And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

It has been a very busy and eventful week. While Henrietta and I were in Vancouver on April 23, for more testing at the cancer clinic we received a call that Henrietta’s mother had suffered a massive stroke. For some days she continued to live but was unresponsive.

The doctors said it would be a matter of days before she would pass away. On April 26 at 3.30 pm she exchanged life with Eternal life. For some years she had a great desire to be with her Lord and Saviour. Her wish and prayer is now fulfilled. Mother passed away at the age of 92 she lived a prayerful life, a life that was marked by amazing blessings but also marked by great trials. Never the less God cared for her in remarkable ways. She was widowed at the age of 38 and had then only lived as an immigrant in the USA for three years. She had the responsibility to raise her four children on her own, Henrietta being the youngest never knew her father because she was only weeks old when her father passed away.

Henrietta being the only sibling that lived close to her mother did however get to spend much time with her, especially the last 20 years when she lived in our town. As her mother grew older she needed much care and Henrietta was at her side as often as needed. Mother will be missed by all, especially by all those who surrounded her closely in her life like our children and grand children whom she loved so dearly.

After 92 years mother’s wish has finally become reality that is to be with her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I believe, and she would no doubt agree with the text from Psalm 84:2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

The time of her passing was a very touching and remarkable event. A family choir had come to sing for the old folks in the meeting area of the rest home. The door to mothers room was open and unknown to the singers that mother was laying on her deathbed they sang the song "Beyond the Sunset.” It was that during this song that mother cast her eyes once more Heavenward an immediately thereafter gave her last breath. It touched us deeply to say the least. Please see the lyrics of the song below. This was the day that another soul was added to Gods Kingdom.

The prayer of Psalm 23 has become a reality for her, especially the last words “And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever”

Just a few words on my treatments. I am now more than one week into Chemo treatments and I am feeling quite good in comparison to previous Chemo treatments. So far I am not nauseated and able to eat reasonably well. Although tired and having an aching body, it is going pretty good.

As I visited mother this week I couldn’t help but wonder, who will be next. A question that should keep us all busy but most important, are you ready to meet your Maker and Creator, God Himself.

Thank you for the many ways of expressing your care, personally or otherwise.
God bless you on your journey.
John

 

Henrietta with her mother in 2013 on moms 92 birthday

 



1. Beyond the sunset,
O blissful morning,
When with our Saviour
Heav'n is begun.
Earth's toiling ended,
O glorious dawning;
Beyond the sunset
When day is done.

2. Beyond the sunset,
No clouds will gather,
No storms will threaten,
No fears annoy;
O day of gladness,
O day unending,
Beyond the sunset,
Eternal Joy.

3. Beyond the sunset,
A hand will guide me
To God, the Father,
Whom I adore;
His glorious presence,
His words of welcome,
Will be my portion
On that fair shore.

4. Beyond the sunset,
O glad reunion,
With our dear loved ones
Who've gone before;
In that fair homeland
We'll know no parting,
Beyond the sunset
For evermore!

 

Heaven! Heaven! It is Heaven!

On Tuesday April 23, Henrietta’s mother suffered a massive stroke. At this time she remains unresponsive, the doctors do not expect her to live long. 

After 92 years her lifelong wish and desire to be with her Lord and Saviour will soon be a reality.

I believe that her desire and longing is summed up in this Bible verse. Psalm 84: 2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
 

Heaven! Heaven! It is Heaven!  (J.R. Miller)

An author tells of a French ship which had been lost for months amid storms in the southern seas. One morning land was espied from the mast-head. Passengers and crew gathered on deck, awaiting the sight of the coming shore in suspense. Vague outlines only were seen, so vague that the uncertainty almost broke the hearts of the watchers. Was it land? If so, what land? Could it be France? Was it indeed France? Or was it some strange country?

Nearer and nearer they came. Clearer and more distinct became the outlines. After some hours, hours which seemed days, the lookout cried, "France! France! It is France!" The joy of the ship's company knew no bounds. They were indeed home after all their wanderings, and all their dangers and fears!

So will it be with us believers, when, through the mists of that sea which we call death, we approach the shores of eternal life. After the dimness of dying our eyes shall open to behold the banks of the celestial land! Then the shout will not be, "France! It is France!" but "Heaven! Heaven! It is Heaven!" The storms will all be past. We shall be in eternal glory. Then we shall have life in all its fullness. Then we shall be home forever!

