June 29, 2021 Busyness

 

June 29, 2021 Tuesday evening

Journal Entry by Heather Ruments — June 29, 2021

 Busyness. In Luke 10:40 Jesus addresses busyness. "But Martha was ·busy [worried; distracted] with ·all the work to be done." Her sister Mary had sat right down at Jesus' feet to listen, Martha was doing good things preparing a meal for The Lord, but, Jesus clearly says that Mary had chosen better. As a week has gone by without Steve, I find myself in the busyness of changing the name and addresses on bills, phone calls and emails to the emergency room in South Carolina, insurance of all kind and wondering if I brought something with me or is that something wrapped up on pallets in deep storage. These things wake me up, the to do lists, the uh oh's where is that, and I better remember such and such tomorrow. Busyness. The things I am doing are all necessary and really can't be given to another to take care of. They need to be done, but where is the peace. Am I putting Jesus first? Well, the answer is obviously no. Peace lies in sitting at the feet of Jesus. 

 I was vacuuming (otherwise known as avoiding what I was supposed to be doing) and I noticed on the top of my little stick vac, there was a button that said, "clean filter monthly". Well, we have had this stick vacuum for almost two years and it was the first time I had notice it! I had dutifully emptied the dust cup, cleaned the hair off the roller and always made sure nothing was stuck that would lessen the suction. So, I carefully opened it and black dust went everywhere! There was a large sponge thing and then filters underneath and the directions were to wash them monthly, dry and put them back OR the vacuum would lose suction. As I read that amidst the gross black dust, I got a feeling that The Lord wanted me to explore that a bit.

The "things" I had been focused on before Steve got sick was a lot of work. I loved all of my jobs, but it was too much. I had no time with my family nor The Lord, and I was very dry and distant from Him when Steve got sick. Through Steve's hospitalization, I pressed into The Lord and his word and worship. I surrounded myself AS I was doing what needed to be done. I wasn't doing what needed to be done and fitting The Lord in. I noticed in the past few days, I have been doing it backwards yet again. Even after the last 7 weeks of being hemmed in by The Lord, held, cared for, filled with peace, protected and provided for. I forgot. I stepped away. Busyness. How could it possibly be after all he has done for me, for my family that I could get it all mixed up. I have said many times that through this, His word is often my breath, I have been at such a place of total reliance on Him, I couldn't breathe without Him, I relied very heavily on listening to scripture and the pauses between scriptures was like holding my breath.

I have been running around "vacuuming", bills, unpacking boxes, funeral arrangements, time with my girls, getting loved on by friends and family. We are so blessed, these are all good and necessary! The problem is that I was running around DOING and I wasn't sitting at Jesus' feet first. My filter got clogged getting my to do's done and my "suction" wasn't 100%. I was fitting Jesus in instead of breathing in synch with Him like I had been doing while Steve was hospitalized. Then, I was vacuuming Jesus, my suction (my absorption and understanding and peace) was at 100%, I needed nothing. Jehovah Jireh. He is enough. I need to live in that blessed place of total reliance, filling myself with His word and worship through my day as the air I breathe and all the other things that need done, will fall into place without striving, stress, fear or weariness. 

I cleaned out those filters, the dirty stuff of the world came out in the water. I knelt at His feet and confessed, He already knew. He washed me clean and picked me back up again. He also sent me an extraordinary exhorter later that day. An exhorter is like an encourager, but SO much better! An encourager makes you feel great, but an exhorter, does that and kicks you in the pants propelling you forward. It sometimes stings a little bit, but deep inside in your spirit, you know they are saying exactly what you already know. Exhorter, you need to have one in your life. I am so blessed. 

A lot of this busyness is avoidance. I am really good at that. Plunge myself in and get it done. I don't want to avoid. The other day, Riley was so precious, she stopped at a big store and found a devotion that caught her eye. There were two, so she bought them thinking we could do them together every night. As we did the first night, she said that we needed a third for when Kaiti goes to school so we can continue. I told her that I would order Kaiti one before then and we all went to bed. The next morning, a sweet friend of Kaiti's came bearing gifts from Kaiti's coworkers. The first thing Kaiti saw was that very same devotion! I'm going to cry, again. The Lord hears us, knows us, loves us. That was a huge God wink. Riley had just said it the night before, and it appeared the next morning. When I am in a place of busyness and avoidance, I miss those beautiful touches from The Lord. I am so thankful that all three of us witnessed it together. He loves us so much and is grieving right along with us and at the same time rejoicing in Steve's homecoming. I don't want to miss anything He is doing. I don't want any of you to miss what He is doing. Stop, ask The Lord to turn your heart and breath to Him. Ask to be like Mary at Jesus' feet, vacuuming up EVERYTHING he has for you with a clean filter so you have 100% suction and absorb everything He has for you!

