THE SADDEST DAY OF MY LIFE . . . July 19, 2020 . . . THE DAY MY DARLING HUSBAND OF 51 YEARS, Rickey Paul Ray, WENT HOME TO HEAVEN!!

Rickey Ray’s . . . Going home to Heaven July 19, 2020 . . . Before and After !!! MY CHRISTIAN MANTRA God is in control. We ask His will, for he and he alone knows what is best. We don’t know exactly which way things will go.  We do know FOR SURE our God is still on the throne and no matter what comes or what goes, He will make it right for His children!!!   A few notes of my Rick’s home going: - “Amazing Grace”. Several days before Rick was called home, be was in bed but quite agitated. He would try to get out of bed. If he had stood up he would have collapsed for sure because his legs could no longer support him. I was trying to calm him down and get him to relax and stay in bed. I started singing some hymns to him. When I started singing “Amazing Grace” his hands quieted down, he laid his hands on his stomach, and settled right down. I changed to another hymn and he started getting agitated again. I went back to “Amazing Grace” at least four times, and every time he quieted down completely, and then he went to sleep. A true miracle of God's grace. - The last three nights before going to Heaven, Rick was not responsive. I whispered in his ear several times that, “I love you very much, but If Jesus comes and wants you to go with him, you go. I will be fine. Jen is with me and I’m with her . . . and we will take care of each other." Then I said, “ remember, there’s no time in heaven. So when you walk through those pearly gates, turn around and Jen and I will be right behind you!” - One or two nights before Rick went home to Jesus, I guess I was almost at my wits end. I prayed, “Please, please dear Father, heal him and let him stay here with me OR heal him and take him home!!” Sunday morning, July 19, 2020, between midnight and 2 am Jesus came and took my darling Rick to his Heavenly home. - My niece Becky’s baby girls love Rick. They visited a few months before Rick became bedridden, and as their car headed home, we heard them yelling, “I love you Rick, I love you Rick.” When he died, I was worried about them. They called on FaceTime, after Rick died. Karson, the baby, got on the phone and said, “Hi aunt Judy where’s Rick.” Then, I talked with both Sydney and Karson on FaceTime. I got real excited and said, “Guess what. Rick has gone to heaven and I bet they’re having a party right now!!!.” Then it sounded like Karson ran from the phone telling everyone, Uncle Ricks having a party !!!! - The other night I dreamed about my sweet darling Rick. I was asleep in my recliner. He stood on my lefthand side, leaned over, and was looking at me intently, as if to see if I was alright. It was only a few seconds long, but exactly like he would have been doing in life . . . making sure I am OK and safe! - On the afternoon of August 14, 2020, . . . about a month after Rick went to Heaven . . . I was straightening up our master bathroom. I decided to switch my face towel holder for Rick’s face towel holder because his was in better condition. As I went to pick it up I noticed something on one of the arms where it attached to the stock of the device.  - Then I realized it was rick’s wedding band. I completely broke down because I knew that he had placed it there knowing that he was going to go to Heaven and that it would be me that would find it. Then I thought, well maybe the hospice people gave it to Jennifer and she put it on the rod. Later that day I was talking with her and I asked if hospice had given her her father’s wedding band. She said, “no”. So my firm belief is Rick left it there for me to find as a comfort for what I am going through . . . or Jesus let Rick come back and leave it for me so that I would know that everything is fine. - Remember those vowels from so many years ago. Long ago Rick and I decided since there is no marriage in heaven, we plan to be “bff’s” there! Judy Ray 2 Corinthians 1:3-6 Praise to the God of All Comfort 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 

My Mother went to Heaven 3 years ago today. In honor of her life I have posted the following.

