It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statues.

The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of shekels of gold and silver.

Your hands have made me and fashioned me;Give me understanding

that I may learn Your commandments.

Those who fear You will be glad when they see me,

Because I have hoped in Your word.

I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are rightand that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort,

according to Your word to Your servant.

Let Your tender mercies come to me that I may live,

for Your law is my delight.

—Psalm 119:73-77 (NKJV)

What Affliction Can Do

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When I was ready to deliv-er our last child, I wentinto the labor room andbegan to do one thing:focus on a single item sothat the pain would bebearable. I rememberfocusing on a small screwon the wall by the hospitalbed. I looked only at it. I

never took my eyes off this small bolt during the mostpainful times. Once as I was beginning to feel the extremelabor pains, a nurse walked between me and the bolt. Asmy concentration was broken, I couldn’t believe the frus-tration that came over me as I felt the labor pains morefully and had to begin again to concentrate and focus.

God wants us to focus on Him. To focus our minds,our thoughts and our lives on Him. Then as we experiencetrials and testings that are painful, we aren’t overcome bythe pain but are able to endure because of our focus onthe LORD–He is God!

How do we focus on God? In order to focus on onething, we have to take our focus off the other things. Mayberight now you are focusing on the circumstances aroundyou, the disappointments in your life, the distractions and

Dear Readersfrustrations from others. Instead, open your Bible to Psalm100 and read it. Or read over one of these passages:

Deuteronomy 7:9 - Therefore know that the Lord yourGod, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant andmercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him andkeep His commandments.

1 Kings 18:39 - Now when all the people saw it, they fellon their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord,He is God!”

Psalm 100:3 - Know that the Lord, He is God; It is Hewho has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people andthe sheep of His pasture.

Focus on the Living God who never changes. Focus onthe God who never leaves you. Focus on the God who cre-ated you. Focus on the God whose truth endures “to allgenerations.” Then as Psalm 100 says you will be “shoutingfor joy,” “serving with gladness,” “singing unto Him,” andmeditating on Him—your one focus, your only foundation.

Say with others who have gone before you, “TheLORD, He is God!” What a way to begin the year 2008!

—Miriam Lofquist, Editor

Can you help others receive CF? Give aMemorial Gift in honor of your loved one. Yourdonation will enable us to continue giving aone-year gift subscription of CF to every widowand widower who requests it.

DID YOU KNOW? You can access back issues of Chera Fellowship at

www.ifca.org. Click on Chera Fellowship under

IFCA Publications and then at the top, click on

Archive Issues. For descriptions of helpful books for

widows and widowers, click on Recommended

Reading.

D

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Footprints in the SandMary Stevenson’s 1939 poem has comforted many people.

It portrays a person who has walked with God and whoobserves two sets of footprints in the sand. Farther on, only oneset of footprints show. The person asks God, “I don’t under-stand why, when I needed You most, You would leave me.”

God answers, “During your times of trial and suffer-ing when you see only one set of footprints, it was thenthat I carried you.”

Most people who have lost their mate can testify to atime when they felt abandoned by God. Emotional pain,physical exhaustion, or overwhelming obstacles madethem feel isolated, even from God.

But widows and widowers also recall times when theyfelt God carrying them, as it were. Without Him, theycould not have made any progress; if God had not heldthem up, they would not have survived.

In the normal Christian life, we do vacillate betweenthe two extremes of questioning if God cares and rejoicingin His reality. Scripture exhorts us to handle both situa-tions by staying in His Word. We must “talk” to ourselveswith truth about God rather than “listen” to ourselves byrehearsing our complaints. We choose to meditate eitheron God’s promises or on our problems.

The cover poem from Psalm 119 comprises the versesI meditated on during a difficult time in my life when Isometimes thought the lone footprints were mine. Inhindsight I can thank God for carrying me through. Irealized His love for me more fully through pain thanthrough plenty.