"No eye has seen,

no ear has heard, and

no mind has imagined--

what God has prepared for those who love Him!" 1 Corinthians 2:9

 

 

And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.

We are happy to be home after a very busy week of tests and hospital visits. Next week is more of the same, more tests and hospital visits. Going through testing is one thing, being surrounded by people in the medical field who are so helpful and compassionate is a great blessing. Being surrounded by patients with many different kinds of cancer is difficult at times yet I am one of them. I consider myself blessed when I see how crippling and painful this disease can be in many ways and see the blessings that I can still do things that many cancer patients can’t do anymore.

The compassion of the medical staff is amazing, God created nurses with a very special gift, something that can’t be learned, and that is compassion.

On Tuesday, I started with one dose of Chemotherapy that appeared to disagree with my body only hours after taking it. I felt sick and weak. On Wednesday, I received no Chemo, giving me a day to recuperate. On Thursday the treatments, which are taken orally in pill form, continued by taking Chemo pills 3 times a day. Today is Saturday and I am not feeling too bad and I hope and pray that I will be able tolerate the treatments.

On Friday, I received the results of the CT and Bone scans. The prognosis is not encouraging. The cancer is spreading in all areas, from the Spine to the Ribs, the left and right side of the Pelvis bone and both Lungs are showing an increase in cancer nodules and growth, the same for the Adrenal gland, this may explain why I feel so tired at times. My only Kidney shows cysts, it has not been determined if they are cancerous.

Often times it comes to mind, should I still have hope? It makes me go back to God’s Word, the Bible, where many passages speak of “hope”. One such passage is in Psalm 39: 7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee. When creature confidences fail, it is our comfort that we have a God to go to, a God to trust in.

With cancer of this magnitude there is humanly speaking little hope for healing. However, this life will end for all of us, sooner or later and if you can say from your heart that your hope and expectation is in God and that you repented and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ then you will receive Eternal Life. My hope is in the Lord my God and there is nothing that will take away that hope.

Recently someone quoted “Healthy people have many wishes, sick people have only one.” There is much truth in that; however, I have two wishes. That I would be healed and that the love of Christ in my heart will never diminish but grow.

I feel very blessed in many ways, foremost with my dear wife Henrietta who is at all times at my side, helping, arranging and often my ears and mouth. The love and compassion that I receive is beyond words. Our 5 children and their spouses who are so dear to us are of great support in these difficult times and our grandchildren who faithfully pray for my healing, never even questioning God. The Bible speaks that children (I add grandchildren) are a great blessing; I can only answer that with a big “Amen” and thank the Lord for our loving and compassionate family.
On we go, hour by hour, day by day looking to Jesus for comfort and Grace.

Lately I have received many encouraging messages from blog readers and friends, thank you for the encouragements. May God make you a blessing to many and that the love of God will live in your heart forever. May we always look for that city, whose Builder and Maker is God.
John

Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.

Rejoicing

With great joy and thankfulness to God we rejoice with our children, Hans and Tamara Krul, with the birth of our newborn grandson on April 16, 2013. His name is Finn and is a brother to Stormie and Isla, weight 7 Lbs 4 oz and is very healthy.

This makes us grandparents of 5 girls and 4 boys.

Even in times of difficult circumstances we rejoice in the blessings of God.

Thankful grand parents, John and Henrietta

Joy is not necessarily the absence of suffering, it is the presence of God.
Sam Storms

When my heart is overwhelmed.

Do you ever have days where you feel completely inadequate to do what’s been asked of you? Days when you want to throw in the towel. Maybe it’s your job, parenting, marriage, finances, a relationship, health or other responsibilities.

I have more moments where I feel inadequate than I care to admit, but as much as I dislike moments where I feel inadequate or overwhelmed, they have become somewhat of a blessing. Sometimes you have to get down to nothing before you’ll believe that you need to rely on God. If you are having one of those moments I encourage you to get on your knees for whatever it is you’re struggling with.

On Friday we spent the day at the Vancouver Cancer clinic and Vancouver General Hospital for scans. The results should be forthcoming early next week. Without sounding pessimistic but facing reality I must say that I don’t expect good news from the scans that I received in the last week.

