given to Satan, by Adam, He was fully man. Jesus didn’t walk the earth after His human birth as God. The pre-incarnate Jesus, who came as the Angel of the Lord, that was Jesus in His heavenly body. But when He was here among us, He was just like us. If Jesus had come as anything other than a man, He wouldn’t have been able to fulfill the law or to take our place in the consequences of our sin. Only a man could do that.
Just a few places that show His humanity:
His human birth (Luke 2).
Jesus got tired, and slept (John 4:6, Matthew 8:24).
He got sad and suffered agony (John 11:33-35, Luke 22:44).
He was tempted just like we are, in every area! (Hebrews 2:14-17, Mark 1:13).
There are many scriptures that talk about Jesus. It is so important that we really know Him! So then how did He do it? The healings, the miracles and how did he suffer the agony of the cross?
Matthew 12:28 (NIV) “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
Jesus is pretty clear. He performed miracles by the Power of the Holy Spirit. Then He goes on to say in Luke 24:40 (NLT) “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
No more excuses. We can do what Jesus did!
That’s how Peter, Paul and Elijah did it.
Romans 8:11 (NIV) “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”
His shed blood on Calvary gave us back our health, our right standing with God, and our authority as Children of God. The power of the Holy Spirit gives us the power to witness and to do exactly what Jesus did. We have so many Spirit Filled believers what is hindering the miracles? Maybe the excuses and the wrong thinking.
No more say, “I can’t” but “I can.”