Eileen Gerard

August 7th, 1950 - March 8th, 2010

We want to keep this blog so that we can look back at it. But oviously it will not be updated anymore. Thanks! Eileen's family.




















Eileen Marie(Durant) Gerard 59 of Hobe Sound, Fl, went to meet her heavenly Father, early Monday morning, March 8.

She was proceeded in death by her grandmother Thelma Tawney, and father Jack Romeyn.

She was a loving wife to her husband, James A. Gerard of 40 years. She was a wonderful mother to her three daughters: Sarah Gerard of Jackson, MI; Ruth (Rodney)Jackson of Hobe Sound, FL; Rebecca Gerard of Hobe Sound, FL.

She was a godly example to her three grandsons; Ethan Jackson, Evan Jackson, and Easton Jackson all of Hobe Sound, Fl.

She was the loving daughter of Joyce and Eugene Weatherwax of Kentwood, MI; and step-daughter to Betty Romeyn of Altoona, FL.

She was proud to be called the sister of Sandy Heringa of Comstock Park, MI, of Jack Durant of Sparta, Mi, Wayne and Gena Romeyn of Hudsonville, Mi; Berry Romeyn of Grand Rapids, MI, Sue Vander Laan of Newago, MI;

She was the Aunt to four nieces and four nephews.

She took to heart being the godmother of her great nephew Joseph Kornoelje.

She treasured her family but also her many friends She loved the Lord most of all and enjoyed being involved in her church and missions. She enjoyed life and made sure to give God the glory for it. She was dedicated to her relationship with her heavenly Father and was not ashamed to show it. She loved reading His word and made it a daily practice. She loved working with children and doing crafts and sewing. But the her passion was not a physical sewing but a spiritual sewing of the knowledge of God into the lives of those that she came in contact with. She had a beautiful smile no matter how she felt physically or mentally, because she knew she was in God's hands. She will be loved and missed by family and friends.

Her void may seem to come too soon for us but with God His timing is perfect

The Road to Emmaus!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk the road to Emmaus? I know I have. Just think about it you are walking and all of a sudden a stranger walks up to you and they start talking to you. I don't know about you, but I would be afraid of what they would want.

Unfortunately it isn't safe to be to friendly with a stranger. We today stress to our children, DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS! Why? You ask. Because people have made it so that we can't trust people today. I know as my children were growing up, I stressed all the time to keep together and don't leave one another onlone with anyone. That is sad that we have to do that today but it is for their safty and ours. Do you lock your doors? I use to not lock mine. My grandfather would really get unto me about it. I did trust people I guess. But God gave us a mind to use and I guess I wasn't using mine.

If someone has betrayed us it is hard to trust again. For me as I have lived my life and things were not always good for me growing up. But God had His Hand on me and now I can say that even though there have been things in my life I don't like to look back at God has given me an assurance that He will always be there. I can trust Him. In His word, it says :

John 14:1-4

"Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you and if I go to prepare a place for you I will come again and recieve you onto myself. That where I am there will you be also.
And wither I go ye know and the way ye know." John 14:1-4

How about you? Do you trust Him enough to walk with Him? Tust in the Lord. In Psalms it says: Trust in the Lord, and do good: dwell in the land , and feed
on His faithfulness. Psalms 37:3

Then in Proverbs it says: Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
Lean not to thy own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

It Takes Trust!

The basis of any relationship must be trust. Trusting God with your success isn't much of a challenge. The real test of trust is sharing your secrets, your inner failures and fears.

Jesus once told the woman at the well, "True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Gather is seeking such (real people flawed people like you) to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. " (John 4:23, 24).

You have nothing to fear for your honesty with the Father won't reveal anything He doesn't already know. His intellect is so keen that He doesn't have to wait for you to make a mistake. He knows about your failure before you fail. His knowledge is all inclusive, spanning the gap between time and inccidentl He knows your thoughts even as you subconsciously gather them in your own mind.

Once you realize this, all your attempts at silence and secrecy will seem childish and ridiculous. He is "the all seeing One," and He knows perfectly and completely what is in you. When you pray, and more importantly, when you commune with God, you must have the kind of confidence and assurance that neither requires nor allows deceit. Although my Father abhors my sin, He loves me. His love is incomrehensible, primarily because there is nothing with which to compare it.