I can see that affliction was good for me as it taughtme more about God’s faithfulness, kindness, comfort, andtender mercies. It also helps me relate to suffering peoplein ways I could not do before. Facing my own possibledeath motivated me to begin teaching evangelistic Biblestudies to seniors in assisted living facilities. Consequently,several have trusted in Christ before they died.

This issue is a collection of your stories about adjust-ments you have made since your mate died; how Godheld you during that devastation; and how He is usingand strengthening you now. Your experience encouragesthose who follow in your footsteps. It lets them know theyare not isolated. You have been carried by God throughshifting sands, and He will carry them as well.

DEATH PRAYERLife is but a passing minute in eternity.Death, to us—a permanence, we see.When Christians travel down their path and reach the very end,Then Jesus waits with outstretched arms;He is a faithful Friend.

The life one lived—a boundary line,Shows life’s accomplishments, sublime,It also shows mistakes we’ve made;Still, Jesus stands with arms outlaid.He’s steadfast as a mountain strong.We ask, and He forgives each wrong.

So death, with Him, is naught to fear.Although we miss our loved ones dear,We travel on with hearts aglowRemembering, He loves us so.Help us, dear Lord, in You to “Stand”And seek your great “uplifting hand.”

---Janice Suggs[Reprinted from CF March 1997, p. 8]

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Answered PrayerFollowing in the footsteps of Carol Gregory, the foundingeditor of CF, Miriam has a heart for Russian women. Shewill speak at a Russian Women’s Retreat in Washington inJanuary. She received the following email from TatyanaMoroz, a Ukrainian widow who lives in New York.

Dear Miriam,Today I was searching one website of the Word of

Grace Bible Church and saw your name as the speaker forwomen’s conference in January 2008 in Vancouver, WA.When I looked at your biography, I found CHERA web-site. I am a widow almost three years. Today my husbandwould be 46. He died of Glioblastoma Multiform which isa terminal brain cancer stage IV.

When Gregory and I came back from the Ukraine inOctober 2003 from our short mission trip with 14 membersfrom our church, I was really excited how God was able touse both of us there and one day I prayed like that: “God,help us to be more powerful in ministry for You; use us inmore mighty way; help us to experience who You are.”

Ten days later, Gregory was diagnosed with a brain can-cer. As for me, it was perfectly clear that’s how God answeredmy prayer, and it was the beginning of knowing Him in Hismighty way. I was scared and pleaded Him, “Please not likethat, Lord, not this way.” But God chose His way.

When Gregory went home with the Lord, I feel likebeing cut in half. I considered about Philippians 3:10“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrectionand the fellowship of His suffering, being made con-formable unto his death.” It’s came out the following:

CHALLENGEIn my foolishness, I challenged God,I said, “Would you show me your way?I want to know your touch,”And He answered me right away.

The Divine Surgeon appearedAnd cut off me in half. “Not that,” I loudly pleaded, “It’s too painful and very sad.”

He answered, “But you called my name;You wanted to know my way.I will touch you using my painAnd I will heal you over again.

“I will show you my divine affectionAs I paid for you with my bloodThrough my suffering and crucifixion:That’s how you’d know your God.”

And I humbly accept His choice‘Cause He is my Lord and Friend,I want to hear His voice,Saying, “Child, do not be afraid.”

My sorrow grew into smile,He showed me He is the Way,He is the Truth and the Life,The Beginning and The End.

He is the One who touched me,He is the One who healed.Do you want to know Him in such way?Call Him and He will appear.

The power of His resurrectionWill raise you from death into life;Are you ready for His great action?Allow God to show His might.

He will show His divine affection As He paid for you with His blood.Through His suffering and crucifixionThat’s how you’d know true God.

—Tatyana Moroz

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than

all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at

work within us, to Him be glory in the Church and in

Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!