Here is a link to Steve's obituary, I will also post on facebook. I want you to know that family vacation was SO important to him. Please do not cancel family vacations! Family is everything, minister and love on your families. If you can't make it to the Virginia service, it will be live-streamed, we can gather at another time. We want to celebrate a life well-lived in The Lord. He very much disliked suits and ties. He loved his jeep, Life is Good T-shirts, sports shirts and hats and his vacation fedora. Please feel free to dress accordingly. 😊 Love you all, have a blessed week this week. I'll update as The Lord tells me.

https://www.hallfh.com/obituaries/Stephen-Steve-Anthony-Ruments?obId=21553903#/obituaryInfo

---

---

Comment on this journal entry

Comments

• Jeannine Santo Zupo : I continue to be so inspired by you and thank you for this beautiful message that I needed and shared with Francesca. She has agreed to do Unbound here in Chicago too! Please know the God winks you share, become God winks for us as well. God is so amazing and knows exactly what we all need. Thank you for being obedient and sending messages of faith and hope to all of us. It’s God’s way of perpetuating peace and hope and love. My continued prayers as you celebrate Steve’s life in Virginia on the day Debbie went to be with the Lord. No coincidence. Love you.
  ••7/1/21
• Webb Melanie : I just love you so much! ❤️ ❤️😘
  ••6/30/21
• Patrice Smith : So beautifuly written Heather. Your words encourage and exhort!
  ••6/30/21
• Niki Mattson : Heather - thank you for this - I can relate! The Lord often brings Matthew 6:33 to me when I have a lot on my mind and plate: "But first seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you." The Mattson and Mosaic Virginia families continue to pray for you and your girls - we love you. ❤️
  ••6/30/21
• Sheila Embrey : Thank you for sharing that Word today, I needed it! God bless you, dear, I love your writing. What a gift from the Lord! Praying for you all during this season... for His peace that surpasses all understanding and His provision for all your needs. He is faithful! ❤
  ••6/30/21
• Nicole Horsch : Keep writing❤️ The obituary is perfect❤️
  ••6/30/21
• Victoria Mizerak : I love you Heather! Thank you for your writings. They are so full of wonderful teaching.❤️🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
  ••6/30/21
• Jacquelynn Sutphin : You continue to inspire and amaze me. I pray for you and the girls daily and hope you know how much we care. I am surely surprised that my middle name is not Martha! I am pretty good at vacuuming the time away. Even though Jesus is not the bottom of the list (reserved for diet, exercise and cleaning) he is not the top either and I am convicted each time I read that passage. Lifting you up and ready to get busy whenever you need help😄❤❤❤
  ••6/29/21
• Sandy Stein : Love this. I feel it has exhorted me. Thanks for sharing.❤️🙏
  ••6/29/21

June 25, 2021 Arrangements

 

June 25, 2021 Arrangements for Steve

Journal Entry by Heather Ruments — June 25, 2021

 Most of you in Virginia know that Steve is from the Chicago suburbs. He loves the White Sox, the Bears, the Bulls and always his beloved Northern Illinois University Huskies. His heart has always been in two places. That being said, we are having two memorials for him. We will be starting in Purcellville, VA  at Purcellville Baptist Church on 7/5 at 7pm with a Night of Worship and Remembrance. There will be no lines to wait in, an open house style celebration. We will have time for worship music and time for anyone to share memories or thoughts about Steve as well as just being together, comforting, laughing and I am sure some tears too. 

  On 7/6 we will have the Memorial service at 1 with a reception following. I would ask that you dress comfortably. Comfortable was Steve's favorite. No suits required! He so loved driving around in his jeep with no doors or lid in the mountains or on the beach. He loved going to Harper's Ferry and just walking and sitting along the river as he talked to God. I also realize that July 4th is a time for wonderful family vacations! If you are scheduled for vacation, Take It! I promise that we can catch up and spend some time when you are back. 

 For those around Illinois, we are having a Memorial Service for Steve at St. Mary Immaculate Parrish in Plainfield on 7/12 at 1030 and a reception at the American Legion a mile from that. Unfortunately, Illinois rules are more strict so we were unable to meet at the Church, and we were blessed to find a place to gather. We will be able to share stories and thoughts at the reception. 

 Virginia:

7/5/21 7pm  Night of Worship and Sharing   Purcellville Baptist Church 601 Yaxley Dr. Purcellville, VA 20132

7/6/21 1pm Memorial service and reception Purcellville Baptist Church

7/12/21 10:30am St. Mary Immaculate Parrish 15629 S. Route 59, Plainfield, IL 60544  Reception following at American Legion Plainfield.

 I was talking to a dear friend who talked to me about a mantle. I think of Elijah in 2Kings  2:1-14. Elijah carried a physical and spiritual mantle for The Lord. The mantle was a physical covering that represents a call to service, protection, sanctification and relationship with The Lord. It translates to mean Glorious, Powerful, Noble and Worthy. Elisha (his mentee) knew that The Lord was going to take Elijah up that day and Elisha refused to leave his side. Elijah also knew he was going to be taken up and asked Elisha what he wanted before he left. Elisha asked for his mantle and Elijah told him that if he saw him taken away, then God granted his request. Elisha saw the chariots of fire and horses and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. There are so many layers of this story that are so applicable to what we are going through, but will save that for another time. A mantle is passed down from one believer to the next, and it can also come straight from The Lord, like Paul in the New Testament. Elijah passed his mantle down to Elisha. I think of the generational faith of Steve's family as well as mine, and how the mantle of faith was passed from parents to children. Even when there seems to be no lineage of faith in our earthly families, we have our Abba Father to run to and receive this mantle straight from Him or from the people He places in our lives. The disciples received the mantle from Jesus, they passed it down to others who received it in their hearts and ran with it. However you come by it, PICK IT UP, PUT IT ON, and GO! Steve's faith was so important to him, he passed down his mantle to those he walked with and mentored and shared Jesus with.  You, without knowing it, also pass down your God-given mantle to others as you minister to others. Please don't put it down and render it useless. Dig in to His word, gather to pray, study and worship. Grow in your relationship with Jesus.