There is a balance in the awareness of His holiness, which would condemn you, and His love, which esteems and redeems you. He is far too holy for you to be arrogant about your humanity, yes He is far too loving for you to be frightened by the emotional dysfunction that comes from being raised by a father you could never seem to please.

God does not change; neither does His compassion. One thing we search for at every level of our relationships is to be understood. When I am properly understood, I don't always have to express and explainl. Thank You, Lord, for not asking me to explain what I can scarcely express!

We quickly grow weary of people who demand that we constantly explain ourselves. We'd rather be around those who are able to read the meaning of a touch, a brief hug, a sigh emitted in the stillness of a moment. Real communion cannot be typed or taught; it must be understood. At this leve, there is a communication so intense that those who understand it can clearly speak it, even through closed lips. As with lovers staring at each other across a croweded room, words are unnecessary when there is true understanding. It is with this kind of understanding that God clearly perceives your every need. (taken from New King James Version, Holy Bible -Woman Thou Art Loosed! Edition T.D. Jakes General Editor).

Here is a song that we all need: TRUST AND OBEY!

1. When we walk with the Lord in th light of his word, what a glory he sheds on our way! While we do his good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey. Chorus

2. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, but his smile quickly drives it away; Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh nor a tear, can abide while we trust and obey. Chorus

3. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, but our toil he doth richly repay; Not a grief nor a loss, not a frown nor a cross, but is blest if we trust and obey. Chorus

4. But we never can prove the delights of his love until all on the alter we lay; For the favor he shows, and the joy he bestows, are for them who will trust and obey. Chorus

5. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet, or we'll walk by his side in the way; What he says we will do, where he sends we will go never fear, only trust and obey. Chorus

Chorus- Trut and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.(Taken from Hymns of the Living Faith, song: J. H. Sammis, ?-1919, D. B. Towner, 1850-1919)

Easter 2008

Easter is almost here!

I pray that all is well with each of you.

I received this article via email.

I wanted to share with you.

Please read with an open heart.

Have a blessed Easter to all!

(left click on the article to read)

Article In Our Newpaper!

As I was packing glass ware for our move, I ran

across this advertisement in our local newspaper,

the Grand Rapids Press. Thought it was worth

a posting. Something to think about!

Yes, we are moving this Friday the 25th. We are leaving to pick up our oldest daughter Sarah and her roommate, Lori. Traveling weather

permitting to Cincinnati, then leaving out early from there Saturday, going to see how far we can get before stopping for the night. Looking to arrive in Hobe Sound Florida, Sunday later in the day. Can't wait to see our grandsons and daughter again.

Just a note we will be shutting down the computer sometime

Wednesday, January the 23 . We will let you know when we get back up.

Lord bless and keep you in the center of His Will.

Keep Looking to Jesus!

He will carry you through!

Saying Our Good Byes! January 18, 2008

Saying Our Good Byes!

Last Night, Jim's Brother Ron Gerard and his wife Lois, His Sister, Mary Lou and her husband Lee Stickney, met us at Perkins for supper.

We met together to say our good byes. For Jim, Becky and I are moving to Florida next week. In my devotions this morning I thought of how fitting it was.

The Title:

Shenandoah!

Genesis 12:1-9 was the scripture.

Now the Lord had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation: I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.

Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land. Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. So Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.

In my devotional there were these words.

Circumstances may change, but the heart that seeks the Lord experiences His joy. "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Ps. 37:4). As we yield to His will as revealed in Scripture, we find ourselves desiring what God desires. -HDF

The Devotional also said:

My grandfather grew up on the North American frontier and raised his family on a dairy farm. To pass the time, he often sang songs while he worked. "Shenandoah" was one of his favorites:

O Shenandoah, I long to hear you,

Away, you rolling river,

O Shenandoah, I long to hear you,

Away, I'm bound away,

'Cross the wide Missouri.

That song reflects the love the pioneer songwriter had for the Shenandoah River. Yet he felt compelled to leave its beauty and go west. His love for the familiar rooted him, but the pull of something better won his heart.

When Abraham was called out of Ur to follow God to the Promised Land, he had to leave everything that was familiar to him (Gen. 12:1). Despite the idolatry of that pagan city, Abraham had probably grown attached to the comfort of his home, the variety of the food, and the fellowship of his friends. But Abraham obeyed when he was called to go" (Heb. 11:8).