—Ephesians 3:20-21

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What God Does In UsAs her Huntington’s disease progressed, eventually it

became impossible for Polly to have outings. For the last fiveyears of her life, she was rarely removed from her bed in thecare center. When I could no longer take Polly to places shecould enjoy, I had to bring joy to Polly at her bedside untilthe Lord took her home to heaven on August 6, 2003.

Not only did the Lord reveal Himself in the manythings He did for us during the nineteen years of Polly’s ill-ness, but also in the things He was accomplishing in us.

Not long after Polly’s home-going, my daughter Jill said tome, “Dad, I think the reason God put you with Mom wasbecause He knew you had the qualities needed to care for her.”

But I know my heart better and said, “Jill, I think Godknew I needed to acquire the qualities needed to care forher.” The Lord used my care-giving role in Polly’s life to

My LeaderWe left Honolulu at midnight and flew over the dark

waters to the mainland, arriving early that morning. It wasMarch, 2003, the year of our 53rd wedding anniversary,and this trip was a many-years-long dream of ours.

A couple days after arriving home, Dave developed acough and slight fever which did not improve. While hos-pitalized with pneumonia, further blood tests revealed hehad leukemia. He responded well to chemo, and after twomonths he was in remission.

All went well until the end of September when the cancercells came back. He again received aggressive chemotherapy.This time it didn’t work, and early in the morning ofNovember 3, 2003, the Lord called him home. He was 76years old and had served the Lord over 50 years as an elder;the last 22 years as pastor-teacher of the El Paso Bible Church.

As a widow, without my “head” to lead me, I realizedmy life would be very different. I needed to spend muchtime with the Lord and in His Word to get my directions.No more depending on my husband’s leading. It was diffi-

reshape my heart in profound ways: 1. To install a faith that was gradually able to trust in

God’s purpose, even when we could not clearly see whatthat purpose was.

2. To install a hope that what He was calling us to gothrough would ultimately be shown to be more thanworth it.

3. To instill in my heart a love for Polly of an entirelydifferent kind than when we first married.

Looking back, I am at times overwhelmed by thememories. But when I think of all the Lord did for usand in us, day by day, I am overwhelmed by the memo-ries of His grace in sustaining us and in daily bearingour burdens.

—Richard Rood

cult, but the Lord was always there and often gave “songsin the night” to me. He is still my wonderful Lord who ledme before I was married, through my married life, andnow in widowhood. He will never leave me. I am confi-dent of His leading me home someday to be with Him. Ilook forward to that day and seeing Dave again.

The Lord brought to my mind many verses from HisWord. Some of those that especially blessed me are: For Heperformeth the thing that is appointed for me (Job 23:14). Ineverything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesusconcerning you (1Thessalonians 5:18). Psalm 51:17 saysGod puts a premium on broken people and a sacrificeacceptable to Him is a broken spirit and a broken andcontrite heart. My heart was truly broken, and I experi-enced tears in the night but also the joy that comes in themorning.

I have enjoyed the Chera magazine even before Ibecame a widow and ordered it for the widows in mychurch. Now I would like to add to the testimonies ofthose who have already passed through the vale of tearsand say how wonderful a Lord we have.

—Winny Quiner

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Books to Help You HealWhen You Lose A Loved One by Charles L. Allen withPoems by Helen Steiner Rice; Fleming H. Revell, GrandRapids, MI; Fifth printing 2005; 112 pp; $9.99.

Death comes as a shock whether the loved one hashad a long fruitful life or dies unexpectedly by accident orillness. This book helps during the first days and weekswhen a person is struggling to comprehend and accept thedeath of a loved one. Dr. Charles Allen strengthens uswith the Easter message of resurrection and eternal life.

The comforting poems of Helen Steiner Rice add to Dr.Allen’s essays on death. In her letter to the reader Helen says,“There is so little anyone can say, for there are no words thathave ever been invented to fit the loss of a loved one.” Herpoems are consoling to the grieving soul. They are a sweetaroma that comforts and strengthens the wounded spirit.