My Mom's Obituary (DOD 1-21-2012: Vivian Lorraine Rice, known as Nanny to everyone she met, the matriarch of the Rice Family Singers, was promoted to the heavenly choir on Saturday, January 21st, 2012. She was born the youngest child of Claude Huston Crawford and Rebecca Edith Shanks Crawford on August 20, 1923, in Kilsyth, WV. She grew up with her two sisters in Mt. Hope who preceded her in death, Gladys Crawford Warden and Violet Crawford Reed. She graduated from Mt. Hope High School and soon after married Thomas Edward Rice from Tennessee, “the best lookin’ boy” she had ever seen, on December 6, 1941 — the day before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. She was often heard saying, “Nobody loved each other as much as we did.” Tom was often heard to say, “Two great wars started that week!” Tom has been waiting with the Lord and the Heavenly Hosts since 1982 for his singing partner, his love, his wife of what would be 70 years. Nanny is survived by three children and their spouses: Judy and Rickey Ray of Virginia Beach, Va., Connie and Mike Rodas of Wayside, W.Va., and Tom and Shelia Rice of Christiansburg, Va. One of her greatest joys in life was spending time with her grandchildren playing, shopping, and traveling with them. She began teaching them to sing and pray as early as two years old. Nanny has left to them a legacy of a love of music and serving the Lord. She often said, “God doesn’t want your junk — he wants your best” in trying to encourage them to make a joyful noise to the Lord. Nanny loved her grandchildren “her babies,” very much and spent as much time as she could with them. She has left seven grandchildren: Jennifer and Bill Pinto of Smyrna, Ga., Rebecca and Randy Fox of Talcott, W.Va., Angela and Brandon Hodges of Willis, Va., Cameron Rice of Christiansburg, Va., Samantha Rice of Christiansburg, Va., Debra and Kevin Daugherty and Mark and Evelyn Call. Her great-grandchildren: Keegan Pinto of Smyrna, Ga., Zachariah Thomas Hodges of Willis, Va., Ella Lorraine Hodges (Nanny’s namesake) of Willis, Va., and Jesse Call will know her through the stories, pictures and music she has left behind Nanny’s goal was to live a life that was pleasing to God. She spent her time praying and ministering to others in churches, nursing homes, and jails in Virginia and West Virginia. She would sing and she spoke to everyone she met of the love of the Lord and how he had blessed her life. During the 1960s The Rice Family Singers (Vivian, Tom and their three children) were responsible for two television programs on WYAH Channel 27, the Christian Broadcast Network in Portsmouth, Va. The “Sunshine Hour” was focused on providing encouragement to Christians and aired on Sundays after church and included music and testimonies from the family and prayer requests from the public. The “Prodigal” focusing on salvation of lost souls aired every Saturday evening at 7 p.m. and included songs and testimonies about conversion and salvation. In the 1970s the family ministered in churches, nursing homes and jails primarily in West Virginia. They were on the radio stations WMTD in Hinton and WBKW in Beckley. These programs focused on encouraging Christians and included songs, testimonies and prayer requests. When the children had left home, she and Tom continued to minister in churches, nursing homes and jails until his death in 1982. Nanny continued to visit nursing homes with her friends and testified and sang for the residents. When she could no longer drive, she began a ministry in her home of praying for and sending cards and notes to those who were ill or needed encouragement. She has been a devoted and very active member of War Ridge Free Will Baptist Church in Wayside, W.Va., since 1969. In addition to her church and ministry activities, she enjoyed life and wanted to live it fully. In her 70s she began taking piano lessons and Bible College courses from Liberty University as well as learning how to use a computer. Vivian “Nanny” Rice was loved and respected by all who knew her. Her family and friends will miss her greatly but are confident she is in heaven with her beloved Tom and her savior Jesus Christ. The family would like to thank the physicians and staff at Carilion Giles Community Hospital with a special note of appreciation to Dr. McMahon. They would also like to express appreciation to the staff at Bowers Hospice House in Beckley. Visitation will be Tuesday, January 24th, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors in Hinton. The funeral will be held at War Ridge Free Will Baptist Church in Wayside, WV, on Wednesday, January 25th, at 3 p.m. Interment will follow at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Ballengee, W.Va. In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Vivian Rice’s name to the Bowers Hospice House at 454 Cranberry Drive, Beckley, WV 25801. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.ronaldmeadowsfp.com. Arrangements are by the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors of Hinton, WV.

No Apology !