When we experience God's call to another place, it may mean leaving behind the people and the things we love. But when we're obedient to God, He will provide something even more fulfilling at our new distination. --Dennis Fisher

Fulfillment on life's journey comes

When we in faith obey

The leading of our loving God-

He'll not lead us astray. --Sper

You don't need to see the way if you follow the One who is the Way.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Greatings in the beautiful Name of Jesus!The last few weeks have been quite busy. I came to Florida to take care of our grandsons, Ethan and Evan, the two oldest ones. For they were on Christmas break and so I came down to care for them while Mommy worked. Of course the youngest, Easton goes with her for she works in a child care. So he is able to attend the classes. But on top of all that I am here thinking about having to go back home and packing to move. I only have a week and a half to get everything packed and discarded. Yeah I need to make some things disappear. That is going to be hard. With all that we have accumelated. With this all on my mind I am starting to let the human part of me kick in and I am getting anxious. I don't like doing that. This morning I talked with Jim, my husband and there is so much that needs to be done. Does anyone else ever go there? Worrying and letting it way on you? This morning in my devotions I believe God put this lesson on me. For it is what came up when I had my devotions. The Title:


"When Life Goes Bad"
Reading in 1 Samuel 30:1-6
Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day. that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way.So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifed up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David's two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmetlite, had been taken captive. Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthedned himself in the Lord his God.
Everything looked bleak to David and his men when they arrived at Ziklag (1Sam. 30:1-6). The Amalekites had attacked the city and taken their wives and children captive. The men were so discouraged that they wept until they had no more energy. And David, their leader, was "greatly distressed" because the people were contemplating stoning him (v.6).
In the end, David's army rescued their families and defeated the Amalekites. But the story takes a great turn even before that when "David strengthened himself in the Lord his God" (v.6). Other translations use the words encouraged or refreshed.
The text doesn't say exacty how David did this. But it makes me wonder. In what ways can we strengthen, encourage, or refresh ouselves in the Lord when we're feeling discouraged?
First, we can remember what God has done.
We can list the ways He has cared for us in the past, and how He has provided for us or answered a prayer request.
Second, we can remember what God has promised."
Be strong and of good couage; ... for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Josh. 1:9).

Like David, let's learn to strengthen ourselves in the Lord, and then let's leave the rest with Him. -Anne Cetas-

I will strengthen," so take courage,
Child of God, so weak and frail.
God has said so, and it must be,
For His promise cannot fail! -Anon.

The Old Paths!

THE OLD PATHS I liked the old paths,

when Moms were at home. Dads were at work.

Brothers went into the army.

And sisters got married BEFORE having children!

Crime did not pay; Hard work did;

And people knew the difference.

Moms could cook; Dads would work;

Children would behave. Husbands were loving;

Wives were supportive; And children were polite.

Women wore the jewelry; And Men wore the pants.

Women looked like ladies; Men looked like gentlemen;

And children looked decent.

People loved the truth, And hated a lie;

They came to church to get IN, Not to get OUT!

Hymns sounded Godly;

Sermons sounded helpful; Rejoicing sounded normal;

And crying sounded sincere. Cursing was wicked;

Drugs were for illness; And divorce was unthinkable.

The flag was honored; America was beautiful;

And God was welcome! We read the Bible in public;

Prayed in school; And preached from house to house

To be called an American was worth dying for;

To be called a Christian was worth living for;

To be called a traitor was a shame!

Preachers preached because they had a message;

And Christians rejoiced because they had the VICTORY!

Preachers preached from the Bible;

Singers sang from the heart;

And sinners turned to the Lord to be SAVED!

A new birth meant a new life; Salvation meant a changed life;

Following Christ led to eternal life.

Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the word of God;

Being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord;

Being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus;

And being a sinner meant someone was praying for you!

Laws were based on the Bible; Homes read the Bible;

And churches taught the Bible. God was worshiped;

Christ was exalted; And the Holy Spirit was respected..

Church was where you found Christians on the Lord's day,

rather than in the garden, on the creek bank,

on the golf course, Or being entertained somewhere else.

I still like the old paths the best!

"The Old Paths"

was written by a retired minister who lives in Tennessee