Dr. Allen says that we need not fear death; it is thedoorway to a larger life. Because God is the God He is, we

know He is wise and tender toward His own. In 1Corinthians 2:9 we read, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,neither have entered into the heart of man, the things whichGod hath prepared for them that love Him (KJV).

The author recounts the story of Lazarus and howChrist acted in the presence of death. He could have spo-ken the word and Lazarus would have been healed.Sometimes God says No; sometimes He says Yes; andsometimes He says Wait. Mary and Martha showed greatfaith by continuing to trust that Christ would do what wasbest. When we have a need we cannot meet, we instinc-tively reach for the hand of Christ as they did.

God knows our thoughts and anxieties when we areconfronted with death. I lost my husband six years ago, butthe poems and essays in this slim volume are a reminderthat God does care when we are hurt and grieving.

—Patricia M. Chambers

Why is it you can grow up with someone and still notreally know them—can be married to someone for 50+ yearsand discover things you never knew until after they are gone?

This month I’ve been trying to clean out the garageand have found file drawers full of “stuff” I never knewwas there. I found photographs, diplomas, awards, letters,college themes and report cards—even a baby book.

As an assignment for the members of our bereavementgroup, I asked each one to write a letter to a loved one they hadlost. In doing the assignment myself, I found I couldn’t write toLeonard yet. My loss was too fresh, so I wrote my letter to mysister. In that exercise I discovered how little I really knew hereven though we often shared a room growing up, went to thesame elementary schools, and had the same parents.

I can see how separation from siblings can leave oneunaware of the persons they have become, but in marriagethere are also surprises, even without a separation. No mat-

ter how close you are, you don’t know one another’sthoughts, hearts or treasures. Some things you never talkedabout. The real surprise comes from things you find storedin garage drawers or in comments from others about some-thing your mate did or said and the effect it had on them.

Sometimes you discover treasures when you leastexpect it. “When someone you love becomes a memory,that memory becomes a treasure.” Something I discoveredjust before Mother’s Day was a Mother’s Day card Leonardhad made for me on his computer. I don’t know how longago he made it but the timing of my finding it could nothave been better. It became one of my treasures.

I tell widows and widowers to look for the treasures inthis world as well as to create treasures for someone else, likethe card I found. Go treasure hunting! You’ll be glad you did.

—Betty Rubright

Hunt for Treasures

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FROM GOD’S WORD“That we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4)

Comfort yourself with verses that associate suffering with glory.

Romans 5:3-4 And not only so, but we glory in tribula-tions also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; andpatience, experience; and experience, hope:

Tribulation produces__________________________

__________________ and _______________ in me.

Romans 8:17-18 And if children, then heirs; heirs ofGod, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer withHim, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckonthat the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to becompared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

If I share Christ’s sufferings, I will be His__________

______________ and also share His _____________

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which isbut for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceedingand eternal weight of glory;

My afflictions on earth produce ________________ in eternity.

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace issufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect inweakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in myinfirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.Christ’s power is best displayed against the backdrop

of my _____________________________________

Ephesians 3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not atmy tribulations for you, which is your glory.My tribulations can result in others experiencing

__________________________________________

1 Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now fora season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifoldtemptations: That the trial of your faith, being much moreprecious than of gold that perisheth, though it be triedwith fire, might be found unto praise and honor and gloryat the appearing of Jesus Christ:

11. Searching what, or what manner of time the spirit ofChrist which was in them did signify, when it testifiedbeforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory thatshould follow.

My faith-testing trials can result in __________,

__________, ___________ when I see Christ.

1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, think it not strange concerningthe fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strangething happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye arepartakers of Christ’s sufferings; that when His glory shallbe revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Partaking in _____________ __________________ can make me rejoice now and in eternity.