Silence About six miles from Maastricht, in the Netherlands, lie buried 8,301 American soldiers who died in "Operation Market Garden" in the battles to liberate Holland in the fall winter of 1944-. Every one of the men buried in the cemetery, as well as those in the Canadian and British military cemeteries, has been adopted by a Dutch family who mind the grave, decorate it, and keep alive the memory of the soldier they have adopted. It is even the custom to keep a portrait of "their" American soldier in a place of honor in their home. Annually, on "Liberation Day," memorial services are held for "the men who died to liberate Holland." The day concludes with a concert. The final piece is always "Il Silenzio," a memorial piece commissioned by the Dutch and first played in 1965 on the 20th anniversary of Holland's liberation. It has been the concluding piece of the memorial concert ever since. This year the soloist was a 13-year-old Dutch girl, Melissa Venema, backed by André Rieu and his orchestra (the Royal Orchestra of the Netherlands). This beautiful concert piece is based upon the original version of taps and was composed by Italian composer Nino Rossi. Watch at full screen. http://www.flixxy.com/trumpet-solo-melissa-venema.htm After you watch the above web site, check out the below. Our European arrogance, in alphabetical order 1. The American Cemetery at Aisne-Marne, France... A total of 2289 2. The American Cemetery at Ardennes, Belgium... A total of 5329 3. The American Cemetery at Brittany, France... A total of 4410 4. Brookwood, England - American Cemetery... A total of 468 5. Cambridge, England... A total of 3812 6. Epinal, France - American Cemetery... A total of 5525 7. Flanders Field, Belgium... A total of 368 8. Florence, Italy... A total of 4402 9. Henri-Chapelle, Belgium... A total of 7992 10. Lorraine , France... A total of 10,489 11. Luxembourg, Luxembourg... A total of 5076 12. Meuse-Argonne... A total of 14246 13. Netherlands, Netherlands... A total of 8301 14. Normandy, France... A total of 9387 15. Oise-Aisne, France... A total of 6012 16. Rhone, France... A total of 861 17. Sicily, Italy... A total of 7861 18. Somme, France... A total of 1844 19. St. Mihiel, France... A total of 4153 20. Suresnes, France... A total of 1541 Apologize To No One. Remind those of our sacrifice and don't confuse arrogance with leadership. The count is 104,366 dead , brave Americans. And we have to watch an American elected leader who apologizes to Europe and the Middle East that our country is "arrogant"! HOW MANY FRENCH, DUTCH, ITALIANS, BELGIANS AND BRITS ARE BURIED ON OUR SOIL... AFTER DEFENDING US AGAINST OUR ENEMIES? WE DON'T ASK FOR PRAISE...BUT WE HAVE ABSOULUTELY NO NEED TO APOLOGIZE!

MEMORIAL DAY POEM We walked among the crosses Where our fallen soldiers lay. And listened to the bugle As Taps began to play. The Chaplain led a prayer We stood with heads bowed low. And I thought of fallen comrades I had known so long ago. They came from every city Across this fertile land That we might live in freedom. They lie here 'neath the sand. I felt a little guilty My sacrifice was small. I only lost a little time But these men lost their all. Now the services are over For this Memorial Day. To the names upon these crosses I just want to say. Thanks for what you've given No one could ask for more. May you rest with God in heaven From now through evermore. Author unknown

MEMORIAL DAY POEM

MEMORIAL DAY POEM We walked among the crosses Where our fallen soldiers lay. And listened to the bugle As Taps began to play. The Chaplain led a prayer We stood with heads bowed low. And I thought of fallen comrades I had known so long ago. They came from every city Across this fertile land That we might live in freedom. They lie here 'neath the sand. I felt a little guilty My sacrifice was small. I only lost a little time But these men lost their all. Now the services are over For this Memorial Day. To the names upon these crosses I just want to say. Thanks for what you've given No one could ask for more. May you rest with God in heaven From now through evermore. Author unknown

Just Checking in Today

"Just Checking In Today" A Minister passing through his church In the middle of the day, Decided to pause by the altar To see who came to pray. Just then the back door opened, And a man came down the aisle, The minister frowned as he saw the man Hadn't shaved in a while. His shirt was torn and shabby, And his coat was worn and frayed, The man knelt down and bowed his head, Then rose and walked away. In the days that followed at precisely noon, The preacher saw this chap, Each time he knelt just for a moment, A lunch pail in his lap. Well, the minister's suspicions grew, With robbery a main fear, He decided to stop and ask the man, 'What are you doing here?' The old man said he was a factory worker And lunch was half an hour Lunchtime was his prayer time, For finding strength and power. I stay only a moment Because the factory's far away; As I kneel here talking to the Lord, This is kinda what I say: 'I Just Came By To Tell You, Lord, How Happy I Have Been, Since We Found Each Other’s Friendship And You Took Away My Sin. Don't Know Much Of How To Pray, But I Think About You Every day. So, Jesus, This Is Ben, Just Checking In Today.' The minister feeling foolish, Told Ben that it was fine. He told the man that he was welcome To pray there anytime. 'It's time to go, and thanks,' Ben said As he hurried to the door. Then the minister knelt there at the altar, Which he'd never done before. His cold heart melted, warmed with love, As he met with Jesus there. As the tears flowed down his cheeks, He repeated old Ben's prayer: 'I Just Came By To Tell You, Lord, How Happy I've Been, Since We Found Each Other’s Friendship And You Took Away My Sin. I Don't Know Much Of How To Pray, But I Think About You Every day. So, Jesus, This Is Me, Just Checking In Today.' Past noon one day, the minister noticed That old Ben hadn't come. As more days passed and still no Ben, He began to worry some. At the factory, he asked about him, Learning he was ill. The hospital staff was worried, But he'd given them a thrill. The week that Ben was with them, Brought changes in the ward. His smiles and joy contagious. Changed people were his reward. The head nurse couldn't understand Why Ben could be so glad, When no flowers, calls or cards came, Not a visitor he had. The minister stayed by his bed, He voiced the nurse's concern: No friends had come to show they cared. He had nowhere to turn. Looking surprised, old Ben spoke up And with a winsome smile; 'The nurse is wrong, she couldn't know, He's been here all the while.' Every day at noon He comes here, A dear friend of mine, you see, He sits right down and takes my hand, Leans over and says to me: 'I Just Came By To Tell You, Ben, How Happy I Have Been, Since We Found This Friendship, And I Took Away Your Sin. I Think About You Always And I Love To Hear You Pray, And So Ben, This Is Jesus, Just Checking In Today.'