 In Isaiah 61:1-3, Isaiah is prophesying about the coming of Jesus:

The Spirit of the Lord [a]God is upon me,
Because the Lord anointed me
To bring good news to the humble;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim [b]release to captives
And [c]freedom to prisoners;
2 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3 To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The cloak of praise instead of a disheartened spirit.
So they will be called [d]oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

 Jesus came to do all these amazing things and now that we have Jesus in our hearts, we are also called forth to pick up that mantle to bring the Good news, to lift up the broken, minister to captives and prisoners (and share the truth), comfort those in mourning and pick up the hope, the garland, the crown instead of ashes, gladness instead of mourning, a mantle of praise instead of discouragement! We mourn, but don't mourn as if we have no hope. The Bible is clear that those who are in Jesus, leave behind their earthly bodies and begin eternal life in Heaven where we will all be reunited! God is our source of our "Mantle of Praise" and we praise Him for His Son, Jesus and we praise Him for all the blessings we receive here. That doesn't mean that like is easy or without terrible things here, but we recognize that this is not our home, it is a broken world and we choose to seek what The Lord is doing, seek His blessings, seek His face in the midst. I choose to pick up the mantle of praise and Praise Him for allowing me to have had Steve in my life for 33 years, Praise Him for allowing me to see The Lord working through Him, praise Him for allowing us two beautiful daughters and two awesome families, and the list goes on forever! I weep and praise at the same time. I choose to pick up the mantle of our call to service. We are each called in different ways, none more important than another, don't miss it. PICK UP that mantle and GO forth. Ask Him, if you don't know what or where or how. Ask Him to quiet and comfort breaking hearts, racing minds, doubts, fears or anything else in the way. He will come.

 As we walk forward in this, what I call, time of transition, when I expect to hear his voice, or remember silly things like, he isn't driving me somewhere or getting me my coffee or how he holds his pup Bea or the banter between him and Riley and Kaiti. Those things that bring forth tears of such sadness, but at the same time praise for having had those moments. I am so thankful for all those moments and for the Lord recalling many as I go about my day.  In Psalm 30:11-12, I love the poetic version this time as it speaks to my heart. 

Then he broke through and transformed all my wailing

into a whirling dance of praise!

He has torn the veil and lifted from me

the sad heaviness of mourning.

He wrapped me in the glory-garments of gladness.

 

  He breaks through my grief and puts a smile on my heart. I praise Him for that, for turning mourning to dancing, ashes to beauty, pulling me out of the mire to solid ground and lifting the heavy burden of loss off my shoulders wrapping me in the beautiful embrace of His joy. Friends, don't allow the enemy to make the loss of our Steve a stumbling block. Pick up the mantle, you will be blessed ten fold in The Lord. I know that Steve heard from the mouth of God. "Well done, good and faithful servant." That is what I want to hear, I want to run the race and grab everything God has for me. I wan't that for you too. Love you all. <3

---

---

Comment on this journal entry

Comments

• Janet Marsh : Heather, your faith is so beautiful, pure, and authentic, and so are you. While I never met Steve, it was evident to me in the short time our paths crossed, that God brought the two of you together. I thank God for your time with Steve and for the blessing of your children. You continue to be a bright light in my world. The Providence community loves you and is here to help in any way you might need during this difficult time. 🙏💕
  ••6/26/21
• Linda and Bill Costanzo : BEAUTIFUL!
  ••6/25/21
• Margey O'Brien : Heather, in what could be your darkest days, you are an inspiration, bringing hope and love. Holding you and the girls close to my heart and in my prayers. ❤️
  ••6/25/21
• Linda Shanahan : Amen. That truly is what God wants us to do🤗🤗
  ••6/25/21
• Alicia Clark : Beautifully said, Heather!! I will continue to pray for you in the days ahead. May we all pick up our mantle and run the race the Lord has set before us. ❤️
  ••6/25/21
• Sabrina Combs : Thank you Heather for being God’s vessel pouring out beautiful thoughts, words and praise. You are such a light. We continue to pray for you, Kaiti, Riley, Adam and all of Steve’s family.
  ••6/25/21
• Olawunmi Fajobi : Very well written, Heather. Love you.
  ••6/25/21
• Tina Sellentin : Amen 💕
  ••6/25/21
• Jan Marie : You are remarkable, and we serve a remarkable God.
  ••6/25/21