1 Peter 5:10-11 But the God of all grace, who hathcalled us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after thatye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish,strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Through suffering, God makes me ________,

___________, ___________, and _______________

1. Highlight or underline the various words for suffering.

2. Put a star on all the words for glory.

3. Circle words related to being joyful or glad.

4. Fill in the blanks based on what the verse says.

5. Write some conclusions about the relationshipbetween suffering and glory, such as:

The things I suffer now can produce results in me onearth and rewards for me in eternity.

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Different Forms of GriefLooking back on my life over the five years since Chris

died, I can see gradual changes in my attitudes. I realize that Ihave been judgmental of others who grieve differently than I do.In the past couple of years three of my friends have lost theirhusbands. I have noticed that they did not grieve as I did. Oneof them has never shed a tear in public; the other two have alsogone on with their lives almost without a word. I couldn’tunderstand this at first, but I now understand they have hadtheir nighttime tears and have a response to loss in other ways.

The Lord has helped me realize that everyone is differentin their circumstances, background and emotions—and onlyHe knows our hearts. Being alone or having family membersclose, perhaps still working, financial problems, raising chil-dren, and other variables certainly make a difference.

At any rate, I am grateful that the Lord has been here“through it all,” guiding, comforting and reassuring methat He is still in charge!

—Evelyn Christophersen

I met my first husband, Bill, in church in 1946 afterhe returned from WWII. We began dating and were mar-ried the following September. After Bible school, wereturned to Illinois where Bill pastored a number ofchurches. We were blessed with five children while minis-tering in Illinois and later in Kansas.

After retirement in 1990, we moved back to Illinoiswhere God used Bill as an interim in three churches andto teach a Bible class that later became a church. Howgrateful I am for 51 plus years the Lord gave us together.

In March of 1999, Bill went home to be with the Lordafter a year of struggling with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).When the doctor gave us the diagnosis, I read about thedifferent stages this disease would take—loss of speech,immobility, inability to swallow, and more. However, atthe time of his death, Bill could still walk. When he couldno longer talk, he would write notes to me. When he lostthat ability, we spent a lot of time guessing what he wastrying to communicate—I’d guess and he’d laugh at me.Even though he could not express himself at the end, heloved the Lord and trusted God for His will to be done.

One Sunday evening I sensed a change in Bill’s condi-tion. I contacted our children, who came and helped himinto the car to go to the emergency room. Before we leftthe driveway the Lord took him Home.

Many have asked me how hard that must have been,

and it was extremely difficult, but I know that each widowgoes through different things after the death of her spouse.

Soon after Bill’s death, God brought someone else intomy life. Albert, a neighbor of ours—whose wife had diedfive years earlier—contacted me. I was not interested in arelationship with him, but the Lord changed my mind andwe were married in August 2000. One year later he wasdiagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and the Lord took himhome by November. So I was alone again after only 15months of marriage to Albert.

I wondered what to do now. But the Lord knew. Imoved back to Olney, Illinois, near where I had grown up. Ienjoy times with my family—seven children and theirspouses, 32 grandkids, three great grandchildren, and Iminister as “Mom” or “Grandma” to anyone who needs one.

One thing I have recently decided is that I want mylife to be such that I won’t be remembered as an “oldgrouch.” That may sound strange, but I remembered howBill kept a record of people in the church. Beside eachname he’d write something to help him remember thatperson. Beside one elderly lady’s name he’d written “sour.”Now that I am an older woman, I don’t want anyone writ-ing “sour” as a description of me. Instead, I want to con-vey a thankful attitude in all things. This can only happenas others view my life and see Christ in me.

—Mary Hasler

Widowed Twice

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Your Tanks Will Be History

From Dr. Billy GrahamI feel as if part of me has been ripped out, and in

a sense that’s what has happened, because Ruth wassuch an important part of my life. Sometimes weneed to be alone with our memories and our hurts.We just need to guard against making this our onlyresponse, because it’s not healthy. In the Book ofPsalms, God tells us to “cast your cares on the Lordand He will sustain you” (Psalm 55:22).