When You Understand How Christ Was Like This Rag Man You Can't Help But to Love Him More. < Previous Article The Rag Man Early one Friday morning, I was walking through the streets of the town and I came across a giant man, 6 feet, 4 inches tall, pulling a cart filled with rags. Although they were but scraps of clothes, they were clean and bright, as was the peddler, calling out the wares... "Rags!" "Come get your Rags!" Clean, new Rags!" "I'll take your old ones and trade them for new!" I was very curious to see such a sight - not that I had never witnessed people trying to make a buck on the hard streets, but this fellow seemed so hardy and strong. Certainly, he could find work doing something other than pushing rags? I decided to follow him at a distance to see what he was up to. At his first stop, he came across a sad woman, crying on the stoop of her apartment building. She held a stained scrap of cloth to her face as the man approached. He stepped over garbage and broken toys and offered the woman a clean handkerchief. As he did so, her tears dried up and her entire face brightened. But as he walked away, the Ragman, began to sob uncontrollably. He wiped his face with the old dirty cloth that he had taken from the sad woman on the porch. I shook my head in wonder. Scripture reference: John 11:33-44 The Little Girl and the Rag Man The next person that the Ragman came upon was a little girl. Her head was wrapped in a bandage that was dark with blood. As the Ragman approached, she lifted her eyes and asked for a lovely hat to adorn her head. How could he resist? He reached into his bag and pulled out a yellow bonnet that would fit her just perfectly. Before he laid it on her head, he unwound the bandage from the girl's head and placed it around his own. As he did so, a thin stream of blood emerged from his own head and trickled down his cheek. He didn't mind at all as he placed the cheery hat upon the girl's head and went on his way. Happiness crossed her face for the first time in many days, and the Ragman staggered into the street. Scripture reference: Mark 5:25-34 The Worker and the Rag Man By this time, the sun had moved to a high point in the sky and the Ragman looked up and grew worried. He started to move more quickly and with a greater purpose. Eventually, he came to a man leaning against a telephone pole. "Can I offer you clean clothes for work?" the Ragman offered. The other man sneered and laughed. How can I work, when I have only one arm, and he lifted his jacket away, showing the empty right sleeve. The Ragman simply said, lets exchange coats. What happened next, I still cannot believe. The Ragman removed his jacket and with it came his right arm. He handed it to the man at the telephone pole, who gladly put it on and walked away whole and happy. The Ragman kept going, this time, a bit more slowly. Scripture reference: Luke 6:6-11 The Drunk and the Rag Man The Ragman hurried down the street. Before long, he came up a drunk, huddled upon the edges of an overpass, covered in a blanket, the stench of which I simply will not relate here. It did not phase the Ragman, however. He lifted off that awful rag from the drunk and gave him brand new coverings. Immediately, the man stood up and walked away with a strength and purpose not seen in years. The Ragman stumbled and fell with the burden of the old cloths. Still, he moved along, even more urgently that afternoon. He moved through the streets, crying, bleeding, pulling his cart with one arm, and stumbling along through a haze of drunkenness. He was in such a hurry, I could hardly keep up with him! Eventually, he reached a garbage pit. The Ragman climbed to the top of the landfill and laid out a large blanket. He fluffed up his jacket and laid his exhausted head on the top. The Ragman laid down, closed his eyes, covered himself with the drunk man's army blanket, and died. Oh, how shocking and terrible! I was not expecting this at all. I slunk away to my bedroom and cried myself to sleep. I had come to love the Ragman, and yet, he had seemingly died alone. Scripture Reference: Luke 23:33-35 The Rag Man Rises I was so distraught, I slept all the way through Friday night and Saturday too. All of a sudden, I was awakened on Sunday morning by a bright light! This amazingly hard, pure, shocking light came streaming into my room that day, I could hardly open my eyes. When I did, I had to blink several times. Yet, still I did not believe what I saw. There, standing before me was the Ragman! The only sign of his suffering the days before was a small scar on his forehead. Other than that, he was entirely intact! I could not believe it, and was filled with shame. I lowered my eyes and my head and hesitantly approached the Ragman. Stripping myself of all my clothes, I stood before him, naked. "Please," I implored him, "Dress me." The Ragman turned and chose one of the many shining cloths next to him. The entire room was filled with His glory! He dressed me, then, my Lord, that day. With new rags, I am a wonder beside Him – The Ragman. The Christ! Scripture Reference: Colossians 3:7-14 Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. Luke 24-6-8 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' Then they remembered his words. Credit: Stephanie Hicks Photo Credit: The Rag Man Illustration by Syd Jordan Brown Press the button below if you liked this story! Thank you =)