On Monday the week of medical testing is starting in earnest with the first Chemo treatment on Tuesday. We will spend the majority of the week in Vancouver and also staying overnight due to the 12 –13 hour days of testing. It would be too tiring to try to come home for the night.

Despite all the comforts that are offered to us, despite the excellent medical care I receive, despite all the good intensions and loving care, my heart is at times overwhelmed as in Psalm 61:2, but then the text continues on to read “ lead me to the Rock that is higher than I”. Jesus Christ himself, that is where you and I can hide, where we can find comfort when the heart is overwhelmed. 

I can only throw myself at the mercy of God and feel the comfort of the text that friends wrote on my blog today from Isaiah 43 "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

God bless you all and make you a blessing at all times.
John

  

Near the Cross

Friend, live near to the cross, and you will not sleep. Work hard to impress yourself with a deep sense of the value of the place to which you are going. If you remember that you are going to heaven, you will not sleep on the road. If you think that hell is behind you, and the devil pursuing you, you will not loiter. Would the innocent sleep with the enemy in pursuit and the city of refuge before him?

Alistair Begg

 

What will it profit

Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

I believe that the Bible is truth. As usual I write what is on my mind and in my heart; this is what really stands out to me today.

Reality brought it home in a big way when I visited Henrietta’s mother in the full care home where she now resides. From my days in business I recognised people who now live in this care home. People that have or had much wealth and prosperity in this world sit down together for supper with those who led simple lives with little or nothing to show for. Often in a state of early dementia, earthly possessions mean nothing anymore because most folks in that home would not even be able to count out 10 dollars due to deterioration of the mind. This is indeed our earthly future, if we live that long. It showed me clearly that gone are the days of glamour, pride, ownership of “things” and possessions.

It may sound like that I condemn to own anything in this world, this is actually not so. I too do own things, but how important are they to us. Are they your everything, do they take up every hour of your life? Lately the appeal to have “things” is less and less desirable. I see much futility in it and when I walk into stores or see the way “things” are marketed or advertised I wonder why so many people go head over heels over the “things” that we can easily do without and often neglect their own souls.

The reason for my message or maybe I should call it “ reality check” is that in the last weeks I feel weaker, tired and sometimes worn out realizing more and more that life is fragile and that possessions in this world is not the answer to happiness. I also want to convey the good news of the Gospel and that life in Jesus Christ is the foremost thing we must keep ourselves busy with, nothing else will do.

So what is true happiness? The Bible uses these words to express happiness in Psalm 146: 5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God.

Charles Spurgeon also said it in a few words. “I bear my testimony that there is no joy to be found in this entire world like that of sweet communion with Christ. I would barter all else there is of heaven for that. Indeed, that is heaven. As for the harps of gold and the streets like clear glass and the songs of seraphs and the shouts of the redeemed, one could very well give all these up, counting them as a drop in a bucket, if we might forever live in fellowship and communion with Jesus.”

I hope and pray that if God is not part of your life that you must not wait to seek Him, you will find Jesus because that is His promises in Matthew 7:7
This week has been quiet in terms of medical tests and we were able to go away for few days together. Just quietness and being together is a great blessing.

Next week Friday is when the majority of the testing starts for one whole week straight. Please pray for strength and a blessing on the testing and that I will be able to tolerate the Chemo treatments that start on the 16th of April. There have been times in the past when I had to stop Chemo treatments due to severe side effects. I pray that this time all goes well and that I will be able to tolerate it. I will try to post on this blog next week but due to testing and spending much of my time in Vancouver there may be a gap.

 

God be with you and bless you all. Thank you for your love and many ways you show your care.
John

I counted all my dollars while God counted crosses;
I counted gains while he counted losses;
I counted my worth by the things gained in store,
But he sized me up by the scars that I bore.
I coveted honors and sought for degrees;
He wept as He counted the hours on my knees.
I never knew till one day by a grave
How vain are the things that we spend life to save.
I did not know till a friend went above
That richest is he who is rich in God's love.
Author Unknown

The moment of death

It must be a tremendous thing to pass through that moment when you realize you are going out of this world, and leaving all you have always known, and crossing into that land beyond the veil. There is nothing that so profoundly tests a man as to his foundations as the mighty fact and moment of death. MARTYN LLOYD-JONES

 



World War II Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France.