— taken from AARP magazine, November &December 2007, p. 26

In June 1989, in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, one manstood alone in front of a line of advancing Chinese tanks.As the oppressive regime’s tanks came to a stop, millionsof people watched this memorable display of opposition:one person countering might and threat.

When one loses a mate to death, the effects do not endwhen the funeral is over, and the potato salad at the dinnerafterwards is gone. In fact, as many have experienced, therealization of what all has truly been lost has just begun.Those losses can be or seem to be as difficult and as oppres-sive as a line of advancing army tanks. In some cases, thesheer number of losses and areas affected can seem daunt-ing: from companionship to career; from the spiritual to thesexual; from managing parenting to managing now confus-ing paradigms. So what does one do about these challenges?Can God help compensate for any of these losses?

All of the above (except standing in front of Chinesetanks) was exactly where I found myself eight years agoafter losing my wife to cancer, and these were the ques-tions I was asking. Like facing a line of tanks, many chal-lenges confronted me. Psalm 46:1 says that God is “anever-present help in trouble.” So God, how are you goingto help through this?

As I look back at eight years of walking through thatgauntlet of losses and challenges, still as a single adult, it isnothing short of amazing and humbling how God has notonly been enough to help my two sons and me through it,but God has been more than enough. God’s faithfulness tothe truth of Psalm 46:1 has been astounding; at times bychanging my circumstances; at times by changing me.

Let Him change your mourning

into a new morning!

In the Tiananmen Square standoff of modern history,the world admired the lone man’s defiance against seem-ingly overwhelming odds as he stood up for truth andwhat was right. In your personal history that is still being“written,” do not let anything (your challenges, yourdoubts, your pouting, your understanding/misunderstand-ing, etc.) keep you and your family from a great adventureand a new day ahead.

As in the creation story in Genesis 1, where there was“evening and morning” each day, God’s days never end inthe nighttime. Regardless of what challenges a day holdsor how dark the night gets, morning always comes! LetHim stand with you to counter your losses and challengesas your own “creation story” is still unfolding, and let Himchange your mourning into a new morning! Let Him cre-ate something great.

Live this truth, every day, every decision, every “tank.”

—Gary Chew

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I just wanted you to know that finding out about thismagazine for the first time last week was equal to findinghidden treasure to me. About a year ago, the Lord hadgiven me a burden to pray for widows and widowers. Hedid this as I read the books by Gracia Burnham andEvelyn Husband. (Her husband Rick was killed in theColumbia Space Shuttle). As I read these stories, I was sosad for these women. I began to pray for them in my dailyprayer time. It seems that at least twice a month I meet orhear about a widow or widower and add them to the list. Iknow this is only of the Lord, as all things are.

Last week I was in the home of an elderly womanfriend who is also a widow. She showed me a poem from amagazine and told me how God used it in her life. When Iread the back cover I realized the publication was Cheramagazine by the IFCA. Tears came to my eyes. I am goingto buy gift subscriptions for some women I know, inhopes that they will be encouraged by reading it and willask to keep having it sent to them.

My husband Marty is a member of the IFCA also anddirects the Midwest Messianic Center, an outreach toJewish people in the city of St. Louis.

Thank you and God will surely bless you because He,above all, has a love and compassion for widows.

—Bev in Chesterfield, MO.

Thank you so much for the back issues of CF. Your mag-azine has been so comforting as I am transitioning to a newlife without my husband. Just reading how others are deal-ing with life day after day is helpful. It is a very difficult andpainful time, but God is our great comforter. I have beenable to see His deep love for me through His Word. It helpsme so much to reach out and serve others. Thank you again.

—Florence in Layton, UT

You have given me so much comfort and uplifting ofmy spirit as I read each magazine. The poems, stories andarticles have filled an ache in my heart. Thanks ever somuch—now I want you to send it to someone else whoneeds your very special comfort when they feel the loss oftheir loved ones.