John 3 (16)For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.(17)For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.(18)He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation--he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.] John 3:16-18(AMP)

SAVING GRACE Lord, you are so wonderful And deserve our love and praise I cannot express just how I feel When I think of your saving grace To think of what you went through That day upon the cross And in the moments leading up to it When soldiers spat and scoffed And beat you with no mercy, Making sport and having fun You said not a word in your defence Even though you were God's son You bore it all out of your love For the lost and dying souls, To give us a hope we can hold on to For a future yet to unfold It's such a beautiful description, Lord, Of what your grace can do, For no one's exempt from your saving grace, But it's a gift freely given from you © By M.S.Lowndes

September 11

World Trade Center Disaster . . . . . Some "saved" unexpectedly: A man from Norfolk , VA called a local radio station to share this on Sept 11th, 2003, TWO YEARS AFTER THE TRAGEDIES OF 9/11/2001. His name was Robert Matthews. These are his words: A few weeks before Sept. 11th, my wife and I found out we were going to have our first child. She planned a trip out to California to visit her sister. On our way to the airport, we prayed that God would grant my wife a safe trip and be with her. Shortly after I said 'amen,' we both heard a loud pop and the car shook violently. We had blown out a tire. I replaced the tire as quickly as I could, but we still missed her flight. Both very upset we drove home. I received a call from my father who was retired NYFD. He asked what my wife's flight number was, but I explained that we missed the flight. My father informed me that her flight was the one that crashed into the southern tower. I was too shocked to speak. My father also had more news for me; he was going to help. 'This is not something I can't just sit by for; I have to do something.' I was concerned for his safety, of course, but more because he had never given his life to Christ. After a brief debate, I knew his mind was made up. Before he got off of the phone, he said, 'take good care of my grandchild.' Those were the last words I ever heard my father say; he died while helping in the rescue effort. My joy that my prayer of safety for my wife had been answered quickly became anger. I was angry at God, at my father, and at myself. I had gone for nearly two years blaming God for taking my father away. My son would never know his grandfather, my father had never accepted Christ, and I never got to say good-bye. Then something happened. About two months ago, I was sitting at home with my wife and my son, when there was a knock on the door. I looked at my wife, but I could tell she wasn't expecting anyone. I opened the door to a couple with a small child. The man looked at me and asked if my father's name was Jake Matthews. I told him it was. He quickly grabbed my hand and said, 'I never got the chance to meet your father, but it is an honor to meet his son.' He explained to me that his wife had worked in the WorldTrade Center and had been caught inside after the attack. She was pregnant and had been caught under debris. He then explained that my father had been the one to find his wife and free her. My eyes welled up with tears as I thought of my father giving his life for people like this. He then said, 'there is something else you need to know.' His wife then told me that as my father worked to free her, she talked to him and led him to Christ. I began sobbing at the news. Now I know that when I get to Heaven, my father will be standing beside Jesus to welcome me, and that this family would be able to thank him themselves .. When their baby boy was born, they named him Jacob Matthew, in honor of the man who gave his life so that a mother and baby could live. Please take time to share this amazing story. You may never know the impact it may have on someone. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.