New Downloadable Bible study available by Elizabeth Handford

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:42:46 -0400

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Newest Elizabeth Handford Bible Study on the book of James

"Transforming Faith"

Ever been troubled by the apparent conflict of Titus 3:5, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us" and James 2:17, "Faith, if it has not works, is dead"?

Both Scriptures are the inspired, perfect Word of God, and this Bible study will help to you understand how your faith should transform your works!

A new chapter will be added each week.

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Tribute to Mary Lloys Himes

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:08:21 -0400

Tribute to Mary Lloys Himes

My sisters Jessie, Joanna, and Joy phoned me on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, to tell me that our oldest sister (since our sister Grace went to Heaven back in 1981) had gone to be with the Lord. I know that others can give Mary Lloys a much more eloquent tribute than anything I can say, but it will ease my heartache if I share with you the letter I wrote her during the night—and yes, I think she has read it. Elizabeth Rice Handford

October 5, 2011

Dearest Mary Lloys,

I’m glad that you and I had some premonition that you were thinking about taking off for Heaven, so that last month we got to tell each other of some of our sweet memories of each other. I told you some of that in the letters we exchanged, but tonight I feel the need express to you my deep gratitude to God for your wonderful qualities. I’ve spent a lot of time since that phone call last night at 6:00 telling me you’d taken off for Heaven, thinking about the ways you influenced my life.

In our younger days, I remember that it was you who always excelled in physical sports. Daddy considered you a formidable foe at tennis. I have so many visual memories of watching you serve a tennis ball, with your full skirt swinging wide as you served. I thought you were the brave one in the family, daring to do stuff I didn’t have the nerve to try. (I remember watching you and Dottie Harding and Grace jump off the garage roof in Dallas—and my memory says you did it with an umbrella.) You were always the leader of our community bike rides on Sunday afternoon, with all our friends, wandering far from Franklin Street maybe all the way to West Chicago, or over to the County Farm and back.

You had a flair for clothes. I remember how you helped me pick out dresses and explained why you thought that was what I needed— not too much “showiness” so you could wear it often without getting tired of it. I know people considered Grace the fashionista, but you were the one who offered practical advice, and you helped me so much when I was getting ready for my own wedding.

You were the one who got us to James Bowie School on time—most of the time!

I remember watching you fall in love with Chuck, and how from the moment you met him, there was no other star in your firmament. My memory is that I met him while I was still in high school, even before you met him, going on extension with Wheaton college kids to the County home. I got invited because I could play the accordion. I shared your dream that you and Chuck would serve the mission field of China, or maybe Tibet. I envied you because all my life I’d wanted to be a missionary to China. Subsequent wars revealed that you could never have stayed in China because of political upheaval, and God knew better where He wanted you to be. I remember how sad you and Chuck were when the mission board told you they would not send you to China because of your frail health. You responded so well to the disappointment, believing that God knew what He was doing in your lives, even when it was a dream hard to give up, and that the “Boss” has the right to tell His servant where to serve.

I remember in those early days of your marriage that you always practiced hospitality and your gourmet quality dishes were always bragged on, but always produced with creative economy.

I remember that on one of my very first dates with Walt, we met you two coming home from Mother’s house, strolling through Memorial park, and you admonished us to be sure to get in on time, because Daddy was watching the time. You were trying your best to keep me out of trouble, and I love you for it.

Then, after Walt and I were married, and we all came back to 512 for Sunday dinner, and Lloys Jean was a baby, we envied you because you “had it all; a handsome husband, a beautiful baby, and a college degree!”

Your years in the pastorate were hard, but very productive. Considering the background from which Chuck came, his being the first in the family to go to college, his not having a father to teach him and model fathering for him, his mother’s inflexibility, he surely gave God all that he had, and I know that today he basks in His heavenly Father’s pleasure. You two endured pitiful wages, inconsiderate parishioners, grief in the losses of your babies, often undeserved criticism, but wherever you were, you kept plugging along for Jesus and the Gospel. How many times you helped a bewildered young mother, or comforted a old woman, gave advice to a frantic teenager, ministered with your hands as well as your heart.

In the years we were publishing the Joyful Woman, I discovered you were a good writer. I appreciated your story-telling ability and Scriptural applications.

When you and Chuck were between pastorates, and working at the Sword, you gained the respect of the whole town, cheerfully meeting needs as you sensed them, serving at the church in non-prestige but needed places.

You took such pride and joy in your children (and you had a right to!) You were so glad for their productivity and smarts and usefulness. And they have blessed the world.

And you were always so diligent and effective as a Bible teacher, not just during your years as a pastor’s wife but even as a widow, you sought opportunities to teach the Word of God. I remember asking you, just last month, what I should counsel a woman having a difficult time getting rid of bad thought patterns, and you said immediately, “Read the Word! Read the Bible!”

But your most endearing trait probably was the way you took every opportunity to talk to people about Jesus, and you nudged open so many doors to give the Gospel to those who didn’t even realize that was what they had been searching for! Whether you were selling encyclopedias or taking census for the government or buying groceries, you found hungry hearts, and led them to Jesus.

I’m going to miss you, dear sister. I’m going to miss having a big sister I can call when I need corroboration on a memory, or having somebody that senses how I’m feeling and makes me feel better! I don’t like being the oldest sister in the family, expected to have wisdom and clear memory and keeper of the flame. But I guess I’ll try. You left a big empty hole that no one is going to be able to fill.

With all my love. Libby

Homegoing of Mary Lloys Himes

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:42:49 -0400

Mary Lloys Himes, daughter of Evangelist John R. Rice and board member of Joyful Christian Ministries, went to Heaven on Tuesday, October 4, 2011. We know she is having a great reunion time and she is strong and well there. Mary Lloys, was a wonderful soul-winner, and a faithful pastor's wife to her husband Chuck. The Lord says, "in thy presence is fulness of joy." Here we know this in part, but there, face to face with Jesus, what joy and delight! We are all sorrowing, but also filled with great confidence and gratitude that she is finally Home! Thank you for your prayers!

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New Downloadable Bible study available by Elizabeth Handford

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Tribute to Mary Lloys Himes

Tribute to Mary Lloys Himes

Homegoing of Mary Lloys Himes