With much love andprayers for the magazine to con-tinue to bring comfort. From a79-year-old who loves the Lordand looks for His return.

—Ona Lee

Your publication hasbeen a great blessing to mesince my husband’s passingfourteen years ago. Thankyou for the work you do.The talents of all who contribute their thoughts in verseand stories have been very encouraging to me. I no longerneed to receive your publication, but please accept mydonation to help someone else.

—Dorothy in Carson, WA

Thank you for the Chera publication. I appreciate themagazine each time and am glad to pass it on to someonerecently widowed.

Personally, tomorrow marks 22 years since my husbandpassed away. The Lord has graciously filled my life withministry as woman’s counselor at my church. What a bless-ing to come along side others as they walk through valleysand make adjustments in many different situations. It is alsoa blessing to direct women of every age to the truths in theWord and watch them grow in faith and obedience.

—Bertha in Sequim, WA

Your publication has been a great blessing to me sincemy husband’s passing fourteen years ago. Thank you forthe work you do. The talents of all who contribute theirthought in verse and stories have been very encouragingto me. Please accept my donation to help someone else.

—Dorothy in Carson, WA

I received my first issue and find it comforting, inspi-rational, and unique. Thank you for this special ministryto us who have lost our mates.

—Doris in Morton, IL

Our Readers Write

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Is He a God of Love?This is an ancient question. Job said, Your hands shaped

me and made me. Will you now turn and destroy me? Rememberthat you molded me like clay. Will you now turn me to dustagain? And the psalmist cried, Has His unfailing love vanishedforever? Has His promise failed for all times? Has God forgottento be merciful? Has He in anger withheld His compassion?

Who of us has not at times wondered if anyone wasOut There? Are we utterly at the mercy of mere chance? Isthere, after all, no care, no order, no purpose, no mean-ing? Are we adrift in a sea of nothingness, at the mercy ofchance, mishap, calamity, misfortune, disaster, catastro-phe—undesigned and unintended?

Surely such agonizing thoughts must have plaguedJoseph as he lay for years in prison. What was God up toall that time? Did Joseph question His wisdom, His love,His very existence? Did he ask God why He had permittedhis brothers to hate him? They had planned to murderhim; then, finding they could make some money, sold himinto slavery…But when the great famine came, Joseph wasable to save his hateful brothers and his old father fromstarvation. What a strange concatenation of events!

Have you ever thought about the fact that the birth ofJesus led to the slaughter of countless baby boys? That Jesusprayed all night before choosing the disciples—and Judaswas one of His choices? That Peter’s deliverance from prisonled to the guard’s death? That Elymas’ opposition to Paul led

to his own blindness—but then to the proconsul’s salvation?God does indeed move in mysterious ways. The results

can sometimes bewilder us, but we can rest assured thateverything that happens fits into God’s pattern for good, tothose who love God. That pattern is in process, everyminute of every day. Romans 8:28 and 29 answer our des-perate questions and make God’s purpose as clear as it canbe to us mortals. He is shaping us into the image of Christ.

What does it take to make an image? Michelangelomade it sound quite simple: take a block of marble andknock off whatever doesn’t look like David. God’s shapingprocess cannot be painless, for it takes the powerful blowsof a hammer, the careful chippings of a chisel, and thepatient rasping of a file. Most of us have known some ham-mer blows in our lifetime, some lesser treatments we couldcall chippings, and probably nearly every day the raspingof that file which is meant to smooth off the rough cornersand edges. A loving Father shapes us, and only He knowsprecisely what is needed to conform each individual intothe image of His beloved Son. May He make us teachable!

—Elisabeth Elliot. Copied from The Elisabeth ElliotNewsletter, September/October 1998,used with permission.

Thank you for sending Chera to me for the past few years. Ihave shared them with many friends who have lost their mates.They have done more good than you will ever know! Enclosedis a check to carry on your wonderful work. Thank you again.

—Elva in Villa Park, IL

I appreciate receiving your publication for the pastfour years. I remarried last month. Enclosed is a smalldonation. Please use any future copies for someone inneed of the comfort your publication provides.

—Sally in Lake Forest, CA

I received my first issue of your magazine today. Thearticles are filled with Scripture and comfort. I am lookingforward to using your magazine as a ministry tool.

Just a word of encouragement to always keep God’sWord in your articles…It was a Bible verse (Deuteronomy33:27), shared by an older woman at our church (whosehusband had undergone heart surgery—I knew sheunderstood) that sustained me through those difficult daysof our son’s emergency brain surgery years back. Thattaught me the power of God’s Word!

—Jan in Chardon, OH

c“Come, eat freely what I have prepared for you” (seeRevelation 22:17; Isaiah 55:1; John 6:35).

We might say, “Oh, I’d like that, but I need to bringsomething too.” Then we offer Him everything we have—a broken saltine cracker! That’s how ridiculous it is to addour good works to the work Christ finished on the cross.God’s grace and our works are mutually exclusive accord-ing to Romans 11:6.

Do you trust in a belief system that some powerfulhistorical figure came up with? Perhaps you have inventedyour own dogma. Religions deceive. The Bible teaches ushow to have an eternal relationship with God, not how toadhere to a religion. It promotes no church or denomina-tion when it explains that we cannot make ourselves wor-thy to live in heaven with God, but He makes us worthyby forgiving us.

The key is not what I can do for God but what Jesushas done for me. My response takes faith, not works:when I believe that Christ’s death and resurrection guaran-tees eternal life, He gives it to me as a free gift (John 3:36,Romans 6:23).

—MKH

Manmade ReligionsIn my college class on World Religions, the professor

gave us an assignment. “I want you to Invent your own reli-gion.” Remarkably, it was easy. Every student came up withsome common elements: 1. We either discounted the Bible oradded to it by writing our own “sacred book.” 2. Adherentscould earn their way to a happy afterlife. Most of us startedwith the assumption that people are basically good and candetermine their own destiny by what they accomplish. Inother words, being good would make one worthy of heaven.

The Bible does tell us how to be good—but not as ameans of gaining heaven. When it tells us what to do ornot do, it addresses those who have already become citi-zens of heaven by accepting Jesus’ death and resurrectionas payment for their sins. Out of love and appreciationthey want to please the One who rescued them.

Trying to add our own efforts to what God has provid-ed compares to God inviting us to a banquet with everypossible delicacy laid out in golden dishes. He says,

WINTER 2008 - VOLUME 16 - NUMBER 1

Chera (Ker-ah) Fellowship is a quarterly publication of IFCA International.Chera is the Greek word translated widow in the New Testament.

Carol Gregory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Founder

Miriam Lofquist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Editor

Marcia Hornok . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Managing Editor

Nila Rae Phelps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Editor Emeritus

Jim Connelly Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . Design and Layout

Email articles (to 900 words) and short poems to MarciaHornok at kenmar@burgoyne.com or mail to 2451 SurreyRoad, SLC, UT 84118-2027. Please include your phonenumber.

Rates: Gift Subscription: $8.00/year (4 issues).Free for one year to widows and widowers who request it.Bulk orders: discounts for more than 15 subscriptions.We encourage the distribution of CF in churches,senior centers, retirement homes, care facilities, mortuaries, and hospitals.

Chera Fellowship – IFCA InternationalPO Box 810Grandville, MI 49468Call (616) 531-1840Back issues at www.ifca.org

Widows and widowers receive CF free of charge for one year. We are able to do this because of donations (tax deductible) sent to IFCA International specifically for CF. Gift subscriptions are also available for $8.00/year.

Thank you for participating in this ministry to people who have lost their mate.